Niagara at #17 Ohio State, November 12 @ 7PM EST BTN+

[ScriptOhio]

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: OHIO STATE HOSTS GREG PAULUS AND THE NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES IN FRIDAY NIGHT NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUP

Ohio State opened its 2021-22 season with a closer-than-expected last-second win on Tuesday, and its upcoming opponent found itself on the flip side of a similar situation on the very same night.

While the Buckeyes survived their 67-66 scare against Akron, Niagara dropped a 63-60 game against Xavier, a team that was favored to beat it by 17 points. Ohio State, which gets a crack at the Musketeers next Thursday, will close out the opening week of the new season with a matchup against the 0-1 Purple Eagles on Friday.

WHO WHERE WHEN TV
Niagara (0-1) Schottenstein Center 7 p.m. BTN+

Despite the fact that the Buckeyes are favored to roll Niagara with relative ease, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann is not guaranteeing a complete turnaround from his team just three days after an uneven performance to start the year.

“Listen, it’s not going to look like a finished product right now,” Holtmann said Thursday. “We’re not going to and our backcourt’s not. And it’s too much to expect for that to be the case. We just have to keep getting better. But we are very much a work in progress as a team, and very much a work in progress with our backcourt, for sure.”
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HOW IT PLAYS OUT

LINE: OHIO STATE -19.5, O/U 133.5
Exhibition games aside, Buckeye fans have every right to be wary of Ohio State's ability to blow teams out given the end of 2020-21 and the start of 2021-22. Still, the Buckeyes have no business losing this one, even if it would surprise no one to see the final score play out closer than the odds suggest.

Prediction: Ohio State 76, Niagara 63

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...purple-eagles-in-friday-nights-non-conference

 

[buckeyemania11]

Niagra was picked 10th/11th preseason n the MAAC. Which would say they are a bad team, they did play Xavier super close in their opener though.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Great night for sports starting with the Basketbucks, then US vs Mexico and finally the Cavs vs Detroit. Sprinkle in some Bearcat tears and I would be ecstatic.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Bucks favored by 19.5 tonight. Seems like a lot

 

[Jake]

Bucks favored by 19.5 tonight. Seems like a lot

Last 5 games of OSU hoops have had 3 OT games (lost 2) and two one-point wins. It'd be nice to have a breather.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Looks like young is available but I’m not sure I’d play him yet unless he’s absolutely needed

 

[buckeyemania11]

Bucks favored by 19.5 tonight. Seems like a lot

definitely wouldn’t touch that line. This is a game they should be able to win by that much but who knows after the opener.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I hate BiG+. Hella expensive for little to offer

 

[Bestbuck36]

Need a link if any is out there

Strikeout nor Sportsurge has the game. Those are my 2 in a pinch places to look

 

[buckeyeintn]

I hate BiG+. Hella expensive for little to offer

Look at the bright side - my provider has Sparty on 3 different B1G channels at the same time so I can choose which one to watch Sparty on. Why have all these channels showing the same thing?

 

[buckeyemania11]

Niagara cannot miss from 3 to start the game

 

[ScriptOhio]

Great night for sports starting with the Basketbucks, then US vs Mexico and finally the Cavs vs Detroit. Sprinkle in some Bearcat tears and I would be ecstatic.

There are the Blue Jackets too.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Liddell carrying the load again.

 

[Bestbuck36]

There are the Blue Jackets too.

Penguins fan since '90

 

[Bestbuck36]

Too much dribbling for the Bucks. Just pass the ball