Ohio State’s frontcourt fix: Why the center rotation could define 2027
With Josh Ojianwuna anchoring the paint, Andrija Jelavic stretching the floor, and Ivan Njegovan providing depth, Ohio State’s new center rotation offers the balance and flexibility it lacked.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 09: Andrija Jelavic #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Rupp Arena on December 09, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images Ohio State’s late-season surge gave a glimpse of what the program can be when things click. The guards found rhythm, Amare Bynum emerged as a legitimate frontcourt piece, and the offense found balance.
But even at its best, one issue never fully disappeared. Interior consistency. That is where next season’s roster looks different.
Not because of one player, but because of three. Ohio State is quietly building a center rotation that offers something it has not consistently had in recent years, size, efficiency, and lineup flexibility. And at the center of it all is a player who did not play a single minute last season.
Josh Ojianwuna: The foundation Ohio State never had Josh Ojianwuna’s importance starts with what he already proved before arriving in Columbus. At Baylor, he was not a project. He was a reliable, high-efficiency contributor who played in 87 games with 24 starts and steadily grew into a key piece of a high-major rotation.
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