Scarlet and Game
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Ohio State basketball: One seed is slipping away

By Ryan Stano

Feb 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) drives to the basket as Michigan State Spartans forward Julius Marble II (34) and forward Aaron Henry (0) defend during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) drives to the basket as Michigan State Spartans forward Julius Marble II (34) and forward Aaron Henry (0) defend during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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This time last week, it seemed like a no-brainer that the Ohio State basketball team was going to be a number one seed. Now, those hopes might be on life support.

The Ohio State basketball team has had a really good season. They still have the most Quad 1 wins in the country and are still ranked 4th. However, they have now lost two games straight after the debacle last night. Now, they look like a team in slight disarray.

Teams in slight disarray don’t get one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. That is now what is at stake for the Buckeyes. Losing back-to-back games to Michigan and Michigan State hurts their case. But they still have a chance to get that one seed back if they finish the season well.

Ohio State takes on 9th ranked Iowa on Sunday and then they finish off their season against Illinois, who at the moment is ranked 5th. They won’t be by the time they play them though since they too just lost to Michigan State earlier this week.

If Ohio State can win those two games and make the finals of the Big Ten Tournament, they should be able to grab that number one seed back. If the season ended today, I think they would probably be the best two seed. They need just a hair more to get back to that one line.

Chris Holtmann’s team needs to play better defense. Their defense in transition was terrible against the Spartans and that was a big reason why they lost. They also allowed 92 points to Michigan. That part of their game needs to get fixed if they want to make a deep run.

Next. Ohio State football starts Spring practice today. dark

It all starts on Sunday. Ohio State should get Kyle Young back for the matchup against Luka Garza, which will help immensely. They are good enough to beat both Iowa and Illinois. If they do, they will be sitting pretty when it comes to Selection Sunday.

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