Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Basketball: More proof Big Ten is the strongest conference

By Charlie Lockhart

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts to a play in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts to a play in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

If you have watched Ohio State basketball games in 2020 you realize you have often been watching two NCAA Tournament teams play.

When sitting down to watch an Ohio State basketball game against a Big Ten opponent you aren’t quite sure how it will play out. You can usually be certain you will watch talented, well-coached teams who will play hard for 40 minutes though.

That’s a take by a Buckeye fan but AP voters and those who crunch the numbers for the NET rankings think the Big Ten is strong also. First a look at conference teams in this week’s AP Poll.

  •  9) Maryland
  • 16) Penn State
  • 18) Iowa
  • 19) Michigan
  • 23) Ohio State
  • 24) Michigan State

Now a look at the Big Ten standings along with overall records and NET scores of teams ranked in the top 68.

  • Maryland 12-4, 22-5 (10)
  • Michigan State 11-6, 19-9  (12)
  • Penn State 10-6, 20-7  (25)
  • Wisconsin 10-6, 17-10  (30)
  • Illinois 10-6, 18-9  (36)
  • Iowa 10-7, 19-9  (28)
  • Michigan 9-7, 18-9  (22)
  • Rutgers 9-8, 18-10  (34)
  • Indiana 8-8, 18-9  (53)
  • Ohio State 8-8, 18-9  (18)
  • Minnesota 7-9, 13-13  (44)
  • Purdue 7-10, 14-14  (37)
  • Nebraska 2-14, 7-20
  • Northwestern 1-15, 6-20

12 teams in the Big Ten are among the top 68 teams in the NET rankings. It has been widely reported the NCAA Selection Committee puts importance on how teams are ranked in the NET.

It’s not likely all 12 teams will make ‘The Dance’ because there are usually upsets in the conference tournaments and regular season champions go into the mix for an at-large bid. That usually bumps a team or two on the bubble out of the NCAA tournament.

But there is no doubt the Big Ten will be well represented during ‘March Madness’ and in the NIT.

Next. Top 3 Buckeyes in the NFL. dark

I have been following Ohio State basketball since seven-foot center Luke Witte was patrolling the paint and Alan Hornyak was draining bombs in the early 1970s. But I can’t remember a year when the Big Ten was this strong. Apparently the AP voters and those who crunch the numbers to determine the NET ratings also agree the conference is very strong this year.

Home/Ohio State Basketball