Ohio State Now a Top-Five March Madness Favorite; Are Buckeyes Legit Title Contenders?

• No. 3 Ohio State is 9-0, one of only five unbeaten teams in NCAA hoops
• The Buckeyes have beaten quality teams like Villanova, Penn State and North Carolina
• They are among the top teams in a loaded Big Ten conference

While many Ohio State fans might be preoccupied with what its school is accomplishing on the gridiron, there is plenty to be excited about on the hardwood as well.

The Buckeyes — who are No. 2 in the country in football and set to play in the College Football Playoff in a couple weeks — boast one of only five undefeated basketball programs among 353 NCAA Division I teams.

Despite a challenging schedule so far (and to come), Ohio State has worked itself to 9-0, a No. 3 ranking and a top-five position in the latest 2020 March Madness title odds.

Odds taken Dec. 12. 

Selecting one team to win it all in the NCAA Men’s Tournament is practically a 1-in-68 shot. So, it’s a tough call to make no matter what. But Ohio State should be among the teams most closely considered, and here’s why.

This is a football tweet.

And a basketball tweet https://t.co/LrRB8o85xZ

— Herb Kirkstreit (@THE_OSU) December 11, 2019

Loading up the Resume Early

At the end of the NCAA basketball season, when the panel of hosts on CBS gathers for the tournament selection show, teams are often scrutinized for their resumes — in other words, who did they really play, and beat, over the course of the season?

Ohio State has already played — and beaten — a number of strong teams in a short span: Cincinnati, North Carolina, Penn State and Villanova. Those are all schools in KenPom’s top-50 rankings, which signifies high-caliber victories.

𝘼 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙡𝙡

Our journey continues Saturday at The Schott #Team121 pic.twitter.com/k1P8tXpOvv

— Ohio State Hoops 🌰 (@OhioStateHoops) December 6, 2019

It’s difficult to say which of those wins will be most impressive come March, but certainly, they will all count toward Ohio State’s tournament seeding considerations.

What KenPom Likes

What does KenPom like about Ohio State? Practically everything. The vaunted college hoops analytical website has Ohio State ranked No. 1 in the country, even though the Buckeyes are No. 3 in the latest Associated Press poll.

Sliding into Thanksgiving break like… pic.twitter.com/oJyP2leg3N

— Ohio State Hoops 🌰 (@OhioStateHoops) November 26, 2019

The Buckeyes rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Only one other team, Duke, is ranked in the top 10 in both categories.

Ohio State also ranks in the top five in effective field goal percentage (i.e. field goal percentage that weights 3-pointers higher) for offensive and defense. Only one other team, Louisville, is ranked in the top 30 in both categories.

The Big 10 Gauntlet — Good or Bad?

Playing in the Big Ten, a perennially powerful basketball conference is both a good thing and a bad thing for Ohio State.

On one hand, the Buckeyes’ strength of schedule — facing teams like Maryland, Michigan and Michigan State, all of whom are ranked No. 16 or higher — will help at tournament selection time. And being battle-tested for the single-elimination March Madness never hurts.

9⃣-0⃣ for the first time in 21 years!#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/yqVyvL3doE

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 5, 2019

But with so many strong teams, it will be difficult for Ohio State to emerge with a dazzling record and a conference title, which could mean a less favorable seed in the tournament. Of course, if the Buckeyes managed to survive and win the Big Ten, they’d almost certainly be a No. 1 seed.

My Two Cents

Ohio State looks like a legitimate title contender. But because the NCAA Men’s Tournament is often quite unpredictable, I prefer looking at teams with a bit longer odds than what Ohio State is currently getting (+1200).

You really never know what’s going to happen, so a higher risk/reward pick like Gonzaga (+2000) or Virginia (+2500) should be worth a look as well.