Editorial by Graydon Fox

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5. Tammy Rose (244 PTS)

 

Overview:

On Thursday, March 15^th, the (28-6) South Dakota State Jackrabbits will take on the (24-8) Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Basketball Tournament.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Ohio State 76.4 – South Dakota State 68.2 with an over/under of 144.6.

Statistics (2017-18 season):

Point differential: South Dakota State +10.8 > Ohio State +9.1 PPG

Points per game: South Dakota State 84.9 PPG > Ohio State 78.5 PPG

Points allowed per game: Ohio State 69.4 PPG > South Dakota State 74.1 PPG

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Ohio State 48.5% > South Dakota State 47.0%

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Ohio State 41.5% > South Dakota State 42.9%

Three Point Percentage: South Dakota State 40.3% > Ohio State 35.3%

Turnovers per game: South Dakota State 10.0 > Ohio State 11.8

Rebounds per game: South Dakota State 39.0 > Ohio State 36.6

Assists per game: Ohio State 14.8 > South Dakota State 13.5

Summary:

South Dakota State finished the season red hot winning eleven straight games and nineteen of their last twenty.  The Jackrabbits are a very potent offensive team ranking 6^th in the nation in scoring (84.9 PPG).  South Dakota State is one of nineteen teams to shoot over 40% from the three-point line this season.  The Jackrabbits are led by Mike Daum (23.8 PPG and 10.4 RPG) who is the sixth leading scorer in the country.  Daum is the classic stretch four who can score inside but also shoots 42.1% from three.  South Dakota State lacks depth as Daum, David Jenkins Jr. (16.1 PPG), and Reed Tellinghulsen (12.0 PPG) are the only double-digit scorers on the roster.  The Jackrabbits are a strong rebounding team and don’t turn the ball over very often.  South Dakota State doesn’t defend well and struggled against upper level competition.

Ohio State struggled down the stretch losing three of their last five games to end the season.  Still, nobody expected Head Coach Chris Holtmann to guide Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm.  The Buckeyes are led by Big Ten player of the year Keita Bates-Diop (19.4 PPG and 8.8 RPG).  Ja’Sean Tate (12.5 PPG and 6.2 RPG), C.J. Jackson (12.2 PPG), and Kaleb Wesson (10.8 PPG) make for a solid starting unit.  The emergence of Bates-Diop as the go to scoring option allowed all the pieces to fall into place for Holtmann and the Buckeyes.  Ohio State prides themselves on ball movement and a stingy defense that allows fewer than 70 points per game.

Bottom Line:

This is the best opening round match-up in my opinion and South Dakota State has been touted as a trendy upset pick.  The Jackrabbits finished the season strong but were (0-2) against ranked opponents including a 34-point loss to Kansas.  Ohio State was (2-3) against ranked opponents including wins over then #3 Purdue and #1 Michigan State.  Daum will score at will but if the Buckeyes can limit his running mates they should win this game.  I expect a close game and the (-8.1) Ohio State line seems a little steep.

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