The Buckeyes were outclassed on the glass against Illinois as rebounding deficits have become more frequent and more pronounced for Ohio State through its rough January stretch.
By game’s end, Purdue finished with 37 boards to Ohio State’s 27. At the time, It was the largest disparity the Buckeyes had suffered in that department. Ohio State still nearly overcame it. The Buckeyes held a one-point lead in the final 30 seconds, and it wasn’t a lack of rebounding that led to the game-winning shot for Purdue.
“It was the lack of physicality in the paint that he provides, certainly the offensive and defensive rebounding that I think we missed with him,” Holtmann said. Despite the 69-60 final score, Illinois held a 17-point with three-and-a-half minutes to go and never trailed in the second half. The Illini’s advantage on the glass played a major role in their ability to keep Ohio State from mounting any real comeback effort in the latter stages of the contest.
As for Okpara, the Buckeyes’ backup center finished with just one rebound in 13 minutes of action against the Illini. That means Ohio State’s two centers combined for all of four boards in a road game against a Big Ten opponent that starts three players standing 6-foot-9 or above.
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