Offense was the talk of the preseason when it came to the Ohio State men’s basketball team.
As the Buckeyes made their way through summer workouts, intrasquad scrimmages and fall practice, conversations with any member of the coaching staff would invariably circle back to what was believed to be a potent, high-powered offense. With a roster of players praised for their high collective basketball IQ and a willingness to share the ball, the hopes for high offensive production would be underlined by Ohio State’s assist rate.
With a Feb. 5 game at Maryland on tap, the Buckeyes have been better than they were a year ago. Lately, though, those numbers have dipped, even as the offense has mostly remained prolific. Through 21 games, Ohio State has assisted on 52.4% of its made field goals this season, and sits nearly 100 spots better than it finished nationally last season.
Recently, though, it’s been a different story. Ohio State assisted on 56.1% of its made field goals while averaging 83.3 points per game through its first 17 games of the season, but since then, it has failed to crack 50% in a game while averaging 77.5 points in its last four games.
Statistical anomaly? A blip, or sign of something more?
Associate head coach Joel Justus primarily oversees the offense.
“If you look at just how those [last four] games specifically have played out, teams had made us make some more one-on-one plays,” Justus said. “What the assist rate doesn’t totally show is shots created from the pass. That’s something that if you just missed that shot, we are passing the ball, it’s just those shots aren’t falling.”
Assists and scoring aren’t necessarily cause and effect. According to KenPom.com, Ohio State has the No. 27 offensive adjusted efficiency rating in the nation, averaging 122.4 points per 100 possessions, while ranking 185th in assist rate. Illinois has the nation’s top-rated offense at 130.9 points per 100 possessions, but the Fighting Illini are 233rd in assist rate at 50.9%.
Yet, the Buckeyes have only had five games this season where they assisted on fewer than 40% of their made field goals. Three of them are in the last four games – 35.5% in an overtime home win against Minnesota, 37.5% in a loss at Michigan, 46.7% in a home win against Penn State and a season-low 32.1% in a loss at Wisconsin.
Ohio State still topped 80 points in each of those four games, save for the loss to the Wolverines.
“There’s so many factors,” Justus said. “We are still trying to play with the way we envisioned this team playing, with pace. You go back and talk about balance and pace or better execution, but for the big picture, how we space the floor and where we are at times and what we’re getting, sometimes it is a make-or-miss game.”
In Big Ten play, the Buckeyes are 16th in assist rate (46.8%) but sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency. Their adjusted offensive efficiency rating for the full season is on track to be the most prolific for the Buckeyes since the 2010-11 team finished No. 1 nationally at 125.0.
The Terrapins are 350th nationally in defensive assist rate, allowing teams to rack up helpers on 61.1% of their makes. In Big Ten play, they are dead last, allowing an assist rate of 62.8%. They are also 1-9 in league games with the No. 17 offense and No. 16 defense according to KenPom.
“Ultimately, it is an opportunity for us to go get a road win in the Big Ten,” Justus said. “I think these guys know that. We have a mature group who realizes the opportunity at stake.”
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dropping assist rate not a concern as Ohio State heads to Maryland
Reporting by Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
