Three takeaways from Ohio State basketball’s win over Michigan State

Ohio State hosted Michigan State and controlled the game throughout. Here are three takeaways from the action we observed.

C.J. Walker in the lineup makes a huge difference

The team did an amazing job covering for the loss of point guard C.J. Walker when he was absent from the lineup with torn ligaments in his hand. That doesn’t mean Ohio State was the same team though because his presence and ball-handling in the lineup makes a huge difference.

He was sensational today running the show against an athletic Michigan State team. It was so good, the Buckeyes had just one turnover in the first half. Walker knows when to push the ball, when to prod and pry in the lane, and when to get things to the hot hand. More than anything, there’s confidence in his ability to add that calming presence as a ball-handler you can count on in the face of teams trying to speed things up.

[lawrence-related id=45304,45299]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Buckeyes Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.