McCurdy: Ohio State point guards gauge for basketball team

Ohio State earned a 79-52 win over Rutgers on senior night based largely on the play of C.J. Jackson and Andrew Dakich Tuesday night.

Rob McCurdy
Marion Star
  • C.J. Jackson had a game-high 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting.
  • Andrew Dakich got his first-ever start for Ohio State.
  • Ohio State finishes the regular season at Indiana Friday night at 8 p.m. on FS1.
  • The Buckeyes are a game behind Michigan State for first place in the Big Ten.

COLUMBUS - They are the proverbial canaries in the coal mine.

If C.J. Jackson and Andrew Dakich do their job, all is clear for the Buckeyes. If not, trouble lurks for the Ohio State men's basketball team.

Prior to Tuesday night's senior night festivities, the two OSU point guards were admittedly not very good. The result was back-to-back losses for the first time in Big Ten play this season, knocking them from first place in the standings in the process.

At Penn State, a 79-58 drubbing, Jackson was OK, going 5 of 11 from the field for 13 points, but he was also 1 of 5 from the arc and didn't do much for his teammates, finishing with one assist and one turnover. Dakich didn't score in 22 minutes, getting two assists and a turnover with one missed shot.

At Michigan during a 74-62 loss, Jackson had three points, no assists and three turnovers, making just 1 of 5 shots. Dakich put zeros across the board except for a turnover in 22 minutes.

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"We had a conversation earlier on in the day just about our guard play has to step up," Dakich admitted. "We have to get our swagger back is what we called it. We felt like we hurt us the other night."

Feb. 20: Ohio State guard Kam Williams reacts to a three-point attempt during the first half against Rutgers at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

On Tuesday night, which doubled as senior night, the two were back to form in a 79-52 rout of Rutgers.

Dakich, a fifth-year graduate student transfer, was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time to honor him on the special night. He had two points and two assists with a turnover in 22 minutes.

Jackson, a junior who came off the bench for just the third time this year, responded with a game-high 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting. He had an assist with no turnovers.

"To see his confidence rise and my contributions as well, it was good to see," Dakich said.

They got back to doing the things they've done most of the year.

Jackson played aggressively but not recklessly. In the seven Ohio State losses this year, he averages 3.6 turnovers to just 2.3 assists. For the season, those numbers are essentially flipped to 3.9 assists and 2.3 turnovers.

Feb. 20: Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop tries to drive past Rutgers forward Candido Sa during the first half at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

As for Dakich, he got the ball where it needed to go, initiating the offense and keeping the ball moving. The Buckeyes finished with 18 assists on 33 makes, much better than the 9 on 21 field goals and 8 on 24 at Penn State and Michigan respectively.

"I think a lot has to do with our mentality," Dakich said. "C.J. does a great job, and he’s had an unbelievable year in my eyes, averaging what he is and leading this team to a 14-3 (Big Ten) record. I couldn’t be more happy for him to have this night because there are bumps and bruises throughout the course of the year. We got exposed a little up at Ann Arbor and Penn State. That’s unacceptable. That’s not how we got to this position.

"Getting Keita (Bates-Diop) the ball and making plays for our teammates and ourselves, that’s why we are where we are. Making plays at both ends of the court, that’s a huge thing. Especially moving forward we got to make plays for us in crucial situations as well."

If that happens, the Buckeyes' hopes for a Big Ten championship and more live on.

Rob McCurdy covers Ohio State men's basketball for USAToday Network-Ohio and can be reached at rmccurdy@gannett.com, work 740-375-5158, cell 419-610-0998, Twitter @McMotorsport and Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star.

Rob McCurdy, USAToday Network-Ohio sports reporter.