Indiana vs. Ohio State: College basketball preview, prediction, TV schedule
The Ohio State Buckeyes make a play for a share of the conference title in their final Big Ten game of the season, which comes on the road at Indiana.
TV Schedule: Friday, February 23, 8:00 p.m. ET, FS1
Location: Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana
The Big Ten Tournament moved forward in the schedule this year, bringing a sudden end to conference play this weekend. That’s a full week ahead of other major conferences, meaning the Big Ten could be completely forgotten for the week leading into Selection Sunday.
Friday, therefore, marks the last time the Ohio State Buckeyes will be able to make an impression during the regular season. They’ll take their entertaining (and inconsistent) product to Indiana, where the Hoosiers will look to build momentum for a tournament run that signals the only path to the NCAA Tournament for them.
Ohio State is the No. 16 team in the AP poll, but it’s been awhile since they played that way. Before a lopsided win over Rutgers, they lost back-to-back blowouts to Penn State (who won by 23) and Michigan (who won by 12). The Buckeyes are a combined 1-3 against those teams, programs they needed to beat as a top Big Ten school.
The Hoosiers are playing for little at this point in Archie Miller’s debut season. Indiana is a solid 16-13 (9-8 Big Ten), but nobody is considering them for a slot in the NCAA Tournament. They would need to run through the conference tournament to get there.
But that potentially makes them dangerous on Friday. The team still has plenty of pride and the seniors – namely Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk – will be playing in Assembly Hall for the final time.
Last time these teams met, the Buckeyes took care of business with little problem, 71-56. This doesn’t feel like that same Ohio State team; though. They should still win, but it won’t be comfortable.
Prediction: Ohio State 68, Indiana 62