Ohio State is getting close to full strength and is looking forward to a final non-conference foe before diving into its Big Ten schedule.
The Buckeyes (8-4) host Indiana State (8-4) on Sunday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, with another opportunity to get valuable minutes for center Aaron Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, who transferred from Kentucky after his freshman year last season, missed seven games while Ohio State investigated an alleged domestic incident at his off-campus apartment. He made his first five shots and finished with 11 points in 18 minutes during the Buckeyes’ 85-65 rout of then-No. 4 Kentucky on Dec. 21.
“Aaron plays with an intensity and a passion that I thought we missed,” Buckeyes coach Jake Diebler said Friday. “And certainly, his size (7-foot-1), rebounding ability, his ability to protect the rim, all of those things were certainly missed.
“I’m not going to lie. I didn’t anticipate he was going to go 5 for 6 but that spoke to his focus the last couple of weeks to get back out there.”
While Ohio State was battling the storied Kentucky program, Indiana State was posting a 101-53 win over the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy. The Sycamores open Missouri Valley Conference play next week.
To say it’s a giant leap to play Ohio State for the first time in program history is an understatement.
“I’m definitely excited. I know the team is super excited because we all think we can play at that level,” Indiana State guard Jahni Summers said. “We all know we can play at that level. It will be a big game for us, a huge challenge for sure.”
The Sycamores are led by Samage Teel, who is averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 58.2 percent from the field. He also leads the team with 4.3 assists per game.
Indiana State has won five in a row and has scored at least 80 points in each of the past six games.
Diebler said the Buckeyes need to move past the win over Kentucky.
“We know what’s coming up here, certainly starting off with a really good Indiana State team,” he said.
–Field Level Media
