The Drought is Over
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since 2014.
For the second year in a row, Ohio State is going dancing.
The Buckeyes endured the most turbulent season of Chris Holtmann's career as a head coach and will have a shot to continue its season in the NCAA tournament. They will take on Iowa State in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday in the first round of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to tip off 25 minutes following the conclusion of the game between Houston and Georgia State, which is scheduled to tip off at 7:20 p.m., meaning the game will likely start between 9:45 and 10 p.m. Friday. The game will be televised on TBS, with Brad Nessler, Steve Lavin, former Ohio State star Jim Jackson and Evan Washburn on the call.
Ohio State was the No. 41 overall seed in the tournament, coming just one spot away from playing in the First Four.
Feels like March #Team120 | #SelectionSunday pic.twitter.com/delvZWg5gz
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 17, 2019
This will be the 33rd NCAA tournament appearance in program history and the second in a row under Holtmann.
Ohio State went 19-14, including 8-12 in the Big Ten, and won a crucial game against Indiana on Thursday in the conference tournament before Michigan State eliminated the Buckeyes in the quarterfinals with a 77-70 win.
The Midwest Region!#SelectionSunday pic.twitter.com/queSHcm6AJ
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 17, 2019
After the defeat, both Holtmann and the Buckeyes' players expressed a high level of assurance about the team's chances of earning a spot in the NCAA tournament, though a healthy level of uncertainty remained.
“I feel confident,” Holtmann said after the loss on Friday. “But I think you're always a little … You're excited, for one, excited and anxious for Sunday and for what that show's going to be. Like I said, I feel good about our body of work.”
Holtmann's confidence was proven correct, and the Buckeyes will get a chance in the NCAA tournament this week.
Duke, Virginia, Gonzaga and North Carolina are the three top seeds in the bracket.
If Ohio State wins in the first round, it would take on the winner of third-seeded Houston and 14th-seeded Georgia State.
