Ohio State Basketball: Analyzing Potential Starting Lineup Without Liddell and Washington
Ohio State enters the 2021-22 season as a consensus top-10 team, with some ranking them in the top 3. However, this projection assumes EJ Liddell and Duane Washington Jr. will return. Here's how the Buckeyes could line up if both players remain in the NBA draft:
Recruiting and Transfer Additions:
- Kalen Etzler (6'8" forward, 4-star recruit from Ohio)
- Malaki Branham (4-star shooting guard from Ohio, potential starter)
- Joey Brunk (Transfer center from Indiana)
- Jamari Wheeler (Transfer guard from Penn State, defensive specialist)
Projected Starting Lineup:
- PG: Jimmy Sotos
- SG: Justin Ahrens
- SF: Justice Sueing
- PF: Kyle Young
- C: Joey Brunk
Key Bench Contributors:
- Zed Key (Sixth Man)
- Seth Towns
- Jamari Wheeler
- Malaki Branham
- Meechie Johnson Jr.
- Eugene Brown III (Limited minutes)
Head coach Chris Holtmann will likely experiment with different lineup combinations throughout the season. Justice Sueing, Kyle Young, and Justin Ahrens are expected to be regular starters, though Ahrens may face challenges against strong defensive teams despite his three-point shooting ability.
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