Jay LaPrete/Associated Press If the 2014-15 Ohio State basketball team wants to add a marquee nonconference road victory to its resume, it only has one chance—Tuesday against Louisville. Clearly, winning at Louisville is not a make-or-break situation for the Buckeyes’ NCAA tournament hopes, but it is critical when you start talking about Ohio State finding itself in a possible top-three seed range on Selection Sunday. It’s not like Dwyane Wade was still lacing it up for that very pedestrian Marquette team the Buckeyes beat in Columbus, and the showdown with North Carolina is at a neutral site. Beating the Tar Heels would also be a massive win, but true road victories are what really catch the eyes of the selection committee. Jared Wickerham/Getty Images What’s more, conference bragging rights will be on the line in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which could come into play in March if Ohio State is battling with ACC squads for the same seed. Who wins? Louisville Ohio State Submit Vote vote to see results Who wins? Louisville 0% Ohio State 0% Total votes: 0 There is a chance that a defensive slugfest will break out Tuesday. Louisville is the top team in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive efficiency rankings, largely because Montrezl Harrell is a defensive nightmare for opposing teams. The versatile big guy checks in at 6’8” and is a monster on the boards. And he flies around the court with athleticism and speed that help him cover almost the entire baseline down low. Bottom line is that Harrell is one of the best players in the entire country, and it will be up to the Buckeyes’ trio of Amir Williams, Trey McDonald and Anthony Lee to deal with him down low. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Ohio State also has to worry about Harrell’s offense considering he leads Louisville in scoring with 17.4 points a game and can find the basket from mid-range or down on the low blocks. He may be the best big guy Ohio State faces all season as a future first-round NBA draft pick, which will at least be a great source of experience before physically grueling Big Ten play starts. Louisville may also be the best rebounding team in the country (it is second in the nation in rebounds per game) because of the trio of Harrell, Chinanu Onuaku and Mangok Mathiang, who are all averaging more than 7.5 rebounds a game. …
Continue Reading: Ohio State Basketball: Preview and Prediction for Showdown with Louisville
