After routing three straight mid-major opponents, Ohio State moves up a weight class to host Pittsburgh on Friday.
The Panthers (6-1) will play in Columbus without one of their key players in guard Damian Dunn, who underwent surgery Monday to repair a right thumb injury, according to the school. Dunn has started every game and is averaging 11.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and making 52.6 percent of his 3-pointers.
He was injured early in the Greenbrier Tip-Off against No. 15 Wisconsin on Sunday. The loss of his playmaking and veteran leadership may have factored in the Panthers blowing a 14-point lead in 81-75 defeat.
Panthers coach Jeff Capel is pleased with his team’s early season effort for the most part.
“I feel really good about where we are,” he said. “We had an opportunity to win a championship against a top-20 team. We were right there. We had a big lead in the first half. We weren’t able to sustain it.
“Our first half defense was really good. To give up 54 in the second half was really disappointing.”
Focusing on defense will be crucial against the Buckeyes (5-1), who have been ruthless the past three games against Evansville (80-30), Campbell (104-60) and Green Bay (102-69).
John Mobley Jr. and Bruce Thornton share the team scoring lead at 15.2 points per game but five Buckeyes are averaging at least 10.5 ppg this season.
Ohio State topped the 100-point mark in consecutive games for the first time since the first four games of the 1990-91 season.
The Buckeyes against Campbell had seven players in double-figures for the first time since exactly 34 years earlier against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 25, 1990. Ohio State had 20 assists on 38 field goals.
“This was another game where we shared the ball at a high level,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “Our assist total to made field goals was north of 50 percent. That speaks to our combined growth offensively.
“To have seven guys in double figures, it’s hard to key in on one guy when you have that versatility.”
–Field Level Media
