Ohio State's Bruce Thornton is on the brink of making history while his team has its sights set on the NCAA Tournament. In a thrilling game against the No.
25 Wisconsin Badgers, Thornton became only the third player in Ohio State history to score 2,000 points, achieving this milestone late in the second half. With 2,005 points, he's just seven points shy of surpassing Herb Williams for second place and 91 points away from catching the all-time leader, Dennis Hopson.
Thornton's scoring prowess has been crucial, and with five games left, he needs to average 18.2 points per game to become the Buckeyes' top scorer. His recent performances against Virginia and Wisconsin have lowered that required average from over 20 points per game, showcasing his ability to rise to the occasion.
But Thornton and the Buckeyes have bigger goals. Despite their victory over Wisconsin, they're still fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
To secure their place, Ohio State likely needs to win four out of their last five games, a tough task with matchups against No. 15 Michigan State, No.
7 Purdue, and Iowa looming.
The Buckeyes are taking it one game at a time, with Head Coach Jake Diebler emphasizing their focus on each opponent. Their preparation showed against Wisconsin, where they played exceptional defense and saw standout performances from Thornton and forward Devin Royal, who together scored 52 of Ohio State's 86 points.
Next, Ohio State heads to East Lansing to face the No. 15 Michigan State Spartans, who are riding high after a big win over UCLA. The Spartans aim to bolster their own tournament resume while derailing Ohio State's ambitions.
For the Buckeyes to achieve their goals, Thornton's continued excellence is key. If he maintains his form, Ohio State could find themselves in the tournament, and Thornton might just etch his name in the school's record books as the all-time leading scorer.