The term one-and-done has become a phrase often spoken among traditional college basketball powers, but for mid-major programs such as Ohio, the phrase is as foreign as a No. 1 ranking.
Seven years ago, NBA commissioner David Stern put into effect a rule change that required players entering the NBA Draft to be at least 19 years old. Since then, the rule change has had a lasting influence on the complexion of the game.
The general mindset among basketball fans is that one-and-done players are bad for both the NCAA and the NBA.
While these young stars provide thrills for a season, the revolving door of players leaves some teams scrambling when two or three of its freshmen decide to enter the NBA Draft.
The lack of continuity from year to year has caused teams to struggle only a year after making a deep tournament run.
Take the 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes, for example.
Ohio State rode its freshman talent all the way to the NCAA Tournament championship game. But when Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook all decided to enter the draft, Ohio State was left with just a fraction of its team and missed out on the NCAA Tournament the following season.
But while traditional powers struggle to maintain success from year to year, mid-major teams are reaping the benefits.
Last season, two mid-major programs (VCU and Butler) made it to the Final Four, and Butler has played for the national championship each of the past two seasons.
Both teams were led by a group of upperclassmen.
There are six mid-major teams ranked in the AP Top 25, and not one of them regularly starts a freshman.
No. 14 Murray State is 26-1 and is led by three seniors and two juniors.
Of the seven players who receive significant minutes for No. 19 Wichita State, five are seniors and two are juniors.
Like Murray State, No. 22 Temple also starts three seniors and two juniors.In contrast, freshmen are being thrust into significant roles on some of the nation’s top teams, including top-ranked Kentucky, who is led by freshman Anthony Davis.
A lack of continuity on these teams has also created a lack of continuity at the top of the rankings.
North Carolina began the season ranked No. 1 but was knocked from its perch after suffering a 10-point loss to UNLV in November.
At times, the Tar Heels’ potential has shown, as they have averaged more than 82 points per game. But at other times, their inexperience shows, including in a 33-point loss to unranked Florida State last month.
Like North Carolina, No. 8 Ohio State is also led largely by a group of underclassmen. The Buckeyes flexed their muscle in a 22-point blowout of No. 5 Duke but looked weak in a loss at unranked Illinois.
The only taste of one-and-done Ohio has had was when Armon Bassett fled for the draft following the Bobcats’ 2010 NCAA Tournament run. But Bassett spent two years at Indiana before transferring to Ohio.
Ohio’s current squad has no seniors who receive significant minutes but consists of a group of sophomores and juniors who have been playing together for two or three years.
The Bobcats reached 20 wins faster than any other team during coach John Groce’s tenure but could be even better when all five of their starters return next season.
Rob Ogden is a senior studying journalism and the assistant sports editor at The Post. If you believe in the power of one-and-done, send him an email at ro137807@ohiou.edu.
