Ohio State enters the season's final weekend in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten -- and is going to need some help to secure a first-round bye in next weekend's Big Ten tournament.
The top four teams receive byes to the quarterfinals next weekend. Working against the Buckeyes are potential tiebreakers -- and that they play Sunday at home vs. No. 5 Wisconsin, which has lost just three times all season and has already clinched the conference title.
Ohio State is just 1-4 against Michigan State, Iowa and Purdue -- all are 11-6 in conference play -- meaning the Buckeyes will need a win and a bunch of help to avoid having to go the long way next weekend.
The Big Ten tournment begins next Wednesday in Chicago. Team finising Nos. 5-9 will play on Thursday and try to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
Michigan State is at Indiana, Purdue plays Illinois and Michigan State hosts Iowa, all on Saturday. If all three win, Ohio State will the No. 5 or No. 6 seed even if beats Wisconsin. Finishing fifth would put the Buckeyes in line for a potential Wisconsin rematch in the conference tournament semifinals.
The Big Ten tournament has been the Thad Matta Invitational. In 10 previous seasons under Matta, Ohio State has been in the tournament title game seven times and won it four times. Boding well for Sunday is that Ohio State is 13-0 at home in March under Matta.
Either way, Ohio State should be headed to the NCAA tournament for a seventh straight season.
