It was always going to be an uphill climb for Ohio State to go on the road and beat a pretty good Purdue team without your team’s best scorer and rebounder, and that’s exactly what played out. The Boilermakers took control of the game late in the first half and stayed in front until the end, winning 67-60 Wednesday night in West Lafayette.
It was a prototypical Big Ten slugfest, with a low-scoring, defensive affair that Purdue was able to grind out. We saw some good things from Ohio State, but there were also plenty of teaching moments that head coach Chris Holtmann will have for the team in tape review.
With the loss, the Buckeyes drop to 5-1 and now must get back up off the mat and play through a rough and tumble Big Ten season that will test them every night.
Here are three things we observed from the loss.
NEXT … This team needs more scoring
Scoring help is sorely needed
Ohio State's EJ Liddell (illness) and Seth Towns (knee) will not play tonight against Purdue, per Chris Holtmann.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 16, 2020
It can be a really good thing to have multiple guys that can score at times on a basketball team. It is an even better thing when you have a stud you can go to when you need a basket. Ohio State simply doesn’t have that right now.
Don’t get me wrong, guys like C.J. Walker and Justice Sueing have been able to get in the lane and make some big baskets, but there’s just not a guy that can go out and put the team on his shoulders in a defensive slog like tonight’s game.
Clearly, not having E.J. Liddell didn’t help, and maybe Seth Towns can answer the bell when he’s healthy and on the court, but until then, this team will have to win with defense and hope it can score enough.
NEXT … Some guys have to be more physical
It’s the Big Ten. The new guys have to be stronger
Chris Holtmann said Ohio State did some good things in this game but a lot to learn from the loss. He wanted the #Buckeyes to play more physical, especially in Big Ten play. Also mentioned more poise in the closing minutes of tonight’s game.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) December 17, 2020
A physical basketball game can also be known in other leagues as a foul fest gone awry. And while there’s some truth to that, this is the Big Ten and it’s the nature of the beast. You can either complain about it and let it affect your game, or soldier on, expect it and play through contact.
This was the first Big Ten game of the year, and Purdue was the more physical team. To their credit, guys like freshman Zed Key and transfer Justice Sueing haven’t experienced the grind of the Big Ten season, but their eyes were opened Wednesday night.
If this team is going to play stout defense, it also has to expect the game to be a brawny one on the offensive end of the court. It’s time to make that adjustment and be more physical going forward.
NEXT … Ohio State needs more out of Duane Washington
The Duane Washington enigma
This #Buckeyes team needs its stars to play like stars. That means Duane Washington Jr., who is taking his shot(s) at growing into that role. I spoke with him this week for a look at the process as Big Ten play opens: https://t.co/f9hOVlq8c4
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) December 16, 2020
Guard Duane Washington can be such a weapon for Ohio State, but he’s still not turning the page and understanding his game on both sides of the court. His shots are often forced, too quick, and lead to a lost possession on offense.
On defense, he’s improved, but there are still some moments that make you question his effort. Tonight it was far from good all-around. Washington was 4-of-14 (28.5 percent) from the floor, and 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) from beyond the arc. More than that, Ohio State got outscored by 17 points with him on the floor.
Ouch.
Look, everyone is entitled to a rough game here or there, but Washington is just wildly inconsistent, and if he’s going to remain in the starting lineup, a lot of this has to change. The light just isn’t going on for some reason. The tools are there, so let’s hope he figures it out.
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