The Ohio State Buckeyes had some adversity this season when they couldn't pull off an outright win of the Big Ten Conference in the regular season and then couldn't win the Big Ten title game over Michigan State. They have had the last laugh though, being the last man from their conference standing in the NCAA Tournament thanks to a win in the Elite Eight over the Syracuse Orange.
Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy knows that the school pays more attention to their football team than their basketball team -- that's the way it always has been, seemingly -- but their coach Thad Matta deserves immense amounts of credit for the way he has molded Ohio State into a final four contender.
These past two weeks are another jewel in his crown. What Matta has done, raising an arguably under-recognized program to the pinnacle of college basketball, deserves commendation from the diehard and the most disinterested Ohio State fan alike. In eight seasons, Matta has gathered 221 wins, 98 within the conference, five conference regular season championship, and four Sweet Sixteen appearances, including an appearance in the 2007 National Championship game. His run is the best since Fred Taylor, legendary progenitor of the Ohio State basketball program, who won a national championship in 1960.
It's a good time to be a Buckeye for sure. Only Kansas stands in the way of Ohio State going for their first National Title in over 50 years.
For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream.