It remains to be seen, but the Buckeyes shouldn’t be in the NCAA Tournament. I hate to see them miss the big dance for the third season in a row, but I just can’t rationalize putting them in it at this point. Does a team that is only two games above .500 doesn’t deserve to be in? Is 17-15 good enough to get in? Well, the Bucks have dropped some ugly games to teams with that record and winning percentage.
They lost to Pittsburgh, who is also 17-15. They lost twice to 19-13 Indiana. They went 1-1 against 17-14 Nebraska. They went 1-1 against 17-15 Iowa. They lost at home, by 21 points, to 17-15 Northwestern. All of these teams deserve to be in over the Buckeyes.
The only possible exception is Nebraska, who Ohio State beat recently and who also had an ugly early exit from the conference tournament. The Buckeyes haven’t had a significant win since February 6th when they beat Maryland (another team they went 1-1 against).
For every good win (like Kentucky, Maryland, and Purdue), they have an even worse loss (like Northwestern, Iowa, and Indiana). Ohio State is, at best, in the same shape it was when Holtmann was fired and possibly even in worse shape. Ohio State will give head coach Jake Diebler another year, so arguing if he deserves it or not is pointless.
But success in year one in a tough conference is not impossible or even that uncommon. Look no further than Mark Pope at Kentucky (21-10) and Kevin Young at BYU (24-8). Young, like Diebler is in his first full season as a college head coach and has BYU above Big 12 powerhouses like Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor, and West Virginia.
Things are grim and not pretty for the Buckeyes right now, and unlike last year, it is doubtful some wins in the NIT will get folks believing in this team again.