Ohio State basketball: Can Justice Sueing get back to offensive peak?

Let’s face it; the Ohio State basketball team is losing the majority of its offensive production from last season. In fact, they lose 85% of the point production. That’s a lot of offense to replace in one season. It’s going to have to be a collective effort, but someone has to take the lead.

That someone could end up being Justice Sueing. Sueing decided to come back for another year after only playing in two games last season due to injury. He is the only returning starter from the 2021 team left on the roster, as everyone else has left the program for one reason or another.

Because of that, the Buckeyes will need Sueing to take a big load next season on the offensive end. Sueing’s best college season was back in the 2018-19 season when he averaged 14.2 points per game for Cal. That was the year before he transferred to Ohio State.

However, Sueing’s most efficient season came with the Buckeyes. In that 2020-2021 season, he shot 49% from the field and 36% from three. He only averaged 10.7 points per game that year, but that was because he was taking about three fewer shots a game than he was in his final year at Cal.

If the Ohio State basketball team wants to actually make the Sweet 16 next season, Sueing has to be the leader on offense. When he’s healthy, he can create his own shot off the dribble and drive through the lane with ease. He has to take the burden off the young guys.

It will be up to Sueing and Zed Key to be the leaders on an otherwise disjointed team. None of these guys have really played together, including transfers coming in. Developing chemistry quickly is going to be a key part of their season.

We’ll see if Sueing is able to ever reach that offensive peak again.