Today we are going to recap The Ohio State University men’s basketball teams first 4 games of the year. I have appropriately titled this breakdown, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. I have chosen this for many reasons, Most namely, the inconsistency of the team thus far. Here is the breakdown.

The Good

– 4-0. The best result that can happen in any game is a win. So having a perfect season thus far, even though we are only 4 games in, has to be a positive.

– Big Road win. Beating a team many considered the favorite to win the Big East at their home court is also a plus. Regardless of the Big East’s prominence taking a bit of a hit with expansions, this win will be looked at come seeding time at the NCAA tourney.

– Shannon Scott. After being put into the starting lineup in order to create a formidable backcourt, Scott has provided a huge spark on both ends of the court. He is the leading scorer on the team at 12.5 points a game as well as being second on the team in both assists and steals.

– Marc Loving. College Basketball has always proved a tough transition for a true freshman, regardless of the talent level. Loving has proved that he belongs at a big time program and has provided some much needed energy off the bench. When watching Loving, you get the sense you are watching a future All Big Ten team blossom.

– Defense. Holding your opponents to 51.5 points a game and 34.4% from the field will win you almost any contest. Sure the schedule isn’t the toughest but this is still tough to do at any level.

The Bad

– LaQuinton Ross. 4 Games into the season is hardly a barometer for the entire season but it would be hard to call Ross’ start to the year anything less than a disappointment. He is averaging 7 points per game, good for 6th on the team and 22.5 minutes per game, good for 5th best. While much was expected a Ross, he is under performing so much so that Matta has made him sit on the bench for 15+ minutes on two separate occasions. It appears he just needs to find his shot and gain a little confidence. Matta appears to be doing everything he can to “wake up” Ross and I have confidence he will find his game again.

– Slow starts. It seems that the Buckeyes have had trouble getting the scoring going in the first half. Against Marquette, it took a last second 3 from Loving to get their first half score to 19. Against American, getting to the free throw was the only thing buoying them to a first half lead as they only made 5 field goals. I believe that most of this has to do with the new foul rules making it hard for the Buckeyes to get in a flow. Once they get properly adjusted, they’ll be fine.

The Ugly

– There is no other way to say this, but shooting 28.6% from 3-point range is downright ugly. As mentioned before, it could have something to do with the new foul rules, but most of the looks Ohio State is getting from long distance, are good looks. 4 games in, no one should be worried. Matta knows how to get his team to score.

As you can see, there are way more positives than negatives so far this season. There is still a long way to go as well as lots of time to improve.

Defense wins championships, as the old adage goes in football. The way Ohio State played on defense against Indiana tonight, the saying could be true in basketball too.

In a late-season matchup of top Big Ten conference foes, a battle between Indiana’s high-powered defense and Ohio State’s stingy defense, the Buckeyes prevailed, 67-58. National Player of the Year candidate Victor Oladipo was a non-factor most of the night, as the Hoosiers sputtered at home on Senior Night. The Buckeyes (22-7, 12-5 Big Ten) displayed outstanding defense while utilizing an all-around offensive effort to upset #2 Indiana (25-5, 13-4 Big Ten).

Though Indiana big man Cody Zeller notched 17 points on the night, Oladipo only managed seven after racking up 26 the last time the two teams faced off. Ohio State didn’t allow many open looks for the junior guard, as Oladipo only took six shots on the night. Foul trouble affected the playmaker early, as he collected two fouls in the first that forced him to sit on the bench for much of the first stanza. He did not record a point in the first half. The duo of Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft was much more successful. Thomas tallied 18 points to lead OSU in scoring, though the junior only shot 6 for 17 on the night. Craft controlled the game, especially in the second. The OSU point guard paced the Bucks with 15 points, shooting 7 of 10 from the field. Down the stretch, Craft’s big buckets ensured that the Hoosiers would not come back from a late 11-point deficit.

But while Craft was magnificent, Ohio State’s all-around offensive production was the key to earning the victory. Sam Thompson contributed nine points, and was especially effective in the first half. Evan Ravenel came off the bench in relief of Amir Williams and scored eight in 20 minutes of playing time. Ravenel also looked stellar on defense as the game wore on, preventing the Hoosiers from collecting easy buckets as they are prone to do. Shannon Scott had an eight point evening and also recorded four of the team’s eight steals. His efforts helped the Buckeyes hold the Hoosiers scoreless for a period of over five minutes towards the end of the second half.

The signs of a possible upset became apparent right from the start. Indiana could not find the groove on offense early, while Ohio State showed great composure even as the fans at Assembly Hall roared at the visitors. Outstanding defense forced the Hoosiers to play OSU’s favorite type of game: a low-scoring, duke-it-out affair, especially early on. Indiana shot a mere 34.5% from the field in the first, resulting in a slight 28-25 OSU lead heading into the break.

Tonight’s victory not only gives the Buckeyes momentum heading into the regular season finale against Illinois. Ohio State’s road win over #2 Indiana gives the Bucks sole possession of the number two spot in the conference standings. With a Michigan win over Indiana on Sunday, the Buckeyes will claim a portion of the regular season conference title. But if the Hoosiers manage a win over the Wolverines on the road, Indiana would earn sole ownership of the league title. No matter what the outcome of that affair, Ohio State captured a huge road victory tonight. When allowed to play a defensive game, the Buckeyes can hang around with anybody. Add in all-around offensive contribution, and the Bucks are a team to fear as Tournament season quickly approaches.