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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Phil Harrison

Ohio State at Michigan State basketball game preview and prediction

Records

Ohio State 16-8 (6-7), Michigan State 20-5 (11-3)

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Saturday, February 17
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Venue: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI
Network: CBS | You can also tune in online with FuboTV. (Try it for free)


Ohio State has once again sunk below the .500 mark in the Big Ten and might need to spring an unexpected upset or two on the road to get itself off the bubble, or not have the NCAA Tournament bubble burst for that matter.

Here comes a chance.

Ohio State travels to Michigan State to take on a Spartan team that looks a lot like what Tom Izzo’s teams have in the past. It’s always tough to play in the Breslin Center, and it’ll be no different Sunday. Michigan State is deep and talented and right in the thick of the Big Ten race yet again.

A win by Ohio State sure could cure some ills the team has experienced as of late. But that’s a tall order.

Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

Ohio State Cliff Notes gameplan

The Buckeyes better be ready to play when they step off the bus in this one. The Spartans will look to run them out of the gym from the tip with relentless pace and physical rebounding.

It’s not like Ohio State is a break-neck speed type of team, but it’ll need to slow this one down even more and muck this one up and win ugly. When the Spartans have lost games, it’s been because of turnovers and rebounding issues. The Buckeyes have to look to box out and go after the boards hard in this one. They’ll also need to get back on defense and not allow the easy run-out the Spartans look for every possession.

Offensively, it might be time to move C.J. Jackson off the point and try out Luther Muhammad there. Ohio State can ill-afford to have seven turnovers again from the point guard position or it’ll be a long, long day. Bring the ball up the court with confidence and then get Kaleb Wesson involved.

 

Next … Key Player And Prediction

Key Player For Ohio State

Kaleb Wesson. Wesson outplayed his counterpart Nick Ward in the first matchup and he’ll need to do the same on the road. He has to demand the ball, work for position and give Ohio State a much needed post presence in this one. He’s never going to block a lot of shots, but he has to work his tail off to get on the boards and limit second looks for the Spartans.

Oh, and staying out of foul trouble wouldn’t be a bad idea either. He fouled out in the first contest in Columbus.

How It’ll All Go Down

We’ve seen Michigan State at its best this year (Iowa), and we’ve seen it at its worst (Illinois). For the Buckeyes to have a chance in this one, it would help if we saw the Illinois and Indiana at home game rather than the one that plays up to its potential. That’s not likely to happen with where both teams are. Michigan State will come out energized and run up and down the court — effectively wearing down Ohio State. It might be a game for the first half, but the Spartans win rather convincingly by pulling away in the second stanza.

Final Score

Michigan State 72, Ohio State 58

Line

Michigan State -12

 

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