Busting Brackets
Fansided

Ohio State Basketball: Keys for the Buckeyes to upset Iowa State

By Curtis Wilkerson

BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts in the first half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts in the first half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to his team during a timeout in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes talks to his team during a timeout in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Ohio State basketball is entering the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed. What will it takes for the Buckeyes to knock off Iowa State in the first round?

Under new head coach Chris Holtmann, the Ohio State Buckeyes were one of the country’s biggest surprises last season. After being hired in mid-June, Holtmann led Ohio State well beyond expectations. They finished 25-9 (15-3 Big Ten), good for a second place finish in the league and an NCAA Tournament victory over South Dakota State before bowing out to Gonzaga in the round of 32.

Gone this year were standouts Jae’Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop, leaving the Buckeyes with some large shoes to fill. Ohio State was picked to finish 8th in the Big Ten this season and did just that, finishing 19-14 overall and 8-12 in league play. After starting the season 12-1, they lost six of seven games in a rough January and have been treading water ever since.

Luckily for Ohio State fans, the resume was just good enough for the selection committee. They were awarded with an 11 seed and a Friday night date with a red-hot Iowa State team fresh off a Big 12 Tournament championship. Despite an up-and-down season, the Buckeyes should be rejuvenated by the tournament bid and will look to embrace an unfamiliar role as a Cinderella. For the slipper to fit, Ohio State will need three key things to happen against the Cyclones.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes