2008 Woodie Awards
OSU snubbed of its NCAA berth
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports
COLUMBUS - A year after finishing second in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes weren't even in the top 65.
Last year's national runner-up, the Buckeyes were overlooked when the NCAA men's tournament bracket was announced yesterday night and had to settle for a National Invitation Tournament home game against UNC-Asheville tomorrow night.
Coach Thad Matta said the slight will likely serve as an educational tool for his young squad.
"One of the questions I asked them (the younger players) a month and a half ago was, do you make the NCAA tournament because you put an Ohio State uniform on?" Matta said yesterday night. "They all kind of laughed. They know now that there's a lot more that goes into it."
Ohio State hoped that a 19-13 record, a decent RPI (49), two late wins over ranked opponents (Purdue, Michigan State), a 10-8 Big Ten record and a difficult schedule (ranked 13th toughest in the country) might be enough to get it into the tournament.
UNC-Asheville (23-9) made it to the Big South title game before losing.
"UNC-Asheville will be another difficult test," said Matta, whose team has played a ranked opponent in five of its last six games. "We are fortunate to keep playing."
Last year's national runner-up, the Buckeyes were overlooked when the NCAA men's tournament bracket was announced yesterday night and had to settle for a National Invitation Tournament home game against UNC-Asheville tomorrow night.
Coach Thad Matta said the slight will likely serve as an educational tool for his young squad.
"One of the questions I asked them (the younger players) a month and a half ago was, do you make the NCAA tournament because you put an Ohio State uniform on?" Matta said yesterday night. "They all kind of laughed. They know now that there's a lot more that goes into it."
Ohio State hoped that a 19-13 record, a decent RPI (49), two late wins over ranked opponents (Purdue, Michigan State), a 10-8 Big Ten record and a difficult schedule (ranked 13th toughest in the country) might be enough to get it into the tournament.
UNC-Asheville (23-9) made it to the Big South title game before losing.
"UNC-Asheville will be another difficult test," said Matta, whose team has played a ranked opponent in five of its last six games. "We are fortunate to keep playing."
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