Transfer portal needs to yield better results
Mar 1, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Cedric Russell (2) dribbles the ball as Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Kobe Webster (10) defends during the second half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State basketball program has used the transfer portal a great deal under Chris Holtmann. They have grabbed a number of players over the five years that Holtmann has been in charge. Not a lot of those players have made a big impact on the team’s success though.
Of the players that Holtmann has grabbed in the portal, I would argue that only Keyshawn Woods had a big impact on the team. You could maybe talk me into Jamari Wheeler, but he was only average this past season as a grad transfer. C.J. Walker was fine too. No one else has done much.
Players like Seth Towns, Jimmy Sotos, Cedric Russell, Joey Brunk, and Andrew Dakich did next to nothing while they were here. Towns can still come back, but he is not going to be nearly the same player he was at Harvard even if he does play basketball again.
The jury is still out on Justice Sueing. He wasn’t very good last year but only played two games this season before an injury shut him down. If he comes back next season, he will have every opportunity to be the lead guy on this team if Malaki Branham leaves.
Transfers aren’t how programs are supposed to build their rosters, but they should still make some sort of positive impact. Holtmann hasn’t been able to get meaningful minutes from most of his transfers. The portal figures to be a big part of this upcoming offseason as well.
We’ll see what kind of players Holtmann is able to bring in from the portal this summer. If they are able to make more of an impact, then the Buckeyes will be in better shape. If it’s the same old story though, this team will once again disappoint in the month of March.