Live Coverage: Penn State basketball vs Ohio State
Penn State basketball is looking to book a place in the Big Ten quarterfinals with a win over Ohio State on Thursday night.
Follow along inside the Lions Den as reporters David Eckert and Nate Bauer provide their analysis on the game.
CLICK HERE to join the discussion. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE for just $1.
Penn State vs Ohio State: Scouting the Buckeyes
Ohio State comes into the game as KenPom’s 27th-ranked team. Much like Minnesota, the Buckeyes are an offense-first group.
KenPom ranks their offensive efficiency 11th in the nation. However, Ohio State has the Big Ten’s third-worst defense, ranking 122nd.
Top 10
- 1New
Jaxson Robinson injury
UK star to miss Tennessee game
- 2Trending
DJ Durkin
Auburn DC gets extension
- 3
AP Poll controversy
New Top 25 raises eyebrows
- 4
Penn State police warning
Saquon celebration triggers warning
- 5
Kai Trump
President's granddaughter holds $1.2M NIL Valuation
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Like Penn State, the Buckeyes play slow, averaging 18.8 seconds per possession on offense — 312th out of 358 teams. They don’t turn the ball over, but they don’t force very many, either.
Ohio State is led by first-team All-Big Ten forward EJ Liddell. He tops the Buckeye charts in scoring with 19.4 points per game and rebounding, with 7.9 per contest. The Nittany Lions dealt with him pretty well in the first two meetings of the season. Liddell scored 19 points in Columbus and 14 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Freshman Malaki Branham is the only other Buckeye averaging double figures, with 13.2 points per game. The offense is conducted by a familiar face — former Nittany Lion Jamari Wheeler, who transferred to Columbus this offseason.
Ohio State has some injury issues coming into this one. Senior forward Kyle Young won’t play due to a concussion. He averages 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Starting big man Zed Key is a game-time decision as well.
