COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball hosts The Citadel in a non-conference game on Tuesday night. Here's everything you need to know before tip-off:
GAME INFORMATION
Who: The Citadel Bulldogs (5-6) at Ohio State Buckeyes (9-3).
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Value City Arena.
TV: Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Seth Davis on the call.
Latest line: Ohio State -26.5.
PROJECTED STARTERS
The Citadel: G Frankie Johnson (5-11, Jr., 5.7 ppg); G Tariq Simmons (6-1, Jr., 11.5 ppg); G Kaelon Harris (6-4, Soph., 10.3 ppg); F Hayden Brown (6-6, Fr., 6.8 ppg); C Zane Najdawi (6-7, Jr., 8.4 ppg).
Ohio State: G C.J. Jackson (6-1, Jr., 13.0 ppg); G Kam Williams (6-2, Sr., 7.2 ppg); F Jae'Sean Tate (6-4, Sr., 13.3 ppg); F Keita Bates-Diop (6-7, Jr., 18.2 ppg); C Kaleb Wesson (6-9, Fr., 12.5 ppg).
THE CITADEL BREAKDOWN
Not much to say here outside of this being the worst team, per Ken Pomeroy's rankings, on Ohio State's schedule. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 317 out of 351 teams in Division I college basketball ... This will be the first ever meeting between Ohio State and The Citadel ... The Bulldogs have played two high major opponents this year, giving up 132 points to Virginia Tech and 113 points to Florida State ... The Citadel is ranked No. 345 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, but does force a fair number of turnovers. It ranks No. 91 in the country in opponent turnover percentage (21.1 percent).
OHIO STATE BREAKDOWN
Ohio State is on a four-game winning streak, and is looking for its first five-game winning streak since starting 6-0 last year. The Buckeyes are coming off an 80-67 win over Appalachian State on Saturday. All of Ohio State's win in this streak have come in December. The Buckeyes haven't had a five-game winning streak in December since 2013 ... Ohio State is ranked No. 48 in KenPom, after opening the season at No. 78 ... Sophomore center Micah Potter and forward Kyle Young returned from ankle injures against App State. Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann said he expects both to play more minutes on Tuesday night ... Ohio State hasn't scored 100 points since a win over Marshall last November ... Junior forward Keita Bates-Diop (18.3 ppg) is the No. 3 scorer in the Big Ten ... The Buckeyes have three non-conference games left, Tuesday against The Citadel, Saturday vs. No. 5 North Carolina at the CBS Sports Classic in New Orleans, and Dec. 30 against Miami (Ohio) before getting back into Big Ten play on Jan. 4.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Ohio State basketball links from the past few days:
* The different vibe around Ohio State basketball with UNC looming
* Ohio State beats App State after smoke alarm delays game
* Listen to an all-basketball edition of our Buckeye Talk Podcast below:
PREDICTION
Bill's pick: Ohio State 101, The Citadel 61. A 40-point win might be too much for an Ohio State team that could be looking ahead to UNC. But this is what the Buckeyes should do to get rolling into New Orleans. Ohio State navigated finals, a weird injection of Big Ten play and some injuries to play some solid basketball during this four-game winning streak. That team should have no problem on Tuesday night.