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After getting knocked around at Iowa, any benefit of the doubt Ohio State had earned seems to have worn off. Late into January, the Buckeyes have fallen out of the Top 25, lack anything close to a signature win, and have a middling computer profile. Those problems can't all get solved in one night, but they can prevent a potentially debilitating loss that could knock them from the right side of the bubble to squarely off of it. That's what is at stake tonight against Northwestern.
Ohio State may potentially change up their starting lineup, or at least their allocation of minutes, hoping to prevent another poor first half effort. A win against the Wildcats, who sit at 10-7 and 1-4 in the Big Ten, isn't going to turn too many heads, even on the road. The Wildcats have lost four games in a row after beating Rutgers, and their quality win department is even more barren than Ohio State's. But a road win is a road win in the Big Ten, and weird things tend to happen in that small gym up in Evanston.
Can Ohio State regain their shooting touch? Can they play a complete game of basketball for the first time in weeks? Only way to find out is to watch. Come join us in our Gamethread.
How to Watch/Stream
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio: 97.1 The Fan
Online: WatchESPN