June 16, 2026

Ohio State's Gene Smith: 'The NIT should consider us' if Big Ten title bid falls short

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Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Ohio State’s Isaac Likekele, Felix Okpara Ohio State’s Isaac Likekele (left) and Felix Okpara’s full press conference from March 6, 2023. Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch CHICAGO – It is no longer a rule that a team must have a .500 record to receive an at-large berth to the NIT. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith would like the committee to keep that in mind should Ohio State’s run in the Big Ten Tournament stop shy of a championship. “The NIT committee should consider us,” Smith told The Dispatch on Friday evening. “We’re not a team to host, but we’re a team that should be in the NIT.” Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy After losing 14 of 15 games at one point this season, Ohio State has flipped the script in the…

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