Ohio State keeps tourney hopes alive with barrage of 3s
Ohio State needed every bit of its arsenal to fend off South Dakota State in the Round of 64, and the aspect the Buckeyes relied on most heavily was their long-range artillery.
The Buckeyes clearly had a game plan against the Jackrabbits, as they unleashed an outrageous number of attempts from beyond the arc in Thursday's contest. Ohio State became the first NCAA tournament team to attempt 40 3-point shots since Drake chucked up 42 back in 2008.
Ohio State is the first team to attempt 40 three-pointers in an NCAA tournament game since Drake attempted 42 against Western Kentucky in the 2008 Round of 64. https://t.co/FXW3jfalmT
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) March 15, 2018
The Buckeyes managed to convert from distance at a 30 percent clip (12-40). Not only was their strategy unequaled in a decade of tournament play, but it was also a significant departure from Ohio State's traditional method of operation - the team averaged just 19 attempts per game during the season.
The persistence was clearly warranted, as South Dakota State actually exceeded Ohio State in made 3-pointers (13) but attempted nine fewer for a conversion rate of 41.9 percent.
Ohio State will likely need to double down on its long-range efforts in the Round of 32, as the team will take on last year's national championship runner-up, Gonzaga.