Ohio State Basketball: Buckeyes could upset the Wolverines

The Ohio State basketball team is a big underdog against the Michigan Wolverines but it may be a better matchup than many expect it to be.

On paper fifth ranked Michigan should defeat Ohio State easily tonight in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 19-1 and the 13-6 Buckeyes lost five games in a row before defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday.

Michigan has played terrific defense all season and Ohio State has had problems scoring recently, so this game should be a blowout, right? I’m not so sure.

Let’s look at how the two teams match up by comparing the top contributors, and then look at what the Buckeyes need to do to pull off the upset.

Michigan

Ignas Brazdeikis 6-7: 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds
Charles Matthews 6-6: 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds
Jordan Poole 6-4: 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds
Jon Teske 7-1: 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds
Zavier Simpson 6-0: 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds
Isaiah Livers 6-7: 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds

Ohio State

Kaleb Wesson 6-9: 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds
C.J. Jackson 6-1: 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds
Luther Muhammad 6-3: 9.9 points, 3 rebounds
Andre Wesson 6-6: 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds
Duane Washington 6-3: 7.3 points, 2.4 rebounds

The Buckeyes have struggled against much bigger teams since resuming Big Ten play but the size difference tonight will be slight among the regulars and shouldn’t be a problem. The Wolverines can bring 6-10 Austin Davis and 6-11 Colin Castleton off the bench but neither player is averaging five minutes of playing time or has become a scoring threat.

So since size isn’t an issue, what does Ohio State have to do to pull off the upset?

First, the Buckeyes must bring intensity on defense because the Wolverines certainly will as they are only allowing 56.5 points per game. Now, how will they score against that strong defense?

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Look at Kaleb Wesson as an additional scorer instead of the primary one: With his foul issues and the double teams Wesson has had to deal with, running the offense through him regularly hasn’t been working. Against Nebraska the other players were aggressive on the offense end and it resulted in a 70 point output for the first time in five games, even though the big center only scored seven points.

Limit turnovers: The number of good possessions will be important and the Buckeyes can’t afford many wasted ones.

Win 50-50 balls and hit the offensive boards: Second chance baskets will be important and getting an additional possession here and there will be too.

Luther Muhammad will have to score: The young freshman has had an outstanding season overall, but Chris Holtmann needs another offensive weapon. Muhammad doesn’t have to score 24 points like he did last time out but he has to stay assertive on offense.

There is no doubt Michigan should be favored in tonight’s game but Ohio State isn’t overmatched physically. If the Buckeyes play up to their abilities this could be a close game at the end. And if the ball bounces their way down the stretch, they might possibly pull off the upset.