On March 24, 2021, the Ohio State Buckeyes took on the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be an epic matchup between two of the top teams in the nation. This article will provide readers with an overview of the NCAA Tournament matchup between Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago, including the lineups for each team, their strengths and weaknesses, and a prediction for the final score. Read on for a full breakdown of this exciting NCAA Tournament matchup.
Overview of Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago
The NCAA Tournament matchup between Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago is sure to be a thrilling battle as both teams look to advance in the tournament. Ahead of their upcoming meeting in the second round of the Midwest Region, it’s worth getting to know both teams better before you fill out your bracket. Here’s a brief overview of each team and how their style of play could affect the outcome of their next matchup:
Ohio State: The Buckeyes are led by Head Coach Chris Holtmann who has led this team to a 25-9 record during the regular season. This year, Ohio State had an impressive offensive attack that was powered by top scorer Keita Bates-Diop who averaged 19 points per game. The team also boasted an efficient offence that had a turnover rate of just 11.6%. They have good depth with seven players averaging at least 8 points per game and are experienced with four seniors in their starting lineup.
Loyola-Chicago: The Ramblers come into this game with an impressive 29-5 overall record on the season. They have strong team defense, only allowing opponents to score just 60 points per game while having a defensive efficiency rating that ranked amongst the best in NCAA Division 1 basketball this season. While they do not have great depth, they have good balance with four starters averaging double figures on offense along with five total players averaging more than 18 minutes per game on average which allows them solid contributions from throughout their lineup when needed.
Overview of NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is an annual single-elimination tournament for men’s college basketball teams to determine the national champion. First held in 1939, the tournament has become one of the most anticipated events of the year and a powerful way for colleges and universities to showcase their athletes and school spirit. Teams are seeded into four regions—West, South, Midwest, and East—and compete in seven rounds since its inception in 2011.
The first round of competition begins on Selection Sunday when the selection committee announces seeds for the tournament. It is a thrilling event for players and fans alike as all sixty-eight teams wait to discover if—and who—they will be competing against. In 2021, NCAA Tournament favourites Ohio State University will take on Loyola-Chicago in a first round matchup. We look forward to watching these two amazing College Basketball teams go head-to-head!
Ohio State vs. Loyola-Chicago NCAA Tournament
Ohio State is set to face off against Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament this week. The Buckeyes have a strong starting lineup that includes All-Big Ten selection CJ Walker and Kaleb Wesson. The depth at each position will also be key in this matchup, with some key contributors coming off the bench. Let’s take a look at the full Ohio State lineup and see how it stacks up against Loyola-Chicago.
Key Players
When the Ohio State Buckeyes square off against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in the NCAA tournament, look for these key players to be central figures in deciding a winner:
Ohio State Players:
- Guard C.J. Jackson is the team’s leading scorer and most dynamic player. When he’s on his game, he can score from all areas of the court and has a keen eye for making outside shots. He won’t shy away from a big moment.
- Forward Keita Bates-Diop is a fiery competitor and superb defender who can punish opponents on both ends of the floor with his strength and athleticism. On offence, his ability to drive to the rim while handling double teams well sets him apart as one of best big men in college basketball.
Loyola-Chicago Players:
- Center Cameron Krutwig is a high percentage shooter who gives Loyola an inside scoring presence against tougher competition. His ability to create good looks for himself near the basket gives Defenders headaches when switching on screens or defending drives to the rim.
- Guard Clayton Custer will often be seen taking clutch shots in big moments, as his range and precise shooting form make it difficult for opposing defences to know what’s coming next from him — even his teammates are sometimes taken by surprise with some of Custer’s shots!
Strengths and Weaknesses
When Ohio State faces off against Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament, both teams bring strengths and weaknesses to the matchup. The Ohio State Buckeyes boast an impressive defence, a deep bench, and excellent shooting. On the other hand, Loyola Chicago relies heavily on their three-point shooting, a strong ball movement offence, and a seasoned group of veterans
.
Ohio State’s strength is their defence as they rank 13th in the nation for steals per game and 8th for blocks per game. This should help contain Loyola Chicago’s offence from getting too far ahead or away with open shots. The Buckeyes also pride themselves on their depth; with an 11 player rotation there is no shortage of energy or versatility throughout the game. Finally, Ohio State will benefit greatly from excellent shooting which has been evidenced by them making 79% at the foul line and 42% behind the three-point line.
Loyola-Chicago will rely heavily on their brilliant three point shooting which comes out to 37%. With this weapon available at any moment they can score quickly with one possession and put up points when momentum appears to be shifting against them. Also key to their victory will be proper ball movement as they have managed 18 assists per game versus OSU’s 12 while also only having 10 turnovers as opposed to OSU’s 16 per game average; more controlled possession play will prove critical against a determined defense such as that of Ohio State. Lastly, their roster of experienced veterans from both their 2017 Final Four run should prove invaluable – it could come down to loyalty and experience that decides who walks away with a victory in this hard fought March Madness clash between two solid NCAA Division 1 contenders!
Loyola-Chicago Lineup
In the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers put on a remarkable display of basketball to upset several higher-seeded teams and eventually make it to the Final Four. The Ramblers’ remarkable season was no fluke, and they were led by a talented lineup of players who composed an effective mix of experience and youth. We take a look at the Loyola-Chicago lineups ahead of the matchup against Ohio State.
Key Players
The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers will meet the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2018 NCAA tournament with a game on March 15. This matchup will be an exciting one with two quality teams eager to secure a victory. Below are some key players from each team in the matchup.
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers: -Aundre Jackson: The senior forward leads this Ramblers team, averaging 13.4 points per game as well as 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Jackson was named to the All-MVC Team and is a major part of Loyola’s offense, providing critical scoring. -Clayton Custer: The junior guard is this team’s second leading scorer, contributing 13 points per game while dishing out 3 assists and averaging 1 steal per game as well. Custer was also named to the All-MVC Team, demonstrating his abilities as a standout player for the Ramblers.
Ohio State Buckeyes: -Keita Bates-Diop: This junior swingman leads Ohio State in both scoring (19 PPG) and rebounding (8 RPG). He has been an MVC Player of the Year candidate all season long for Coach Holtmann and he will be essential for success against Loyola. -Jae’Sean Tate: The senior forward contributes 9 points per game while grabbing 6 rebounds consistently on defense for OSU. He is a major floor leader who will be necessary if his squad wants to pull off an upset against one of college basketball’s toughest teams this year in Loyola Chicago.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago face off in an NCAA tournament matchup, it’s important to consider both teams strengths and weaknesses. Despite their lower seed status, the Ramblers’ lineup brings a wealth of Big East experience along with two noteworthy victories over Florida and Miami. In contrast, the Buckeyes have the homefield advantage with a relatively stronger regular-season performance, but may have to rely on their depth of talent to prevail.
Ohio State Strengths: The Buckeyes are led by forward Kaleb Wesson and guard C.J Jackson along with power forward Andre Wesson. Wesson averages 14 points per game while Jackson leads in assists with 6 average APG. The Buckeyes boast the second best defense in the nation giving up only 62 points per game accompanied by a strong rebounding team averaging 38 rebounds per game (21st nationally). They also showcase impressive offensive efficiency ranking third best in the country at 1.15 points per possession.
Ohio State Weaknesses: The Buckeyes’ major weakness lies within their somewhat shallow backcourt talent as they attempt to make up for it by relying on a heavy dose of zone defense and deep bench players when needed. In terms of perimeter shooting Ohio State ranks close to last nationally at 237th place for 3-point field goal percentage at 32%. To win this matchup OSU must contain Loyola-Chicago’s impressive outside shooting capabilities as well prevent offensive rebounds from allowing second chance points.
Loyola-Chicago Strengths: Marlon ‘Mo’ Voyles leads an experienced lineup that has been battle tested against NCAA Top 25 opponents this season such as Kansas St., Florida St., LSU, Alabama and 3 separate games against Butler — each being close losses or wins throughout many different lineups adapting over multiple matchups showcasing their versatility when going into Saturday’s clash. The Ramblers score 38% from beyond the arc (11th nationally) averaging just under 8 threes a game not including entry passes like kick outs etc thus making them very dangerous from every spot on the floor due to skill sets from every single player on their roster — a luxury that very few teams possess leading into March Madness play .
Loyola-Chicago Weaknesses: Rebounding will be key for this matchup as one of Loyola-Chicago’s faults is struggling against strong frontcourts due to lack of size however this deficiency can be filled by active hands preventing offensive putbacks off missed shots (MPG leader Cameron Krutz standing at only 6’2 vs OSU’s forwards standing at 6’7″+). Forcing turnovers will also be key especially when concerning Marlon Voyles who can take over games off turnovers creating turnovers himself or notched kick out passes opening him his teammates resulting in threes that could turn any Battle into Rambler warfare straight away leading them into victory come Saturday evening .
Matchup Analysis
The Ohio State vs. Loyola-Chicago NCAA tournament matchup will be one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season. Both teams boast talented rosters and have proven their potential throughout the season. In order to get an insight into the matchup, it is important to analyse the players and how they stack up against each other. This analysis will provide an in-depth look into the strengths and weaknesses of each team as they prepare to face off in the NCAA tournament.
Matchup Breakdown
The NCAA tournament matchup between Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago is sure to be one of the most contested matchups of the 2018 tournament. Both teams have seen success throughout their respective conference season and bring a unique set of challenges to the March Madness mix. Here’s a breakdown of the lineups:
Ohio State: Led by C.J. Jackson, Ohio State has formidable backcourt authority, with reliable outside shooting from freshman Luther Muhammad and a dominating inside presence from Keita Bates-Diop. The Buckeyes also feature point guard Kam Williams, who controls the tempo and directs the offense in transition; Mikal Bridges, whose abilty to grab steals makes his long-armed length difficult to penetrate; JaQuan Lyle, who can run an offense as well as he can imitate it; and 7-1 center Kaleb Wesson, who immerses attackers in an intimidating wall of muscle at both ends of the court when called upon.
Loyola Chicago: The Ramblers boast a deep roster that was the catalyst for their run through two consecutive Missouri Valley titles. Guard Ben Richardson brings tremendous ball movement coming off ball screens or simply in half court sets while Clayton Custer is one of their best playmakers in transition that creates space off ball screens or opens up lanes on dribble penetration. Donte Ingram is “Mr Do It All” for Loyola Chicago with his ability to shoot three pointers and make hustle plays defensively which will be key if they want to upset OSU on March 22nd . Lastly Cameron Krutwig is their rock inside, balancing out basketball IQ with competent low post moves that create problems for slower defenders in the paint area along with presence as primo rebounder when needed. It should be an intriguing contest between these two balanced teams, but ultimately only one will be able move onto the sweet sixteen.
Predicted Outcome
As the NCAA national championship game approaches between Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago, many college basketball fans are eager to see how this matchup will play out. Although each team has its own distinct style of play, the two squads have plenty in common as well. Both teams employ a disciplined, patient approach on offense and have a talented group of guards and wings who can make shots from anywhere on the court. Loyola-Chicago’s focus on defense has earned the Ramblers a reputation as a gritty team that never backs down from battle. Ohio State, meanwhile, has one of the best offenses in all of college basketball, due to their uncanny ability to create open shots for their quickly moving players at all positions.
Overall, this matchup appears to be relatively even. That said, there are a few areas where one team may enjoy an advantage over the other based on matchups between certain positions. Ohio State’s veteran guards Jon Waters and Chris Loving should be able to leverage their size advantage over smaller Loyola guards Marques Townes and Donte Ingram while center Kaleb Wesson will try and use his height to his advantage against Loyola’s bigs. At small forward, OSU’s Keita Bates-Diop will likely present a tough matchup for whoever lines up opposite him due to his ability to score in multiple ways including off pick-and-rolls and transition opportunities. Ultimately, due largely to their depth at multiple positions and balance on both offense and defense, most pundits are predicting that Ohio State will come away with the NCAA title this year after an exciting battle with Loyola-Chicago in the final game of March Madness 2018.
