Ohio State basketball to open Big Ten play with physical, veteran Rutgers opponent
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
It was the right play call, and Ohio State executed it almost perfectly. Fighting off a late Rutgers rally inside Jersey Mike’s Arena on Feb. 9, the Buckeyes were clinging to a four-point lead with 2:33 remaining when they dialed up a home run pass to freshman Malaki Branham.
Against the Scarlet Knights’ press, Branham got in behind the last man, caught the pass and glided toward the basket for a game-sealing exclamation point only to get dotted in the process. From behind, veteran Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell caught Branham, rejected the shot and kept the ball in bounds for a possession that ended with two more points for the home team. Thursday, for the first time since the Scarlet Knights stunned the Buckeyes with a 10-0 game-closing run to clinch a 66-64 win, the programs will meet at Value City Arena in the Big Ten opener for Ohio State.
And yes, McConnell – who missed the first five games of the season with a knee injury – is back, healthy and in line to try to wreak havoc on the Buckeyes once again.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy
“He’s an elite defender,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. “Great length. Last year we had a chance to ice the game there and he made an incredible block on Malaki’s transition dunk attempt. It’s not just him: They have a number of disruptive guys, but it begins with him.”
Much like games against San Diego State and Texas Tech in the Maui Invitational and a game at Duke last week, Ohio State is preparing for a physical, defensive challenge when the Scarlet Knights come to town (Dec. 8, 7 p.m., ESPN2). Statistically, though, Rutgers presents the stiffest defensive challenge yet for the Buckeyes.
As of Monday afternoon, Rutgers was ranked No. 6 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com. That’s even better than San Diego State (No. 18), Texas Tech (19) and Duke (28).
“They’re disruptive,” Holtmann said. “They turn you over. They’re great on the offensive and defensive glass. They’re long. They’re physical. They have a terrific big who is now growing into his own as a third-year player and they’ve got great positional size and length.”
The “terrific big” Holtmann mentioned is Clifford Omoruyi, a borderline five-star prospect in the class of 2020 who leads the team in scoring (15.4 points per game) and rebounding (9.8) while playing 29.3 minutes per game. Listed at 6-11, 240 pounds, Omoruyi had 13 points and five rebounds in the lone meeting between the teams last season.
Ohio State basketball: On radio show, Chris Holtmann updates Gene Brown's status, start of Big Ten play and more
Ohio State will counter with 6-8, 255 center Zed Key, who scored a career-high 21 points against a Duke team listed as the nation’s tallest according to KenPom. Holtmann said Key has a 7-2 wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his height.
“His physicality to get position is as good as we have in the country probably,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said of Key after an 81-53 Ohio State win against the Bearcats on the second day of the Maui Invitational.
It’s not just a matter of physicality when it comes to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights lead the nation in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 20.5% from deep. They’re fifth in steal percentage, having stolen the ball 87 times through eight games, as well as in effective field-goal percentage. Offensively, though, Rutgers has its lowest adjusted offensive efficiency margin since the 2017-18 season, when second-year coach Steve Pikiell’s team went 15-19 overall and 3-15 in the Big Ten.
Holtmann said the Buckeyes will look to their experiences against the Aztecs, Red Raiders and Blue Devils for a blueprint of what to expect in their first Big Ten opponent of the season.
“The most Big Ten-like team we played was probably San Diego State, maybe Texas Tech too, in terms of the physical, older bodies,” Holtmann said. “San Diego State was so old and so physical that it did remind me a lot of a Big Ten team. I think that experience was really good.”
Thursday night, the Buckeyes will put those lessons to the test.
Get more Ohio State basketball news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: In Rutgers, Big Ten opener promises physical challenge for Ohio State
