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NCAA Bracketology: Buy or sell Indiana, Baylor, Temple, and Ohio State

By Bryan Mauro

WACO, TX - FEBRUARY 21: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts as the Baylor Bears take on the Oklahoma Sooners at Ferrell Center on February 21, 2017 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - FEBRUARY 21: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts as the Baylor Bears take on the Oklahoma Sooners at Ferrell Center on February 21, 2017 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes meets with Duane Washington Jr. #4 and Keyshawn Woods #32 in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes meets with Duane Washington Jr. #4 and Keyshawn Woods #32 in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Ohio State – Hold

When Chris Holtmann took over at Ohio State after former head coach Thad Matta resigned his position, the team did not have a ton of talent. Last season the Buckeyes took the league by complete surprise and were able to finish with the second overall seed in the Big Ten tournament. Ohio State returned to the NCAA tournament led by the Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop. This season after Bates-Diop and many other key pieces were lost to graduation the expectations for Ohio State were not great.

The Buckeyes were picked to finish 10th in the league. Out of the gates the Buckeyes looked like one of the best teams in the country. Then like most of the other teams in the Big Ten, Ohio State experienced a long losing streak. The losing streak started after a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State in Columbus, then was compounded by a loss to Rutgers. Ohio State was able to get back on track by picking up a big win against their bubble counterpart in Nebraska. That game was in Lincoln and one that Ohio State is going to use to hopefully bolster their resume.

Ohio State followed up the win over Nebraska with a loss to bitter rival Michigan. After the Michigan game Ohio State avenged their early loss against Rutgers to get themselves back on track. The Buckeyes are in no way safe to make the NCAA tournament, but a good February coupled with the overall strength of the conference they play in are all factors that are going to work in their favor. As it stands now it appears Holtmann is going to get the Buckeyes to back to back tournament bids.

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