You’re Nuts: If Ohio State makes the NCAA Tournament, could a lower seed actually be advantageous?
looks like it would probably be an 8-seed. As of Thursday night, Ohio State is a 10-seed according to Bracket Matrix. If they caught fire down the stretch they could possibly elevate to an 8-seed, or maybe higher if they also burn right through the Big Ten Tournament — but that’s quite the hypothetical.
looks like it would probably be an 8-seed. As of Thursday night, Ohio State is a 10-seed according to Bracket Matrix. If they caught fire down the stretch they could possibly elevate to an 8-seed, or maybe higher if they also burn right through the Big Ten Tournament — but that’s quite the hypothetical.
If Ohio State was an 8-seed, they’d face a 9-seed team, and then in the second round they’d go up against one of the four 1-seeds. There is a very high likelihood that Ohio State would get squashed by an Auburn, Duke, or Alabama — in fact, we’ve already seen them get squashed by one of them.
However, for a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament in three years and has a first-time head coach managing a very flawed roster (that was his own creation), winning one game in the NCAA Tournament would be massive. The Buckeyes were an NIT team last season, and weren’t even good enough for the NIT the year before that. To get to the NCAA Tournament and win one game this year would be a solid start for Diebler.
Even though getting a 10 or 11 would set you up to not have to face a juggernaut in the second round, it also makes it tougher to win the first game. Just get the highest seed possible and try to win a tournament game.
Justin: 11
Regarding March Madness and the NCAA Tournament, two things matter: Getting into the tournament and matchups. So, for Ohio State, I don’t think it matters what seed they are; I want them to have the best matchup possible.
Obviously, they have to make the tournament first, and that comes with winning games. The Buckeyes have done a good job of winning games that get you into the tournament (Kentucky, Purdue, Maryland, and Texas) and avoiding losses that keep you out (Q3 and Q4 losses).
This is why I prefer if Ohio State falls to a 10 or 11 seed, as the matchups are lighter. As an 8 or 9 seed, you may win the first game, but then you have to take on a one seed in the second round, and you lose that game.
If you are an 11 seed, the six seed in the first round may be a little tougher than the eight seed, but the second-round matchup is much easier against a three seed versus a one seed. I would rather the Buckeyes have an easier path to the Sweet 16 than the second round.
In the grand scheme of things, I just want to see Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament again, but I do think an 11 seed would not
If Ohio State was an 8-seed, they’d face a 9-seed team, and then in the second round they’d go up against one of the four 1-seeds. There is a very high likelihood that Ohio State would get squashed by an Auburn, Duke, or Alabama — in fact, we’ve already seen them get squashed by one of them.
However, for a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament in three years and has a first-time head coach managing a very flawed roster (that was his own creation), winning one game in the NCAA Tournament would be massive. The Buckeyes were an NIT team last season, and weren’t even good enough for the NIT the year before that. To get to the NCAA Tournament and win one game this year would be a solid start for Diebler.
Even though getting a 10 or 11 would set you up to not have to face a juggernaut in the second round, it also makes it tougher to win the first game. Just get the highest seed possible and try to win a tournament game.
Justin: 11
Regarding March Madness and the NCAA Tournament, two things matter: Getting into the tournament and matchups. So, for Ohio State, I don’t think it matters what seed they are; I want them to have the best matchup possible.
Obviously, they have to make the tournament first, and that comes with winning games. The Buckeyes have done a good job of winning games that get you into the tournament (Kentucky, Purdue, Maryland, and Texas) and avoiding losses that keep you out (Q3 and Q4 losses).
This is why I prefer if Ohio State falls to a 10 or 11 seed, as the matchups are lighter. As an 8 or 9 seed, you may win the first game, but then you have to take on a one seed in the second round, and you lose that game.
If you are an 11 seed, the six seed in the first round may be a little tougher than the eight seed, but the second-round matchup is much easier against a three seed versus a one seed. I would rather the Buckeyes have an easier path to the Sweet 16 than the second round.
In the grand scheme of things, I just want to see Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament again, but I do think an 11 seed would not
