No. 2 Ohio State couldn't win the Big Ten this season, faltering in the final against the Michigan State Spartans. The big tournament starts now for them as they take on No. 15 Loyola in the East bracket on Thursday evening.
Ohio State come into the tournament looking great with a 27-7 record and one of their best chances to win their second NCAA tournament in a while. They're led by plenty of talent including Jared Sullinger, who gave a fine performance in the Big Ten title game.
Loyola's Greyhounds got their slot in the tournament with a 24-8 record and the championship of the MAAC. Erik Etherly leads their offense with 13 points and seven rebounds per game, but past him the pickings are slim when it comes to straight talent on the Loyola roster.
This is only Loyola's second appearance all time in the NCAA Tournament with their first coming in 1994, when they lost to Arizona in the first round. They will need to put together an amazing basketball game to beat in form Ohio State, who except for the end of the Big Ten championship game have been near unbeatable in their most recent few games.
The game will be at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Tip off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.
