While the football team was closing out a national championship in the first half of the month, the basketball Buckeyes were struggling. They started 1-4, with three home losses. They lost to league-leading Michigan State, 69-62. The Basket Bucks responded with an 89-88 overtime win over a Minnesota team that’s having a rough season (they are currently 16th in the conference). It was on the road, and a win is a win.
But after that, despite having the Ducks come to Columbus, Ohio State lost to #15 Oregon in a 73-71 heartbreaker. Five days later they’d have another two-point loss. This time on the road, 70-68 to #24 Wisconsin. Next, the 77-76 overtime home loss to Indiana was devastating.
But the Buckeyes didn’t quit. They went into Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, and beat #11 Purdue (who is currently 2nd in the Big Ten). It’s one of the most challenging places to play in the Big Ten, and the Buckeyes got the win there after three straight losses by two points or less. Winning one of those close ones was just what Jake Diebler’s squad needed.
It gave them some much-needed confidence and reminded them they could win the tight games that had been escaping them lately. They then beat Iowa at home on Monday, 82-65. Tonight, they went on the road and beat Penn State 83-64. Granted, these are games the Buckeyes should win, but so was the Indiana game. Ohio State finishes the month of January 4-4 on a three-game winning streak after starting the month 1-4.
Next up for the Buckeyes is a road trip to #18 Illinois in Champaign on Sunday, February 2nd. Then they host Maryland on Thursday, February 6th. February will be critical for Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament hopes, but the way it looks right now, it’s also a very manageable month, even with most of the games being on the road. It looks to be an interesting first full February for head coach Jake Diebler and his 13-8 Buckeyes.