Prior to dropping an 86-77 loss to Michigan State on Saturday, Ohio State had lost just one game. Syracuse beat the Buckeyes, 72-62, in late November.
Following the Orange’s defeat, Ohio State won its next six games, including wins versus UCLA, Minnesota and Illinois. A six-game post-loss win streak would be significantly more difficult after the team’s second loss of the season, since that stretch includes games against Iowa, Michigan, Purdue and Maryland, but Chris Holtmann’s team hopes for something similar.
“This is life in a power conference,” Holtmann said on Tuesday. “You’re going to go through some bumps and bruises.