The Ohio State basketball team has struggled to get the resume-defining win that would help it make the NCAA Tournament. Too many times, they have faltered down the stretch against good teams. They have yet to notch a single Quad 1 win, which is instrumental in them making the NCAA Tournament.
On Saturday night, the Buckeyes took on Virginia in a very late-season non-conference showdown. They had a shot to get a neutral-site victory over a top-15 team. They had to do it without John Mobley Jr., who was ruled out indefinitely with a hand injury.
Without Mobley, the Ohio State Buckeyes played valiantly against the Cavaliers. It still wasn't enough for them to get the victory, despite being tied with them at halftime. No one was able to help Bruce Thornton, and the Buckeyes fell 70-66, wasting a great opportunity.
The Ohio State basketball team falters down the stretch yet again
Thornton was incredible in this game, trying to will his team to the resume-defining win they have been searching for. He finished the game with 28 points on 12-21 shooting. No one else came to his aid, especially in the final five minutes of the game.
Without help, Thornton wasn't able to get the win Ohio State so desperately needed. The loss of Juni Mobley was simply too great to overcome. Without him on the court, Ohio State didn't have enough firepower at the end of the game to win. Now, their NCAA Tournament hopes may have been extinguished.
Ohio State has just a few opportunities to get a Quad 1 win. Unless they get one, they will be sitting out March Madness yet again. It's disappointing for fans who so desperately want to have a team to root for when the NCAA Tournament starts. It looks like it's going to be another disappointing end to the season.