The Ramblers finally found their groove in the MVC tournament. They were spectacular defensively as they allowed just 50.3 PPG in the tournament. The Buckeyes are in a free fall as they are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last four games, with three of those losses coming against bad teams (Maryland, Nebraska, Penn St.). The Ramblers defense should rattle the Buckeyes are carry Loyola to the Round of 32.

Did I get +1 on Sunday night? Yes. Does that push condition really make a difference? A small one, yes, but I have Loyola notching a win for my bracket here so I'm comfortable with the pick'em. We saw 4 & 5 seeds like UConn, Arkansas, UCLA, Iowa and even Providence get a scare or more (RIP Huskies and Hawkeyes) from worrisome 12 & 13 seeds yesterday. I don't think that stops, these double digit seeds are good and I project Ohio State will be the next blue blood to struggle against a Mid Major. They've been tough to back all season and if E.J. Liddell doesn't have a great game today, then his 30% usage rate will backfire heavily. Loyola has a massive edge on defense as well, which matters most in March. Back the fighting Sister Jeans... that's their mascot, right??

Most computer rankings have Loyola as the better team, and there’s no question the Ramblers could pull the upset Friday. But this Loyola team is nowhere near as good as the 2021 or 2018 clubs – sorry, Sister Jean – and has just one victory over a team that reached the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes lost four of their final five games but will have easily the best player on the floor in EJ Liddell (19.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg), and Coach Chris Holtmann says his team should be at full strength for the first time in weeks with Meechie Johnson, Kyle Young and Zed Key all expected to play off injury. Playing in Pittsburgh should mean a massive pro-OSU crowd.

The Buckeyes will have a big home advantage, with Pittsburgh just three hours away from the Ohio State campus. Loyola Chicago hasn't played in 12 days and could be a little rusty. Plus, the Ramblers aren't coached by Porter Moser anymore; this will be Drew Valentine's first NCAA Tournament game as a head coach. Ohio State was upset last year by Oral Roberts in the first round. The Buckeyes did not end the year very well, but that doesn't matter now. I'm sure this will be a very focused Ohio State team. Buckeyes cover.

The Missouri Valley Conference is 12-1 over the last 10 years in first-round games of the NCAA Tournament. I’ve called six Ramblers games this season, and they can beat any team on any given night. Plus, it’s Sister Jean. We need more of her!

Ohio State lost four of its last five games, and three of those four defeats came to non-tournament teams Maryland, Nebraska and Penn State. Fifth-year senior forward Kyle Young missed the last two regular-season games and the Big Ten Tournament because he's in the concussion protocol. His status for Friday's game remains unclear. Loyola Chicago is peaking, having dominated the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament while allowing an average of 50.3 points. Look for Lucas Williamson (14.0 ppg) and Ohio native Braden Norris (10.3 ppg, 3.9 apg) to lift the Ramblers into the Round of 32.