Well it was fun while it lasted.
For a team that barely squeaked into the NCAA Tournament, making it this far and giving a very good Houston team all it can handle for the large majority of the game is nothing to hang heads about.
Here’s three things we observed in Ohio State’s 74-59 loss and exit from the NCAA Tournament.
Next … Where was Wesson
Kaleb Wesson bottled up on the blocks
Coming into this game, it sure looked like Ohio State’s big man enjoyed a big-time advantage down in the paint. Houston lacks size and centers all of its offense around solid guard play.
But credit Houston for coming up with the gameplan and execution to limit the space Wesson had once he caught the ball. The Cougars were extremely quick and active once he got the ball — not giving him a chance to catch the ball deep or make any moves towards the hoop.
We all know how things generally turn out when Wesson isn’t one of the key cogs to the offense, and give Kelvin Sampson credit for getting his team to buy-into a quick-turnaround effort at making life difficult for him.
Wesson scored fifteen points, but six of it came on three pointers and most everything else was at the free-throw line late. He was almost erased from the game for a large swath of the game, and it may have been the story of the game on defense for Houston.
Next … Houston’s veteran guard play
The Cougar guards were too much for Ohio State
Houston is a unique team. It often uses a four guard set and will spread you out to create dribble-drive opportunities and kick it back out for a perimeter shot when the lanes are shut down. Everything is going to the hoop until its stopped, then there’s usually an open look from beyond the arc.
But you have to have the personnel to do that. Houston does. There are a slew of capable and veteran guards that push the play, make great decisions and shoot a high percentage. It’s a tough matchup, and frankly one that I thought Ohio State was better equipped to handle because of the girth advantage on the front line.
This Cougar squad will be a tough out for anyone from here out out including Kentucky next round. You have to have great guard play in the NCAA Tournament to make a deep run, and Houston has it — and then some.
2018-19 was a success for the Buckeyes
A good year for Ohio State by all accounts and measures
Okay, yeah. Finishing in seventh place is not the water level at a place like Ohio State, but remember this was always going to be the most challenging year roster wise for head coach Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes.
There’s a lot of help coming next year, but this roster is a collection of solid parts that orbit around Kaleb Wesson in the post. The team lacks a true point guard, doesn’t really have a second consistent scoring option, and has a hard time creating shots.
Yet somehow, someway this team elbowed its way into the NCAA Tournament and found a way to pull of a sizable upset by knocking off Big Twelve Tournament Champion Iowa State.
The fact that this roster made it this far is a commendable and noteworthy accomplishment. Now about next year …
