Ohio State Buckeyes
Overall Rank: #14
Conference Rank: #2 Big Ten
Following a disappointing 2018-2019 season, Ohio State finished 21-12 last season. It may not have been as impressive as their four year run from 2014 to 2018, but it was a step in the right direction. And with six of their top seven scorers returning, Coach Kevin McGuff’s team is poised to compete for a Big Ten title and make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
2019-20 Record: 21-12, 11-7
Coach: Kevin McGuff
Coach Record: 134-65 at Ohio State, 389-164 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Kierstan Bell, Guard, 10.9 ppg
Janai Crooms, Guard, 6.8 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Dorka Juhasz, Junior, Forward, 13.2 ppg
Jacy Sheldon, Sophomore, Guard, 9.6 ppg
Braxtin Miller, Senior, Guard, 8.2 ppg
Aaliyah Patty, Junior, Forward, 7.8 ppg
Madison Greene, Sophomore, Guard, 7.7
Rebeka Mikulasikova, Sophomore, Forward, 7.7 ppg
Key New Players
Tanaya Beacham, Senior, Forward, Grad Transfer from Toledo
Rikki Harris, RS Freshman, Guard
Gabby Hutcherson, Freshman, Forward
Anyssa Jones, Freshman, Guard
Kateri Poole, Freshman, Guard
Hevynne Bristow, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Providence, not eligible
Projection:
Junior forward Dorka Juhasz is the lone returning player who averaged double digits in the scoring department. On top of her 13.2 points, Juhasz added 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. She earned All-Big Ten First-Team honors last season and will be among the favorites to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors this season. Jacy Sheldon had a strong freshman campaign and averaged 9.6 points per game. She is a solid outside shooter and should emerge as the Buckeyes top scoring threat on the perimeter. Madison Greene is another promising sophomore who can shoot the ball. Braxtin Miller will again run the point after dishing out 3.5 assists per game last season. Aaliyah Patty will again start beside Juhasz and Ohio State has plenty of frontcourt depth. Rebeka Mikulasikova spent last season coming off the bench and the 6-4 sophomore will likely play that role again and the addition of Tanaya Beacham, a graduate transfer from Toledo, will give the Buckeyes plenty of experienced options. A solid recruiting class will largely benefit the backcourt with redshirt freshman Rikki Harris and incoming freshman Kateri Poole leading the way.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.5 (52nd in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.9 (212, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.4 (51, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.0 (128, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (57, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.1 (121, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.6 (198, 9)
Rebound Margin: 0.6 (167, 9)
Assists Per Game: 15.2 (47, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.2 (143, 9)
Madness 2020 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#32 Kateri Poole
#46 Gabby Hutcherson
