The Ohio State Buckeyes (6-4) meet up with the Kentucky Wildcats (10-1) as part of the CBS Classic this Saturday in Madison Square Garden. The Buckeyes do have a game on Tuesday vs. Valpo before the Cats game. Ohio State is coming off a 38 point loss to Auburn on Sat. 91-53. The Cats defeated Louisville 93-85 also on Saturday. The is scheduled to tip on CBS at 5:30pm. Go Cats!

After getting taken to the woodshed by Auburn, I definitely expect a bounce back game from Ohio State. Kentucky should win, but teams have a way of putting up a strong fight after getting beaten the way they did last week.

Kentucky 85-70.

Cats by 40.

Ohio State was going to get beat double digits in this game, but now that Meechie Johnson has stepped away from the team for personal reasons they really are in deep trouble.  This has all the a makings of a blow out.

 

Just as a side note, in 2 games vs Kentucky in his career at South Carolina he had 54 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.  

Based on the numbers it does look like Kentucky would be projected to win, but in the 2016 season a 5-5 Ohio State team came in (That wouldn't make the NCAA tournament) and controlled the tempo against Kentucky, holding them 12 points below their season average. They came in struggling from behind the arc and shot around 33% as a team, but against Kentucky they would go 9/18 from downtown and that especially hurt Kentucky early as they got behind. It didn't help UK that outside of Jamal Murray, the rest of UK's team went 12/40 from the field for 30%. Similar scenario in 2016 - Ohio State came off of a 20 point loss against UConn where they trailed by 21 at halftime and UConn coasted, then the next game defeated Northern Illinois. 

Of course these are different teams and different times. But sometimes history can repeat itself. That being said, I expect Ohio State to go full throttle to try to pull this one out but Coach Pope to keep this Kentucky team fully focused in this battle. This Kentucky team so far has shown a lot of poise and maturity and despite not being together long have gelled quite nicely.

14-11 OSU.

17-16, Cats.

24-21 OSU.

Ohio State leading the Cats now 28-21 timeout Kentucky. The Cats giving up too many straight line drives to the basket early on here today.

35-28 OSU, like a football game.

39-30 Ohio State at the half. The Cats are going to have to play a much better 2nd half to win this game. The Buckeyes are playing with a lot of confidence right now.

TERRIBLE defense first half, not guarding the ball at all and not much energy on either end

Butler has got to quit picking up frustration fouls!!

Maybe a good butt whipping will do them some good 

Offense has been difficult to watch recently, the last 10 minutes of the half I'm not sure they ran 4 plays that produced a shot attempt that they wanted.

24 of 39 pts in the paint!!??   That’s just horrible!