NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Baylor rolling, Ohio State tumbling

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 11: Mark Vital #11 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears congratulate MaCio Teague #31 after a basket during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 11, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 07: The Buckeyes huddle. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

player. 490. . . . Ohio State Buckeyes. 20

Ohio State is in a free fall right now. Although the Buckeyes are still yet to suffer a bad loss this season, it becomes worrisome when a former No. 1 team drops four consecutive games. That is exactly what has happened to Ohio State in recent weeks as it has fought hard but come in short in contests against West Virginia, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Indiana.

During this stretch of five losses in seven games dating back to early December, Ohio State has only beaten one team ranked in the KenPom Top 300 (Kentucky).

Similarly to Michigan, the Buckeyes have struggled away from home while notching just a 1-3 record in true road games so far this season. That is beginning to be a theme for just about every Big Ten team but it is a concern for a program that took a major tumble around this time last year. Almost exactly one year ago, Ohio State dropped five consecutive games to fall to 12-6 (2-5 B10) after being highly rated.

Now? Well, Ohio State is down to 11-5 (1-4 B10) with this current slide and it is in danger of falling into a similar situation. The Buckeyes will thankfully face their easiest opponent of the season next by returning home to face Nebraska in what could honestly be a must-win game for the team. Head coach Chris Holtmann’s squad desperately needs a dominant performance and the Cornhuskers enter at No. 131 on KenPom.

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