Ohio State up to No. 12 in AP Poll after Big Ten runners-up finish

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Despite a 33-point loss Sunday to now No. 2 Iowa in the Big Ten title game, the Ohio State Buckeyes ended this week moving up in the national rankings.

Ohio State (25-7, 11-4) has moved up two spots in the final AP poll before Selection Sunday as the No. 12 team in the country entering the NCAA Tournament. The move up comes after a week where the Buckeyes went 2-1 in the conference tournament in Minneapolis.

In its quarterfinal game, the four-seeded Buckeyes beat Michigan for a third time this season in a close battle 81-79. That set up a semifinal showdown with top-seed Indiana who Ohio State upset 79-75 after mounting the biggest comeback in Big Ten tournament history. The run came to end at the Target Center on Sunday when Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark notched a triple-double in the 105-72 victory over the Scarlet & Grey.

The Hawkeyes conference title moved them up to No. 2 in the AP poll while Indiana dropped just one spot to No. 3. Both teams look likely to be awarded No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament. Ohio State seems poised for a three or four seed, giving them home-court advantage for two possible March Madness games.

Selection Sunday, where the 68-team bracket is announced, takes place Sunday evening. The NCAA tournament’s first round starts Mar. 17.

AP Poll (Mar. 6, 2023)