OSU Preview

BG plays both ends of the continuum in Ohio basketball, moving from Ohio Wesleyan to Ohio State tomorrow in Columbus.

BG has played the Bucks six times and beaten them twice--1983 and 1994.   

They finished #8 and #11 the last two years in Kenpom and were the victim of a first-round upset last year in the NCAA Tourney (Oral Roberts).  They were picked to be #4 in the Big Ten this year, the top-ranked conference in college basketball.

OSU is 2-0 this year, but both wins were underwhelming given their #18 kenpom and #17 in the AP Poll.  They really should have lost to Akron, trailing with 6 seconds left and saved by a buzzer beat.  They next played Niagara (223)--it was a one-point game at halftime and the lead was down to 6 with a couple minutes left to play.

They brought four starters back from last year's team.  That team was a ridiculous offensive powerhouse, at #4 in the nation in offensive efficiency.  What's interesting is that those results came from being decent at all the factors, not great at any one.  They took really good care of the ball and got to the line.

In the meantime, they landed the top-ranked recruiting class in the country.

In Blue Ribbon, Holtmann says the defense needs to get better this year.  They were #82 last year, which isn't great for a team aiming to be elite.  They are playing better defense this year (after two games) but it is early in the schedule.  They have been easy to shoot 3FGs against--42%, so if that continues, and BG can start making a few, than we might have a shot. 

Offensively, they haven't shot a lot of 3FGs this year.  

Eric (EJ) Liddell is their top player.  He is a 6'7" JR  who was all-Big Ten last year.  He's off to a pretty dominating start, at 27 PPG, 56% shooting, 8 RPG and 7 blocked shots.  He's taken 20 FTs and only made 12.  He is the current leader for the Kenpom Player of the Year award.

Their other double figure scorer is Zed Key, a 6'8" So.  He's scoring 12 PPG on 67% shooting, 6 RPG,  and 2 Blocks per game.

Their leading assist man is Jamari Wheeler, a transfer from Penn State who all-defensive Big Ten the last two seasons.  He is averaging 3.5 APG and 1.5 steals.

Overall, they play an 8-man rotation.  They used different starting lineups in each of the first two games.

OSU is a 14.5 point favorite, which would be their biggest win of the season.  Kenpom has the Bucks at 93% chance to win.  There have been four upsets in that range this year so far--NIU's win at UW is the biggest upset this year to date, FWIW.  Given that BG is still trying to gel everything together, this would appear to be an uphill struggle, but the Bucks might be, too, and that's why we love sports. It would be the biggest upsets in the last 20 years for the Falcons.