Ohio State vs. No. 1 Michigan State
4:40 P.M. TODAY
Where: Value City Arena TV: CBS (Ch. 10)
Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1) Records: Ohio State 12-4, 3-0 Big Ten; Michigan State 15-1, 3-0
Notable: The Buckeyes have climbed to No. 141 nationally in turnover percentage after languishing in the mid-200s for much of the early part of the season. … Ohio State’s last win against the No. 1 team in the country came in the final regular-season game of the 2006-07 season, when it beat Wisconsin 49-48 at Value City Arena. … Gahanna graduate Nick Ward is averaging 18.5 points and 9.7 rebounds in Michigan State’s last six games and has doubledoubles in two straight. PROJECTED STARTERS OHIO STATE
G C.J. Jackson, 6-1, Jr., 13.5 G Kam Williams, 6-2, Sr., 8.3 G Jae’Sean Tate, 6-4, Sr., 12.9 F Keita Bates-Diop, 6-7, Jr., 19.3
C Kaleb Wesson, 6-9, Fr., 11.7 Key reserves: C Potter, 6-9, So., 4.2; G Jallow, 6-5, Fr., 3.7; G Dakich, 6-2, Gr., 3.2; F Wesson, 6-6, So., 2.3; F Young, 6-8, Fr., 2.1
MICHIGAN STATE
G Cassius Winston, 6-0, So., 12.9
G Joshua Langford, 6-5, So., 13.7
G/F Miles Bridges, 6-7, So., 16.9
F Jaren Jackson Jr., 6-11, Fr., 10.8
F Nick Ward, 6-8, So., 15.4
Key reserves: G McQuaid, 6-4, Jr., 7.6; F Schilling, 6-9, Sr., 3.8; F Tillman, 6-8, Fr., 3.5; G Nairn Jr., 5-10, Sr., 2.1
As important as finding ways to blunt Michigan State’s size, length and athleticism has been the emphasis on properly approaching the moment without getting overwhelmed by it.
“You want your guys to enjoy it,” Holtmann said. “Yet at the same time, you’re never defined by one moment. It’s so early in the year, we’re not drawing any conclusions about anything at this point. You just don’t know at this point.”
In addition to being a unanimous preseason choice to win the Big Ten, the Spartans are among a select group of national-championship contenders. Ohio State has played both teams from last year’s title game, losing to Gonzaga by 27 points and to North Carolina by 14.
“You’ve just got to embrace the moment,” graduate transfer Andrew Dakich said. “Only a few conferences have the No. 1 team in the country and (give you the chance to) have them on your floor every year.”