Ohio State Basketball: Watch out for the Buckeyes in the Big Ten

Coach Chris Holtmann has the Buckeyes atop the Big Ten with a 5-0 start in conference play.

Many predicted that this season would be a rebuilding project for Holtmann in his first season as head coach in Columbus. However, the Buckeyes are one of the hottest teams in the country as they improved to 14-4 (5-0 Big Ten) after thumping Maryland 91-67 on Jan. 11.

The Buckeyes throttled Maryland after a rocky start to the game. Holtmann called a frustration timeout after the Buckeyes fell down 20-13 midway through the first half. It worked to perfection as Ohio State finished the half on a 31-12 run.

The Buckeyes overwhelmed the Terrapins with suffocating half-court defense that created plenty of transition scoring opportunities. They also forced Maryland into tough shots for much of the night and held the Terps to 36.7% shooting.

Offensively, Keita Bates-Diop led all scorers with 26 points on 10-15 shooting (6-8 on 3s). But it was not a solo act, as Bates-Diop had plenty of help from his teammates.

Jae’Sean Tate showed his versatility with a well-rounded stat line (13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks). Guards C.J. Jackson (14 points, 6 assists) and Kam Williams (8 points, 5 assists) pitched in as did backup guard Andrew Dakich who contributed 11 points (3-4 on 3s). Guard play has been one of the primary reasons for the Buckeyes’ recent surge.

With balanced scoring, veteran leadership, and great coaching, the Buckeyes have the tools to succeed. The main cause for concern for this team is a lack of depth. If the Buckeyes get more consistent production from their bench, they will be a force in the Big Ten.

What’s ahead for the Buckeyes?

The Buckeyes have a friendly upcoming schedule. They don’t face a ranked opponent until Feb. 7, when they travel to Purdue. Translation: the Buckeyes have a great opportunity to keep piling up wins and stay atop the Big Ten standings.

While the schedule appears non-threatening, the Buckeyes still must prove they are a good team by handling inferior opponents. First up is a road trip to Rutgers this Sunday, January 14. Rutgers is 1-4 in Big Ten play but has shown fight as it recently beat Wisconsin and almost upset Michigan State. In order to be taken seriously as Big Ten contenders, the Buckeyes need to defeat Rutgers.

Next: Where does this team rank in current bracketology?

After Rutgers, the Buckeyes travel to Northwestern and return home for Minnesota. If they win these three games, the Buckeyes will be 8-0 in conference games.