Ohio State Basketball: Is Malaki Branham the key to success?

The Ohio State basketball team has been searching all season long for that second go-to guy to accompany E.J Liddell on the offensive end of the floor. Liddell will always be the number one option, but I think we have figured out who the Robin is to the Buckeyes Batman.

Malaki Branham has been playing extremely well for the Buckeyes as of late. He’s been consistent in his play over the last three games and has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week back-to-back weeks.

Branham followed up his 35-point outburst at Nebraska with 13 points at Indiana and 24 points against Northwestern. Against Northwestern he shot an impressive 63% from the field and used his shiftiness to get to the foul line and go 13-14 from the charity strike. Branham is averaging an impressive 24 PPG over the last three games.

The freshman is starting to get more and more comfortable each game. He’s got a nice touch on his jump shot, especially from the foul line into the rim with his soft floater. Branham is shooting at an exceptional 45.8% from the field.

Branham has also become one of the more consistent three-point shooters on this Ohio State basketball team shooting a solid 41.9% from beyond the arc. Branham attacks hard and can finish through tough contact as well. Also, his ability to get to the foul line and make free throws is crucial for the Buckeyes in late-game situations.

Jake Spegal from 270 Hoops made this highlight reel of Malaki Branham displaying his elite offensive game and his ability to score on all three levels:

Branham is starting to let the game come to him. He’s slowing himself down and being patient in the half-court when he attacks or comes off screens. By doing that, Branham surveys the floor and can see what is going to open up if he wants to attack all the way to the rim.

Slowing down and controlling himself in the open floor or on the drive also helps him decide if he wants to take it all the way to the rim for a layup, stop for a mid-range pull-up, or use a giant-killing floater that has been deemed unstoppable.

Branham has a very impressive offensive game. His arsenal is filled with many different offensive tricks that he can bring at any time. There is a reason why Jim Jackson allowed him to wear the famous number 22, and we’re all starting to see how gifted a scorer Malaki really is. If Branham sticks with it, he will put his fingerprints on every Buckeye scoring record.

Improvement on defense was a big key for the Buckeyes coming into the season. Branham has been very effective on the defensive end of the floor as well as the offensive end. His length and lateral quickness is the main reason why Branham has been such a good defender for this Ohio State basketball team. As a freshman, Branham has been relied on guarding opposing teams’ best wings. That shows high praise and confidence from Coach Holtmann that the freshman can be an elite defender.

In the first matchup with Wisconsin, Branham was in charge of guarding Johnny Davis. In that matchup, Davis went for 24 points and shot 50% from the field. Davis has been scorching the nets a lot more since the last meeting against the Buckeyes. Branham will more than likely be given the task of defending Davis yet again, and it will be much harder than the first time.

Malaki Branham is the key to success for this Buckeyes team moving forward. He is the key because of how dominant he has been scoring the basketball and because of how well he is able to defend. Teams are going to continue to key in on Liddell which will lift Branham into a more prominent role. If Branham continues to play at this high level the Buckeyes will be tough to beat.