Tag: ohio state basketball

Ohio State will be a high-value target for Wisconsin

The good news and bad news for Wisconsin basketball

So, there is some good news and bad news for Wisconsin basketball. You want the bad news first, right? I’ll give it to you: The Badgers would have preferred to play the Ohio State Buckeyes later in the season in Columbus. Friday, January 3 is too early. The Badgers will not have had a lot of time to work with Micah Potter and develop the rhythm they need to have the best possible chance to win on the Buckeyes’ home floor.

Yes, it is true that with Potter being a relative newcomer to the 2019-2020 lineup, Ohio State and head coach Chris Holtmann won’t have as much film to review in preparation for Wisconsin. Greg Gard is in a position to try some new combinations and catch the Buckeyes off balance. That much is true. However, it remains that Wisconsin would like more time to work with Potter and develop the blended harmony (in road games) this team needs to become its best version this season. The Ohio State game is coming earlier than desired, under the circumstances.

Okay, that’s the bad news.

The good news: If Wisconsin can beat the Buckeyes, the Badgers would instantly transform their resume from NIT to the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. No, we’re not going to talk bracketology, but we can take a bird’s-eye view of the larger landscape of college basketball. This sport is so uncertain right now — with No. 1 teams losing left and right, and North Carolina being a bubble team — that a lot of schools have not solidified their positions as near-lock NCAA teams. If Wisconsin picks off Ohio State in early January, such a win would immediately reset the Badgers’ season.

So, they’re not likely to win this game, but if they DO, they’re in a vastly better place. That is the reality after Ohio State shrugged off its loss to Minnesota with a victory over Kentucky on Saturday in Las Vegas. It is true that Kentucky isn’t particularly good right now, but after the Wildcats lost to Utah on Wednesday, everyone knew they would give Ohio State their best shot. In terms of effort, they did.

The Buckeyes handled everything which came their way. Moreover, their big eraser in the middle, Kaleb Wesson, fouled out with nearly 3:30 left in regulation. They still fended off Big Blue. How big is the hype surrounding Ohio State? Even after a week in which OSU lost, prominent commentators floated the idea that the Buckeyes could be No. 1:

The Wisconsin Badgers are not in a great position right now, to be sure. Yet, if they can improve quickly enough to beat Ohio State in their first game of the 2020s, their 2019-2020 season could change dramatically for the better.

Ohio State basketball’s win over Kentucky in stunning photos

Ohio State added another quality win to its resume with a 71-65 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. Re-live the victory in stunning photos.

Nothing says a big win like high-resolution images that capture big moments. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and there’s plenty to say after the Ohio State basketball team added another win to an already impressive resume.

So, take some time to scroll through some game images from the action on the court between Ohio State and Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic out in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buckeyes were able to extend its modest one point lead at halftime out to a couple of buckets in the second half and never looked back in a 71-65 triumph.

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Watch what Kentucky head coach John Calipari said about Ohio State postgame

Kentucky head coach John Calipari met with the media after his team lost to Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic. Watch everything he said.

Ohio State toughed one out against a top-ten Kentucky team and continued to build upon its impressive resume.

Wildcat head coach John Calipari met with the media after his team’s loss to talk about his team, the game, and field questions from reporters. If you know anything about Calipari, he’s a talker, but he’s brutally honest to his players, assistant coaches, and the media.

He had plenty to say after the game, and he was very complimentary and impressed with Ohio State and had no problem heaping praise on the Buckeyes.

If you didn’t catch any of his comments, you can get his entire press conference here thanks to the YouTube Channel of Kentucky Wildcats TV. Just click on the below and listen.

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Kentucky head coach John Calipari calls Ohio State a top 1,2,3 team

Ohio State got another top ten win. Kentucky head coach John Calipari was impressed with the Buckeyes and called them a top 1,2,3 team.

Ohio State won big again, this time on the national stage against a top ten Kentucky team in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Buckeyes played an athletically gifted Wildcat team to a virtual stalemate at halftime, but once the second half began, the Buckeyes managed to lead from start to finish. It was a tight game throughout, but one in which Ohio State continued to make plays when it needed in order to keep the Wildcats arms’ length and, and salt away a big-time, resume-building win.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari met with the media after his team lost and had had high praise for Ohio State — even calling the Buckeyes one of the top teams in the country.

“We fought, we tried,” said Calipari. “Thank God we had Nate… Ohio State played their butts off. That’s a top 1,2, 3 team. That’s what they are.”

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Calipari should know. He was impressed watching tape of the Buckeyes heading into the showdown on the strip, but he seems to be even more impressed after. He’s won a couple of national titles himself, and has had seen his fair share of top teams — national-title winning teams — both his and others throughout the years.

Now receiving praise and winning big things don’t always go hand in hand, but it’s clear to Calipari and others that this year’s Ohio State squad has the talent to make a deep run in March.

Ohio State beats Kentucky: 3 Things we learned

Ohio State beat back another blue blood on Saturday night when it took care of Kentucky 71-65. Here’s three things we learned.

If you thought the game on the road against Minnesota was a come back to Earth moment for the Ohio State basketball team, you were sadly mistaken.

Instead of the cracks in the dam resulting in a rush of issues cascading down, instead the Buckeyes have dug in and continued to show everyone they are for real this year. The latest is a tough win against a top ten Kentucky team in Las Vegas that will continue to turn some heads across the country.

Ohio State played Kentucky to a near stalemate through the first twenty minutes, but took care of the basketball and made big plays in the second half to take control and get a fairly sound win against an impressive opponent 71-65.

Here’s three things we learned.

Next … Freshman phenom finding his way

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Ohio State keeps rolling, knocks off Kentucky Wildcats 71-65

Ohio State has taken down another blue-blood, taking control in the second half to beat the Kentucky Wildcats.

Many laughed at some of the very early predictions elevating Ohio State to a top ten squad this year. Many argued common sense knocked the door back down when the Buckeyes were readjusted to a fringe top twenty team just before the season began.

It now seems as though the earlier projections were spot on. That’s because Ohio State just beat another top ten opponent, this time the Kentucky Wildcats 71-65. It did it by making timely plays in the second half, to remain in the lead, then salting it away at with defense and at the free-throw line.

It didn’t always look that way in the first half though. Ohio State struggled taking care of the ball — giving it away nine times. But it buckled down in the second twenty minutes, turning it over just five times.

The extra possessions and good defense helped extend the lead and put Ohio State in relative control throughout.

Freshman point guard D.J. Carton led Ohio State in scoring with 13 points, getting many of his buckets in crunch time. Kaleb Wesson and Kyle Young also finished in double figures with 12 and 10.

With the win, the Buckeye resume continues to get more and more impressive. It has now beaten teams that have won four of the last eight national champions with not even half the season gone.

The Buckeyes now get a bit of a break before taking on another solid opponent on 12/29 when it travels to Cleveland to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.

 

WATCH: Andre Wesson goes up the elevator to block Kentucky breakout

Andre Wesson had a block for the ages you have to watch when he came from behind, climbed the elevator and blocked a Kentucky breakaway.

Ohio State is in a tight one against the Kentucky Wildcats and a play here or there is likely to make the difference in winning and losing. One of those plays might have just happened midway through the second half.

While trying to grab a little momentum in a fast-paced game, Duane Washington, Jr. missed a three-pointer that resulted in a long rebound to ignite a fast break by Kentucky’s Ashton Hagans.

It looked like an easy two, but Ohio State forward Andre Wesson channeled his inner LeBron James to come from behind and pin the ball high up on the glass for a block and keep Kentucky from a big, momentum-changing play.

Click on the below thanks to Fox College Hoops, watch, and feel like you’re soaring with Wesson.

Ohio State uses rebounding, free throws to lead by one over Kentucky at halftime

The Ohio State basketball team took a one point lead into halftime over Kentucky. It won the battle of free throw points and rebounds.

It’s been a fun game to watch so far, but it’s been far from clean game. Ohio State and Kentucky got up and down the court and are both shooting 50 percent or better from the floor, but there’s also some sloppiness on both sides in the second game of the CBS Sports Classsic.

The turnover bug continues to make its way into a talented Buckeye squad, and has kept this game as tight as it is. Ohio State has nine turnovers in the first half that’s led to numerous scoring opportunities for the Wildcats.

For Kentucky, it has been lazy with defense — committing thirteen fouls and sending OSU to the free throw line twelve times. Ohio State has converted on ten of those for a big advantage.

The Buckeyes also lead in rebounds 17-11 to control the glass and cancel out somewhat the charitable work with ball security.

Kyle Young led all Buckeye scorers in the first half with ten points to make up for a Wildcat game plan that seems to be centered around stopping Kaleb Wesson in the post.

It’s all resulted in the Buckeyes leading the Wildcats by a razor thin 37-36 margin. This game will probably be won by whichever team can limit it’s biggest issue in the first half. It all depends on whether Ohio State can take care of the ball, or if Kentucky can quit sending the Buckeyes to the foul line.

Saddle up for what should be a fun second half.

Ohio State’s blowout win over Villanova just got a lot more impressive

Ohio State blew out Villanova, and the Wildcats just defeated the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, helping boost that win on Ohio State’s resume.

The Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the Villanova Wildcats a few weeks ago. The mid-November game was the first one to put Ohio State on the map. They’ve since risen to No. 3 and are currently No. 5.

Back in that game, Ohio State led at halftime 40-22. It was dominant throughout that entire game, and it really wasn’t close at any point. Winning by 25, it was just a complete performance from the Buckeyes.

The Wildcats were then ranked No. 10. Now, entering today, they were sitting at No. 18 — all set to matchup with not Ohio State, but the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.

With a drama-filled ending of 56-55, the Wildcats came out on top to knock off the No. 1 ranked team. Without a signature victory, ‘Nova needed this win to solidify itself as a top threat in the eyes of the public.

While building their reputation, Villanova also help Ohio State, who absolutely obliterated the Wildcats.

And, to go along with bolstering Ohio State’s resume, the Cats will now give the Buckeyes a chance to leap into the top spot with a win over Kentucky.

 

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10 for 20: Ohio State basketball

Ohio State basketball in the 2020s

When looking at the collection of Big Ten basketball coaches, Archie Miller has received a lot of hype but has done nothing to justify it. Fred Hoiberg has proved that he can consistently win at a Power Five program, so he isn’t really a hyped coach so much as a proven coach. Mark Turgeon is trying to break through and deliver a Gary Williams-type masterpiece at Maryland, but he hasn’t gotten there yet. Brad Underwood is trying to change the equation at Illinois. Juwan Howard has returned to Michigan to coach at the school he once played for. If we aren’t talking about the legendary Tom Izzo — whose place in college basketball history is secure — one sees a lot of Big Ten coaches with considerable potential, but none of them are rock stars.

If one non-Izzo coach in the Big Ten has a good chance to become The Next Great Coach in the 2020s, many would say it is Chris Holtmann at Ohio State. This forms the question facing the Buckeyes as the new decade of Big Ten basketball begins: How great will Chris Holtmann become?

Butler was led to the heights of college basketball by Brad Stevens, and we know how good a coach he was in the collegiate game. Brandon Miller replaced Stevens at Butler and allowed the program to slip, albeit for only one season. Miller abruptly decided to step down one month before the start of the 2014-2015 season for health reasons. Butler didn’t have time to conduct a nationwide coaching search. Holtmann took over a program with potential, but many people in college basketball doubted what he could do because he wasn’t really “chosen” for the Butler job. Circumstances thrust the job into his hands.

He could not have done any better than he actually did. He raised the program to a Sweet 16 standard and gained a higher seed (No. 4 in 2017) than Stevens ever attained at the school. Holtmann’s work at Butler, at a time when everyone knew about Butler and took its best shot at the Bulldogs, marked him as a coach to watch. His work at Ohio State has been very solid. He hasn’t had a season slip away from him in his first years on the job. He might have gotten a grace period from commentators and even some fans, but he didn’t need one. After Thad Matta ran out of gas in Columbus, missing the NCAA Tournament two straight seasons, Holtmann came in and made the Big Dance in each of his first two seasons on the job. He is almost certain to increase that streak to three straight NCAA berths in the coming months. The program has been improved and solidified under his leadership. Now the only question seems to be how high the Buckeyes can climb.

Thad Matta established a high standard at Ohio State, but as noted above, his tenure with the Buckeyes seemed to hit a wall. Matta reached two Final Fours and produced several highly-seeded teams. Holtmann seems capable of replicating those results. Will he do so? That’s a great question. Will he stick around long enough to create something dynastic in Columbus? That question doesn’t seem absurd — it speaks to Holtmann’s potential. The next decade will tell us if Holtmann can hit that high ceiling.