When the season started, the Ohio State basketball team thought they were going to have a really good center. They added Aaron Bradshaw from the transfer portal. He was a former five-star recruit and entered the portal from Kentucky. Because they added him, Felix Okpara transferred to Tennessee.
Bradshaw ended up being investigated for a domestic incident after playing just four games for the Buckeyes. He was cleared, but he has not been playing up to the standard that the Ohio State Buckeyes thought he was going to play to. He no longer starts at center.
In fact, Bradshaw is putting up numbers you would expect to see from a borderline rotation guy, not a former five-star recruit. He is averaging just 6.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. For a seven-foot guy to only grab 2.8 rebounds per game is unheard of.
The Ohio State basketball team needs Aaron Bradshaw to step up
So far this season, Bradshaw has scored in double figures just four times this season. What's even worse is that he has only grabbed more than three rebounds in a game just three times. He now comes off the bench and needs to play a lot better if the Buckeyes want to make the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State needs better rebounding and rim protection. They thought they were adding both of those by adding Bradshaw. He has been a massive disappointment so far this season. He has recorded a block in each of the last four games, so that's something positive.
If they can get anything more out of Bradshaw, they have a real shot to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons. If he continues to play the way he has all season long, they might falter down the stretch. He has a lot of talent that he needs to tap into.
Jake Diebler needs to do whatever he can to get that talent out of him. This season likely depends on it. The horrible loss to Northwestern makes things a lot tighter for the team. They now have to win out to make sure they get in.