Ohio State Buckeyes: Worst 10 NCAA Heartbreaks
2014 Second Round: Dayton 60, Ohio State 59
The Buckeyes’ 1-point loss to Dayton during the 2014 NCAA Tournament still frustrates the most ardent OSU supporter. Lil’ Brother isn’t supposed to beat Big Brother, especially when Big Brother wears Scarlet and Gray and features multiple McDonald’s All-Americans.
Throw in the gritty Aaron Craft–the guy with the biggest motor in college basketball– and the Buckeyes shouldn’t have lost. As a No. 6 seed Ohio State probably wasn’t going to the Final Four. That team had its flaws, but certainly, they weren’t going to lose to the Flyers.
Yet, Thad Matta’s squad did just that.
Looking at the box score, it’s hard to find any fault with the Buckeyes’ effort that game. Both teams shot about the same, rebounded about the same and turned the ball over about the same.
If there was one red flag, it was in bench play. Flyer reserves outscored Buckeye benchman 17-9. LaQuinton Ross, Sam Thompson and Craft combined for 44 points. There wasn’t much help to be found elsewhere.
The loss marked the first time in five years the Buckeyes had been bounced in their opening tournament game (Sienna, 2009).