Scarlet Sunrise: In ESPN's latest NCAA Tournament projection, Ohio State part of 'Last Four In'

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In ESPN’s latest NCAA Tournament projection, Ohio State part of ‘Last Four In’

Ohio State has lost three games in a row and is already on the bubble, according to the latest NCAA Tournament projection from ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.

Lunardi has the Buckeyes in the “Last Four In” right now, along with Wake Forest, Miami and Boise State. It’s worth noting that Boise State was Lunardi’s last team in, as of Tuesday morning. Since, the Broncos saw their four-game win streak come to an end against UNLV.

As for Ohio State, Lunardi currently has head coach Chris Holtmann’s team penciled in to play Wake Forest in the “First Four.” The Demon Deacons have dropped two of their last three games after winning nine straight and starting 3-0 in ACC play.

That matchup of 11 seeds would decide which team gets to face sixth-seeded San Diego State in the first round of the 64-team tourney. San Diego State is in the West side of the bracket and is projected to open NCAA Tournament play in Pittsburgh.

About halfway through the regular season, Lunardi has seven Big Ten teams making the 68-team field. Only the SEC and Big 12 — both have eight projected NCAA Tournament teams — have more bids.

In order to keep its March Madness hopes alive, Ohio State has to get back on track. Quickly.

The Buckeyes host Penn State Saturday in what could be considered a must-win game. Penn State, after all, is 10th in the Big Ten standings. That said, the Nittany Lions have already beaten Ohio State once this season, thanks to their second-half comeback, which made an 18-point Buckeyes lead disappear in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Holtmann’s squad desperately needs to find its stroke again. After shooting just north of 40% from downtown during the 12 games prior to Ohio State’s three-game skid, the Buckeyes are 16-of-70, or 22.9%, from 3-point land amid their losing streak.

RELATED

• Notebook: 3-point troubles take center stage at Michigan, despite sparks from Devin Royal and Dale Bonner
• Three-game skid thrusts last year’s Buckeyes slide back into the picture

Ohio State hires Ross Bjork as next athletic director

Ohio State has hired its next athletic director: Ross Bjork, who has served as the Texas A&M AD since 2019, will succeed longtime Ohio State AD Gene Smith.

Bjork will be introduced as the next Buckeyes athletic director Wednesday in the Covelli Center, but he won’t officially take over the post until July 1, after Smith retires.

“Few athletics directors have established such an impressive and strong record of success in athletics, in the classroom and throughout the community,” Ohio State president Ted Carter said in a statement. “The bar is incredibly high at Ohio State, and we have found in Ross a highly intelligent and effective leader – not to mention a fierce competitor.”

For more on the hire, head over here.

Making way-too-early projection for Buckeyes 2024 depth chart

The Ohio State football offseason is in full swing, and that means speculation for next season is already beginning to mount.

Now that the roster has taken shape, Lettermen Row is breaking down what the 2024 Buckeyes will look like from every angle. That includes depth chart projections.

We took a spin at charting out Ohio State’s position-by-position pecking order for next season on both sides of the ball.

To get our way-too-early projection of the Buckeyes’ defense, go here.

To get our way-too-early projection of the Buckeyes’ offense, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 227 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 318 days

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