The Big 10’s going to be well-represented come bracket season (which is almost here! Yay!). Two teams vying for a top seed – Indiana, who is probably the best team in the country, and Ohio State, who could get hot, win their conference in the upcoming weeks, and sneak in as a number one – knuckled up Tuesday night. The underdog Buckeyes won 67-58. The win will add even more confusion to a conference brimming with talent.
Aaron Craft paced his team with 15 points and four assists, a statement that should bring smiles to Buckeye fans everywhere. As the best defensive point guard in college basketball, Craft’s offense has been subpar this year. Hitting only 39.8% of his shots from the floor, this regression from last year (when he shot .500) has been a major reason why OSU has been a relative disappointment this year.
Craft and Dashaun Thomas were expected to fill the noticeable scoring void left by Jared Sullinger, and so far Thomas has been the only one footing the bill. If Craft can continue his recent string of hot play (double-digit, efficient scoring two out of his last three games), Ohio State can win the B1G and claim a top seed.
Indiana will have something to say about it, though. Even after their punchless loss to the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers can rely on one of the highest-scoring duos in the country – Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller – to lead a heady charge into the postseason. As elite players as there are at their positions, they contribute to the country’s number two offense, one that few teams – B1G or otherwise – will be able to slow down.