CHRIS HOLTMANN

Zed Key saved No. 17 Ohio State from a season-opening embarrassment on Tuesday night, catching a sharp pass from freshman Malachi Branham in the paint and laying in a buzzer-beater to give the Buckeyes a 67-66 win over Akron.

Big Ten basketball entered a whole new world when it returned to Indianapolis for the first of two media days.

Liddell received following the Buckeyes' NCAA Tournament loss on Friday. The Atlantic Coast Conference’s down year now includes a bumpy start to the NCAA Tournament. The league got seven bids, but four of those teams – ACC Tournament champion Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina – lost in Friday’s first round. We had a lot of good teams.”BRACKET BUSTERSAny fan holding an unblemished NCAA Tournament bracket has reason to brag. Appleby was hit by an inadvertent elbow early in the second half while playing defense against Virginia Tech.

The best COVID-19 vaccine shots in America just might be the two that went into Sister Jean’s arm. The breakout star and model for the most coveted bobblehead of the 2018 NCAA Tournament is now eight months beyond her 101st birthday and still serving as chaplain for the Loyola Chicago basketball team. 1 seed Illinois, is bound to provide a much stiffer test of Sister Jean’s faith. AdYet her celebratory fist bump at the buzzer was one of the signature moments of the first full day of an NCAA Tournament canceled a year ago due the pandemic. 8 North Carolina hardly qualified as an upset, unless you count Tar Heels coach Roy Williams’ first-ever loss in a tournament opener.

Aaron Henry had 18 points to help the Spartans improve their chances of making the NCAA Tournament with a 71-67 win over No. This year, though, it looked as if the Spartans (13-9, 7-9 Big Ten) would not make their usual appearance in the NCAA Tournament until their recent surge with three straight wins. Michigan State beat top-five teams in consecutive conference games for the first time in program history. “Give Michigan State credit," Holtmann said. AdBIG PICTUREOhio State: Despite losing at Michigan State after a 92-87 setback to Michigan, earning top seeding in the NCAA Tournament is still within reach for the Buckeyes.

GAME INFORMATIONWho: Michigan State (12-9, 6-9) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (18-5, 12-5)When: 9 p.m.Where: Breslin Center, East LansingTV: ESPN (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel)Radio: Spartan Sports Network, WJIM-AM (1240)/WMMQ-FM (94.9) in Lansing, WJR-AM (760) in Detroit, SiriusXM.com Ch. 978Line: Ohio State -5Twitter: Follow Kyle AustinGAME NOTES• Ohio State won the first matchup between the two teams, 79-62, on Jan. 31 in Columbus. PRE-GAME LINKSJoshua Langford is feeling good and surpassing expectations for Michigan StateSpartan Confidential podcast: Michigan State gets tough to upset No. 5 IllinoisAfter season of frustrations, Michigan State finally puts it all together in upset of IllinoisMichigan State stuns No.

4 Ohio State in February looked more like an intense NCAA Tournament game in March: good shooting, timely 3-pointers, fierce play under the rim, few mistakes, and some late drama. After six ties in the second half, Michigan pulled away in the final minutes and then held off Ohio State 92-87 Sunday in a meeting that showcased two teams aiming for No. “I thought his length and size bothered us,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann acknowledged. Ohio State and Michigan both are projected to be No. Ohio State: At Michigan State on Thursday.

Liddell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. After six ties in the second half, Michigan pulled away in the final minutes and then held off Ohio State 92-87 Sunday in a meeting that showcased two teams aiming for No. Ad“I thought his length and size bothered us," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann acknowledged. Ohio State and Michigan both are projected to be No. Ohio State: At Michigan State on Thursday.

Liddell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. After six ties in the second half, Michigan pulled away in the final minutes and then held off Ohio State 92-87 Sunday in a meeting that showcased two teams aiming for No. Ad“I thought his length and size bothered us," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann acknowledged. Ohio State and Michigan both are projected to be No. Ohio State: At Michigan State on Thursday.

Their meeting Sunday headlines the national AP Top 25 schedule for the week, a matchup of teams contending for No. Meanwhile Ohio State (17-4, 11-4) has won six straight overall — including against the Badgers and No. “The biggest thing as a coach right now is we’ve got to get better,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said after Saturday’s win against Indiana. 25 last week but visits Michigan on Thursday. There’s also Belmont (22-1, 16-0 Ohio Valley) chasing the program’s first AP Top 25 poll ranking.

19 Ohio State 80-69 on Sunday to win a third straight Big Ten championship. Michigan State (22-9, 14-6 Big Ten) shared the conference title with No. The Spartans will be the second-seeded team at the Big Ten Tournament behind the Badgers, with the Terrapins seeded third. Ohio States leading scorer, Kaleb Wesson, was held to eight points on 1-of-8 shooting after entering the day averaging 14-plus points per game. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe surging Spartans will likely move up in the poll on Monday with their fifth straight win and sixth win in seven games.