Postseason play begins tomorrow afternoon for the Ohio State women’s basketball team at the Big Ten Tournament.
The Buckeyes, who finished the regular season 19-8 overall and 10-6 in the Big Ten, received a No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 seed Michigan State (17-10, 10-6), at 2:30 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Both teams received a first round bye.
The Spartans and Buckeyes split two competitive games in the regular season. OSU won 70-65 on Jan. 9 in Columbus, while the Spartans prevailed 65-64 in East Lansing on Feb. 13.
The two teams are no stranger to each other when it comes to the conference tournament. This will be the third consecutive season the Buckeyes and Spartans have met in their first game at the Big Ten Tournament. OSU won both of the contests.
After a lenghty regular season, the Buckeyes are glad they will be able to rest one extra day before getting into tournament play.
“It’s going to be big to have a little bit more rest,” guard Caity Matter said. “I think we’ll be a little bit more prepared.”
OSU coach Jim Foster said he was proud of his team for being able to earn a first-round bye.
“Having the luxury of the first day off is a step for a team in a series of steps,” he said.
The Buckeyes went 14-0 on their home court, but Foster knows every game his team will have to win will be away from Columbus. After struggling early in the season, OSU improved its play on the road later in the year.
“We started to find ourselves on the road,” Foster said. “We are reaching a point where we are getting better. Our mindset on the road was (focused on) effort at the beginning of the season. I think we’ve been able to overcome that now.”
But early struggles were to be expected as the Buckeyes were trying to find themselves under Foster, who was in his first-year at the helm.
“The transition was tough at first,” said forward DiDi Reynolds. “It was like being a freshman all over again, but we were able to adjust.”
No matter what the results of the Big Ten Tournament, OSU is likely headed to the NCAA Tournament.
something Foster is looking forward to.
“Come tourney time, it will be my job to drive these girls,” he said. “We need to maximize this opportunity we have worked for all year. If this is something you’ve dreamed of, you should be excited. I shouldn’t have to be a psychiatrist on this one.”
OSU Athletics’ Director Andy Geiger has been happy with what Foster has done with the program in only his first year.
“I thought the players would have a terrific experience because he is a wonderful man and teacher,” Geiger said. “I was confidant right from the start that the overall experience would be better.”
