Ohio State basketball vs. Michigan State: Does the run end here?

The Ohio State basketball team might be playing their best basketball of the season right now. If they had played like this earlier in the year, they might not have their backs up against the wall. They’d be safe in the NCAA Tournament and awaiting their seed line.

Instead, the Buckeyes are in the unenviable position of having to run the table to make the NCAA Tournament. They have to win five games in five days and become Big Ten Tournament champs. They’ve won the first two already, beating Wisconsin and Iowa.

Today, they take on Michigan State. Unlike their last two foes, this is a bad matchup for them. Ohio State has already lost twice to the Spartans, including at home when they only scored 40 points. While they played much better against them in the last game of the regular season, that game was never in doubt.

The Buckeyes do have momentum though. Bruce Thornton and Sean McNeil are playing better basketball now than at any other point in the season. Felix Okpara has emerged as a true rim protector. Even Roddy Gayle stepped up and had huge moments against Iowa. So can they pull another upset?

Prediction: Ohio State basketball 65 Michigan State 72

I think this is where the run ends for the Buckeyes. Michigan State shoots it really well from outside as a team at 40%. That three-point shooting is going to be hard to stop for the Buckeyes, who have played solid defense so far in this Big Ten Tourney.

I do think this game is close the entire way like it was yesterday against Iowa. If they do somehow pull the upset today though, I think there might be a case to be made that the Buckeyes could be a bid-stealer. I’d love to see it!