Ohio State Enjoys Task of Playing an Unfamiliar Foe

Ohio State has not played against a non-Big Ten team in 2015. The Buckeyes’ last game against a team outside of their own league came Dec. 27, 2014 against Wright State.

Of course, it’s not uncommon for this to happen. Once teams finish their non-conference slates by the end of December, it’s usually only conference games in January, February and March.

But when you play in a league like the Big Ten, where easy games really are few and far between, it takes a toll on a team. It has both physical and mental effects.

It’s why Ohio State head coach Thad Matta and his players are a little relieved when it comes NCAA tournament time. The Buckeyes get to play someone outside of the Big Ten, someone who doesn’t know every single action they do since they play against it every season.

“I think that it’s a little more exciting,” Matta said. “It’s refreshing that you are playing somebody that you don’t know, they don’t know you.”

To say Ohio State and VCU don’t know each other may be a bit of an understatement. The two programs have never played. It certainly makes for a different form of preparation for each team as they have spent the last three months going through conference play.

“There are probably a few more surprises,” Matta said. “We’ve been going since the 31st of December, when you’re watching tape, half of one eye is like, ‘I know we are playing them in two weeks,’ so you are watching that. This will just be a little bit of a different twist in preparation for us.”

It’s not necessarily a benefit only for Ohio State, either. VCU hasn’t played a team outside the Atlantic 10 since defeating Cleveland State on Dec. 29.

“It can help us, but I’m sure, just like we are, those coaches over there probably have people scouting us right now,” Buckeyes senior point guard Shannon Scott said. “They’re gonna know what we do, they’re going to know everything about us.”

VCU’s style certainly isn’t like that played by the majority of Big Ten teams. The Rams rarely play Big Ten-style games with their famed Havoc defense.

It’s all about how Ohio State handles that challenge of facing something new that will determine whether or not it will advance in the NCAA tournament. Right now, the Buckeyes seem up to the task.

“It’s a long, long Big Ten season just like it has been all these other years,” Ohio State senior forward Sam Thompson said. “I’m excited about it but just like Shannon said, there aren’t going to be many surprises. They’re going to know what we want to do and we’re going to know what they want to do. This time of year, it’s just about playing our best ball.”