Basketball Preview: Buckeyes Begin March With Rematch Against No. 21 Maryland in Final Home Game of the Regular Season

So much has modified since then.

Maryland handed Ohio State its second straight loss on the time, and the Buckeyes dropped 12 of their subsequent 13 video games after that. However, the Terps have solely misplaced 4 video games since taking over Ohio State and now sit at No. 21 within the AP ballot after knocking off ranked Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern groups since Jan. 31.

However Ohio State may need discovered some mojo after a 72-60 win over Illinois to finish a nine-game shedding streak on Sunday, and the Buckeyes consider they will parlay that momentum into one other dwelling win on Wednesday.

RELATED Illinois Win Confirms Chris Holtmann’s Perception That the Buckeyes Improved And Discovered Throughout Dropping Streak

“We’re all gonna rejoice as a result of we obtained the dub as we speak, and tomorrow we’re again at it. We gotta hold that very same mentality, the identical starvation we had earlier than to get the win in opposition to an excellent Maryland staff,” Bruce Thornton mentioned Sunday. “So I really feel like we’ve an excellent mindset, good prep work with the teaching employees, and with the gamers getting in work and pictures like that. So I really feel like, we include that mentality, I really feel like we’ll be good in opposition to Maryland.”

Vital seeding implications for the Large Ten Event nonetheless hold within the steadiness for Maryland, whereas Ohio State is just attempting to shut out the common season on a optimistic be aware. Wednesday’s 7 p.m. matchup will take a look at which facet’s motivation reigns supreme on the Schottenstein Heart.

Have to Know

Small ball

The previous two video games have confirmed Ohio State can have success in opposition to Large Ten groups with out Zed Key and even with none true heart on the ground for the Buckeyes. Felix Okpara solely performed eight minutes in opposition to Illinois, however Ohio State nonetheless managed to outrebound the Illini – top-of-the-line rebounding groups within the Large Ten – by 12 boards. The Buckeyes even outscored Illinois 46-28 within the paint, profiting from smaller lineups that prioritized pace and flexibility. With Key out and Okpara restricted with foul hassle within the first matchup this season, the Terps had a transparent edge inside. However maybe the Buckeyes have gotten extra snug with that type of play for the reason that Jan. 8 loss.

“I give Zed a number of credit score for sort of taking part in by his damage, however in some methods, it most likely wasn’t nice for him and may not have been nice for us, even,” Chris Holtmann mentioned Monday.” Simply because it was so onerous for him to play the best way he’s performed. So I believe we’ve needed to restrict (the rotation) slightly bit and go smaller. That’s made us perhaps slightly bit sooner, just a bit bit extra athletic, slightly bit extra cell, and that’s been good to see.”

Senior day on the Schott

Wednesday shall be Ohio State’s closing dwelling recreation of the season, which suggests this system’s seniors shall be honored earlier than the competition. All three Buckeyes to obtain recognition didn’t begin their profession at Ohio State however will end their collegiate tenure in scarlet and grey. Justice Sueing has spent the previous 4 seasons with the Buckeyes, whereas Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele, who every transferred into this system forward of 2022-23, will be a part of within the honor on the Schott.

Terps have lots to play for

Ohio State not has any likelihood at upward mobility within the Large Ten standings, however the identical isn’t true for the Terrapins. One in all 4 groups with an 11-7 file in convention play, Maryland might truly nonetheless earn a chunk of the common season Large Ten championship if it wins out and receives assist from different groups. If the Terps lose each of their closing video games, they might fall as little as eighth or ninth within the Large Ten, relying on different outcomes. Maryland can’t coast by its closing regular-season contests if it hopes to have a good seed within the Large Ten Event, which makes Wednesday’s recreation all of the extra vital for the Terps.

Three Vital Buckeyes

Bruce Thornton

The freshman level guard continues to surge late within the season. After scoring 19 factors on 7-for-12 capturing in an in depth loss to Penn State final week, Thornton was much more environment friendly in opposition to Illinois, main the Buckeyes to victory with a team-high 20 factors on 8-for-11 from the sector. Thornton transformed an and-one with 3:57 to play that put Ohio State again up double digits and sealed Illinois’ destiny down the stretch, and the first-year flooring normal will enter Wednesday’s matchup pink scorching in consequence.

Brice Sensabaugh

Earlier than Thornton’s clutch play in opposition to the Illini, Sensabaugh helped swing the momentum again within the Buckeyes’ favor with back-to-back buckets within the closing six minutes. Sensabaugh supplied the dunk of the yr for Ohio State by posterizing Matthew Mayer in transition earlier than nailing a jumper the following time down to extend the Buckeye result in seven factors. Up to now 4 video games, Sensabaugh averaged 17.5 factors per recreation on 51.9% capturing as he continues to show that his transient stoop in early February is a factor of the previous.

Oh, and the primary 1,000 followers to indicate up on the Schott will get free posters of Sensabaugh’s dunk talked about above.

Justice Sueing

Sueing snapped his longest single-digit scoring streak of the season (4 video games) on Sunday when he dropped 14 to assist the Buckeyes beat Illinois. The sixth-year ahead additionally tied his profession excessive with 11 rebounds, which Thornton credited for refueling the Buckeye offense after a dry spell early within the second half. On Wednesday, Sueing would be the longest-tenured OSU participant acknowledged at senior day, having spent 4 years in this system since transferring from California forward of the 2019-20 season.

Three Vital Terrapins

Jahmir Younger

After scoring a season-high 30 factors within the first matchup with the Buckeyes, Younger hasn’t taken his foot off the fuel. The Charlotte switch has put up no less than 10 factors in every of the previous 15 video games, and he’s averaged 17.7 factors within the 13 since final locking horns with the scarlet and grey. Ohio State allowed the 6-foot-2 guard to tug down 11 boards (together with six offensive rebounds) within the first matchup, and the Buckeyes can’t overlook him as a rebounding menace within the second contest.

Hakim Hart

The 6-foot-6 senior guard has been up and down in 2022-23, however Hart’s amid one of the vital constant stretches of the season over the previous six video games. Maryland’s second-leading scorer averaged 15.3 factors on 52.5% capturing and 48.1% from 3-point vary to associate with 4.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in that interval, by which the Terps have gone 4-2. Hart shot simply 3-for-10 within the first recreation in opposition to Ohio State however has been considerably extra environment friendly frequently as of late.

Julian Reese

Maryland’s beginning five-man might both exploit or be exploited by Ohio State’s smaller lineup on Sunday. Reese and the Terps had success in opposition to the Buckeyes within the absence of Key within the final assembly, and the 6-foot-9 ahead’s previous eight performances symbolize his greatest stretch of the season. Reese averaged 13.4 factors on 60.8% capturing and 9.1 rebounds in these eight video games, together with a 21-point outing in opposition to Minnesota on Feb 22. Reese might make life troublesome for the likes of Eugene Brown and Isaac Likekele, ought to they’ve to protect him in an Okpara-less lineup on Wednesday.

The way it Performs Out

Line: Maryland -1.5, O/U: 137

I’m cautious to place an excessive amount of inventory into one win, however the Buckeyes have proven gradual enchancment prior to now two video games, which provides me a motive to consider we might see a second straight victorious efficiency on Wednesday – particularly if Ohio State reveals up on the glass as it did three days in the past.

Prediction: Ohio State 72, Maryland 69