It’s hard to sum up just how disappointing Ohio State’s 64-62 loss to Kansas is. Especially when considering how well the Buckeyes began the game.
Ohio State looked like the better team in the first half cruising out to a double-digit lead. They were playing in sync offensively and not allowing Kansas to establish an offensive rhythm with intense defense.
However, the Buckeyes hit a wall in the second half and couldn’t recover.
Kansas set the tone at the start of the second half and didn’t look back. They made shots, played better defense and were picking up every loose ball. They played their style well and their intensity was a determining factor in winning the game.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes fell apart late. There was no sync offensively. A large part of that had to do with Deshaun Thomas being in foul trouble, but even when he was in the game he didn’t play well. In fact, the team couldn’t buy a shot. The Buckeyes were 8-33 in the second half.
This coupled with breakdowns on transition defense, poor shot selections and a refocused Kansas squad was too many obstacles to overcome. As a result, the Buckeyes fell two steps short of their goal.
With that said this team played with a lot of heart this year. Considering how precarious their season appeared to be in February, it’s great to see how hard they worked to turn around their season. Making the Final Four is no small accomplishment considering they beat some great teams to get there. Their effort and ability to improve is a remarkable feat that will serve as the legacy of this year’s team.
