The climb continues for the Ohio State basketball team. Just outside of the top 25 a few weeks ago, most polls and experts now have the Buckeyes up inside the top five in the country and potentially closing in on a No. 1 seed if things continue.
Almost every single opinion maker out there now has the Buckeyes among the elite teams in the country, and there’s one that we’ve been following for quite some time. . Last week, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello had OSU at No. 9 in his weekly power rankings, which was good in its own right. But now, after a win on the road against Iowa, in combination with some losses by the teams in front, he now has elevated Ohio State up among the elite teams in the country.
We must of course caution that there is still plenty of season to go, but there’s no doubt at this point that the Buckeyes are going to be seeded fairly high in the NCAA Tournament wherever and whenever it gets played.
So, where did Borzello catapult OSU since last week? And why? We’re glad you asked.
NEXT … Ohio State’s spot in ESPN’s college basketball power rankings
No. 4 – Ohio State
What Borzello says about Ohio State
“I wrote a lot about Ohio State’s push for a 1-seed this past week, but let’s focus on E.J. Liddell‘s recent performance — and his emergence as one of the Big Ten’s best players. A highly touted recruit coming out of high school, Liddell didn’t really find a rhythm as a freshman, scoring in double figures just six times — although two of those came in the final two games of the season. This campaign, Liddell has been the go-to guy for the Buckeyes, given his size and ability to score in different ways. He has been dominant over Ohio State’s past six outings, averaging 19.2 points and 7.2 rebounds and shooting 42.1% from 3-point range. The Buckeyes’ offense is operating at an elite level lately, and Liddell is a major reason for that.”
Next … What we say
No. 4 – Ohio State
What We Say
This Ohio State team is for real. The offense is elite with several playmakers that can score in multiple ways, making it hard to gameplan against. There is a slew of players that can pull up and hit jump shots, or get in the lane and finish through contact. The defense still needs a little work, and there is still a very, very tough road to traverse through the remainder of the Big Ten, but this team has come together in quick fashion with all the fresh faces. If OSU stays motivated, continues to play together, and continues to stay healthy, it could be a very deep run in March.
