Perhaps a week off is exactly what the doctor ordered for Ohio State basketball.
UCLA
Bruins
Last Saturday, the Buckeyes closed a stretch of six games in 15 days with a lost second-half lead of 18 points at Penn State. This Saturday, Ohio State hopes to get back on the winning side of things with its matchup with UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic.
The Bruins’ record stands at 5-3 on the season but those losses have come at the hands of No. 7 Marquette, No. 10 Gonzaga and at Villanova. One of three nonconference opponents remaining on the Buckeyes’ schedule, it’s a chance for the team to continue growing in key areas before the true meat of college basketball season hits in January, February and March.
“Big. Physical,” Chris Holtmann said of UCLA on Thursday. “They’ve got a terrific front line. Great size.”
Need to know
Defensive juggernaut
UCLA allows a mere 58.8 points per game, the fifth-fewest in the country. Teams shoot 36.5% from the field against them, also the fifth-lowest mark in the nation. Only one squad, Marquette, has cracked 70 points against the Bruins this season.
“Probably as good a defensive (team) as we’ll play all year,” Holtmann said. “Certainly the best defensive team we’ve played up to this point, both with their size and just their physicality. It’s a well-coached team and we’re excited about the challenge on Saturday.”
Playing big
Part of the reason for UCLA’s success defensively is the massive starting lineup it has employed for much of the season. Center Aday Mara stands at 7-foot-3 while power forward Adem Bona would play center for many teams at 6-foot-10. Starting wing Lazar Stefanovic stands at 6-foot-7 to boot.
Homecoming
The contest between Ohio State and UCLA will be held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, just 26 miles from Alpharetta, Georgia., the hometown of star Buckeye point guard Bruce Thornton. It’ll be a chance for many of Thornton’s friends and family to see him take the court in a scarlet and gray jersey.
“That’s a really cool thing for him and his family,” Holtmann said. “That’s exciting for Bruce to be able to get back to his hometown.”
Three important Buckeyes
Jamison Battle
If Ohio State is to find success on offense, it will need to space the floor and knock down some outside shots. A true stretch four, Battle has shot 41% from three so far this year, part of the Buckeyes’ larger 40.4% shooting effort from distance that places them ninth in the country.
Roddy Gayle Jr.
Gayle leads the team in 3-point shooting at 44.8%, but he’s also a firecracker who can create on offense both scoring and passing, something Ohio State will need to break through UCLA’s defense. Gayle is day-to-day with an injury but Holtmann is “encouraged” by his progress and hopes he’ll play on Saturday.
Zed Key
Speaking of creating offense, Key has been Ohio State’s top scorer off the bench this season with 10.2 points per game. If he can finish a few shots in the post against the second wave of Bruins bigs, it will help bring some balance to the Buckeyes’ attack.
Three notable Bruins
Sebastian Mack
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Weight | 2023-24 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dylan Andrews | G | 6-2 | 180 | 9.9 PPG, 4.3 APG |
| 12 | Sebastian Mack | G | 6-3 | 200 | 13.6 PPG, 1.8 SPG |
| 10 | Lazar Stefanovic | G | 6-7 | 190 | 11.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG |
| 3 | Adem Bona | F | 6-10 | 245 | 13.1 PPG, 1.6 BPG |
| 15 | Aday Mara | C | 7-3 | 240 | 5.5 PPG, 1.0 BPG |
UCLA’s do-everything freshman guard paces the Bruins in points (13.6) and steals (1.8) per game in addition to being second in assists with 2.1 per contest. He’s hit some first-year lumps of late, however, shooting 5-of-20 from the field across the team’s last two games after 57 combined points in the previous three contests.
“Really good player. Really talented,” Holtmann said of Mack. “You see how he’s going to continue to get better as the season goes on. I know, at least from what I understand, that they have high expectations for him. So it’s going to be a great matchup for our guys.”
Adem Bona
Bona might not be doing any floor spacing but the 245 pounds packed onto his 6-10 frame have helped make him a menace inside, posting 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Those latter two numbers are team-highs. Hailing from Ebonyi, Nigeria, Bona is one of seven international players on UCLA’s roster and one of two from Nigeria.
“Bona is a returning player who is probably as physical and as hard of a playing big as anybody we’ll play,” Holtmann said.
Lazar Stefanovic
Stefanovic, a native of Serbia, is the third and final Bruin who averages double-figure points per game at 11.5. He’s the only starter that shoots 30% or better from outside for UCLA, cashing in 35.5% of his three-point attempts on the season.
How it plays out
Line: Ohio State -2.5, O/U 135
From my perspective, this game will come down to three-point shooting, interior defense and defensive rebounding for Ohio State. Only 22 of Division I college basketball’s 362 teams have more threes attempted against them than UCLA, probably due to the size of the Bruins inside. If the Buckeyes can knock down enough of them and prevent second-chance opportunities on the other end, they should come out on top.
Prediction: Ohio State 72, UCLA 68
