Ohio State basketball: Big Ten title hopes still alive for the Buckeyes

The Ohio State basketball team kept their Big Ten regular-season title hopes alive after their huge road win against Illinois this past Thursday. Right now the Buckeyes sit one game back in the loss column (11-5) in the Big Ten standings, right behind Purdue and Wisconsin (13-4). The Buckeyes need some things to happen to the teams in front of them, but there is still a chance.

There is a slight possibility for the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten regular-season title. They need to do their part by winning the rest of their games on the schedule first. However, Purdue and Wisconsin both have fairly tough remaining schedules. Ohio State would need two losses from Purdue since they have the head-to-head win over the Bucks. They just need one loss from Wisconsin since the Buckeyes split with the Badgers.

Sure getting help from other teams is easier said than done, but it’s the Big Ten where anything can happen. Purdue has the tougher remaining schedule after losing to Michigan State today, then a big matchup at Wisconsin on Tuesday, and finish at home against Indiana. Wisconsin has to go to Rutgers today, as already mentioned the Badgers host Purdue, then host Nebraska which should be a win for sure for Wisconsin to conclude the season.

The best-case scenario for the Buckeyes is obviously winning out, then having Purdue lose their next two games to Michigan State and Wisconsin, and then Wisconsin loses to Rutgers today. It would give them a share for the Big Ten regular-season title since the Buckeyes split with Wisconsin. An outright title is definitely better, but a share for a title is nice as well.

The Ohio State basketball team needs to focus on themselves first before asking to get help from anyone else. A loss in any of their remaining four games would eliminate any chance at a regular-season title and force them to just play for a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament. If they take care of business, the Buckeyes will be right in the thick of things on the last day of the regular season.

Ohio State is going to be favored in their last four games. Their remaining schedule consists of one more game on the road at Maryland, then come home for three straight games to finish the season against Nebraska, Michigan State, and Michigan. The Buckeyes return to the hardwood Sunday at Maryland at 4:00 ET on CBS.