The Associated Press

 

Sixth-seeded Ohio State meets 11th-seeded Dayton in the second round of the NCAA tournament’s South Region.

The teams will meet Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Buckeyes (25-9) have been one of the most up-and-down teams in the field, rising to No. 3 nationally after a 15-0 start only to lose five of six and fall out of the Top 25.

Ohio State closed the regular season by beating eventual Big Ten tournament champion Michigan State at home, but lost to regular-season champ Michigan in the tournament semifinals.

The Flyers (23-10) lost in the Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinals to keep them on the NCAA bubble. Dayton last made the tournament in 2009.

The schools are located about an hour apart, with their last meeting coming in the NIT in 2008. Many people in Ohio have been critical of Ohio State coach Thad Matta and athletic director Gene Smith because the Buckeyes don’t play in-state Division I teams away from their home court, but they’re now meeting in the NCAAs.

Dayton is coached by Archie Miller, the brother of Arizona coach Sean Miller. He was on Matta’s staff with the Buckeyes.

The Dayton-Ohio State winner faces the winner of third-seeded Syracuse and 14th-seeded Western Michigan in Saturday’s third round.

Dayton Flyers Roster

Coach: Archie Miller

Pos Ht Wt Yr Hometown

0 Khari Price G 5-11 170 So Slidell, La.

3 Kyle Davis G 6-0 165 Fr Chicago

5 Devin Oliver F 6-7 225 Sr Kalamazoo, Mich.

11 Scoochie Smith G 6-2 170 Fr New York

12 Jalen Robinson F/C 6-9 243 So Columbus, Ohio

21 Dyshawn Pierre F 6-6 210 So Whitby, Ontario

22 Kendall Pollard F 6-6 210 Fr Chicago

23 Brian Vonderhaar G 6-0 172 Sr Cincinnati

24 Jordan Sibert G 6-4 187 Jr Cincinnati

25 Alex Gavrilovic C 6-9 246 Jr Strasbourg, France

35 Matt Kavanaugh C 6-10 250 Sr Centerville, Ohio

40 Devon Scott F/C 6-9 215 So Columbus, Ohio

43 Vee Sanford G 6-4 196 Sr Lexington, Ky.

50 Bobby Wehrli F 6-6 198 So Naperville, Ill.

 

Ohio State Buckeyes Roster

Coach: Thad Matta

Pos Ht Wt Yr Hometown

2 Marc Loving F 6-7 215 Fr Toledo, Ohio

3 Shannon Scott G 6-1 185 Jr Alpharetta, Ga.

4 Aaron Craft G 6-2 195 Sr Findlay, Ohio

10 LaQuinton Ross F 6-8 220 Jr Jackson, Miss.

12 Sam Thompson F 6-7 200 Jr Chicago

23 Amir Williams C 6-11 250 Jr Detroit

24 Andrew Goldstein G 6-3 200 Jr Marlboro, N.J.

32 Lenzelle Smith, Jr. G 6-4 210 Sr Zion, Ill.

33 Amedeo Della Valle G 6-5 190 So Alba, Italy

34 Jake Lorbach F 6-7 210 Jr Elyria, Ohio

55 Trey McDonald C 6-8 240 Jr Battle Creek, Mich.