West Virginia vs. Ohio State: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By David Mullen
In a top 25 matchup, the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Big 10 / Big 12 men’s basketball showdown.
TV Schedule: Sunday, December 29, 2019 / NOON EST / FS1
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio
The West Virginia Mountaineers continue to hold their own during non-conference play. The Mountaineers have fared so well, only one loss on the season, they have put themselves in prime position for an NCAA tournament berth. After a 2018-19 season that featured a sub-.500 record (15-21) for only the second time during the 13-year tenure of head coach Bob Huggins, the start to the 2019-20 season is refreshing for the Mountaineers.
Although the Mountaineers are in the top third in team offense nationally, it is their defense that has been the key to their success. The Mountaineers hold opponents to 62.3 points per game (48th in the nation) with a defensive rating of 86.4 (19th in the nation). Coach Huggins’ team has also held opponents to a meager 36% field goal percentage. Their strength is their perimeter defense. Of 228 three-point attempts taken against West Virginia, only 56 of those attempts were a success. Those numbers are good for a 24.6% 3-point field goal percentage which also happens to be the 4th best in the country.
Despite the Mountaineers’ defensive prowess, they are going to have their hands full with one of the best offensive and well-rounded teams in the nation. The Buckeyes are equally talented and efficient on both ends of the court. Ohio State has averaged 79.2 points per game while holding opponents to a salty 57.4 points per game – an impressive 22 point gap. Their offensive rating sits at 116.7 (4th in the nation) and their defensive rating is 84.6 (10th in the nation).
Ohio State will counter the West Virginia Mountaineers perimeter defense with one of the more efficient three-point shooting teams in basketball. Leading the Buckeyes in three-point shooting is sophomore guard Duane Washington Jr. He has been impressive from beyond the arc in 2019-20 by hitting 50% of his threes (on approximately five attempts per game). The Buckeyes have seven players averaging at least 2.3 attempts per game.
Each player is shooting at least 36% percent from the three-point line. With this many weapons beyond the arc, even in the face of the Mountaineers’ impressive perimeter defense, the Buckeyes will be able to spread the ball around. This will force the Mountaineers to cover multiple players beyond the arc adding extra stress to their defensive game plan.
The West Virginia Mountaineers offense will flow through 6’9’’ freshman forward Oscar Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe is averaging 12.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game. Tshiebwe is joined by 6’10’’ sophomore forward Derek Culver. Culver fills up the stat sheet with 11.4 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game. Culver and Tshiebwe will need to use their length on the perimeter to alter and block shots. Culver is not much of a shot-blocking threat (0.6 blocks per game over 37 career games) so Tshiebwe will have to show out on the defensive end if the Mountaineers want to stay in the game.
Next. Key storylines for Ohio State vs West Virginia. dark
The Buckeyes and Mountaineers will be a clash of two well-rounded teams. The Buckeyes, their experience and talent, will overcome the Mountaineers’ perimeter defense. The Buckeyes have leaned on the three all year and they will not stop now. The Mountaineers, featuring two lengthy, talented forwards, just do not have enough firepower on either end of the court to combat the Buckeyes well-rounded team. Look for a barrage of threes to start right after tip-off and it will not end until the clock hits zero.
Prediction: Ohio State 89, West Virginia 62