Tag: ohio state basketball

Wisconsin uses toughness to leave Ohio State muttering to itself

Wisconsin wins on the road

The Wisconsin Badgers’ struggles early in this college basketball season were initially rooted in their sputtering offense, but as the season continued, Wisconsin’s defense lost focus at times. North Carolina State blitzed UW at the start of the second half in the Badgers’ loss in Raleigh. When Wisconsin visited Rutgers in early December, the Badgers were done in by feeble rebounding. Rutgers destroyed Wisconsin in the realm of second-chance points, thwarting UW on a night when the Badgers shot almost 50 percent from the floor.

We said at Badgers Wire that Wisconsin was going to need to show it could win a pure street fight, getting by on blood, guts, and raw effort on a night when good offense didn’t emerge with much of any consistency. Wisconsin can’t play every game that way — it can’t win every game playing poorly on offense — but it was going to need to tough out some close Big Ten games, especially on the road, by defending and rebounding. You know, like Dick Bennett’s son Tony at Virginia:

Boom.

The Badgers won exactly the kind of game they needed to win on Friday night in Columbus. Wisconsin stood in the arena, absorbed a bad shooting night, and prevailed anyway… because it was tougher than Ohio State.

Wisconsin was just 21 of 56 (38 percent) from the field, only 6 of 23 (26 percent) from 3-point range. They earned a modest 16 free throws — not terrible, but not especially good. They didn’t outscore Ohio State from the 3-point arc or the foul line.

How did they win? Possessions. Wisconsin was stronger with the ball — 10 turnovers committed, compared to 14 for Ohio State — and stronger on the glass, with 12 offensive rebounds to eight for the Buckeyes, part of a 34-32 rebounding edge. Wisconsin attempted nine more field goals than Ohio State, 56-47, and from that plus-nine margin in attempts, the Badgers earned a plus-two differential in made field goals.

Final score: 61-57… or two made field goals.

Toughness, defense, rebounding. Everything Wisconsin needed to do, everything the Badgers needed to become, was realized on Friday night in Ohio. Now, as the calendar turns to 2020, the Badgers seem to have turned the page in several ways. Their season feels very different for all the right reasons as a result.

Ohio State basketball loses to Wisconsin: 3 Things we learned

The Ohio State basketball team dropped its second game in a row against Wisconsin Friday night. Here’s three things we learned.

Thank goodness college basketball is a marathon with thirty or so games and not judged by a five game stretch. That’s because the Ohio State basketball team has now lost three of its last five after losing a sloppy and bruising game against Wisconsin Friday night .

It now drops to 1-2 in the Big Ten and clearly has some things things that have risen up as cracks in what was a fantastic start to the season. Chris Holtmann won’t be happy in the postgame locker room after this one, and we’re here to try and pick up the pieces from what just happened on the court. There are clearly things that need to be cleaned up moving forward, and the head man should at least have his team’s attention now.

As always, here’s three things we learned.

Next … This team needs a lesson in composure

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

Ohio State basketball trails Wisconsin headed to the break

Ohio State trails Wisconsin at the half despite a quick start. Sloppy play and bad shooting allowed the Badgers back in it.

The Wisconsin Badgers have stormed back to take a 29-25 halftime lead into the locker room over Ohio State at Value City Arena.

Nate Reuvers leads the Badgers with 10 points at the break, while Kaleb Wesson ties the Wisconsin forward with 10 of his own for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have looked sluggish ever since their impressive win over No. 17 Kentucky at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, dropping the Cleveland Classic on Sunday to West Virginia.

With 20 minutes left in this scrappy Big Ten brawl, it’s time for Chris Holtmann’s bunch to regroup and pull out a much-needed home victory in conference play. The schedule doesn’t get much easier throughout the month with a trip to Maryland on Tuesday, but this is a game the Buckeyes must have.

Make sure to follow along with us here at Buckeyes Wire in the second half and on Twitter for more updates. Go Bucks!

Kaleb Wesson becomes 59th player in Ohio State history to go over 1,000 points

Ohio State forward Kaleb Wesson eclipsed 1,000 career points when he scored a bucket in the first half against Wisconsin.

Ohio State forward Kaleb Wesson has reached a milestone of 1,000 points in his career. It occurred after scoring a two-point bucket against Wisconsin in the first half.

It came on a play similar to many others, when the Buckeye offense fed the post and let the All-Big-Ten performer go to work. It might be one of the easiest buckets Wesson’s scored in his career. With it, he becomes the 59th OSU player to eclipse that mark.

Wesson has been a force in the first half, scoring ten points and pulling down nine rebounds already. He also has filled the stat sheet with two fouls though and will most likely be sitting on the pine for the majority of the rest of the second half.

You can have a look at the momentous occasion thanks to Land Grant Holy Land’s Twitter feed below.

Former Buckeye opens up scoring for Wisconsin at Value City Arena

Former Buckeyes forward opens up scoring for Wisconsin at Value City Arena

Former Ohio State forward Micah Potter transferred to Wisconsin in the middle of last basketball season and is finally eligible to play for the Badgers.

Potter opened up Wisconsin’s night with two points Friday at the 13:50 mark of the first half, after a six and a half minute scoring drought.

The former Buckeye currently has 4 points in the half, but trails his former school early.

Make sure to follow along with the Buckeyes Wire throughout the night for more updates.

How to Watch Wisconsin vs. Ohio State, NCAA Basketball Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Live Online.

The No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes look to get back on track after their second loss of the season, while the Wisconsin Badgers are hoping for their fourth straight win on Friday in Columbus.

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Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

  • When: Friday, January 3
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: FS1
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Ohio State (11-2, 1-1) has played its fair share of tough opponents to begin the season, but after a 71-65 win vs. No. 17 Kentucky, the Buckeyes were unable to pick up a win at home, losing 67-59 vs. No. 16 West Virginia on Sunday. While the Buckeyes had a 37-31 lead at halftime, the team had trouble finding the bottom of the net in the second half and were outscored 36-22. Ohio State shot just 31.3 percent for the game and 33.3 from three-point range. The team was led by Kaleb Wesson, who had 17 points and nine rebounds.

Wisconsin (8-5, 1-1) cruised to victory on Tuesday with a 65-37 win over Rider. The team has won by 15 or more points over the last three games. Wisconsin’s offense hit its stride in the second half, scoring 20 points in only five and a half minutes. The flurry of scoring to open the second half was led by three straight three-pointers from Brad Davison. Nate Reuvers led all scorers with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Aleem Ford also scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The Badgers shot 43.6 percent from the field and held Rider to just 24.6 percent.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2019 basketball game preview and prediction

Ohio State travels back home to host Big Ten foe Wisconsin. We’ve got your preview and prediction here.

The Ohio State basketball team will try to bounce back after a defeat at the hands of West Virginia last weekend when it hosts Wisconsin Friday night.

As good as the Buckeyes have been, it’ll be a pivotal matchup as they get back into Big Ten play at home. It’s a key game to wipe away the loss in conference it had in The Barn against Minnesota in Minneapolis last time.

Can Ohio State use the momentum of a home crowd, cut down on the mistakes and beat a Badger team that’s always tough to play, or are there further concerns that we’ll see against a team that plays a similar style to that of West Virginia?

Records

Ohio State 11-2 (1-1),  Wisconsin 8-5 (1-1)

All-time series record

75-49 Ohio State leads

Last meeting

Wisconsin won 73-67 March 10, 2019

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Wednesday, December 4
Game Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
Network: FS1

Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Ohio State Basketball has a top-five defense among power five teams

Ohio State Basketball is a top-ten basketball program, and they’re doing so by having a top-five defense among teams in Power 5 conferences.

Ohio State Basketball is one of the nation’s top teams in 2019.

There are plenty of scoring options this season, but they’re doing so by having a top-five defense among all teams in Power 5 conferences, giving up a mere 58.2 points per game. That figure is currently ranked 10th in the NCAA and fifth among Power 5 teams.

For Ohio State, it’s not about the blocking or stealing for their defense, a way many analysts and fans typically rank defensive aptitude.

It’s about their dominant two-point defense.

The Buckeyes make opponents earn points from outside the paint, and they’ll live or die on that. So far, they’ve living just fine, shocking the world with their play to this point in the season. They’ve kicked off the season 11-2.

Ohio State is forcing its opponents into 35.6% from the field, third-best in the country. Their two-point defense is second-best in the nation, allowing just 39% from two-point range.

The Buckeyes are currently ranked as a top-five team in the nation and are the third-best two-loss team, coming in behind Kansas and Oregon, with Duke and Gonzaga securing the top two spots.

Having a top defense is great news for Ohio State. As we saw last season with Texas Tech’s deep run, having an absolutely crushing defense is a top reason some teams go deep into March.

Ohio State has that, and with junior power forward Kaleb Wesson leading the way, and many others that can show up on any given night, the Buckeyes are a complete team. They have an offense capable of scoring in different styles and methods, surrounding one of the best defenses in college basketball.

Hopefully this will carry Ohio State for the near and distant future.

Ohio State forward Kyle Young to miss game against Wisconsin Friday

According to Chris Holtmann, Ohio State forward Kyle Young will miss the Wisconsin game Friday recovering from an appendectomy.

Ohio State forward Kyle Young will be out of the lineup against Wisconsin after he underwent appendix surgery this week.

Young became ill before and after the West Virginia game on Sunday, but the coaches thought he was in the early stages of the flu. As it turns out, it was the beginning of appendicitis that required him to be treated and undergo surgery the next day after the loss. He finished the game with two points and eleven rebounds.

But now, he’ll be on the shelf as he recovers and will be evaluated game-to-game according to Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann.

“So Kyle will be out tomorrow,” said Holtmann. “He is kind of game-to-game at this point, but he’s going to be ruled out for tomorrow’s game. He’s recovering well. You know, with these kind of things, it’s always next man up — I say that also recognizing the value Kyle brings to this team. ”

You can listen to the entire exchange from Holtmann to reporters thanks to the YouTube channel of 610 WTVN below.

Three Ohio State players Badger fans need to know

Wisconsin hits the road to Columbus to take on Ohio State on Friday night. Badger fans should be sure to know these three opposing players.

Wisconsin (8-5) hits the road to Columbus to take on No. 5 Ohio State (11-2) on Friday evening. The Badgers are seeking their second win in a row against the Buckeyes after taking them down in a 73-67 overtime thriller in the most recent meeting between these squads last March.

Bucky has won three in a row leading into tomorrow’s matchup, most recently pummelling Rider at home on New Year’s Eve in a 65-37 decision. Meanwhile, Ohio State has to be considered one of the best teams in the nation at the moment based on its body of work so far this season. Head coach Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes started the season 9-0 before falling to Minnesota on Dec. 15. They’ve gone 2-1 since that loss, including a win over No. 6 Kentucky and a 67-59 loss at home to No. 22 West Virginia last Sunday.

Tomorrow’s matchup will be the toughest challenge the Badgers have been presented to this point in the season. Ohio State looks like the class of the Big Ten right now, boasting one of the deepest rotations in the country with eight players averaging at least 7.6 points per game.

Here are the three players on the other side who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Friday evening’s contest.

Kaleb Wesson – Forward

Current stats: 14.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 bpg, 44.1 FG%, 44.2 3P%

There are quite a few talented players on this Ohio State squad, but Wesson is probably the only one who can be considered a true star at this point. The 6-9, 270-pound junior has enjoyed a fantastic career in Columbus so far, evolving from a 2018 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection to an honorable mention all-conference performer last season, with first or second-team honors likely on their way this year.

Wesson has been Ohio State’s leading scorer for the second season in a row, putting up double figures in all but the Buckeyes’ first game. He’s also pacing the team in both rebounds and blocks.

He didn’t play in last year’s matchup with Wisconsin due to a suspension but was dominant against the Badgers as a freshman in 2017, scoring 19 points in just 17 minutes. With his ability to both wear down opposing big men in the post and drag them out to the perimeter as a capable three-point shooter, Wesson could give Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter some headaches tomorrow.

D.J. Carton – Guard

Current stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 51.6 FG%, 38.9 3P%

Dec 15, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard D.J. Carton (3) drives to the basket as Minnesota Gophers center Daniel Oturu (25) guards him during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

Many Badger fans are probably already familiar with Carton, who was heavily pursued by Greg Gard and company on the recruiting trail in the class of 2019. Wisconsin was among the first programs to identify the 6-2 point guard’s considerable talent and offer him a scholarship, and the belief was early on that Bucky would be a top contender for the Bettendorf, Iowa native’s services.

Unfortunately, not long after Wisconsin extended the offer, other schools caught on and his list of suitors exploded. Carton proceeded to spurn the Badgers relatively quickly afterward, surprisingly not even including them in his Top 6 cut list.

Finishing his high school career as a four-star recruit and the nation’s fourth-ranked floor general, Carton has lived up to those lofty expectations so far this season. He’s been a dynamic playmaker off the bench for the Buckeyes, ranking third on the team in points and second in assists per game. His two-point field goal percentage is good for No. 13 in the Big Ten, and he also knocks in nearly 39 percent of his shots from long range.

Carton recently had the best performance of his young career against Kentucky, earning Big Ten Player of the Week honors for his 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal against the Wildcats.

Duane Washington Jr. – Guard

Current stats: 11.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 48.8 FG%, 49.0 3P%

Currently sitting as Ohio State’s second-leading scorer, Washington’s primary purpose when he is in the game is to get buckets. The sophomore guard has been one of the Big Ten’s deadliest shooters this season when he’s on, especially from long range, where he is knocking down a sizzling 49 percent of his looks. That’s the third-best mark in the conference.

Washington has been coming off the bench since returning from a rib injury that forced him to sit out a couple of games, but even if he doesn’t start against the Badgers, you can be sure that he will still be a focal point of Wisconsin’s game plan tomorrow with his knock-down shooting ability.