Records
Ohio State 18-7 (12-7), Illinois 19-6 (15-4)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Saturday, March 6
Game Time: 4 p.m. EST
Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
Network: ESPN
The chance at a Big Ten championship may be gone for the Ohio State basketball team, but there is still plenty to play for. Not only is a top-four seed and subsequent double-bye in the conference tournament still possible, but the Buckeyes could also still play their way into a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament if they can turn things around.
Ohio State has lost three straight games which has knocked it down to a No. 2 seed in most bracket projections, but this team has put together a really good body of work. There are still some big-time goals still out there, and it would help immensely to win against an Illinois team that is on an absolute tear and probably now a No. 1 seed in its own right.
It should be a physical and entertaining game, so buckle up and enjoy this one on Saturday afternoon. In the meantime, we’ve got all you need to know to get ready for another massive clash in the Big Ten.
Next … The Ohio State game plan
Ohio State Cliffs Notes game plan
Honoring these two today❗️4PM on ESPN 🙌#Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/V0yYOFSOIL
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 6, 2021
Over the last few games, the Buckeyes have shown real issues dealing with size and brawn down in the post. It’s no secret, size is a limitation of this team with the smaller lineup it employs, but OSU might have focused too much on the post and forgot about shooters out on the perimeter.
Opponents have been able to kick the ball to the outside and swing it around the perimeter to wide-open snipers when the defense has collapsed down. Iowa shot 41.7% from beyond the arc, and Michigan 47.8%. That’s a problem. OSU might need to let Cockburn work down in the post a little more isolated and make sure it sticks to open guys on defense. It still has to play help defense in crucial situations but with a little more emphasis on closing out and not freelancing too much.
On offense, Ohio State just needs to shoot the ball better from the perimeter. A lot of that has to do with too much dribbling out front and a lack of ball movement. Somewhere along the line, this team began to press and individual members began to think they needed to break their guy down on their own. That’s not how OSU went on a crazy winning streak not too long ago, and it’ll need to get back to it. The Buckeyes have to take care of the basketball, make the simple pass, relocate, and share the basketball. Then, hit those less contested shots.
NEXT … Key Players For Both Teams
Key Player For Ohio State
Justin Ahrens is the best 3-pt shooter in the country 😤 pic.twitter.com/JCOVRdsT3R
— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) February 9, 2021
Guard, Justin Ahrens – Lost in the hand wringing and teeth gnashing of losing three games in a row is the fact that teams are starting to take away Justin Ahrens as a priority. He has just one bucket in the last three games, and it really forces others to step up and stretch the defense. Ahrens needs to find a way to get open through ball screens and cuts, and make some daggers from deep to give others room to operate. It’s an underrated part of this offense, but it absolutely kills the efficiency when OSU doesn’t have the threat of Ahrens from deep.
Key Player to Know for Illinois
How does one stop this? 😳
This is dunk No. 7️⃣ on the afternoon for @IlliniMBB's Kofi Cockburn: pic.twitter.com/T4MdaHj6NU
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 6, 2021
Center, Kofi Cockburn – Ohio State got destroyed in the blocks by Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson and Iowa’s Luka Garza. There’s just not the height and athleticism in the paint to provide much resistance. E.J. Liddell, Kyle Young, and Zed Key do their best to hold ground, and there’s help that usually comes, but Cockburn can also be a load. If he’s getting position deep, cleaning up the glass, and providing too much resistance at the rim, it could be another loss for Ohio State.
NEXT … The prediction
How It’ll All Go Down
Ohio State got some much-needed rest this past week after looking like a very banged up and tired bunch against Iowa. That should help with the energy level and fresh legs. However, this Illinois team is a different one than the Buckeyes beat earlier and playing so much better as a team with the inside-outside game. We don’t know whether Ayo Dosunmu will be cleared to play or not for the Illini, but that hasn’t mattered. The Illini are playing great defense, getting contributions from many, and rebounding at a high level right now. Ohio State loses its fourth in a row and continues to search for answers.
Final Score
Illinois 79, Ohio State 73
Line
Ohio State -2.5 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.)
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