It’s time for another war of attrition known as life on the road in the Big, bad Big Ten. Ohio State has bucked the trend this year somewhat by losing two games at home, yet finding a way to get a couple of rare wins on the road in the league.
Now it must try and do it again, against a team that’s very difficult to play against because of the methodical and physical nature of what it stands for.
It’s a chance to get back to .500 in the league, but it won’t be easy. The Badgers rarely drop a game in conference play at home, even in years when they aren’t competing for an upper-echelon finish in the Big Ten.
Will Ohio State show that it really has turned things back around, or will this be a set back on the way to postseason positioning?
Here are three keys to victory
Next … Patience is a virtue against the Badgers
Be patient, run sets, get a good look
The Wisconsin defense can frustrate opponents if they don’t go deep into the shot clock. The Badgers work very hard on the defensive end to limit good looks by playing a physical brand of held defense, then scramble out to open shooters. They come off screens hard, and keep everything in front, making it hard to get good open looks.
But, if teams can work the shot clock, get into half-court sets, and execute, there can be success. However, in today’s day and age when kids like to go one-on-one, fire up deep shots, and make highlight plays, that doesn’t lend itself to the gameplan needed to win during this root-canal.
Be patient, share the basketball and don’t worry if takes several passes, cuts, and screens to get open looks.
Next … Rebound, rebound, rebound
Keep Wisconsin off the boards
Wisconsin isn’t a great rebounding team, yet somehow it managed to outrebound Ohio State at home last time out. The Buckeyes are going to get fewer possessions in this one because it’ll be a slowed-down pace. That means they simply cannot afford to give away more possessions to the Badgers.
That means there has to be a real focus on contesting shots, but then locking up on a man and boxing out. Do that, and then use the athleticism and toughness around the rim to pull down rebounds and grind this one out.
Next … Take care of the basketball
Keep the trending turnover decline going
Ohio State has gone on a winning streak here because of improved play, but perhaps no area has had more to do with getting some wins than taking care of the basketball. During that extremely frustrating stretch in January, the Buckeyes were giving away more turnovers than your local bakery.
Now, all of a sudden, somehow the team has gotten much, much better with being confident and purposeful with the ball. It has started to move it around with much more conviction, seeing double teams and relocating.
Kaleb Wesson has to pass out of double teams before traffic comes, the point guards have to be strong coming up the court, and there’s simply no reason to try to make the remarkable pass. The way you beat Wisconsin is by not beating yourselves. Limiting turnovers is the most obvious way to follow that pattern.
