Ohio State ended a four-year run of contention in the Big Ten with a modest 17-15 record last season. And even though the Buckeyes must replace three key veterans from last year's disappointing club, there is genuine hope for improvement in Columbus -- team depth, athleticism and versatility all appear to be on the upswing.

The Buckeyes welcome back big man Terence Dials and point guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, two talented players who were non-factors a year ago due to injuries.

Coach Jim O'Brien also welcomes in a quartet of newcomers who will help give the program a new look. Two of the newcomers, transfers J.J. Sullinger (Arkansas) and Tony Stockman (Clemson), will be asked to take on leading roles and make up for the offensive loss of guards Brent Darby and Sean Connolly.

"I think we can be a very good team," O'Brien said, "but that depends on a lot of things. Once again we're not sure where the points are coming from, and it's up for debate if we can be a better rebounding team. But I do think we'll be better in some areas."

FRONTCOURT

For the first time in four years, there are very real and deserved expectations for center Velimir Radinovic. The svelte 7-footer is OSU's leading returning scorer (9.3 ppg), and he played his best basketball during the Big Ten season; he scored more, rebounded better and shot at a higher percentage in league games.

The Buckeyes desperately need Dials to return to his form of two years ago and prove he can play alongside Radinovic at power forward when the team sports a big lineup. Dials missed nearly all of last season with a bad back but is expected to be ready to play this fall. That's good news considering Matt Marinchick and Charles Bass merit only spot time.

If O'Brien stays with a Radinovic-Dials rotation at center, it would be a sign of his faith that Shun Jenkins, a former junior college transfer, and true freshman Ivan Harris can get the job done at power forward. Harris adds an offensive bonus with a soft baby hook and legitimate range on his jumper, but O'Brien will need to remind him to stay on people.

"Ivan's an extremely good player," Sullinger said of Harris, the only McDonald's All-American O'Brien has recruited to Ohio State. "He's so far ahead of most incoming freshmen. He works hard and he's humble."

Often outmatched physically, the Buckeyes' big men somehow have managed to hit a high percentage of shots and hold their own on the boards in the O'Brien era. That will have to continue.

BACKCOURT

O'Brien has six players for three perimeter positions, and he is not averse to using all of them on a regular basis. The combinations will vary depending upon the given situation, but it is safe to say Fuss-Cheatham will see plenty of time at the point and lanky Matt Sylvester will be the primary wing.

Emonte Jernigan figures to back up at both the 2 and 3 positions, and Ricardo Billings will be a specialist who could appear anywhere in the backcourt.

That leaves the very intriguing duo of former Ohio prep stars Stockman and Sullinger, who returned home after starting their careers in the ACC and SEC, respectively.

"I like those guys," said former OSU star Michael Redd, who saw them in summer league. "They're hungry."

Added Sullinger: "That's why two people sitting out was better than one, because we had each other to talk to about it. Nobody really wanted to hear about next year but me and Tony. We can't wait."

FINAL ANALYSIS

OSU will be a much more athletic and dynamic team, which could pay big dividends on both ends of the court. Last season, certain players failed to contribute in any fashion if their shots weren't going down. This time, the Buckeyes will keep driving, cutting and attacking.

Making up for the loss of nearly 40 points per game -- from Darby, Connolly and Zach Williams -- on a team that scored right around 64 per night seems to be a tall order, but the Buckeyes will be dangerous now that O'Brien has more pieces with which to work.

With last season's disappointment as motivation, don't count out a 20-win season or a return to the NCAA Tournament for the Buckeyes.

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