Some losses are harder to shake than others. Ohio State coach Thad Matta has often lamented his decision to bench Mike Conley with two fouls during the first half of a loss to Florida in the 2007 national championship, but there’s another NCAA Tournament exit that has always stuck with him.
It came in Newark, New Jersey, in 2011 and at the hands of No. 4 seed Kentucky. No. 1 seed Ohio State, with a loaded roster that included seniors Jon Diebler and David Lighty, junior William Buford and freshmen Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft, the Buckeyes tied the game at 60 with 21 seconds left but fell on a Brandon Knight pull-up jumper seconds later.