OSU-Iowa: Buckeyes Show They Have No Concept of Consistency

Ohio State forgot that they were the No. 24th ranked team in the country and not the 8-13 team that they were playing. Iowa owned the Buckeyes in the first half and took a 25-20 lead into halftime.

The Buckeyes were lucky they were only down five after struggling on both ends of the court against an amped Hawkeye team and their rowdy crowd of 12,000.

The second half panned out better for the Buckeyes, but they still continue to play to the level of their competition. Ohio State outscored Iowa 45-32 as they pulled away in their 65-57 victory. This inconsistent play is excusable in December. They're going to have to play better, plain and simple.

No disrespect to Iowa, but this is an 8-13 team for a reason. They play tough at home but have no business being in a tight game with the Buckeyes, at home or on the road. In the end, a win is a win, but this should have been a 10-15 point victory. Instead it was a nail biter.

David Lighty stepped up and became the leader they need him to be going into postseason play. He carried Ohio State in the second half and finished with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds.

Evan Turner had another double-double, with 16 points and 12 rebounds on the night. He continues to look as if he has to win the game himself, instead of relying on his teammates' support. This mindset was what got the Buckeyes into trouble in the first half.

William Buford continues to impress, adding 11 points and eight rebounds, all while flying under the radar. The Hawkeyes had the defense focused on Lighty and Turner, while Buford continued to get open on the wing.

Dallas Lauderdale looked absolutely awful in the first half. He was out of place, slow in recovery, and got ridiculous fouls when Ohio State needed poise. He finished with 10 points, mostly off of Turner’s dishes in the paint.

The red flag in the box score, however, was his two lone rebounds. He’s the Buckeyes only post threat on both sides of the court, and a performance like this will make it a short dance in March for the Buckeyes.

Jon Diebler continues to be an enigma this season. Some games he shows up, some he doesn’t. He didn't show up against Iowa, finishing with six points and three fouls. Once again, he struggled from the perimeter, going 0-for-3 from three-point range.

Ohio State got its third road win on the season, and currently sits at 3-5 on the season. Good thing for the Buckeyes, considering the next three games are at home and they currently are 12-0 this season at the Schott.

All three of the upcoming games the Buckeyes will be favored in. This is the soft spot in the Buckeyes' tough schedule, but with games like this, they all look tough. The Buckeyes (15-6) will be in action this Saturday against Minnesota (13-7).

The Gophers already dropped Ohio State 73-62 earlier in the season, and revenge here could be just what the doctor ordered for the Buckeyes to heal from their struggles during the Iowa game.