Despite all the trials and tribulations, the Ohio State basketball team has been through this year, it’s still an NCAA tournament team. But the season is not over and it has to find some way to get some more big wins in a very tough and deep Big Ten.
One of those games is Saturday against an Indiana team that already beat the Buckeyes in Bloomington. It’s a game that hat OSU simply cannot afford to notch in the win column. Holding serve at home in this league is a must, and the Bucks have already lost two in conference on their home court. If they have any designs of still dancing in March, this is a big one.
Here are three keys to a victory.
Next … Save the pumpkin
Limit the turnovers
Taking care of the basketball is undoubtedly the most important stat for this Ohio State team, and has been since the middle of the season. The pitfalls that befell the squad all began when it started being careless with turnovers. The Buckeyes still have enough talent and ability to play with anyone, but not when it limits possessions by giving them away to the other team.
At the Schott, behind the home crowd, Ohio State should be able to get a win against Indiana. But it has to stay within itself and not try to do too much. Run the offense, take care of the ball and let the game flow in an organic way.
Next … Don’t give Indiana easy points
Keep Indiana off the free-throw line
In the first meeting, the Hoosiers went to the free-throw line a whopping 36 times. Now some of that is because of the demons of playing in Bloomington (Indiana always seems to get the benefit there), but there were some issues with moving feet and being in position as well that needs to be corrected.
When Indiana is going right, it likes to get the ball down low while asking its guards to make plays towards the hoop. That naturally lends itself to getting to the line, but not so that there is an avalanche of points being given at the charity stripe. Indiana outscored OSU by nine points because of fouls the first time around, and that can’t happen again.
Next … Paging Kaleb Wesson
Kaleb Wesson has to be Kaleb Wesson
As the season has gone on, teams are putting more and more efforts towards making Ohio State’s big man work down on the post. The defenses are collapsing and forcing him into contested shots and far too many turnovers.
But Ohio State needs Wesson to be a force. He’s the team’s most polished player and he has to come up big Saturday. That doesn’t mean he forces the issue, but OSU doesn’t win if he just fades into the background in this one. He has to be involved and active. Most importantly, he has to recognize double teams and get the ball to the right place if that’s what it comes down to. Then, hit the boards hard and make your own luck.
