Although the Ohio State Buckeyes are a top-25 ranked team, you might not know from watching the College Basketball media landscape. The 7-1 Buckeyes haven’t garnered much attention in the media, but this weekend is the first chance for that to change. Sunday night, Ohio State welcomes Indiana.
Indiana is the first ranked opponent for the Buckeyes this season. Playing in a strong Big Ten conference means Sunday won’t be Ohio State’s last, but Sunday is the first major test for the Buckeyes.
Here’s what to watch.
Quick Info
Opponent: (10) Indiana University
Record: 7-2, 1-0 Big Ten
Location: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
How to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET – Big Ten Network
Elite Competition
A reason for a lack of mass interest in the Buckeyes season is the level of opponents. Ohio State’s played only two teams from what the football world calls “power five conferences.” In those games, they split results losing to ACC’s Syracuse and beating conference opponent Purdue.
Indiana is at a different level than anyone the Buckeyes have faced. In the past two seasons, Indiana’s elevated to a top team in the conference, and country. In the 2019/20 season, Head Coach Teri Moren led the Hoosiers to their highest win total in school history (24). The next year, Indiana reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight as a four-seed.
So far, in 2021/22, Indiana has run into some speed bumps, but through a challenging schedule. Each of their two losses came against current top-four ranked teams. On November 25, the Hoosiers lost to No. 4 ranked Stanford at the Baha Mar Hoops tournament, in the Bahamas. A week later, their second loss came at home, against No. 2 ranked NC State.
Who to Watch
Indiana is led by a pair of standout upperclassmen. First up is junior Mackenzie Holmes. In Holmes’ sophomore season, she received an AP All-American Honorable Mention after averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. So far in 2021, Holmes’ continued that trajectory. In nine games, Holmes leads Indiana in points and rebounds, averaging 17.2 and 6.7 respectively.
Holmes does damage in the paint. The 6-foot-3 center/forward possesses both agility and strength. Holmes can break away from defenders and find space or take on double, sometimes triple, team defensive schemes. Ohio State’s Rebeka Mikulášiková and Tanaya Beacham will have their hands full keeping Indiana’s Holmes in check.
The key facilitator of the Hoosiers is senior guard Grace Berger. In nine games, Berger has 42 assists and averages 13.6 points per game. Berger scores through attacking the basket, something that exposed the Buckeyes in their 97-91 loss to Syracuse on December 1.
Berger isn’t all points and assists. The 6-foot-tall guard can grab rebounds too. In nine games, Berger has 57, the most for any guard on the Hoosier’s roster.
What to Watch
For the all the accolades that Indiana carries, one thing they don’t do often is shoot from beyond the arc. Where Ohio State takes 21 threes per game, Indiana is last in the conference averaging just over 14 in nine games. That means the Buckeyes interior defense is going to be busy.
Ohio State does well at getting players into the paint on defense, but sometimes to a fault. The Buckeyes focus inside leaves perimeter threats open, and Indiana has a big one in guard Nicole Cardaño-Hillary. The graduate student shoots .457 from beyond three, hitting 16 of 35 so far this season.
If Ohio State double teams someone like Holmes, an eye must stay on Cardaño-Hillary.
On the other side of things, the Buckeyes are known for forcing turnovers. Ohio State forces an average of 20.4 a night. This is because of the full-court press implemented by Head Coach Kevin McGuff. Indiana is susceptible to turning the ball over too, giving up 15.4 a game. If the Buckeyes can frustrate the Hoosiers, and not let them settle into the half court, it’ll lead to an exciting game.
Prediction
While Indiana does bring a season full of big game experience, this will be a close game. Outside of the Buckeyes 97-point defensive lapse against Syracuse, Ohio State’s neutralized opponents for big spells of games. If shots start to fall for Buckeye guards Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell, and confidence builds, the Hoosiers may have a run for their money.
Last season, Ohio State and Indiana split two games, with the away team winning each contest. Sunday’s tip is the only regular season game between the neighboring states. Ohio State can steal this game, and they just might.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from Ohio State Basketball. To get game updates, follow @BeyondWSports and @1ThomasCostello on Twitter.
