Ohio State men's basketball found its stride just in time, wrapping up the season with a three-game winning streak that included a statement victory over No. 8 Purdue, the Big Ten champions. Add in a B1G Tournament win against Iowa, and the Buckeyes secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament's Field of 68.
The big reveal on Selection Sunday placed Ohio State as a No. 8 seed, setting them up for a first-round clash with No. 9 TCU.
Positioned in the East Region, the Buckeyes could face No. 1 Duke next, assuming the Blue Devils get past Siena.
This region also features heavyweights like No. 2 UConn, No.
3 Michigan State, and No. 4 Kansas.
Ohio State ended the season with a 21-12 record, going 12-8 in the Big Ten. While they stumbled in non-conference play with close losses to Pitt, North Carolina, and Virginia, they made a strong comeback with key victories over Wisconsin and Purdue.
Leading the charge is Bruce Thornton, Ohio State's new all-time leading scorer. Thornton averaged 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, stepping up his game to average 22.6 points on 57% shooting in the final eight games. His standout performances included a 32-point game against Michigan State and a 25-point, seven-assist effort against Indiana.
Supporting Thornton are John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum. Mobley Jr. topped the Big Ten in three-point shooting at 41.8%, contributing 15.7 points per game. Bynum, a freshman, wrapped up the season with 11.6 points per game and was third on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.8 per game.
On the other side, TCU finished 22-11, with an 11-7 record in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak, including a victory over No. 10 Texas Tech, before falling to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals.
Jamie Dixon’s squad is anchored by forwards David Punch and Xavier Edmonds. Punch led with 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Edmonds added 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Punch shone in the conference tournament, scoring 26 points against Oklahoma State and 24 against Kansas. Edmonds also had a standout 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Kansas State.
In the NET rankings, Ohio State sits at No. 29, with a 4-11 record against Quad-1 opponents but strong showings against others, going 5-1 in Quad-2 and undefeated in Quad-3 and Quad-4 matchups. TCU ranks No. 39, holding a 6-7 record against Quad-1 teams, a 7-2 mark in Quad-2, and a combined 9-2 against Quad-3 and Quad-4.
Both programs are neck-and-neck in the NCAA’s Wins Above Bubble rating, with Ohio State at No. 32 and TCU right behind at No. 33. This matchup promises to be a thrilling showdown as both teams look to advance in the tournament.