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Buckeyes stay put in latest AP Poll after last-second road loss

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•01/31/22•

SpencerHolbrook

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Ohio State moved down in the latest AP Poll. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

COLUMBUS — For the third time this season, Ohio State split its results in a week.

After beating Minnesota on the road and losing in a heart-breaking, final second loss to Purdue on Sunday, the Buckeyes head into another week of league play coming off a 1-1 stretch.

That’s why they checked in at No. 16 in the latest AP Poll, staying right where they were last week in the rankings after a road win — and pushing the No. 4 Boilermakers to the brink of an upset.

Auburn remained in the top spot after claiming it for the first time in school history last week. Gonzaga, UCLA, Purdue and Kentucky rounded out the top five. And Five Big Ten teams are currently ranked as league play is in full swing for one of the top conferences in all of college basketball.

Even in a loss, the Buckeyes learned a lot about who they can become in their comeback effort after being down 20 at Purdue.

“We just have to continue to learn and grow,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. “And that’s the biggest thing. We have to continue to learn and grow. There were too many possessions where we just didn’t play quite as well as we needed to. And that’s what got us. I don’t necessarily think it was the first 26 minutes because I think there were times in the first 26 minutes where we did play well. I think the opening stretch of the second half really dug us a hole — and at times in the first half.

“We’ve got a group that fights. We certainly fought. We fought against Wisconsin on the road and clawed back, but this was obviously different with tying it late.”

Ohio State came close to completing a crazy comeback. Now it’s back to work ahead of a pivotal Big Ten week.

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