The Ohio State Buckeyes open their Big Ten schedule with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who just knocked off former unbeaten Indiana.
TV Schedule: Thursday, December 8, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2
Location: Value City Arena in Columbus, OH
The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the best teams in a wide-open Big Ten this season. But to be the best, they’re going to have to topple a program that has no issue beating the best: the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers comes to Columbus with a big notch in their Big Ten belt, knocking the Indiana Hoosiers from the ranks of the unbeatens on Saturday with a convincing 63-48 victory. Mike Woodson’s squad was completely neutralized on offense, with only Miller Kopp able to get something significant going against the Scarlet Knights.
The Buckeyes enter the contest after a Saturday romp against overmatched St. Francis (PA). Ohio State only led by eight at the half, but the Red Flash offense turned off during the second half and the program lost by 37 points.
Both teams will walk into Value City Arena with the same overall record. Rutgers’ victory over the Hoosiers was their best win and their losses were close at the hands of Temple and Miami. Ohio State’s best win was over Texas Tech in Maui and its two losses came against Top 25 teams in San Diego State and Duke.
The Scarlet Knights have traveled to face Ohio State in Columbus six times since Rutgers joined the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have won precisely none of those contests.
They should have their hands full once again. Ohio State is arguably better than they were a year ago, despite the departures of EJ Liddell and Malaki Branham. Chris Holtmann is deploying one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, spearheaded by emerging freshman star Brice Sensabaugh, who is averaging 14.3 points per game in just 17.8 minutes per game.
The Scarlet Knights are a physical team, though. What Rutgers lacks in elite scorers, they more than make up for in grit and physicality. That’s especially true on defense, where Rutgers ranks up there with the most elite teams in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
This game has the feel of a strength versus strength type of game. Ohio State’s elite offense against Rutgers elite defense. Can the Buckeyes, who shoot a decent 36.4 percent from three, overcome the best three-point defense in the land, which is limiting teams to just above 20 percent success from beyond the arc?
At the end of the day, someone is likely going to have to make a big bucket at the end of the game. There are some players on Rutgers who feel capable of doing that: Cam Spencer, Caleb McConnell, maybe even Aundre Hyatt, who has been playing well as of late.
Ohio State seems to have the better options for the situation, though. The freshmen trio of Sensabaugh, Bruce Thornton, and Roddy Gayle Jr. are all capable of drilling a three. Then there’s Zed Key, Justice Sueing, Tanner Holden, Sean McNeil, and Isaac Likekele waiting in the wings; McConnel can’t guard them all.
Prediction: Ohio State 68, Rutgers 66