1 Connecticut, the defending NCAA champion. It took less than a week for another of the reigning final four to fall. It marked the first time in nearly 20 years an Ohio State team ranked that high was upset at home by an unranked opponent. The Buckeyes were No. 4 in January 1980 when they lost 72-71 to Wisconsin in St. John Arena. No Final Four team in recent years that returned the firepower Ohio State did has opened the next season with as shocking a loss on its home floor.
Nobody ever can accept the fact that one team just played better than the other.
Under no circumstances do I think we were looking past Notre Dame. . . . We lost because we didn't play well enough. He gambled that their teammates couldn't take up the slack and won. Penn has been in the lineup. Ohio State is sure to see more ploys like it this season, but O'Brien said it is not cause to panic and tinker with the offense.