After landing the No. 15 seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, the Loyola Greyhounds will be playing No. 2-seeded Ohio State to kick things off in their first game. The Greyhounds earned an automatic berth to the big dance with a MAAC Tournament Championship Game win over Fairfield on Monday.
Loyola finished the season with a 24-8 record overall and a 13-5 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. With more than ten days of rest, the Greyhounds will now get a shot to pull off an improbable upset against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State (27-7) is not as dominant as they were a year ago, but the Buckeyes will still pose major problems for Loyola with their defensive intensity, and of course big man Jared Sullinger, who turned down the NBA last offseason to stay in Columbus. If Sullinger gets going, and wings William Buford and Aaron Craft begin knocking down shots consistently, Ohio State will be difficult to stop for the Greyhounds.
For more on this matchup and the impending March Madness season, check out SB Nation's college hoops hub. Stay tuned to SB Nation DC for more Greyhounds recaps, previews and news updates.
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