Behind closed practice doors, Ohio State has experienced what the rest of the world is waiting to see.
In Bruce Thornton (17.7 points per game), Devin Royal (13.7) and John Mobley Jr. (13.0), the Buckeyes retained 55.8% of their scoring and their three most prolific scorers from the 2024-25 season. Together, the trio formed a nucleus coach Jake Diebler built around while making additions via the transfer portal.
All three have had moments through the first nine games of the season, but as the Buckeyes go to Cleveland to play West Virginia for the third time in seven years, they are still waiting for all three to click in the same game. Thornton has been the steady star, scoring in double figures in each game and topping 30 points twice, while Royal and Mobley have battled injuries and some inconsistent play.
It’s why Diebler believes there is still a better version of Ohio State that hasn’t shown itself yet.
“That’s the exciting part,” he said Dec. 12. “It can be frustrating in the same breath, but that’s the exciting part of what this team can potentially be, getting everybody playing at a high level on the same night.”
Thornton is again leading the team in scoring, this time averaging a career-best 21.7 points, and had dished out a team-best 40 assists with 12 turnovers. Mobley’s scoring average is up slightly to 13.7 points, but his 3-point and free-throw percentages are both down compared to his freshman season. Royal’s scoring average is slightly below last year’s pace and his rebounding average has dropped by two per game.
Royal and Mobley have both had mitigating circumstances. Royal missed a Nov. 11 game against Appalachian State with a hip injury and has moved from power forward last year to small forward this season while Mobley is still dealing with a right ankle injury suffered during the first half of the Nov. 28 loss at Pitt.
“It speaks to the toughness those guys have to battle through the nagging injuries they’ve dealt with because none of them have missed two weeks straight of practice, but it’s probably made it hard for them individually to get into more of a rhythm,” Diebler said. “It’s part of the game and we’ve got big expectations for those guys. They’ve got to continue to respond and really keep fighting to get back healthier but while they’re doing that you’ve got to respond on gameday in a big way too.”
Both have had highlight games, too. Mobley scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting against Mount St. Mary’s and also dished out a season-high eight assists in the season-opening win against IU Indy. Royal had 22 in the opener, equaled that number in the Pitt loss and is shooting a career-best 39.4% from 3.
After the 88-80 loss to No. 13 Illinois on Dec. 9, Royal said he’s still adjusting to rebounding from the wing as opposed to the post but said he’s confident he’ll improve as the year goes on. One day before the West Virginia game, Diebler said getting all three players clicking at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean each guy scoring 20 points in a game. Getting the Buckeyes playing at a high level calls for those three, plus obviously the rest of the roster, to play with “high-level decision making” both offensive and defensively.
With a few more high-quality possessions against the Fighting Illini, the Buckeyes could have potentially had a different outcome. Three games into a five-game stretch of high-major competition, Diebler said it’s time to start seeing more of that.
“I’ve challenged a couple of those guys too: it’s time to step up and play at a higher level,” he said. “That’s part of being a vet. There’s a consistency required and I think those guys are all capable of that and I think we’re on the cusp of doing that. Hopefully we can start on (Dec. 13).”
When Thornton, Royal and Mobley have all been clicking in practice, Diebler said the result is a team with high shot quality that plays with pace.
“They’re all gifted playmakers for themselves too, but when we’re letting the ball determine what we’re doing based upon our cutting and spacing and pace and everybody’s an available option, we’re really hard to guard,” Diebler said. “That’s what we’re striving to do. We’ve done pretty well so far, but we’ve got another level to get to.”
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at [email protected], on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
