We’re still trying to figure out which Ohio State basketball team is going to show up on a nightly basis. The one that can do some damage and make a deep run in March showed up at the RAC to take down No. 15 Rutgers.
It was a dominating performance for the Buckeyes, and one that frankly, was a bit surprising coming off the lackluster effort against Minnesota on the road. Especially since the Scarlet Knights have been fantastic at home so far this year.
As we do after every game, we give you some observations from what we observed on the court. Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s big win over Rutgers on Saturday.
NEXT … Physical is the name of the game
Ohio State can physically handle anyone
Kyle Young said Ohio State prides itself on being a physical team. That was evident today.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 9, 2021
You hear every coach that plays against the Buckeyes point it out almost immediately. The physicality of this OSU team can be hard to handle. Ohio State isn’t the tallest or most physically imposing team in the league, but it plays a tough, physical brand that can equalize a lot of teams that like to get up and down the court.
We saw the Rutgers’ players get frustrated in this one and it threw the rhythm of its offense off for long stretches. That’s the identity of this team, and with the depth that it has, it’s the way things have to be going forwards as well.
NEXT … The team is resilient
This was a big, resilient win
Total team effort, fair and square.😊#GoBuckeyes #Team122 pic.twitter.com/wloLUGJgXK
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 9, 2021
I have to admit, this looked like one that was going to go in the loss column for Ohio State. With the injury to C.J. Walker’s hand, the downward trend we saw with the game at Minnesota, and an uphill climb to go against Rutgers at its place, on paper, this was always going to be a tough one.
Or maybe not. OSU outrebounded, outplayed, and outhustled the Scarlet Knights form the tip to the finish. Sometimes you see teams rise more to the occasion when their backs are against the wall, and maybe we’re seeing that with this Ohio State team.
NEXT … The ceiling for this team
Ohio State is a really good team when it plays the right way
He attempted four shots, and finished with 12 points.
Oh, and he added 10 rebounds and five assists.
Give it up for @OhioStateHoops F @JusticeSueing. 👏 pic.twitter.com/KBqc8lgOVg
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) January 9, 2021
If you’ve read anything from us on this Ohio State team, you know how we feel about what the team’s identity is. This is not a great three-point shooting team that’s going to win games with a lot of offense from the perimeter. What OSU does have is a roster that can get a lot of hoops going to the rim.
Couple that with being one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the league, and when this team is playing really good defense on one end, then following that up with getting baskets going to the rim, this team can hang with — and beat — anyone. Again, it’s all built on that physical brand of ball that can be hard to handle.
Hopefully, the team found that out even more today and things are on the rise from here.
