How will Ohio State balance rest and keeping momentum with week off before Rutgers?
Given the way the past few weeks have gone, Ohio State would probably prefer to skip its week off and play another game as soon as reasonably possible.
After enduring a stretch with one win in the span of 36 days, the Buckeyes have flipped the script in the final weeks of the season. With interim coach Jake Diebler at the helm, Ohio State has reeled off four wins in its last five games, capped by Sunday’s 84-61 home victory against Michigan.
The feeling of momentum around a program where not even three weeks ago the season was resembling a funeral march to the finish line is palpable. Now the Buckeyes have to put that on ice for a week before closing out the regular season at Rutgers on Sunday.
“We need to get some rest, but we need to keep the momentum and there’s a balance there,” Diebler said after the win against the Wolverines. “It’s a balance, but when we’re on the court, we don’t want to sacrifice the urgency we’ve practiced with.”
Words such as “urgency” and “aggression” have been in constant rotation since Diebler stepped in for Chris Holtmann, who was fired on Valentine’s Day. From the first practice, Ohio State’s players have talked of a newfound prioritizing of pace, be it in drills or even during water breaks. Those changes have been part of what Diebler said has helped him coach from a more genuine place that reflects who he is and his preferred style.
If the Buckeyes don’t get everything done during their allotted time, there’s no staying late. Time on the court is prized, and if there are segments in which they fall short, then so be it. This time of year, with 30 games already played and most players dealing with bumps and bruises, is not the time for marathon practice sessions.
That need for rest is part of what Diebler said Ohio State will juggle this week. The Buckeyes were off Monday with the plan to start the week by focusing on themselves early before moving into more traditional game preparation work as Rutgers approaches.
To get an idea on how to handle the week, Diebler said he had a lengthy Sunday night conversation with Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew. Diebler got his collegiate coaching start under Drew at Valparaiso and then also was his assistant at Vanderbilt from 2017-19.
So while the players are getting some rest, the staff has already started planning for Rutgers. At least, most of them have – assistant coach Brandon Baily and his wife welcomed their fifth child Sunday night, Diebler said.
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Much like it has been since Diebler was asked by retiring athletic director Gene Smith to replace Holtmann for the remainder of the season, the Buckeyes are trying to keep their focus on the here and now.
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“Just lock in,” guard Dale Bonner said of the approach to the week. “Move onto the next game. We’ve got Rutgers next. Come in every day ready to work.”
Continuing to do so will be Ohio State’s best shot at closing the regular season with another win and continuing to build toward a hopeful Big Ten Tournament run. The Scarlet Knights have lost four of their last five with the lone win a 30-point home blowout against Michigan. Rutgers will play at Wisconsin on Thursday night.
“Certainly we’re feeling some momentum,” Diebler said. “That’s real. Our guys have earned that. If we start to look too far ahead or start to think about other things, college basketball can change quickly. We’ve got to focus on the task at hand. Right now it’s having some good practice and getting rest and then a great opportunity going into a gym that’s really hard to play in against a team that’s really been playing well the last few weeks.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Can hot Ohio State keep momentum with week off before playing Rutgers?
