ANN ARBOR, Mich, — Ohio State had not lost back-to-back games during the 2021-22 season.
It didn’t matter how the game went before: how sluggish Ohio State may have looked, how heartbreaking the last loss was days before.
So Ohio State got another chance in the exact same situation.
The Buckeyes held an eight-point lead with 3:32 against rival Michigan on the road. The question: What has Ohio State learned since Wednesday?
The answer: the Buckeyes found a way, keeping up the trend the desperately needed to continue
Against a Michigan (13-10, 7-6 Big Ten) team that’s coming off the highest of highs with a dominant home win against Purdue Thursday night in this same building, No. 16 Ohio State (15-6, 8-4 Big Ten) showed it could finish, beating the Wolverines on the road, 68-57, Saturday night.
After redshirt senior guard Cedric Russell secured the eight-point lead with a jumper, Michigan began its attempt of a comeback, starting with a 3 by Eli Brooks. But Ohio State kept its offensive composure, securing the win with nine makes from the free-throw line.
E.J. Liddell took control offensively, leading the team with 28 points, while Cedric Russell tied his season high with 12 points off the bench.
Here’s a few takeaways from Saturday’s win.
Ohio State steps up when it needs to defensively
Ohio State needed a second half it could hang its hat on, especially after Wednesday night, holding an eight-point lead with less than four minutes to go before losing to Rutgers on the road,
Holding onto a slim three-point lead at the halftime break, Ohio State came out with a vengeance, hitting three of its first five shots from the field offensively, while disrupting Michigan’s offense enough for only one make on seven tries in the first three minutes.
It was the tale of two offenses really: an Ohio State offense that was red hot from the back end of the first half into the second, making 11 of 14 attempts from the field, using a 3 by redshirt senior guard Cedric Russell to take a double-digit lead with just under 14 minutes to play.
Michigan, however, went cold.
From the late moments of the first half, The Wolverines couldn’t buy a shot, missing six straight through the halftime break and into the second half before a jumper by Dickinson broke the seal.
Defensively, Ohio State had a performance that it could hang its hat on, especially in the second half, limiting the Wolverines to shoot under 30% from the field in the second half.
This is what needs to happen. This was the difference between Wednesday and Saturday.
Ohio State got a lesson against Rutgers. It showed off what it learned in Ann Arbor.
Guard play shines
One Ohio State forward could not solve Hunter Dickinson by himself.
That’s the look Michigan seemed to think Ohio State was giving them, backing up into either Kyle Young or Zed Key into the paint. But right when he’s about to switch, a Buckeye guard, whether Cedric Russell or Jamari Wheeler, comes in from behind, swatting the ball away.
Dickinson’s day in the paint didn’t start well, missing each of his first three attempts from the field before he settled in for four makes on eight attempts in the first 20 minutes.
But Ohio State’s guard play wasn’t only felt as help defense against Michigan’s center. Russell and Wheeler were as aggressive as they had been all season offensively for the Buckeyes.
The pair along with forward E.J. Liddell combined for 23 of Ohio State’s 33 points in the first half, with no other Buckeye player exceeding four points.
Liddell may have taken over offensively, leading the team with 28 points, but Russell, finishing second on the team with 12 points, and Wheeler provided a stability in the backcourt that Ohio State really hasn’t had this season, playing swarming, aggressive defense while maintaining composure in the half-court offense.
Ohio State needs that from its guards: for veterans to play like veterans.
That’s what got it done Saturday.
Eugene Brown III makes huge difference in return
Ohio State had to answer Moussa Diabate somehow.
The Michigan freshman forward’s first two offensive touches were both leading passes, leading to ferocious dunks, igniting a capacity crowd at the Crisler Center.
Eugene Brown III hadn’t had much experience playing this early in games for Ohio State, making his first ever start for the Buckeyes as a sophomore. But his presence on the court represented what head coach Chris Holtmann wanted to bring against Michigan: versatility and physicality, switching from player-to-player, from guard to forward.
But on his first offensive touch after missing two-straight games with a toe injury, Brown needed to match Diabate.
He took the pass, taking a couple steps and slammed the ball down.
With Brown, it’s never been stats. To Holtmann, it’s really been everything else.
It’s the sophomore guard’s ability to switch onto Dickinson in the post and not be timid, standing enough ground until Liddell comes in and helps, swatting away the block. It’s sitting in a defensive stance against Michigan guard Frankie Collins, unfazed by the fake cut, standing strong and leading toward a miss.
Brown’s huge for Ohio State. It doesn’t matter what his stats are.
And I think Holtmann and his staff know that too.
Ohio State is glad to have him back.
News and notes
Ohio State freshman guard Meechie Johnson Jr. missed the Buckeyes’ matchup with Michigan with an ankle injury. He was seen pregame with a walking boot on his left foot.
What it means
Cedric Russell and Eugene Brown III can be utilized in a major role. Period.
The redshirt senior guard looked like a different player Saturday night, running the offense, forcing Michigan’s defense back, aggressively pounding the paint, finding open looks and setting the tone for what Ohio State’s offense could be.
Whether that’s in a starter’s role or on the bench, there wasn’t a performance, maybe since the Duke game, that saw Russell play as aggressively as he did at Crisler Arena in his introduction to the rivalry.
As for Brown, it’s about versatility, what he can provide off the ball for the Buckeyes.
He’s a Swiss Army Knife, one that can defend every position on the floor if he needs to and it doesn’t faze him, something that’s
That poise and aggressiveness from the veteran guard and the versatility of the sophomore wing could prove to be huge moving forward, something that gives the Buckeyes so much more depth going into a defining run in the last month before tournament play.
What’s next
Ohio State returns home for a three-game home set starting with Minnesota Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
It didn’t matter how the game went before: how sluggish Ohio State may have looked, how heartbreaking the last loss was days before.
So Ohio State got another chance in the exact same situation.
The Buckeyes held an eight-point lead with 3:32 against rival Michigan on the road. The question: What has Ohio State learned since Wednesday?
The answer: the Buckeyes found a way, keeping up the trend the desperately needed to continue
Against a Michigan (13-10, 7-6 Big Ten) team that’s coming off the highest of highs with a dominant home win against Purdue Thursday night in this same building, No. 16 Ohio State (15-6, 8-4 Big Ten) showed it could finish, beating the Wolverines on the road, 68-57, Saturday night.
After redshirt senior guard Cedric Russell secured the eight-point lead with a jumper, Michigan began its attempt of a comeback, starting with a 3 by Eli Brooks. But Ohio State kept its offensive composure, securing the win with nine makes from the free-throw line.
E.J. Liddell took control offensively, leading the team with 28 points, while Cedric Russell tied his season high with 12 points off the bench.
Here’s a few takeaways from Saturday’s win.
Ohio State steps up when it needs to defensively
Ohio State needed a second half it could hang its hat on, especially after Wednesday night, holding an eight-point lead with less than four minutes to go before losing to Rutgers on the road,
Holding onto a slim three-point lead at the halftime break, Ohio State came out with a vengeance, hitting three of its first five shots from the field offensively, while disrupting Michigan’s offense enough for only one make on seven tries in the first three minutes.
It was the tale of two offenses really: an Ohio State offense that was red hot from the back end of the first half into the second, making 11 of 14 attempts from the field, using a 3 by redshirt senior guard Cedric Russell to take a double-digit lead with just under 14 minutes to play.
Michigan, however, went cold.
From the late moments of the first half, The Wolverines couldn’t buy a shot, missing six straight through the halftime break and into the second half before a jumper by Dickinson broke the seal.
Defensively, Ohio State had a performance that it could hang its hat on, especially in the second half, limiting the Wolverines to shoot under 30% from the field in the second half.
This is what needs to happen. This was the difference between Wednesday and Saturday.
Ohio State got a lesson against Rutgers. It showed off what it learned in Ann Arbor.
Guard play shines
One Ohio State forward could not solve Hunter Dickinson by himself.
That’s the look Michigan seemed to think Ohio State was giving them, backing up into either Kyle Young or Zed Key into the paint. But right when he’s about to switch, a Buckeye guard, whether Cedric Russell or Jamari Wheeler, comes in from behind, swatting the ball away.
Dickinson’s day in the paint didn’t start well, missing each of his first three attempts from the field before he settled in for four makes on eight attempts in the first 20 minutes.
But Ohio State’s guard play wasn’t only felt as help defense against Michigan’s center. Russell and Wheeler were as aggressive as they had been all season offensively for the Buckeyes.
The pair along with forward E.J. Liddell combined for 23 of Ohio State’s 33 points in the first half, with no other Buckeye player exceeding four points.
Liddell may have taken over offensively, leading the team with 28 points, but Russell, finishing second on the team with 12 points, and Wheeler provided a stability in the backcourt that Ohio State really hasn’t had this season, playing swarming, aggressive defense while maintaining composure in the half-court offense.
Ohio State needs that from its guards: for veterans to play like veterans.
That’s what got it done Saturday.
Eugene Brown III makes huge difference in return
Ohio State had to answer Moussa Diabate somehow.
The Michigan freshman forward’s first two offensive touches were both leading passes, leading to ferocious dunks, igniting a capacity crowd at the Crisler Center.
Eugene Brown III hadn’t had much experience playing this early in games for Ohio State, making his first ever start for the Buckeyes as a sophomore. But his presence on the court represented what head coach Chris Holtmann wanted to bring against Michigan: versatility and physicality, switching from player-to-player, from guard to forward.
But on his first offensive touch after missing two-straight games with a toe injury, Brown needed to match Diabate.
He took the pass, taking a couple steps and slammed the ball down.
With Brown, it’s never been stats. To Holtmann, it’s really been everything else.
It’s the sophomore guard’s ability to switch onto Dickinson in the post and not be timid, standing enough ground until Liddell comes in and helps, swatting away the block. It’s sitting in a defensive stance against Michigan guard Frankie Collins, unfazed by the fake cut, standing strong and leading toward a miss.
Brown’s huge for Ohio State. It doesn’t matter what his stats are.
And I think Holtmann and his staff know that too.
Ohio State is glad to have him back.
News and notes
Ohio State freshman guard Meechie Johnson Jr. missed the Buckeyes’ matchup with Michigan with an ankle injury. He was seen pregame with a walking boot on his left foot.
What it means
Cedric Russell and Eugene Brown III can be utilized in a major role. Period.
The redshirt senior guard looked like a different player Saturday night, running the offense, forcing Michigan’s defense back, aggressively pounding the paint, finding open looks and setting the tone for what Ohio State’s offense could be.
Whether that’s in a starter’s role or on the bench, there wasn’t a performance, maybe since the Duke game, that saw Russell play as aggressively as he did at Crisler Arena in his introduction to the rivalry.
As for Brown, it’s about versatility, what he can provide off the ball for the Buckeyes.
He’s a Swiss Army Knife, one that can defend every position on the floor if he needs to and it doesn’t faze him, something that’s
That poise and aggressiveness from the veteran guard and the versatility of the sophomore wing could prove to be huge moving forward, something that gives the Buckeyes so much more depth going into a defining run in the last month before tournament play.
What’s next
Ohio State returns home for a three-game home set starting with Minnesota Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
