Ohio State Basketball: Breaking Down the Buckeyes Bench for 2014-15 Season

The Ohio State basketball program is about to find out if winning a Big Ten championship without the benefit of an established superstar is a possibility. The only way to do that is with critical contributions from the bench and a scoring-by-committee approach.

With that in mind, what will the bench actually look like for the Buckeyes in the 2014-15 campaign?

We projected the starting lineup earlier this offseason, and the thought here is that Ohio State goes with Shannon Scott, D’Angelo Russell, Sam Thompson, Marc Loving and Anthony Lee.

It is certainly possible that Amir Williams cracks that group alongside Lee in the frontcourt, but the bench will be an imperative part of the attack either way.

The backcourt is not as deep as it has been in the past, which is why Russell’s commitment is so critical. He is versatile enough to play either point guard or shooting guard and gives Thad Matta an option at either position.

In terms of bench production, one person fans should not overlook is Kam Williams. Williams redshirted last year after a preseason bout with mononucleosis, so he is virtually a freshman in terms of experience. He can absolutely drain it from downtown, slash to the lane off the bounce and finish at the rim in dramatic fashion.

In fact, Williams could very well challenge Thompson for the title of best Buckeye dunker this year. He is also very quick with his hands and lateral speed, which will help him provide pressure defense next to…

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