After PSU, Buckeyes face heart of schedule

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The numbers support the fact that No. 4 Ohio State is playing well.

The Buckeyes (17-3, 5-2 Big Ten) lead the nation in scoring margin, winning by an average of 22 points a game. They’ve won 11 times by 29 or more points, 14 games by at least 20 and have only two victories where the margins were single digits.

On top of all of that, they’ve won two in a row and four of five heading into tonight’s home game with Penn State. Ohio State comes into the week tied with Michigan and Michigan State for first place in the conference.

Yet coach Thad Matta isn’t so sure that winning the last game or two or three means much the next time a team takes the court.

So, can a team build momentum game by game?

“Quite honestly, that is something that every coach in the world in any sport is trying to figure out,” Matta said Tuesday. “Obviously, I’ve learned over time that this is a game of momentum, it’s a game of runs. But you’ve also got to have the toughness to stop the other team’s runs, that sort of a thing. There is such a fine line of wanting your guys to feel good about what they’ve accomplished [while at the same time] you’ve got to bring them back to reality.”

In other words, Matta lives in fear that his players will, instead of feeling good about winning, start to become overconfident and entitled.

“Trying to ride the wave is something,” he said, shaking his head.

His players echo that philosophy. They are secure in knowing that they can win any time they step on the court, while also being aware that if they don’t put out their best effort, any momentum they’ve built will evaporate.

“Sometimes it’s easy for teams to come in and think just because they won their last game that they’re just going to show up and win,” starting guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. said. “It doesn’t work like that. You have to take each opponent for what it’s worth and give them your best shot just like you played the last team.”

Now is a good time to build up some steam. The Buckeyes battered then-No. 7 Indiana by 17 points on Jan. 15 and then rolled over Nebraska by 34 on the road on Saturday. After playing the Nittany Lions (10-11, 2-6), they take on the heart of the schedule.

Six of their final 10 games are against teams currently in The Associated Press Top 25.