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Ohio State Basketball: How Big Ten teams will fare in the first round

By Charlie Lockhart

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts as his team plays the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts as his team plays the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes handles the ball while being guarded by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes handles the ball while being guarded by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Ohio State vs. Iowa State

Tom:  The Buckeyes have only beaten two good teams this season, Bucknell and Cincinnati.  Iowa and Minnesota are decent, but not exactly top-level teams.

Iowa State won the Big 12 tournament.  Perception is the conference is down because Kansas struggled.  Don’t be fooled. The league is strong.

Ohio State will need to be the team it has not been often enough this year.  It must avoid turnovers, foul trouble and rebound much better.

Kaleb Wesson has carried the team most of the year.  He’ll play well, but can the supporting cast do their part to give them a shot at the upset?

It will be a close game, but Cyclones get the win 65-61.

Blake:  The Buckeyes have struggled to score at times this year, especially down the stretch. Whereas the Cyclones have rarely had trouble finding the back of the net.

However, Kaleb Wesson will be a huge difference maker if he can avoid foul trouble for Ohio State. It’s more of a heart pick, but I feel Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes can find a way to squeeze out at least one win in the Big Dance.

Ohio State keeps in a little lower scoring that Iowa State wants and wins 67-62.

More from Ohio State Buckeyes

Shayne:  Finally, the Buckeyes may have lucked out by just getting into the NCAA tournament. But they certainly didn’t luck out with their draw in the tournament as they are pitted up against an Iowa State team fresh of a conference tournament championship in the Big 12.

Kaleb Wesson will be present for the Buckeyes which is always a good thing but who knows whether or not he will be in the usual foul trouble or not. Either way, Ohio State’s young guys will get valuable experience in what should be a one and done experience for the Buckeyes.

CL:  You know the Ohio State Buckeyes are happy the Big Ten schedule is over. They don’t perform well against physical teams and were 10-1 against non-conference foes.

Also, they scored 90 points against the Iowa Hawkeyes who play fast and loose like their in-state rivals the Iowa State Cyclones. This is a good matchup for the Buckeyes and they will pull off the upset,

dark. Next. With Martell eligible, college football free agency is here

There you have it, our Scarlet And Game predictions for round one games involving Big Ten teams.

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