Ohio State Men’s Basketball got a key preseason exhibition win. They beat the Butler Bulldogs 82-73. In this game, Ohio State big man Amre Bynum scored 23 points and Lee Aaliya debuted for the Buckeyes. Aaliya committed to play for Michigan in 2023, to Juwan Howard. The 6-foot-9 Argentinian foreword, began his career in the Spanish Liga A and has moved around over the last four years, playing in the Spanish Liga U and the European Cup for UCAM Murcia CB. He adds to the Buckeye depth, and size.
Ohio State Men’s Basketball is now done with the preseason games, going 1-1. The ready themselves to play BYU in the first game of the regular season one week and a day from now. Meanwhile, one thing to watch for the Buckeyes, is whether they allow big players to have big games. Butler Bulldog Jalen Jackson had 27 points against Ohio State Men’s Basketball. Do you think the Buckeye will be able to contain the weapons of opposing team’s this season?
Ohio State Men’s Basketball Beats Butler 82-73
Ohio State Men’s Basketball played and defeated the Butler Bulldogs in an exhibition basketball game Oct. 25, 82-73. In this game they were led by Amare Bynum and had a new player. The Bulldogs were led by Jalin Jackson, who had 27 points. This was a game where the Buckeyes got off to a good start in the first half, and held on for the victory. Here is how the game played out.
First Half
Ohio State Men’s Basketball got off to a good start in the win against Butler in the first half. They lead 45-38 at halftime. Butler led this game 7-2 with 16:15 left in the half. Needless to say, from that point, the Buckeyes dominated play. Perhaps the best way to capture this is to look at the overall team statistics from the first half. Ohio State short 54% in this half and Butler shot only 45%. Despite this, they were outrebounded in the half 19-15.
Ohio State led for 22.0% of the first half. The biggest lead they held was at the conclusion of the half. That 7-2 lead was the biggest lead the Bulldogs had during the first half. They never led in the second half, so this was their biggest lead of the game. In the first half Ohio State had more steals, more points off turnovers, and more points in the paint. Ohio State Men’s Basketball had the advantage in most of the statistics in the first half.
Second Half
The story of the second half was Ohio State holding onto their lead. They surrendered a first half lead in their first exhibition game of the season. In this one they outscored Butler by 2 points, 37-35. Butler never led, but Jalin Jackson kept piling up the points, finishing with 27. Fortunately, for the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team, Amare Bynum had 23 points, and John Mobley Jr. chipped in 17 points. Something to watch going forward is the Mobley Jr. twisted his ankle near the end of the game and he did not return. Justin Pippen, showing off the new depth for the Buckeyes replaced him. However, they need John Mobley Jr.
The second half was evener. This can be seen in the team statistics. Butler only shot 31.6%, but they made 6 three pointers to the one made by the Buckeyes. They had more rebounds, more assists, and fewer turnovers than the Buckeyes. The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team did make many more free throws in this half, 18-5. That was likely the difference in this game.
Conclusion: Now we Begin
Ohio State Men’s Basketball went 1-1 in preseason exhibitions. Now they begin the regular season with a game at BYU at 9 pm on Monday, November 2. The are taller, and deeper than they have ever been, the addition of Lee Aaliya certainly helps that. Before they begin the Big Ten Conference schedule, they also play UNCONN and Vanderbilt before conference play. The Big Ten Conference is likely the deepest in America. If Ohio State is to make the NCAA tournament, they will have to use their depth and height to beat those good teams.
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