Records
Ohio State 7-1, Northwestern 5-1
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Saturday, December 26
Game Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Welsch-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
Network: FS1
It looks to be yet another stern test for the Ohio State basketball team. After polishing off a rather impressive win against a highly ranked Rutgers squad, the Buckeyes must travel to Evanston to take on a Northwestern team that’s playing some excellent basketball.
While the Wildcats weren’t expected to contend for much during all the preseason buzz in the Big Ten, they’ve done nothing but impress. The only loss is a one-point game against Pitt, and they already have one of the best wins of the young conference season, a double-digit home win against Michigan State.
It’ll take an Ohio State team playing at the top of its game to pull this one off, and we’ve got everything you need to know for the game. We start with the likely game plan for the Buckeyes to walk out a victor on this, the day after Christmas.
Next … The Ohio State game plan
Ohio State cliff notes game plan
Back to work at 2PM on FS1#Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/syRGfBmZ8c
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 26, 2020
Let’s start with defense on this one because the effort and priority have to be a little different than against other teams. Northwestern has been filling it up from beyond the arc, and it has multiple players that can bomb away from deep. The Buckeyes will still play the same, staple man-to-man defense they’ve been known for, but there has to be a real intention to stay on the shooters on the perimeter.
That means not as much sagging down to help out if the ball gets into the lane. It has to be tough on-ball defense and denial on the wings. If the Wildcats beat you off the drive or get the ball dumped inside, so be it. You take that over disheartening daggers from beyond the arc.
On offense, this team’s identity has become one where everything starts with going to the rim. Whether it’s dumping it inside and letting E.J. Liddel work, or whether things begin with penetration from the guards and wing players, everything else falls into place from there. Especially on the road, that has to continue.
Good things happen when you dribble drive and get the ball to the paint. Ohio State shoots free throws better than any team in the league, and getting into the paint should result in some easy baskets and opportunities at the free-throw stripe. If the defense is great and the ball penetration is cut off, then it’s time to kick things out for a spot-up jumper.
NEXT … Key Players For Both Teams
Key Player For Ohio State
Guard, Duane Washington – When Washington has a good game, it seems Ohio State follows like the pied piper. This team has other weapons that can step up, but when Washington is making good decisions with the ball and looking to get to open spots on the floor rather than pull up from deep with a quick trigger, things work much better for the team. He has to play within himself, get opportunities within the flow of the game, and bury his open looks.
Key Player to Know for Northwestern
Watching my guy Boo Buie cooking for Northwestern vs Michigan State right now on the BTN. This Sophomore yet another Mass Rivals PG representing on the national stage. pic.twitter.com/vvtQO1moBy
— Rivals Nation (@RivalsNation) December 21, 2020
Guard, Boo Buie – The Wildcats have several players that can beat you, but Buie can shoot the rock and penetrate, causing so many issues on defense. Not only that, but he’ll knock down free throws with extreme regularity. Buie is leading the team in points but is also a great distributor, leading the team in assists (5.3 avg.) making all those around him much better. Make life difficult on him, and there’s a chance.
NEXT … The prediction
How It’ll All Go Down
My TEAM OF THE NIGHT / the @OhioStateHoops OHIO STATE of @ChrisHoltmann as they beat a very good Rutgers team giving the Scarlet Knights their 1st Loss .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 24, 2020
This game worries me quite a bit. I really believe Northwestern is being overlooked and is severely underrated in the Big Ten. There won’t be much of a home-court advantage other than the look and feel of everything, but the Wildcats are a great shooting team that can create a lot of mismatch issues. Look for Ohio State to have a bit of a letdown from a bruising game against Rutgers. The Buckeyes will fight hard, but come up short from fatigue against a quality opponent.
Final Score
Northwestern 72, Ohio State 67
Line
Ohio State -3.5 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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