Have you ever seen a season with so much inconsistency as what we are witnessing with this Ohio State basketball team? There are some really, really good wins in there, but also some stinkers in which the team failed to show up.
Now Ohio State hosts a Rutgers team that it’s looking up at in the standings, but one that it really needs to beat at home. The Scarlet Knights have been a far different team on the road, winning just one time at Nebraska, and losing its other five. But they’ve all been close.
A win by the Buckeyes would get them back to just one game under .500, while a loss would probably put this team pretty close to the bubble with time running out before the postseason.
It’s life in the big, bad Big Ten.
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Records
Ohio State 15-8, (5-7), Rutgers 17-7, (8-5)
All-time series record
7-3 Ohio State leads
Last meeting
Ohio State won 76-62 last season at home on February 2
Broadcast, TV, Game Time
Date: Wednesday, February 12
Game Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
Network: BTN
Next … The Ohio State Game Plan
Ohio State cliff notes game plan
Many teams might be tempted to take away the effectiveness of leading scorer Ron Harper, Jr., or second-leading scorer Akwasi Yeboah, but this Rutgers team goes as its point guard Geo Baker does. The 6-4, 185 lb. guard often has the ball in his hands, and is the biggest threat to get his own shot when needed. He has been extremely streaky, and less-effective on the road, but he has to be the one the game plan revolves around defensively because it all starts with his penetration and playmaking ability.
C.J. Walker will most likely draw the matchup on him defensively, but it would be wise to run other bodies on him to keep things fresh. He’ll eat Duane Washington up, so look for Holtmann to use Luther Muhammad as a defensive stopper as well.
Offensively, Ohio State is who it is at this point. It needs a big game from Wesson, and the supporting cast around him has to spot up and look for kicks on double teams to hit open looks. You don’t want to run up and down the floor on Rutgers because of the health and thin lineup Ohio State is dealing with, but the offense has to share the basketball and execute its half-court sets.
Next … Key Player And Prediction
Key Player For Ohio State
Kaleb Wesson. With D.J. Carton out and a lack of identity with pieces being moved around, Wesson has to have a big game from here on out for Ohio State to be at the top of its game. He needs to get engaged and effective early. When that happens, it tends to open up the offense for others on the perimeter. He has to play tough, stay out of foul trouble, and be the player he can be when he’s really into it.
How It’ll All Go Down
It won’t be easy, but this is one Ohio State should win. Rutgers is a much-improved squad this year, but it has played off the emotion of the home crowd with some big wins, but has yet to get a big-time quality win on the road.
Look for it to be a tight game, but one in which Ohio State plays hard, physical defense and does just enough on the offensive end to put this one in the win column.
Final Score
Ohio State 71, Rutgers 65
Line
Ohio State -5.5
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