The Ohio State basketball program continues to deal with some negative momentum. The latest, guard JaQuan Lyle, the third leading scorer on the team last year, was arrested for public intoxication, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. When word broke of Lyle's arrest, Ohio State let the media know that Lyle had quit the basketball team on April 11.
With Lyle gone, it leaves a significant hole in the back-court. C.J. Jackson will return as the starting point guard with freshman Braxton Beverly, the back-up. Lyle is not the only Buckeye to move on this off-season, as big man Trevor Thompson has moved on--declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft and signing with an agent.
The question now becomes, where does Thad Matta go from here? The Buckeye coach is coming off his worst season, as OSU went 17-15 and failed to qualify for any post-season tournament. They do have leading scorer Jae'Sean Tate back and the injured Keita Bates-Diop should return but the Buckeyes, as it stands, lack depth.
The current scholarship players are Tate, Bates-Diop, Jackson, Micah Potter, red-shirt freshman Derek Funderburk, Kam Williams and Andre Wesson. Beverly and Kaleb Wesson are the incoming freshman. Ohio State has been recruiting a handful of players this spring, including potential graduate transfers but so far have not added any players.