Here we go again. It’s well-chronicled the issues the Ohio State basketball team has had as of late. It’s a downward spiral that it just can’s seem to suck itself out of. So much so that the Buckeyes are in the basement of the Big Ten standings and are getting dangerously close to being on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Now they must travel to Evanston to take on a Northwestern and attempt to wrestle away their first Big Ten road win of the season. At least OSU still has a shot at the postseason. Northwestern’s season is in much worse shape. Barring a miraculous run through the Big Ten Tournament, the Wildcats will be sitting home after the regular season.
This one is bigger for Ohio State. It desperately needs this win.
Records
Ohio State 12-7 (2-6), Northwestern 6-12 (1-7)
All-time series record
96-23 Ohio State leads
Last meeting
Northwestern won 68-50 on March 6 last season
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Thursday, January 23
Game Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
Network: BTN
Next … The Ohio State Game Plan
Ohio State cliff notes game plan
The Buckeyes win this game by keeping it simple, with a caveat. It has more talent than Northwestern, but that’s been the case several times this year and things still went south. If the Buckeyes run their stuff, get Kaleb Wesson involved and have solid play around him, it’ll win this game.
Most importantly, it can’t foul and absolutely has to take care of the basketball. If the Buckeyes turn the ball over and take poor shots like it has done in the past, we’ll see some of the same things happen that we’ve seen over the past month.
OSU needs to go on a business trip here and just win. Play smart, run the offense and don’t try to do too much. The Wildcats may have won only one game in the Big Ten so far, but it’s lost a lot of close ones. It can beat OSU, especially with where this team is at psychologically right now.
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Next … Key Player And Prediction
Key Player For Ohio State
C.J. Walker. Walker has to run this team on the road. He’s the seasoned guy that knows more of what it’s like to go into hostile territory and battle through adversity. But he hasn’t been able to lead this team through the fire so far this year for whatever reason. Clearly it’s not all his fault, but if this team is going to turn things around, it’ll need the guy that handles the ball more than anyone else on the team pull it out of the fire. Walker doesn’t necessarily have to drop a ton of points, but he has to smart, get guys open and take care of the basketball.
How It’ll All Go Down
I’ll admit. I can’t figure this team out. I’ve picked this team to win when I think it should and it’s lost. I’ve counted the Buckeyes out before early in the season and they proved me wrong. This might be Northwestern, but it has all the pieces to knock off a fragile Ohio State team at its place. This one will be close, but the Wildcats want a win badly too, and they smell scarlet blood in the water. I just don’t see this Buckeye team being tough enough to figure things out on the road right now.
Final Score
Northwestern 68, Ohio State 65
Line
Ohio State -6
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