One mid-major tune-up remains on Ohio State's 2023-24 basketball schedule.
New Orleans
Privateers
The Buckeyes welcome New Orleans to Value City Arena on Thursday, a squad out of the Southland Conference with a 5-6 record. Ohio State will look for one final opportunity to iron out the kinks in its game before playing West Virginia on Dec. 30 and kicking off the Big Ten-exclusive portion of its schedule against Rutgers on Jan. 3.
Need to know
Maintaining momentum
Fresh off a gritty 67-60 win over UCLA, the Buckeyes are trying to stay on a high note and make it nine victories in their last 10 contests. The idea will be to regain some of the shooting form it found through the first 10 games where the team shot over 40% from three after a 1-of-15 outing against the Bruins.
Two-point pariahs
New Orleans' offense comes mostly from areas closer to the rim than the three-point line. The Privateers are 308th nationally in three-point attempts per game (18.8) and 284th in three-point shooting percentage (30.9). They take the fourth-most attempts from two per game at 47.3.
Three important Buckeyes
Bruce Thornton
Thornton made some great plays in the second half against UCLA but it ultimately wasn't his most efficient night, going 4-of-15 from the field and 0-of-5 from three. New Orleans should allow him a chance to get back on track as the Buckeyes' brightest star.
Jamison Battle
If Ohio State is to return to form from three-point land, Battle's contributions will continue to play a role. He hit the one triple the Buckeyes made against UCLA, a deep shot from the top of the key that put them up 62-56 with 46 seconds remaining. He currently paces the team in made 3-pointers with 2.4 per game.
Devin Royal
A potential comfortable win against a mid-major always allows for depth to gain experience, and it would be good to see Royal produce against the Privateers after a quiet last few outings. After an 11-point performance against Minnesota on Nov. 29, he's scored a combined three points in 20 minutes during Ohio State's last three games.
Three Notable Privateers
Jordan Johnson
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Weight | 2023-24 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Johnson | G | 6-1 | 170 | 23.1 PPG, 4,4 APG |
| 20 | Khaleb Wilson-Rouse | G | 6-2 | 185 | 10.9 PPG, 2.0 SPG |
| 13 | Jamond Vincent | G | 6-4 | 215 | 8.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG |
| 3 | D'Ante Bell | F | 6-9 | 215 | 4.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG |
| 5 | Tyson Jackson | F | 6-9 | 245 | 7.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG |
Johnson's been one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball this year, racking up 23.1 points per game to double-up his next-closest teammate. He's also the team's only true threat from three, taking 8.7 of its 18.8 attempts per game and making 37.5% of them.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse
Wilson-Rouse is the only other Privateer that averages double-figures on the season with 10.9 points per game. He adds 1.8 assists and two steals per contest.
Jamond Vincent
Despite being listed as a guard and standing just 6-4, Vincent is New Orleans' leading rebounder, hauling in 6.4 boards per game.
How it plays out
Line: Ohio State -22.5, O/U 156
Fresh off the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA, New Orleans shouldn't be the team that slows Ohio State down. I expect nothing less than a comfortable win in this one.
Prediction: Ohio State 85, New Orleans 61
