Ohio State Basketball: Factors That Will Make or Break Buckeyes in 2014-15

The Ohio State basketball program has been far too impressive over the years under Thad Matta to lose a round of 64 game to Dayton in the NCAA tournament. That means the 2014-15 season is something of a bounce-back campaign.

The only way the Buckeyes will contend for a Big Ten crown and deep postseason run in March is if they take care of a few things that didn’t necessarily go their way last year.

With that in mind, here is a look at three factors in particular that could make or break Ohio State’s 2014-15 season.

Willingness to Run

Ohio State’s willingness to get out in transition this year will be critical based on the roster personnel alone.

Shannon Scott is a speedster at the point, and Kam Williams, Sam Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate, Marc Loving and even Anthony Lee are all capable of running the floor. That is some serious depth for Matta to work with (whether he actually does remains to be seen), which means Ohio State can wear some opponents out by instituting more of a fast-break approach.

While there is certainly plenty of talent in place, especially if the freshmen deliver on their potential, this is not exactly a roster built to pound the ball in half-court sets.

Scott still isn’t a great perimeter shooter on the outside, Thompson is better suited to slash to the basket in transition and Lee is not exactly a traditional post-up center. Loving and Williams can also maximize…

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