No. 12 Maryland Men's Basketball vs No. 11 Ohio State Prediction, Preview
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 7PM EST
Location: Xfinity Center, College Park, Maryland
TV Channel: ESPN
Mark Turgeon and the Maryland Terrapins (12-2) have been on a roll, winning their last two games against Bryant and Indiana with ease.
This next game against No. 11 Ohio State (11-3) will be their most difficult challenge yet as Maryland has not faced a ranked opponent all season.
The Buckeyes have lost their last two games against West Virginia and Wisconsin. Last week, they were ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll but dropped all the way down to No. 11.
Get to know the opponent
HC Chris Holtmann
Holtmann is coaching in his third season with the Buckeyes, but has been a head coach for nine seasons in collegiate basketball. He has taken Ohio State to back-to-back NCAA tournaments and currently has a 56-27 record with the team over the last three years. To add on to his impressive resume, he took Butler to three-straight NCAA tournaments in all three years there. He is one of the best coaches in college basketball and should not be underestimated as a visitor.
C Kaleb Wesson
The junior center has been Ohio State's best player. He leads the team averaging 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks through 14 games. He stands at 6-foot-9 270 pounds and is a big man that can do damage from downtown. He has a 46.1 percentage from the field, including a 43.5 3-point percentage. Wesson can do it all and will be a tough player to slow down.
G Duane Washington
Washington is a 6-foot-3 190-pound guard that is second on the team in points scored per game (11.8) and leads the team with a 47.5 3-point percentage. This sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan is having a breakout campaign in his second-year with the team.
G CJ Walker
Walker leads the team averaging 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals. He is arguably their most underrated player on the team, with the ability to excel offensively and defensively. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he has become a very solid player for the Buckeyes.
Prediction
Ohio State's field goal percentages are off the charts, making an impressive 47.4 percent of their shots from the field including 39.6 percent from behind the arc. Despite the Buckeyes' two-game skid, they will have a chance to rebound against an ascending Maryland team. It will be tough for Maryland despite playing in their home court. Both teams will have a chance to propel themselves in the rankings but Maryland's chemistry is clearly better than Ohio State. That should be the difference maker as the Terrapins should be able to do enough to secure a victory.
