The Ohio State basketball team got another big win on Thursday night. They came from behind to shock the Maryland Terrapins 73-70. They were down by as many as 17 points at one point. It's now the third win they have over a ranked opponent this year.
So far this season, they have wins at home against Maryland, on the road against Purdue, and against Kentucky at a neutral site. All three of those opponents were ranked when the Buckeyes beat them. They'd have even more wins over ranked opponents if it weren't from some choke jobs.
As it stands right now, the Buckeyes are 14-9 and 6-6 in the Big Ten. They only play one other currently ranked team for the rest of the year, and that's 24th-ranked Michigan. Is this resume good enough for the Ohio State Buckeyes to snap their NCAA Tournament drought?
Is the Ohio State basketball team good enough to make the NCAA Tournament this year?
Before the Buckeyes took down Maryland, they were projected to be in the field by most bracketologists. According to Joe Lunardi of ESPN, the OG bracketologist, he had the Buckeyes as a 10-seed and one of the last four teams receiving a bye.
Of course, the win over Maryland should only boost their standing. That win should get them firmly in the field right now. Ohio State's easy schedule for the rest of the season is a double-edged sword, though. While they'll be favored in most of those games, they won't have many chances for resume-boosting wins.
Even worse, a loss to some of the teams they have left would do severe damage to their chances of making the Big Dance. Losses to either Northwestern or Washington at home would be crushing to their hopes of breaking their NCAA Tourney drought. Those are must-win games.
Ohio State needs to make sure they finish at least 15th in the Big Ten so that they make the Big Ten Tournament. Right now, they are eighth in the conference, solidly in. As long as they can string together some wins, they'll be in a good spot to play some meaningful postseason basketball.