It’s an ideal opportunity to add Ohio State to the discussion for a 1-seed come Selection Sunday. The Buckeyes went into Iowa on Thursday, made 14 3-pointers and left with a 89-85 success over the Hawkeyes.
They presently have a list of references to equal that of anybody in the country outside of the obvious top two groups: Gonzaga and Baylor.
The 1-seeds in most projected sections the previous few weeks have incorporated a pivoting cast of characters close by the Zags and Bears. Villanova has been a staple, yet the Wildcats just lost convincingly to St. John’s. Houston had played itself in with the general mish-mash, however the Cougars endured a stunning misfortune at East Carolina on Wednesday night.
Michigan hasn’t played in about fourteen days, and it’s hazy how the Wolverines will take care of their COVID-19 delay or when they will play once more. Texas and Iowa likewise have had a little while on the top line, yet the Longhorns and Hawkeyes have both lost three of their previous four.
After Thursday’s success in Iowa City, Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes absolutely have a way to a 1-seed, and one can say they control their own fate for it.
Ohio State presently has the most Quadrant 1 successes in the country with seven, remembering triumphs for the street against Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. There’s a scope of Rutgers and a December prevail upon UCLA in Cleveland.
The sheer amount of value wins contrasts well and different applicants: Villanova has two Q1 wins, while Iowa, Houston, Texas and Michigan have three each. The nearest groups to Ohio State (other than Baylor and Gonzaga) in the Q1 win classification are Illinois and Alabama, with five each.
Ohio State has perhaps the best offense in school ball, with matchup issues E.J. Liddell and Justice Sueing reliably causing issues for protections with their adaptability. Duane Washington broke out of his droop Thursday, and Justin Ahrens has demonstrated a genuine lift for the Buckeyes in Big Ten play with his external shooting.
Kyle Young is a paste fellow in advance who crashes the hostile glass, and Zed Key is a good old back-to-the-container post player who is successful against rivals with genuine post players. CJ Walker’s get back from injury has set the point monitor spot; he had nine helps and only one turnover against Iowa on Thursday. As such, the Buckeyes check the “eye test” box as well.
There’s as yet far to go until Selection Sunday however that likewise implies Ohio State has a lot of chances staying to support its profile further.
Among others, the Buckeyes actually need to confront Michigan, while second games against Iowa and Illinois stay on the timetable. In any case, each of the three of those groups need to come to Columbus, where Ohio State has lost only one game this season and lost only two last season.
They’re not anticipating that the Buckeyes should run the table to acquire a 1-seed, however they likely will not need to; given the flightiness of school ball this season, it’s impossible anybody other than Gonzaga and Baylor will go unbeaten the remainder of the way.
Ohio State hasn’t got sufficient public consideration this season, yet Thursday’s success will make it difficult to overlook the Buckeyes as an authentic 1-seed danger pushing ahead.
