Just four games into the season, Ohio State head coach Thad Matta's team is at somewhat of a crossroads.
The Buckeyes are only 2-2 on the year, have lost back-to-back games and now have what was originally thought to be two of their toughest tests in the non-conference slate up next.
| WHO | WHERE | WHEN | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis (2-2) | American Airlines Arena (Miami, Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
It's bounce back and find a way to win at least one of these next two games, or it's a four-game losing streak in November which would likely crush a young team's confidence.
Ohio State faces Memphis 7:30 p.m. Friday at American Airlines Arena as part of the Hoophall Miami Invitational. Kentucky against South Florida is the other matchup in this event.
Directly following the Buckeyes' most recent 82-74 loss to Louisiana Tech, Matta said he hadn't yet seen much film on the Tigers. He knows what type of challenge awaits, though.
"I need to worry about us way more right now than them," he said.
Opponent Breakdown
Like Ohio State, Memphis has been quite underwhelming throughout the early part of this season. The Tigers' two wins were against Southern Mississippi and Grambling, while they have fallen to both Oklahoma and Texas-Arlington.
Josh Pastner's team has three players currently averaging in double figures, led by freshman Dedric Lawson's 14.8 points per game. Senior guard Ricky Tarrant Jr. (11.3 points per game) and senior forward Trahson Burrell (10.0) are also double-figure scorers for Memphis. Senior forward Shaq Goodwin averages 9.8 rebounds per game.
Overall, however, the Tigers have struggled at the offensive end of the floor. Memphis is shooting just 37.6 percent from the field as a team and has connected on just 21.4 percent of its 3-point tries through four games.
The Tigers traditionally have a ton of size, length and athleticism and this year isn't much different. Memphis is tied for sixth in the country with seven blocks per game and is allowing 66.5 points per game — 103rd in the country. The Tigers are ranked 88th in KenPom's advanced statistical ratings.
Buckeye Breakdown
Ohio State's problems against Louisiana Tech came on the defensive end. The Buckeyes could not contain dribble penetration and the Bulldogs were able to get countless baskets inside as well as drive-and-kick scenarios for open 3-pointers.
"We could not keep the ball in front of us," Matta said after the game. "Just our positioning, we picked up some fouls and it's how can you foul him if you have your feet right where they're supposed to go? Those are things we just have to keep drilling."
Ohio State got a career-best performance from junior forward Marc Loving, who scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore forward Jae'Sean Tate had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards, while Keita Bates-Diop also continued his solid start with 12 points.
But the Buckeyes gave up 18 offensive rebounds to Louisiana Tech and allowed the Bulldogs to connect on 10 3-point field goals. Louisiana Tech also scored 15 points off 14 Ohio State turnovers and the Buckeyes, again, didn't help themselves at the free-throw line, going just 17 for 27.
Matta saw a lot of the same things that plagued his team in the loss to UT-Arlington.
"You can’t have the same things happen over and over and over and over again," Matta said after the game. "You’ve got to get that corrected on the fly. ... I think those are the things that you battle when you’re young. Sometimes it gets covered up and you don’t notice them as much, but we’ve got to do a better job across the board.”
How It Plays Out
It seems after just four games Ohio State is going to be a bit of a wildcard team this season with its performances. Matta has said night in and night out he's not exactly sure what he's going to get from his team and that definitely appears to be the case.
If the Buckeyes can play any sort of defense at a consistent level, they'll have a shot to win the game, but if they are allowing easy basket after easy basket, they can lose to just about anybody.
It's hard to envision a scenario where a Matta-coached team loses three in a row, but it's certainly a possibility as the Tigers have more talent than both of the previous two teams that have knocked off Ohio State.
Memphis' lack of offense certainly bodes well for the Buckeyes, but Ohio State has shown it can be scored on by just about anyone at times this season. The Buckeyes are a one-point favorite in Vegas, but this game certainly feels like a toss-up.
Tim's prediction: Ohio State 72, Memphis 69
