PITTSBURGH — Against Villanova, all it takes is one thing that doesn’t go according to plan, something Ohio State knew well, game planning for its first Sweet 16 berth since 2013.
But after suffering two concussions in the span of a calendar year, Kyle Young was the center of attention again midway through the second half.
After a made jumper by Malaki Branham, the redshirt senior forward suffered a familiar blow: an elbow to the head by Connor Gillespie.
He sunk down, lowering his head into his hands. Head coach Chris Holtmann knelt beside him, consoling the player who has been by his side for each of his five seasons with Ohio State. Young got up, walked off the floor and to the end of the bench.
The Buckeyes continued to play. After a turnover by Villanova guard Justin Moore, after a missed jumper by Liddell, Holtmann continued to look to the end of his bench, needing his spark plug, needing that player who could ignite a rally just by his presence.
Young was then escorted to the locker room with less than eight minutes to go and did not return.
Ohio State did all it could, sparking a 16-9 rally that cut its deficit to five with less than four minutes to go. But it wasn’t enough, falling to Villanova, 71-61, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16 to face No. 11 Michigan Thursday in San Antonio.
Here are a few takeaways from Sunday afternoon’s loss.
Villanova looks like what Ohio State wants to be
Ohio State did what it could.
The coaching staff knew that length was going to be an issue. It knew what Villanova was capable of, seemingly playing without sets, playing freely, but together. The Buckeyes even got looks they wanted from three, finding much more success from deep than the last time they took the floor against Loyola Chicago.
But it was the little things, the details that separated Ohio State from Villanova.
It was the errant pass from Young meant for Jamari Wheeler that, instead, sailed out of bounds. It was Eric Dixon bullying up against Liddell in the post, turning Ohio State’s advantage on the glass into Villanova’s game plan, finishing the first 20 minutes with 16 bench points and six offensive boards.
This was a team that played like Ohio State wants to play, strives to play: 3-point based, but with a versatility to switch both offensively and defensively, having the freedom to post a guard down low and have a big make an impact from the perimeter.
It’s a freedom to do anything that any matchup asks of Ohio State.
The Buckeyes just didn’t have that ability. It lost that ability with Seth Towns and Justice Sueing sitting in jumpsuits courtside, two players with the ability to do nothing more than just cheer.
Instead, it was Liddell and Branham, oozing with the potential of what the Buckeyes could be, it was Young, using that distinctive physicality inside, trying to make things happen in his second game returning from a concussion, one he eventually left with another elbow to the head in the second half.
But Ohio State had nothing to show for it. Instead, it watched as Villanova celebrated something that had become tradition: a Sweet 16 berth.
Malaki Branham looks like a player to build around
Ohio State saw a glimpse of its future Sunday afternoon.
As Liddell played its last game, the smooth offense of Branham shined, from jumpers and floaters, to dribble-drives and kickouts, the freshman guard looked like the player that could take charge and lead the Buckeyes offense.
He looked like Superman, the player Liddell could pass his baton to.
But it wasn’t enough, knowing that a two-man offensive showcase wasn’t going to lead to a victory against a two-seed.
While Liddell finished with 17 points, Branham was even more efficient, making 10 of 18 attempts from the field for 23 points with four assists and two rebounds.
Branham could be the future for Ohio State. But he also has the potential that could take him to heights well past Columbus, something he showed Sunday afternoon.
Villanova showcases depth in ways Ohio State can’t match
There was a stretch where Collin Gillespie looked like the best player on the planet.
Holding a three-point lead five minutes into the game, the redshirt senior guard took control, hitting two free throws to start a 10-2 run in which he was the Villanova offense, whether it was with open looks from 3 or driving down into the lane and matching up against the Buckeyes in the post.
It was a veteran player taking advantage of the opportunities the Ohio State defense gave him, finishing as the Wildcats’ only double-digit scorer in the first 20 minutes.
Gillespie cooled off, forced to battle against Jamari Wheeler in the backcourt, who gave him trouble, silencing him until he hit a pair of free throws in the final 98 seconds of the first half.
But the Wildcats had veteran depth it could use, like Caleb Daniels, Jermaine Samuels and Dixon in and around the paint.
And when it became Gillespie’s turn again, weaving his way through the wide-eyed defenses of Eugene Brown III and Branham, it was unmatchable, unstoppable.
Just another component of the Wildcats offense that was able to match the Buckeyes tit for tat, even when Ohio State seemed to be garnering some aspect of momentum.
Gillespie’s known for it. This is nothing new. Ohio State was just the next victim.
What’s next
Ohio State finishes the season with a 20-11 record, one of three Power 5 programs to have won 20 or more games in each of the past five seasons along with Kansas and Oregon. The Buckeyes are one of 12 teams in the country to have earned an NCAA Tournament berth in each of the past four tournaments. Holtmann ends the 2021-22 campaign with eight wins in 15 Tournament games.
But after suffering two concussions in the span of a calendar year, Kyle Young was the center of attention again midway through the second half.
After a made jumper by Malaki Branham, the redshirt senior forward suffered a familiar blow: an elbow to the head by Connor Gillespie.
He sunk down, lowering his head into his hands. Head coach Chris Holtmann knelt beside him, consoling the player who has been by his side for each of his five seasons with Ohio State. Young got up, walked off the floor and to the end of the bench.
The Buckeyes continued to play. After a turnover by Villanova guard Justin Moore, after a missed jumper by Liddell, Holtmann continued to look to the end of his bench, needing his spark plug, needing that player who could ignite a rally just by his presence.
Young was then escorted to the locker room with less than eight minutes to go and did not return.
Ohio State did all it could, sparking a 16-9 rally that cut its deficit to five with less than four minutes to go. But it wasn’t enough, falling to Villanova, 71-61, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16 to face No. 11 Michigan Thursday in San Antonio.
Here are a few takeaways from Sunday afternoon’s loss.
Villanova looks like what Ohio State wants to be
Ohio State did what it could.
The coaching staff knew that length was going to be an issue. It knew what Villanova was capable of, seemingly playing without sets, playing freely, but together. The Buckeyes even got looks they wanted from three, finding much more success from deep than the last time they took the floor against Loyola Chicago.
But it was the little things, the details that separated Ohio State from Villanova.
It was the errant pass from Young meant for Jamari Wheeler that, instead, sailed out of bounds. It was Eric Dixon bullying up against Liddell in the post, turning Ohio State’s advantage on the glass into Villanova’s game plan, finishing the first 20 minutes with 16 bench points and six offensive boards.
This was a team that played like Ohio State wants to play, strives to play: 3-point based, but with a versatility to switch both offensively and defensively, having the freedom to post a guard down low and have a big make an impact from the perimeter.
It’s a freedom to do anything that any matchup asks of Ohio State.
The Buckeyes just didn’t have that ability. It lost that ability with Seth Towns and Justice Sueing sitting in jumpsuits courtside, two players with the ability to do nothing more than just cheer.
Instead, it was Liddell and Branham, oozing with the potential of what the Buckeyes could be, it was Young, using that distinctive physicality inside, trying to make things happen in his second game returning from a concussion, one he eventually left with another elbow to the head in the second half.
But Ohio State had nothing to show for it. Instead, it watched as Villanova celebrated something that had become tradition: a Sweet 16 berth.
Malaki Branham looks like a player to build around
Ohio State saw a glimpse of its future Sunday afternoon.
As Liddell played its last game, the smooth offense of Branham shined, from jumpers and floaters, to dribble-drives and kickouts, the freshman guard looked like the player that could take charge and lead the Buckeyes offense.
He looked like Superman, the player Liddell could pass his baton to.
But it wasn’t enough, knowing that a two-man offensive showcase wasn’t going to lead to a victory against a two-seed.
While Liddell finished with 17 points, Branham was even more efficient, making 10 of 18 attempts from the field for 23 points with four assists and two rebounds.
Branham could be the future for Ohio State. But he also has the potential that could take him to heights well past Columbus, something he showed Sunday afternoon.
Villanova showcases depth in ways Ohio State can’t match
There was a stretch where Collin Gillespie looked like the best player on the planet.
Holding a three-point lead five minutes into the game, the redshirt senior guard took control, hitting two free throws to start a 10-2 run in which he was the Villanova offense, whether it was with open looks from 3 or driving down into the lane and matching up against the Buckeyes in the post.
It was a veteran player taking advantage of the opportunities the Ohio State defense gave him, finishing as the Wildcats’ only double-digit scorer in the first 20 minutes.
Gillespie cooled off, forced to battle against Jamari Wheeler in the backcourt, who gave him trouble, silencing him until he hit a pair of free throws in the final 98 seconds of the first half.
But the Wildcats had veteran depth it could use, like Caleb Daniels, Jermaine Samuels and Dixon in and around the paint.
And when it became Gillespie’s turn again, weaving his way through the wide-eyed defenses of Eugene Brown III and Branham, it was unmatchable, unstoppable.
Just another component of the Wildcats offense that was able to match the Buckeyes tit for tat, even when Ohio State seemed to be garnering some aspect of momentum.
Gillespie’s known for it. This is nothing new. Ohio State was just the next victim.
What’s next
Ohio State finishes the season with a 20-11 record, one of three Power 5 programs to have won 20 or more games in each of the past five seasons along with Kansas and Oregon. The Buckeyes are one of 12 teams in the country to have earned an NCAA Tournament berth in each of the past four tournaments. Holtmann ends the 2021-22 campaign with eight wins in 15 Tournament games.
