When Ohio State and Michigan share the same court, the temperature always rises. That’s just the nature of one of college basketball’s most storied rivalries. And ahead of Friday’s showdown in Ann Arbor, it was Buckeyes sophomore forward Colin White who added a little extra fuel to the fire.
White’s name doesn’t often light up the box score, but what he brings in energy and attitude is hard to ignore-especially when the opponent wears maize and blue. His passion for the rivalry is palpable, and with Ohio State looking to notch a statement win on the road, his timing couldn’t be better.
Right now, the Buckeyes sit at 13-5, hovering on the NCAA Tournament bubble. A win over Michigan, who currently sits atop the KenPom rankings, would be a massive boost-not just for the résumé, but for the team’s confidence heading into the teeth of Big Ten play.
And while stars will always have to carry their weight, games like this often come down to the guys who don’t usually get the spotlight. That’s where White comes in.
He’s not a stat-sheet stuffer-averaging under a point per game in just over nine minutes of action-but he made one of the biggest plays in Tuesday night’s overtime win over Minnesota. With the game hanging in the balance, White came up with a clutch steal and a score that gave Ohio State a two-possession lead. That moment helped seal an 82-74 win and may have earned him a larger role moving forward.
Head coach Jake Diebler has been pushing his bench to step up, and White is answering the call. The message from Diebler is clear: the second unit has to maintain the standard set by the starters. White echoed that sentiment after the game.
“It’s just keeping the same thing rolling,” he said. “Just coming in and not having any drop-off from the bench guys and the starters.
Just coming in and making the dirty plays. Getting offensive rebounds, getting assists-those are little things that the bench can do to help the starters out.”
After seeing limited action in recent games, White logged 19 minutes against Minnesota and stayed on the floor during the most critical stretches of overtime. That trust from Diebler could be the confidence boost White needs heading into Friday’s rivalry clash.
If White’s energy and hustle can once again tip the scales, Ohio State might just walk out of Ann Arbor with the kind of win that changes the trajectory of their season. And for a player who’s clearly fired up to face the Wolverines, the opportunity to make an impact couldn’t come at a better time.