Ohio State's Blueprint for a Deep Run in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

If the Ohio State Buckeyes are to make a deep run in the 2015 NCAA tournament, they will have to earn it with wins against a few tough opponents. 

Thad Matta's team drew the No. 10 seed in the West Region and a second-round game against No. 7 VCU in Portland on Thursday. 

Ohio State was handed its specific seeding due to its inconsistent resume that contained a few heartbreaking losses. 

For the Buckeyes to make a run into the second weekend of the Big Dance, they will have to follow this blueprint. 

Ohio State will have to face VCU's trademark havoc defense in its first game of the 2015 NCAA tournament. 

Shaka Smart's Rams like to dictate the pace of the game through their patented full-court pressure, which can wreak havoc on an opponent at any stage of the game. 

One way the Buckeyes can stop VCU from grabbing a hold of the tempo is to make stops on defense. If Ohio State can create turnovers off its half-court defense, it should be able to turn them into points in transition. 

However, if the Buckeyes fail to take control of the game early on in Portland, they could be subject to 40 minutes of offensive hell against the Atlantic 10 tournament champion and an early tournament exit. 

There has been a lot of buzz about freshman D'Angelo Russell this season in Columbus, but Jae'Sean Tate is also having a strong first season at the collegiate level. 

Tate is Ohio State's version of a glue guy, as he plays with a physical style on the boards and is able to provide efficiency from the field when he is at his best. 

The Ohio State freshman is due for a big game after he laid an egg at the Big Ten tournament against Minnesota and Michigan State. He contributed a combined 12 points and 11 rebounds in 41 minutes of play in Chicago.

Before the Buckeyes entered the Big Ten tournament, Tate had scored over 13 points in three of his last four regular-season games, including a 22-point outburst against Nebraska. 

If the Buckeyes can get the same production out of Tate that they did at the end of the regular season, they could be set for a trip to the Sweet 16. 

Russell has taken the nation by storm this season with his impressive passing ability and dynamic scoring. 

Entering the tournament, the Buckeyes must not rely on their star freshman to create scoring opportunities on every offensive possession. 

It is no secret that Ohio State's opponents will build their defensive game plan around Russell, which means he may have to take a back seat on certain possessions. 

If the team relies on its leading scorer to hit shots early in the game against VCU and his shots don't fall, the Buckeyes could be on a plane back to Columbus the next day. 

In order for Ohio State to get the best out of Russell, it must use him as a distributor first. If he can create good looks for his teammates, Russell will then be able to focus on scoring himself without a slew of defenders surrounding him. 

The Buckeyes certainly are not new to the NCAA tournament scene, as they have appeared in every tournament since 2009. 

Seniors Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott were on the roster when the Buckeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2012 and 2013. 

Matta also carries a ton of tournament experience with him, as he is no stranger to making an appearance on the second weekend of the Big Dance. 

The older players on the roster will also be driven by the heartbreak they suffered in the second round against in-state rival Dayton in last year's edition of the tournament. 

If players like Scott and Thompson can step up their production and provide quality leadership to the young players on the roster, Ohio State might be able to turn a few heads over the next two weeks. 

Every team who makes a deep run in the tournament needs an unexpected hero to show up at key moments. 

Marc Loving could be that guy for the Buckeyes if he proves once again that he can get hot from beyond the arc during long stretches of specific games. 

Loving is a 46.5 percent shooter from three-point range, but he didn't have a particularly impressive finish to the regular season. Since missing three games at the start of February, he has scored over 10 points on just one occasion. 

With the script perfectly written already for Loving to be a key contributor after an awful slump, all the Buckeyes have to do is create some open looks for the sophomore. 

If Loving can drain one shot from beyond the arc at a key moment, he will gain a ton of confidence, which will lead to more critical baskets from downtown. 

If the Buckeyes can get one of their top shooters back on track, opposing defenses could be spread thin due to the presence of Loving, Scott and Russell in the backcourt at the same time. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.