Amid a crazy year in Big Ten basketball, Ohio State is having one of its best seasons ever. Sitting atop the conference, the Buckeyes’ winning ways have come from the play of their guards.
With the loss of shot-blocking center Ken Johnson to graduation last year, Ohio State was predicted to be just a mediocre team. However, returning guards Brian Brown, Brent Darby and Boban Savovic have shocked the country by going 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten.
Head coach Jim O’Brien credits the team’s unexpected success to its experienced backcourt. Both Brown and Savovic are seniors and Darby is a junior, and all have been to the NCAA tournament multiple times. They all defend, pass and shoot well. Led by Brown’s 14.8 points per game, each averages double figures in points.
“[Darby] is not your prototypical point guard,” O’Brien said. “He’s a point guard with a scorer’s mentality. He has the ability to make some plays and score some points.”
Along with their scoring, the three guards have led the Buckeyes to the second-best defense in the Big Ten. Giving up only 60 points a game, while scoring more than 72, the Buckeyes have caught the attention of the other coaches in the conference.
“[Since they are] consistent on defense,” Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan said, “you don’t get very many easy shots against them.”
Even with Ohio State’s incredible start, the team is just finally beginning to gain respect. Unranked until last week, the Buckeyes are only 16th in the Associated Press poll and a low 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. However, all the Big Ten coaches know Ohio State and its guards are a force to be reckoned with.
“Ohio State is as good as they are because of those three guards,” Iowa head coach Steve Alford said. “That’s the heart and soul of their team, and as those three go, so do the Buckeyes.”
With five of their last seven games on the road, Ohio State faces a tough battle to win the Big Ten championship. If the Buckeyes are to win, their success hinges on the play of Brown, Darby and Savovic, who must continue to lead the team to victory.
Increased parity causing unpredictable season
Preseason favorite Illinois was supposed to run away with the Big Ten championship. With seven games left, the Illini are in sixth place with a 4-5 record, one of seven teams that still have legitimate shots at winning the title. The coaches believe parity and youth are at the roots of this strange season.
“The bottom teams in the league throughout the years have been teams who you felt pretty good about getting a win,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. “I don’t feel pretty good about anything [this year].”
From top to bottom, each team has a chance to win any game. With many players leaving school early for the NBA, the talent level in the conference has balanced out. As a result, there has been a youth movement among teams. These young players lack the experience to play consistently every night.
“There is more parity,” Izzo said. “There is [also] more confusion, meaning a lot of [teams] are playing inexperienced people, [so] there are more ups and downs by a lot of teams.”
Ohio State’s age and experience is showing in its unbelievable winning season. Having four starters return this year has led the Buckeyes to the top of the Big Ten.
“It’s so uncharacteristic of the predictions,” Purdue head coach Gene Keady said. “We all picked the three I’s (Illinois, Indiana and Iowa) to be up there in the top three spots, but for Ohio State to do what they’ve done has been outstanding.”
Road wins scarce in Big Ten
Everyone knows that playing at home is an advantage. From the screaming fans to not having to travel, there are numerous reasons why teams play better at home. But this season, no one is winning on the road.
Of the 11 teams in the Big Ten, only two have winning records on the road, Ohio State and Indiana. Deservingly, these teams are currently first and second in the conference. As for playing at home, Penn State is the only team with a losing record. Of the 49 games played in the Big Ten this year, 38 have been won by the home team.
“They’re more familiar and more comfortable at home,” Bo Ryan said. “That certain comfort that you get into, of being relaxed at home with the familiar surroundings. You have to learn to be a good road team.”
Purdue’s Gene Keady offered different advice for getting wins on the road — advice the Boilermakers have not been able to follow.
“Get the homecourt people in their seats,” Keady said, “and not let the other team get on a big run.”
With seven games remaining in conference, the Big Ten title will be won, or more likely, lost, on the road.
