Ohio State cliff notes game plan
5:30PM ET on BTN… We’re in your city @Dloading đź‘€ #Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/x25zlDZtFb
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 3, 2021
Look, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Or should I say, if you know what works, don’t get away from it. Let’s consider a couple of things here. Ohio State has more guys that can take the ball to the rim and finish — even through contact — than it’s had in recent memory. Also, the Buckeyes shoot free throws at a very high rate.
That all adds up to spreading the ball out and letting those that can create get things going towards the rim in this one. E.J. Liddell and Kyle Young can take advantage of things on the blocks, but the wings and guards should also look to proper and get some buckets in the lane as well. The template has been set for how this team wins games, and that’s it. Of course, there will be the open look from beyond the arc at times, but everything should start with taking the ball into the lane and then reacting from there.
Defensively, you know what this team is, and what it’s going to do. It’s going to run guys in waves with an aggressive man-to-man help out defense. However, it will make sense to rotate fresh bodies most specifically on guard Marcus Carr. If you can cut his legs off, you have a chance. Let him get loose and create, and it’s a bad day because he’s been fantastic this year.