First Posted: 3/16/2014
Sixth-seeded Ohio State meets 11th-seeded Dayton in the second round of the NCAA tournament’s South Region.
The teams will meet Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Buckeyes (25-9) have been one of the most up-and-down teams in the field, rising to No. 3 nationally after a 15-0 start only to lose five of six and fall out of the Top 25.
Ohio State closed the regular season by beating eventual Big Ten tournament champion Michigan State at home, but lost to regular-season champ Michigan in the tournament semifinals.
The Flyers (23-10) lost in the Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinals to keep them on the NCAA bubble. Dayton last made the tournament in 2009.
The schools are located about an hour apart, with their last meeting coming in the NIT in 2008.
Many people in Ohio have been critical of Ohio State coach Thad Matta and athletic director Gene Smith because the Buckeyes don’t play in-state Division I teams away from their home court, but they’re now meeting in the NCAAs.
Dayton is coached by Archie Miller, the brother of Arizona coach Sean Miller. He was on Matta’s staff with the Buckeyes.
The Dayton-Ohio State winner faces the winner of third-seeded Syracuse and 14th-seeded Western Michigan in Saturday’s third round.