Published: Monday, 3/16/2015 – Updated: 38 seconds ago No. 10 Ohio State open NCAA vs. VCU on Thursday at Portland BY DAVID BRIGGSBLADE SPORTS WRITER COLUMBUS — The Ohio State basketball team is headed to the Rose City. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, few not wearing scarlet-colored glasses expect a pleasant stay. Ohio State learned on Sunday night that it will open the NCAA tournament in Portland as the No. 10 seed in the West Region — its lowest position since the tourney began seeding teams in 1979. The Buckeyes play seventh-seeded Virginia Commonwealth on Thursday, with the winner on course for a third-round meeting with No. 2 seed Arizona. Earning the West’s top seed was Wisconsin, which relied on 25 points from Whitmer graduate Nigel Hayes in an overtime win over Michigan State for the Big Ten tournament championship Sunday. “You have to lean on your seniors to keep that fire going,” OSU coach Thad Matta said. “Hopefully our guys will play with that chip.” His players view the Buckeyes’ seventh straight tournament berth as a chance to redefine a nondescript season — and climb out of a rare valley under Matta. After earning a top-two seed every March from 2010 to 2013, the Buckeyes (23-10) went one-and-out as a No. 6 seed last year and will be a opening-round underdog Thursday for the first time in Matta’s 11 seasons at Ohio State…
Continue Reading: Buckeyes in, but with lowest seed ever
