Ohio State head basketball coach Chris Holtmann claps while looking on during the mens basketball game between the Buckeyes and Spartans on Jan. 5. Ohio State lost 86-77. Credit: Nick Hudak | For The Lantern

Ohio State started the season hot, winning 12 of its first 13 games including road games against the likes of Cincinnati and Creighton.

The Buckeyes’ only loss to that point was to Syracuse, who took down No. 1 Duke on Wednesday.

It was looking like Ohio State was on the road toward another impressive season, but then it hit a snag.

The Buckeyes suffered a three-game losing streak, falling to No. 6 Michigan State and No. 23 Iowa, with a loss to unranked Rutgers in between.

For head coach Chris Holtmann, this is the longest skid in his time at the program. He said the focus is still on the game ahead, though he understands the mindset can change during a losing streak.

“We are trying to be about the daily process as much as possible, and kinda surrendering the results,” Holtmann said. “It’s hard, there’s a discipline required to that.”

A key struggle area for Ohio State has been the foul trouble of its top scorer, sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson.

Wesson earned two quick fouls in the first half against the Hawkeyes in the previous game, and has had his minutes limited in all three games during the streak.

Holtmann said the team’s biggest concern at this point in the season is the struggles on offense, and said Wesson’s foul troubles have come with an increased physicality from Ohio State’s opponents.

“I think teams are clearly going at him,” Holtmann said. “They’re attacking him, because I think they have an understanding of how important he is for our group.”

The Buckeyes will take their struggles back home, and are matching up their three-game losing streak with No. 19 Maryland’s six-game win streak.

Projected Starters

Ohio State (12-4, 2-3 Big Ten)

G — C.J. Jackson — Senior, 12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.9 apg

G — Luther Muhammad — Freshman, 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.1 apg

F — Kyle Young — Sophomore, 7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 apg

F — Andre Wesson — Junior, 7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.9 apg

F — Kaleb Wesson — Sophomore, 16.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.6 apg

No. 19 Maryland (14-3, 6-1 Big Ten)

G — Anthony Cowan — Junior, 17.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg

G — Eric Ayala — Freshman, 9.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.5 apg

G — Darryl Morsell —  Sophomore, 8.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg

F — Bruno Fernando — Sophomore, 14.6 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1,8 apg

F — Jalen Smith — Freshman, 12.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.3 apg

The Terrapins come into the matchup as the No. 20 team in the country according to KenPom.com. Ohio State is ranked No. 27 after the trio of defeats.

Maryland’s strength to this point in the season has been its defense which has allowed the 40th-fewest points per game in the NCAA.

Junior guard Anthony Cowan leads Maryland with 17.8 points per game, hitting on 42.4 percent of his shots and 84.5 percent of his attempts from the free-throw line.

Holtmann said the Buckeyes will have to specifically game plan for what Cowan brings to Maryland’s team.

“He’s really dynamic as a point guard. Really fast, incredibly shifty, he’s crafty, he does a great job at getting to the free throw line as well as he can make really big shots,” Holtmann said. “I think we’re gonna have to have a great team approach with him.”

The three losses the Terrapins have this season are against Virginia, Purdue and Seton Hall. Those teams rank No. 1, No. 15 and No. 52 in the KenPom rankings, respectively, and Maryland lost each game by five points or less.

In the frontcourt, Maryland brings sophomore forward Bruno Fernando and freshman forward Jalen Smith, who both are 6-foot-10, taller than any player on the Buckeyes.

Fernando’s 9.9 boards per game is tied for No. 21 in the country, and Holtmann said these two players, along with Cowan, makes the Terrapins such a dynamic group.

“The thing about them that makes them so good is they have excellent shooting, collectively, and they have, now, really two interior threats, so you cannot just focus your defense on [Cowan],” Holtmann said. “Bruno, has shown an incredible ability to score with his back to the basket, and so has Jalen Smith … I think it’s gonna require a great team defensive effort.”

Ohio State attempts to turn around its losing ways against No. 19 Maryland at home at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.