Ohio State fails to even get an NIT bid

After Ohio State was upset by Rutgers in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, Thad Matta wasn’t sure if the Buckeyes would play in the NIT if an offer came.

That question has bene rendered moot. The NIT bracket has been announced, and the Buckeyes did not make the field.

Reggie Minton, the NIT Committee Chairman, said on the broadcast that when compared to the final teams in, Ohio State “came up just a bit short”. He also added that no teams declined bids this season.

Ohio State, at 17-15, wasn’t in serious contention for an NCAA bid this season, thanks to a bevy of bad losses, both in Big Ten play, and to Florida Atlantic out of conference play. It might have been nice for the Buckeyes to get a shot at another game or two, to help keep their streak of 20 win seasons alive, and build some momentum for next season, but that won’t be the case.

This is the first time Ohio State will miss the postseason since the 2004-2005 season, Thad Matta’s first year in Columbus.

It’s highly unlikely Ohio State would decide to play in another postseason tournament, like the CBI, so with Matta set to return for the 2017-2018 season, the process for getting ready for then begins now.