Thad Matta has Buckeyes Poised for Late Season Run by Chris Whicker

The Ohio State Men's Basketball team has been one of the hottest in all of the NCAA recently. After Michigan States' loss yesterday, the Bucks sit just a game behind division leading Spartans in the race for the Big Ten regular season crown. 13OSU finds itself one of four teams with three losses in the conference, including 8Purdue and 16Wisconsin and the soon-to-be ranked Fighting Illini, who beat 5MSU in a battle, 78-73.

When Player of the Year candidate Evan Turner returned from a mid season spine injury in four weeks instead of six, the Buckeyes were expected to improve, considering Turner is the team leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals. However, only a disciplined observer could foresee what the rest of the nation is finding out; Ohio State has a legitimate chance at a Final Four appearance and more in Lucas Oil Field this March/April.

An Ohio State National Championship would be the first since the recently celebrated, but not nearly as witnessed 1960 season. Playoff success starts with a tournament bid earned by a team's regular and conference season, as well as performance in their conference tournament. The surging Buckeyes have won four straight and seven of their last eight. With road games in East Lancing and Champaign, IL, as well as a late season match up with the Boilermakers, the Big Ten regular season title and resulting first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament remains a reachable goal. Despite early season struggles, The Buckeyes are right where they want to be. As Evan Turner himself said, "Its not how we start, it's how we end".