The 2021-22 Ohio State men’s basketball season will hinge on two huge variables that should be resolved — one way or another — in the next week or two. Those two variables are:
Is E.J. Liddell coming back for another year?
and
Is Duane Washington Jr. coming back for another year?
The two put their names into the NBA Draft pool after the 2020-21 season concluded in April, but have until early next month to withdraw and keep their collegiate eligibility. With the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19, Liddell would have three seasons left and Washington Jr.