Tag: ohio state basketball

Ohio State vs. Kentucky 2019 basketball game preview and prediction

Ohio State heads out to the desert to take on another blue blood of the sport Saturday. Check out our preview and prediction.

Aside from one blip so far, the Ohio State basketball team has gotten off to a fantastic start. There are wins against Cincinnati and Villanova at home, and a blowout win over North Carolina at the Dean Dome. The lone blemish is the loss on the road in The Barn at Minnesota.

Now the Buckeyes are headed out to the desert to take on an athletic and talented Kentucky Squad. The Wildcats have looked inconsistent at times this year, but there’s no doubt they have the horses per usual to beat anyone in the country.

Ohio State has put together quite the resume early on here in the 2019-2020 season, and a neutral court win over SEC and national power Kentucky would only bolster the belief that this team can do damage both during the regular season and beyond.

We’are about to roll the dice in Las Vegas.

Records

Ohio State 10-1,  Kentucky 8-2

All-time series record

11-9 Kentucky leads

Last meeting

Ohio State won 74-67 in 2015

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Saturday, December 21
Game Time: 5:15 PM
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Network: CBS

Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Ohio State looks sloppy in first half but pulls away from Southeast Missouri State

The Ohio State basketball team looked sloppy in the first half but found its game in the second half to beat SE Missouri State going away.

The Ohio State basketball team needed a shot in the arm Tuesday after getting hammered on the road by Minnesota Sunday. It by and large got what it needed despite a sloppy start, winning going away 80-48.

The Buckeyes came out with what looked like a hangover early on in the fist half. It struggled with far too many turnovers, and allowed a 3-7 mid-major program to hang around and even lead for a good bit of the first half. Ohio State went on a little run to end the first twenty minutes up 35-26, but there’s no doubt it got an earful from head coach Chris Holtmann in the locker room.

It seemed to work.

The Buckeyes came out of the second half with much more intensity and purpose, but more importantly stopped being as charitable with the basketball. In the end, it was a much needed bounce back prior to heading to Las Vegas to take on Kentucky.

Kaleb Wesson notched a double-double, leading the Buckeyes with 18 points and 10 rebounds. His brother Andre Wesson joined three others in double figures. The older Wesson chipped in 14 points, and D.J. Carton and Kyle Young each added 10 a piece as Ohio State shot 64% from the field for the game.

The matchup with Kentucky will be another good litmus test for the Buckeyes. Game time is set for 5:15 PM Eastern on CBS.

Ohio State basketball drops to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Ohio State basketball drops to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

When two Big Ten schools meet on the court so far this basketball season, the odds are against the visiting team.  Ohio State was 9-0 heading into its match against the then 4-5 Minnesota Gophers. Poised to take the No. 1 spot had they remained unbeaten; the Buckeyes could not overcome the Gophers who held Ohio State to a season-low 38.3% shooting and the team dropped to No. 4 as a result in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

Kansas took over the No. 1 spot, followed by Gonzaga (2), and Duke (3) ahead of the Buckeyes. Louisville (5), Kentucky (6), Virgina (7), Maryland (8), Auburn (9), and Oregon (10) round out the top ten. Auburn (9-0) is the only remaining unbeaten school in the top 10 while San Diego State (10-0) are the only other team in the top 25.

The Big Ten has a total of five teams in the USA TODAY Coaches poll with Michigan at No. 15,  Michigan State at No. 18, and Penn State making its first appearance at No. 24.

The Ohio State Buckeyes return to action at home against Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday before traveling to Las Vegas to square off against another top-ranked opponent in the University of Kentucky.

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Ohio State basketball drops to No. 5 in latest AP poll

After losing on the road to Minnesota, the Ohio State basketball team fell to No. 5 in the latest AP Basketball poll.

It was all there for the taking, but Ohio State couldn’t take care of business on the road Sunday night against Minnesota. A win against a 4-5 Golden Gopher squad in “The Barn” would have likely vaulted the undefeated Buckeyes to the No. 1 spot, but instead, OSU lost and dropped down from No. 3 to No. 5 in the latest release of the AP College Basketball Poll.

Kansas took over the No. 1 spot, followed by Gonzaga (2), Louisville (3) and Duke (4) ahead of the Buckeyes. Kentucky (6), Maryland (7), Oregon (8), Virginia (9), and Baylor (10) round out the top ten.

The Big Ten has a total of five teams in the AP Top 25 with Michigan State and Michigan just inside the top 15, and Penn State making its first appearance at No. 23.

Ohio State will next be in action at home against Southeast Missouri State Tuesday before it prepares for a big one vs. Kentucky on Saturday.

 

Ohio State basketball loses to Minnesota: 3 Things we learned

Ohio State came back down to earth tonight after getting run off the court to Minnesota in Minneapolis. Here’s three things we learned.

It was bound to happen at some point. An Ohio State team that had looked nearly unbeatable through the first nine games of the season laid an absolute egg tonight. The defense wasn’t its normal stingy self, it was a bad shooting night, and warts of the past showed up for the first time in 2019.

At the end of the day, there’s not much to take from this one other than a helping of humble pie after a 84-71 loss to the Golden Gophers. The Buckeyes now fall to 9-1 and 1-1 in the Big Ten in an extremely shocking dud of a performance in “The Barn.”

Here’s three things we learned.

Next … Kaleb Wesson of the past

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Ohio State vs. Minnesota 2019 basketball game preview and prediction

The Ohio State basketball team is traveling to the Twin Cities to take on Minnesota. Here’s how we expect it all to go down Sunday.

The Ohio State basketball team is all set to travel on the road for the first time in the Big Ten. We all know how tough it is to win away from home in this conference, but this team seems to be on a roll.

Meanwhile, Minnesota has struggled early on in 2019 and will be looking for a huge upset to jump start an upwards trend. It’s the last conference game in a bit of a wacky schedule philosophy we’ve seen since the league went to 22 conference games. After this quick two-game dive into the Big Ten, the conference then steps back outside of the league until after the New Year.

Let’s dive into the numbers and get to the preview and prediction of what’s going to take place in “The Barn” in Minneapolis.

Records

Ohio State 9-0, (1-0)  Minnesota 4-5, (0-1)

All-time series record

Ohio State leads 87-57

Last meeting

Ohio State won 79-59 on Dec. 2 last year

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Sunday, December 15
Game Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Network: BTN

Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Ohio State No. 1 seed in latest Joe Lunardi Bracketology NCAA basketball projection

Ohio State has moved all the way up to the No. 1 seed line in the latest ESPN Joe Lunardi Bracektology NCAA projections.

The Ohio State basketball team has met every single challenge it has been presented with so far in 2019 — and do so in impressive fashion. It has eviscerated two top ten opponents, beat a defensive-minded Cincinnati squad, and just blew out a Penn State team that upset a top five Maryland squad Tuesday night.

And for all its spoils so far, the Buckeyes are not only climbing up the national polls, but have recently been projected as a No. 1 seed in the latest Joe Lunardi Bracketology projection.

As for where Lunardi has Ohio State, he has them in the Midwest region playing in Cleveland and playing the winner of one of the First Round play-in games.

Now, before we get too excited and make travel plans, I’ll state the obvious that the calendar only reflects that it’s mid-December and nowhere near March. But the fact that Ohio State was originally pegged as somewhere around a No. 5 seed when these things first came out is showing everyone that Ohio State is again exceeding expectations.

And with a deep roster that has experienced veterans to go along with a fantastic recruiting class that has brought in three talented freshman, this team is poised to perhaps do bit things in 2019-2020.

Ohio State is next in action against Minnesota Sunday.

Ohio State moves all the way up to No. 2 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

The Ohio State basketball team continues to impress. It has now moved all the way up to No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

The Ohio State basketball team has jumped all the way up to No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

The move comes after blowing out a top ten North Carolina squad on the road, then following that up with a beat down of a very good Penn State team in-conference. The Buckeyes now sit at 9-0 overall, and 1-0 in the Big Ten.

In what’s becoming an annual tradition, it’s another season in which Chris Holtmann has his team surpassing expectations. Most opinion makers and polls had Ohio State just inside the top twenty to start the season, but it’s clear the depth and talent on this team has been better so far than almost anyone thought.

Louisville is the only team ahead of Ohio State in the latest poll. Kansas (3), Maryland (4) and Duke (5) round out the top five.

Ohio State basketball jumps to No. 3 in AP Basketball Poll

Ohio State has moved from No. 6 to No. 3 in the latest AP Basketball Poll.

The Ohio State men’s basketball team is exceeding expectations once again under Chris Holtmann, and it might just be setting the bar in 2019.

The latest AP Basketball Poll has been released and the Buckeyes are all the way up to No. 3, up from last week when they were No. 6. The only two teams now ahead of Ohio State are Louisville and Kansas — two blue bloods of the sport.

OSU has used a deep team with a balanced mix of veterans and young talent to blow almost everyone out this year. It has wins over Cincinnati, Villanova, and on the road against North Carolina already this year. The Buckeyes have put together one of — if not the best — resumes so far of any team in the country.

Ohio State is next in action against Minnesota on 12/15, and has a big one looming against Kentucky on 12/21.

Ohio Against The World: Buckeye hoops joins football on exclusive list

The Ohio State Buckeyes made history Monday, with both football and basketball ranked nationally in the Top 3

Monday, it was announced that the Ohio State men’s basketball team moved up to No. 2 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, after blowing past then No. 7 North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a feisty Penn State squad in Columbus.

At 9-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, Christ Holtmann’s bunch has joined Ryan Day’s football team in the Top 2, just six weeks into the rankings.

The Buckeyes began the season ranked No. 16 in the nation with just 280 votes, but quickly climbed their way into the Top 10, then the Top 6 and now the Top 2 at 717 votes.

Not only is Ohio State the top-ranked team in the Big Ten for football and basketball, but also the most impressive program since 2015. What are we referring to here you may ask?

Michigan State was the last program to hold a Top 5 spot in both the AP and USA TODAY polls at the same time for each sport, all the way back in 2015.

For reference, the Buckeyes are No. 2 in football and No. 3 in this week’s basketball AP Poll. Meanwhile, the Spartans were ranked No. 3, fresh off a conference championship win over Iowa on the gridiron and ranked No. 1 on the court by December 7th, 2015.

As impressive as Michigan State’s feat was, the Buckeyes have already upped it, winning a conference championship of their own, while going undefeated and ranking in the Top 3 for both sports in each poll.

Now, we know what you’re probably thinking. The last time the Buckeyes were this good in their highest revenue sports, they lost two national championship games to Florida in the same athletic year.

No need to worry, every other program in the College Football Playoff is unranked in basketball at the moment and far from a championship contender right now. In addition, the Buckeyes are the fourth team to win two games over AP Top 10 teams by 20+ points in a regular season. The previous three went on to cut down the nets, and oh by the way, it’s only December.

That 2006-07 Florida program we mentioned above? The Gators were ranked No. 2 in football and No. 7 in basketball after the 2006 SEC Championship Game. So yeah, one could say the Buckeyes are on pace to do big things.

Even whackier? Florida and Ohio State’s next football game in 2006-07 was in Phoenix at the Fiesta Bowl (Championship) and the basketball Final Four was in Atlanta.

You might want to go ahead and book those flights and hotels for New Orleans and Atlanta, but remember, you didn’t hear it from us.

As great as it is in Columbus right now, the future looks even brighter.

(Ok, we’re probably getting ahead of ourselves here, but…. No. 2 in football, No. 2/3 in hoops, reigning Big Ten Tournament Champions in baseball, No. 7 in wrestling, No. 6 in hockey… Geesh) 

What a time to be a Buckeye.