Anyone wondering how the Ohio State Buckeyes would respond to running the floor early in the season, got their answer on Thanksgiving eve when the Ohio State cagers defeated the VMI Keydets 107-74 at Value City Arena.
There’s a reason that Thad Matta has scheduled Duggar Baucom’s squad three times in the last six years. To get accustomed to up-tempo basketball early in the season.
Within the first ten minutes it was clear that in the words of “The Boss” — This Buckeye team is born to run.
At the halfway point of the first half, the Buckeyes had shot 15-18 from the field, moved the ball to the tune of 12 assists on their fifteen makes, forced three turnovers, had their swing guard William Buford in double figures, and took a commanding twenty point lead.
The Buckeyes would go into the half up 13, despite shooting nearly 70% from the field and 4-7 from three. VMI guard Keith Gabriel kept the Keydets within striking distance early with 6 points in the run and gun offense. He’d finish with 21 on the night.
Despite the lapses at times on defense from Ohio State at contesting shots, the Buckeyes were able to hone in a bit more in the second half. The Keydets shot 44% from the field in the first half, including 6-16 from three. In the second half the defense collapsed the perimeter shooting of the Keydets, holding them to 3-13 from deep. In the second half, VMI couldn’t get anything together out of the locker room. The Keydets could only muster two field goals in the first eight minutes of the half.
Jared Sullinger took over in the second half offensively for Ohio State. After going 4-4 with a free throw in the first half, the big man went on a 6-0 run to start the first half. He finished the game with a solid performance, scoring 17 points and bringing down 12 boards. His third straight double double of the season. William Buford continued his domination on offense in the second half, and was the story of the game offensively. He would pass the 1500 mark early in the second. He would finish with a season high 23 points on 10-16 shooting.
Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas contributed well in the first frame. Craft finished with 13 points and 8 assists. Thomas scored 11 points early.
The Buckeyes would move the ball all night in nearly record fashion. The Scarlet and Grey finished with 29 assists, just shy of the record of 31 set by the 1975 Michigan State Spartans. Impressing were guards Sam Thompson and J.D. Weatherspoon, picking up some significant playing time in the ballgame. Both were soaring around the court, keeping pace defensively, and making some big play dunks and layups. Weatherspoon finished with 10 points, while Thompson finished with six.
Shannon Scott also added some valuable time off the bench, showing that he feels comfortable at this level running an offense in an up-tempo style of play. He added 8 points and 4 assists. Evan Ravenel continued to show that he can fill in well as a post body and is athletic enough to be a true force on both sides of the ball. He finished with 8 points and two rebounds off the bench.
10 Different Buckeyes scored in the ballgame. Four out of five starters scored in double digits on the night.
Up next for the Buckeyes is Bryce Drew’s Valporaiso squad on Friday.
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