Ohio State basketball’s Sean Stewart fits into the center role

On January 18, 2025By Littum

With the Cameron Crazies roaring, Arizona guard Keshad Johnson fed the post from the top of the circle. Wildcats no. 12 was tied at 54 against no. 2 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Johnson’s primary big man had been battling for position near the rim.

Oumar Ballo took the pass, spun over his right shoulder and went right into the body of Duke freshman Sean Stewart. The impact by the 7-foot, 260-pound Ballo sent the 6-9, 227-pound Stewart to the floor, earning a charge in the process.

Stewart played just 3:37 of Duke’s final 78-73 loss in the second game of the 2023-24 season, but on that possession he got the better of the bigger guy. They meet again on Friday night when Indiana heads to Value City Arena to take on Ohio State, and Stewart expects to get more than a limited shot against Ballo.

When the Buckeyes temporarily lost the services of opening-game starter Aaron Bradshaw, Stewart slid over to starting center and has remained there for the last 12 games, though the 7-1, 215-pound Kentucky transfer has returned to action for the Buckeyes. Barring a surprise lineup change or some sort of discipline for Ballo’s push/hit that earned him a late-game ejection in Indiana’s 94-69 home loss to No. 19 in Illinois on Tuesday, then matched the two openers against each other.

It’s not necessarily the role Stewart expected to hold when he transferred to Ohio State from Duke to play for first-year coach Jake Diebler, but it’s one the sophomore said he’s embraced.

“When I came here, I just wanted to contribute to the team in a big way,” he said. “When we lost Aaron for a little bit, I had to show some versatility and move to the 5, which I was fine with because I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team. It’s just continued because we got some good wins on that lineup. I just do what I can to help my team win, be versatile, switch positions, all that stuff.”

The plan when the season began was to play Stewart at power forward alongside Bradshaw at center. There would be plenty of mixing and matching along the way, especially as sophomore Devin Royal grew into a bigger role, but Stewart and Bradshaw have barely played together since the latter returned on Dec. 21.

Aside from one lineup that was on the floor for 2:05 in Tuesday’s loss at Wisconsin, it’s been either/or when it comes to the two former McDonald’s All-American Game teammates.

“We want to try to get them some minutes together at times,” Diebler said. “Their consistency improves with experience.”

Before Bradshaw’s absence, Bradshaw and Stewart started Ohio State’s first four games and played a combined 19:38. The Buckeyes scored 43 points and allowed 28 with the two on the floor together.

Since Bradshaw’s return, however, Stewart has begun to show signs of more consistent productivity. In his past five games, Stewart has averaged 6.4 rebounds and grabbed at least eight in four of those five. He has also shot 15 for 23 (62.2%) from the floor during that stretch.

Foul trouble has been a problem. Stewart leads Ohio State with 52 fouls, as does his average of 7.1 committed per game. 40 minutes. And yet, the past few games have shown a player on the verge of solidifying as a reliable contributor for a team with a frontcourt that needs more of it.

“Absolutely, our intention was for him to be a versatile forward, not a center,” Diebler said. “He’s also learning to take advantage of his speed and athleticism at that position. The biggest thing for him is to get minutes, get experience, grow. He’s shown an ability to really improve when he gets those consistent minutes.”

It will be necessary against Indiana. The Hoosiers boast the eighth-largest roster in the nation according to KenPom.com, one anchored down low by Ballo, Mackenzie Mgbako (6-9, 222) and Malik Reneau (6-9, 232), though the latter has missed four games due to injury and could return to play the Buckeyes.

Indiana has lost back-to-back games by 20-plus points and will seemingly enter Value City Arena with their season on the brink. Stewart said he’s approaching it like he has every other game this season.

“I go in there with the same mentality: fight my hardest, trust my teammates to have my back, whether it’s double teams or helping me cover ball screens,” he said. – Trusting my teammates and just playing as hard as I can.

[email protected]

@AdamJardy

Get more Ohio State basketball news by listening to our podcasts