NCAA Tournament Preview: 2. Ohio State vs. 15 Loyola (Maryland)

By: Kels Dayton

 2 Ohio State (27-7, 13-5 Big Ten) The Buckeyes could have been a No. 1 seed had they won the Big Ten championship, but will settle for a No. 2 in the East region. Big man Jared Sullinger (17.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) is an absolute beast down low, an All-American candidate and an NBA lottery pick.

Sharpshooting senior guard Will Buford (14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) gives the Buckeyes an excellent deep threat, and sophomore point guard Aaron Craft is a solid floor general who runs the team very well. Sophomore forward Deshaun Thomas has been a revelation for Ohio State, averaging 15.5 points and 5 rebounds per game.

KEY STATS:

12th Field Goal Percentage (.486)

57th Rebounding (36.8)

35th Points per game (75.1)

Team stats courtesy of ESPN.com and www.bbstate.com.

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 15 Loyola (MD) (24-8, 13-5 MAAC) The Greyhounds are led by fiery coach Jimmy Patsos, who has taken this program from the NCAA cellar to the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. Patsos famously held Davidson guard Stephen Curry scoreless in a game by double and triple-teaming him and allowing him to rack up assists in a blowout win.

Patsos deservedly took some heat for that move, but has responded by coaxing the Greyhounds to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995. Four Loyola players average in double figures in scoring, including 6-7 junior forward Erik Etherly (13.5 ppg). Guard Dylon Cormier averages 13.4 ppg.

KEY STATS:

4 Players average in double figures in scoring

124th Rebounding (35.3)

207th Field Goal Percentage (42.3)

 

PREDICTION: Ohio State 

Team stats courtesy of ESPN.com and www.bbstate.com.