Ohio State Vs San Diego State Basketball Prediction
The Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the San Diego State Aztecs in a non-conference clash on December 15, 2021. This is an exciting matchup for college basketball fans as both teams are expected to be competitive this season.
Ohio State Buckeyes Overview
The Ohio State Buckeyes finished the 2020-2021 season with a 21-10 record, including an 11-9 mark in the Big Ten conference. Despite a strong showing in the conference, the Buckeyes were knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the first round by Oral Roberts.
The Buckeyes will be led by head coach Chris Holtmann, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program. Holtmann has had success in his tenure at Ohio State, leading the team to three NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the second round in 2019.
Ohio State has a strong returning core this season, headlined by junior forward E.J. Liddell. Liddell was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last year and is expected to be one of the top players in the conference once again this season. Senior guard Justice Sueing and junior guard Duane Washington Jr. also return to provide scoring and leadership.
San Diego State Aztecs Overview
The San Diego State Aztecs are coming off a successful 2020-2021 campaign that saw them finish with a 23-5 record and a Mountain West conference regular season championship. The Aztecs advanced to the NCAA tournament, but lost in the first round to Syracuse.
The Aztecs will be led by head coach Brian Dutcher, who is entering his fifth season as head coach after serving as an assistant for 18 years. Dutcher has had success in his short time at San Diego State, including a 30-2 record and a Mountain West conference tournament championship in 2020.
San Diego State will be without one of their top players from last season, as guard Jordan Schakel has graduated. However, the Aztecs return leading scorer Matt Mitchell, who was a first-team All-Mountain West selection last season. Junior guard Trey Pulliam and senior forward Nathan Mensah also return to provide experience and production.
Prediction
This is a tough game to predict as both teams have strong returning cores and experienced head coaches. However, the Buckeyes have a slight edge in this matchup due to their depth and scoring ability.
E.J. Liddell is one of the best players in the entire country and should be able to have a big game against San Diego State's defense. Additionally, Ohio State has more scoring options outside of Liddell, including Sueing and Washington Jr., who can help take pressure off the star forward.
San Diego State will need a big game from Mitchell and their other returning players to keep up with Ohio State's high-powered offense. However, the Buckeyes' defense should be able to limit the Aztecs' scoring opportunities and secure a hard-fought victory.
