Minnesota @ Ohio St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2019 ) Ohio St. 71, Minnesota 84

A favorable upcoming schedule gives slumping Ohio State an opportunity to regain its footing, starting Thursday night at home against Minnesota. The Buckeyes have fallen from the top five in the national rankings in December to out of the Top 25 after losing five of their last six games.

Ohio State had climbed to No. 2 in the polls before suffering its first loss Dec. 15 at Minnesota. The Buckeyes have gone 3-5 since and find themselves in the lower third of the Big Ten standings. But they're hoping to string together some wins during a stretch of games against Minnesota, Northwestern and Indiana in the next 10 days. Minnesota had won two in a row and three of four games in January before losing Sunday at Rutgers.

TIME: 6:30 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MINNESOTA (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten): The Golden Gophers are a different team on the road than at home, going 0-6 overall away from Williams Arena and 0-4 in the Big Ten. In handing Ohio State its first loss of the season in an 84-71 win at home last month, Minnesota received 35 points from Marcus Carr while Daniel Oturu held his own against Buckeyes center Kaleb Wesson, finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Carr ranks second on the team in scoring (16.1 points per game) and second in the Big Ten in assists (7.2), Oturu has a Big Ten-best 11 double-doubles, and Gabe Kalscheur is the conference leader in 3-pointers made with 43.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (12-6, 2-5): Similar to Minnesota, Ohio State has played much better at home, posting a 10-1 record at Value City Arena that includes its lone loss to Wisconsin earlier this month during a recent rough patch. A number of factors have contributed to the Buckeyes losing their way, including declines in shooting percentages and 3-point defense, performance drop-offs by Duane Washington Jr., D.J. Carton and Kyle Young, and turnovers. Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State's leading scorer, remains a steady force in the middle, averaging team bests of 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. In the Buckeyes' last six games, primary ball-handlers C.J. Walker and Carton have combined for more turnovers (34) than assists (31).

2. Ohio State leads the Big Ten in 3-point shooting (8.8 makes per game, 38.5 percent) and Washington (conference-best 45.1 percent) hit 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in his return from a one-game suspension during Saturday's 90-76 loss at Penn State.

3. A force to be reckoned in the middle of Minnesota's lineup, Oturu ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring at 20.2 points per game and leads the conference (sixth nationally) in rebounding with 11.9.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 74, Minnesota 68