Ohio State Basketball: Recent losses a preview of things to come
The Ohio State Buckeyes are having a terrific season but have proven to be vulnerable in one area.
With two bad losses in the last week Ohio State was exposed in one particular area. The Buckeyes could be defeated if a team who plays extremely physical and has the players to do so. The losses had better be a learning situation for the Ohio State players because it’s a preview of things to come?
Coaches in every sport are copycats to some degree and the blueprint as to how to defeat Ohio State is out there.
First of all, the Nittany Lions played physical but the defeat could be explained away because of the unique situation. The Buckeyes had lost to them earlier in Columbus and were now the hunted and not the hunters, so the players may not have handled the situation well. Also, nearly every good team will lay an egg at some point in the season.
But the loss to Michigan raised a serious question. Does Ohio State have the players on the roster to handle physical play, and make the adjustments needed to make a run in the NCAA tournament. Looking at the game stats makes you wonder.
40.4 percent shooting inside the arc:
The Buckeyes didn’t have difficulty shooting the ball from outside as they hit 45.5 percent of their three-point shots. So why the low numbers inside?
Many of the 47 shots inside the three-point line were on drives, or second chance shots as the Buckeyes pulled down 15 offensive rebounds. Often those shots were ugly ones that had little chance of going through the hoop. That can happen when a player thinks more about getting drilled by a defender, or his shot being blocked, than putting the ball in the hole.
14 turnovers:
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Ohio State turned the ball over twice as many times as Michigan. Most of those turnovers were caused by in-your-face defense on the ball or by bodies banging inside.
47.4 percent free throw percentage:
Those who haven’t played the game probably won’t understand how a physical game can affect free throw shooting. But you guys and gals who were good shooters know how it can.
First there is fatigue, just having to work so hard on the offensive end to get a shot. The second is lack of focus.
When you are still ticked off at an opposing player who hit you in the chest with an elbow two possessions ago instead of making the foul shot, you will probably miss the front end of a one-on-one. Anybody who doesn’t think those things matter, just think about how Aaron Craft would wear down players physically, mentally and emotionally.
Chris Holtmann’s team will have to adjust to this style of play going forward. I am sure the physical play the Buckeyes faced the last two games is a preview of things to come by coaches who think their team can make it work.
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It will be a matter of whether coach Holtmann can make the adjustments, more up-tempo offense, better spacing etc., to nullify the physical approach. Or if he has the players on the roster to make it happen.