Kentucky Basketball: Ohio State Preview

The Buckeyes have turned in an impressive season so far, holding a record of 10-1, with their only loss being to Minnesota. They are currently ranked #5 in the country. OSU has an impressive roster, and will prove to be Kentucky’s biggest challenge so far this season.

Kentucky’s struggles against Utah aren’t going to have very much time to be corrected. With only two days to prepare for Ohio State, it will be interesting to see how they adjust.

What does Kentucky need to work on to prepare for Ohio State?

As we all know, Kentucky was not a very good basketball team on Wednesday in the loss to the Utah Utes. It was a bad performance across the board, and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the problem was.

Ashton Hagans and EJ Montgomery were about the only bright spots. The rest of the team needs to be consistent and contribute, or it’s going to be a long year. Missing open threes, turning the ball over, and running nonsense offensively were the key parts of the loss. Kentucky has also shown an inability to guard the drive-and-kick, with many of Utah’s points coming from that alone. This was similar in Kentucky’s other loss to Evansville. Knocking down shots, limiting turnovers, and being more alert defensively are the major things this team needs to work on.

Taking a look at Ohio State

This Ohio State team started off the season as an underrated squad. Nobody really expected them to play at the level they have so far, but once you look at their roster, it’s easy to see why they’ve exceeded expectations.

Their best player is Junior Forward Kaleb Wesson. Wesson leads the team in scoring with 14ppg, rebounding with 9.1rpg, and blocks with 1.4bpg. Wesson is a beast down low, but has the ability to stretch out as well. He will be a tall task for Kentucky’s limited front-court.

Guards DJ Carton and Duane Washington Jr are both key contributors out of the back-court. Carton averages 10 points and 3 assists per game, while Washington puts up 11 points and 3 rebounds per contest. Another guard off the bench, CJ Walker, contributes nicely with 7 points and a team high 3.6 assists per game. Guard play for the Buckeyes is very solid.

Ohio State is also very solid when it comes to the rest of their roster. They have an array of wings, guards, and forwards and are a deep team. Kaleb Wesson’s brother, Andre, is also a key guy for them. His 9 points and 4 rebounds per game give them another option down low. EJ Liddell is a talented player on the wing. Forward Kyle Young puts up 9ppg and 7rpg, and is probably their second best post player. Guard Luther Muhammad is a spark off the bench, putting up 7.5 ppg.

Statistically, The Buckeyes look really good. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country, as their 56.7 points allowed per game ranks 9th in the country. They rank in the top 50 in both points and rebounds per game.

With blowout wins over North Carolina, Villanova, Penn State, and Cincinatti, they’ve won a few impressive games. They will be coming into this game hungry for another big-time win.

How does Kentucky compare?

Talent-wise, Kentucky is one of the best teams in the entire NCAA. Their issues so far have been lack of chemistry, poor shooting, and carelessness on both offense and defense.

When Kentucky has things clicking, they’re a scary team. Point Guard Ashton Hagans has been leading the charge this year, averaging 14ppg, 8apg, 3rpg, and 2spg. He’s been our most consistent player and is the obvious leader of the team. Center Nick Richards must show up against the Buckeyes. Statistically, he’s had a great season, but his inability to show up against high-level competition is unacceptable. He will likely be tasked with guarding Kaleb Wesson, so he needs to be on his A-Game on Saturday.

Tyrese Maxey, EJ Montgomery, Immanuel Quickley, and Keion Brooks are really the only other players who have been impactful this year. With Maxey and Quickley being our only real “sharpshooters” on the team, success usually hinges on them making threes. Keion Brooks has been a swiss army knife for us, contributing to almost every aspect of the game. His ability to hit mid-range shots and rebound has been valuable, so he needs to continue that. EJ has been better lately, but also needs to be more consistent.

To find success, Kentucky’s bench players have got to step up. Kahlil Whitney is too talented to not be doing what he needs to do. Johnny Juzang and Nate Sestina must also find their groove as some of the best shooters on the team. They possess what Kentucky has been lacking.

Statistically, Kentucky looks worse by a long-shot. They rank outside the top 100 in the country in both points and rebounds per game. They’re 73rd in assists per game as well. Their most redeeming statistic is their defense. They rank 27th in the country in points per game allowed. When looking at the stats, Kentucky is at an immense disadvantage.

Game Prediction:

Kentucky is the more talented team, but Ohio State is the better team. Their mix of experience and talent gives them a deep roster full of guys ready to contribute. They have players who can step up when the stars aren’t performing well, and run a more organized game of basketball. Kentucky can certainly win this, but after watching the Utah game, I’m not sure they’ll get it done.

Score Prediction:

Kentucky – 71

Ohio State – 80