TOLEDO, Ohio — Selection Sunday is less than a week away and Ohio State, Michigan and Toledo are jostling for seeding in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Each team will have one last chance to impress to the selection committee as they play in their respective conference tournaments this week.
No. 23 Ohio State (19-10, 12-8 Big Ten) is losing steam heading into the Big Ten Tournament, losing two of its last three and three of its last four. The Buckeyes lost to last-place Nebraska 78-70 on Tuesday, rebounded with an 80-69 win over Michigan State Thursday, before losing again Sunday to Michigan, 75-69.
OSU enters the Big Ten Tournament as the 6 seed and will play the winner of Minnesota-Penn State on Thursday.
Michigan (17-13, 11-9) appears to be on the right side of the bubble, but barely. The Wolverines knocked off Michigan State 87-70 last Tuesday, lost to Iowa 82-71 on Thursday, then beat No. 23 Ohio State 75-69 on Sunday.
UM is the 8 seed in the conference tournament and will face Indiana on Thursday.
Toledo (23-6, 15-3 MAC) claimed the regular season Mid-American Conference championship last week with easy wins over Buffalo and Bowling Green. However the Rockets will likely need to win the MAC Tournament and earn the automatic bid to see their name on Selection Sunday.
Top-seeded UT will play Central Michigan Thursday at 11 a.m.
Here's where the experts have all three teams as of Monday, March 7:
Ohio State
ESPN's Joe Lunardi: 6 seed vs. Memphis, playing in Pittsburgh (East regional).
CBS Sports' Jerry Palm: 7 seed vs. Notre Dame, playing in Indianapolis (East regional).
USA Today: 6 seed vs. Memphis, playing in Pittsburgh (West regional).
Bracketville: 6 seed vs. Wyoming, playing in San Diego (West regional).
Michigan
ESPN's Joe Lunardi: Last four byes - 11 seed vs. LSU, playing in San Diego (West regional).
CBS Sports' Jerry Palm: Last four in - vs. BYU for a 12 seed in a "First Four" game in Dayton.
USA Today: 11 seed vs. LSU, playing in Pittsburgh (East regional).
Bracketville: Last four in - vs. SMU for an 11 seed in a "First Four" game in Dayton.
Toledo
ESPN's Joe Lunardi: 13 seed vs. Illinois, playing in Milwaukee (East regional).
CBS Sports' Jerry Palm: 13 seed vs. Texas Tech, playing in Buffalo (South regional).
USA Today: 13 seed vs. Providence, playing in Buffalo (South regional).
Bracketville: 13 seed vs. Arkansas, playing in Pittsburgh (West regional).
