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Ohio State basketball vs. Penn State: Odds, preview, prediction, lineups, TV
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State basketball team will play the second of its early season Big Ten games on Saturday when it faces Penn State.
This will also serve as the Buckeyes’ first true road game of the season. Their previous nine games have been played either at home or on a neutral site. They lost their only game against the Nittany Lions last season at home while also losing a first-round matchup to them in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament.
OSU is on a seven-game winning streak while PSU has lost its last five games and has yet to beat a major conference opponent.
What: Ohio State (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at Penn State (4-5)
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, State College, Pennsylvania.
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network
Ohio State projected starters
Bruce Thornton, guard, 18.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.2 apg.
Roddy Gayle Jr., guard, 14.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg.
Evan Mahaffey, guard, 3.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg.
Jamison Battle, forward, 13.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.3 apg.
Felix Okpara, center, 5.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.4 apg.
Penn State projected starters
Ace Baldwin Jr., guard, 14.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.4 apg.
Kanye Clary, guard, 16.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg.
Puff Johnson, forward, 6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.0 apg.
Qudus Wahab, forward, 10.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 0.8 apg.
Zach Hicks, forward, 7.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg.
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What to Watch For
Evan Mahaffey spent his freshman year at Penn State having a limited role averaging just 2.8 points in 9.3 minutes per game before hitting the transfer portal. He found a home in Columbus where his role is more as a defensive specialist in the starting lineup rather than be someone relied on for offense. He’s averaging just 3.4 points while shooting 28.9%.
This is the second time in the Chris Holtmann era that the Buckeyes have added a former Nittany Lion through the portal, doing so with Jamari Wheeler during the 2021-22 season.
Prediction
Stephen’s pick: Penn State had started building something under Micah Shrewsberry, which included an NCAA Tournament last year. But Schrewsberry has since moved on to Notre Dame and the Nittany Lions are again starting from scratch. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are rolling and need to continue this momentum. They should have no problem doing so, getting to 2-0 in Big Ten play in the process. 79-66 Ohio State.
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