2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team

2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record20–12 (12–8 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaValue City Arena
Seasons
2021–22 Big Ten Conference
men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 19 Illinois 15 – 5   .750 23 – 10   .697
No. 14 Wisconsin 15 – 5   .750 25 – 8   .758
No. 10 Purdue 14 – 6   .700 29 – 8   .784
Rutgers 12 – 8   .600 18 – 14   .563
No. 16 Iowa † 12 – 8   .600 26 – 10   .722
Ohio State 12 – 8   .600 20 – 12   .625
Michigan State 11 – 9   .550 23 – 13   .639
Michigan 11 – 9   .550 19 – 15   .559
Indiana 9 – 11   .450 21 – 14   .600
Maryland 7 – 13   .350 15 – 17   .469
Penn State 7 – 13   .350 14 – 17   .452
Northwestern 7 – 13   .350 15 – 16   .484
Nebraska 4 – 16   .200 10 – 22   .313
Minnesota 4 – 16   .200 13 – 17   .433
† Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team represented Ohio State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Chris Holtmann, in his fifth season with the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes played their home games at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 20–12, 12–8 in Big Ten play to finish a three-way tie for fifth place. As the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost to Penn State in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 7 seed in the South region where they defeated Loyola in the First Round before losing to Villanova in the Second Round.

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Buckeyes finished the 2020–21 season 21–10, 12–8 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place.[1] They defeated Minnesota, Purdue, and Michigan before losing to Illinois in overtime in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South region. However, they were upset in the First Round by No. 15-seeded Oral Roberts, ending their season.

Offseason

On October 14, 2020, the NCAA announced that all student-athletes in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year, including men's and women's basketball, would receive an extra year of athletic eligibility.[2] Seniors CJ Walker and Kyle Young were eligible to use the extra year. Walker chose to forgo the extra year while Young remained with the team.[3][4]

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Musa Jallow 2 G 6'5" 210 RS Junior Bloomington, IN Transferred to Charlotte
Duane Washington Jr. 4 G 6'3" 210 Junior Grand Rapids, MI Entered the 2021 NBA draft
CJ Walker 13 G 6'1" 195 RS Senior Indianapolis, IN Graduated
Ibrahima Diallo 15 C 6'10" 220 Sophomore Saly, Senegal Transferred to San Jose State
Jansen Davidson Jr. 40 G 5'11" 190 Senior Kettering, OH Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Cedric Russell 2 G 6'2" 190 Graduate Student Alexandria, LA Transferred from Louisiana. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.
Joey Brunk 50 C 6'11" 255 Graduate Student Indianapolis, IN Transferred from Indiana. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.
Jamari Wheeler 55 G 6'1" 170 Senior Live Oak, FL Transferred from Penn State. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.

2021 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Malaki Branham
#4 SG 		Akron, OH St. Vincent–St. Mary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul 22, 2020 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Kalen Etzler
#21 PF 		Convoy, OH Crestview 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) May 12, 2019 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2022 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2022)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Roddy Gayle Jr.
SG 		Mount Pleasant, UT Wasatch Academy (UT) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Nov 13, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87
Bowen Hardman
SG 		Cincinnati, OH Princeton (OH) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 160 lb (73 kg) May 13, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Felix Okpara
C 		Branson, MO Link Year Prep (MO) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jul 20, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Brice Sensabaugh
SF 		Orlando, FL Lake Highland Prep (FL) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Sep 29, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Bruce Thornton
PG 		Alpharetta, GA Milton (GA) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Nov 26, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 86
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Meechie Johnson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 172 lb (78 kg) So Garfield Heights HS Cleveland, Ohio
G 1 Jimmy Sotos 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS Bucknell Elk Grove Village, Illinois
G 2 Cedric Russell 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Louisiana Alexandria, Louisiana
G 3 Eugene Brown III 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Southwest DeKalb HS Conyers, Georgia
F 10 Justin Ahrens 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Versailles HS Versailles, Ohio
F 14 Justice Sueing Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Sr California Honolulu, Hawaii
G 22 Malaki Branham 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr St. Vincent–St. Mary HS Columbus, Ohio
F 23 Zed Key 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) So Long Island Lutheran HS Bay Shore, New York
F 24 Kalen Etzler Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Crestview HS Van Wert, Ohio
F 25 Kyle Young 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) GS Jackson HS Canton, Ohio
F 31 Seth Towns Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) GS Harvard Columbus, Ohio
F 32 E. J. Liddell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Jr Belleville HS Belleville, Illinois
F 42 Harrison Hookfin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Lebanon HS Cincinnati, Ohio
C 50 Joey Brunk 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) GS Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana
G 55 Jamari Wheeler 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) GS Penn State Live Oak, Florida
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Roster[5]

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2021*
7:00 p.m., BTN+ 		No. 17 Indianapolis W 82–46 
 15 – Brown III   9 – Tied   3 – Tied  Value City Arena (8,302)
Columbus, OH
Regular season
November 9, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 17 Akron W 67–66  1–0
  25 – Liddell   11 – Liddell   3 – Tied  Value City Arena (11,947)
Columbus, OH
November 12, 2021*
7:00 p.m., BTN+ 		No. 17 Niagara W 84–74  2–0
  29 – Liddell   7 – Tied   6 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (9,749)
Columbus, OH
November 15, 2021*
6:30 p.m., BTN 		No. 19 Bowling Green
Fort Myers Tip-Off campus site-game 		W 89–58  3–0
  13 – Tied   9 – Key   5 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (9,808)
Columbus, OH
November 18, 2021*
6:30 p.m., FS1 		No. 19 at Xavier
Gavitt Tipoff Games 		L 65–71  3–1
  17 – Liddell   8 – Brown III   6 – Wheeler  Cintas Center (10,379)
Cincinnati, OH
November 22, 2021*
6:00 p.m., FS1 		vs. No. 21 Seton Hall
Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division semifinals 		W 79–76  4–1
  28 – Liddell   8 – Young   3 – Tied  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (3,500)
Fort Myers, FL
November 24, 2021*
8:30 p.m., FS1 		vs. No. 23 Florida
Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division Championship 		L 68–71  4–2
  23 – Liddell   5 – Young   3 – Ahrens  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (3,500)
Fort Myers, FL
November 30, 2021*
9:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 Duke
ACC-Big Ten Challenge 		W 71–67  5–2
  20 – Key   14 – Liddell   6 – Liddell  Value City Arena (18,809)
Columbus, OH
December 5, 2021
7:30 p.m., BTN 		at Penn State W 76–64  6–2
(1–0) 		 16 – Young   7 – Young   9 – Wheeler  Bryce Jordan Center (9,128)
University Park, PA
December 8, 2021*
9:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 21 Towson W 85–74  7–2
  18 – Young   9 – Key   5 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (9,472)
Columbus, OH
December 11, 2021
12:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 21 No. 22 Wisconsin W 73–55  8–2
(2–0) 		 28 – Liddell   14 – Young   5 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (13,856)
Columbus, OH
December 18, 2021*
5:15 p.m., CBS 		No. 15 vs. No. 21 Kentucky
CBS Sports Classic 		Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols at Ohio State T-Mobile Arena 
Las Vegas, Nevada
December 21, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 14 UT Martin Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols at Ohio State Value City Arena 
Columbus, OH
December 28, 2021*
6:30 p.m., BTN 		No. 13 New Orleans Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols at Ohio State Value City Arena 
Columbus, OH
January 2, 2022
8:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 13 at Nebraska W 87–79 OT 9–2
(3–0) 		 35 – Branham   14 – Key   5 – Liddell  Pinnacle Bank Arena (14,478)
Lincoln, NE
January 6, 2022
7:00 p.m., FS1 		No. 13 at Indiana L 51–67  9–3
(3–1) 		 13 – Branham   9 – Liddell   6 – Wheeler  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (14,130)
Bloomington, IN
January 9, 2022
5:30 p.m., BTN 		No. 13 Northwestern W 95–87  10–3
(4–1) 		 34 – Liddell   8 – Wheeler   6 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (10,620)
Columbus, OH
January 13, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 16 at No. 13 Wisconsin L 68–78  10–4
(4–2) 		 18 – Liddell   8 – Key   3 – Wheeler  Kohl Center (15,571)
Madison, WI
January 16, 2022
12:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 16 Penn State W 61–56  11–4
(5–2) 		 19 – Liddell   8 – Liddell   3 – Liddell  Value City Arena (13,565)
Columbus, OH
January 18, 2022*
7:00 p.m.[6], BTN 		No. 19 IUPUI W 83–37  12–4
  14 – Brown   10 – Liddell   9 – Sotos  Value City Arena (10,666)
Columbus, OH
January 27, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 16 at Minnesota W 75–64  13–4
(6–2) 		 23 – Liddell   15 – Liddell   5 – Liddell  Williams Arena (10,179)
Minneapolis, MN
January 30, 2022
12:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 16 at No. 6 Purdue L 78–81  13–5
(6–3) 		 20 – Tied   7 – Branham   3 – Liddell  Mackey Arena (14,804)
West Lafayette, IN
February 6, 2022
1:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 16 Maryland W 82–67  14–5
(7–3) 		 24 – Liddell   11 – Liddell   5 – Liddell  Value City Arena (15,912)
Columbus, OH
February 9, 2022
7:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 16 at Rutgers L 64–66  14–6
(7–4) 		 19 – Branham   12 – Key   4 – Liddell  Rutgers Athletic Center (8,019)
Piscataway, NJ
February 12, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 16 at Michigan
Rivalry 		W 68–57  15–6
(8–4) 		 28 – Liddell   8 – Brown   2 – Young  Crisler Center (12,707)
Ann Arbor, MI
February 15, 2022
8:30 p.m., BTN 		No. 18 Minnesota W 70–45  16–6
(9–4) 		 16 – Liddell   10 – Liddell   3 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (12,360)
Columbus, OH
February 19, 2022
2:30 p.m., FOX 		No. 18 Iowa
Rescheduled from February 3 		L 62–75  16–7
(9–5) 		 22 – Branham   8 – Tied   3 – Tied  Value City Arena (15,876)
Columbus, OH
February 21, 2022
7:00 p.m., FS1 		No. 22 Indiana W 80–69 OT 17–7
(10–5) 		 27 – Branham   7 – Liddell   3 – Branham  Value City Arena (13,744)
Columbus, OH
February 24, 2022
9:00 p.m., FS1 		No. 22 at No. 15 Illinois W 86–83  18–7
(11–5) 		 31 – Branham   6 – Liddell   3 – Wheeler  State Farm Center (15,544)
Champaign, IL
February 27, 2022
4:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 22 at Maryland L 60–75  18–8
(11–6) 		 13 – Branham   6 – Tied   3 – Branham  Xfinity Center (15,842)
College Park, MD
March 1, 2022
7:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 23 Nebraska
Rescheduled from January 22 		L 70–78  18–9
(11–7) 		 27 – Liddell   14 – Liddell   3 – Brown  Value City Arena (12,268)
Columbus, OH
March 3, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 23 Michigan State W 80–69  19–9
(12–7) 		 22 – Branham   8 – Liddell   4 – Branham  Value City Arena (14,951)
Columbus, OH
March 6, 2022
12:30 p.m., FOX 		No. 23 Michigan
Rivalry 		L 69–75  19–10
(12–8) 		 18 – Branham   13 – Liddell   3 – Wheeler  Value City Arena (18,809)
Columbus, OH
Big Ten tournament
March 10, 2022
9:15 p.m., BTN 		(6) vs. (11) Penn State
Second Round 		L 68–71  19–11
  25 – Liddell   8 – Liddell   4 – Branham  Gainbridge Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
NCAA tournament
March 18, 2022
12:15 p.m., CBS 		(7 S) vs. (10 S) Loyola–Chicago
First Round 		W 54–41  20–11
  16 – Liddell   10 – Liddell   2 – Branham  PPG Paints Arena 
Pittsburgh, PA
March 20, 2022
2:50 p.m., CBS 		(7 S) vs. (2 S) No. 6 Villanova
Second Round 		L 61–71  20–12
  23 – Branham   11 – Key   4 – Branham  PPG Paints Arena (18,506)
Pittsburgh, PA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[7]

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
AP1719RVRV21151413131619161616182223RVRVNot released
Coaches17т17т^RVRV2215131212151816161618192325RV

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References

  1. ^ "Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule 2020–21". ESPN. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "DI Council extends eligibility for winter sport student-athletes" (Press release). NCAA. October 14, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Lind, Andrew (April 12, 2021). "Ohio State Guard C.J. Walker Declares For NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Dooley, Josh (May 5, 2021). "Kyle Young is coming back to OSU for his basketball PhD, and we're all winners for it". Land-Grant Holy Land.
  5. ^ "2021–21 Roster". Ohio State Athletics.
  6. ^ "Men's Basketball Adds Game vs. IUPUI". January 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Ohio State Buckeyes Men's Basketball Schedule". Ohio State Athletics.