While Ohio State fans were busy watching their team clank all 11 of its three-point attempts and nine free throws on Sunday in the midst of turning in yet another subpar performance, it became only natural to think about where this season is going.
After all, every college basketball campaign builds toward the end of March.
Most years, Thad Matta’s Buckeyes seem to get stronger as the winter turns to spring. Perhaps this year’s late snow is delaying that development. Ohio State is heading backward after a week that included losses to Indiana and lowly Penn State.
If Aaron Craft and Co. continue to play like this, another loss to Michigan State will probably be how the regular season ends.
In a worst-case scenario, could the Buckeyes miss the NCAA tournament altogether?
Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors doesn’t think the NIT will come into play, but he does leave a little wiggle room in case things really go south:
The history Rowland alludes to is the fact that since the Big Ten returned to an 18-game conference slate in the 2007-08 season, 10 of the 14 teams that finished either 10-8 or 9-9 in league play went dancing. Whether Ohio State finishes 10-8 or 9-9 depends on the Michigan State game. Either way, the Buckeyes should find their way into the field.
If Buckeye Nation is still worried about Selection Sunday, let Eamonn Brennan of ESPN.com ease your mind even more:
With top-20 RPI and schedule numbers and just two sub-100 losses (both…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Basketball: Buckeyes’ Best- and Worst-Case Postseason Scenarios
