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Ohio State basketball tries to pull upset over Michigan

By Ryan Stano

Ohio State Buckeyes players gather in the middle of the court to celebrate their win over Purdue Boilermakers during the Big Ten tournament, Friday, March 12, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime, 87-78.Big 10 Men S Basketball Purdue Vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes players gather in the middle of the court to celebrate their win over Purdue Boilermakers during the Big Ten tournament, Friday, March 12, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime, 87-78.Big 10 Men S Basketball Purdue Vs Ohio State Buckeyes /
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The Ohio State basketball team survived Purdue to make the semi-finals of the Big Ten Tournament. Now they get to take on rival Michigan for a right to play in the finals.

The Ohio State basketball team survived Purdue on Friday despite blowing an 18-point halftime lead. That game might help them be more prepared for their rematch against Michigan, whom they lost to in Columbus a couple of weeks ago in their only matchup of the season.

It will be hard for the Buckeyes to win. They will more than likely be without Kyle Young. As of this writing, there has been no definitive word on Young’s status for the game. If he can’t play in this game, it will be very hard for the Buckeyes to play good enough defense to win.

Young would be matched up on Hunter Dickinson, who killed the Buckeyes in the first matchup. Offense wasn’t a problem for Ohio State in that game, as they scored 87 points. Defense was the thing that needed to improve. Young being out would not improve that.

Ohio State clearly has trouble defending big men. That was the case on Friday as they let Trevion Williams have 26 points and 14 rebounds. Dickinson is better and wider. E.J. Liddell would likely draw the defensive assignment on him if Young is out.

Duane Washington and C.J. Walker will have to have huge games if the Buckeyes are to emerge victoriously. Washington had 30 and Walker had 15 in the first matchup. Not only are they going to need to score close to that amount again, but they are going to need to get their teammates involved too.

Game Prediction: Ohio State 84 Michigan 88

I have a feeling that Young has a concussion and won’t play. Even if he was going to play, it would be a tall order for Ohio State to slow down Michigan’s offense enough to win. The one thing they have going for them is their confidence after rising up in overtime against Purdue.

Next. Ohio State basketball shows mental toughness vs. Purdue. dark

That game might be what they need to mentally overcome the hurdle of losing leads late in games. I hope I’m wrong in this prediction. This is the first time I’ve picked TTUN to do anything good and it makes me feel icky.

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