Ohio State basketball: Holtmann should adjust offensive scheme

The Ohio State basketball team now has a completed roster after filling the last spot with Oklahoma State transfer Isaac Likekele. With all of the transfers the Buckeyes brought in, Holtmann needs to make adjustments to the offensive scheme.

The past few seasons the Buckeyes have been known for running a high-low action with the two bigs they have on the floor. The players in that role have been E.J. Liddell, Zed Key, and Kyle Young over the past seasons. Other than Liddell, Key and Young are true bigs and now two of these three are not in the Buckeye uniform anymore. Zed Key and Felix Okpara are the only true bigs on next year’s roster and it’s too early to tell how much playing time Okpara will get next season.

I think for the Buckeyes to be a legit contender in the Big Ten next year they need to go with a four-out-one-in offense. With the caliber of players they got in the transfer portal and what these guys have in their skill set, that style of offense is the adjustment that needs to be made.

Going with that offensive scheme opens up the middle of the floor. That allows guards like Tanner Holden, Bruce Thornton, and Sean McNeil to attack that portion of the floor which opens up many different opportunities. The Buckeyes also have Isaac Likekele and a healthy Justice Sueing who are both guys that can create off the dribble. Having many guys that can facilitate and take care of the ball will be lethal for Holtmann’s offense next season.

These incoming players also have the ability to step out and shoot the three. A four-out-one-in is also effective in drive and kick-out action. This brings Seth Towns into play off the bench if he is healthy as he has proven to make an abundance of catch and shoot threes.

A third option in this offense would be the one on the inside, Zed Key. Key would thrive in this form of offense, especially with the roster that was formed around him. When shots are falling on the outside it causes the floor to spread out and open up the inside for Key to go to work.

This form of offense is what the game of basketball is transitioning to. Having a stretch four to help spread things out and open up many different opportunities. If Holtmann decides to make the switch to this style of play, Ohio State could be a tough out in the Big Ten.

The Ohio State basketball team has the talent and players with the right skill set to go with this form of offense. It will just be if Holtmann actually wants to switch up his scheme.