Ohio State Basketball: Keys to Victory Against UCLA
Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta (L) talks to Ohio State Buckeyes guard JaQuan Lyle (13) during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team has had a good start to their 2016 campaign, starting their first 10 games at 8-2. Those two losses were a two point loss on the road to ACC powerhouse Virginia and an overtime loss to Florida Atlantic.
The FAU game was an atrocious loss, but all other nine games have been played well by the Buckeyes. The eleventh game for this young Ohio State team will surely be their most difficult, as they face #2 UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. UCLA is an impressive 11-0 and have one of the best players in the nation in Lonzo Ball. So lets’s take a look at some of the keys to this great game on Saturday
Somehow, Someway, STOP LONZO BALL
This may seem obvious but it is way easier said than done. The freshmen phenom has been nothing short of incredible this season, averaging 15 points per game, 5 boards and almost 9 assists and shooting 55 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc.
He spreads the floor out like a professional and has a very high basketball IQ. His decision making is usually mature, but he sometimes shows his youth by taking a bad shot or forcing a pass. The best way to stop him is to double team him and trap him when he has the ball and try to force him into a turnover.
Kam Williams and JaQuan Lyle will have their hands full but they have proven they can guard some very good ball handlers. However, Ball will be the best one yet.
Feb 4, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard JaQuan Lyle (13) moves the ball past Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Slow the ball down. Way down.
UCLA is averaging an incredible 97.6 points per game, which ranks second in the nation. They have a versatile and high powered offense that does not just rely on Ball, but certainly runs through it.
For Thad Matta, his Buckeye team relies on defense and trying to stifle the opponent into turnovers and bad shots. This will be an incredibly fun game to watch to see what game plan Matta comes up with to try and stop this explosive offense.
At the end of the day, this defense has to slow down and stop the ball any chance they get because if they do not, this team will be up by 20 before anyone knows what hit them.
Jan 10, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta talks with his players during a timeout in the second half of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Indiana Hoosiers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 69-66. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Let Trevor Thompson bang down low
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For years now, a common theme for Ohio State has been an unreliable post game with some big men that have never quite lived up to their talent. Thompson is a junior transfer from Virginia Tech and so far this year, he has shown some life.
He is averaging 11 and 9 and shooting 66 percent from the field, but an even more impressive 78 percent from the line. A big man that dominates the paint and can shoot free throws well is an incredibly tough man to stop.
Thompson is coming off of a career night, scoring 17 points and pulling in 17 boards last game against Uconn. If they get Thompson fed early, that will open up the outside shot for Williams, Loving and Bates-Diop later in the game
Contrary to popular belief, this is a winnable game for Ohio State, but they must limit turnovers and keep their pace or this game will get out of hand quickly. However, if they do all these things plus shoot at an efficient rate, they can pull off a season-changing win in Las Vegas.
