How They Won: Jared Sullinger will always be priority number one for opposing teams, but when the Ohio State guards are playing the way they did today they are nearly unstoppable. Minnesota witnessed this as they trailed the entire game after the first two minutes, ultimately losing 82-69.
It was a total team effort from the Buckeyes on Sunday as all five starters scored in double-digits. Per usual, Ohio State was able to move the ball around effortlessly, hence the even distribution of points. Unlike the Evan Turner-led team last year, this team is able to score in a number of different ways, which was evident against the Gophers.
By: Justin Mertes-Mistretta
With Al Nolen out indefinitely, Minnesota had a hard time guarding the perimeter. Ohio State guards Jon Diebler and William Buford went off behind the arc, shooting 6-11 from that range.
David Lighty bounced back from a 2-for-8 shooting performance against Michigan, scoring a game-high 19 points on 54 percent shooting.
Player of the Game: Freshman Forward Jared Sullinger
This is becoming a broken record as Sullinger was dominant once again for the Buckeyes. He recorded his 11th double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Sullinger’s biggest impact came on the offensive glass, where he grabbed eight of his 13 rebounds.
Minnesota constantly brought extra defenders Sullinger’s way. The freshman continued to show majority beyond his years by dishing off to open teammates, including a nice pass to Dallas Lauderdale for a dunk. What makes Sullinger so unique is his poise. He is always under control and seldom forces a bad shot. He also knows when to take advantage of a scoring opportunity.
One concerning trend with Sullinger is his poor free-throw shooting performance of late. After going 5-for-11 from the line against Michigan, he followed it up with a 2-for-8 performance on Sunday. For a guy who gets to the line more than seven times per game, the Buckeyes hope for this trend to reverse soon.
Quote of the Day: After the win, Ohio State’s 24th straight, coach Thad Matta said, “They can tell you we haven’t lost, but they couldn’t tell you how many we’ve won in a row. They have a good way about them.”
While I don’t exactly believe Matta, this mentality is evident in the way they play. This team comes into every game with the same attitude; composed and even keel.
Going Forward: Ohio State is clearly rolling, evident of their undefeated record. They have absolutely destroyed some of the top teams in the Big Ten – Purdue and Minnesota. It is still hard to imagine them finishing Big Ten play undefeated given the number of close calls they’ve had, but regardless they are looking like the class of college basketball.
It’s hard to poke holes in the best team in the country, but lately free-throw shooting has been an issue. Sunday, the Buckeyes went a putrid 50 percent from the line. This was following a 60 percent performance against Michigan. With as many close games as this team has played in, free-throw shooting is going to become a huge factor for them down the stretch.
Next Game: Saturday, Feb. 12 @ #18 Wisconsin
Next Saturday may be the Buckeyes toughest test to date. Ohio State will travel to the Kohl Center, where they are winless against Bo Ryan. This is saying a lot when you consider some of the teams Ohio State has had in recent years.
The Badgers are undefeated this season at home, recently beating Michigan State 82-56. This may be the best game of the year, not just in the Big Ten, but in all of college basketball. The Badgers simply don’t lose at home. This season, the Buckeyes don’t lose, period. Something has to give.
Justin Mertes-Mistretta is a senior editor for the Sports Bank.net mainly covering the NFL, NBA playoffs, college basketball (Ohio State), and fantasy football. Follow him on twitter at MertesMist_tsb or become a fan of his blog here.