For the second time in a conference game this season, Keita Bates-Diop's shot wasn't falling, and much like the first time it happened, the Ohio State star forward didn't seem fazed.
Despite shooting just 5-of-13 from the floor, Bates-Diop still managed to score 13 points in a 71-56 win over Indiana on Tuesday night, but it's what he was able to do outside of scoring the ball that was impressive.
The Normal, Ill. native collected 13 rebounds – which tied a season-high – and also tied his career high in assists with five against the Hoosiers, finding other ways to make his impact felt on the court.
Following the game, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said Indiana played more physical with Bates-Diop than some teams have in the past, which might have led to his poor shooting night. While Holtmann acknowledged that Bates-Diop must improve in that area, he added he was pleased that his star player was able to make contributions in other areas than just the scoring column.
“He really impacts the game in a lot of ways. People continue to be really physical with him and he’s struggled with that at times," Holtmann said. "He’s just got to handle it better, but, he still had a major impact on the game with his ability. He had five assists, four blocks and 13 rebounds, and that’s what good players do. They find other ways to impact the game.”
This isn't the first time that a physical opponent has forced Bates-Diop to find different ways to contribute. Against Northwestern on Jan. 17, the Wildcats held Bates-Diop to just 4-of-12 shooting, as the Buckeye forward finished with just 10 points, his lowest scoring output in a Big Ten game this season.
Even in that game, though, Bates-Diop made his presence felt by collecting a team-high eight rebounds and swatting a shot down the stretch that helped preserve a 71-65 win over the Wildcats.
“That’s what good players do. They find other ways to impact the game.”– Chris Holtmann on Keita Bates-Diop.
Bates-Diop's performance against Indiana was aided, once again, by stellar play around him. Kaleb Wesson and Jae'Sean Tate dominated in the paint, shooting an ultra-efficient 14-of-17 for 30 combined points, with Wesson finishing all seven of his attempts from the floor.
A similar performance was needed against Northwestern, and the Buckeyes got it from Micah Potter, Tate and C.J. Jackson, who all scored in double figures the first time Bates-Diop's offensive game slipped in conference play.
Indiana head coach Archie Miller said he was pleased with how his team defended Bates-Diop, but added that Ohio State has a number of other weapons to utilize offensively.
"Their other guys are really under appreciated. Their guards can really shoot it and they really keep the floor spaced," Miller said. "Tate is one of the best jack-of-all-trades guys you are going to play against. He can play inside, he handles the ball, drives it and is an assist guy."
Tate, who finished with 16 points and six rebounds in the win over Indiana, said that expecting elite performances has become the norm around the Ohio State program, adding that he didn't even realize the effectiveness of Bates-Diop's game until he got back to the locker room and saw the final box score.
"The numbers don't lie. Stats don't lie. He is so versatile and he affects the game in so many ways," Tate said. "I didn't even realize until after the game when I looked at the stat sheet, I see (four) blocks, five assists, he is just a great player. There's nothing else to say about it. He is just a great player."
