MINNEAPOLIS — A season that has teetered on the sting of falling aside a number of instances lastly reached its breaking level on Thursday.
Iowa males’s basketball has had its again in opposition to the wall for some time. Every time it seemed just like the staff’s NCAA Match hopes had been historical past, the Hawkeyes managed to bounce again and get again within the dialog.
On Thursday, that was the case now not. The Seventh-seeded Hawkeyes fell to the Tenth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes 90-78 within the Huge Ten Match. It was the second consecutive recreation that Iowa failed to steer for even a single second.
The loss capped off a irritating two-game stretch. At a time when the Hawkeyes could not afford to play poorly, they did. Twice. They didn’t make the most of the shot at Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Area on Sunday, after which got here up quick of their first Huge Ten Match recreation in opposition to Ohio State.
Barring one thing unexpected, Iowa is not going to be among the many 68 groups chosen for the NCAA Match on Sunday. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi projected Iowa as “out” with a loss to Ohio State.
Ohio State acquired contributions from a wide range of gamers. Ten Buckeyes acquired within the scoring column. Jamison Battle exploded within the second half, with all of his 23 factors coming after halftime. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bruce Thornton had been additionally in double-figures.
The Buckeyes additionally acquired a significant enhance from outdoors its beginning 5, outscoring Iowa 37-16 in bench factors. Freshman Scotty Middleton led the way in which for the Buckeyes’ second unit, scoring 11.
Rebounding struggles, one thing that has plagued Iowa on a number of events this season, damage the Hawkeyes once more on Thursday. The Buckeyes outrebounded the Hawkeyes 42-36 total.
Iowa’s Payton Sandfort, who has been incredible in the course of the latter a part of the season, did all he may on Thursday. Sandfort scored a team-high 19 factors. Iowa had three different gamers in double-figures.
Ohio State picked aside Iowa’s protection, capturing 51.7% from the sector and 55% from deep. Defensive shortcomings will not be one thing new to this program.
Iowa basketball’s NCAA Match probabilities had been on the road in Minneapolis
The Hawkeyes constructed some substantial momentum and appeared to show the nook in current weeks, successful 4 of their final six video games of the common season, with each losses coming to a very good Illinois staff.
However Iowa nonetheless arrived in Minneapolis on the mistaken facet of the NCAA Match bubble and certain wanted no less than two wins to really feel good on Choice Sunday.
Iowa beat Ohio State 79-77 within the groups’ solely assembly in the course of the common season on Feb. 2. However the Buckeyes entered the Huge Ten Match as a scorching membership. Since coach Chris Holtmann was fired in mid-February, Ohio State is 6-1 beneath interim head coach Jake Diebler, which features a victory over Purdue.
On Thursday, Ohio State jumped out to a 10-2 lead. It was paying homage to Iowa’s begin in opposition to Illinois within the regular-season finale. Within the recreation in opposition to Illinois, Iowa dug itself an enormous gap early and could not get better.
On Thursday, although, Iowa acquired again into it earlier than the sport acquired away. The Hawkeyes knotted the rating at 15 apiece.
On the break, Ohio State led 43-38. From a glass-half-full standpoint, it wasn’t the worst spot for Iowa to be in given Ohio State was capturing a scorching 60.7% from the sector and 72.7% from deep. The Buckeyes may’ve been up by much more.
Iowa lower its deficit to simply three early within the second half. However then the offense went chilly. The Hawkeyes shot simply 33.3% from the sector and 25% from deep after halftime. In the meantime, Ohio State’s Battle was heating up.
Thursday was one other missed alternative in a season crammed with them for the Hawkeyes. Iowa blew second-half leads vs. Penn State, Maryland (twice), Illinois and Indiana. If the Hawkeyes had received a few these video games, perhaps they’d be a fifth straight NCAA Match look.
Even so, the Hawkeyes had an opportunity to get on the choice committee’s good facet. However they slumped on the mistaken time, with uninspired performances in opposition to the Illini and the Buckeyes.
Iowa received this occasion in 2022 for the third time in program historical past. The Hawkeyes, then a No. 5-seed, received 4 video games in 4 days to seize a Huge Ten Match title.
In 2024, Iowa couldn’t recapture that magic.
Observe Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact by way of e-mail at ttachman@gannett.com