Records
Ohio State 13-4 (7-4), Michigan State 8-5 (2-5)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Sunday, Jan. 31
Game Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Network: CBS
Here we go with another key Big Ten contest for Ohio State. Nothing in the toughest conference in basketball is easy, even though the Michigan State Spartans haven’t exactly lived up to expectations this season.
The Buckeyes have won two in a row and five of its last six to climb all the way up to fourth place in the Big Ten. The team is still in arm’s reach of the top of the conference but will have to continue to show the improvement we’ve seen across the board from early in the season.
Don’t sleep on Michigan State either. There’s still plenty of talent on this team and you feel good about the Spartans figuring it out at some point. It just remains to be seen whether it can show marked improvement from its first game against Rutgers after being on a COVID-19 pause. That one did not go well after a 30-point beating on Thursday.
Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of this one.
Next … The Ohio State game plan
Ohio State Cliffs Notes game plan
Ohio State basketball vs. Michigan State: How and where to watch and listen to the game Sunday https://t.co/blOgAlR134
— Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) January 31, 2021
One thing you always have to do against a Michigan State team is to be very wary of your transition defense. The Buckeyes will play the staple man-to-man, but after offensive possessions, they’ll have to bust it down the court and get everything setup so that the Spartans can’t get the transition game or secondary break going. This Michigan State team has not shot the ball well this season, but it is a deep one. It’ll try to run guys at you and speed the game up.
On offense, it’s time to go to work again with what has become the identity of this team. The guards and wings should look to get the ball into E.J. Liddell on multiple spots on the floor. When they can’t it’s time to get to the lane, come up with high percentage looks, and crash the boards with the understanding that the guards have to get back and provide floor balance on the other end. Everything now runs off of getting looks in the lane and kicking the ball out when the defense collapses.
NEXT … Key Players For Both Teams
Key Player For Ohio State
Obligatory E.J. Liddell appreciation post #Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/AnPk50irep
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 10, 2021
Forward, E.J. Liddell – Can it be anyone else at this point? Liddell continues to separate himself as one of the best players in the Big Ten and has an ever-evolving game. He’ll probably draw the best post defender Michigan State has. He can pull some size out of the lane and use his mid and long-range shooting to create mismatches. If the Spartans switch and put a smaller guy on him, it’s time to bang away in and around the lane. He has become a mismatch nightmare for the opposition.
Key Player to Know for Michigan State
Hey guys, Aaron Henry pic.twitter.com/7GqEwi5WKF
— Takes 👀 (@SpartyMyTake) September 26, 2020
Forward, Aaron Henry – Michigan State doesn’t have a great three-point threat this year and Henry is no exception. He’s not going to try and bomb away from deep, but he does like to get out in the open floor and use his athleticism to finish strong at the rim. He’s also not afraid to get others involved in the half-court sets when double teams come. He’ll do most of his work in the lane, and if Ohio State would be well-advised to limit the breakouts, make him work hard in the half-court, double at times, and make someone else be the star.
NEXT … The prediction
How It’ll All Go Down
F O C U S#GoBuckeyes #Team122 pic.twitter.com/i8z6BTbVTm
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 28, 2021
Michigan State is a team still searching for itself. The Buckeyes get the Spartans at a good time but don’t expect a repeat of what we saw against Rutgers Thursday. Michigan State will play more inspired but it just doesn’t have enough offensive firepower figured out yet to stay with how efficient Ohio State has become on offense. Buckeyes win a fairly close one in workmanlike fashion.
Final Score
Ohio State 74, Michigan State 65
Line
Ohio State -7.5 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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