TULSA, Okla. – Andre Wesson sounded hurt. Emotions spilled out. He knew Ohio State "really needed" a win, and it couldn't beat Purdue on Jan. 23, suffering its fifth loss in a row. The Buckeyes hadn't tasted victory in nearly four weeks by that point. The 12-1 record to start the season and No. 13 ranking that they rose to in the Associated Press top-25 poll on Jan. 5 felt impossibly far away.
"When you lose four straight, you're desperate, you need it," Wesson said at the time.
Chris Holtmann felt the pressure, too.