Ohio State basketball: 3 things the Buckeyes need to do to avoid upset
By Jacob Rhymer
The Ohio State basketball team must take care of the ball
A key to almost every big game the Buckeyes have had this year is to limit turnovers. Loyola-Chicago is a team that is solid defensively and they force a lot of turnovers. Offensively they play at a really slow pace and turnovers will allow the Ramblers to dictate the pace of the game.
It’s vital for this Buckeyes team to remain calm and be smart with the ball on the offensive end. If Ohio State is going to turn it over a lot against the Ramblers, they’re going to dig themselves a hole I’m not sure they’ll be able to get out of.
That’s partially because Loyola plays some really tough defense. They make it hard for teams to get easy buckets themselves, and we know Ohio State’s half-court offense isn’t exactly a well-oiled machine at times. A lot of the time they just ask E.J. Liddell to bail them out.
Keeping turnovers to a minimum, especially live-ball ones, will keep the Ramblers from getting out in transition. While they aren’t the best transition team in the country, every team scores easier when the opposing team’s defense isn’t set. Ohio State has to limit easy buckets.
The next thing the Buckeyes need to do in order to win this game has to do with controlling the boards, both offensively and defensively.