Ohio State extended its win streak to three with an 85-74 win against Towson Wednesday night.
Here's what we learned about Ohio State in its latest victory.
Kyle Young: 3-point shooter
Kyle Young can’t miss right now.
The redshirt senior forward has been lights out from deep. After hitting all four of his 3-point shots against Penn State, Young continued to feel it, adding two more Wednesday night against Towson.
Young hasn’t shot this well from deep, ever.
In his first three seasons at Ohio State, the redshirt senior forward hit four of his 29 attempts from deep. In 2020-21, that narrative shifted a bit, hitting 13-of-30 from deep for a 43.3% shooting percentage.
That has ballooned even further in his final year with the Buckeyes, hitting nine of his 17 attempts from deep.
Young’s over halfway to his career high in 3-point attempts nine games into the 2021-22 season.
While he’s coming off the bench for the first time since the 2018-19 season, Young’s role has been incredibly valuable, molding into anything Ohio State needs, whether it’s an offensive contributor or a paint presence.
Against Towson, Young was an offensive mainstay, recording 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench, converting on six-of-seven from the floor.
Young is so valuable for this team. And off the bench, it’s a veteran presence the Buckeyes need to keep momentum moving even if a player like Liddell is not on the floor.
E.J. Liddell continues to be turnover happy
E.J Liddell continues to do a bit of everything for Ohio State.
He’s a threat in the paint, serving as one of the Buckeyes’ main go-tos in the post. He remains lethal from mid-range and from 3. He’s a passer, showing an affinity to find the open man.
But with the amount of attention the junior forward gets whenever he has the with the ball in his hands, he is prone to make mistakes too.
Coming into the Towson game, Liddell had 13 turnovers in his past three games along with nine fouls. The junior forward has been able to answer it with three steals and nine blocks.
Those tendencies continued against the Tigers, continuing his streak of at least four turnovers in each of his last four games with seven.
Liddell has recorded 20 turnovers in the past four games.
The rest of his numbers were typical Liddell: 15 points — eight coming from the free-throw line — seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Liddell is Ohio State. He’s what keeps this train moving. His strengths are the strengths of the entire team. But in the same vein, his weaknesses only showcase the weaknesses of the whole group as well: fouls, turnovers.
This team goes where Liddell takes it. And once Big Ten play returns, those inadequacies may hurt the Buckeyes mightily once these games get tougher.
Ohio State struggles from paint in first half
The 3-point shot wasn’t working in favor of Ohio State early on.
The Buckeyes hit only three of their first nine attempts from deep, finding no consistency even with room against Towson.
However, on back-to-back possessions, Ohio State showed where the game plan should lie against Towson: in the paint.
Trailing by six, Kyle Young ended a 11-point run, taking a bounce pass from Liddell, taking much of the attention from the Towson defenders, laying it up and in under the rim for the score.
On the very next offensive possession, sophomore forward Zed Key replicated that same play with redshirt senior point guard Jamari Wheeler, ending it instead with an emphatic slam.
Ohio State showed its quickness, its ability to step up in and around the paint area against the Tigers. But it wasn’t consistent.
The Buckeyes still were out-rebounded, 15-12, in the first half, allowing five offensive rebounds compared to their one. No player, after 20 minutes, had more than three rebounds, scoring only 10 of their 33 first-half points in the paint.
Ohio State showed some life in and around the paint in the second half, with Key finishing the game with nine boards: the most he’s had since Ohio State’s win against Bowling Green Nov. 15. The approach in the post was heightened in the final 20 minutes too, recording 16 points in the paint, while Ohio State shot 58.3% from the floor. That’s when the 3-point shot began to fall, as the Buckeyes hit six-of-13 from deep in the final 20 minutes including four from Ahrens.
Through these non-conference games, Ohio State needs to make sure its paint play is sound before it sells out an offense that solely shoots from 3.
News and notes
Ahrens took a shot to the left side of his jaw late in the second half, forcing him to leave the game and go to the locker room with a trainer. He returned to the game in the final minute of regulation
Eugene Brown III played his first minutes for Ohio State since he suffered a concussion against Xavier, finishing with three points, two rebonds, a foul and a turnover in 10 minutes of playing time.
What this means
Ohio State didn't play well in the first half, starting slow again against a team it could start slow against.
In the second half, Ohio State found some momentum, balancing success in the paint before finding consistent success from 3 in the second half. The Buckeyes feed off of the energy of one another. When Ahrens is hitting 3s, Key's grabbing rebounds.
Holtmann still feels like the Buckeyes are a work in progress, which they showed in the first half. But Ohio State continued to show that it can finish out games no matter the opponent it plays, which will prove to be important as Big Ten play draws nearer.
What’s next
No. 21 Ohio State returns to Big Ten play one more time in the calendar year, facing No. 22 Wisconsin at home Saturday at noon.
Here's what we learned about Ohio State in its latest victory.
Kyle Young: 3-point shooter
Kyle Young can’t miss right now.
The redshirt senior forward has been lights out from deep. After hitting all four of his 3-point shots against Penn State, Young continued to feel it, adding two more Wednesday night against Towson.
Young hasn’t shot this well from deep, ever.
In his first three seasons at Ohio State, the redshirt senior forward hit four of his 29 attempts from deep. In 2020-21, that narrative shifted a bit, hitting 13-of-30 from deep for a 43.3% shooting percentage.
That has ballooned even further in his final year with the Buckeyes, hitting nine of his 17 attempts from deep.
Young’s over halfway to his career high in 3-point attempts nine games into the 2021-22 season.
While he’s coming off the bench for the first time since the 2018-19 season, Young’s role has been incredibly valuable, molding into anything Ohio State needs, whether it’s an offensive contributor or a paint presence.
Against Towson, Young was an offensive mainstay, recording 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench, converting on six-of-seven from the floor.
Young is so valuable for this team. And off the bench, it’s a veteran presence the Buckeyes need to keep momentum moving even if a player like Liddell is not on the floor.
E.J. Liddell continues to be turnover happy
E.J Liddell continues to do a bit of everything for Ohio State.
He’s a threat in the paint, serving as one of the Buckeyes’ main go-tos in the post. He remains lethal from mid-range and from 3. He’s a passer, showing an affinity to find the open man.
But with the amount of attention the junior forward gets whenever he has the with the ball in his hands, he is prone to make mistakes too.
Coming into the Towson game, Liddell had 13 turnovers in his past three games along with nine fouls. The junior forward has been able to answer it with three steals and nine blocks.
Those tendencies continued against the Tigers, continuing his streak of at least four turnovers in each of his last four games with seven.
Liddell has recorded 20 turnovers in the past four games.
The rest of his numbers were typical Liddell: 15 points — eight coming from the free-throw line — seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Liddell is Ohio State. He’s what keeps this train moving. His strengths are the strengths of the entire team. But in the same vein, his weaknesses only showcase the weaknesses of the whole group as well: fouls, turnovers.
This team goes where Liddell takes it. And once Big Ten play returns, those inadequacies may hurt the Buckeyes mightily once these games get tougher.
Ohio State struggles from paint in first half
The 3-point shot wasn’t working in favor of Ohio State early on.
The Buckeyes hit only three of their first nine attempts from deep, finding no consistency even with room against Towson.
However, on back-to-back possessions, Ohio State showed where the game plan should lie against Towson: in the paint.
Trailing by six, Kyle Young ended a 11-point run, taking a bounce pass from Liddell, taking much of the attention from the Towson defenders, laying it up and in under the rim for the score.
On the very next offensive possession, sophomore forward Zed Key replicated that same play with redshirt senior point guard Jamari Wheeler, ending it instead with an emphatic slam.
Ohio State showed its quickness, its ability to step up in and around the paint area against the Tigers. But it wasn’t consistent.
The Buckeyes still were out-rebounded, 15-12, in the first half, allowing five offensive rebounds compared to their one. No player, after 20 minutes, had more than three rebounds, scoring only 10 of their 33 first-half points in the paint.
Ohio State showed some life in and around the paint in the second half, with Key finishing the game with nine boards: the most he’s had since Ohio State’s win against Bowling Green Nov. 15. The approach in the post was heightened in the final 20 minutes too, recording 16 points in the paint, while Ohio State shot 58.3% from the floor. That’s when the 3-point shot began to fall, as the Buckeyes hit six-of-13 from deep in the final 20 minutes including four from Ahrens.
Through these non-conference games, Ohio State needs to make sure its paint play is sound before it sells out an offense that solely shoots from 3.
News and notes
Ahrens took a shot to the left side of his jaw late in the second half, forcing him to leave the game and go to the locker room with a trainer. He returned to the game in the final minute of regulation
Eugene Brown III played his first minutes for Ohio State since he suffered a concussion against Xavier, finishing with three points, two rebonds, a foul and a turnover in 10 minutes of playing time.
What this means
Ohio State didn't play well in the first half, starting slow again against a team it could start slow against.
In the second half, Ohio State found some momentum, balancing success in the paint before finding consistent success from 3 in the second half. The Buckeyes feed off of the energy of one another. When Ahrens is hitting 3s, Key's grabbing rebounds.
Holtmann still feels like the Buckeyes are a work in progress, which they showed in the first half. But Ohio State continued to show that it can finish out games no matter the opponent it plays, which will prove to be important as Big Ten play draws nearer.
What’s next
No. 21 Ohio State returns to Big Ten play one more time in the calendar year, facing No. 22 Wisconsin at home Saturday at noon.
