Why Ohio State basketball will beat Loyola Chicago

Even though the Ohio State basketball team has been on a slide as of late, they can still beat Loyola Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Here’s how they can do it.

The Ohio State basketball team didn’t get the ideal matchup for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They got perhaps the toughest 10-seed to face. Loyola Chicago is no joke and can definitely beat them on Friday afternoon. But Ohio State can win this game too.

In order to do so, they need to be fully healthy. They need Kyle Young back for this game. Zed Key is also important, but not as important as Young because of Young’s defensive versatility. Young’s health might be the single most important factor in Ohio State winning this game.

E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham must also be really good in this game. Both of them need to score at least 15-20 points each. They are the ones that drive the offense because no one else on this team really can. Liddell is the best player on the court and he needs to act like it.

I’m not expecting Ohio State’s defense to be great, but they need to prevent Loyola from shooting wide-open threes. They are the 10-best team in the country at making threes, so the Buckeyes need to keep that to a minimum. They also need some luck.

Speaking of their defense, the Buckeyes need to blitz the ball-handler more on the pick-and-roll. Make the Ramblers uncomfortable at the top of the key. Maybe that throws them out of their offensive rhythm and makes them turn the ball over more than usual.

Ohio State needs someone else other than Liddell and Branham to step up offensively as well. Whether it’s Young, Key, Jamari Wheeler, or someone else, it can’t just be a two-man show. The Buckeyes are going to need contributions from everyone.

This won’t be an easy game to win, but it’s certainly doable. Anything is possible in March Madness.