The Ohio State Buckeyes (19-10, 12-8 Big Ten) are entering March Madness with a fifth-place conference finish and promising tournament prospects. Here's a comprehensive analysis of their postseason outlook:

Big Ten Tournament Path

• First game: vs Penn State on Thursday at 9 PM in Indianapolis
• With a win, they'll face 3rd-ranked Purdue in the quarterfinals
• Currently operating with a single-round bye as a 5th seed

NCAA Tournament Outlook

• Currently projected as a 6th seed by Joe Lunardi
• Potential to improve to 3-5 seed with strong Big Ten Tournament showing
• Early tournament exit could slightly hurt seeding but won't jeopardize tournament bid

Team Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths:

• 54.9% effective field goal percentage (20th nationally)
• 54.2% two-point shooting (34th)
• 37.3% three-point shooting (28th)

Weaknesses:

• Rebounding struggles (190th in total rebounds)
• Limited offensive rebounds (7.8 per game, 229th)
• Size disadvantage against bigger teams

Tournament Projection The Buckeyes are expected to win their first tournament game but face significant challenges advancing further due to late-season inconsistency. Their shooting efficiency keeps them competitive, but rebounding limitations could prove decisive in matchups against larger teams.

Related Articles

Previous Articles