Preview: Northwestern vs. Ohio State

Tonight, Wednesday, January 17, 8:00 PM

Northwestern (10-7, 0-4) at #7 Ohio State (14-3, 2-1)

TV-locally on CBS Channel 10

 

OSU likely starters, stat leaders

Mike Conley, Freshman Guard, 6.4 assists/game

Ivan Harris, Senior Forward

Ron Lewis, Senior Guard

Jamar Butler, Junior Guard, 29.8 minutes/game

Greg Oden, Freshman Center, 14.9 points/game, 9.8 rebounds/game, 61% FG

 

Northwestern likely starters, stat leaders

Tim Doyle, Senior Guard, 5.6 assists/game, 34.6 minutes/game

Jeff Ryan, Freshman Forward, 51% FG

Craig Moore, Sophomore Guard

Sterling Williams, Sophomore Guard

Fifth Spot-Unknown

 

Notes on Matchup

Northwestern did not have their leading scorer and rebounder, Kevin Coble (12.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game) for their close loss last Saturday at Wisconsin. He was out due to to an ankle sprain. He is unlikely to play in this game. The Wildcats have lost four games in a row. Ohio State has won 13 straight games against Northwestern, but some of the games have been close, including the last second shot by Lewis in Evanston last year. Greg Oden will need to be careful with the frustrating Princeton Offense run by the Wildcats. Oden will have to guard center Vince Scott on the perimeter because he has already hit 17 threes this season.

 

Princeton Offense

Coach Bill Carmody runs the Princeton offense, which is an offense that is always moving, full of passes and cuts. It is rare in college basketball because all five players must be able to handle the ball, pass and shoot. The ball is passed until a mismatch is found and a player either drives the ball to the basket or an open player gets the pass.

 

Another game of interest:

#4 North Carolina at #16 Clemson (ESPN 7:00 Tonight)

Both teams are coming off losses to teams they should have beat in the ACC. The young Tar Heels were #1 before the loss at Virginia Tech. As you may recall, OSU lost at North Carolina early in the season.