#14 Ohio State Buckeyes at #2 Indiana Hoosiers
Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Assembly Hall – Bloomington, Indiana
Opening Line: Indiana -9
Current Line: Indiana -7 1/2
Opening Total: 140 1/2
Current Total: 140 1/2
Opening Money Line: Indiana -360 / Ohio St +300
Current Money Line: Indiana -350 / Ohio St +290
The 25-4 Indiana Hoosiers are 13-3 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have at least a two game lead over the rest of the conference, and can clinch their first outright conference title since 1993 with a win Tuesday night at home against the Ohio St Buckeyes. The Buckeyes are 21-7 and 11-5 in the Big Ten. Ohio St is part of a 4 team tie for second along with Michigan St, Michigan, and Wisconsin.Only four of those five teams will receive first round byes in the Big Ten tournament next week.
Indiana leads the series 101-75 including 61-23 in Bloomington. Indiana has won 7 of the last 9 in the series including 81-68 in Columbus February 10. It was only the second home loss for the Buckeyes this season. Indiana took an 8 point lead at halftime in that game. Ohio Sta pulled to within a point early in the second half, but the Hoosiers went on a 9-0 run and would never be seriously threatened again. The Buckeyes did pull to within 8 points in the final minute, but would get no closer.
Ohio St is coached by Thad Matta. The Buckeyes have losses at Duke, Illinois, Michigan St, Michigan, and Wisconsin along with home losses to Kansas and Indiana. The Buckeyes have won 3 straight games after they lost 3 of their 4 previous games. Ohio St has key wins over Rhode Island and Washington in a tournament in Connecticut, Long Beach St, Nebraska twice, at Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, at Penn St, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan St, and Northwestern twice. The Buckeyes won at Northwestern last Wednesday 63-53. Ohio St is 14-11-1 ATS and the total is 11-14.
Ohio St is outscoring teams 70-59. The Buckeyes are #23 in points allowed. Ohio St is shooting 45.3% from the field and 36.1% from 3 point range. Ohio St makes 69.5% of their free throws. The Buckeyes average 35.7 rebounds per game and give up 28.6 per game. Ohio St opponents are shooting 39.6% from the field and 32.8% from 3 point range. The Buckeyes are 48th in field goal percentage allowed. Ohio St averages 13 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks, and 11 turnovers.
Forward Deshaun Thomas averages 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Guard Lenzelle Smith, Jr. averages 10.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Guard Aaron Craft averages 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. LaQuinton Ross averages 7.5 points and 3 rebounds per game. Sam Thompson averages 7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Evan Ravenel averages 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Shannon Scott averages 4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Amir Williams averages 4.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Indiana is coached by Tom Crean. The only losses came to Butler by 2 points in overtime in Indianapolis and at home to Wisconsin, and on the road at Illinois and Minnesota. Indiana has key wins over Georgia & Georgetown in a tournament in Brooklyn, Ball St, North Carolina, Minnesota, Penn St, Michigan St, Nebraska and Purdue, along with road wins at Iowa twice, Penn St, Northwestern, Purdue, Ohio St and Michigan St. Indiana beat Iowa Saturday 73-60 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are 15-12 ATS and the total is 13-12 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 82-62 this season. The Hoosiers are second in the nation in scoring. Indiana shoots 49.4% from the field and 41.8% from 3 point range. The Hoosiers are 6th or better in the country in both categories. Indiana makes 74.5% of their free throws and is #31 nationally in that category. The Hoosiers average 38.7 rebounds per game and give up 26.4 per game. Indiana is #27 in rebounding, and #15 in rebounds allowed. Hoosier opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field and 29.9% from 3 point range. Indiana is in the top 25 in both categories. The Hoosiers average 15 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Forward Cody Zeller averages 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Forward Victor Oladipo averages 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.3 assists. Forward Christian Watford averages 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Guard Jordan Hulls averages 10.7 points, 3.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. Forward Will Sheehey averages 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Kevin Ferrell, Remy Abell, and Jeremy Hollowell also get significant minutes. Forward Austin Etherington (knee) is out indefinitely.
Ohio St is 5-2 ATS in Tuesday games and after failing to cover. The Buckeyes are 8-2 ATS overall, and 5-1 in Bloomington.
Indiana is 5-2 after a straight up win, and 2-5 after failing to cover. The favorite is 7-2 ATS in this series recently. The over is 4-0-1 in this series recently and 5-1 in Bloomington.
Indiana hasn’t won the Big Ten title outright in 20 years. They just need one victory in their last 2 games to do that, but they will have to earn the title with games left against Ohio St and at Michigan, both of whom are top 15 teams. I think the Hoosiers get it done at home on senior night.
