Scarlet Sunrise: Jake Diebler provides status updates on Bruce Thornton, Scotty Middleton

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Jake Diebler provides status updates on Bruce Thornton, Scotty Middleton

Ohio State started Tuesday night’s NIT game without freshman wing Scotty Middleton, and the Buckeyes finished the 88-83 first-round win over Cornell without sophomore point guard Bruce Thornton.

Middleton is attending to a family matter back home. Head coach Jake Diebler was asked how Middleton’s absence affected the Buckeyes and their rotations against the Big Red.

“It caused some adjustments certainly through the flow of the game,” Diebler said postgame. “Scotty and I have been in contact today. We’re thinking of him and praying for him and his family.

“I haven’t talked to him since the game has been over yet, but I’m sure we’ll touch base soon.”

Middleton is averaging 4.4 points per game this season but 6.3 points per game since Diebler took over as head coach. During that eight-game span, Middleton has shot a blistering 65% from beyond the arc. In other words, he’s converted 13-of-20 3-pointers.

He recorded four multi-make 3-point games in that run. To put that in perspective, Middleton had logged three such outings in his first 22 appearances for the Buckeyes.

Middleton also brought back the defensive intensity he delivered at the beginning of the season, serving as a catalyst for several Buckeyes transition buckets.

As for Thornton, he began his Ohio State career by starting 63 straight games, the longest such streak since Michael Redd started every game during his three years with the program from 1997-2000.

Thornton was first out of the lineup on Feb. 29 against Nebraska. And now he could be at risk of missing Ohio State’s second-round NIT game against Virginia Tech.

Thornton sprained his ankle in the second half against Cornell and didn’t play the final 10 minutes of the game while the Buckeyes traded blows with the Big Red before ultimately prevailing.

“It’s hard to navigate without Bruce on the floor. He’s a special player,” Diebler said postgame, when asked about playing without Thornton. “He’ll be evaluated as soon as we can.”

Jamison Battle, who knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, pointed out that the Buckeyes won games down the stretch without him (at Michigan State) and then without Thornton (against Nebraska).

“I think we handled it pretty well,” Battle said of Thornton going out. “And I think that’s something that is a testament to coaching, and it’s a testament to us rallying around each other. Because we’ve had opportunities where guys are hurt. … We don’t really let that affect us. Because, in the end, even if Bruce is out, he’s gonna be the biggest cheerleader on the side. And he’s gonna support us.”

Battle continued: “We got to rally around each other. And we’re a team, we’re a family. Coach always preaches the family aspect. That’s what we are.”

Not only is Thornton a captain, but he’s also Ohio State’s leading scorer and assist maker. Thornton is averaging 15.9 points per game and 4.6 assists per game this season. He ranks third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.78).

‘You kind of know it when you see it’: Hard work, faith lead Jake Diebler to his dream job

Incoming Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork didn’t have to look far to find his first hire. But Bjork maintains that, whether Jake Diebler was down the hall or from another program, he’d have been the right choice to lead the Buckeyes long-term.

Bjork met Diebler for the first time in-person at the beginning of March.

“I walked out of the room and I said, ‘This guy could do the job,’” Bjork said. “You kind of know it when you see it.”

Bjork sees the alumni support of Diebler, as well as his strong recruiting ties to Ohio, his current relationships with Buckeyes players and recruits and his in-game coaching skill as significant benefits.

To get the story on why Diebler was promoted and what this “dream” opportunity means for him, head on over here.

Ryan Day filling in as RBs coach as search for permanent replacement heats up

Longtime running backs coach Tony Alford left Ohio State to take the same position at Michigan. While the Buckeyes search for a replacement, head coach Ryan Day is working with the running backs.

He smiled talking about that responsibility, something he’s never taken on during all his years of coaching.

“I think it’s going to be good for them to see it through the eyes of a quarterback,” Day said. “It’s really good for them in the passing game. It’s good for them overall to understand from a high view on things. We’ve had great meetings. We have a very intelligent group in that room. They’re really good and they’re diligent about taking notes.”

For the full story, go here.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 164 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 255 days

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