TULSA, Okla. – Just getting to the NCAA tournament was an accomplishment for Chris Holtmann's Ohio State team after the losses of Keita Bates-Diop, Jae'Sean Tate and others.
Now that March Madness has begun, though, the 11th-seeded Buckeyes hope to surprise onlookers and make a run, beginning with their matchup against sixth-seeded Iowa State at 9:50 p.m. Friday in Tulsa.
Ohio State, a 6.5-point underdog, had a similar end to the regular season as its first-round opponent then went through a drastically different conference tournament experience.
The Buckeyes won just two of their final seven games entering the Big Ten tournament, losing all three of their last games to end the regular season needing a win to secure their spot in the field of 68.