The Ohio State basketball team had another opportunity for a signature victory on Super Bowl Sunday. Welcoming TTUN into the Schott, the Buckeyes would have given themselves a great shot to make the NCAA Tournament. Instead, it was more of what fans have seen all year.
Ohio State was overwhelmed from the moment the game started. They never led, got crushed on the boards, and struggled to score points. It was a pathetic effort from the Ohio State Buckeyes, which has started to become the norm against good teams under Jake Deibler.
It ended up being a blowout at home, losing to the Wolverines 82-61. Instead of getting their first Quad 1 win of the season, the Buckeyes limped off the court with their tails between their legs. It seems their NCAA Tournament hopes are slipping away yet again.
The Ohio State basketball team gets blown out at home by TTUN
It wasn't just the fact that Michigan won this game; it was the lack of effort in the second half that was disappointing. TTUN kept grabbing offensive rebounds at will. They ended up finishing with 157 of them. Turnovers started piling up for the Buckeyes in the second half, too.
This is the same movie fans have watched for the last three seasons. Once Big Ten play rolls around, Ohio State gets exposed for its lack of toughness and physicality. Bruce Thornton is the only player who can do anything on a consistent basis, and he will get nothing to show for a great career.
It looks like the Buckeyes are destined to once again miss out on playing meaningful basketball in March. Despite the fact that Ohio State has plenty of opportunities left on the schedule for resume-building wins, it seems unfathomable that they will win any of those key games.
Until a move is made at the top, firing Jake Diebler, nothing with his program will change. It was a mistake to bring him on in the first place.