Halfway through the season, Ohio State sits at 11-4 overall and 2-0 in conference as the calendar turns to 2018.
| Who | Where | When | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa (9-7, 0-3) | Carver-Hawkeye Arena | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
Next up for the Buckeyes is a trip to Iowa City, to take on an Iowa team that is still searching for its first conference win after losing games to Penn State and Indiana in early December before dropping a 75-68 contest to Michigan on Tuesday night at home.
Halfway through the season, Chris Holtmann said he is happy with where Ohio State stands, but also acknowledged that the Buckeyes have work to do as the season rolls on.
"There were a lot of questions about this group, rightfully so," Holtmann said. "I'm pleased with being where we are right now. Certainly you always look back and say, 'Could we have gotten this one back?' As disappointed as I was with Miami (Ohio), I also recognize that teams across the country lose a game like that. We need to be better, but I also recognize that these guys went through (non-conference) play and didn't lose a game like that."
Ohio State has won the games it was supposed to win in the non-conference slate, but now must prepare for a Big Ten schedule that starts with four of six games coming outside of Columbus, starting with a trip to Iowa.
Playing a team that is still searching for a Big Ten win, Ohio State is expecting the Hawkeyes to come out swinging to start the game at a place the Buckeyes haven't won since Feb. 4, 2014.
"They are going to play with incredible urgency, fervor and passion," Holtmann said. "Anytime you lose a game, the best thing is to play quickly again. That's again where the leadership of our older guys ... is going to need to impart to our younger guys, 'This is what it is like going and playing on the road in Big Ten play.'
"There is going to be a lot of emotion in that game and we will see how we respond to it."
Opponent Breakdown
If there is a team that has featured a roller-coaster season already in the Big Ten this season, it is the Hawkeyes. After limping to a 4-2 start to the year which featured losses to Louisiana and South Dakota State, Iowa dropped four in a row to fall to 4-6 on the year, just one week in December.
Fran McCaffery's group responded, however, winning its next five games by an average of 23 points, averaging just better than 90 points per contest to put itself three games over .500, before the Wolverines poured in 11 three-pointers to put an end to Iowa's winning streak.
Iowa is led by sophomore forward Tyler Cook, who dropped in 28 points in the loss to Michigan on Tuesday. On the season, the 6-foot-9 Cook is averaging 14.8 points and 6.4 boards per game, good for first and second place on the team respectively.
"I think Cook is a potential first-team all-league guy. He is a major, major mismatch issue," Holtmann said of the Iowa big man. "We will need to be ready to go for sure."
Including Cook, the Hawkeyes feature a team that provides McCaffery with plenty of length and size. Jack Nunge and Luka Garza each stand 6-foot-11 and average 19.2 and 17.9 minutes per game respectively. In addition, the duo has combined for 39 of Iowa's 81 blocks on the defensive end this year.
If the Iowa big men struggle to produce, the Hawkeyes have the ability to stretch the floor with a variety of consistent three-point shooters. Sophomore guard Jordan Bohannon is shooting a blistering 44.6 percent from long range this season while Ohio product Maishe Dailey shoots a 42.5 percent clip from behind the arc off the bench.
Where the Hawkeyes boast consistency from behind the arc, they equally struggle at the charity stripe. Iowa is shooting just 66.7 percent from the free-throw line this season, which ranks 12th out of 14 Big Ten teams. Iowa's most consistent player at the stripe is guard Isaiah Moss, who shoots 89.7 percent from the line and averages 11.6 points per game.
Ohio State fell short at Iowa last season, 85-72, and has not won in Iowa City in nearly four years. Jeffrey Becker – USA TODAY Sports
Buckeye Breakdown
After falling to North Carolina in the CBSSports Classic, the Buckeyes returned home and put together a workmanlike victory, defeating Miami (Ohio), 72-59, in a game where Ohio State shot just 41.8 percent from the floor and got out-rebounded by the Redhawks.
Keita Bates-Diop shot just 6-of-19 from the floor in that game, yet still managed to fill the stat sheet. He collected 19 points, nine boards and five blocks in the win over Miami, further proving to his head coach that he is capable of impacting the game in ways other than just scoring.
"For me, I look at the kind of person he is to begin with. Because he is a really high-level person, it really allows him to grow as a player," Holtmann said. "Average players, if they are not making shots, it really limits their impact on every possession. (Bates-Diop) had five blocks. In some cases stuff that doesn't show up statistically – maybe you do your job on defense, you block out – you can have an impact on winning and I think he has to be that for us, as does (Jae'Sean Tate), or we are not going to win games."
While Bates-Diop is battling back from a poor shooting day, Tate is battling with yet another shoulder injury that has limited him in practice. While the senior forward has not participated in contact drills during practice, Holtmann said he expects Tate to play against Iowa.
"My biggest concern for him right now is coming off break. He is a guy that needs rhythm both in his conditioning and his fitness level," Holtmann said. "I am a little concerned with what his rust level might be. He struggled a little against Miami and I think some of that was conditioning.
"He wants to play. As you'd expect a guy who has had multiple shoulder injuries, he and his family – which I totally understand – they just want to make sure of what is going on. Our medical personnel has done a great job with him."
As for the rest of the roster, it wouldn't come as a shock to see Musa Jallow re-inserted into the starting lineup for the Buckeyes, despite scoring just three points in 16 minutes against Miami. His length on defense and ability to get into the passing lane will play a bigger part in that, rather than his offensive production. If Jallow starts, it will likely send Kam Williams, who scored 15 points in a starting role against the Redhawks, to the bench.
How It Plays Out
The Hawkeyes' length is sure to give Ohio State problems, particularly in the backcourt, where the Buckeyes have little depth, as Tate has been forced to play the point this season. If Tate is limited in any way by his injury, much more will fall into the hands of C.J. Jackson and Andrew Dakich to run Holtmann's offense.
Iowa has not played nearly the schedule Ohio State has, as the Buckeyes are much more battle-tested and have produced more results. Playing on the road figures to provide an added challenge, as OSU has played just one true road game all season (Wisconsin).
Ohio State checks in at No. 46 in Ken Pomeroy's advanced statistical rating system, while Iowa is ranked No. 82. The Hawkeyes have the personnel to defeat the Buckeyes, but Ohio State has shown more consistency throughout the year.
Prediction: Ohio State 85, Iowa 79
