BASKETBALL PREVIEW: OHIO STATE PLAYS HOST TO PURDUE FORT WAYNE FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
By Colin Hass-Hill on November 22, 2019 at 11:50a
Andre Wesson says he feels “all right.” He says he’s “definitely” doing better than he was a week or two ago.
But observing his right eye, which remained bright red on Thursday, it’s no wonder that Chris Holtmann deemed him “easily” one of the five toughest players he has ever coached. The injury he suffered in the season-opening win against Cincinnati came when he took an inadvertent elbow from CJ Walker, leading his eye to redden in a way that looks like something causing a doctor to call off a UFC fight.
After missing games against UMass Lowell and Villanova, Wesson returned to action to play in the blowout of Stetson on Monday. He’ll play again – possibly as a starter – when Ohio State takes on Purdue Fort Wayne at the Schottenstein Center at 7 p.m. on Friday.
OHIO STATE PREVIEW
Including Wesson, Holtmann said Ohio State currently has three or four players who have been limited recently due to illnesses or getting banged up. He did not want to disclose the names of anyone else who has been restricted.
Kyle Young, who suffered a stress fracture in his leg during the Big Ten portion of last season, has been healthy thus far. And because of that, his game has taken a major step. He leads the Buckeyes with 11.8 points per game, also grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game.
“Guys want the ball, they need the ball and they want touches, and he doesn't need it to impact the game,” Holtmann said. “He can do it with his energy and playing off of other people. And I also think his teammates really appreciate how unselfish he is. I think you see that. He is a tremendous teammate.”
Against Purdue Fort Wayne, Young will have a shot to keep his hot start to the 2019-20 season rolling. The matchup could test his offensive game, too, since the Mastodons have ample size across their lineup.
OTHER NOTES
Purdue Fort Wayne’s length and ability to chuck from beyond the 3-point arc could keep the game close for a bit. Eventually, though, it’s difficult to imagine the Buckeyes not pulling away. Per Bart Torvik, their win probability is 99 percent.
The Mastodons haven’t played a team quite as talented as Ohio State. So unless they can’t miss from deep, they likely won’t be able to hang.
Prediction: Ohio State 80, Purdue Fort Wayne 62
By Colin Hass-Hill on November 22, 2019 at 11:50a
Andre Wesson says he feels “all right.” He says he’s “definitely” doing better than he was a week or two ago.
But observing his right eye, which remained bright red on Thursday, it’s no wonder that Chris Holtmann deemed him “easily” one of the five toughest players he has ever coached. The injury he suffered in the season-opening win against Cincinnati came when he took an inadvertent elbow from CJ Walker, leading his eye to redden in a way that looks like something causing a doctor to call off a UFC fight.
After missing games against UMass Lowell and Villanova, Wesson returned to action to play in the blowout of Stetson on Monday. He’ll play again – possibly as a starter – when Ohio State takes on Purdue Fort Wayne at the Schottenstein Center at 7 p.m. on Friday.
OHIO STATE PREVIEW
Including Wesson, Holtmann said Ohio State currently has three or four players who have been limited recently due to illnesses or getting banged up. He did not want to disclose the names of anyone else who has been restricted.
Kyle Young, who suffered a stress fracture in his leg during the Big Ten portion of last season, has been healthy thus far. And because of that, his game has taken a major step. He leads the Buckeyes with 11.8 points per game, also grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game.
“Guys want the ball, they need the ball and they want touches, and he doesn't need it to impact the game,” Holtmann said. “He can do it with his energy and playing off of other people. And I also think his teammates really appreciate how unselfish he is. I think you see that. He is a tremendous teammate.”
Against Purdue Fort Wayne, Young will have a shot to keep his hot start to the 2019-20 season rolling. The matchup could test his offensive game, too, since the Mastodons have ample size across their lineup.
OTHER NOTES
- Wesson, with a smile, when asked about Walker being the one who accidentally elbowed his eye: “I mean, he was a little nervous to talk to me for a little bit there. But told him it's all right, happens. Moved on.”
- Holtmann said Wesson tried wearing goggles but didn’t like them, so he took them off during his second practice back from injury.
- Wesson thought about wearing a black mask, similar to the one Kyrie Irving had. Wesson: “It was going to be tough. They said I didn't have to wear anything. I just felt like vision-wise, may be cutting off my vision out my peripheral would definitely hurt. So I just decided not to have anything.”
- Ohio State continues its four-game stretch of playing teams ranked outside of the top 100 in KenPom. With a game against North Carolina just a couple weeks away, it would make sense for the coaching staff to keep an eye on what’s happening with the Tar Heels. However, that hasn’t happened, per Holtmann: “To be honest with you, we really don't. Our sole focus right now is on Purdue Fort Wayne, and then we'll have a quick turnaround to a really good Kent State team. So we have two really good teams that have been our focus right now.” He said the coaches begin preparation a bit earlier when facing a team with an uncommon style, such as West Virginia.
- Ahrens said his back injury stems from two herniated disks pushing into his nerve, which became aggravated while deadlifting early in the offseason. At this point, he says the only areas that are still affecting him are his lateral quickness and speed. Ahrens: “Hopefully I should be back into the swing of things by late December, early January, somewhere in there.”
Purdue Fort Wayne’s length and ability to chuck from beyond the 3-point arc could keep the game close for a bit. Eventually, though, it’s difficult to imagine the Buckeyes not pulling away. Per Bart Torvik, their win probability is 99 percent.
The Mastodons haven’t played a team quite as talented as Ohio State. So unless they can’t miss from deep, they likely won’t be able to hang.
Prediction: Ohio State 80, Purdue Fort Wayne 62
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Ohio State draws a big viewing audience no matter who we are playing so it is just curious that this is the second game we get put on the + channel. Puck that crap.
