Finding positives from a loss can be challenging, but for Prairie View A&M and Ohio State it’s all part of the learning process when they meet Monday in Columbus, Ohio.
For the Buckeyes (2-2), an 84-68 loss on Friday at No. 4 UConn makes has them eager to build on the belief they outplayed the perennial national title contender for stretches, including a 13-1 run to end the first half to trail 42-40.
“It showed us what we’re made of,” said guard John Mobley Jr. “Now we know what we’re really capable of. … We can’t wait for what’s to come up. We’ve got even more opportunities ahead.”
Being outscored 42-28 in the second half was similar to the 60-46 finish then-No. 25 BYU used to beat the Buckeyes 94-83 in the season opener, so Ohio State’s goal is to play strong for a full game and not overlook Prairie View A&M (2-3).
The Panthers are in the middle of a three-week gantlet of games at SMU, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Marshall and Iowa. They dropped the first two by a combined 62 points as they’re figuring out their new roster.
Prairie View coach Byron Smith has only one returnee, Elijah Mitchell, from last season’s team that defeated Lehigh in the First Four for the team’s first NCAA Tournament victory before losing to No. 1 seed Florida.
“Our guys are always going to play hard, they are going to play smart, for the most part, and we’re going to play together,” Smith said. “Nothing changes with us. The script is still the same, it’s just the character (on the roster) is a little different.”
Mitchell led the Panthers with 15 points versus Vanderbilt and averages 10.4 points per game. Hampton transfer Michael Eley (15.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and junior college transfer Davis Bynum (14.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) are Prairie View A&M’s top producers.
Ohio State hopes to use the hot hand of sixth man Jimmie Williams, who followed a 16-point effort versus Marshall with 17 against UConn.
Coach Jake Diebler was pleased but wants more from him.
“He has to keep improving on the defensive end,” Diebler said. “I thought he did some really nice things attacking the rim.”
–Field Level Media
