LaQuinton Ross — expected to fill the only opening in the returning starting lineup — isn't wondering. He knows.

"I definitely think I've been waiting," said Ross, a junior who will replace Big Ten scoring leader Deshaun Thomas. "The fans have also been waiting, too, to see what I can do. They heard the buzz about me since I came out of high school. At the end of the year I gave them something to look forward to this year."

As the Buckeyes begin practice, a lot is riding on Ross, an acclaimed prep player who saw little action as a freshman two years ago and then blossomed late last season in the biggest games.

Ross, a silky 6-8 wing can shoot the 3, score on an isolation play or can muscle in a shot in the paint. He averaged 8.3 points a game before a terrific NCAA tournament. He averaged 12 points in the first two rounds, and then had 17 in the regional semifinals including 10 in a row in the second half before the Buckeyes were upset by Wichita State.

"The types of things he did at the end of last year are things he's going to come out of the gate with," guard Lenzelle Smith said. "Guys are kind of interested and excited to see what he's going to bring to the table."

When the opposition went on a run during last year's 29-8 campaign that included a Big Ten tournament title, it was the 6-foot-7 Thomas who always seemed to bail out the Buckeyes. But Thomas gave up his final season of eligibility to jump into the NBA draft and was taken by San Antonio.

The Buckeyes will certainly miss the 19.8 points per game he provided. But they will also miss his willingness to take over when a big bucket was needed most.


RED STORM RISING


Optimism is always high around college basketball programs this time of the year.

Not a loss, yet. Recruits still are rated according to their high school exploits.

At St. John's, the smiles are much wider than the last two seasons and the answer to the most-asked question comes quickly and sincerely.

"This is our year," junior point guard Jamal Branch said Thursday at the team's media day when asked to assess the upcoming season. "Not making the NCAA tournament, not making a run in the NCAA tournament, would mean we weren't successful and this team's too good for that."

Branch is one nine players returning from last season's 10-man rotation that went 17-16 and played in the NIT. Add in two offensive-oriented redshirt transfers and the future is brighter. 	Add highly regarded freshman point guard Rysheed Jordan and it's time to hand out sunglasses.

"Depth is a problem I embrace. It's a challenge I want," said coach Steve Lavin, who is starting his fourth season at St. John's. "I know none of our players has ever been to the NCAA tournament but we have upperclassmen — boy, that sounds good — and that experience is what we will have for the first time. These juniors were the only scholarship players on the roster when they were freshmen. Now there are 13 scholarship players.

"And then there's Rysheed. He is the most skilled player I have ever coached and that includes Baron Davis at UCLA. This is a special player."

Hearing what Jordan, a 6-4 scoring, passing sensation from Philadelphia, thinks of his approaching rookie season will have to wait a while.

In the tradition of Hall of Fame coaches such as John Thompson at Georgetown and Dean Smith at North Carolina, who kept their freshmen off-limits to the media until they were acclimated to the program, Jordan won't speak to the media until late December.

"We're doing it for Rysheed," Lavin said. "His mom has had some health issues and he's been so concerned over that. He had a close friend die this summer. He is experiencing being away from home for the first time, the separation from a family he is very close to and then there is the academic and athletic load being placed on him. That's a lot for a kid and I think we can help him by doing this. Look at it this way, he will be a nice Christmas gift for you guys."

The Red Storm, one of the 10 schools in the new Big East Conference, open the season against Wisconsin in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Nov. 8.


CYCLONE PLUG-IN


Few coaches have embraced senior transfers like Iowa State's Fred Hoiberg. He might have one of his best ones yet in former Marshall point guard DeAndre Kane.

The Cyclones will fill one of their guard positions with yet another "one and done" guard in Kane, who averaged 15.1 points and seven assists for Marshall last season and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors.

Iowa State, picked fourth in the Big 12 preseason poll, opens on Nov. 10 against UNC-Wilmington.

"He'll play with the ball in his hands a lot this year," Hoiberg said. "He's going to have the freedom to bring the ball up the floor."

Iowa State's hopes for a third straight NCAA tournament bid rest largely on Kane's ability to lead a revamped roster as both a point and shooting guard. 	But Kane's resume suggests he'll fit in nicely with the Cyclones.

Kane, who grew up in Pittsburgh, was the Conference USA freshman of the year in 2010-11 after redshirting his first season at Marshall.

He was asked to be a scorer as a sophomore and averaged 16.5 points — including a conference tournament record 40 points in a triple-overtime win over Tulsa.

Last season the 6-4 Kane doubled his assists total, tying for 11th nationally. He also joined Chaz Williams of UMass as the only players to average 15 points, four rebounds and seven assists a game. 	Kane's versatility will be crucial for the Cyclones, who lost Korie Lucious, Chris Babb and Tyrus McGee from what had been a stacked backcourt.

Contributor: The Associated Press