Ohio State gets another chance to clean up its defense Friday night, and Youngstown State walks into Columbus willing to be the test case.
The Buckeyes are coming off a 94-83 loss to No. 25 BYU on Monday in Salt Lake City, a game that exposed just how shaky things can get when the defense loses its voice. BYU shot 69.0% from the floor in the second half and hit 11 of its final 13 shots, turning a tied game into a comfortable finish.
Ohio State had a 37-34 lead at halftime and was still level at 59 near the midpoint of the second half before a 12-2 BYU run pushed the Cougars into control. Afterward, center Andrija Jelavic pointed straight at the issue.
"On the defense, definitely communication was the biggest issue," center Andrija Jelavic said. "Not just the big and the guard, but also the guard and a guard, the big and a big. We just didn't communicate."
Coach Jake Diebler is also looking for more from Amare Bynum, who led the Buckeyes with 20 points and four assists against BYU.
"I have been impressed with his growth, even in the last three weeks," Diebler said. "He has been so consistent. We have to keep leaning on him, certainly."
Youngstown State arrives with its own bigger-picture agenda. Under coach Ethan Faulkner, the Penguins are opening a stretch that includes four games against Power 4 opponents for the first time in program history, with Cincinnati, Ole Miss and South Carolina also on the list.
Faulkner said those games matter for more than just the scoreboard.
"Obviously, there is a component of development for your team, right?" he said.
"We're going to know right where we're at coming out of those games, what we need to work on. It puts our players in big-time college basketball atmospheres.
For that experience all of our players love to go and play those games and try to compete against the best teams in the country, NCAA Tournament-caliber teams.
"And then the third piece to it is the financial piece, being able to raise some money for our program."
The Penguins are 1-0 after beating St. Bonaventure 79-71 on Monday, and their roster looks almost completely remade.
Sophomore guard Jaiden Haynes is the only returnee on the 14-player roster. He started just two of 21 games last season and averaged 4.8 points, but he scored nine against the Bonnies.
"He just had an excellent summer," Faulkner said. "He's totally changed his body, developed his game in all areas. Really excited about where he's at."
Linus Holmstrom, a transfer from VMI, led Youngstown State with 26 points in that win.
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