Basketball Preview: #3 Ohio State vs. #12 Michigan State

Time for the stretch to March Madness

Seven games left before the B1G tourney. All of them big. But today's matchup at the Schott is perhaps the biggest home test left for these young Bucks. 

Eleventh-ranked Michigan State brings the two headed big man attack known as Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne to bear against Jared Sullinger.

Besides control over the Big Ten conference race, another thing is at stake: The Streak. 39 home wins in a row, to be precise, one of the longest such streaks currently active. The Buckeyes have the home crowd as a decisive sixth man. But Tom Izzo's teams know how to walk into hostile environments and come out victorious.

Even though the Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2 Big Ten) will still have six conference tilts left after the game, coach Thad Matta knows a head-to-head matchup with the closest pursuer is important because of the balance throughout the league.

It was good to see William Buford with the hot hand Tuesday against Purdue. He's been getting some heat lately for his lack of clutch shooting. The Bucks will need more Buford today. He put up 23 in last year's only game against the Spartans. Both the Spartans (18-5, 7-3) and the Buckeyes can attest to the B1G being a tough league this year, as they had to overcome struggles against lower teams just this week leading to the showdown.

Purdue on Tuesday became only the third opponent during the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak to lead in the second half. The Boilermakers pulled into a tie with five minutes left, before losing 87-84. The next night, last-place Penn State trailed 52-47 with nine minutes remaining before Michigan State pulled away from the visitors for a 77-57 victory.

Aaron Craft will need to step up his game today, after a foul-ridden, 13 point performance against the Boilermakers. Sullinger should attract double teams, freeing up Craft from deep. Lenzelle Smith, I feel, will be the difference maker for the Buckeyes. He poses some matchup problems for the Spartans. 

Draymond Green will be a force against the Bucks. He's averaging over 15 points and 10 boards per game. Sullinger will need to be all over the glass on both ends to keep the ball out of Green's hands.

My pick: This will be a tough, low scoring game. Hopefully the guys in the stripes will let them play, but keep things even. If Sullinger can stay out of foul trouble, the Buckeyes take this 60-57.