Buckeyes’ Bates-Diop makes an impression
Big Ten player of the year ‘tremendous,’ awed rivals admit.
Like so many COLUMBUS — other teams, Michigan needed to see the type of season Keita Bates-Diop was having to believe it.
So when the Ohio State junior scored 10 of his 18 points during the second half as the Buckeyes overcame a 20-point deficit to win going away Dec. 4, the Wolverines were taking notes.
He hadn’t been the primary focus of the Michigan scouting report, a fact that coach John Beilein remedied for the rematch in Ann Arbor on Feb. 18.
And when the Wolverines won that game, it came in part by forcing Bates-Diop to take 17 shots to reach 17 points.
“When we saw him in early December, I think he was starting to play really well, but I don’t think he had the credibility to our team maybe — if you lay off him at all, he’s going to dot you right in the eye with a jump shot,” Beilein said Monday.
“I think the second time around there was a lot of credibility to how good a player he was. It wasn’t just me speaking or my coaching staff speaking, it was the whole league could tell you that. I think there was a great emphasis by our guys to not be, somewhat embarrassed, but he just took it to us in that (first) game. He was tremendous.”
Although Bates-Diop’s numbers dipped over the final five games against teams that were seeing him for a second time, his season averages of 19.2 points and 8.9 rebounds — coupled with a second-place finish in the Big Ten standings for Ohio State — landed him the conference’s player of the year award Monday.
Even with the increased attention, though, BatesDiop put up some big numbers late. His 24 points Friday at Indiana helped Ohio State secure a double-overtime victory in the final seconds despite dogged defense from Hoosiers guard Zach McRoberts.
“We felt Zach being a longer, bigger perimeter defender may have a better chance against him just because so much of what he does isn’t back-to-the-basket,” Indiana coach Archie Miller said. “He’s not beating you up or pounding you. They do a great job with how they use him, and to me he’s one of the better offensive players in all of college basketball.”
It was an assessment shared by multiple coaches. By putting longer defenders on Bates-Diop and hoping his outside shot wouldn’t fall, teams such as Minnesota, Penn State and Indiana hoped for the best.
“We may have slowed Keita Bates-Diop down ... (but) I don’t think by any stretch we have the formula,” Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said. “I think we caught Ohio State at the right time. I don’t want to give us too much credit.”
Even when that strategy worked, it usually opened up opportunities for other Buckeyes. That will be important as they open Big Ten tournament play Friday against either Northwestern or Penn State.
“He fits into what they’ve needed, and that’s a big thing, too,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “I’m a big Keita (Bates-)Diop fan, and I will remain that way until we play him.”