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LGHL Ohio State gets blown out by Northwestern 83-58, loses 14th straight road game
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Ohio State gets blown out by Northwestern 83-58, loses 14th straight road game
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes' last road win came at Northwestern, but this contest told a much different story.
The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team (13-7, 3-6) fell to the Northwestern Wildcats (15-6, 6-3) 83-58 in Evanston on Saturday night.
The Buckeyes entered the contest on a 13-game losing streak on the road, with their last win coming on Jan. 1, 2023 — a convincing 73-57 victory over these same Wildcats. In a season that did not go the way that Ohio State wanted, one of the lone bright spots was that win over Northwestern in Evanston. The Buckeyes went up 34-8 in the first half and never looked back, leading 35-17 at the half and winning by 16.
Brice Sensabaugh led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds, Sean McNeil recorded 15 points, and Zed Key finished with a double-double, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. It was the last game Key played healthy of the season. Justice Sueing added 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
However, the Buckeyes have not won on the road since that game and were 0-4 on the road this season entering tonight’s game, with losses to Michigan, Penn State, Indiana, and Nebraska.
Northwestern was coming off a big win over No. 10 Illinois in overtime Wednesday night, defeating the Illini 96-91 behind 29 points from Boo Buie on 12-for-25 shooting from the field. Buie leads the Wildcats on the season, averaging 18.5 points per game and 5.3 assists per game.
Ty Berry and Ryan Langborg average 11.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
For Ohio State, Bruce Thornton leads the Buckeyes into this one, averaging 16.0 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Jamison Battle averages 14.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, and Roddy Gayle averages 13.7 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game.
The game was tipped at 8:42, and Northwestern won the tip, but Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle scored the first points.
Points didn’t come easy to start, as Ohio State started 1-for-5 from the field, and Northwestern started 2-for-6. Five of Ohio State’s first nine points came from the free-throw line, while Northwestern started 2-for-4 from the three-point line.
Jamison Battle made the first three-pointer for the Buckeyes. He averages 2.9 made three-pointers per game, which leads the Big Ten.
At the under-12 media timeout, Northwestern led Ohio State 15-12.
Bowen Hardman came into this one and immediately hit a three-pointer to try and provide a spark. He knocked down a three-pointer and helped cut into the Buckeye deficit. However, the Wildcats shot 7-for-13 from three-point range, leading the Buckeyes 41-30 at the half.
Ryan Langborg led Northwestern with 14 points at the half, while Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle led the Buckeyes with nine points each.
The Wildcats picked up where they left off, starting the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 46-30 early second-half lead.
Boo Buie knocked down a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 50-33 lead at the under-16 timeout. After another field goal, Buie became the third leading scorer in Northwestern history.
The Buckeye's shooting struggles continued throughout the second half, as the Wildcats were able to take a 59-39 lead into the under-12 media timeout. This was the largest deficit of the year for the Buckeyes.
At the under-8 media timeout, Northwestern stretched the lead to 71-40. The Wildcats never made it easier on the Buckeyes, as the Buckeyes trailed 81-46 at the under-4 media timeout.
Northwestern finished this contest off with an 83-58 win.
Boo Buie led the Wildcats with 19 points, while Roddy Gayle and Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Here are some storylines from the game:
Over the last five games, Ohio State is 27-for-111 (24.3%) from the three-point line. Graduate senior forward Jamison Battle is 14-for-29 (48.3%), while the rest of the team is 13-for-82 (15.9%). They started Big Ten play third in the conference from the three-point line and have fallen to eighth place.
The Buckeyes finished 5-for-19 from three-point range and 14-for-39 from the field against Northwestern.
Entering the Nebraska game, the Buckeyes were looking for a spark shooting the ball, so Chris Holtmann turned to sophomore guard Bowen Hardman, who finished with 11 points on 3-for-7 shooting.
Hardman entered the first half against Northwestern and made his first three-point attempt. He finished the half 1-for-2 from three-point range and overall.
Not only have the Buckeyes struggled to make shots, but the three-point defense from the Buckeyes has left a lot to be desired. Over the last five games where the Buckeyes have been slumping, Buckeyes opponents have shot 49-for-108 (45.4%) from the three-point line. In the first half of this contest, Northwestern shot 7-for-13 from three-point range to take an 11-point lead into the half.
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes' last road win came at Northwestern, but this contest told a much different story.
The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team (13-7, 3-6) fell to the Northwestern Wildcats (15-6, 6-3) 83-58 in Evanston on Saturday night.
The Buckeyes entered the contest on a 13-game losing streak on the road, with their last win coming on Jan. 1, 2023 — a convincing 73-57 victory over these same Wildcats. In a season that did not go the way that Ohio State wanted, one of the lone bright spots was that win over Northwestern in Evanston. The Buckeyes went up 34-8 in the first half and never looked back, leading 35-17 at the half and winning by 16.
Brice Sensabaugh led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds, Sean McNeil recorded 15 points, and Zed Key finished with a double-double, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. It was the last game Key played healthy of the season. Justice Sueing added 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
However, the Buckeyes have not won on the road since that game and were 0-4 on the road this season entering tonight’s game, with losses to Michigan, Penn State, Indiana, and Nebraska.
Northwestern was coming off a big win over No. 10 Illinois in overtime Wednesday night, defeating the Illini 96-91 behind 29 points from Boo Buie on 12-for-25 shooting from the field. Buie leads the Wildcats on the season, averaging 18.5 points per game and 5.3 assists per game.
Ty Berry and Ryan Langborg average 11.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively.
For Ohio State, Bruce Thornton leads the Buckeyes into this one, averaging 16.0 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Jamison Battle averages 14.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, and Roddy Gayle averages 13.7 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game.
The game was tipped at 8:42, and Northwestern won the tip, but Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle scored the first points.
Points didn’t come easy to start, as Ohio State started 1-for-5 from the field, and Northwestern started 2-for-6. Five of Ohio State’s first nine points came from the free-throw line, while Northwestern started 2-for-4 from the three-point line.
Jamison Battle made the first three-pointer for the Buckeyes. He averages 2.9 made three-pointers per game, which leads the Big Ten.
At the under-12 media timeout, Northwestern led Ohio State 15-12.
Bowen Hardman came into this one and immediately hit a three-pointer to try and provide a spark. He knocked down a three-pointer and helped cut into the Buckeye deficit. However, the Wildcats shot 7-for-13 from three-point range, leading the Buckeyes 41-30 at the half.
Ryan Langborg led Northwestern with 14 points at the half, while Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle led the Buckeyes with nine points each.
The Wildcats picked up where they left off, starting the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 46-30 early second-half lead.
Boo Buie knocked down a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 50-33 lead at the under-16 timeout. After another field goal, Buie became the third leading scorer in Northwestern history.
The Buckeye's shooting struggles continued throughout the second half, as the Wildcats were able to take a 59-39 lead into the under-12 media timeout. This was the largest deficit of the year for the Buckeyes.
At the under-8 media timeout, Northwestern stretched the lead to 71-40. The Wildcats never made it easier on the Buckeyes, as the Buckeyes trailed 81-46 at the under-4 media timeout.
Northwestern finished this contest off with an 83-58 win.
Boo Buie led the Wildcats with 19 points, while Roddy Gayle and Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Here are some storylines from the game:
Ohio State shooting woes
Over the last five games, Ohio State is 27-for-111 (24.3%) from the three-point line. Graduate senior forward Jamison Battle is 14-for-29 (48.3%), while the rest of the team is 13-for-82 (15.9%). They started Big Ten play third in the conference from the three-point line and have fallen to eighth place.
The Buckeyes finished 5-for-19 from three-point range and 14-for-39 from the field against Northwestern.
Bowen Hardman enters
Entering the Nebraska game, the Buckeyes were looking for a spark shooting the ball, so Chris Holtmann turned to sophomore guard Bowen Hardman, who finished with 11 points on 3-for-7 shooting.
Hardman entered the first half against Northwestern and made his first three-point attempt. He finished the half 1-for-2 from three-point range and overall.
Three-point defense
Not only have the Buckeyes struggled to make shots, but the three-point defense from the Buckeyes has left a lot to be desired. Over the last five games where the Buckeyes have been slumping, Buckeyes opponents have shot 49-for-108 (45.4%) from the three-point line. In the first half of this contest, Northwestern shot 7-for-13 from three-point range to take an 11-point lead into the half.
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LGHL BOOOOM!!!! Buckeyes land four-star 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe
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BOOOOM!!!! Buckeyes land four-star 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Carter Lowe | 247Sports
Ohio State keeps one of its best at home by landing a big-time offensive line target.
BOOM! Ohio State stays hot on the recruiting trail by landing Ohio native offensive tackle target Carter Lowe. The No. 79 player nationally, Lowe is the ninth-best player at his position and the third-best player in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Now at seven commits in the 2025 cycle, the Buckeyes jump up to the third-best class in the nation, moving up three spots with this latest addition. A major win for the program, the offensive line gets a much needed tackle prospect who fits the mold of everything this staff is looking for.
A Toledo Whitmer product, Lowe has long been on Ohio State’s radar, and rightfully so. A 6-foot-5, 290 pound athlete, Lowe has the frame any college program desires up front. Knowing he still has a year and a half left of high school to improve both his strength and ability on the field, the potential here is exciting for the Buckeyes, who have won out over a very impressive offer list.
Well over 20 offers to his name, Lowe being a top-100 player nationally and at one of the premier positions is sure to garner some serious attention, and he did just that early on in his recruitment. Schools such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and several others threw their name into the mix. The Buckeyes made it a priority to keep their best Ohio prospects at home, and this is another example of why this recipe for success tends to work.
The importance of this addition to the class cannot be overstated. Football starts up front, and this is the kind of offensive tackle target that Ohio State has not always fared super well with. In several recruiting cycles the offensive line recruiting has left a lot to be desired, but here you’re seeing the caliber of player that truly makes a difference in the team’s trenches. Sure, it helps that Lowe is right within Ohio State’s backyard being from Toledo, but just because he’s an in-state native doesn’t mean it was a given he’d end up a Buckeye, or that he’s not the more national offensive line target the staff has long wanted.
The Buckeyes fought hard for this commitment, and had to do so against several top suitors, especially with Michigan playing a role. Early on Lowe made it known that he was very impressed with the Wolverines due to their offensive line development, and thankfully Ohio State now doesn’t have to worry about going against him. Simply put, this is a big time win for the program who has seen most of recruiting efforts lately go their way both with high school prospects and in the transfer portal.
Announcing via 247Sports just moments ago, the Buckeyes have their seventh member of the 2025 class and the first offensive line commit in a class that will look to take upwards of five guys in the position group. An elite get for Justin Frye and the rest of the staff, this latest commitment shows the Buckeyes aren’t planning on seeing their momentum slow down any time soon.
Just a glimpse at what Ohio State is getting, see below for Lowe’s junior season highlights.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Carter Lowe | 247Sports
Ohio State keeps one of its best at home by landing a big-time offensive line target.
BOOM! Ohio State stays hot on the recruiting trail by landing Ohio native offensive tackle target Carter Lowe. The No. 79 player nationally, Lowe is the ninth-best player at his position and the third-best player in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Now at seven commits in the 2025 cycle, the Buckeyes jump up to the third-best class in the nation, moving up three spots with this latest addition. A major win for the program, the offensive line gets a much needed tackle prospect who fits the mold of everything this staff is looking for.
A Toledo Whitmer product, Lowe has long been on Ohio State’s radar, and rightfully so. A 6-foot-5, 290 pound athlete, Lowe has the frame any college program desires up front. Knowing he still has a year and a half left of high school to improve both his strength and ability on the field, the potential here is exciting for the Buckeyes, who have won out over a very impressive offer list.
Well over 20 offers to his name, Lowe being a top-100 player nationally and at one of the premier positions is sure to garner some serious attention, and he did just that early on in his recruitment. Schools such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and several others threw their name into the mix. The Buckeyes made it a priority to keep their best Ohio prospects at home, and this is another example of why this recipe for success tends to work.
The importance of this addition to the class cannot be overstated. Football starts up front, and this is the kind of offensive tackle target that Ohio State has not always fared super well with. In several recruiting cycles the offensive line recruiting has left a lot to be desired, but here you’re seeing the caliber of player that truly makes a difference in the team’s trenches. Sure, it helps that Lowe is right within Ohio State’s backyard being from Toledo, but just because he’s an in-state native doesn’t mean it was a given he’d end up a Buckeye, or that he’s not the more national offensive line target the staff has long wanted.
The Buckeyes fought hard for this commitment, and had to do so against several top suitors, especially with Michigan playing a role. Early on Lowe made it known that he was very impressed with the Wolverines due to their offensive line development, and thankfully Ohio State now doesn’t have to worry about going against him. Simply put, this is a big time win for the program who has seen most of recruiting efforts lately go their way both with high school prospects and in the transfer portal.
Announcing via 247Sports just moments ago, the Buckeyes have their seventh member of the 2025 class and the first offensive line commit in a class that will look to take upwards of five guys in the position group. An elite get for Justin Frye and the rest of the staff, this latest commitment shows the Buckeyes aren’t planning on seeing their momentum slow down any time soon.
Just a glimpse at what Ohio State is getting, see below for Lowe’s junior season highlights.
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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Northwestern: Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Northwestern: Game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes will look to put Tuesday’s loss to Nebraska behind them when take on Northwestern tonight.
Following Tuesday night’s 83-69 loss to Nebraska in Lincoln, Ohio State will be on the road again tonight, battling Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. The Buckeyes desperately need a win against the Wildcats to try and give them a shot at finishing January with a 4-4 record. Not only does Ohio State have to beat Northwestern tonight to make that happen, they’ll also have to defeat Illinois on Tuesday night in Columbus.
The loss to Nebraska on Tuesday was Ohio State’s fourth loss in the last five games. The Buckeyes went into the halftime break trailing the Cornhuskers 43-35, and things didn’t get better in the second half as Fred Hoiberg’s team led by double-digits for the majority of the 20 minutes after halftime. Ohio State had no answer for Rienk Mast, who not only scored a career-high 34 points in the win, the Bradley transfer also grabbed 10 rebounds.
As ugly as the final score was for the Buckeyes, there were a few positives to come out of the loss. Roddy Gayle Jr. struggled shooting the basketball, finishing with just six points in the game, but the guard from Niagara Falls set a career-high by dishing out eight assists. While Ohio State did a good job at distributing the basketball and not committing too many turnovers, the Buckeyes just couldn’t find an answer to slow down Mast and the Nebraska offense.
Another positive in the loss was the introduction of Bowen Hardman in the game. Looking for a spark in the second half, head coach Chris Holtmann turned to Hardman, who many say is the best shooter on the team. Hardman didn’t disappoint, hitting three of the seven three-pointers he attempted, scoring 11 points in just eight minutes of playing time.
While it remains to be seen if Hardman will see an increase in playing time going forward, the sophomore from Cincinnati at least saw some time on the floor in a road Big Ten game and was able to produce when his number was called.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25249200/usa_today_22357250.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Ohio State at Nebraska")
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Hardman was one of three Buckeyes to score in double figures in the game. Bruce Thornton hit his average for the season, netting 16 points to lead Ohio State in scoring in the loss. Jamison Battle was the other Buckeye to score at least 10 points in the loss, finishing with 11 points, and adding seven rebounds. With his three triples in the game, Battle now has 56 three-pointers on the season, which is 22 more than Bruce Thornton, who is second on the team from behind the arc.
While Ohio State is licking the wounds after another January loss, Northwestern is riding high heading into this game after a 96-91 overtime win over Illinois on Wednesday. Boo Buie forced overtime when his layup with 23 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 76. The Wildcats just wanted the game a little more than the Fighting Illini on Wednesday, scoring the first nine points of overtime to secure the victory over their in-state foe. Buie scored a team-high 29 points, and Brooks Barnhizer added 23 points.
Entering tonight’s game, Ohio State leads the all-time series 123-49, winning six of the last 10 contests with the Wildcats. The 73-57 win by the Buckeyes over Northwestern on the first day of 2023 in Evanston was actually the last road win by Ohio State. Since then the Buckeyes have lost 13 straight true road games. The Wildcats were able to return the favor a month later by beating Ohio State 69-63 at Value City Arena. The loss to Northwestern was in the middle of a brutal nine-game losing streak for the Buckeyes.
This isn’t the Northwestern team that you have become accustomed to over the years that would play at a slow tempo. With their victory on Wednesday, the Wildcats have now scored at least 88 points in three Big Ten games this year, marking the first time they have accomplished that feat since the 1975-76 season.
Boo Buie is leading Northwestern, averaging 18.5 points per game. Buie is one of four Wildcats averaging at least 10 points per game this year. Guard Brooks Barnhizer is second on the team with a 14.9 points per game average, while Ty Berry and Princeton transfer Ryan Langborg are both averaging over 11 points per contest.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25250750/1950907901.jpg "Northwestern v Nebraska")
Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Along with their scoring prowess, Northwestern does a great job when it comes to turnovers. Through 19 games this season, the Wildcats are turning the ball over just 8.9 times per game, which ranks first in the Big Ten and fourth in the country. On the defensive side of the ball, Northwestern forces 13.8 turnovers per game, ranking third in the conference.
After leading the Big Ten with a +4.3 turnover margin last season, the Wildcats have been even better this year, with their turnover margin rising to a +4.8. Barnhizer has been a pest on the defensive end this season, entering tonight’s game averaging 2.0 steals per game.
Right now it is impossible to trust the Ohio State men’s basketball team. The Buckeyes have the talent to contend in the Big Ten, for some reason they just keep faltering in January under Chris Holtmann.
Ohio State is already on the bubble when it comes to earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament in March. With some tough games still on the schedule, the Buckeyes will need to dig deep to win some of those games to stay in contention for a tournament bid. Add in tonight’s game being a road game, which have been impossible for Ohio State to win over the past year, and it feels like the season is about to be over for the Buckeyes before the calendar turns to February.
Despite Ohio State being deeper and more talented than Northwestern, the Wildcats are coached better and just play hungrier basketball. Chris Collins is in his 11th season as head coach in Evanston, and during his time he has taken the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament twice. Their 2017 appearance was their first in school history, while last season Northwestern defeated Boise State in the first round before falling 68-63 to UCLA in the second round. Right now it’s looking a lot more like the Wildcats will make this year’s tournament than the Buckeyes.
Not to say it’s impossible Ohio State wins tonight in Evanston, they’ll just have to play one of their best games of the season to defeat a very tough Northwestern squad. Thornton, Battle, and Gayle are a strong trio when they are playing well and supported by some interior toughness from Felix Okpara and Zed Key. The Buckeyes are going to need the two big men to be at their best tonight, as well as the Ohio State bench to give the team some strong contributions if they want to register their first road win in over a year.
ESPN BPI: Northwestern 64.4%
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes will look to put Tuesday’s loss to Nebraska behind them when take on Northwestern tonight.
Following Tuesday night’s 83-69 loss to Nebraska in Lincoln, Ohio State will be on the road again tonight, battling Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. The Buckeyes desperately need a win against the Wildcats to try and give them a shot at finishing January with a 4-4 record. Not only does Ohio State have to beat Northwestern tonight to make that happen, they’ll also have to defeat Illinois on Tuesday night in Columbus.
The loss to Nebraska on Tuesday was Ohio State’s fourth loss in the last five games. The Buckeyes went into the halftime break trailing the Cornhuskers 43-35, and things didn’t get better in the second half as Fred Hoiberg’s team led by double-digits for the majority of the 20 minutes after halftime. Ohio State had no answer for Rienk Mast, who not only scored a career-high 34 points in the win, the Bradley transfer also grabbed 10 rebounds.
As ugly as the final score was for the Buckeyes, there were a few positives to come out of the loss. Roddy Gayle Jr. struggled shooting the basketball, finishing with just six points in the game, but the guard from Niagara Falls set a career-high by dishing out eight assists. While Ohio State did a good job at distributing the basketball and not committing too many turnovers, the Buckeyes just couldn’t find an answer to slow down Mast and the Nebraska offense.
Another positive in the loss was the introduction of Bowen Hardman in the game. Looking for a spark in the second half, head coach Chris Holtmann turned to Hardman, who many say is the best shooter on the team. Hardman didn’t disappoint, hitting three of the seven three-pointers he attempted, scoring 11 points in just eight minutes of playing time.
While it remains to be seen if Hardman will see an increase in playing time going forward, the sophomore from Cincinnati at least saw some time on the floor in a road Big Ten game and was able to produce when his number was called.
Hardman was one of three Buckeyes to score in double figures in the game. Bruce Thornton hit his average for the season, netting 16 points to lead Ohio State in scoring in the loss. Jamison Battle was the other Buckeye to score at least 10 points in the loss, finishing with 11 points, and adding seven rebounds. With his three triples in the game, Battle now has 56 three-pointers on the season, which is 22 more than Bruce Thornton, who is second on the team from behind the arc.
Preview
While Ohio State is licking the wounds after another January loss, Northwestern is riding high heading into this game after a 96-91 overtime win over Illinois on Wednesday. Boo Buie forced overtime when his layup with 23 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 76. The Wildcats just wanted the game a little more than the Fighting Illini on Wednesday, scoring the first nine points of overtime to secure the victory over their in-state foe. Buie scored a team-high 29 points, and Brooks Barnhizer added 23 points.
Entering tonight’s game, Ohio State leads the all-time series 123-49, winning six of the last 10 contests with the Wildcats. The 73-57 win by the Buckeyes over Northwestern on the first day of 2023 in Evanston was actually the last road win by Ohio State. Since then the Buckeyes have lost 13 straight true road games. The Wildcats were able to return the favor a month later by beating Ohio State 69-63 at Value City Arena. The loss to Northwestern was in the middle of a brutal nine-game losing streak for the Buckeyes.
This isn’t the Northwestern team that you have become accustomed to over the years that would play at a slow tempo. With their victory on Wednesday, the Wildcats have now scored at least 88 points in three Big Ten games this year, marking the first time they have accomplished that feat since the 1975-76 season.
Boo Buie is leading Northwestern, averaging 18.5 points per game. Buie is one of four Wildcats averaging at least 10 points per game this year. Guard Brooks Barnhizer is second on the team with a 14.9 points per game average, while Ty Berry and Princeton transfer Ryan Langborg are both averaging over 11 points per contest.
Along with their scoring prowess, Northwestern does a great job when it comes to turnovers. Through 19 games this season, the Wildcats are turning the ball over just 8.9 times per game, which ranks first in the Big Ten and fourth in the country. On the defensive side of the ball, Northwestern forces 13.8 turnovers per game, ranking third in the conference.
After leading the Big Ten with a +4.3 turnover margin last season, the Wildcats have been even better this year, with their turnover margin rising to a +4.8. Barnhizer has been a pest on the defensive end this season, entering tonight’s game averaging 2.0 steals per game.
Prediction
Right now it is impossible to trust the Ohio State men’s basketball team. The Buckeyes have the talent to contend in the Big Ten, for some reason they just keep faltering in January under Chris Holtmann.
Ohio State is already on the bubble when it comes to earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament in March. With some tough games still on the schedule, the Buckeyes will need to dig deep to win some of those games to stay in contention for a tournament bid. Add in tonight’s game being a road game, which have been impossible for Ohio State to win over the past year, and it feels like the season is about to be over for the Buckeyes before the calendar turns to February.
Despite Ohio State being deeper and more talented than Northwestern, the Wildcats are coached better and just play hungrier basketball. Chris Collins is in his 11th season as head coach in Evanston, and during his time he has taken the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament twice. Their 2017 appearance was their first in school history, while last season Northwestern defeated Boise State in the first round before falling 68-63 to UCLA in the second round. Right now it’s looking a lot more like the Wildcats will make this year’s tournament than the Buckeyes.
Not to say it’s impossible Ohio State wins tonight in Evanston, they’ll just have to play one of their best games of the season to defeat a very tough Northwestern squad. Thornton, Battle, and Gayle are a strong trio when they are playing well and supported by some interior toughness from Felix Okpara and Zed Key. The Buckeyes are going to need the two big men to be at their best tonight, as well as the Ohio State bench to give the team some strong contributions if they want to register their first road win in over a year.
ESPN BPI: Northwestern 64.4%
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
LGHL score prediction: Northwestern 79, Ohio State 74
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LGHL Visiting Locker Room: Hammer and Rails on if Purdue shocks Ohio State two years in a row
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Visiting Locker Room: Hammer and Rails on if Purdue shocks Ohio State two years in a row
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LGHL reached out to friends to learn more about the Boilermakers before Sunday’s matchup.
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s basketball ends a stretch of three road games in the last four with a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana. The Purdue Boilermakers sit in similar standing to the Illinois Fighting Illini side the Buckeyes faced Thursday.
Purdue is a team who a year after making a surprise trip to the NCAA Tournament finds itself struggling to find victories or consistency. Why are the 19-10 Boilermakers from a year ago sitting at 9-10 with a little over a month left in the regular season?
To learn more about that, facilitator Jeanae Terry and the up-and-coming Purdue freshman class, Land-Grant Holy Land talked with Gabi Everhard from Hammer and Rails.
Can the Boilermakers repeat a 22-23 win against the Buckeyes?
Land-Grant Holy Land: After making the NCAA Tournament last season, Purdue is having a tough go this season. What’s the team missing with both Lasha Petree and Cassidy Hardin graduating last year? Who is stepping into those roles?
LGHL: Someone who’s crucial to Purdue is graduate forward Jeanae Terry. She’s close to a double-double every night, sometimes without the points. How important is Terry to Purdue and is there any replacing of the guard when NCAA eligibility ends this season?
LGHL: Purdue started the season facing sides like UCLA, Notre Dame and Florida. Now it’s nearing the end of a six-game stretch including Iowa, Indiana, a surprisingly good Penn State team and ending with Ohio State. What has to go right for the Boilermakers to beat the Buckeyes and end the slump of five losses in a row? Is there a chance to repeat the upset Purdue had over OSU in 2023?
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LGHL reached out to friends to learn more about the Boilermakers before Sunday’s matchup.
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s basketball ends a stretch of three road games in the last four with a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana. The Purdue Boilermakers sit in similar standing to the Illinois Fighting Illini side the Buckeyes faced Thursday.
Purdue is a team who a year after making a surprise trip to the NCAA Tournament finds itself struggling to find victories or consistency. Why are the 19-10 Boilermakers from a year ago sitting at 9-10 with a little over a month left in the regular season?
To learn more about that, facilitator Jeanae Terry and the up-and-coming Purdue freshman class, Land-Grant Holy Land talked with Gabi Everhard from Hammer and Rails.
Can the Boilermakers repeat a 22-23 win against the Buckeyes?
Land-Grant Holy Land: After making the NCAA Tournament last season, Purdue is having a tough go this season. What’s the team missing with both Lasha Petree and Cassidy Hardin graduating last year? Who is stepping into those roles?
LGHL: Someone who’s crucial to Purdue is graduate forward Jeanae Terry. She’s close to a double-double every night, sometimes without the points. How important is Terry to Purdue and is there any replacing of the guard when NCAA eligibility ends this season?
LGHL: Purdue started the season facing sides like UCLA, Notre Dame and Florida. Now it’s nearing the end of a six-game stretch including Iowa, Indiana, a surprisingly good Penn State team and ending with Ohio State. What has to go right for the Boilermakers to beat the Buckeyes and end the slump of five losses in a row? Is there a chance to repeat the upset Purdue had over OSU in 2023?
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