The second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes concluded their 2005-2006 season losing to the seventh-seeded Georgetown Hoyas 70-52 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena, Sunday afternoon.

Ohio State finished a great season with an overall record of 26-6 and were the Big Ten regular season champions with a conference record of 12-4. The Buckeyes also finished second the Big Ten tournament.

Basketball fans saw four seniors play their last game in scarlet and gray uniforms. Terence Dials, Matt Sylvester, J.J. Sullinger, and Je’Kel Foster. Returning for next year are scholarship players Ron Lewis, Jamar Butler, Ivan Harris, Matt Terwilliger, Sylvester Mayes, and Brayden Bell.

Next year, the “Thad Five” will don the Buckeye colors with incoming freshman Greg Oden leading the way. Joining the 7-foot center his will be his high school teammate, 6-foot-1 point guard Mike Conley, along with 6-6 swingman David Lighty and 6-foot-4 shooting guard Daequan Cook. Rounding out the recruiting class is 6-foot-9 junior college transfer Othello Hunter.

With so much to look forward to next season, the 2005-06 season was one great ride. Predicted to finished anywhere from fourth to sixth in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes surprised everyone by winning the regular season conference title. The Buckeyes were rewarded at the end as Dials was named Big Ten Player of the Year, and Matta was named Coach of the Year.

One wonder, that given the lack of depth on the team, that the Buckeyes just ran out of gas. After a very important win at Michigan State on February 22, the competition was less than stellar.

Ohio State had to rally in the closing moments to defeat Northwestern, though they handily won over last-place Purdue. Penn State gave the Buckeyes some problems in the second round of the Big Ten tournament before OSU pulled out a seven point win.

The Buckeyes had enough in the tank for the Big Ten semifinals to fend off Indiana in a very tight game, but sputtered in losing to Iowa in the conference tournament championship game.

After having to rally against 15th-seeded Davidson in the second half, Ohio State matched up against a team that was bigger and just as athletic as Georgetown gave the Buckeyes their worst defeat of the season.

It’s now less than seven months before practice begins for next season. Hello, Mr. Oden, welcome to Columbus. Please stay as long as you like.

Tags: Buckeye Basketball //