Ohio St. @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2018 ) Minnesota 59, Ohio St. 79

After blowing out North Carolina on the road and routing Penn State in the Big Ten opener, Ohio State should not be intimidated playing in the old barn known as Williams Arena on Sunday night against Minnesota. The second-ranked Buckeyes go into their first conference road game with a nine-game winning streak and a golden opportunity to ascend to No. 1 in next week's national rankings with a victory.

With No. 1 Louisville's loss to Texas Tech earlier this week, Ohio State is poised to claim the top spot in the poll for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The Buckeyes have been nothing short of impressive in the first month and a half of this season, counting among their wins two blowouts of 25 or more points against top 10 teams at the time in Villanova and North Carolina to become only the fourth team in history to do that in the same season - the other three won national championships. It has been more than a week since Ohio State last played a game - a 106-74 romp past Penn State in its Big Ten opener Dec. 7 - while taking a break in the schedule for final exams. Minnesota opened Big Ten play on the road Monday night, losing 72-52 at Iowa.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT OHIO STATE (9-0, 1-0 Big Ten): The Buckeyes have shown the ability to raise the level of their game on both ends of the court - scoring more than 100 points in a Big Ten game for the first time in 13 years against Penn State on Dec. 7 and holding North Carolina to 49 points in a Dec. 4 win in Chapel Hill. It also should be noted that the Buckeyes got off to a fast start in November and December last season before losing five straight and six of seven once Big Ten play began in earnest in January. But coach Chris Holtmann believes this team, which has more talent and balance while showing the ability to score and defending in multiple ways, is better equipped to stay the course this season in challenging situations.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (4-5, 0-1): The Golden Gophers have played a non-conference schedule ranked 17th-toughest in the country and that accounts in part for their sub-.500 record. Daniel Oturo gives the Gophers an inside presence with his scoring (second in the Big Ten at 18 points per game), rebounding (conference-leading 11 per game), shooting (first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage at .650) and shot-blocking ability (second in the conference at 3.6 per game). Minnesota likes to shoot from beyond the arc and Payton Willis leads the Big Ten in 3-pointers made per game (25-for-67).

TIP-INS

1. Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State's leading scorer and rebounder, posted his third double-double of the season in the win over Penn State with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and his older brother, Andre, finished with 15 points and five boards.

2. Ohio State leads the country in scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 26.2 points.

3. Minnesota hasn't beaten a top five team at home since knocking off No. 5 Maryland in 2016.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 84, Minnesota 64