Ohio State will search its fourth straight win when it faces struggling No. 18 Illinois on Sunday afternoon in Champaign, Ailing.
The Buckeyes (13-8, 5-5 Huge Ten) have circled their season with sturdy protection and the guard play of John Mobley Jr. and Bruce Thornton.
It has been a superb stretch for Ohio State.
After upsetting then-No. 11 Purdue on Jan. 21, the Buckeyes posted consecutive routs of Iowa (82-65 rating) on Monday and at Penn State (83-64) on Thursday.
“That is two video games in a row that defensively now we have been dialed in and actually carried out a superb job, and I believe two video games in a row we have rebounded very well now,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler mentioned.
“You have to know that each single recreation you’ll be able to’t sit and be too completely satisfied in your efficiency. We’ll have a good time this one, after which we have got to show the web page shortly. I am happy with our guys for battling. That is now two straight highway video games. We have one other powerful one right here arising.”
Illinois (14-7, 6-5) has not been capable of overcome the absence of heart Tomislav Ivisic, who has missed the previous three video games as a result of mononucleosis.
That was by no means extra evident than throughout an 80-74 extra time loss Thursday to a Nebraska crew that had misplaced six straight.
Illini coach Brad Underwood criticized his gamers’ shot choice.
“Stunk. It is horrible,” he mentioned. “However that is a part of the issue, not having Tomi, and that is one of many issues that we have got to get found out, as a result of I do not know after we get him again.”
Ivisic has averaged 13 factors and eight.5 rebounds in 18 video games this season.
“It is huge, for positive,” sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn mentioned of not having Ivisic. “Tomi is a good participant. He is one in every of our beginning guys, one in every of our greatest gamers for positive. That is not an excuse. We’ve got to have the next-man-up mentality.”
Underwood hinted on his post-game radio present Thursday that modifications could also be within the offing in opposition to Ohio State.
“I’ve obtained to do one thing with the beginning lineup,” he mentioned. “… We do not know after we’re getting Tomi again, so we have got to determine it out within the meantime.”
In distinction, Diebler mentioned he likes the combo of Mobley — a freshman — and Thornton, a junior.
Mobley had 19 factors and eight assists in opposition to Penn State in embracing an expanded function with guard Meechie Johnson lacking the previous 11 video games to have a tendency to non-public issues.
“It feels good,” Mobley mentioned. “My complete life rising up, everyone labeled me as only a shooter, but it surely feels good to showcase my all-around recreation. Protection, offense, getting folks concerned, attending to the basket, additionally taking pictures.”
His play has drawn consideration of the defenses, making Thornton extra harmful.
Thornton had 17 factors vs. the Nittany Lions and is 11 for 18 from 3-point vary throughout Ohio State’s profitable streak.
“It was nice as a result of we had been capable of get Bruce open appears from three as a result of we had been capable of transfer them round some, and I believe that is actually vital for us,” Diebler mentioned. “We have to proceed to be versatile on the perimeter.”
–Subject Stage Media