Ohio State Basketball is one of the nation’s top teams in 2019.
There are plenty of scoring options this season, but they’re doing so by having a top-five defense among all teams in Power 5 conferences, giving up a mere 58.2 points per game. That figure is currently ranked 10th in the NCAA and fifth among Power 5 teams.
For Ohio State, it’s not about the blocking or stealing for their defense, a way many analysts and fans typically rank defensive aptitude.
It’s about their dominant two-point defense.
The Buckeyes make opponents earn points from outside the paint, and they’ll live or die on that. So far, they’ve living just fine, shocking the world with their play to this point in the season. They’ve kicked off the season 11-2.
Ohio State is forcing its opponents into 35.6% from the field, third-best in the country. Their two-point defense is second-best in the nation, allowing just 39% from two-point range.
The Buckeyes are currently ranked as a top-five team in the nation and are the third-best two-loss team, coming in behind Kansas and Oregon, with Duke and Gonzaga securing the top two spots.
Having a top defense is great news for Ohio State. As we saw last season with Texas Tech’s deep run, having an absolutely crushing defense is a top reason some teams go deep into March.
Ohio State has that, and with junior power forward Kaleb Wesson leading the way, and many others that can show up on any given night, the Buckeyes are a complete team. They have an offense capable of scoring in different styles and methods, surrounding one of the best defenses in college basketball.
Hopefully this will carry Ohio State for the near and distant future.
