Ohio State makes offer to 4-star Texas linebacker
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are back in Longhorn country for a 2018 prospect.

Back to the Lone Star State


Ohio State sent out an offer to 2018 defensive prospect DeMarvion Overshown (Arp, TX / Arp) on Tuesday. Overshown is listed as a strong safety/outside linebacker, but will most likely grow in to be a full-time linebacker in college as he currently checks in at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. His frame will allow him to put on at least 20 more pounds.


From Arp High School in Texas, Overshown is a four-star prospect and a top 150 player, according to 247Sports. With 16 total offers, Texas is believed to be Overshown’s top school at this point. The Longhorns will be tough to beat with their recent momentum of hiring Tom Herman and ace Texas recruiter Tim Beck to the staff. Still, there is mutual interest between the Buckeyes and Overshown. However, for the Buckeyes to be a legitimate contender, they will need Overshown to get to Columbus for a visit at some point over the spring or summer.

Below is a highlight clip of Overshown, found on Hudl.

The Sunshine Connection?


According to reports, 2018 outside linebacker Rocky Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas) is in the process of planning a trip to Columbus for this spring. Shelton is a three-star prospect, but holds 22 offers, most notably from Florida State, LSU, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin. However, Ohio State has not yet offered.


The Buckeyes have created a pipeline at St. Thomas Aquinas and look to be in on another one if this visit does happen on Shelton’s own dime. The Buckeyes will continue to evaluate Shelton into his senior season and if Urban Meyer and his staff finally do offer, you would think that it would vault them towards the top of his list.

Like Overshown, Shelton has a highlight clip on Hudl— which can be seen below.

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Spartans top Buckeyes 74-66 - WDTN
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Spartans top Buckeyes 74-66
WDTN
The Spartans scored the first six points of the second half, building a 12-point lead. Ohio State rallied with a 17-6 run to pull within one point. Michigan State finished off the Buckeyes by outscoring them 12-2 to take an 11-point lead and they were ...
Buckeyes Fall to Spartans, 74-66Scarlet and Game
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247Sports -The State News -OSU - The Lantern
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Panthers fall short in contests against district opponents Gladewater Bears, Gilmer Buckeyes - Bullard News
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Panthers fall short in contests against district opponents Gladewater Bears, Gilmer Buckeyes
Bullard News
Bullard Panther varsity basketball junior point guard Will McCowin soars through the air for a layup attempt against strong defensive pressure in the team's annual Senior Night district contest against the Gilmer Buckeyes Friday, Feb. 10. The Panthers ...

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Buckeyes Fall to Spartans, 74-66 - Scarlet and Game
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Buckeyes Fall to Spartans, 74-66
Scarlet and Game
The Ohio State Buckeyes got to within a single point in the second half, but Michigan State proved to be too much as they pulled away with a 74-66 win. Michigan State got off to a red-hot start in the first half, led by Alvin Ellis III. Ellis III ...
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Scout -The State News -OSU - The Lantern
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Ohio State vs. Michigan State 2017 final score: Spartans knock off the Buckeyes, 74-66
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Spartans take advantage of Buckeye foul trouble in victory.

On Tuesday night, Michigan State (16-10, 8-5) knocked off the Ohio State Buckeyes (15-11, 5-9), 74-66, to even the regular season series at a win apiece. OSU won the season’s first meeting on January 15th, 72-67.

The Buckeyes were beset by a rash of foul trouble to their best players, but thanks in no small part to senior Marc Loving, played well enough to be in a position to take a lead late in the second half. However, it was hot Spartan shooting and the foul-induced war of attrition that ultimately kept the Buckeyes at arm’s length.

After missing Ohio State’s loss against Maryland on Saturday for a family emergency, JaQuan Lyle returned to action coming off the bench, scoring 10 points in the first half.

The game opened with a rather inauspicious start as Spartan guard Eron Harris hit on the game’s first field goal attempt, a three-pointer, and on the subsequent Buckeye possession, Trevor Thompson, unaware of the dwindling shot-clock, connected on an impressive hook-shot a full second after the horn had sounded.

However, OSU quickly righted the ship, in part, thanks to four offensive rebounds in the game’s first six minutes. Ohio State finally got its first point 2:30 into the game as Loving drove to the basket and had his layup counted after an MSU goaltending. Loving was also fouled, and completed the old-fashioned three-point play.

At the first timeout, MSU led 15-12, with 13:27 in the half. The Buckeyes got early contributions from newcomers, sophomore guard C.J. Jackson and freshman center Micah Potter; both of whom had a pair of basket’s in the first few minutes. Jackson finished with six in a career high 29 minutes; Potter finished with seven.

However, the pairs nine early points were outshone by MSU senior Alvin Ellis III’s five three-pointers on as many attempts in the game’s first 8:30. Though he cooled down there after, he did end the game shooting 6-9 from downtown for 18 total points.

Anecdotally, it often feels like the Buckeyes give up an unusually large number of threes, but coming into the game, OSU was holding opponents to 34.5% from behind the arc, which is in the middle of the NCAA standings. However, their 217 three-pointers allowed ranked 54th nationally.

After falling behind by nine, the Buckeyes rallied to pull within one possession, 23-20, with 7:49 remaining. However, Thompson, OSU’s best rebounder, picked up an unnecessary foul a minute earlier, and had to sit with two personals. Thompson would eventually foul out for the eighth time on the season with just six points and seven rebounds, both below his season average.

Ohio State’s Kam Williams capped a Buckeye 10-0 run with a three-pointer to put OSU up 24-23 at the 7-minute mark. As the teams continued going back-and-forth, Ohio State’s leading scorer Jae’Sean Tate picked up his third foul with just over four minutes remaining in the half. The junior forward was scoreless in 12 minutes of first half action. He ended the game with just seven points in 22 minutes.

Michigan State led at halftime, 40-34. However, a 10-point run that spanned the halves pushed them out to a 12-point lead less than two minutes into the second half before OSU coach Thad Matta called a timeout in an attempt stop the bleeding.

After picking up his first bucket of the game, a three-pointer at the 16:50 mark, moments later, Tate was called for his fourth foul contesting a Miles Bridges dunk attempt.

However, with Tate on the bench, Loving, OSU’s only senior, took control, hitting a pair of threes, in addition to another FG, to pull the Buckeyes to 52-51 with just under 12 minutes remaining.

Loving finished with 22 points to lead all scorers. Lyle, who was scoreless in the second half was the only other Buckeye in double figures.

From that point, the Spartans continued to maintain a lead of various sizes, but in the final four minutes, Loving continued his Herculean effort bringing the Buckeyes back to a 69-62 deficit with a minute and a half remaining. However, some sloppy play down the stretch from the depleted Buckeyes allowed Michigan State to hold onto the lead.

The Buckeyes will be back in action on Saturday against Nebraska. The game will tip at 6:00 p.m. EST from the Value City Arena and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

3 things we learned:


1. Your “Marc Loving is lazy” hot-takes are no longer welcome. Over the years, Marc Loving has been an easy target for Ohio State fans disappointed with the basketball team’s on-court results. A former Mr. Basketball from Toledo, expectations were sky-high when Loving showed up on campus.

However, despite being a 1,000 point scorer, he has never lived up to the promise that he had when he came to Columbus. That is all indisputable fact, but it has become common place for Buckeye fans to assign all sorts of offenses to Loving over the years, some warranted and some not.

For all of the ups-and-downs of his career, the assertion that he is “lazy” or has ”bad body-language” is either outdated or lazy in and of itself. For the entirely of the Big Ten season, Loving has been one of Ohio State’s few consistent producers on both ends of the floor. Jae’Sean Tate and Trevor Thompson have each had a career year, and have potentially earned themselves professional contracts overseas, but Loving has equated himself more than favorably from a productivity, energy, and commitment stand-point.

In addition to averaging 12.2 points and five rebounds per game this season, he has also dramatically increased his defensive commitment and willingness to sacrifice his body. With the team’s two best players on the bench in foul trouble against MSU, Loving put the team on his back and, against all odds, kept the Buckeyes in the game far longer than was logical.

While his 22 points were two shy of his season-high (from the team’s last game, Saturday against Maryland), his Valentine’s Day performance was perhaps his most impressive given how much was needed of him just to keep the game respectable.

So, if your hot-take on the 2016-2017 Buckeyes is that Marc Loving isn’t a leader and that his laziness and bad body language are what has doomed this team, you need to turn on the TV and watch the Buckeyes play more often.

2. There are reasons to be optimistic about the Buckeyes’ future. Due, in part to Thompson and Tate having to sit considerable minutes due to foul trouble, for the first time since the non-conference season, we got to see extended action from some of Ohio State’s younger players.

Micah Potter, C.J. Jackson, and Andre Wesson all saw at least 12 minutes of playing time in the first half, and all contributed, especially in the first half.

They each have physical and skill deficiencies to work on during the off-season, but, while none are transcendent talents, their performances in limited action against Michigan State did provide some cause for optimism for 2017-2018.

3. This Buckeye team is one of the most confusing in recent memory. The Buckeyes will likely end this season with their worst record in a decade and a half. However, they already have seven losses of two possessions or less; all games that could have gone either way.

At times they have looked just this side of putrid, but at others, they have looked as good as any non-Greg Oden-led Matta team. So what’s the difference? Honestly, I have no idea. The lack of a consistent, superstar might come into play, but Tate has picked up that mantle during the Big Ten season.

Is it the fact that the team has no senior leadership? Loving has played his best collegiate basketball in the last two months.

We all have thoughts and opinions as to what is “wrong” with this team, the question is, will Matta be able to figure out how to keep the team more level down the stretch and into next season? Only time will tell.

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Men's basketball: Sparty too much for Buckeyes in East Lansing - OSU - The Lantern
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Men's basketball: Sparty too much for Buckeyes in East Lansing
OSU - The Lantern
Last time the Ohio State men's basketball team took on Michigan State, sophomore guard JaQuan Lyle for the Buckeyes stole the show. This time out, senior guard Alvin Ellis III of Michigan State was the man with the hot hand, helping lead the Spartans ...


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Alvin Ellis III, Miles Bridges lift Michigan State past Ohio State
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Alvin Ellis scored 15 of his 18 points with a 3-point barrage in the first half and Michigan State went on to beat Ohio State 74-66 Tuesday night.

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There's more "oldies" on: http://www.metv.com/shows/

Wrestling: No. 4 Ohio State tops Nebraska, Minnesota to round out dual meet season - OSU - The Lantern
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Wrestling: No. 4 Ohio State tops Nebraska, Minnesota to round out dual meet season
OSU - The Lantern
On Friday, the Buckeyes traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on the Cornhuskers. Last season, OSU topped Nebraska 21-17 with a little help from the return of then-sophomore Kyle Snyder. The Buckeyes did not have any surprises up their sleeve this ...
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Why Ohio State target Derrik Allen picked Notre Dame, Buckeyes getting to know Illinois' prospects and more - Landof10.com
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Why Ohio State target Derrik Allen picked Notre Dame, Buckeyes getting to know Illinois' prospects and more
Landof10.com
As the fall turned to winter – and the Buckeyes picked up five cornerbacks in the 2017 signing class – things started to change a bit, and Allen began looking closely at a number of schools, including Clemson, Georgia and Notre Dame. According to his ...
Buckeye target commits to Notre Dame247Sports

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Buckeyes go back into Texas to offer four-star athlete - 247Sports
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Buckeyes go back into Texas to offer four-star athlete
247Sports
It's no surprise then that the Buckeyes are back in the Lone Star State in the 2018 cycle, looking for a number of top prospects to add to their class. Want daily inside scoop on the Buckeyes? Become a VIP with our 7-DAY FREE TRIAL offer now! One of ...
Recruiting Reset: Kamryn Babb, Amon-ra St. Brow, Joshua Moore among names to watch as 'Zone Six' looks to reloadLandof10.com
Ohio State's Biggest Positional Needs for the Class of 2018Eleven Warriors

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OL interested in following in brother's footsteps to Ohio State - 247Sports
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OL interested in following in brother's footsteps to Ohio State
247Sports
OL interested in following in brother's footsteps to Ohio State. The country's No. 1 2015 long-snapper, Liam McCullough signed with Ohio State. Brother Roen is talking to the Buckeyes and interested in Ohio State as well. Bill Kurelic - 6 hours ago ...
5-star safety reaffirms Ohio State commitment - Land-Grant Holy LandLand-Grant Holy Land
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Ohio State's Biggest Positional Needs for the Class of 2018Eleven Warriors

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Ohio State basketball still holding out hope for a chance at the NCAA tournament
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Though it’s a very slim chance, the Buckeyes still believe they can make a run to close out the season.

“There is no margin for error. We have to go into these last five games like there is no margin. Hopefully we do that and put ourselves in a good position for the Big Ten Tournament, because I really do think we can make some noise there and hopefully win that tournament, then we'll see how it goes.”

- Jae’Sean Tate via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


The season hasn’t gone quite like Ohio State had hoped, and the Buckeyes are certainly on the outside looking in right now when it comes to the NCAA tournament. With five games remaining the schedule, Ohio State would have to win out to even give themselves a chance. And their work would only start there, as the Buckeyes would have to likely make a deep run in the Big Ten tournament to have a legitimate shot at making the Big Dance. Right now, the most likely scenario is that Thad Matta’s team will end up in the NIT for a second straight season. Currently, a couple of outlets have the Buckeyes slotted as a three-seed and a four-seed depending on which you take a look at.

The five game stretch starts on Tuesday night when Ohio State takes on Michigan State at 9 p.m. It seems unlikely that the Buckeyes would be able to pull it off, considering their record against ranked Big Ten teams this season, and that’s the majority of teams they’d be facing in the Big Ten tournament. Still, crazier things have happened in February and March with college basketball, so the Buckeyes will have to do their best to create some magic starting against the Spartans.

“Must-win game: Oct. 28 vs. Penn State. Trap game: Nov. 4 at Iowa”

- Austin Ward, ESPN


There’s still quite a while before football season is upon us, but that hasn’t stopped the beginning of breaking down Ohio State’s schedule for the 2017 season. Austin Ward of ESPN took a look at the schedule and determined the Buckeyes’ biggest must-win game for the upcoming season was against Penn State, when they host the Nittany Lions. After remarkably dropping a game on the road this past season, the Buckeyes will surely look to avenge their loss to the reigning Big Ten champions. The James Franklin-led squad also return a large majority of the team they had last season so it will no doubt be a top tier game that weekend should both have good records when they meet.

The proverbial trap game of the season for Ohio State seems to be when they travel to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes. It’s been a while since the Buckeyes faced Kirk Ferentz’s team and whenever it’s on the road at Kinnick stadium, it’s almost always a tightly contested game regardless of the skill level between the teams. It also marks the first time that Urban Meyer will make the trip on the road against Iowa with the Buckeyes.

“To reach the 2,000 yard mark, he’ll need to rush for an average of 125 yards a game. He has the skill to make the big runs and he will certainly have plenty of opportunities. The Cowboys offense had the most rushing attempts of any team in the league last season and they will continue to be a run-heavy team. Don’t expect that to change any time soon.”

- DannyPhantom, Blogging The Boys


Former Ohio State star running back Ezekiel Elliott made quite a name for himself in his rookie season in the NFL. Playing with the Dallas Cowboys, the sensational running back shattered rookie records wherever he went, rushing for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those marks were good enough for the fifth-most rushing yards by any Cowboy ever and the fourth-most in scores by a running back. Now heading into his second season, his mother has a new goal for her son: rush for 2,000 yards.

At first glance you might raise your eyebrows a bit, but when you dig a little deeper, it’s not impossible to imagine a season like that for Elliott. Rushing behind one of the most talented offensive lines in the NFL, in addition to his natural abilities as a running back, and it’s a recipe for success. Considering his partner in crime, Dak Prescott at quarterback, the Cowboys will be a dangerously balanced team and that should provide Elliott with even more opportunities.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• The Nintendo Switch is bringing back the LAN party.
• The new meaning of a classic movie insult.
• Columbus, Ohio is the most romantic city in the U.S. according to Google searches.

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That is one large human being.

Huge get for ND.

Saints re-open Ohio State Buckeyes pipeline in 7 round mock draft 4.0 - Canal Street Chronicles
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Saints re-open Ohio State Buckeyes pipeline in 7 round mock draft 4.0
Canal Street Chronicles
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Michael Thomas (3) celebrates with offensive lineman Pat Elflein (65) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium ...

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Ohio State football preview: Buckeyes 2017 schedule, roster and three things to watch - Sporting News
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Ohio State football preview: Buckeyes 2017 schedule, roster and three things to watch
Sporting News
Urban Meyer enters his sixth year at Ohio State after compiling a 61-6 record the past five seasons, and the coach has the Buckeyes in familiar territory heading into 2017. Ohio State will be among the favorites to win the Big Ten East Division and ...
Ohio State Recruiting Notebook: The latest in Buckeyes recruiting ...Landof10.com
OL interested in following in brother's footsteps to Ohio State247Sports
8 Ohio State Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combinecleveland.com
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -Scarlet and Game
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Big Ten: Buckeyes NIT Bound? Wildcats Close To NCAA ... - FOXSports.com
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Big Ten: Buckeyes NIT Bound? Wildcats Close To NCAA ...
FOXSports.com
Have things turned around in the Big Ten this year or what? For years Ohio State usually was pretty much assured of making the NCAA Tournament at this point ...
Ohio State looking NIT bound, Buckeyes will be well represented at NFL combine and moreLandof10.com
Ohio State basketball clinging to NCAA Tournament hopes while looking NIT-bound againcleveland.com
Ohio State a 3 seed in latest NIT bracket projections - Land-Grant ...Land-Grant Holy Land

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Myers already making inroads as freshman at Ohio State - 247Sports
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Myers already making inroads as freshman at Ohio State
247Sports
According to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, early enrolling freshman offensive lineman Josh Myers is already making an impact in the program. The Buckeyes signed two of the nation's top offensive line prospects in California's Wyatt Davis (ranked 24th ...


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Buckeye target commits to Notre Dame - 247Sports
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Buckeye target commits to Notre Dame
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The 6-foot-1 and 185-pound Allen is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country's No. 52 overall 2018 ...

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Must-win and trap games of 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN (blog)
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Must-win and trap games of 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN (blog)
The 2017 season is still several months away. But we never stop looking forward here at the Big Ten blog. It might be ridiculously early, but we're examining what will be the must-win game and the potential trap game for each league team this fall. Up ...
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Waiting For Next Year -Scout -The News Center
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Ohio State looking NIT bound, Buckeyes will be well represented at NFL combine and more - Landof10.com
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Ohio State looking NIT bound, Buckeyes will be well represented at NFL combine and more
Landof10.com
ESPN released its initial preseason Football Power Index (FPI) rankings Monday, and Ohio State fans are going to be happy with the results. The Buckeyes were No. 1 in the FPI rankings, and the analytic system rated both Ohio State's offense and defense ...
Big Ten: Buckeyes NIT Bound? Wildcats Close To NCAA ...Scarlet and Game
Ohio State basketball clinging to NCAA Tournament hopes while looking NIT-bound againcleveland.com
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How to watch Ohio State vs. Michigan State: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes hope to sweep the Spartans in East Lansing.

After a disappointing and potentially bubble-bursting 86-77 loss to No. 21 Maryland in College Park, the Ohio State Buckeyes head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State in their second matchup against the Spartans this season.

Ohio State won the first game against Sparty 72-67 in January, giving the Buckeyes their first Big Ten win of the season after starting out conference play 0-4. Sophomore point guard JaQuan Lyle led the Buckeyes with 22 points on the night as all five of Ohio State’s starters scored in double figures.

After the game, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was so impressed with Ohio State’s play that he expounded a passionate defense of Thad Matta to questioning Ohio State fans. “If they’re complaining here, they should really be complaining in East Lansing,” he said.

Now, Ohio State hopes to turn their up-and-down season upwards once more following a close loss to Maryland. The matchup was made more complex when both Lyle and Keita Bates-Diop missed the trip to Maryland due to family emergencies (both Lyle’s sister, who experienced complications following childbirth, and Bates-Diop’s brother, who experienced a heart attack while at high school basketball practice, are doing much better).

Senior forward Marc Loving led the Buckeyes with 24 points on the night against Maryland, and while Loving, junior center Trevor Thompson and junior forward Jae’Sean Tate all contributed significantly, it was not enough to overcome the Terps, especially being down Lyle’s presence. The lack of depth was apparent, as Maryland’s bench outscored Ohio State’s by a 33-0 margin. Combined with severe foul trouble, it was difficult for the Buckeyes to remain aggressive throughout the entirety of the game.

C.J. Jackson has started at point guard the last three games, averaging 9.3 points in wins over Michigan and Rutgers and the loss to Maryland. While he hasn’t scored on Lyle’s level (Lyle averages 11.4 points per game), what the Buckeyes truly miss with Lyle’s absence is his ability to assist. Jackson has averaged just two assists per game to Lyle’s five.

The Spartans, meanwhile, are now coming off an 11-point win over Iowa in East Lansing. Carried by their defense, Michigan State is 15-10 overall and sitting at fifth place in the Big Ten as Tom Izzo aims to avoid a series sweep from the Buckeyes for the season.

After a tough loss without key personnel on the court, the Buckeyes will need to refocus their efforts against an equally inconsistent Michigan State squad in a tough environment in East Lansing.

Numbers to know

1.2


While Ohio State certainly has had some serious turnover issues over the course of the season, averaging 13 per game, Michigan State is 302nd in the NCAA with 14.8 turnovers committed per outing and a turnover margin of -3.2. What is remarkable, however, is the fact that Michigan State’s assist-to-turnover ratio, as a team, sits at 1.2 on the season, with the Spartans averaging 17.5 assists per game. In fact, junior guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. personally has a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is good for second in the Big Ten (Lyle’s assist-to-turnover ratio currently sits at 1.9).

38.6%


Michigan State boasts the second-best three-point field goal percentage in the Big Ten, hitting nearly 39 percent from behind the arc. Leading in that effort is freshman guard Joshua Langford, who is hitting nearly 47 percent from three-point range. Freshman guard Miles Bridges has also made an impact in the category, hitting 40 percent of his attempts. The Buckeyes are mediocre on three-point defense, allowing 34.5 percent of shots from behind the arc while hitting just over 34 percent themselves on offense. Ohio State will need to defend strong outside shooters and keep Michigan State from spreading the floor in order to keep the three-point shot at bay.

40.3%


Michigan State is one of the best teams in the country in field goal defense, allowing just over 40 percent from the field (31st nationally). Ohio State is no slouch either, allowing 40.9 percent. Still, Michigan State’s extremely physical defense has helped the Spartans to overcome other mental errors on the court, including their significant turnover issues. Especially most recently in the second half against Iowa, Michigan State held Peter Jok, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, to just 2-for-11 from the field and 13 points on the night. Ohio State will need to be aware of Michigan State’s physical brand of defense in order to control the ball and avoid turnovers on offense.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

Trevor Thompson


Maryland did their best to contain the seven-foot center, but that also meant swarming up to three players on him at any given point. Thompson (as well as center Micah Potter) fouled out with more than five minutes remaining in the second half even as the Buckeyes were pulling back against the Terps, and there is no doubt that his presence was missed in those final few minutes. In his last outing against Michigan State, Thompson scored 10 points, pulled down eight rebounds and two blocks, but also recorded four personal fouls. Given Thompson’s physicality--and the way that Maryland used it against him--the Buckeyes will need to spread the ball and the Michigan State defense in order to keep Thompson effective throughout the game.

Jae’Sean Tate


The junior forward became the 54th Buckeye to score 1000 career points Saturday in his 20-point effort against Maryland. Most of Tate’s scoring came in the second half, as he was just 2-for-8 in the first. He will need to provide a more consistent, 40-minute effort along with Thompson and Loving against the Spartans--a team which allows under 69 points per game. Tate tied Loving with 12 points against Michigan State earlier this season. Tate leads the Buckeyes in scoring on the season, averaging 14.3 points per game while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field to go along with 6.1 rebounds.

Michigan State

Miles Bridges


The freshman guard scored 24 points against Ohio State in January (the only Michigan State player to hit double figures in the matchup) and leads the team with 16.2 points per game on the season. In the Spartans’ most recent matchup against Iowa, Bridges scored a team-high 16 points, with 14 coming in the first half, and was one of four freshman to score in double figures against the Hawkeyes. He also recorded 11 rebounds and four blocks in the effort--a testament to his skill on both ends of the court. Bridges is one of the best individual players the Buckeyes have faced this season, and is projected as a top-15 NBA Draft pick. Ohio State will need to contain Bridges (and the other freshmen coming off the bench) in their matchup.

Nick Ward


The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward is the de facto big man on a roster which, despite its tall lineup, features no true center. The freshman is second on the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game, though he recorded only nine points against Ohio State in their previous meeting. However, Ward’s most recent performance, a 14-point effort against Iowa, came off the bench in an effort by Izzo to make his freshman forward focus more on the game at hand: “I think it’s different because we’re aware of Nick going MIA, and I think Nick’s still becoming more consistent,” Izzo said. “He’s still a work in progress.” Whether Ward starts or comes off the bench, he has had a hot hand as of late, and the Buckeyes will need to contain the big man as effectively as they did the last time the two teams squared off.

How to watch


Game time: 9 p.m. ET

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

TV: ESPN

Streaming: WatchESPN

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