No. 8 Indiana (15-2) at No. 5 Ohio State (15-3)
By Jay Bilas
ESPN.com
When and where: Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET), Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
Indiana take: The Hoosiers have been a great story this season. Already, coach Tom Crean's team has earned wins in Assembly Hall over ranked teams Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan, and they have done it in spectacular fashion. Indiana has a very good combination of shooters and drivers, and the Hoosiers space the floor around a quality big guy, Cody Zeller.
Brian Spurlock/US PresswireThrough five Big Ten games, opponents are shooting better than 48 percent from the field against Indiana, highest in the league.
As opposed to last season, there are usually five guys on the floor who you have to guard, and that has allowed Crean to be more creative. While Indiana has developed a reputation for having a team of great shooters, just three guys have actually lit it up: Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford and Matt Roth. Those three have combined for 87-of-161 shooting from 3-point range, an incredible 54 percent. That is not just good shooting -- it is incredible shooting. Despite a 4-for-18 effort from beyond the arc in Thursday night's loss to Minnesota, Indiana is still leading the league in 3-point field percentage (45.9 percent).
On the defensive end, Indiana is much-improved from last season. Zeller serves as an anchor in the paint and the defense is much more connected this season. However, Indiana has allowed opponents to shoot 48.4 percent from the floor in five Big Ten games, last in the league.
Ohio State take: The Buckeyes have been good lately but certainly not great. Part of that has to do with the health of Jared Sullinger, part of it has to do with the road schedule and part of it has to do with Ohio State's late-game execution. Against both Indiana and Illinois, the Buckeyes did not handle end-of-game situations with poise and efficiency.
Sullinger is the best post player in the Big Ten and, when healthy, the best post player in the country. While I have no specific information about his health, Sullinger does not look completely right yet. He missed time with back spasms and had to sit out two games (three if you count South Carolina, where he played only a few minutes before leaving the game with a foot injury). Sullinger is averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds while shooting over 60 percent from the floor. Sullinger is a basketball player who just happens to be big. But he is not as mobile as he should be (perhaps because of his back) and you can expect Indiana to run him and involve him in as many ball screens as possible.
After five games, Ohio State is second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (50 percent) and third in field goal percentage defense (40 percent). The Buckeyes are the more dominant rebounding team, leading the Big Ten in rebound margin (plus-12) through five league games.
Key producers: Zeller and Ohio State guard William Buford.
Sullinger is Ohio State's best and most productive player, but Buford is not far behind. Buford is a hungry, aggressive scorer who has a very good middle game. He drives right to finish, although he is better going to his left to shoot. Buford is one of only four Ohio State players with career stats of more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists (along with Jimmy Jackson, Evan Turner and David Lighty). Zeller has been one of a handful of the best freshmen in the nation. He is strong, has great hands and has a great feel for the game. He doesn't force anything and does whatever it takes to win. Zeller averages 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds and hits on over 64 percent of his shots.
AJ Mast/Icon SMIJordan Hulls is making 55.6 percent of his 3-point attempts this season for Indiana.
Best shooters: Hulls and Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas.
While Buford is a better overall shooter, Thomas can stretch the floor and pull a big man away from the basket. The lefty is the type of player who can go for 30, and he has range. Meanwhile, if you let Hulls get a clean look and get his feet set, forget it. He has improved the speed of his release and is hitting 56 percent of his 3-pointers (40-of-72). Plus, Hulls is an automatic free throw shooter.
Best defenders: Indiana guard Victor Oladipo and Ohio State guard Aaron Craft.
Oladipo has improved his overall game, and his defense has been an important factor for Indiana. He is athletic and strong, and he works hard. Oladipo leads the Hoosiers in steals, with Zeller just one behind. Craft is the best on-ball defender in the country. He is absolutely relentless on the ball and never seems to tire. Craft leads the Big Ten with 45 steals.
Key stat: Field goal percentage defense and turnovers. Ohio State takes better care of the ball and is a better defensive team. But Indiana is the better shooting team. If Ohio State is allowed to be physical in this game, I give the Buckeyes the edge.
Who wins: The Buckeyes have the rare opportunity to get back at a team that beat them just two weeks earlier. I favor Ohio State in the rematch. My guess is that these teams could see each other again at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.
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