THE GOOD NEWS
Ohio State will have three starters back from a team that won the NIT. C Kosta Koufos has a chance to be one of the Big Ten's best players after having a fine freshman season -- assuming he withdraws his name from NBA draft consideration -- and winning Most Outstanding Player honors in the NIT. G David Lighty and G Evan Turner are steady in the backcourt. Two of the top high school players in the country, C B.J. Mullens and G William Buford, should make an immediate impact next season.

THE BAD NEWS
G Jamar Butler, the unquestioned team leader, graduates and will be missed as he finished his career as the school's all-time leader in assists and 3-point field goals. F Othello Hunter, who also graduates, provided a veteran presence in the front court. And there's a chance an NBA general manager will fall in love with Koufos size, shot and potential and convince him to stick in the NBA draft.

KEY RETURNEES
Koufos, should he return, has a chance to be a dominating presence now that he has a year of experience under his belt. He performed like the team's top player late in the 2007-08 season. Highly-touted freshman C B.J. Mullens would be better alongside Koufos but might have to replace him instead. Outside shooting should be a strength as G Jon Diebler should improve following an up-and-down freshman year. G William Buford is a blue-chip recruit.

ROSTER REPORT

--C Kosta Koufas was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player after scoring a game-high 23 points in the 92-85 win over Massachusetts in the championship game. The freshman averaged 18.4 points in the five NIT wins and finished the season with 535 points as he became only the 26th player in school history to reach 500 in a season.

--G Jamar Butler, a senior, finished his career as Ohio State's all-time leader in 3-point field goals (242), assists (580) and games played (139). He also set the single-season record for threes with 104.

--G Evan Turner had one of the best games of his freshmen season in the NIT championship game as he scored 20 points while making 5 of 6 field-attempts, including all three 3-pointers. Turner missed his career high in scoring by one point as he had 21 against Tennessee on Jan. 19.

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