The Ohio State basketball team played one of the worst games they've played in years on Saturday. They got absolutely throttled by Auburn. It was the second time in the past three games that they have been non-competitive in a game, with the other one coming against Maryland.
Tuesday night was an opportunity to get that bad taste out of their mouth. They were able to do that, and then some against Valparaiso. The Buckeyes destroyed Valpo 95-73 in a game that was out of hand for 75% of the game. Devin Royal was a big reason for that.
In a season where not a lot has gone right for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Royal has been a welcome bright spot. He had 31 points and 15 rebounds in this game, both career-highs. He did so on 11/16 shooting from the field. He has been the second-best player for this team all year long.
Devin Royal has a career-best day as the Ohio State basketball team beats Valpo
Royal has really made a big leap as a sophomore. Only Bruce Thornton has been more consistent this season. He had 14 points on 6/11 from the field. He would have had more had he not been saddled with foul trouble throughout the game. Thornton also led the team in assists with six.
The Buckeyes need both Royal and Thornton to keep playing at the level that they are now that they are down two starters. Ohio State needs both Aaron Bradshaw and Meechie Johnson if they want to make noise in the Big Ten and make the NCAA Tournament.
We're going to see just how badly the team misses Johnson soon. Ohio State has to take on fourth-ranked Kentucky on Saturday in Madison Square Garden. It's another brutal game in what has been a very tough non-conference schedule.