E.J. LIDDELL

Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren, Auburn's Jabari Smith and Duke's Paolo Banchero are set to make it a forward-heavy start to the NBA draft.

Collin Gillespie scored 20 points, Eric Dixon hit a big 3-pointer late and second-seeded Villanova fended off seventh-seeded Ohio State 71-61 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

E.

Keegan Murray has given Iowa a first-team Associated press All-American for the third straight year.

Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is The Associated Press player of the year in the Big Ten Conference and the Badgers’ Greg Gard is coach of the year.

DeVante’ Jones scored 21 points and Michigan rallied in the second half, wrapping up its up-and-down Big Ten regular season by beating No. 23 Ohio State 75-69.

DeVante’ Jones scored 21 points and Michigan rallied in the second half, wrapping up its up-and-down Big Ten regular season by beating No. 23 Ohio State 75-69.

Jaden Ivey hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left and No. 6 Purdue fended off a late charge from No. 16 Ohio State for an 81-78 victory.

Zed Key scored a career-high 20 points and Ohio State held top-ranked Duke scoreless for the final 4 1/2 minutes, completing a rally from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Blue Devils 71-66.

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.

(AP Photo/Robert Franklin)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State star E.J. Liddell says he'll continue speaking out against social-media users who direct racist, abusive and threatening messages at him and other athletes. “I just wanted to use my voice a little bit,” Liddell said Wednesday in a video call with reporters. And that’s not OK.”AdLiddell said he hadn't considered dropping off social media because with all the pandemic-related restrictions on where players could go and who they could see, social media was their link to the outside world. “If you really think about it, this year social media is our social life,” he said.

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.

– Ohio State's players were dancing around in the moments before tipoff against Oral Roberts, relaxed and full of swagger. AdObanor scored seven of Oral Roberts' 11 points in overtime, including two free throws with 13 seconds left. Oral Roberts entered the game at 82.35%, but made 14 of 18 in the game to slide to 82.17%. KNEELINGFive Ohio State players knelt during the playing of the national anthem, one of many such demonstrations during the tournament. AdSTAT LINESOhio State outrebounded Oral Roberts 49-32, but the Golden Eagles balanced that out by committing six turnovers to the Buckeyes’ 16.

Ohio State forward E.J. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. just wanted a second chance at his home-state team. 9 Buckeyes fend off the fourth-ranked Wolverines for a 68-67 victory and a trip to the Big Ten Tournament title game. “This rivalry means a lot to a lot of our guys, a lot of our Ohio guys," Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann said. The Wolverines appeared in three straight title games before last year's was cancelled because of COVID-19.

Illinois guard Adam Miller, bottom, passes against Ohio State forward Justice Sueing during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 6, 2021. 7 Ohio State 73-68. Andre Curbelo also had 19 points as Illinois got its second straight road win over a top 10 team after routing No. The teams traded punches in the second half, but again Ohio State had trouble making shots down the stretch, missing on its last 10 attempts. BIG PICTUREIllinois is peaking at the right time and brimming with confidence after beating top 10 teams in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

4 Ohio State on Sunday because he couldn't wait to start celebrating with teammates in the locker room. But a 3-pointer from Weiskamp and a couple of baskets in the paint by Garza got the Hawkeyes out of the danger zone and Ohio State couldn't chip away. “They clearly outplayed us, outperformed us, outcoached us,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. AdYOUNG'S BACKOhio State F Kyle Young returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday's loss at Michigan State with a concussion suffered when he bumped heads with an opposing player in the Michigan game. Ohio State: Finishes the regular season against No.

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.

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.

If he keeps playing this way, the Ohio State senior and his teammates just might keep running deep into March. That, along with 10 3-pointers on the offensive end, was enough to get Ohio State its eighth win in nine games. Ad“Give them credit, they’re a good team," coach Mark Turgeon said of Ohio State. Ohio State trailed 13-5 in the early going before rattling off a trio of 3-pointers in the span of 57 seconds to take the lead. Ohio State was previously 1-6 in College Park, 0-4 since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014.

Ohio State forward Kyle Young (25) shoots over Purdue forward Trevion Williams (50) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. – Trevion Williams scored 16 points and came close to a triple-double, leading Purdue past No. 20 Ohio State 67-60 on Wednesday night. Ohio State closed to 65-59 when Washington made a 3 with 2:50 left. Ohio State and Purdue finally got to square off — 279 days after their originally scheduled game was canceled.