Ohio State Basketball: Buckeyes heating up as tournament play nears

The Ohio State basketball team recovered from a poor mid-season stretch and has won eight of ten games as the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments near.

In a season that has been characterized by ups (11-1 start and No. 2 ranking, 8-2 record last 10 games) and downs (1-6 stretch between the hot start and the last 10 games), Chris Holtmann’s team is playing with determination and focus as the calendar has turned to March and the Buckeyes are playing their best basketball.

After losing to Minnesota 62-59 on Jan. 23, Ohio State fell to 12-7 (2-6 Big Ten). The Buckeyes quickly dropped from a No. 2 ranking to being unranked, and on the bubble for making the NCAA Tournament.

During the last 10 games though, Ohio State has been led by seven different scorers and has held opponents to 70 points or less in eight of those games. The Buckeyes have also cut down on turnovers during their current three-game winning streak, averaging just 9.3 per game compared to a season average of 12.3.

Forward Kaleb Wesson has been a key contributor all season, nearly averaging a double-double (14 points, 9.6 rebounds per game). His brother Andre has averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the 8-2 stretch and 9.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the season.

Guards Luther Muhammad, Duane Washington Jr.and C.J. Walker have also been instrumental in Ohio State’s recent run of success. Muhammad, who is averaging 7.1 points per game, has scored 10 points or more in four of the last 10 games, including a 22-point outburst against Maryland.

Washington (11.4 points per game) and Walker (8.3 points per game) have been consistent scorers throughout the entire season, and both have scored in double digits in each of the last four games.

The consistent theme has been better play for each Ohio State player the last 10 games. Although points per game isn’t the only indication of a team’s improved play, Walker;s average (9.6) is an example of the team’s improvement.

As the team leader in assists per game Walker has also turned up the dial in that area as well, averaging 4.5 over the last 10 games compared to his season average of 3.5.

Statistics are important in showing the areas where a team is playing well, but the most important stat is what’s in the win column. And for the Buckeyes, that column has been filling up nicely as the team has a chance to soar into the Big Ten Tournament with wins over No. 23 Illinois (home, March 5) and No. 16 Michigan State (away, March 8). Both teams are ahead of Ohio State in the Big Ten standings.

With an NCAA Tournament appearance being a lock, the only question is where the Buckeyes will be seeded. Currently sitting in the No. 6 seed in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology (facing No. 11 USC), they have had a roller coaster ride in Lunardi’s projections.

Starting as a 4-seed in his original pre-season projections July 24 of last year, Ohio State climbed as high as a 1-seed on Dec. 23 but then fell to a 9-seed in Lunardi’s Feb. 4 projections.

Now playing the best basketball since starting the season 11-1, and notching wins over Villanova and Kentucky, Ohio State has a chance to continue the recent run of success. That would push the Buckeyes higher in seeding, both in the final Big Ten standings and the NCAA Tournament.

They would need some help from the outside though. With just a 2-game gap between Ohio State and Illinois (20-9, 12-6 Big Ten) and Wisconsin (19-10, 12-6 Big Ten), the margin for error is nonexistent to earn a double bye and a berth in the Big Ten quarterfinals.

Currently sitting seventh in the Big Ten Standings, Ohio State currently would face Purdue (16-14, 9-10 Big Ten) in the second round of the tournament next Thursday (March 12). Wins over Illinois at home March 5 and away against Michigan State March 8, however, would change that scenario.