Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Preview Capsule

Published Oct. 26, 2017 1:15 p.m. ET

By The Associated Press=

Ohio State

Last season: 17-15, 7-11 Big Ten

Nickname: Buckeyes

Conference: Big Ten

Who's gone: G JaQuan Lyle, C Trevor Thompson, F Marc Loving, C David Bell.

Who's back: F Jae'Sean Tate. Senior is a fine small forward who led the team in scoring last year; F Keita Bates-Diop. Red-shirt junior missed most of last season with an injury in the ninth game. Averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds as a sophomore; C Micah Potter. Sophomore will have to step up as starting center after backing up Thompson last season. G C.J. Jackson. Junior will be counted on as the primary ball-handler as one of two point guards on the roster; G Kam Williams. Redshirt senior will start at two-guard spot. F Andre Wesson. Small forward played off the bench as a freshman.

Who's new: G Andrew Dakich. Graduate transfer from Michigan will back up Jackson at point guard; F Kaleb Wesson. Andre's brother is 6-foot-9 and will be expected to play right away. May be better than his brother; G Musa Jallow. Freshman small forward who Holtmann had pursued while still with Butler. F Kyle Young. Freshman committed to Butler but followed Holtmann to Ohio State. Long wing player will provide some depth.

The Skinny: New coach Chris Holtmann is trying to right a program that fell into disarray in Thad Matta's last couple of seasons. All five players in the 2015 recruiting class transferred out, leaving little depth. Tate, Bates-Diop and Jackson will feel the pressure to pace the club without much experience on the bench behind them. Freshmen are going to have contribute. Potter has got to be more physical in the middle. Even Holtmann acknowledges that it's probably going to be a tough season.