Ohio State Buckeyes vs Washington Huskies Picks and Predictions February 12th 2025

Washington Needs to Climb Standings, Faces Ohio State Next

Washington enters the final stretch of its first Big Ten season with an urgent need to improve its standing, starting with a road clash against Ohio State on Wednesday in Columbus.

Huskies Fighting for a Big Ten Tournament Spot

Washington (12-11, 3-9 Big Ten) snapped a six-game losing streak last week and has now won two of its past three games, including a 76-71 home victory over Northwestern on Saturday. But the Huskies remain in a precarious position—17th in the conference, with only the top 15 teams qualifying for the Big Ten tournament.

“It was a huge game, honestly, to keep our hopes alive for that Big Ten tournament,” Washington coach Danny Sprinkle said. “Some of our seniors are seeing the hourglass ticking a little bit and they’re down to playing their last month of college basketball.”

Great Osobor continues to be the Huskies’ top performer, leading the team with 15.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Washington will need another strong outing from him as it looks to gain ground in the standings.

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Buckeyes Eyeing a Strong Finish

Ohio State (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten) is in a better position than Washington but is still fighting for a higher seed in the conference tournament and a potential return to the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes are at a pivotal point in their schedule, beginning a three-game homestand that could define their postseason fate.

“They’re coming in with some momentum, and we need to play at the level we’re capable of,” Buckeyes coach Jake Diebler said. “We have to put our best foot forward. We’ve got to bring our best stuff and get ready to defend our home court Wednesday night.”

Bruce Thornton leads Ohio State with 17.3 points per game and will be the focal point of the offense against Washington.

Key Absences Could Impact the Game

Both teams might be missing a key player.

For Ohio State, second-leading scorer Devin Royal (13.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) injured his ankle in Sunday’s 79-71 loss at Nebraska, and his status remains uncertain.

“It’s too early to tell. It’ll be a kind of a day-by-day thing,” Diebler said.

Meanwhile, Washington will be without guard Luis Kortright, who was suspended indefinitely for not meeting program standards. Kortright, who had already missed two games with an ankle injury, was averaging 4.9 points in 18 appearances this season.

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Will Washington Keep Its Tournament Hopes Alive?

With both teams looking to secure their postseason fate, this matchup carries significant weight. Can the Huskies pull off a critical road win, or will the Buckeyes defend their home court?