Records
Ohio State 15-7 (5-6), Indiana 13-10 (4-8)
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Sunday, February 10
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Venue: Assembly Hall, Bloomington, IN
Network: CBS | You can also tune in online with FuboTV. (Try it for free)
Ohio State has found a bit of its mojo again after a bit of a free fall against the contenders of the league, and have inched ever so closer to .500 in Big Ten play.
But games on the road in the Big Ten have been a house of horrors. The Buckeyes are just 1-3 on the road in the league and have averaged just 62 points per contest. Here’s comes another one.
Indiana might be just 4-8 in the conference and struggling to find consistency, but the Hoosiers recently knocked off Michigan State at its place, and always present a stiff, stiff challenge in Bloomington.
Ohio State would desperately love to get another one on the road and get back to even in the league. Indiana is looking to hold on to its NCAA Tournament hopes.
Next … The Ohio State Game Plan
Ohio State Short Attention Span Game Plan
You can’t discuss Indiana without bringing up its sensational freshman Romeo Langford. He’s the leading scorer and main option for the Hoosiers. Forward Juwan Morgan can fill it up a little as well, but if you can lock down Langford, you have the upper hand.
Here’s the deal. Langford doesn’t shoot well from the three point line, averaging just 25.6% for the year. He loves to drive into gaps, and take mid-range jumpers. He’s a slasher and loves to break defenders down with the dribble.
Ohio State will most likely try and put its best defender on Langford in the form of Luther Muhammad, and let him lock him down man-to-man. But he can’t do it himself. The guards and forwards off the ball have to have one eye on their man, and one eye on Lanford, looking to break off and help when he looks to drive.
On offense, it’s the same gameplan as the last few games. Spread the floor, play through Kaleb Wesson and relocate to open spots on the floor if double-teams go down in the post.
Make shots and don’t turn the ball over. For all that’s good in this world, please, please take care of the pumpkin.
Next … Key Player And Prediction
Key Player For Ohio State
Luther Muhammad. It’s time to cut the head off the snake. Langford is quick and hard to guard, but Muhammad has to work hard to keep him in front and make him shoot jumpers. Once he gets by defenders, he creates havoc with collapsing defenses and lanes that open for cutters and open looks. Anything Muhammad can chip in on the offensive end is a bonus, but it’s his defense that’s needed in this one. Go get ’em young fella.
How It’ll All Go Down
Indiana has been one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, but they are awfully tough at home, especially against an Ohio State team that’s been significantly worse when it makes a trip. The Buckeyes look wore down, and I’m afraid Indiana will come out with purpose and emotion behind the home crowd. The Buckeyes will try to keep it close, but things will get away in the second half.
Final Score
Indiana 71, Ohio State 65
Line
Indiana -2
