BOISE, Idaho – We all know that Ohio State and Gonzaga are different teams now than they were in late November.
What hasn't changed, however, is the personnel on both benches.
The Bulldogs feature one of the longer, more athletic lineups that Ohio State has seen all season, with big man Killian Tillie checking in at 6-foot-10, 215 pounds. The first time the Buckeyes met the Zags this season, Gonzaga used its length to its advantage, deflecting a number of passes and forcing Ohio State into 15 turnovers and just 31.3 percent shooting from the floor.
While both teams are different than the teams that met in the PK80 Invitational, the length of Gonzaga remains the same, something Chris Holtmann said will remain a tough challenge to overcome.
"We will have to look at doing some things offensively a little bit better. Our personnel is a little bit different now than it was then. We will play more of a traditional lineup but we will also move some guys around. You have to make shots against these guys," Holtmann said Friday. "They are so good at protecting the rim. You can't just pound it inside on them all night. That is not going to happen. You have to have balance to your offense."
One way Ohio State is expected to counter the Bulldogs' size and physicality will be to give freshman big man Kaleb Wesson more minutes. The Westerville, Ohio native played just seven minutes in an 81-73 victory over South Dakota State on Thursday, thanks in large part to the matchups that the Jackrabbits provided.
Despite his limited minutes against SDSU, Wesson said Friday that he isn't discouraged by his lack of playing time and will be ready to compete against Gonzaga come Saturday night.
"It's not anything you have to fix your mind to. Just every game, give what is best for your team," Wesson said. "Yesterday what was best for my team wasn't for me to be on the floor, which I am fine with since we won the game.
"They will do different things to try and stop me from being as dominant as I was in that game. I just feel like it's going to be a good challenge."
Ohio State's first game against Gonzaga this season also served as the first career start for Wesson, following an ankle injury to sophomore Micah Potter, who started the first four games of the season for the Buckeyes. Wesson scored 10 points and collected four rebounds in the 27-point loss before fouling out in the second half.
After almost a full season in between matchups, Wesson said he has become more confident in his game, and is looking forward to a more physical brand of basketball.
“I just feel like it's going to be a good challenge.”– Kaleb Wesson on rematch with Gonzaga.
"I just had to get used to playing college basketball at that point," Wesson said of his first start. "It was fun, up and down and it was physical and that is the kind of game I like."
The physical brand of basketball also plays into the hands of Ohio State senior Jae'Sean Tate, who has gotten into foul trouble in the last two contests for the Buckeyes, with smaller lineups on the floor.
Knowing his Ohio State career could come to an end with a loss, Tate said he is focused on staying out of foul trouble while also relishing the chance to play a style of basketball that better fits his personal game.
"That was a weird game, 40 threes, but I am happy we got the win," Tate said of the first-round win over SDSU. "You guys who have seen me over the years, you know I am a physical guy and that is why I chose the Big Ten conference. Hopefully I can stay out of foul trouble. I am just looking forward to facing a good opponent.
"It's going to be one of those games where you have to do your work early. They have a lot of interior presence and have good size guards also," Tate added. "You could say we are a little undersized, so that just means we have to do our work a little earlier."
The rematch between the Buckeyes and Bulldogs is set for a 7:45 p.m. tip on Saturday from Taco Bell Arena and will be televised on CBS.
