This wasn’t the first time this season you saw it.
But it was probably the first time you noticed it.
Ohio State spent the majority of the second half of Tuesday night’s 71-63 win against Northwestern in a 1-2-2, three-quarter court zone press after made baskets and stoppages. The Buckeyes sped the Wildcats up, forced a few turnovers and scored some transition baskets as a result.
It was, by far, the most effective the look had been all season.
“We were in a little bit of scramble mode and we thought it could be effective even though I didn’t know it was going to be quite as effective,” Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said after the game.