Tag: Buckeyes Basketball

Five things we learned about Ohio State’s loss to Duke

What were your takeaways? #GoBucks

Duke used a late first-half run to gain a 39-29 lead at intermission and never relinquished it until the final buzzer sounded as Ohio State fell 81-72 on Wednesday night in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup. It was a tough game for the Buckeyes, but one where they had their chances to win. Here are five things we learned during OSU’s loss to the Blue Devils.

Ohio State has a shot at a season-turning win against Maryland

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a chance to down the No. 7-ranked Maryland Terrapins, and they can’t miss their shot at redemption.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, much like they were in January, are entering a pivotal stretch of the season.

The team had a solid few games prior to a road loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, a performance that left many scratching their heads about this Buckeyes team. This wasn’t the same team we saw at the season commencement.

The lineup that took the floor Thursday didn’t even feel like the same team that defeated Michigan on the road just a few weeks ago. They were clumsy with the ball and failed to get their key playmakers going.

Living off their defensive intensity, the Buckeyes went seven-straight games holding their opponent to or under 70 points. The Hawkeyes put 85 on Ohio State.

Now, the Buckeyes will have to prepare for one of their most anticipated games of the season, at home against the No. 7-ranked Maryland Terrapins.

The Terrapins have already defeated the Buckeyes earlier this season.

However, both teams have grown since then, and Ohio State has regressed to a team falling down the seed line in the NCAA tournament versus one that was soundly a top-two seed after the first month of the season.

Ohio State desperately needs this game. It is in a rugged conference where every game will be a battle. If the Buckeyes lose, which many predict them to, Ohio State will drop to 7-9 in the Big Ten.

Yes, they have a terrific non-conference record, but it would be tough to see OSU not nearing bubble territory if it continues to go struggle down the stretch.

That said, Ohio State has both a shot at redemption on Saturday and a chance at solidifying their berth in the NCAA tournament. It’s early to say this, but Saturday is a very important game for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State basketball could bounce back into top 20 with perfect week

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a horrific January, but they could bounce back into the AP Poll’s top 20 with a perfect week.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a horrific January, but they could bounce back into the AP Poll’s top 15 with a perfect week.

Thankfully, the Buckeyes were able to reclaim their spot in the top 25 after being a top-ten team earlier on this season. That’s what a bad stretch of games can do to a team.

The Buckeyes are 17-8.

They’d be 16-2 without that January stretch of games in which they lost six of seven. Since then, they’ve won five of their last six, helping improve put their conference record to 7-7.

The Buckeyes have two huge performances this week.

They’ll be taking on the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 7 Maryland Terrapins. The second of the two is at home which is at least partially relieving for fans.

Those two are the only games this week. If they can dominate these two conference opponents, there’s no doubt that the Buckeyes will jump into college basketball’s top-20 teams. Of course that’s easier said than done.

On a more grateful note, the Buckeyes’ recent stretch has almost solidified a spot in the NCAA tournament after being widely considered a fringe March Madness team after that poor stretch of play. At least barring a complete meltdown to end the season.

That said, the Buckeyes have the games to display their improvement, but they’ll have to come out and play in two of their more important performances of the season.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ defense helps propel them to 9-point halftime lead

The Ohio State Buckeyes came out strong on the defensive side of the ball against Purdue, helping them take a nine-point lead into halftime.

With five made threes, Ohio State took a nine-point lead into halftime.

That said, it was again the team’s defense that was overly strong, holding the Boilermakers to a mere 20 points. At 6-7 in the conference, the Buckeyes needed to come out with a strong performance against a Purdue team that has struggled away from Mackey Arena this year.

Having issues scoring at times this season, the Buckeyes 29 halftime points do not come as a surprise.

Ohio State was led by CJ Walker with seven points and Andre Wesson with six. However, offensively, it was truly a full team performance in the first half with seven players on the scoreboard.

The Buckeyes shot 48% from the floor and limited Purdue to just 32%. With just 47 combined shots in the first half, this game was a turnover-filled grind as the team’s also combined for 16 turnovers.

An exciting second half is in store for the Buckeyes, who desperately need this win after a January that put them behind the eight-ball.

So far, so good.

 

Ryan Day gives Ohio State basketball a shoutout following victory over Michigan

The Ohio State Buckeyes downed the Michigan Wolverines in basketball, and head football coach Ryan Day was loving it.

The Ohio State Buckeyes downed the Michigan Wolverines in basketball, and head football coach Ryan Day was loving it. The Buckeyes have now beaten Michigan twice in the last three months.

11-2 at home and 15-7 overall, the Buckeyes have struggled a bit in conference play, making an away victory over the Wolverines that much more rewarding.

The Buckeyes won 61-58. On the back of Kaleb Wesson and Duane Washington Jr., two players that combined for 40 of the team’s 61, Ohio State was able to record their third straight victory.

It was really the defense that solidified the victory, forcing Michigan to shoot just 33% from the field. It was a victory that moves Ohio State more solidly in the NCAA field — for now.

Let’s just say Ryan Day knows a bit about beating TTUN. After Ohio State’s impressive victory, he gave the team and head coach Chris Holtmann some love on Twitter.

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It’s great seeing the different programs support each other. Knowing something about winning, Day’s recognition and support of the program only bodes well for the team’s future.

The Buckeyes will be back in action Sunday on the road at Wisconsin.

Ohio State leapfrogs Nova, Kentucky in CBS Updated Top 25

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of a couple new freshman, and returning guys like Kaleb Wesson, are looking like a top ten team.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of three four-star recruits and Kaleb Wesson, have entered into the nation’s college basketball top ten. They do so on the back of a dominant effort against Villanova.

The Buckeyes, who had one of their best-recruiting classes of the decade coming into this season, opened up the preseason at No. 18. Now at No. 16, the Buckeyes are looking at a promising jump in the AP Poll.

For now, we’ll take a look at the Thursday edition of the CBS Sports’ updated top 25.

They have Ohio State at No. 10, jumping both Villanova and the former top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. However, in just a few short weeks, it’ll get its shot against the latter half of those programs.

CBS Sports’ columnist Gary Parrish had this to say on the Buckeyes impressive victory and terrific all-around start.

“OSU shot 60.0% from the field in Wednesday’s win over Villanova. Duane Washington was one of five Buckeyes to reach double-figures in points.”

Now 3-0, the Buckeyes are far past that concerning start against Cincinnati.

Also tallying a win over UMass Lowell, the Buckeyes entered their matchup with Nova confident with D.J. Carton starting to get acclimated to the speed of college basketball and Kaleb Wesson looking as dominant (and trimmed down) as ever.

Carton, Wesson and Washington Jr. led the Buckeyes against Nova, and it was an absolute show.

Now the Buckeyes will be preparing for Stetson this coming Monday. By then, we should officially be calling Ohio State a top-ten team one would think.