Ohio State needed a win or two in the Big Ten Tournament to solidify its NCAA Tournament standing. Instead, it bounced from the tournament by Iowa.

The Big Ten Tournament got underway Wednesday with a trio of first-round matchups that set the stage for an intense weekend of postseason action. Here is a look at each game from yesterday and how they unfolded.

Heading into Wednesday’s game, Ohio State’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament were up in the air. A win against Iowa would’ve all but secured the Buckeyes’ spot in the big dance. But Ohio State couldn’t execute down the stretch and now its tournament hopes are in extreme jeopardy.

Can the Buckeyes add to their NCAA Tournament resume with a strong run in the Big Ten Tournament? Here are our Iowa vs. Ohio State predictions, picks, and best bets for the opening round.

Bruce Thornton converted a three-point play and then added a pullup jumper following a Harding turnover to cut the Ohio State deficit to 72-70 with 45 seconds left. Harding answered with a 3-pointer, Thornton missed a 3 on the other end and Payton Sandfort added two free throws to seal it for the Hawkeyes.

Like last year, they’ll start what they hope is a long Big Ten Tournament run by facing off with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Like last year, Ohio State is the No. 10 seed. Unlike last ye