Ohio State is set to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years after a successful run under first year coach Chris Holtmann. The only thing left to determine is where the Buckeyes will fall.
Entering the final day of conference tournament play, the Buckeyes were projected as a No. 5 seed by two of the three major 'bracketology' experts. Both ESPN's Joe Lunardi and CBS analyst Jerry Palm have Ohio State as a No. 5 seed playing in San Diego, while Fox Sports has Ohio State as the No. 6 seed in the South region, taking on San Diego State in Nashville, Tenn.
| OUTLET | SEED | OPPONENT | LOCATION | REGION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN | #5 | Buffalo | San Diego | South |
| CBS | #5 | Buffalo | San Diego | South |
| FOX | #6 | San Diego State | Nashville | South |
Regardless of where or who the Buckeyes play, Holtmann said Tuesday his team will have to come prepared and ready to take on a team that will pose a tough challenge.
"I have not been out west in my tournament experience. It looks like that's the area that we would fall probably. I would guess the four, five or six range," Holtmann said. "In reality, you know you are playing a very good team in that scenario. I don't know if a whole lot of that (seeding) matters. We will go to Boise, or I hear San Diego is nice too. Either one is fine."
When it comes to winning in the tournament, Holtmann has had some success in his three trips as a head coach. Despite going 0-3 in the Big East tournament while at Butler, Holtmann compiled a 4-3 record in the NCAA Tournament with the Bulldogs, leading them to a Sweet 16 appearance last season.
He said that while veteran rosters and stellar guard play can give certain teams an extra edge in the tournament, Holtmann acknowledged that anything can happen in March, especially in the Big Dance.
"I don't want to say it's a crapshoot, but it really is – Michigan State a couple years ago was one of the best teams in the country and loses in a 2 vs. 15 game. I have seen one of the best teams in the Big East, in multiple years, been a No. 1 seed and gotten bounced," Holtmann said. "You get there enough, usually good things happen but I don't know if there is a specific type (of team that has success)."
At the beginning of the season, the expectations for Ohio State were that the Buckeyes had an outside chance to make the NIT Tournament, but that the NCAA's were a stretch, to say the least. Now that the Buckeyes are set to make the field of 68 on Sunday night, Holtmann said his only expectation is that his team will play to the best of its ability when the ball is tipped.
"Just play well and go from there. It is really hard to win a game (and) it is really hard to get to the Sweet 16. I am glad we are not playing in the play-in game," Holtmann said. "I'm optimistic and hopeful that we can just play well."
