Ohio State Men's Basketball Entering Crucial Stretch of Schedule

Big Ten Conference play begins on Wednesday when the Ohio State Buckeyes host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, tipping off an important section of the schedule.

The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team plays host to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Wednesday evening in a game that will tip-off their Big Ten Conference schedule.

The Buckeyes finished with a 5-15 record against Big Ten teams last season, meaning the Scarlet and Gray have a chance at redemption that could begin with the Scarlet Knights.

Ohio State has already played two contests against opponents in its conference, but Wednesday's affair with Rutgers is different. The mid-week showdown is the start of the conference-only stretch of the Buckeyes' schedule, meaning each of their final 18 games (including Wednesday with the Scarlet Knights) is against a Big Ten opponent.

The Buckeyes are 1-1 this year in those aforementioned conference contests, defeating Minnesota 84-74 at home on Dec. 3 but falling 73-70 on the road in Penn State on Dec. 9. Four of Ohio State's upcoming 18 games against Big Ten teams will be against opponents ranked in the nation's top-25, including No. 1 Purdue.

Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann addressed his team's poor performance against Big Ten squads last season during his opening press conference back in October. Holtmann said the Buckeyes struggled on offense all year long, but especially in conference action.

"In Big Ten play, they were not good enough," Holtmann said about Ohio State's offensive numbers. "We were not efficient enough like we had been, really, the bulk of our time at Ohio State.”

Tip-off between Ohio State and Rutgers is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with live coverage airing nationally on the Big Ten Network.