Ohio State Buckeyes vs Iowa Hawkeyes Picks and Predictions March 12th 2025

Iowa, Ohio State Embrace ‘Fresh Start’ in Big Ten Tourney

Iowa enters the Big Ten tournament against Ohio State on Wednesday in Indianapolis, looking to capitalize on its momentum from a must-win regular-season finale.

Hawkeyes Fight for Postseason Life

The No. 15 seed Hawkeyes (16-15) secured their spot in the tournament with a decisive 83-68 victory over Nebraska on Sunday, knocking the Cornhuskers out of contention.

“It’s good it’s not over. We get a fresh start. We go to Indy and anything can happen in March.” – Payton Sandfort

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Iowa will draw inspiration from North Carolina State’s improbable ACC tournament title run earlier this season, a journey that saw them win five games in five days to claim an automatic NCAA bid.

“We definitely talked about that as a team. N.C. State is a perfect example of this, so that’s what we plan on doing.” – Pryce Sandfort

The Hawkeyes will lean on Payton Sandfort (22 points), Pryce Sandfort (16 points, 11 rebounds), and Josh Dix (15 points), who combined for 53 points against Nebraska.

Buckeyes Aim to Rebound After Tough Loss

The No. 10 seed Buckeyes (17-14) lost 66-60 to Indiana in their regular-season finale, ceding the No. 9 seed and a first-round bye to the Hoosiers.

Ohio State must also win five games in five days to secure an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Buckeyes are led by fifth-year guard Micah Parrish and junior standout Bruce Thornton.

Parrish, who played in the 2023 national championship game with San Diego State, brings invaluable experience, while Thornton leads the team with 17.5 points per game.

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“Micah is the guy who’s had the most experience for us. The way he’s played, and kind of backed up what he said, I think, has been really impactful.” – Ohio State coach Jake Diebler

What’s Next?

The winner of this matchup will advance to face No. 7 seed Illinois in the second round on Thursday.

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