A loss against Maryland in overtime has dropped Ohio State in the major NCAA Tournament bracket predictions ahead of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Buckeyes recorded a key 89-78 victory over Michigan State in their final home game of the regular season, with starters Jaloni Cambridge and Ajae Petty having season-best performances.
More: Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by media
In College Park, Md., on Sunday, Ohio State fell 93-90 after the Terrapins hit a 3-point basket in the final second of overtime, keeping the Buckeyes from closing the regular season with a win.
Prior to the final week of the regular season, the Buckeyes were barley holding onto a top-16 spot in the major bracketology predicts.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Falling out of the top 16 loses Ohio State hosting rights for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, putting the Buckeyes on the road for the entire postseason.
Ohio State women’s basketball standing in latest bracketology
The NCAA.com bracket prediction published by analyst Autumn Johnson on Tuesday has Ohio State sliding into the No. 5 seed in the Birmingham 4 region. Johnson has the Buckeyes starting the tournament in Waco, Texas where Baylor would be hosting as the No. 4.
Charlie Creme, who runs ESPN’s bracketology, puts Ohio State as the No. 5 seed Birmingham 1 region in his latest on Monday. Ole Miss is the No. 4 seed in that region, which would send the Buckeyes to Oxford, Miss. for the opening rounds of the tournament.
Ohio State gets started in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday as the No. 3 seed, facing either Wisconsin, Iowa or Michigan State in the final game of the quarterfinals.
