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Ohio State @ Penn State March 1, 2011. NCAAB Preview by The Sports Network
(1) Ohio State (27-2) at Penn State (15-12)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Bryce Jordan Center (15,621) — University Park, Pennsylvania. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: OSU 19-0, PSU 13-4. Away Record: OSU 8-2, PSU 2-8. Neutral Record: OSU 0-0, PSU 0-0. Conference Record: OSU 14-2, PSU 8-8. Series Record: Ohio State leads, 25-12.
GAME NOTES: The top-ranked Ohio Buckeyes can claim at least a share of the Big Ten Conference regular season title with a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions this evening.
Ohio State is 14-2 in league play, one game better than second-place Purdue with two regular season contests remaining for both squads. The Buckeyes opened the season with 24 consecutive wins, and since suffered two losses in a span of three games, the team has bounced back strong with wins the last two times out. On Sunday, coach Thad Matta’s group overwhelmed Indiana by an 82-61 final.
As for Penn State, it has been idle since last Thursday when it defeated Northwestern on the road in a 66-52 final. That win was the third in the last four outings for the Nittany Lions, who evened their Big Ten record at 8-8 and moved to 15-12 overall. They are 13-4 as a home team this season and will play with confidence tonight.
The Buckeyes barely got past Penn State in the first meeting this season, as the 69-66 triumph in Columbus was far from impressive. Still, OSU owns a 25-12 lead in the series.
Ohio State may very well be the most complete team in the nation. There are four double-digit scorers on the roster, and Jared Sullinger leads the way with 17.4 ppg. The standout freshman, who is shooting 55.8 percent from the floor, is pulling down 9.8 rpg as well. William Buford checks in with 14.1 ppg on 44.2 percent shooting from three-point range, and David Lighty adds 12.5 ppg. Jon Diebler, a 47 percent three-point shooter, rounds out the double- digit scorers with 11.2 ppg, and freshman point guard Aaron Craft has handed out 133 assists to go along with 59 steals. The Buckeyes are generating 77.2 ppg while holding opponents to 59.5 ppg. In the 21-point victory over Indiana last time out, Deshaun Thomas was the star for Ohio State, pouring in 22 points off the bench on 7-of-9 field goal efficiency. Buford added 15 points, while Diebler and Lighty scored 11 points apiece. The Buckeyes earned a 27-15 edge in points from the foul line and held the Illini to 38.5 percent overall shooting.
Talor Battle is one of the most explosive offensive performers in the Big Ten Conference, as the Penn State standout is generating 20.5 ppg to go along with 83 assists. Jeff Brooks checks in with 13.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg, and David Jackson rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers with 10.4 ppg. Through 27 games, the Nittany Lions are generating 64.3 ppg while allowing 63.3 ppg to opponents. In the recent win over Northwestern, Penn State got the job done at both ends of the floor. Defensively, the club limited the Wildcats to 38.5 percent field goal efficiency, including a 6-of-24 effort from three-point range. On offense, PSU shot 56.5 percent from the field and had four players reach double figures in the scoring column. Brooks netted 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Tim Frazier handed out 10 assists. Battle was limited to 13 points.
No team is better built for a national title run than Ohio State, which has all the key ingredients. This game won’t be quite as close as the first meeting between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ohio State 74, Penn State 65
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