Ohio State was one shot away from knocking off the No. 1. 1 team in the nation.
| WHO | WHERE | WHEN | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maryland (10-5, 1-3 B1G) |
Xfinity Center |
1 p.m. |
ESPN |
Thursday two-point loss to Purdue was emotional for the Buckeyes, but they had to put it behind them in short order to refocus for another tough Big Ten game on the road. At 1 p.m. Sunday, Ohio State faces a veteran team from Maryland that is 10-5 in Kevin Willard’s first year at the helm.
Despite lopsided losses to Michigan (81-46) and Rutgers (64-50) in their last two outings, the Terrapins boast a top-30 defense in the nation by Ken Pom’s adjusted efficiency metric. Equipped with a large number of versatile perimeter defenders, Maryland ranks in the top 50 in defense and opposing goal percentage and is one of the best teams in the country at limiting the effectiveness of opponents from 3 points.
The Buckeyes, who rank second in the nation in offensive efficiency, have faced better defenses this season, statistically speaking. But that doesn’t guarantee they’ll get anything easy on Sunday.
“I think one of the strengths of their defense is their versatility and ability to have multiple guys who can hold multiple positions. I expect to see crowds like we’ve seen all season long,” Ohio State assistant coach Jake Diebler said Friday. “I think our guys handled it pretty well. You have to keep moving the ball, you have to keep moving and cutting, their versatility is a strength for them.
“If you look at their numbers, especially at home, they’ve really managed to knock some teams down and we have to be strong with the ball, protect the ball. They’re a good defensive team, there’s no doubt about that. I think sometimes you can look at numbers and say, ‘Dude, what exactly do these numbers mean?’ But on tape, they’re a good defensive team. There’s just no other way.
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To monitor
Fighting the Terp Offense
Diebler has praised Maryland’s defensive numbers, but his offense has left much to be desired over the past two outings. The Terps have averaged less than 50 points per game in their last two Big Ten contests and shot just 26.5 percent from the floor against Michigan. The Buckeyes only rank 79th in adjusted defensive efficiency, lower than Maryland’s last two opponents, but the Terps have been prone to poor offensive performance just like lately.
Parity in the Big Ten
The Big Ten season is just beginning. No conference team has played more than five league games, but every team has lost to at least one Big Ten opponent and only Minnesota has yet to win a conference game. So far, two of Ohio State’s three Big Ten games have been decided on the end game, and despite Maryland’s two recent losses, its first two conference contests have been decided by a total of 10. points. The Buckeyes are favored in this one, even on the road, but few would be surprised if it’s a hotly contested affair.
Three Important Buckeyes
Felix Okpara
Zed Key left the Purdue game just four minutes after aggravating a shoulder sprain it has plagued him throughout the season, and both Diebler and Chris Holtmann have not released any updates on the health of their starting center after the fact. It means Okpara, who recorded a career-high 30 minutes in Key’s absence against Purdue, could make the first start of his true first season on Sunday.
TO UPDATE: The key (shoulder) will not be available against Maryland, according to a schedule statement Sunday morning.
Bruce Thorton
Holtmann said his starting point guard suffered from an illness ahead of Thursday’s Purdue game, and Thornton played his fewer minutes in six games as a result. But against a team like Maryland, which is led by several tough and experienced senior guards, Ohio State will need the freshman to perform at full capacity. After hitting double-digit scores in six consecutive games from November 1. 30 to Dec. 29, Thornton has failed to make it in each of the last two Big Ten contests, and the Buckeyes could use a bump in his offensive production as the conference schedule continues.
Brice Sensabaugh
Ohio State’s freshman star is flying a long way under the radar. Sensabaugh is averaging 20.2 points per game on 58.1 percent shooting in his last five performances and had his fourth 20-point night of the season against the No. 1. 1 team in the nation on Thursday. It’s no longer a frown when Sensabaugh leads the Buckeyes in scoring. It is an expectation. And there’s no sign he’ll be slowing down anytime soon.
Three important terrapins
Jahmir young
|
Player |
Position |
Height |
Mass |
Season statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
JAHMIR YOUNG |
g |
6-2 |
185 |
13.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG |
|
HAKIM HART |
g |
6-6 |
200 |
11.9 PPG, 4.9 APG |
|
NOÉ BATCHELOR |
g |
6-6 |
185 |
2.3PPG, 1.7RPG |
|
Donta Scott |
F |
6-7 |
225 |
12.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG |
|
JULIAN REESE |
F |
6-9 |
230 |
10.0PPG, 6.7RPG |
After dominating opponents in Conference USA with Charlotte for the past three seasons, Young hasn’t enjoyed much of a lull since entering the competition. The 6-foot-2 senior guard is the Terps’ leading scorer averaging 13.9 points per game, knocking down nearly 42% of his shots and 30.4% of his 3-point attempts, and he’s also recording 4 .5 rebounds and three assists a night. The Maryland native already has two 20-point games under his belt this season, and the Terps have only lost one game in which Young scored at least 18.
Do Scott
The 6-foot-7 senior forward has 109 appearances and 94 starts in a Maryland jersey, and he’s been a solid contributor for the Terps in most of them. A double-digit scorer in his sophomore and junior seasons, Scott is averaging 12.2 points per game as Maryland’s second-leading scorer as a senior. Scott connects on 50.5 percent of his 2-point shooting attempts and is the second-best rebounder in the unit with 5.9 per night.
hakim hart
Another fourth-year Terp, Hart isn’t far behind Scott averaging 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for Maryland. The 6-foot-6 guard is a more effective shooter than Young and Scott, hitting 53.9 percent of his field goals and 37.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. And among Terrapins who average at least two trips to the foul line per game, he is the most accurate free throw shooter on the team (81.4%).
How’s it going
Line: OSU -1.5, O/U: 141
The Terps might struggle to mount a substantial offense against their last two Big Ten opponents, and even their strong defense hasn’t been enough to keep them in games lately. Ohio State has the most effective offense Maryland has played all season, and even if Key doesn’t dress, the Buckeyes should end the week with a win on the road.
Prediction: Ohio State 75, Maryland 67
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