Records
Ohio State 12-4 (6-4), Penn State 5-6 (2-5)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Wednesday, January 27
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
Network: Big Ten Network
It’s off to another challenge as we traverse this tough Big Ten basketball schedule for Ohio State. There’s no denying this Buckeye squad is getting better as the season progresses, but this league has a way of humbling you just when you think things are turning in the right direction.
Enter the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Don’t let the record fool you. This team is starting to play much better after a rough start to the season and have won back-to-back Big Ten games (a feat in itself) against Rutgers and Northwestern, both in Happy Valley.
Now it’s time to see if Penn State can continue its forward momentum, hitting the road against an OSU team that presents a lot of challenges on the offensive end. Or, will Ohio State continue its improved run towards the postseason.
It’s the Big Ten, so expect the unexpected.
Next … The Ohio State game plan
Ohio State cliff notes game plan
This Ohio State offense is becoming a very efficient one and for good reason. It has multiple guys that can score and take advantage of mismatches when they present themselves. Against Penn State, that mismatch appears to be in the paint. The Buckeyes have looked for E.J. Liddell all season long, but would be well-advised to do so even more in this one. The Buckeyes don’t employ a big lineup either, but Lidell and Kyle Young are great at playing bigger than their height.
They both use their body well and get high percentage shots off against players bigger than they are. And in this one, the tallest player Penn State will throw out on the court is the 6-foot, 9-inch John Harrar. Look for the Buckeyes work touches through the paint in this one and play off the action that occurs afterward.
Defensively, Penn State is strong at the guard spot. The Nittany Lions shoot the ball pretty decent from the three-point line but can really do damage when the guards penetrate and cause issues in the paint. In the last couple of games, the guards have made it to the free-throw line a bunch with penetration. Ohio State would be wise to take away dribble drives and force Penn State into long jumpers as opposed to denying things out on the wings.
However, caution persists. It has to be a straight-up man-to-man effort without too many double teams because PSU can hurt you from multiple spots on the floor as well. Five guys averagee in double figures so OSU has to rally to the ball and rebound.
NEXT … Key Players For Both Teams
Key Player For Ohio State
Forward, Kyle Young – E.J. Liddell has a chance to be big in this one, but I look for the matchup off of that. If Ohio State uses both Liddell and Young on the floor at the same time to take advantage of a lack of size underneath for Penn State, Young will likely draw the lesser of the defenders, in this case, John Harrar. He has the bigger size but doesn’t possess the athleticism and rim-protecting power Seth Lundy does. Because of that, Young should have a mismatch and ability to get some good looks in post-up situations.
Key Player to Know for Penn State
Guard, Myreon Jones – Jones can do a little bit of everything. He can get hot from the outside, but also break down his defender off the dribble. If you play off of him, he’ll pull up and make you pay. Play in-your-face man-to-man defense and he’ll go around you and look to get to the rim. He’s also not afraid to find open guys and hit the boards a little from the guard spot. He also rarely comes off the floor, so it’ll be interesting to see who gets rotated on him as a defender throughout the game.
NEXT … The prediction
How It’ll All Go Down
Ohio State is getting better and better at this whole basketball thing. The offense is really efficient as of late and it’s going to be awfully tough for Penn State to match up across the board on defense. The Nittany Lions will make baskets in a higher-scoring affair and make this thing a ballgame. But the depth and scoring ability from too many guys in scarlet and gray will result in OSU winning another game in the rough and tumble Big Ten.
Final Score
Ohio State 81, Penn State 74
Line
Ohio State -8.5 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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