The Ohio State basketball team has had a fantastic start to the 2019 season. It sits undefeated at 7-0 with wins over Cincinnati and Villanova and now sits in the top ten of the AP Poll, moving all the way up to No. 6 after the latest release.
But now it gets real.
It’s time for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the Buckeyes are tasked with traveling to Chapel Hill to take on one of the blue bloods of the sport, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
UNC lost one game already to Michigan, but still figures to be in the running for big things as usual in 2019. It’ll be a tall task to be a deep and talented Tar Heel team in their building, but this team seems to be coming together. A win would be yet another resume builder early in the season.
Records
Ohio State 7-0, North Carolina 6-1
All-time series record
11-1 North Carolina leads
Last meeting
North Carolina won 86-72 in 2017
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Wednesday, December 4
Game Time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Network: ESPN
Ohio State has looked fantastic to start the season, but it gets a real test on Wednesday. North Carolina is comfortable running up and down the court and going deep into the bench — especially at home.
Ohio State is a deep team too, but this will be the most hostile environment it has faced on the young season. Can the Buckeyes continue its forward momentum and pull off the mild upset on the road, or will the Tar Heels continue to own this series and remind Ohio State that’s its simply not in the same category as the bluest of blue bloods?
Next … The Ohio State Game Plan
Ohio State cliff notes game plan
Playing North Carolina is a lot like going against a Michigan State coached team in Big Ten play. Carolina likes to push the ball up the court before you notice. Oh, and if you do, there’s the secondary break it’ll take advantage of as a second wave of players coming down the court will make you pay if you fall asleep.
The Buckeyes have to go deep into the bench on this one and be very aware and intentional at sprinting back on defense, even after made baskets. It has to be man-to-man aggressive defense so that everyone knows their assignments, but be willing to help out on ball-screens and defensive rotations.
On offense, though the Buckeyes have enough athleticism to hang in a full-court game, that’s not their style. The ‘Heels would love to get into the 80s in this thing and turn this into their brand of ball. Ohio State can’t abandon the fast break, but will probably look to be more deliberate in offensive sets than what we’ve seen so far. You have to limit possessions, get good shots and then block out like crazy to keep Carolina off the boards.
Next … Key Player And Prediction
Key Player For Ohio State
Kaleb Wesson. In the biggest of games, your best player has to show up. That’s certainly the case here as well. Unless the Buckeyes just have a white-hot shooting night, they’ll need all they can get from Wesson in the post. Not only does he have to be a force on the offensive end, but he’ll need to play good defense without fouling — and maybe most importantly — grab as many rebounds as he can.
I say a double-double might need to be in order Wednesday night.
How It’ll All Go Down
There’s no doubt about it. Ohio State has impressed this year and once again looks to be banking the the expectations under Chris Holtmann. What else is new.
However, this is a huge step up that I’m not sure the program is ready for just yet. Maybe later in the year when all the roles are more defined, and when all the young talent on the roster begins to materialize more. And don’t discount the fact that the game is in the Dean Dome. If it’s in Columbus, I think it’s a different deal.
The solid Buckeye defense will slow down Carolina more than other teams, but it’ll still get plenty of run outs and opportunities. It’ll use a frenetic pace that Ohio State isn’t used to, and won’t quite be able to keep up with.
Not yet anyway. Get back to us in March.
Final Score
North Carolina 77, Ohio State 68
Line
Coming …
