Many national pundits believe Ohio State must make a run in the upcoming Big Ten tournament in order to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes are the No. 7 seed this season and begin their journey Thursday against 10th-seeded Penn State hoping to accomplish just that.
For Ohio State to make a push, it's going to be anything but easy. The Buckeyes have both Michigan State and Maryland on their side of the bracket — two teams which Ohio State combined to go 0-4 against, with losses by an average of 18.5 points per game.
But the Buckeyes have had a bit of success under head coach Thad Matta in this tournament, and Matta's experience is something that could potentially play a factor in how far Ohio State winds up advancing.
Matta is 22-7 in his career in the Big Ten tournament. He has advanced to the championship game seven times and won four titles. The Buckeyes have won 14 of their last 17 games in the Big Ten tournament.
Now, Ohio State has never won the Big Ten tournament with anything lower than a No. 2 seed, but the Buckeyes did advance to the final under Matta as a No. 5 seed and once as a No. 3 seed. So, should Ohio State pull off a few upsets and somehow advance to the championship game, this year would be Matta's best run during his time leading the Buckeyes.
Here's a look at how we'd rank Matta's previous 11 Big Ten tournament performances:
11. 2008, 0–1, Bounced in Quarterfinals
The only year Matta failed to win at least one game in the Big Ten tournament. Ohio State was the No. 5 seed and lost to fourth-seeded Michigan State in the quarterfinals.
- #4 Michigan State 67, #5 Ohio State 60
10. 2005, 1–1, Bounced in Quarterfinals
Ohio State was seeded sixth in Matta's first season at the helm, but after stunning No. 1 Illinois in the regular-season finale the Buckeyes exited the BIg Ten tournament in the quarterfinals following at 11-point loss to third-seeded Wisconsin.
- #6 Ohio State 72, #11 Penn State 69
- #3 Wisconsin 60, #6 Ohio State 49
9. 2015, 1–1, Bounced in Quarterfinals
Again as a No. 6 seed, Ohio State knocked off Minnesota in its opening Big Ten tournament game, but fell to third-seeded Michigan State in the quarterfinals in Chicago.
- #6 Ohio State 79, #11 Minnesota 73
- #3 Michigan State 76, #6 Ohio State 67
8. 2014, 2–1, Lost in Semifinals
The last of the non-championship appearances, the Buckeyes were the No. 5 seed, but lost to Michigan in the semifinals after winning a pair of games, including a large comeback over Nebraska in the quarterfinals.
- #5 Ohio State 63, #12 Purdue 61
- #5 Ohio State 71, #4 Nebraska 67
- #1 Michigan 72, #5 Ohio State 69
7. 2006, 2–1, Lost in Tournament Final
Matta's second season in Columbus surprisingly saw Ohio State capture the Big Ten title and No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Buckeyes advanced all the way to the championship game before falling to Iowa.
- #1 Ohio State 63, #8 Penn State 56
- #1 Ohio State 52, #5 Indiana 48
- #2 Iowa 67, #1 Ohio State 60
6. 2012, 2–1, Lost in Tournament Final
Behind Jared Sullinger, Ohio State advanced all the way to the title game as the No. 3 seed before eventually losing to Michigan State, 68-64.
- #3 Ohio State 88, #6 Purdue 71
- #3 Ohio State 77, #2 Michigan 55
- #1 Michigan State 68, #3 Ohio State 64
5. 2009, 2–1, Lost in Tournament Final
The Buckeyes were a No. 5 seed this year, but upset both Wisconsin and Michigan State to advance all the way to the championship game where they fell to Purdue, 65-61.
- #5 Ohio State 61, #4 Wisconsin 57
- #5 Ohio State 82, #1 Michigan State 70
- #3 Purdue 65, #5 Ohio State 61
4. 2011, 3–0, Won Big Ten Tournament
Ohio State was the No. 1 team in all of college basketball this season, and the Buckeyes somewhat breezed through the Big Ten tournament after escaping in the quarterfinals in overtime thanks to some upsets elsewhere.
- #1 Ohio State 67, #8 Northwestern 61 (OT)
- #1 Ohio State 68, #4 Michigan 61
- #1 Ohio State 71, #6 Penn State 60
3. 2007, 3–0, Won Big Ten Tournament
Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Co. breezed through the Big Ten tournament as the No. 1 seed playing only one game that was within single digits. The Buckeyes beat No. 2-seeded Wisconsin by 17 points for the title.
- #1 Ohio State 72, #8 Michigan 62
- #1 Ohio State 63, #5 Purdue 52
- #1 Ohio State 66, #2 Wisconsin 49
2. 2010, 3–0, Won Big Ten Tournament
After Evan Turner's buzzer-beater stunned Michigan in the quarterfinals, top-seeded Ohio State went on to claim the title after beating Minnesota by 29 points in the championship game.
- #1 Ohio State 69, #8 Michigan 68
- #1 Ohio State 88, #5 Illinois 81 (OT)
- #1 Ohio State 90, #6 Minnesota 61
1. 2013, 3–0, Won Big Ten Tournament
The least-talented team under Matta to win it all, No. 2 seed Ohio State knocked off Nebraska, Michigan State and Wisconsin this season to take home the title.
- #2 Ohio State 71, #10 Nebraska 50
- #2 Ohio State 61, #3 Michigan State 58
- #2 Ohio State 50, #4 Wisconsin 43
