With 15 minutes remaining in Ohio State’s game against early-season cupcake Sacred Heart, freshman D’Angelo Russell had 30 points. Sacred Heart had 33.
It’s safe to say that the high-volume scorer was on his game Sunday. He finished with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field, nine rebounds and five assists in the 106-48 win and was clearly the best scorer on the floor.
The question now is whether the freshman star can carry the load as the Buckeyes’ top scoring option all season.
His pure talent would suggest that he can. It was not just the number of points he scored that really stood out to those watching on Sunday, but the number of ways in which he did it.
For starters, Russell drilled four three-pointers and demonstrated supreme confidence from deep. There was one play in particular when he held the ball in a triple-threat stance, sized up the defender for a few seconds and then simply let it launch over the outstretched hand. As if there was any doubt, it hit nothing but net.
Russell also slashed into the lane off the dribble and mixed in a combination of mid-range floaters and layups where he had to twist his way through multiple defenders in the air.
He doesn’t force the issue either and scores within the flow of the offense. He reached the 30-point mark with 15 minutes remaining in the game, and some freshmen would have tried to force shots and go for some scoring records, especially in a blowout. Instead,…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Basketball: Is D’Angelo Russell Ready to Be OSU’s Top Scoring Option?
