The smile creasing across Amare Bynum’s face arrived almost as easily as the lob pass from John Mobley Jr. had a few moments before.
With roughly four minutes to play in the first half and the Ohio State men’s basketball team in the process of burying visiting Western Michigan on Nov. 20, redshirt sophomore guard Gabe Cupps deflected a pass to stunt a fast-break opportunity for the Broncos. The ball popped to Mobley, who turned back upcourt, crossed the midline and saw only Western Michigan freshman Brady Swartz between him and Bynum, who was streaking toward the basket down the left flank.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementImmediately, Mobley said he knew what was going to happen.
“I was just waiting for the defender to take a little step,” he said. “Amare doesn’t need too much space, so as soon as he took that step and I threw it I knew he was going to make the play.”
Ohio State was already leading 39-14 and well on its way to a 91-58 win, but Mobley’s alley-oop from the right elbow hit the soaring Bynum in stride, allowing him to throw down a right-handed finish as Swartz valiantly tried to stop it. For the player unanimously voted Ohio State’s best dunker in a preseason poll of his teammates, Bynum’s fifth of the season was a personal highlight for the freshman on a night where he took top statistical billing.
Bynum finished that game with 12 points and a game-high-tying 10 rebounds, marking his first double-double at the collegiate level. He wasn’t the only Buckeye to do so – junior Devin Royal also had 10 points and 10 rebounds – but for Bynum it felt like the latest in a growing pile of evidence that bigger things are ahead for him during his freshman season.
“It builds (my confidence) a lot, seeing that my work is paying off, seeing that I can actually be at this level,” he said. “Just keep working.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPer coach Jake Diebler, that has not been a question for Bynum since his arrival on campus. A four-star prospect from Omaha, Nebraska, who spent his senior season at Branson (Missouri) Link Academy, Bynum has quickly made an impression on the Ohio State coach for not just his competitive nature but his ability to take hard coaching and still play with joy.
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Amare Bynum (1) drives the ball against Western Michigan Broncos forward Hudson Ward (8) in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.That full picture was on display against the Broncos. After Bynum lost the ball out of bounds during the first half for his lone turnover of the game, the freshman got some quick instruction from Diebler telling him that if a defender knocks the ball out of his hands, don’t try to grab it and risk dropping it.
“He’s already becoming an all-time favorite guy to coach because he plays with unbelievable joy,” Diebler said. “It’s not a joy that lacks competitive spirit or toughness and physicality, but he loves the game. He comes to work with a smile but plays with toughness too.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThrough five games, Bynum is fourth on the team in scoring average (7.8) and rebounding average (4.2) despite sitting seventh in minutes played per game (16.2). Among a cast of reserves Dielber has described as talented but in need of experience, Bynum has established himself as the most productive player to come off the bench this season.
He’s also got what Bynum said people tell him is a smile “that lights up the room,” and it was on display after the Western Michigan game. With one more mid-major opponent on the schedule before a run of five straight games against power conference teams, Bynum’s continued growth will be critical to Ohio State’s hopes of growing into an NCAA Tournament team by season’s end.
“There’s been some ups and downs to every game, but I’ve been adjusting really well,” he said. With a smile.
Ohio State men's basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at [email protected], on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Off the bench, Ohio State's Amare Bynum bringing production and 'joy'
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