Analysis: What lineups did Ohio State use in its loss to Indiana?

Ohio State's lineup got a boost with the return of Kyle Young against Indiana, but it didn't do much in the way of balancing out coach Chris Holtmann's lineup rotations.

The play of sophomore guard Duane Washington Jr. had a lot to do with that. In a 66-54 loss to the Hoosiers, Washington started both halves but played only 8:02 as Holtmann benched him for significant periods of time. Monday, Holtmann expressed his displeasure with Washington's approach to the game and his mental focus.

How did it all impact the lineups the Buckeyes utilized against Indiana? Let's take a look.

*With Young back, Ohio State went with its end-of-the-alphabet starting lineup: CJ Walker, Washington, Andre Wesson, Kaleb Wesson and Young. Those are the last five players listed alphabetically on the roster, and the group played the first 5:11 of the game. They came out at the first media timeout with Indiana leading 15-10 at the 14:49 mark.

*Washington subbed out of the game here along with Walker and Young. This was also where sophomore Luther Muhammad, who had started every game until this point, first checked in off the bench.

*Holtmann has consistently subbed Kaleb Wesson out if there's a stoppage in play with roughly a minute or so before the 12-minute mark of a half. In this game, that meant he checked out with 12:56 to play. Young replaced him with the Indiana lead at 20-14.

*With 10:18 to play, Washington checked back into the game as one of three substitutes. On the first possession, Young picked up his second foul when Washington allowed a drive by Indiana's Jerome Hunter. Young stayed in the game, but Washington immediately came out and did not return for the rest of the half. This shift lasted 17 seconds.

*A lineup of Carton, Walker, E.J. Liddell and the Wesson brothers took the court with 8:50 left in the half and the Indiana lead at 25-16. In the next 3:04, this lineup put together a 7-0 run to pull within two points.

*Here, the Wessons got a break as Muhammad and Young checked back in. This lineup only lasted seven seconds, though, because Liddell picked up a second foul and was replaced by freshman Alonzo Gaffney with 5:39 to play and the Indiana lead at 25-23.

*This lineup of Carton, Walker, Muhammad, Gaffney and Young had appeared in just one game this season, scoring four points and allowing one in 2:57 against Villanova. Here, it played for 1:06 and pulled even at 26-all.

*Kaleb Wesson replaced Young with 4:33 to play, and this lineup had a 5-2 run to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game before Andre Wesson replaced Gaffney with 2:46 to play and the lead at 31-28.

*The lineup of Carton, Walker, Liddell and the Wessons played for another 39 seconds during the final 1:03 of the game and got a three-pointer from Kaleb Wesson to finish the first half having scored 10 points and not allowing any.

*It was back to the starters to open the second half, but not for long. Washington and Walker were replaced by Muhammad and Carton with 17:26 to play and Indiana back on top, 35-34, and Washington's day was over.

*With 14:23 to play and the Indiana lead at 39-34, Holtmann went with a lineup of Carton, Muhammad, Andre Wesson, Liddell and Kaleb Wesson. This group was on the court for the next 4:17 and outscored Indiana 11-5 to make it a 45-44 Ohio State lead before Muhammad replaced Walker with 10:06 to play.

*This was the lineup that outscored Indiana 10-0 during the first half. This time, it allowed four points and didn't score before Liddell picked up a fourth foul with 8:58 to play and was replaced by Young.

*Here was where Indiana started to pull away. A lineup of Carton, Walker, Young and the Wessons was outscored 5-1 before Muhammad replaced Young with 6:47 to play and the Hoosiers lead up to 53-46.

*Muhammad then fouled out 18 seconds later and was replaced by Liddell, moving the Buckeyes from a three-guard lineup to a two-guard lineup. Holtmann made this move rather than reinsert Washington.

*With the deficit up to 11 points, Justin Ahrens replaced Carton with 5:42 to play.

*Ohio State used no new lineups in the game.

*The lineup of Carton, Walker, Muhammad and the Wessons has particularly struggled in Big Ten play. In a combined 7:37, this group has allowed 18 points and scored just one.

*The starters finished the game at minus-9 (10 points scored, 19 allowed) in 8:45.

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy