Last year’s first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament still leaves a mark on the Ohio State men’s basketball program.
It’s not one that will be easily forgotten by the participants involved, and even first-year Buckeyes have heard enough about the upset defeat to No. 15 seed Oral Roberts to let it fuel them ahead of Friday’s tournament opener against No. 10 seed Loyola.
Ohio State may not be able to travel back in time, but avenging the loss that motivated its entire offseason with a better first-round showing in the Big Dance one year later would be a satisfactory accomplishment just the same.