Unexpectedly, the Ohio State Buckeyes are seeded favorably in Lunardi’s bracketology.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket projections have presented a surprising scenario for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team: despite a season marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities, they are projected to be among the “Last Four In” according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. This favorable positioning is unexpected given their recent struggles and the competitive nature of the Big Ten Conference.(New York Post)
Ohio State’s season has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. The team started strong, securing notable victories against top-ranked opponents. However, a series of losses, including a significant defeat to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, raised questions about their tournament viability. Despite these setbacks, the Buckeyes managed to maintain a strong NET ranking, which has been a crucial factor in their favorable seeding.(Sporting News)
One of the most compelling aspects of Ohio State’s résumé is their strength of schedule. Competing in the Big Ten, widely regarded as one of the most challenging conferences in college basketball, the Buckeyes faced numerous high-quality opponents. This tough schedule has bolstered their profile, making their case more compelling to the selection committee.(Sporting News)
Despite a less-than-ideal record, Ohio State has secured several key victories against ranked teams. These wins demonstrate the team’s potential and ability to compete at a high level, which is a significant consideration for bracketologists and the selection committee.(SI)
The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranking is a critical metric used by the selection committee. Ohio State’s strong NET ranking has helped offset some of their losses, keeping them in contention for a tournament spot.(Eleven Warriors)
Another important factor is the team’s ability to avoid bad losses. In the eyes of the selection committee, losses to lower-ranked teams can be detrimental to a team’s tournament hopes. Ohio State’s ability to steer clear of such defeats has kept their résumé relatively clean.(Eleven Warriors)
Being projected as one of the “Last Four In” means that Ohio State is currently on the bubble, with their tournament fate hanging in the balance. This status underscores the importance of their upcoming games and the potential impact of any additional wins or losses.(New York Post)
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ inclusion in the “Last Four In” projections is a testament to their resilience and the strength of their schedule. While their season has been fraught with challenges, their ability to secure quality wins and avoid bad losses has kept them in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament berth. As the selection committee finalizes its decisions, Ohio State’s fate will depend on the final evaluations of their overall body of work.(Eleven Warriors)
