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You’re Nuts: What does Ohio State need to correct to win the Indiana rematch?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers need to win on Saturday to lock up a spot in the big dance.
We’ve got a heavyweight matchup in Bloomington this Saturday as the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-13, 9-10) take on the Indiana Hoosiers (18-12, 9-10) with a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
As of early Friday morning, both Ohio State and Indiana were listed as 11-seeds in Bracket Matrix. Both teams were also listed among the final four teams in, which would send them both to Dayton for the First Four if it was to shake out that way.
The winner of Saturday’s game will pretty much be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, regardless of what happens in the Big Ten Tournament. The loser of Saturday’s game will need to win a bare minimum of one game at the Big Ten Tournament to have a chance, but will want to win two or three to feel good about their chances.
Last week, Connor and Justin argued about whether Ohio State should have fouled USC’s Wesley Yates in the closing seconds during Ohio State’s win last Wednesday. Down three, Ohio State let Yates shoot (and miss) the potential game-tying shot.
By a slim vote, the readers sided with Justin. 55% of the readers said that Ohio State did the correct thing by not fouling in that situation. The other 45% agreed with Connor, who wanted to send Yates to the line.
Connor- 86
Ohio State fell at home to a reeling Indiana squad in January. Since then, the Hoosiers have turned it around some and are in position to make the Big Dance with a win. Ohio State has other ideas, but they will need to adjust a few things before Saturday to hold down Oumar Ballo and his band of merry gentlemen.
To beat Indiana, Ohio State will have to find a way to limit Oumar Ballo’s paint touches. Ballo is Indiana’s leading scorer and rebounder. Last time these two teams played, Ballo finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.
Ohio State will have to limit Ballo’s touches. The problem with him is the fact that once Ballo gets the ball, he’s already in a spot to score, since he’s 7-foot tall and nearly 275 pounds.
Because of this, Ohio State will have to put a ton of pressure on Ballo when teammates try to dump the ball off to him below the basket. Guys like Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart, and Devin Royal will have to be super physical, reach around, and box out like their tournament lives depend on it.
Ballo is not the type of player that will start at the three-point line and work his way to the basket. He will plant there waiting for a pass, or he’ll flare off of a screen to get open running towards the basket. Much like what they did to Zach Edey last season, Ohio State will have to ramp up the pressure on Ballo when the ball is thrown his way and try to deny the ball.
Stopping Ballo from touching the ball is easier said than done, but he is IU’s leading scorer and has a height and size advantage over everyone on the floor. If Ohio State can coax Indiana into working the ball around the perimeter more and preventing them from letting Ballo shoot, they might take more threes, where they’re only shooting 32.6% this year.
Swarm Ballo, deny that pass, and make other guys beat you. I think that’s the plan.
The most significant difference in this game is simple. Aaron Bradshaw has to be more impactful than he was in the first game, and Devin Royal has to play because he did not in the first contest against Indiana.
In that matchup, Indiana out-rebounded Ohio State 39-35 and the Buckeyes on the offensive glass 14-9. To be honest, that is not too egregious for a team that was down its best rebounder, and its 7-foot center played 11 minutes (Bradshaw).
However, Oumar Ballo did have 15 rebounds and was a tough stop for the Buckeyes, especially late in the game.
Bradshaw has been giving better minutes since he got back from the flu. Sean Stewart played a huge role in the Buckeyes win over Nebraska, and Devin Royal is healthy. All of those things should help the Buckeyes get revenge from a game in which Evan Mahaffey played 34 minutes.
I love what Mahaffey brings to the team, but 34 minutes is too many minutes for him to play.
If the Buckeyes keep the Hoosiers off the glass and limit second-chance points, they can win this game.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers need to win on Saturday to lock up a spot in the big dance.
We’ve got a heavyweight matchup in Bloomington this Saturday as the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-13, 9-10) take on the Indiana Hoosiers (18-12, 9-10) with a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
As of early Friday morning, both Ohio State and Indiana were listed as 11-seeds in Bracket Matrix. Both teams were also listed among the final four teams in, which would send them both to Dayton for the First Four if it was to shake out that way.
The winner of Saturday’s game will pretty much be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, regardless of what happens in the Big Ten Tournament. The loser of Saturday’s game will need to win a bare minimum of one game at the Big Ten Tournament to have a chance, but will want to win two or three to feel good about their chances.
Last week, Connor and Justin argued about whether Ohio State should have fouled USC’s Wesley Yates in the closing seconds during Ohio State’s win last Wednesday. Down three, Ohio State let Yates shoot (and miss) the potential game-tying shot.
By a slim vote, the readers sided with Justin. 55% of the readers said that Ohio State did the correct thing by not fouling in that situation. The other 45% agreed with Connor, who wanted to send Yates to the line.
After 194 weeks:
Connor- 86
Justin- 83
Other- 19
(There have been six ties)
Ohio State fell at home to a reeling Indiana squad in January. Since then, the Hoosiers have turned it around some and are in position to make the Big Dance with a win. Ohio State has other ideas, but they will need to adjust a few things before Saturday to hold down Oumar Ballo and his band of merry gentlemen.
This week’s question: What does Ohio State need to correct to beat Indiana?
Connor: Deny Ballo the ball
To beat Indiana, Ohio State will have to find a way to limit Oumar Ballo’s paint touches. Ballo is Indiana’s leading scorer and rebounder. Last time these two teams played, Ballo finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.
Ohio State will have to limit Ballo’s touches. The problem with him is the fact that once Ballo gets the ball, he’s already in a spot to score, since he’s 7-foot tall and nearly 275 pounds.
Because of this, Ohio State will have to put a ton of pressure on Ballo when teammates try to dump the ball off to him below the basket. Guys like Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart, and Devin Royal will have to be super physical, reach around, and box out like their tournament lives depend on it.
Ballo is not the type of player that will start at the three-point line and work his way to the basket. He will plant there waiting for a pass, or he’ll flare off of a screen to get open running towards the basket. Much like what they did to Zach Edey last season, Ohio State will have to ramp up the pressure on Ballo when the ball is thrown his way and try to deny the ball.
Stopping Ballo from touching the ball is easier said than done, but he is IU’s leading scorer and has a height and size advantage over everyone on the floor. If Ohio State can coax Indiana into working the ball around the perimeter more and preventing them from letting Ballo shoot, they might take more threes, where they’re only shooting 32.6% this year.
Swarm Ballo, deny that pass, and make other guys beat you. I think that’s the plan.
Justin: Limit second-chance points
The most significant difference in this game is simple. Aaron Bradshaw has to be more impactful than he was in the first game, and Devin Royal has to play because he did not in the first contest against Indiana.
In that matchup, Indiana out-rebounded Ohio State 39-35 and the Buckeyes on the offensive glass 14-9. To be honest, that is not too egregious for a team that was down its best rebounder, and its 7-foot center played 11 minutes (Bradshaw).
However, Oumar Ballo did have 15 rebounds and was a tough stop for the Buckeyes, especially late in the game.
Bradshaw has been giving better minutes since he got back from the flu. Sean Stewart played a huge role in the Buckeyes win over Nebraska, and Devin Royal is healthy. All of those things should help the Buckeyes get revenge from a game in which Evan Mahaffey played 34 minutes.
I love what Mahaffey brings to the team, but 34 minutes is too many minutes for him to play.
If the Buckeyes keep the Hoosiers off the glass and limit second-chance points, they can win this game.
Continue reading...