Ohio State continues to find a way to win the games it has to have. On Sunday, it controlled most of the game, but Indiana got in position to win as the sands of the hourglass began to run out.
In the end, the Buckeyes made the plays they needed and escaped with a three-point 55-52 victory. The win brings their Big Ten conference record back to .500 and solidified their NCAA Tournament chances — for now.
Here’s three things we took from the game.
Next … Rebounding, meet turnovers
Thank goodness for Ohio State’s ability to rebound
Turnovers. It has been the grim-reaper for the Buckeye basketball team so far this year, and they don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Ohio State turns the ball over more than any team in the Big Ten, and that normally spells doom and gloom when it comes to putting together a decent conference record.
Don’t expect that to change anytime soon, because well — you are what you are at this point. But, there’s an area that has helped out and it’s rebounding.
The Buckeyes once again treated the Hoosiers as a charity case on Sunday, turning the ball over fifteen times to Indiana’s ten, but enjoyed a 35-29 rebounding advantage in the visitor’s gym. Nine of those were offensive rebounds.
If the ball’s going to be thrown around too much, you better have something else to hang your hat on, and for Ohio State, rebounding has often canceled out the carelessness and lack of judgement in that area. It still needs to be better though.
Next … And then there’s defense
But defense travels too for the Buckeyes
Rebounds and … defense. Let’s not forget about the ability to lock down when guarding, because that too has covered up some of the shortcomings with taking care of the pumpkin.
I don’t care who you are, holding any team in the Big Ten to just 52 points in their gym is flat out getting it done on the defensive side of the ball. The Buckeyes didn’t shoot the lights out themselves, but forced ten turnovers and held the Hoosiers to 39.6 percent from the field — including 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Credit goes to the entire defense, but most especially Luther Muhammad who was by and large the one responsible for being able to hold freshman phenom Romeo Langford below his season average. That was a huge part of the game.
Next … The curious case of C. J. Jackson
C.J. giveth, and then he giveth
Perhaps no player on Ohio State’s roster is more frustrating than point guard C.J. Jackson. Let’s be clear that he’s not really a true point guard, but has developed into one because of need at Ohio State. Still, he’s given many Buckeye fans and coaches headaches and temper tantrums because of his turnovers this season.
Then, at other times he makes some of the most clutch and unbelievable moments and everyone remembers the ability he has when he just plays the game instead of thinking too much.
Just like last year in Bloomington, Jackson made a clutch, clutch three late, this time to tie the game up at 52, then got the assist on the pick and slip by Andrew Wesson for what ended up being the game winning dunk.
But man, if he could just be stronger and more wise with the ball in his hands.
