clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Why is this news?: Ohio State basketball finally back in the Top 25

All of the big Ohio State news in one convenient location.

By Alexis Chassen
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

"The Ohio State basketball team rose 8 spots in this week's AP basketball poll."

Just four days after a jaw-dropping performance and win over the Hoosiers, the Buckeye's kept their momentum against a tough 18-3 Maryland team. Despite a slow start, D'Angelo Russell, Marc Loving, and Jae'Sean Tate were able to lift the team to an 80-56 victory over the Terps; this win was just enough to steal a spot in the Top 25.

AP Top 25

RANK TEAM Record POINTS PREV
1 Kentucky Wildcats (65) 21-0 1625 1
2 Gonzaga Bulldogs 22-1 1503 3
3 Virginia Cavaliers 19-1 1470 2
4 Duke Blue Devils 18-3 1416 4
5 Wisconsin Badgers 19-2 1381 5
6 Arizona Wildcats 20-2 1338 6
7 Villanova Wildcats 19-2 1209 7
8 Kansas Jayhawks 18-3 1177 9
9 Louisville Cardinals 18-3 1114 10
10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 20-3 1072 8
11 Iowa State Cyclones 16-4 892 15
12 North Carolina Tar Heels 17-5 861 13
13 Utah Utes 17-4 824 11
14 Northern Iowa Panthers 20-2 792 18
15 West Virginia Mountaineers 18-3 779 17
16 Wichita State Shockers 19-3 678 12
17 Maryland Terrapins 18-4 508 16
18 Virginia Commonwealth Rams 17-4 479 14
19 Baylor Bears 16-5 420 20
20 Ohio State Buckeyes 17-5 358 28
21 Oklahoma Sooners 14-7 312 24
22 Butler Bulldogs 16-6 250 25
23 SMU Mustangs 18-4 221 28
24 Georgetown Hoyas 16-6 162 21
25 Texas Longhorns 14-7 106 19

In addition to making it back into the Top 25, D'Angelo Russell added another Big Ten award to his ever-growing trophy case.

"Trailing 14-5 following five matches, the fourth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team stormed back to win four of the final five matches, including three via tech fall, to secure a 23-17 victory over No. 22 Rutgers on Sunday in front of a sold-out crowd at the College Avenue Gym."

- Ohio State University

The Buckeye wrestling team is now 7-1 in Big Ten conference competition with a seven match winning streak. They will be tested against second-ranked Minnesota on Friday, February 6th. The match will also serve as Senior Day which always serves as extra motivation for wrestlers facing their last home match.

#4 Ohio State v. #22 Rutgers

125: #7 Nathan Tomasello (OSU) tech. fall over Josh Patrick (RU), 23-8 | OSU 5, RU 0
133: Scott DelVecchio (RU) dec. over #7 Johnni DiJulius (OSU), 7-1 | OSU 5, RU 3
141: #9 Anthony Ashnault (RU) tech. fall over Sal Marandino (OSU), 20-4 | RU 8, OSU 5
149: #17 Ken Theobold (RU) dec. over Randy Languis (OSU), 3-0 | RU 11, OSU 5
157: #17 Anthony Perrotti (RU) dec. over #9 Josh Demas (OSU), 8-5 | RU 14, OSU 5
165: #5 Bo Jordan (OSU) tech. fall over Nick Visicaro (RU), 16-0 | RU 14, OSU 10
174: #13 Mark Martin (OSU) dec. over #19 Phil Bakuckas (RU), 8-2 | RU 14, OSU 13
184: #12 Kenny Courts (OSU) tech. fall over Taylor Jackson (RU), 16-1 | OSU 18, RU 14
197: #4 Kyle Snyder (OSU) tech. fall over Hayden Hrymack (RU), 24-8 | OSU 23, RU 14
285: #14 Billy Smith (RU) dec. over Ray Gordon (OSU), 5-2 | OSU 23, RU 17

"I talked to Coach Harbaugh a few times and he's a real energized guy, a cool guy...I think he understands (why I'm going to Ohio State). He just wanted to get to know me."

- Mike Weber, Detroit News

Buckeye fans have a lot to thank Michigan for this year; their disastrous season and back-office politics seemed to sway some of the best recruits in the nation away from that state up north. Mike Weber, a Michigan native and fan, decided to take his talents to Columbus, Ohio after the downward spiral that was the Brady Hoke era. Weber only took one visit to Ohio State, but the hard work and work ethic made a big impact on the youngster.

Despite Jim Harbaugh's best effort to reel Weber back to UM, he seems to be respectfully committed to Ohio State. As a blue chip player, and arguably the best running-back in his class, Buckeye fans and coaches alike are hoping he keeps his loyalty to the scarlet and gray on National Signing Day this Wednesday.

"Michigan football was without their face of the program after Brady Hoke was dismissed, which resulted in recruiting time being lost and a handful of prospects decommitting."

- Anthony Broome, Maize N Brew

The 2014 season was a complete waste for Michigan fans; the tides started changing once Jim Harbaugh announced he was taking a step-down from professional football to rebuild the program to which he owed his career. While the decision was widely celebrated from anyone wearing maize and blue, the timing caused a bit of an issue with the 2015 recruiting class.

By the time Harbaugh's move was official, Michigan had already lost multiple commits and being so late in the game, it proved difficult to build a strong incoming class in such a short time. While Harbaugh's name carries its own weight around the country, the University of Michigan is willing to overlook 2015 as a rebuilding season, and judge his recruiting ability on 2016.

"It was rugby that kept Nate from playing high school football, rugby that kept him from walking on at Ohio State until his junior season. That's right, the Patriots spent a sixth-round draft choice on a guy who'd taken all of three defensive snaps in college."

- Austin Murphy, Sports Illustrated

There was only one former Buckeye football player in the 2014 Super Bowl; Nate Ebner. How Ebner came to be a professional football player and now Super Bowl winner is uniquely his own. A former rugby stand-out was looking for a challenge, and with only two years left in college, he leaned toward football. And while football wasn't his first choice, I'm sure his Super Bowl ring will help remind him regularly of his smart decision.

STICK TO SPORTS

More From Land-Grant Holy Land