Ohio State cliff notes game plan
This Ohio State offense is becoming a very efficient one and for good reason. It has multiple guys that can score and take advantage of mismatches when they present themselves. Against Penn State, that mismatch appears to be in the paint. The Buckeyes have looked for E.J. Liddell all season long, but would be well-advised to do so even more in this one. The Buckeyes don’t employ a big lineup either, but Lidell and Kyle Young are great at playing bigger than their height.
They both use their body well and get high percentage shots off against players bigger than they are. And in this one, the tallest player Penn State will throw out on the court is the 6-foot, 9-inch John Harrar. Look for the Buckeyes work touches through the paint in this one and play off the action that occurs afterward.
Defensively, Penn State is strong at the guard spot. The Nittany Lions shoot the ball pretty decent from the three-point line but can really do damage when the guards penetrate and cause issues in the paint. In the last couple of games, the guards have made it to the free-throw line a bunch with penetration. Ohio State would be wise to take away dribble drives and force Penn State into long jumpers as opposed to denying things out on the wings.
However, caution persists. It has to be a straight-up man-to-man effort without too many double teams because PSU can hurt you from multiple spots on the floor as well. Five guys averagee in double figures so OSU has to rally to the ball and rebound.