Ohio State basketball vs. Santa Clara: Odds, preview, prediction, lineups, TV

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State basketball team will face Santa Clara on Saturday as part of the Emerald Coast Classic.

The Buckeyes beat Western Michigan in a first-round home game, then upset No. 17 Alabama to the championship round of their bracket. The Broncos beat Oregon on Friday night to advance to the championship round.

What: Ohio State (4-1) vs. Santa Clara (6-0)

Where: Raider Arena, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fl.

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

Ohio State projected starters

Bruce Thornton, guard, 15.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.5 apg.

Roddy Gayle Jr., guard, 14.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.0 apg.

Evan Mahaffey, guard, 3.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg.

Jamison Battle, forward, 11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 apg.

Felix Okpara, center, 4.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.3 apg.

Santa Clara projected starters

Jalen Benjamin, guard, 5.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.8 apg.

Carlos Marshall Jr., guard, 17.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.4 apg.

Adama Bal, guard, 12.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.4 apg.

Johnny O’Neil, forward, 9.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg.

Chrisroph Tilly, center, 9.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.2 apg.

What to Watch For

Roddy Gayle Jr. has blossomed in Year 2. He’s gone from a player with three-and-D potential to someone capable of filling up a box score offensively as both a scorer and a playmaker.

Five games into the season his numbers are starting to look like a trend and not just the result of a player on a hot start. He’s provided Bruce Thornton with a running mate in the backcourt that’s quickly making the two the engine behind Ohio State’s offense.

Stephen’s pick: Upsetting Alabama is the impressive win in this tournament. Beating Santa Clara is proof that OSU can build on a win like this which in turn would be a good sign for what’s to come in January.