You’re Nuts: How many Buckeyes will average double-digit points per game? (2024)

Bruce Thornton averaged 15.7 points per game last season, and Meechie Johnson averaged 14.1. Both guards will be relied on to carry a significant portion of Ohio State’s offense this year, but in order to compete at the top of the Big Ten, others will have to produce more than they have to this point in college.

Beyond Thornton and Johnson, Micah Parrish is the highest scorer on this roster at 9.3 PPG, and then Aaron Bradshaw at 4.9 PPG. Growth up and down the roster is going to be crucial.

Last week, Connor and Justin debated what would need to be accomplished for Jake Diebler’s first season to be a success. Connor said hang a banner (Big Ten, etc.), and Justin said just make the NCAA Tournament.

Despite the heightened expectations that accompanied Diebler’s hiring, 75% of readers sided with Justin, asserting that the first-year head coach just making the NCAA Tournament would be a good starting point for year one.

After 155 weeks:

Connor- 75
Justin- 60
Other- 16

(There have been four ties)

This season, Ohio State is going to rely heavily on players who are rich in talent but lack experience and/or proven track records at the collegiate level. It’s possible that the Buckeyes trot out three starters who averaged less than five points per game last season.

Diebler and his staff are betting on those players blossoming this season now that they’re being given extended minutes. Johnson and Thornton will probably be Ohio State’s top two scorers, but there are several others who could develop into reliable options, too.

This week’s question: How many Buckeyes will average double-digit points per game?

Connor: Four or fewer

Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This team could realistically have four guys average 10 or more, starting with Thornton and Johnson. Both were all-conference players in their respective conferences last year, and it would not be a longshot for either of them to win 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year.

It’ll be interesting to see how ball handling duties are split up, since both guys are ball-dominant guards, and my guess is Thornton plays mostly point guard while Johnson plays shooting guard. Barring injuries, both of these guys will score way more than 10 per game.

Felix Okpara’s departure opened the door for Bradshaw to get penciled in as the starting center before he even arrived on campus for summer workouts. With Austin Parks as the only other true big man on the roster, I expect Bradshaw’s minutes to double from last season at Kentucky, when he played just under 14 minutes per game.

Especially if his three-point shot comes around, I think Bradshaw will sleep walk to 10 points per game. Jared Sullinger was the last Ohio State player to record 15 double-doubles in a single season (he had 18 during the 2010-2011 season). I think Bradshaw will have at least that many this year.

The (potential) fourth player who could average 10 is whichever of Devin Royal or Sean Stewart starts this season — and I expect one of them will. Royal already has a smoothness to his offensive game that shows how much potential he has. If it wasn’t for foul trouble, he would’ve averaged more than the 4.7 points per game he recorded last season. If he’s starting, he might get to 10 even with foul trouble. If he comes off the bench, probably not.

Stewart is a similar line of thinking. He said that he wants to show people that his offensive toolset is more than just “running and dunking,” but we haven’t seen a whole lot more than that thus far (he’s only played one season). If he’s coming off the bench, I’m not sure how long it will take him to get into a rhythm with a new program and start scoring in bunches consistently.

Justin: At least five

There’s are a couple of reasons why I believe the Buckeyes can have five guys average double-digits in points. It won’t be easy, but they have a roster and play style that could be conducive to high scoring.

First of all, there is no volume scorer on this team. Some might consider Meechie Johnson to be that, but I chalk his usage up more to that role at South Carolina as the go-to scorer. Johnson’s usage will likely decrease a bit now that he won’t be the primary ball handler, as Bruce Thornton should handle the majority of those duties to help free up Johnson a bit more.

Thornton, Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw will likely be the starting lineup. Devin Royal could average 10 points per game off the bench, but I don’t think he will consistently have the opportunity to do that. I think he will play 20-25 minutes a game, and there will certainly be games that he is in double figures, but the scoring likely won’t be at a high enough volume to average that.

However, I don’t think it is unreasonable to think that the entire starting five could average between 10 and 13 points per game. More than likely, the two guards will average more than that, but this is the most talented scoring frontcourt the Buckeyes have had in a while with Stewart and Bradshaw (potential-wise), and that could force more opportunities to them and away from the guards.

Also, we know Jake Diebler likes to run. This is going to be a high-octane, fast-paced offense that will score a lot of points. For obvious reasons, that gives more opportunities for more points and guys that can average double figures.