Ohio State basketball blows huge lead in loss to Penn State

The Ohio State basketball team came into Saturday night having won seven straight games. They traveled to Penn State trying to end a nine-game road Big Ten losing streak. It looked like they were going to, but then they blew a massive lead.

The Buckeyes were up 18 points at one point in this game and they let it all slip away. Ohio State lost  the game 83-80. It was a game that Chris Holtmann coached teams seem to lose. The Ohio State basketball team can’t win Big Ten games on the road.

I told you all not to get excited with this team to start the year. This happens every season. Holtmann gets the team to play well in non-conference games before they falter when the competition actually gets good. It’s happened in each of the last two years.

Until the Buckeyes stop losing games they should win in December and January, I refuse to get excited about this team. They don’t seem to have the mental fortitude to win games when they get close, especially if the team doesn’t have the talent of Ohio State.

Bruce Thornton led the team in scoring with 17 points but shot poorly, only going 4/11 from the field. This team clearly goes as he does. If he’s not shooting well, the Buckeyes can’t win. He’s the only one who actually does anything consistently. Teams just guard him when the going gets tough. 

The Big Ten season won’t be any different than it was last season. It’s going to be the same old story.