Key offensive player
Ohio State needs more consistent offense across the board, but JaQuan Lyle tops this category for having the greatest ceiling yet to be reached. As the point guard, Lyle will have to cut down on mental mistakes and show more maturity in order to grow into his all-Big Ten potential. He scored the ninth-most points for a freshman in program history and averaged 11.2 per game, but there is more for the scoreboard if Lyle can channel his game.
Key defensive players
Coach Thad Matta has lamented the lack of a true stopper seemingly since Aaron Craft left the program two years ago.