Carly: The money is flowing, the governor is signing orders, but the point guard spot? It’s wide open. We’re diving into your questions on how Ohio State actually fills that hole.
Doug: It’s a unique situation in Columbus right now. You’ve got nearly seventeen million dollars from JPMorganChase hitting the athletic department every year, and a state executive order bringing back players who were previously ineligible. But you also have no starting point guard after Milan Momcilovic left for Kentucky. That is the tension we are unpacking today.
Carly: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we break down the college basketball landscape one story at a time. I’m Carly, alongside my partner Doug. If you’re new here, we are America’s number one daily sports podcast network, giving you the tactical deep dives and the fan-first perspective you need to dominate your water cooler conversations. Doug, let’s get straight into it. This is a mailbag episode, so we have some serious questions coming in about this specific roster construction.
Doug: That’s right. And as we mentioned in our previous episodes over the last few days, the narrative has been consistent: financial strength does not equal immediate on-court stability. We predicted an eighth-place finish in the Big Ten with around ten wins because pace, spacing, and rim protection all start with ball handling. Without a proven floor general, those $17 million jersey patches don’t help you execute the pick-and-roll read against Michigan or Purdue.
Carly: So, before we hit the first question, let’s lay out what we’re covering. First, we’re tackling the biggest headline: Governor Doug DeWine’s executive order allowing 2022 athletes to play again. Second, we’re looking at the roster battles and depth chart implications of losing Milan Momcilovic. And third, we’ll do a lightning round of hypotheticals and quick takes on the Big Ten projections. Let’s get to the mailbag. @RaidersRick asks: 'With Gov. DeWine signing that order for 2022 athletes, does that solve the point guard vacancy?'
Doug: @RaidersRick brings up a great point. The executive order is significant because it expands the pool of eligible veterans. However, we have to be careful not to assume that eligibility equals availability or talent. The brief notes that the NCAA’s new guidance normally excludes those who have played four seasons, but Ohio is carving out an exception. This helps with depth, sure, but if the current roster doesn’t have a natural ball-handler among those returning veterans, it’s still a vacancy.
Carly: Right, and remember, Milan Momcilovic transferred to Kentucky. He was the guy running the show. So unless one of these returned 2022 athletes was already seeing meaningful minutes as a secondary creator, you aren’t just swapping bodies; you’re changing the entire offensive rhythm. Doug, does this order change your win prediction?
Doug: Not necessarily. It keeps the ceiling slightly higher than if the roster was entirely freshmen, but it doesn’t fix the floor. Our prediction of eight wins and eighth place in the Big Ten stands because shot selection and rotation efficiency will suffer without veteran leadership at the top of the key. It’s a band-aid, not a cure.
Carly: Okay, moving on. Sarah from Columbus writes in: 'How does the JPMorganChase deal actually impact the team on the court? Does more money mean better recruits immediately?'
Doug: Sarah, this is the classic modern college basketball dilemma. Nearly seventeen million dollars per year from jersey patches across all thirty-six teams is massive infrastructure. It means better facilities, better training staff, and yes, it makes recruiting easier. But recruitment cycles are long. Those commitments made before the deal sign won’t show up on the court until later. In the short term, for the 2026-27 season, it’s just paper. The court reality is still defined by who is healthy and who can handle the rock.
Carly: Exactly. It’s a long-game strategy. For now, the Buckeyes have to win with what they have. Let’s look at another question. Marcus in Detroit asks: 'Who are the candidates to replace Momcilovic? Are there any transfers coming in?'
Doug: Marcus, the brief mentions tracking player movement across key programs with only a month left until tip-off. While we don’t have specific transfer names listed in the data for Ohio State right now, the vacuum created by Momcilovic going to Kentucky is huge. Usually, when a primary ball-handler leaves, you see late-season transfer portal activity. Given the JPMorganChase resources, Ohio State should be aggressive. But until a name is announced, the internal candidates—likely guards who saw limited action—are the ones stepping up.
Carly: And that uncertainty is why we stick to the tenth-win projection. You can’t build a system on speculation. Okay, let’s pivot. We have three questions on roster battles and depth charts. This is Segment Two.
Carly: First up, we have a question from '@BuckeyeFan88': 'Without Momcilovic, who is handling the pressure in half-court sets? Is the team switching to a more motion-heavy offense?'
Doug: @BuckeyeFan88, that is the tactical heart of the issue. When you lose a primary creator, you often see a shift toward motion offenses to create separation without relying on isolation skills. However, motion requires high IQ and precise timing. If your new point guard is inexperienced, the defense will blitz the pick-and-roll and force you into tough mid-range jumpers. That is bad shot selection. I expect them to try to simplify the reads, which might lead to more turnovers early in the season.
Carly: So, more turnovers, less efficient scoring. That sounds like a recipe for close losses. Let’s go to the next question. Jessica from Cleveland asks: 'Does the return of 2022 athletes help the frontcourt or just the backcourt?'
Doug: Jessica, typically, executive orders affecting eligibility impact whoever is available. Since the brief highlights the point guard vacancy specifically, it implies the backcourt is the area of greatest concern. However, rim protection and rebounding are also critical. If any of those returning 2022 athletes are big men, they provide crucial veteran presence in the paint. But without knowing the exact positions of those athletes, we have to assume the coaching staff is prioritizing the guard spot due to the Momcilovic departure.
Carly: Makes sense. It’s all about filling the most dangerous holes first. Next question comes from 'Tommy in Toledo': 'How does the Big Ten landscape look for OSU this year? Are there any easy wins?'
Doug: Tommy, 'easy' is a relative term in the Big Ten. With Denzel Aberdeen’s team being favorites in bracketology discussions, the conference is stacked. Ohio State projecting eighth means they are likely middle-of-the-pack. There are no guaranteed wins in Ann Arbor, East Lansing, or West Lafayette. Every game is a seven-point possession swing. The JPMorganChase money helps with depth, allowing you to survive foul trouble, but it doesn’t make the opponents worse.
Carly: Right, so you have to grind out those wins. Let’s keep going. 'Sarah from Rochester' asks: 'Is the coaching hot seat really in play for Ohio State? The headlines mention it.'
Doug: Sarah, the headlines about the coaching hot seat usually include national figures like Izzo or mid-major darlings. For Ohio State, the job security is tied to the baseline expectation: making the tournament. Given the eighth-place projection, if they miss the tourney, there will be chatter. But with the financial infusion and the state support, it’s unlikely to be an immediate fire sale. They have the resources to absorb one difficult year while they figure out the roster.
Carly: Okay, that leads us perfectly into our final segment. We’re doing a fun hypothetical and a lightning round of quick takes. This is Segment Three.
Carly: Let’s start with a hypothetical. If Ohio State could magically import ONE point guard from the transfer portal right now, who do you want, Doug? Based on the stats and style we know.
Doug: I’d want someone who excels at pace control. Someone who can slow the game down when needed and protect the ball against pressuring defenses. You don’t need a scorer; you need a distributor who understands spacing. Someone who can run the pick-and-roll without forcing the issue. That stabilizes everything else on the floor.
Carly: Agreed. Stability over flash. Now, lightning round! Quick takes on these headlines. First: 'NCAA Bracketology predicting the 2027 March Madness field.' What’s the takeaway?
Doug: The takeaway is that parity is real. Even with favorites identified, the bubble is tight. For Ohio State, earning an automatic bid might be harder than getting an at-large if they finish eighth. Every loss hurts their resume significantly.
Carly: Second headline: 'Top 25 players regardless of class, led by Beckham Black.' How does this affect recruiting for OSU?
Doug: It raises the bar. If Ohio State wants to compete in the Big Ten long-term, they need to attract talent like Beckham Black. The JPMorganChase deal gives them the leverage to pitch a vision of professional development and elite facilities. It’s about selling the future, even if the present is shaky.
Carly: Final headline: 'Vitale’s 12 storylines.' Any OSU-specific items standing out?
Doug: The focus is always on the big picture. For us, the storyline is resilience. Can a program with massive financial backing overcome a critical on-court void? That’s the narrative arc for the season.
Carly: Alright, fans, that’s our mailbag. We talked about the DeWine order, the JPMorganChase millions, the point guard vacancy, and why we’re sticking to our eighth-place prediction. Before we go, we need to ask for your help. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or commute, a small contribution is what keeps the show free and daily. Please chip in via the link in the episode description. It truly helps us keep delivering the analysis you love.
Doug: We appreciate every listener who supports the network. Your support ensures we can keep breaking down the tactics, the rosters, and the stories that matter. Stay tuned for our next episode where we’ll track how the season starts for Ohio State.
Carly: Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. Share it with a friend who needs to hear this. Until next time, keep your eyes on the ball and trust the process. Go Bucks!