Milwaukee Bucks: 5 players to watch in 2018 NCAA Tournament

2. Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes were not supposed to be any good this season. After letting longtime coach Thad Matta go late in the offseason, Chris Holtmann took over and was going to need time to turn the franchise back into a winner.

Instead Keith Bates-Diop was the best player in the Big Ten and the Ohio State Buckeyes pulled off big win after big win to finish 24-8 and claim a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. He not only won Big Ten Player of the Year, but was named a second team All-American.

Bates-Diop was the offensive engine for this team, pouring in 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He is strong enough to finish inside, skilled enough to shoot from outside, and defensively has the length and athleticism to be a lockdown defender.

The problem for Bates-Diop throughout his four-year career at Ohio State has been his consistency and motor. Under the bright lights of March he will have the chance to show NBA scouts whether he can lock in when the games matter. If so, he could rise out of reach of Milwaukee by the time the NBA Draft rolls around.