A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away called the beginning of college basketball season; the Ohio Bobcats were named espn.com’s “It” team. Ohio was deemed the unranked team most likely to be ranked by the end of the year. The Bobcats had a strong out of conference schedule, and played in the MAC, a respectable up and coming mid-major.  24 games later, the Bobkittens have turned from the “It” team into the (expletive deleted) team.  Dropping most of their crucial out of conference games and then refusing to turn it on once they began playing MAC teams, Ohio has stumbled to an 18-6 record.  It appears as if the “It” team actually plays about an hour and a half up Route 33.  

The Ohio State Buckeyes, also not ranked at the beginning of the season, are the real “It” team.  The Bucks have  put together a rock solid season and now sitting at 20-4, tied for first in the Big Ten, and are ranked No. 12 in the polls.  The question is, who are these guys, and how does Thad Matta have them in such good shape? 

The Buckeyes feature 3 starters; Terence Dials, Jamar Butler, and Je’Kel Foster who all average over 10 a night, while Ron Lewis averages 12 points off the bench.  Not to mention the Buckeyes are No. 6 in the nation when it comes to three point shooting percentage.

As is true with any three point shooting team, live by the three, die by the three.  When making 10 or more three pointers the Buckeyes are 9-0, but all four of their losses have come on days when they have made nine or less three pointers.  Leading this onslaught of 3 point shooting has been Je’Kel Foster who is shooting 48.6% from behind the arc.  In fact, this might be the most explosive Ohio State team Since Michael Redd was shooting the lights out at The Schottenstein Center.  (I refuse to acknowledge it as Value City Arena). 

This Ohio State team has also proven itself able to step up in a big game.  Just last Wednesday the Buckeyes marched into East Lansing to play the undefeated at home Michigan State Spartans.  On their previous visit to Columbus, MSU beat the Buckeyes in double overtime to hand them their only home lost of the season.  The Bucks prevailed, hitting clutch 3 pointers down the stretch and dominating the glass in the second half.  In fact, Michigan State felt that OSU’s perimeter game was such a threat that it allowed Terrence Dials to blow up for 19 points from the paint. 

“We played our game, shot our shots, and they fell.” Those were some of Senior Je’Kel Foster’s comments after that win over Michigan State.  If Ohio State’s ‘game’ is to be a serious shooting team with a down low presence, then certainly their incoming freshmen for next year have to be some sort of indication about how good this team could potentially get. 

With arguably the best recruiting class in the nation right now, Ohio State is adding four top tier recruits.  Greg Oden is one of the most dominating big men to ever come out of high school, and now that the NBA has age limit rules, he will be forced to at least try and develop at Ohio State.  Also coming is Oden’s teammate, Mike Conley, who also happens to be the #3 ranked point guard in the country.  Also to Thad’s recruiting credit this year he also managed to score Daequan Cook and David Lighty, both top 25 recruiting prospects as well. 

So, they can shoot the three ball, play in a tough spot on the road and are now being talked about as a potential 2-3 seed in the tournament.  Adding to their accomplishment this year is the fact that the Big Ten is, without question, one of the elite conferences this year.  Along with the Big East, the Big Ten is a serious basketball conference this year.  Of all conferences, the Big Ten and ACC have 4 ranked teams, only bested by the Big East who has 5. 

Let’s do the math.  (Top tier conference + Leading their Conference)*(#12 Coaches Poll*#13 AP Poll) / #7 RPI = A great seed in the tournament. as a reward for a season well played.  Granted, Ohio State did receive some votes to be ranked at the beginning of the season, but not enough to even warrant beating out any of the top 25’s.  Even if you could have seen them being ranked by the end of the year, would you have picked them as a potential 2 seed in the big dance? 

Ohio State’s remaining schedule isn’t even all that daunting.  With only one road game left to play at Northwestern, whom they just barely outlasted on the 18th, they should be able to handle Michigan and Purdue at home, going into their conference tournament on a hot streak. 

I guess that’s what’s “It” about Ohio State.  Their play has been solid thus far this season, with a few collapses on the road.  Their Achilles heel however will remain to be the three point ball.  If they go cold at the wrong moment in the tournament, they could be nothing more than an also ran flop.  Even so, their season thus far is quite impressive, going from an unranked last year whose entire season was legitimized by an upset of undefeated Illinois at home in the final game of the year; to this year being a top 10 RPI ranked team.  I guess that’s why the Buckeyes are The Ohio State University.

Seth Glasgow is a junior at Ohio University, and is currently paying penance for sins committed in a past life by being a fan of all things Cleveland.  You can reach him at seth.glasgow@atomicsportsmedia.com.