Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast.

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8-seed Ohio State Buckeyes (-2.5, 145.5 total points) vs. 9-seed TCU Horned Frogs| KenPom predicts: Ohio State by 3

Game Date/Time: Thursday, Mar. 19, at 12:15 p.m. ET
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
TV: CBS
Radio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com

The Ohio State men’s basketball team (21-12) has earned the 8-seed in the East Regional of the men’s NCAA Tournament, and will face 9-seed TCU (22-11) Thursday afternoon in the first round. It’ll be the first game of the round of 64, which means the loser of this game will be the first team eliminated from the round of 64.

Both teams enter the NCAA Tournament playing their best basketball of the season. Ohio State won its final three games of the regular season, and then went 1-1 in the Big Ten Tournament. TCU won its last five games of the regular season before going 1-1 in the Big 12 Tournament.

While Ohio State has the nation’s 16th-best offense according to KenPom, TCU brings the 23rd-ranked defense to this game, as well as one of the best shot blockers in the Big 12 in sophomore forward David Punch. The Horned Frogs are 15-0 this season when holding teams to 65 points or fewer. Ohio State scored at least 65 points in 27 of its 32 games so far this season.

Connor’s prediction: Ohio State 74, TCU 68

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

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