Records
Ohio State 18-4 (12-4), Michigan 15-1 (10-1)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Sunday, Feb. 21
Game Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
Network: CBS
We’ve got a big one on tap between Ohio State and Michigan, and this time it takes place in a basketball arena rather than in a football stadium. It’s the first time the Buckeyes and Wolverines have met in hoops when both are ranked in the top five, both are currently thought to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and there are first-place conference implications on the line.
So yeah, it’s a big one.
Michigan has just one loss this year and is a bonafide national title contender. Ohio State has improved greatly from the beginning of the year, and many feel it has the same ceiling.
It’s almost time to tip this thing off, and we’re giving you everything you need to know to get ready for the game, including a prediction.
Next … The Ohio State game plan
Ohio State Cliffs Notes game plan
Michigan’s spacing is elite under Juwan Howard. Open shot after open shot all week.
— Aaron Douglas (@CoachADouglas) November 29, 2019
There aren’t too many holes in this Michigan team. It shares the ball well, shoots at a high percentage, rebounds, and takes care of the ball. There may not be a top-end superstar on the team, but the Wolverines go about eight deep and are elite on both ends of the court. If there’s one chink in the armor, it has to be the ability to shoot the three. Juwan Howard does a great job of extending players out with spacing even more than other teams and likes for his team to get to the angles that creates with dribble drives.
Look for Ohio State to sag off of the wing players a bit and make Michigan shoot the ball instead of getting in the lane and soft spots for high percentage looks. It’s easier said than done, and you can’t be so passive that the offense can dictate what it wants to do.
On offense, the Buckeyes will likely try to clear big man Hunter Dickinson out of the lane. Look for whomever he is guarding — whether it be E.J. Liddel or Kyle Young, to be out on the perimeter so that the Buckeyes can use their ability to get to the rim and kick when the defense looks to help. This game is probably going to be won by how well the guards play because of how both teams are put together.
NEXT … Key Players For Both Teams
Key Player For Ohio State
.@kyle_young25 doing Kyle Young things. #GoBuckeyes #Team122 pic.twitter.com/YoOsapInFh
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) February 9, 2021
Forward, Kyle Young – If ever Ohio State needed Young to come up huge, it’s in this game. E.J. Liddell will more than likely be checked by the 7-foot, 2-inch Dickinson, and I expect the Buckeyes to try and get him out of the lane on defense. That means Young will draw a shorter player and might be asked to isolate and go to work if Liddell can’t get things going down in the post. We know Young is going to bring all he has, and if he’s active in and around the lane, Ohio State has a chance.
Key Player to Know for Michigan
Here's how Isaiah Livers is 'reaching another level' for Michigan basketball. Story from @jamesbhawkins (for subscribers) https://t.co/oVoovN2IOH pic.twitter.com/nW7ENuh3S1
— Detroit News Sports (@detnews_sports) February 17, 2021
Forward, Isaiah Livers – Livers has been around the program and does everything for this team. He’s not the leading scorer, but he’s close, just behind Dickinson. He’s a physical guy that can get to the rim or pull up as the team’s biggest 3-point threat. He’s the heart and soul of this Michigan team and Ohio State has to find some way to neutralize his all-around floor game.
NEXT … The prediction
How It’ll All Go Down
Ohio State vs. Michigan: This year ‘The Game’ is on the hardwood instead of the gridiron https://t.co/de8rmHTKKO
— Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) February 20, 2021
Michigan is for real. The Wolverines do everything well, and there’s a reason that they’ve only lost one game. I expect this to be one whale of a game with two teams that can beat you in multiple ways. It’s going to be a heavyweight fight with both teams trading blows and mini runs, but without much separation throughout the game. Ohio State could easily win this game, but Michigan is a slightly better team on defense, and I think that makes the difference in this one. I hope I’m wrong.
Final Score
Michigan 81, Ohio State 77
Line
Coming … (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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In reflection: The last ten Ohio State vs. Michigan basketball games
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