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Ohio State Basketball: Buckeyes facing must-win games for remainder of the season

By Jacob Rhymer

Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) is guarded by Indiana Hoosiers guard Parker Stewart (45) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) during the second half of Monday's NCAA Division I basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Oh., on February 21, 2022. The Buckeyes won the game 80-69 in overtime.Ceb Osumbk 0220 Bjp 25
Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) is guarded by Indiana Hoosiers guard Parker Stewart (45) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) during the second half of Monday's NCAA Division I basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Oh., on February 21, 2022. The Buckeyes won the game 80-69 in overtime.Ceb Osumbk 0220 Bjp 25 /
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The Ohio State basketball team played with a ton of fight in a thrilling overtime victory over Indiana last night in the Schott. After this win, the schedule for the remainder of the regular season doesn’t get any easier. With the difficult opponents left it makes these games must-wins.

They couldn’t afford a loss to Indiana after just losing to Iowa this past Saturday. A loss last night to Indiana would’ve put the Buckeyes heading into Illinois on Thursday on a two-game losing streak with a large possibility of making it three losing efforts in a row.

These games become must-wins for Big Ten standings purposes as there is still a lot on the line for the Buckeyes. The loss to Iowa did make their chances at a Big Ten regular-season title smaller, but the win over Indiana kept some hope around.

Ohio State is just one game back in the loss column and has Purdue, Wisconsin, and Illinois ahead of them. They would need some upsets and chaos to happen for the teams above them. It seems unlikely, but it’s the Big Ten so anything can happen.

If a Big Ten regular-season title is out of the question, the Buckeyes should continue to fight for a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament and get that double-bye. A top-four seed would make things easier unlike having to win four games in four days if they fall outside the top four. A loss would put a spot in the top four in jeopardy.

Let’s hope the Buckeyes can build off their incredible win over the Hoosiers by bringing a lot of energy into Champaign for their battle with Illinois. With Illinois being above Ohio State in the standings it makes this game a “must-win”.  It’s gut-check time for the Buckeyes with March right around the corner.

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A win on the road in the Big Ten is a huge accomplishment. But, a win on the road this late in the season and against one of the best teams in the Big Ten would move sound barriers across the conference. It would help energize this Ohio State basketball team down the closing stretch of the season.

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