Key Player For Ohio State
"You can't leave Justin. He's gonna kill you." Kaleb Wesson on Justin Ahrens knocking down three-plus 3-pointers for the second straight game.
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) February 1, 2020
Justin Ahrens. Probably not the guy you would think of to determine the outcome of this one, but with the pace Illinois likes to play with, Ahrens will probably have to be used more than other games. His game is spot up and bomb away, and I look for the Illini to try and neutralize the other three-point shooters. He might find open shots more than any other player, and if and when he does, he has to deliver.
How It’ll All Go Down
Ohio State might be favored in this one, but this game spells trouble to me. With how thin the Buckeyes are, I don’t know that the pace the Illini are going to play with is something that OSU can withstand for the entire game. Look for this game to be close early on, but as it gets deeper into the contest, some turnovers and run-outs by Illinois will make all the difference because of a tired Ohio State squad.
Final Score
Illinois 74, Ohio State 66
Line
Ohio State … -5.5
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