Buckeyes ride into NCAA Tournament on wave of momentum

As fun and nerve racking as it was watching the Buckeyes race to a Big Ten Title, it is about to get much more fun and nerve racking. Ohio State will be making a run at the title in what has been a remarkable season. As I am writing this I had to ask myself the question, What is the state of Ohio State basketball? As I surf through recruiting surfaces and listen to national pundits the Buckeye basketball program is on the rise almost more then any other program in the Nation. National press from the football program, putting players into the NBA year after year, playing in national televised games all year has put Ohio State in a real good light amongst the nations best high school players. Looking at the class for 2011 (no need to speak on how good the class of 2010 will be), there were at least 25 top 100 players that had Ohio State on there list of colleges to attend and play for. A lot of love goes to Thad Matta who has not just built a dominant Big Ten program by winning 3 Big ten titles in 6 years, 2 Big Ten conference tourneys in 6 years, been in the Big ten finals four out of the last 6 years, Had two player of the year candidates, 6 NBA draftees, 1 final four appearance, 1 championship game appearance, 1 NIT title, 5 Mcdonalds All American high school signees. A lot of love goes to the positive press of the best university in the country, with top notch facilities and a very stout fan base. Thad Matta can also be noted as a great developer of talent look at this years team, players like Turner, Lighty, Butler, Lewis, Conley. An aura is beginning to take shape around this program and if Ohio State can make a big run in the tournament it wouldnt surprise me to see this program be on par with a North Carolina and Kansas in a few years. I expect Thad Matta to win a few championships in a few years. His assistants have also done well, John Groce has got Ohio University into the tourney, and Sean Miller is rebuilding Arizona, Brad Stevens is doing a excellent job at Butler. Buckeye basketball is beginning to get to the place it has never been before and we should all enjoy the ride.