The No. 7 seed Ohio State Buckeyes will face the No. 10 seed Loyola Chicago Ramblers, opening day 2 of the Round of 64, as part of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:15 pm from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA, airing live on CBS.

Buckeye Recap:

Ohio State ended the regular season with an overall 19-11 record and finished 6^th in the Big Ten. The season was a roller coaster for fans, players, and coaches as the team dealt with a plethora of issues. From the onset Coach Holtmann knew things would be difficult as his team would be without Seth Towns and Justice Sueing for most of the season, eventually all season. However, that would only be the beginning as Covid-19 issues would lead to almost a month without play, and injuries to Zed Key, Meechie Johnson, and Kyle Young would weaken the roster.

Ultimately, the fatigue and roster issues would lead to a less than thrilling finish as the Buckeyes went 1-4 over the final stretch, featuring a first-round exit from the conference tournament. But, now they are presented with a chance to make all the struggles and failures worthwhile if they could make a semi-deep tournament run.

Who is Loyola Chicago?:

The Ramblers finished their season with a record of 25-7 and finished 2^nd in the Missouri Valley Conference. However, they defeated Drake in their conference tournament to secure a bid to the Big Dance.

Up until the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the Ramblers were likely not a household name. But, that year everything changed for the program when they made a run to the Final Four as an 11 seed. Three of their four upsets in their Cinderella run were decided by 2 points or less, they would eventually fall to #3 Michigan. In 2021, they would advance to the Sweet 16 after defeating Georgia Tech and upsetting #1 seeded Illinois. Now, in 2022 they will return to the tourney with hopes of making another run.

The Ramblers are led in scoring by Senior Guard Lucas Williamson, he averages 14.0 points per game while shooting nearly 40% beyond the arc. Their starting rotation also features an Ohio native, from Hillard, Braden Norris. Norris only scores about 10 points per game, but is a sharpshooter, nailing 44% of his 3-point attempts. However, the offensive end is not where the Ramblers place their pride, they are a defensive juggernaut. They allow just under 62 points per game, landing them the 17^th best rank in the nation. The combination of an experienced rotation and suffocating defense is a scary matchup for any opponent.

What to Expect:

For the Ramblers, being a lower-seeded team and making a run is nothing new. Their recent success combined with Ohio State’s slide has even earned them the role of favorite on some betting sheets. Lucas Williamson’s experience as part of Loyola’s previous runs makes him extremely valuable. He should be poised and more ready for this moment than any player on the court. If he plays well and his teammates continue to contribute and play tight defense the Buckeyes will be in trouble.

Even with all the difficult losses and challenging situations, the Buckeyes found a way to present an impressive enough resume to earn a spot in the Big Dance. Now it is time for this team to treat the post-season as a clean slate, all the blemishes can be removed if the Buckeyes step up. A win or even two in the tournament could change the whole outlook on this program and season. With EJ Liddell headed to the NBA and potentially Malachi Branham following, it is essential for these two to give their best performances yet. I believe that we will see a motivated Ohio State team, ready to wipe away all the doubt and prove the haters wrong. The question is, can they play their best 40 minutes of basketball when needed most?

Injury News:

-Kyle Young: available, possibly limited

-Zed Key: available, possibly limited

-Meechie Johnson: available, rolled ankle

-Justice Sueing/Seth Towns: out for the season

Gabe’s Guess:

The game line began with Ohio State as the favorite, then Loyola, and has settled as a pick ‘em. I believe that the health of Young and Key will decide the outcome of this game. The Buckeyes need both the depth and grittiness of both these guys if they want to win and advance. This team trended too far in the wrong direction and really landed itself in a tough spot. I just don’t think they have what it takes to get a win against a stingy and equally motivated Loyola.

Final: 70-66, Loyola Chicago Ramblers

How to watch:

Catch all the action at approximately 12:15 pm ET on CBS

 

Featured Image: Joseph Maiorana, USA Today