Ohio State’s transfer Keyshawn Woods is more than ready to take on Syracuse at the Schott
COLUMBUS- As a previous guard for Wake Forest, Keyshawn Woods seems to be a great addition for the Buckeyes and their 2018–2019 season. The Ohio State Men’s basketball team, who is now №1 in the NCAA NET college basketball rankings, is gearing up for their game against Syracuse on Wednesday Nov. 28th at the Schott. In Tuesday’s press conference, players Keyshawn Woods and C.J. Jackson, along with head coach Chris Holtmann, sat down to answer questions regarding Syracuse.
Standing 6-feet-3-inches, North Carolina native Keyshawn Woods joins the Ohio State roster this season for the Buckeyes. Woods played his freshman year at Charlotte, where he then transferred to Wake Forest to sit out his second year. Woods was able to finish off his last two seasons at Wake Forest before coming to Ohio State.
Woods has played against Syracuse multiple times in his ACC career, but this time he will be playing for the Buckeyes.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well and we had a lot of turnovers. That’s one thing you can’t do against Syracuse because they sit back and wait for you to take bad shots and they sit back and wait for you to turn the ball over. We did both of those things in the tournament last year,” Woods says about his experience with Syracuse’s defense.
After having played Syracuse four times in his collegiate career and only beating them once out of those four times, Woods says he’s ready to finally take them down.
“I’m a competitor. I don’t like losing. I’ve lost to them three times and have only beat them once. The game we did beat them, I got hurt. So in my eyes, I didn’t beat them. That’s why I really want this game,” Woods continues to say.
It is clear that Woods has the experience, talent, and determination to finally shatter the Syracuse Orange, however, Syracuse’s tough defense still poses a threat to the Buckeyes.
“Everybody that has watched them play and knows them really believes they’re final four good and I think they are,” Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann says. “They’re tremendously talented…”
Currently 3–2, Syracuse opened their season with wins over both Eastern Washington and Morehead State. The Orange continued to beat Colgate, bringing them to their 3–2 record. Tyus Battle, who stands 6-feet-6 inches, leads the team with an average of 17.6 points each game.
Ohio State is going to have to put up a fight against Syracuse and their defense, but the Buckeyes seem to be confident in their 3-point shots.
“As guards or shooters on the wings, we have to be ready to shoot no matter what, especially in this game. There’s going to be a lot of opportunities to make threes,” Woods states.
Head coach Chris Holtmann says his team is ready to get some 3-pointers in the net against the Orange. “Syracuse does a great job at challenging threes…” Holtmann says. “We’ll definitely shoot some. We’ll try to shoot good ones. The ones that are there, I’m sure we’ll shoot a challenge one or two, but you have to stay ready to attack.”
Holtmann and his players know they have a big game ahead of them. Winning this game could advance the Buckeyes to a 7–0 record this season, but they will need to get past Syracuse’s impressive zone defense first.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will host Syracuse on November 28th at the Schott in Columbus. This is an exciting game for the Buckeyes, as former head coach That Matta will be welcomed back and honored during the student night game.
