Where was the defense underneath
5️⃣-0️⃣#Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/2ANBGwNz7s
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 13, 2020
Maybe it’s just a one-time thing, but there were far too many easy baskets out of the half-court set for Cleveland State. The Vikings did a great job with pick and pops and finding the open creases in the lane, but guys had their backs to their men far too often in the paint.
It’s one thing to help out, it’s another to lose track of your man in prime real estate. Ohio State got outscored under the basket in this one, and that should have never happened against this squad. Certainly, Liddell’s absence had something to do with it, but if OSU doesn’t get that fixed, it’s going to be a long game Wednesday. It’s going to be even more of a problem against the likes of Iowa and Illinois who can get points on the interior at almost will.