The Ohio State Buckeyes are currently the top-ranked basketball team in America, and the number one overall seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Today, they will look to make the march towards the Final Four when they take on the Roadrunners of the University of Texas-San Antonio. UT-SA had to win one of the "First Four" games to reach this point, as they defeated Alabama State 70-61 on Wednesday night.
Never in the history of the modern NCAA Tournament has a number one seed lost to a number 16 seed. . .and the folks from Along the Olentangy, SB Nation's Ohio State blog, don't anticipate it happening today, either.
It shouldn't be surprising that such a gulf exists between Ohio State and UT-San Antonio, but it is disappointing that the Roadrunners are being rewarded for playing well in only three games of an entire season. They haven't even competed, win or lose, against any RPI Top 50 teams, and they hold one of the weakest strength of schedules of any team in the country. Ohio State is a 22-point favorite according to the latest Vegas lines, and Ken Pomeroy is predicting an 87-59 Buckeye victory at 99% confidence. The Roadrunners should not be in the game at halftime unless something goes terribly wrong for the Buckeyes.
Really hard to disagree with that assessment. . .although I suppose stranger things have happened. I wouldn't expect anything strange to happen in this game, however.
This game will tip off at 2:40 PM Central time, and you'll be able to see it on TNT, which is Channel 245 on your DirecTV box. Check your local listings for cable channel in your area.