On Campus: Ohio State is No. 1 first-half surprise

Of the 10 first-half surprise teams, nobody comes close to Ohio State as the NCAA's "second" season gets under way next week.

If the Buckeyes come close to replicating their first-half performance, NHL alums like Ryan Kesler, David Steckel, and RJ Umberger will be texting second-year coach Mark Osiecki with congrats for a CCHA championship and the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

With 13 overall wins (13-4-1), one behind Minnesota and tied with defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth, along with a five-point bulge atop the league standings at 10-3-1, the Buckeyes are on a roll that includes just two losses since Oct. 21, a sweep of archrival Michigan, and a split with Notre Dame and Michigan State.

All of this is good for a No. 4 national ranking.

"We have 13 new players, 12 freshmen and a transfer," said Osiecki, who assisted Mike Eaves at Wisconsin before coming to Columbus. "Eighteen players are no longer here from when we first came in, either graduating or leaving the program. So it's been interesting to see how the whole thing has transformed."

While transformation is a daily process for the Buckeye roster, there is no shortage of it in Osiecki's resume.

He played on the 1990 Badgers title team and assisted Eaves when Wisconsin won it all in 2006 before losing the 2010 final.

"We're certainly a lot further along than where we thought we'd be and obviously glad about it, but it's all about where we need to go and what we need to do," Osiecki told NHL.com this week. "We need to keep the young guys from thinking too much. While we do talk about the successes, we try not to get too high and caught up in it. You want to embrace it because it's the level you want your program to be.
 
"It was like that at Wisconsin; you walked with a little swagger and enjoyed the success."

The four seniors will manage the swagger-and-success factor.

"The captains, Sean Duddy and Cory Schneider, have really done the job," Osiecki said. "They've taught the young kids all about Ohio State, from school to the social aspects and how we want to carry ourselves. They are extremely bright young men and do everything the right way -- great examples of how we want to grow the culture here. We all want to put a stamp on the way we want the program to be."

A pair of seniors -- Danny Dries, second on the team in scoring, and Cal Heeter between the pipes -- complete the leadership piece.

"We play on our toes because we have great goaltending," Osiecki said. "Brady Hjelle, a transfer behind Cal Heeter has done a great job as well. Cal bought into what it takes to be a high-level athlete at the hockey level."

Add the defense and what the freshmen bring to the table, and Ohio State is poised for continued second-half momentum.

"It's a solid team defense with depth and no so-called superstars," Osiecki said about his blue line led by Duddy, Devon Krogh, and Curtis Gedig, who have also chipped in with 28 combined points. "The younger guys on defense are still adjusting to the speed of the game."

Meanwhile, the younger guys up front are creating their own tempo.

"With 12 freshmen," Osiecki said, "we'll need to lean on them. Brian Dzingel is an offensive and gifted player and very dynamic. Darik Angeli plays like a pro player -- big body who skates well and goes to the net hard. Then you have Matty Johnson and Max McCormick, who have played well."

Overall, Osiecki said, "No one cares who gets the credit."

What are the keys to January and February as a springboard to what March and maybe April brings?

"Consistency is the focus, and we see that in practice when the inconsistencies creep in; probably youth showing up," Osiecki said. "We need to shed that. Getting to the 'Joe' for the CCHA playoffs is what we're striving for; those experiences help a young group. And, of course, the NCAA tournament.
 
"That's how you become a Michigan or a Wisconsin."