NCAAB: #10 Villanova vs. #16 Ohio State preview and pick

When No. 10 Villanova and No. 16 Ohio State meet in Columbus on Wednesday night, fans will get a taste of non-conference, top-25 basketball, one of November’s biggest treats.

It is, however, a rarer treat for Buckeyes fans, as Ohio State will host a top-10 non-conference opponent for just the fifth time in the last 22 years. The last such occasion came in December of 2012, when No. 9 Kansas came to Columbus and defeated Ohio State 74-66.

Villanova vs. Ohio State odds

Robinson-Earl and Bey have led the way for Nova

For the Wildcats the early season has been a tale of two forwards. Freshman Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and sophomore Saddiq Bey combined for 46 of Villanova’s 97 points in its season opener against Army on November 5. Robinson-Earl snagged Big East Freshman of the Week honors for his performance, while Bey has been generating conversation for many postseason awards, including the Wooden Award. Robinson-Earl also became the first true freshman in head coach Jay Wright’s 19 seasons to record a triple-double.

Villanova returns six players from last season, including Bey, junior guard Collin Gillespie and junior forward Jermaine Samuels.

Nova's D has been on point

But the story for Villanova isn’t just one of high-powered offense. The Wildcats pair that with a defense ranked No. 7 in the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings, which was on full display against the Black Knights. Wright’s defenders came out strong early, and Army didn't reach double digits until the 15th minute of the first half. The Wildcats led by as much as 41-12 before the break.

Ohio State will look to Wesson to generate offense

The Buckeyes will look to thwart that defense, led in part by junior forward Kaleb Wesson. Wesson led the team with 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game last year as a sophomore and jumped right back into midseason form with a double-double against UMass Lowell (13 points, 13 rebounds) on Sunday.

The duo of Wesson and Robinson-Earl will be one of the night’s marquee matchups and serve as a barometer both for the freshman’s potential and the junior’s growth and improvement, especially on the defensive end. Wesson averaged just 6.9 rebounds per game last season, an average he has nearly doubled in two games this season

Holtmann has had success against Wright

Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann is the only coach with an active winning streak against Wright in the last seven years. Butler under Holtmann defeated Villanova twice in 2017, and this will be their first matchup since Holtmann’s move to the Big Ten.

While the Holtmann angle would seem promising, and Ohio State is 2-1 against the Wildcats all-time, I like Villanova. Give me the Wildcats’ experience in what is sure to be an exciting environment in the Schottenstein Center on Wednesday night.

Pick: Villanova moneyline 

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