Penn State vs. Ohio State Preview

Audio/Story posted January 25, 2016 in CommRadio, Sports by Sports Staff

PODCAST:

ComRadio's David Arroyo, Ryan Berti, Joe Murphy, and Tom Shively preview Monday's matchup between the Penn State Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

STORY:

Coming off of a tough loss against Wisconsin, the Penn State Nittany Lions (11-9, 2-5 B1G) look to knock off the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-8, 4-3 B1G) Monday night at the Value City Arena.

Ohio State is looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to Maryland (100-65) and Purdue (75-64). In the last four times that the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions have met, the series is split 2-2.

The Penn State offense is largely dependent on senior forward Brandon Taylor. In the team’s previous game against the Badgers, Taylor did not score for the first 27 minutes of the game. This dug the Nittany Lions into a deep deficit from which they could not climb out. 

For Penn State to hang with Ohio State, Taylor will need to be a factor much earlier for the Nittany Lions. Taylor is leading the team in points, averaging 16.2 per game followed by Shep Garner, who averages 14.1. The only other Nittany Lion averaging double digits is Payton Banks with 10.8. 

Marc Loving, who averages 13.7 points per game, leads Ohio State’s offense. JaQuan Lyle (11.6), Jae’Sean Tate (10.0) and Kam Williams (11.4) all average double digits for the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State’s three-point percentage for the season is 33.9 percent to Penn State’s 30.8 percent. The Buckeyes also have a field goal percentage of 44.9 percent to the Nittany Lions’ 41.7 percent. Ohio State also averages more assists per game (12.6) to Penn State’s mere 9.5.

The Nittany Lions have been struggling all season to find the open man. It is something the team needs to be able to figure out to be able to take down a tough Big Ten defense. For Penn State, Garner averages 2.9 assists per game while Ohio State’s Lyle averages 5.1.

The Nittany Lions will have to watch out for Lyle as he earned Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week after recording Ohio State’s fifth triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against Rutgers. 

Tate leads the Buckeyes with an average of 6.4 rebounds per contest as the team as a whole averages 38.5 per game. The Nittany Lions average 34.8 rebounds per game with Taylor leading the team with an average of six rebounds per contest. 

Although the Nittany Lions’ defense only allows, on average, a mere 68.6 points per game, their offense only averages scoring 66.7 points per contest.  With Ohio State’s offense averaging 71.6 points per game, Penn State’s Garner and Taylor will have to have solid offensive showings against the Buckeyes to make it a competition. 

Although the Nittany Lions’ defense only allows, on average, a mere 68.6 points per game, their offense only averages scoring 66.7 points per contest.  With Ohio State’s offense averaging 71.6 points per game, Penn State’s Garner and Taylor will have to have solid offensive showings against the Buckeyes to make it a competition. 

Penn State’s Jordan Dickerson (7’1”) has been struggling to stay in the game for more than ten minutes due to foul trouble.  Last game, Dickerson was only in the game for a total of nine minutes against Wisconsin. With Ohio State having three players nearing seven feet, Dickerson would be a much-needed body in the paint.

For Penn State to get a win over Ohio State, Garner, Taylor and Dickerson will need to have solid performances.

Prediction: Ohio State 74, Penn State 67.

Mandy Bell is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism.  To contact her, email amb6857@psu.edu.