The Ohio State basketball team was able to land a solid victory on Saturday afternoon against a good UCLA team. The victory brings the Buckeyes over .500 in Big Ten play. Before the game, the Buckeyes announced that Puff Johnson was going to be eligible to play starting immediately.
Johnson did not play against the Bruins, as he has not practiced with the team all season long. That doesn't mean that the Ohio State Buckeyes don't have a plan for him. He is a guard who can rebound, play solid defense, and shoot the ball at an efficient level.
Head coach Jake Diebler was asked about the role that Johnson could fill for the Buckeyes for the rest of the season. Deibler made sure to let everyone know that he will play a role, but he just wasn't quite sure what that role was going to be quite yet.
The Ohio State basketball team will have to create a role for Puff Johnson
Diebler was unsure when Johnson was going to see the floor for the first time.
“As far as when he’s going to get on the floor, I don’t know,” Diebler said after the game. “He’s got to go through some things to get cleared at Ohio State. He and I have had conversations, and we’re hoping to get him here as soon as we possibly can and begin that process of him becoming a part of our team.”
Johnson is going to have to try not to mess with the chemistry that the team has built so far this season. With the Buckeyes trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years, they would certainly welcome a player who can help them do that.
Johnson will be a bench guy who gets spot minutes when he first sees the floor. He's not expected to play a major role for the team, but any role is better than no role.