I have no idea what to expect from the Buckeyes this year due to the turnover. They do bring back three starters, one of them a consensus All-American and NBA lottery pick.
The inside/outside game Craft and Sullinger will be able to play should be formidable. More consistency from Buford and Thomas will be needed. To deserve their lofty ranking, one of the young bigs is going to have to step forward. The transfer from BC (Ravenal) and Amir Williams seem most likely. Sibert will also need to provide a shooting spark to help keep defenses honest.
And there seems to be the key for me and why I wonder if the Buckeyes are currently barely a top 10 team. Matta likes to rotate 7, he currently has three knowns, but four unknowns on who is going to be in that rotation.
Williams, Ravenal, Lenzell Smith, Jr., Sibert, Shannon Scott, J.D. Weatherspoon? Or will Matta adjust to his depth that I see as I type out these names and go deeper on his bench than is his custom? No doubt, the Bucks are a top 10 team due to the depth of talent, but I see too many question marks to think they are an early season Final Four candidate.
An early season test looms in Florida, who also lost stars and experience from last year's team. Duke is also on the preseason schedule, so there are some good gauges prior to the conference season starting.
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