It was supposed to be different for this Ohio State basketball squad. It had all the pieces to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after several years of average appearances, or no appearance at all.
But it was not meant to be.
The Buckeyes got outplayed, outsmarted, and outhustled by the No. 15 seeded Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and as a result, received a premature exit to the season for its efforts. Ohio State fans have been quiet and somber, but you can bet that head coach Chris Holtmann and the players are even more disappointed — especially those who played their last game in scarlet and gray.
Holtmann was made available after the game as he and the team rode away from West Lafayette on the bus and had plenty to say. Here are some of the best quotes.