The 2022-23 Ohio State Buckeyes are still looking for it.
Riding a two-game losing streak and a longer stretch of seven losses in eight games, the embattled Buckeyes returned to the friendly confines of Value City Arena in search of a palette-cleanser. The main course on the menu: a similarly struggling Wisconsin team that had lost six of its last seven games.
First, coach Chris Holtmann was ejected. Then, Brice Sensabaugh fouled out. And after trailing by as many as 18 points, the Buckeyes (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) rallied late, made it interesting but fell, 65-60, to the Badgers (13-8, 5-6).
Without Holtmann, associate head coach Jake Diebler appeared to take over the lead coaching responsibilities. Utilizing a veteran-heavy lineup, Ohio State trailed by double digits for the entirety of the second half until Felix Okpara hit two free throws with 4:15 remaining to pull within 62-54.
Zed Key pulled the Buckeyes within two possessions with a basket with 3:08 left, and a Justice Sueing jumper made it 62-58 with a little more than a minute to play. Then, with 30 seconds left, he scored and drew contact but missed the free throw to get Ohio State within 62-60.