When Ohio State’s matchup in the Sweet 16 begins this Saturday at 4 p.m. on ABC, it will be against one of the best programs in the sport, with the Buckeyes set to take on No. 2 UConn.
While the Huskies have not been on their usual tear through the sport as of late, suffering five losses this season – just the second time in the last 10 seasons that UConn has lost at least five games – this is still not a team to be trifled with, entering the game with a 31-5 record and some of the nation’s best players in forward Aaliyah Edwards and guard Azzi Fudd.
The Buckeyes are winless all-time against the Huskies, dropping all six games against UConn with the most recent coming in a 72-63 loss at The Schottenstein Center on Nov. 24, 2019. But despite the inherent challenge in facing off with Geno Auriemma’s squad, Ohio State is not afraid to take on that feat.
“I’m excited,” Ohio State freshman forward Cotie McMahon said after the team’s win over North Carolina on Monday. “I want to play UConn so bad, so yes, very excited.”
Perhaps the most notable player on UConn’s roster, though – at least relative to Ohio State – is forward Dorka Juhasz, who played for three seasons with the Buckeyes from 2018-20 before transferring to the Huskies.
She has been a major force for UConn this season, averaging 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds on 50.3 percent shooting – not unlike the numbers she put up with the Buckeyes – and will present a major challenge for Ohio State in the paint as it looks to make it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993.
“Yeah, that would be really cool (to play UConn),” said Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon, who was Juhasz’ teammate in 2019-20. “They’re a really great team, really great program. But we’re excited. They’ve got a good group and so do we, so we’re up for the challenge. We’re really excited.”
