Dance Time Here We Come

Since it is now selection Sunday I have to say I'm looking forward to my team dancing. Unfortunately, my team, last year's runners up, will be dancing in the National Invitational Tournament. I have to say that I agree with the selection committee, even though they haven't picked yet. The Michigan State game yesterday was the defenition of a must win. OSU has been very lack-luster this winter. They found a way to beat Purdue and Michigan State at home in their two games leading up yesterday but couldn't continue the magic and thus, lost their chance at an NCAA tournament bid.

Now, it's not to say the NCAA couldn't mess up and sneak Ohio State in, but I'll give you an idea of how unlikely that is. Yesterday, before Ohio State's loss to Michigan State, Joe Lunardi had Ohio State listed as one of his "last four in." After the loss Ohio State isn't even in his "last four out." I think a win against MSU would have sealed the deal for OSU. Three straight against ranked teams and a decent finish in the Big 10 Tournament would make a more impressive resume and give OSU the all important "hot, heading in" factor in their favor. Add to that their strength of schedule is in the top 20 nationally. Instead, it seems more likely that the loss increased Ohio State's chance for a national title; just in a different tournament.

This season certainly lacked the sparkle that last year's team had. Last year between senior leadership (Ron Lewis) and four outstanding freshman (Oden, Conley, Cook, and David Lighty) Ohio State almost lived what dreams are made of. Their were hopes of that for this season too. It turned out that there's a reason Oden was the top recruit in his class and Kosta Koufous wasn't. That Ohio's career leading scorer (who we heard that about every game) couldn't find his stroke in Columbus. We learned that we were at the top of the spoiled list last year. All we can hope for now, as Buckeye fans, is a chance that we'll be looking like this in a few weeks.
Mostly because, after their NIT win in 2004, we need (another) reason to stick to that team from Ann Arbor.