Ohio State Basketball: Buckeyes overcome rough start and improve to 11-1
The Ohio State basketball team struggled early but it was a different story after the halftime break and the Buckeyes rolled to an 80-66 victory.
The Ohio State basketball team certainly didn’t have a stellar first half with problems taking care of the basketball and poor shooting. Fortunately for the Buckeyes the Bruins were having turnover issues as well so they managed to take a 33-30 lead into the break.
The main problems for Ohio State of the offensive end was trying to crack the UCLA zone. Chris Holtmann and his staff straightened out that situation at halftime and the Buckeyes looked like a different team the last 20 minutes outscoring the Bruins 47-36.
The guards were able to get the ball to Kaleb Wesson in the paint or around the free throw line as well as find open players just outside the block. That forced UCLA players to rotate which enabled Ohio State to get open looks.
The biggest beneficiary of that ball movement was C.J. Jackson who scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half mostly on three point shots, mid-range jumpers and floaters.
Wesson was once again a force underneath and the 6 ft. 9 center had another double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Kyle Young was also in double figures as the sophomore forward scored 11 points on 5-7 shooting.
Ohio State gets another break before hosting High Point on December 29th.
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Now for quick takes:
Young plays bigger than his listed size of 6 ft. 8, 205 pounds. And watching him and Andre Wesson is worth the price of admission if neither scores a point with the way they play defense, hit the boards and go after loose balls.
It’s fun watching Kaleb Wesson’s game evolve. The sophomore center is playing with much more confidence than he was at the beginning of the season.
I’m not sure if I have ever watched a more unselfish team than these Buckeyes, and yet each player is willing to shoot the ball when he has an open look.
This young team is just fun to watch.
Next. Buckeyes slip in Big Ten power rankings. dark
The real fun will begin when Ohio State resumes Big Ten Conference play January 5th against Michigan State. The Spartans will provide quite a challenge for the Buckeyes, and the young players will learn what Big Ten basketball is all about quickly.