Ohio State might look a lot different when the 2022-23 season tips off compared to how the 2021-22 campaign ended. The Buckeyes saw their 2022 NCAA tournament run end on Sunday with a 71-61 defeat to Villanova in the second round...
No. 2 Villanova Survives No. 7 Ohio State's Upset Bid; Will Play Michigan in Sweet 16
Mar 20, 2022
Villanova's Collin Gillespie (2) works to get around Ohio State 's Jamari Wheeler (55) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
No. 2 Villanova will return to the Sweet 16 after surviving a 71-61 win over No. 7 Ohio State on Sunday.
Collin Gillespie had 20 points at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, avoiding a potential upset bid in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Villanova was seemingly in full control of the game early, leading by 11 points at halftime and as much as 15 in the second half.
The Buckeyes still kept the game within striking distance, eventually making a move with under 12 minutes left. A 15-5 run cut the deficit to two, putting pressure on the South Region's No. 2 seed.
It was enough for Villanova to pull out a close win in a game it never trailed.
Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell combined for 40 points for Ohio State, but it wasn't enough for the upset.
Villanova sometimes has trouble reaching the second weekend, but the squad is usually dangerous from that point on. Three of the last four trips to the Sweet 16 later featured a Final Four appearance, including two national championships.
The Wildcats will face No. 11 Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Collin Gillespie Leads Balanced Effort for Villanova
It wasn't the best game from Gillespie, who finished 5-of-14 from the field and 2-of-9 from three, but he came through at important times for the Wildcats.
The senior helped Villanova build an early lead with excellent individual ability:
The Collin Gillespie Game.#Buckeyes have no early answers for the veteran guard, who has 10 of Villanova's 17 points. Ohio State has 7 points, and it's looked that decisive through 8 minutes.
Gillespie outscored Ohio State for the first eight minutes of the game as Villanova quickly went up double digits.
The guard went quiet during the middle stretch of the game when his team held a double-digit lead, but he sprung back into action with clutch buckets down the stretch.
It was then Gillespie who drew extra attention in the post before kicking it out to Dixon for the key three-pointer.
Villanova had four players in double digits, including a strong showing by Jermaine Samuels. It was still Gillespie who made the key plays in the game's biggest moments, helping the Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16.
Ohio State Falls Short Despite Branham's Heroics
For much of the game, Ohio State simply seemed overmatched against an opponent that was better on both ends of the court.
Liddell did his part, but the squad needed a secondary scorer to even be competitive.
Branham apparently got the message, lighting it up in the second half to get his team back in the game.
Will say, Malaki Branham’s ability to create a shot from nothing against this Villanova team is basically the only thing saving Ohio State’s ass on offense right now. His hesitation game is terrific. Just has such an innate feel for how to get defenders off balance.
Branham and Liddell put up a fight in the second half, but there simply wasn't enough scoring depth.
Once Kyle Young left the game with an apparent head injury, Ohio State couldn't keep up on the scoreboard.
Ohio State Beats Loyola Chicago to Advance to 2nd Round of March Madness
Mar 18, 2022
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 18: E.J. Liddell #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is defended by Ryan Schwieger #13 of the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in the first half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
No. 7 seed Ohio State is moving on to the Round of 32 after a 54-41victory over No. 10 seed Loyola Chicago in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament on Friday.
Ohio State limped into the tournament with seven losses in its last 13 games after starting the season 13-4. The Buckeyes ranked 263rd in the nation in defensive rating (103.9), per Sports Reference.
The Ramblers had won at least two tournament games in each of their last three appearances, dating back to 1985. First-year head coach Drew Valentine led his team to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title on the strength of a defense that allowed 50.3 points per game during its three wins.
Neither team put their best foot forward in this game. Ohio State was able to do enough on offense to get the win, but it's not one that will likely go on the season highlight reel.
Both teams combined for 41 points in the first half, with the Buckeyes leading by five points.
In the first half, Ohio State and Loyola Chicago combined to
Ohio State started to look better in the second half. It was still a slog for both sides, but E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham did everything in their power to lift the Buckeyes to a win. They combined for 30 of the team's 54 points.
Braden Norris was the only Ramblers player who had anything going on offense. He had 14 of the 29 points scored by the starting five.
Ryan Schwieger (Loyola): 8 points (3-of-6 FG), 6 rebounds
Buckeyes' Stars Shine in Victory
Coming into the tournament, Liddell felt like the Buckeyes were being underestimated because of how their roster looked down the stretch in the regular season.
#Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell: "I feel like people forgot how we played when we were fully healthy and locked in and everything. Come tomorrow, you’ll all see a different team."
Both Zed Key and Kyle Young were able to play. Key played sparingly off the bench after playing just seven minutes against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament.
Young returned to the starting lineup after sitting out three games with an illness and a concussion. He had a solid impact with ninepoints and sevenrebounds.
Look, Ohio State is balling and this is still just an 11-point game. Not over yet.
But I thought it was weird that everyone just kind of ignored that Ohio State’s late-season swoon happened basically without both Zed Key and Kyle Young. OSU is a different team with them.
The junior forward is averaging 19.0points per game over the past three games.
Malaki Branham remains the most efficient scorer on the Buckeyes roster. The freshman went 5-of-7from the field.
One thing that wasn't working for Ohio State was three-point shooting. The team missed all nine of its three-point attempts in the first half and only went 1-of-15 behind the arc in the win.
The most notable difference between the Buckeyes on Friday and during their late-season swoon was on the defensive end. They were fantastic at staying in front of the ball and helping when Loyola Chicago tried to attack the basket.
Anyway, that was the best half Ohio State has played on defense in at least a month. Contested almost everything. Got a bit lucky with a couple of open shots not falling, but that was great.
If this is the kind of defensive effort Chris Holtmann can expect from his team on a nightly basis, they have all of the pieces in place to win multiple tournament games.
It's going to be hard for any team in the tournament to sink as low as Loyola Chicago's offense did against Ohio State.
While the Buckeyes certainly deserve credit for showing more effort on the defensive end of the court than they have in weeks, the Ramblers did a lot to hurt themselves.
They made just threeof 10free-throw attempts and shot 27.3percent from the field overall. There was nowhere on the floor they could find success putting the ball in the basket.
The Ramblers ranked 31st in the nation in offensive rating (110.5), per Sports-Reference.com.
Norris was the one Loyola Chicago player who was making anything. The junior guard was the only player on the team who broke double-digits in scoring. He made four of the team's eight three-pointers in the loss.
The Ramblers had an 11-8 advantage in offensive rebounds and had nine steals, but would routinely struggle to turn those extra chances into points. This is a game that they will look back on with frustration at all the opportunities they missed.
Despite the difficult ending to the season, the 2021-22 campaign was a success on the whole. Their 25 wins were tied for the sixth-most in school history.
What's Next?
Ohio State will play the Delaware-Villanova winner in the Round of 32 on Sunday.
This article will be
updated shortly to provide more information on this game.
No. 15 Ohio State vs. No. 21 Kentucky Canceled Due to Buckeyes' COVID-19 Outbreak
Dec 16, 2021
Ohio State forward Zed Key is seen during an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Ohio State won 73-55. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Ohio State University announced Thursday that its scheduled men's basketball game against Kentucky on Saturday has been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests within the Buckeyes program.
The clash between No. 15 Ohio State and No. 21 Kentucky would have been part of the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
No. 4 UCLA and North Carolina are currently scheduled to play Saturday in the other CBS Sports Classic game. However, the Bruins' game against Alabama State on Wednesday was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, as head coach Mick Cronin had been previously ruled out for the contest because of protocols.
Stadium's Jeff Goodman and Fox 56's Nicole Hutchison reported the Wildcats and Tar Heels may wind up facing off:
Everything trending to Kentucky playing North Carolina Saturday in Las Vegas, sources told @Stadium.
Regarding the COVID-19 outbreak within the program, Ohio State said the following in a statement:
"The safety and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, staff and Ohio State community is the highest priority. All team related activities have been suspended and the players and staff will continue to be tested according to Ohio State protocols in consultation with the Big Ten Conference."
Ohio State also noted the "status of future games is to be determined."
The Buckeyes are off to an 8-2 start this season and have a 2-0 mark in Big Ten play, tying them with Michigan State and Illinois atop the conference.
Ohio State would have entered the game against Kentucky on a four-game winning streak, including victories over then-No. 1 Duke and then-No. 22 Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes are led by 2020-21 First Team All-Big Ten coaches selection E.J. Liddell, who is averaging 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.
Kentucky has also been playing well with a 7-2 record, although it lost its most recent game 66-62 to Notre Dame on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.
After head coach John Calipari's team disappointed with a 9-16 record and missed the NCAA tournament last season, it is looking the part of a tourney team.
Junior Oscar Tshiebwe has been the star for the Wildcats with 16.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest.
Ohio State's next scheduled game is home against UT Martin on Dec. 21, while Kentucky is slated to play next on Dec. 22 against Louisville at home.
Ohio State HC Chris Holtmann Donates $50K to Tornado Relief Fund
Dec 15, 2021
Ohio State's head coach Chris Holtmann reacts from the bench during an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Cincinnati. Xavier won 71-65. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Ohio State men's basketball head coach Chris Holtmann is doing what he can to help those who were impacted by the tornadoes in the Kentucky area ahead of his team's game against the state's flagship basketball program.
Kentucky Wildcats reporter Jerry Tipton noted Holtmann donated $50,000 to the relief fund.
The Ohio State coach has a connection to Kentucky after growing up in Lexington and Nicholasville, and he also encouraged Buckeyes fans to donate after having a conversation with Wildcats head coach John Calipari about different ways he could help:
Kelly McCleary, Holly Yan, Elizabeth Joseph and Claudia Dominguez of CNN reported at least 74 people in Kentucky died during a tornado outbreak that impacted eight different states. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said during a Monday afternoon news conference that more than 100 people were still missing.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats are scheduled to face each other Saturday in Las Vegas as part of the CBS Sports Classic.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski Says Ohio State 'Wore Us Out' in Upset Loss
Dec 1, 2021
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team play against the Citadel Bulldogs during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 22, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
credited Ohio State for a relentless effort that allowed the Buckeyes
to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit to upset the top-ranked Blue
Devils on Tuesday night.
"I thought they wore us out," Coach
K told reporters after the 71-66 loss in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. "We were
really worn out at the end. ... They're well-coached. They're
well-balanced."
The loss dropped Duke to 7-1 while OSU
improved to 5-2 on the 2021-22 season.
It was a tale of two halves for
Krzyzewski's group offensively. They made 18 of their 34 field-goal
attempts before halftime (52.9 percent), but just seven of their 31
shots in the second half (22.6 percent) to leave the door open for
the Ohio State comeback.
The Buckeyes took advantage, knocking
down five threes as part of a rally that improved their home record
to 4-0.
"I thought our ability to stay with
it was really important," OSU head coach Chris Holtmann told
reporters. "Players win games, and we had a number of guys make
plays down the stretch."
Zed Key led the offensive charge for
Ohio State with 20 points in 27 minutes. E.J. Liddell added 14
points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Cedric Russell chipped in
12 points off the bench.
"We really dug in on the defensive
side of things," Russell said. "It just felt good to come out on
top, especially at home."
Wendell Moore Jr. (17 points) and Paolo
Banchero (14), the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA
draft, paced Duke in the loss.
The Blue Devils were coming off their
biggest win of the season to date, an upset of then-No. 1 Gonzaga on
Friday. They also beat No. 10 Kentucky during their 7-0 start to the
campaign.
Duke has a couple weeks off following
the loss before returning to action Dec. 14 when it hosts South
Carolina State at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Ohio State is back in action Sunday
when it visits the Bryce Jordan Center to open Big Ten play against
Penn State.
Paolo Banchero, No. 1 Duke Upset by Unranked Ohio State Behind Zed Key's 20 Points
Dec 1, 2021
Ohio State's Zed Key, right, posts up against Duke's Mark Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Duke's reign atop the college basketball rankings will be short-lived.
The Ohio State Buckeyes stunned the Blue Devils on Tuesday night, 71-66 at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, closing the game on a 14-1 run in the final five minutes.
Ohio State's defense earned them the win, namely in a second half that saw Duke score just 23 points. But Zed Key was equally impressive, scoring a career-high 20 points to lead the Buckeyes.
That spoiled another solid performance from the pair of Wendell Moore Jr. and Paolo Banchero, though they couldn't prevent the Blue Devils from blowing a 13-point halftime lead.
The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 7-1 on the year, while Ohio State moved to 5-2.
Key Stats
Zed Key, OSU: 20 points
E.J. Liddell, OSU: 14 points, 14 rebounds, six assists
Malachi Branham, OSU: Eight points
Paolo Banchero, Duke: 14 points, five rebounds
Wendell Moore Jr., Duke: 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists
Jeremy Roach, Duke: Nine points
Ohio State Overcame Free-Throw Woes And Turnovers To Steal A Win
It's hard to beat most teams when you go 11-of-22 from the charity stripe, or commit 12 turnovers. Beating a team as good as Duke with those self-imposed errors is basically impossible.
But somehow, Ohio State prevailed. The Buckeyes had the home crowd behind them, and consistently got stops in the second half.
It wasn't pretty. They did it the hard way. But it was a huge statement win for an Ohio State team that was still smarting from two losses in its previous three games against Xavier and Florida.
Banchero And Moore Couldn't Quite Do Enough
Banchero made plenty of headlines with a 20-point first half against Gonzaga, so his effectiveness on Tuesday night—at least in the first half—was hardly a surprise. He's a special player, and only a freshman.
Moore, a junior, has more experience on this level, and when he hit a pair of tough buckets to end a Duke cold streak in the second half, it looked as though that experience was paying off.
I say this every game, but I cannot get over Wendell Moore's confidence change from his freshman year. It's, like, not even the same dude.
He's not taking that two years ago, or even last year... and he's not making it, either. (Especially not with two fouls...)
But neither Banchero or Moore came up big down in the clutch. Duke didn't make a bucket in the final 5:19 of the game, with the Buckeyes ending the contest on an 11-0 run. Banchero or Moore needed to end the run. Neither could.
What's Next?
Ohio State will travel to face Penn State on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Duke gets a longer break and is next in action on Tuesday, Dec. 14, when they host South Carolina State at 8 p.m. ET.
Greg Oden Rejoins OSU Basketball Coaching Staff as Graduate Assistant
Sep 1, 2021
DALLAS, TEXAS - JULY 31: Greg Oden #22 of the Aliens looks on during the game against the Trilogy during BIG3 - Week Four at the American Airlines Center on July 31, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for BIG3)
Former No. 1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden has joined the Ohio State coaching staff as a graduate assistant, according to Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch.
Oden had previously served as a student manager in 2016-17, but now he will have a bigger role under head coach Chris Holtmann in hopes of eventually becoming a full-time coach.
The 33-year-old discussed the opportunity:
I'm thankful, honestly, for coach Holt and his staff who have welcomed me in and given me this opportunity because that’s literally what I want to do is get into coaching. One of the toughest things to do is get your foot in the door, so for them to give me this opportunity while I'm able to actually get a Master's degree in sports coaching from The Ohio State University, which I would love, is something that's just amazing. I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm just so thankful and ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
Oden first came to Ohio State as the No. 1 recruit in the 2006 class. He led the Buckeyes to the national title game in his freshman season, earning first-team All-American honors while averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
The center became the first overall draft pick in 2007 ahead of Kevin Durant, but knee injuries derailed his career. He played just 105 career games before retiring in 2016.
After some time playing in the Big3, Oden is now set to begin his coaching career.
Report: 5-Star DL J.T. Tuimoloau Will Also Attempt to Play Basketball at Ohio State
Jul 6, 2021
One of the top football prospects in the 2021 class also plans to play basketball for Ohio State.
J.T. Tuimoloau reportedly hopes to join the Buckeyes basketball program after the football season ends, according to Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch. He spent time with men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann during his official visit and football coach Ryan Day is willing to make it work.
This comes after Tuimoloau announced his commitment to Ohio State on Sunday in a graphic that also featured him in a basketball uniform.
The defensive lineman is considered a 5-star prospect in football and the No. 3 overall player in the 2021 class by 247Sports composite rankings.
At 6'4½", 277 pounds, Tuimoloau has the size to make an immediate impact on the football field while his athleticism could make him an elite pass-rusher for the perennial national title contender.
Ohio State was the runner-up in the national championship game last season, and the school has proved it can send defensive linemen to the NFL, including recent stars like Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa.
On the basketball court, Tuimoloau could provide added depth for a team that earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament last season. The Buckeyes could again be a top contender in the Big Ten thanks to the return of E.J. Liddell to go with other young talent.
Tuimoloau has good footwork in the paint and could contribute down low for the Buckeyes:
AAU Boys 2018 Premiere Summer Showcase, Bellevue College 16U Seattle Rotary EYBL 56 E.WA Elite White 48 F 2021 USC Football Recruit Jaylahn Tuimoloau 6’6 PF Rotary EYBL Took over late W/ blks,rebs and sweet jump hook in the paint. @SeattleRotary1 pic.twitter.com/cx0SJUWPqo
While playing two sports at a high level could be extremely difficult, the Washington native has the tools necessary to pull it off.
Ohio State's E.J. Liddell Withdraws from 2021 NBA Draft After NCAA's NIL Rule Change
Jul 3, 2021
Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell (32) plays against Illinois in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The NCAA's revised name, image and likeness rules have led to Ohio State star E.J. Liddell to withdraw from the 2021 NBA draft.
Speaking to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Liddell explained this was a "pretty difficult decision" but one that makes sense based on his earning potential in college:
"It's good that I could be making money. That should have been happening for a long time. The coaches are telling me that being the face of this team and one of the most publicized guys in the conference, I could make a really good profit off that. How much, I'm not sure yet. I haven't looked into that enough yet."
The NCAA's NIL policy took effect on Thursday, leading to many student-athletes in all sports announcing they have signed endorsement deals that will allow them to earn money without losing their college eligibility.
Liddell originally declared for the draft in March, but he said in his announcement that he was going to maintain his eligibility for a potential return to Ohio State.
Givony noted that Liddell "didn't have a great showing at the G League Elite Camp" and NBA talent evaluators told him to "continue to increase his shooting range and defensive versatility."
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman didn't have Liddell ranked among the top 50 prospects in the 2021 draft class on his most recent big board.
Liddell was voted to the All-Big Ten first team by coaches during the 2020-21 season. The 20-year-old ranked second on the Buckeyes in scoring (16.2 points per game) and first in rebounding (6.7) last season.
Ohio State will bring back Liddell, Justice Sueing and Kyle Young from last year's starting five. The Buckeyes went 21-10 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament in 2020-21 but were upset by Oral Roberts in the first round.
