The Ohio State Buckeyes are already the Hall of Fame Tip Off champions after winning last weekend, but still have one game left against the UMKC Kangaroos before the tournament is complete.
The two programs will face off for the first time Friday night in Columbus and offers the third-ranked Buckeyes a much-needed warm-up before next week's anticipated game against Duke.
Ohio State was impressive throughout the tournament, defeating Rhode Island 69-58 in the semifinals in Connecticut on Saturday, and winning the championship game 77-66 over Washington on Sunday
"We all figured it out together as a team," tournament MVP Deshaun Thomas said to the Associated Press.
The Buckeyes took a lead late in the game and finished with an 18-8 run to seal the victory. Thomas is leading the team in scoring and rebounding and was essential to Ohio State during the tournament run.
Against Rhode Island Thomas had 25 points and 10 rebounds and followed with a career-high 31 points and eight rebounds in the championship game. The junior is averaging 25 points per game and is shooting over 50 percent from the field.
"It's always a lot of fun when you have a guy that's feeling really good and can knock down shots from just about anywhere," guard Aaron Craft said.
Craft has been nearly as good for the Buckeyes, averaging 17 points and five assists per game. The junior scored 20 points in the opening 82-60 win against Albany and had 18 in the championship game.
Ohio State has been one of the best shooting teams in the nation, ranking 33rd in field goal percentage, making nearly 50 percent of their shots. The team is shooting 45.1 from 3-point range and is only turning over the ball eight times per game, lowest in the Big Ten.
Last season the Buckeyes went 31-8 and finished tied for a share of the Big Ten Big Ten regular season championship for the third year in the row with a 13-5 record with Michigan and Michigan State. The team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament after beating Loyola, Gonzaga, Cincinnati and Syracuse, but lost 64-62 to Kansas in the national semifinal.
Ohio State is only allowing 61.3 points per game this year, but has had issues spreading the ball around the court, ranking only 140th in assists per game. Craft leads the team in assists and has played well defensively, averaging nearly two steals per game.
Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta knows his team is anticipating the matchup with Duke next week, but will not allow his players to overlook the Kangaroos.
UMKC won against Norfolk State 63-57 on Sunday in the Connecticut tournament consolation game after being defeated by Albany 62-59 the previous day. The team has two dangerous 3-point sharpshooters in Estan Tyler and Kirk Korver, who is the younger brother of NBA guard Kyle Korver.
Korver is leading the team with 12.3 points per game and shooting 47 percent from 3-point range, while Tyler is averaging 11.8 points and has hit 7 of 12 3-pointers. The two shooters have a favorable matchup against a Buckeyes team that has struggled defending the perimeter, allowing 40 percent from 3-point range.
The Kangaroos started the season with an opening loss to Seton Hall 75-36, but rebounded to beat Division II Lincoln 99-64 before playing in the Hall of Fame Tip Off.
For any chance UMKC has to win, they will need to emulate their game against Lincoln in which the team hit over 60 percent from the field, including 52 percent from 3-point range. Korver had his best game of the season in the win, scoring 17 points while hitting 5-of-six from 3-point range.
This year UMKC is averaging 16 turnovers per game and are ranked 245th in the nation in scoring. The Kangaroos have been outrebounded in both losses and Tyler is the only player averaging more than two per game.
According to the Associated Press, the Kangaroos have "dropped 10 of 11 on the road against non-conference opponents. They also have lost all five games against Big Ten teams and are 0-14 all-time against ranked foes, with the last three decided by an average of 42.7 points. "
Last season the Kangaroos finished 10-21 on the year and were only 4-14 in the Summit League. UMKC will have to fight some history to beat the Buckeyes.
According to the Associated Press, Ohio State has "won 33 straight home games over non-conference opponents and is 5-0 all-time against members of the Summit League."
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