Ohio State Men’s Basketball 2019 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 8, 2019 · CSM Staff

 

Ohio State Buckeyes

Big Ten (19-14, 8-12)

 
Ohio State has spent most of this season right in the middle of the Big Ten pecking order. It was their strong 12-1 start, which included a huge season opening victory over Cincinnati, that the Buckeyes rode to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Big Wins: 11/7 at Cincinnati (64-56), 12/2 Minnesota (79-59), 2/26 Iowa (90-70)
Bad Losses: 1/9 at Rutgers (61-64), 2/14 Illinois (56-63), 3/6 at Northwestern (50-68)
Coach: Chris Holtmann
 
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Chris Holtmann’s team often plays good enough defense to at least keep them in the game. The opposition shoots 41.7 percent from the floor, which ranks 65th in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten. Kaleb and Andre Wesson are asked to do much of the scoring. Kaleb, a 6-9 sophomore, leads the Buckeyes with 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. Andre adds 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds. Both Wesson’s are capable shooters and that adds another, and much needed, dynamic to often anemic offense.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
This is not a Buckeyes team that is going to score a lot of points. Ending up in the 50’s or 60’s is common for this team. Sometimes that is enough, but usually that is not the case. C.J. Jackson is the leader of the backcourt, but he has not been scoring much at all lately and the case is the same with Luther Muhammad. Justin Ahrens has been able to pick up the slack on occasion, but Ohio State needs their backcourt to score or this group will struggle offensively and have an early exit.
 
Probable Starters:
Luther Muhammad, Freshman, Guard, 8.0 ppg, 1.8 apg
Keyshawn Woods, Senior, Guard, 7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg
C.J. Jackson, Senior, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
Andre Wesson, Junior, Forward, 8.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Kaleb Wesson, Sophomore, Forward, 14.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg
 
Key Role Players:
Kyle Young, Sophomore, Forward, 6.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Justin Ahrens, Freshman, Forward, 3.3 ppg
Duane Washington, Freshman, Guard, 7.2 ppg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.3 (267th in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.6 (39, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.6 (227, 9)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.7 (65, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (212, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.8 (216, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.6 (104, 6)
Rebound Margin: 1.4 (140, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (140, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (111, 8)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2018 NCAA Round of 64 win over South Dakota State
2018 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Gonzaga
2016 NIT First Round win over Akron
2016 NIT Second Round loss to Florida
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over VCU
2015 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Arizona
2014 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Dayton
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Iona
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over Iowa State
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Arizona
2013 NCAA Regional Final loss to Wichita State
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Loyola Maryland
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over Gonzaga
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Cincinnati
2012 NCAA Regional Final win over Syracuse
2012 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Kansas
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Texas-San Antonio
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over George Mason
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over UC-Santa Barbara
2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Georgia Tech
2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Tennessee
2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Siena
2008 NIT First Round win over UNC-Asheville
2008 NIT Second Round win over California
2008 NIT Quarterfinal win over Dayton
2008 NIT Semifinal win over Mississippi
2008 NIT Final win over Massachusetts
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Central Connecticut State
2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Xavier
2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Tennessee
2007 NCAA Regional Final win over Memphis
2007 NCAA National Semifinal win over Georgetown
 
*all team stats through 3/10