Dec. 13, 2025, 9:35 a.m. ET
- Ohio State’s basketball crew is ready for its high three returning scorers to have a robust efficiency in the identical recreation.
- Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, and John Mobley Jr. have all confronted challenges, together with accidents and inconsistent play.
- Coach Jake Diebler believes the crew has the next potential that has not but been realized.
Behind closed apply doorways, Ohio State has skilled what the remainder of the world is ready to see.
In Bruce Thornton (17.7 factors per recreation), Devin Royal (13.7) and John Mobley Jr. (13.0), the Buckeyes retained 55.8% of their scoring and their three most prolific scorers from the 2024-25 season. Collectively, the trio shaped a nucleus coach Jake Diebler constructed round whereas making additions through the switch portal.
All three have had moments by way of the primary 9 video games of the season, however because the Buckeyes go to Cleveland to play West Virginia for the third time in seven years, they’re nonetheless ready for all three to click on in the identical recreation. Thornton has been the regular star, scoring in double figures in every recreation and topping 30 factors twice, whereas Royal and Mobley have battled accidents and a few inconsistent play.
It’s why Diebler believes there’s nonetheless a greater model of Ohio State that hasn’t proven itself but.
“That’s the thrilling half,” he mentioned Dec. 12. “It may be irritating in the identical breath, however that’s the thrilling a part of what this crew can probably be, getting everyone enjoying at a excessive degree on the identical evening.”
Thornton is once more main the crew in scoring, this time averaging a career-best 21.7 factors, and had dished out a team-best 40 assists with 12 turnovers. Mobley’s scoring common is up barely to 13.7 factors, however his 3-point and free-throw percentages are each down in comparison with his freshman season. Royal’s scoring common is barely beneath final yr’s tempo and his rebounding common has dropped by two per recreation.
Royal and Mobley have each had mitigating circumstances. Royal missed a Nov. 11 recreation in opposition to Appalachian State with a hip harm and has moved from energy ahead final yr to small ahead this season whereas Mobley continues to be coping with a proper ankle harm suffered throughout the first half of the Nov. 28 loss at Pitt.
“It speaks to the toughness these guys need to battle by way of the nagging accidents they’ve handled as a result of none of them have missed two weeks straight of apply, but it surely’s in all probability made it laborious for them individually to get into extra of a rhythm,” Diebler mentioned. “It’s a part of the sport and we’ve received huge expectations for these guys. They’ve received to proceed to reply and actually maintain preventing to get again more healthy however whereas they’re doing that you simply’ve received to reply on gameday in an enormous method too.”
Each have had spotlight video games, too. Mobley scored 26 factors on 10-of-15 capturing in opposition to Mount St. Mary’s and likewise dished out a season-high eight assists within the season-opening win in opposition to IU Indy. Royal had 22 within the opener, equaled that quantity within the Pitt loss and is capturing a career-best 39.4% from 3.
After the 88-80 loss to No. 13 Illinois on Dec. 9, Royal mentioned he’s nonetheless adjusting to rebounding from the wing versus the submit however mentioned he’s assured he’ll enhance because the yr goes on. At some point earlier than the West Virginia recreation, Diebler mentioned getting all three gamers clicking on the identical time doesn’t essentially imply every man scoring 20 factors in a recreation. Getting the Buckeyes enjoying at a excessive degree requires these three, plus clearly the remainder of the roster, to play with “high-level resolution making” each offensive and defensively.
With a number of extra high-quality possessions in opposition to the Preventing Illini, the Buckeyes may have probably had a distinct end result. Three video games right into a five-game stretch of high-major competitors, Diebler mentioned it’s time to begin seeing extra of that.
“I’ve challenged a few these guys too: it’s time to step up and play at the next degree,” he mentioned. “That’s a part of being a vet. There’s a consistency required and I believe these guys are all able to that and I believe we’re on the cusp of doing that. Hopefully we will begin on (Dec. 13).”
When Thornton, Royal and Mobley have all been clicking in apply, Diebler mentioned the result’s a crew with excessive shot high quality that performs with tempo.
“They’re all gifted playmakers for themselves too, however once we’re letting the ball decide what we’re doing primarily based upon our chopping and spacing and tempo and everyone’s an accessible choice, we’re actually laborious to protect,” Diebler mentioned. “That’s what we’re striving to do. We’ve performed fairly properly thus far, however we’ve received one other degree to get to.”
Ohio State males’s basketball beat author Adam Jardy will be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
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