Big Ten women's basketball tournament predictions: How far Buckeyes can go in bracket
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Big Ten women's basketball tournament predictions: How far Buckeyes can go in bracket
Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
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3 min read
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Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
2/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
3/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
4/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
5/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
6/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
7/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
8/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
9/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
10/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
11/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
12/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
13/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
14/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
15/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
16/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
17/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots past Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026. Ohio State lost 88-86 in overtime.
The Buckeyes will play the winner of a first-round matchup between theNo. 12 seed NebraskaandNo. 13 seed Indiana.In the regular season, Ohio State defeated both teams by at least 14 points.
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Here's what you need to know about the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Tournament:
Ohio State will start its Big Ten Tournament campaign in the second game of the second round on March 5. Tipoff against either Indiana or Nebraska is set for 25 minutes after the first game, which begins at noon.
If the Buckeyes advance from the second round, they'll faceNo. 4 Minnesotain the quarterfinals on March 6.
Where is the 2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament?
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) shoots the ball against Indiana Hoosiers forward Zania Socka-Nguemen (23) in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State fell behind by as many as 15 points against the Hoosiers before building a comeback in the third quarter.
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The Buckeyes outscored Nebraska (18-11, 7-11) in all four quarters oftheir 90-71 win on Feb. 1, while also outrebounding the Cornhuskers 36-36. Ohio State limited Nebraska's team-leading scorer, point guard Britt Prince, to 12 points.
Ohio State will likely beat either opponent with a strong rebounding effort, but Nebraska would likely be a better matchup.
If the Hoosiers advance to the second round, they will be riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak.
What would a quarterfinals matchup between Ohio State, Minnesota look like?
Golden Gopherscenter Sophie Hart took advantage of Ohio State playing without a fully healthyKylee Kittsdown low. Hart had 18 points and 10 rebounds as Minnesota outrebounded the Buckeyes 47-32.
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Ohio State has the highest average turnover margin in the Big Ten (+8.1), but Minnesota had just nine turnovers compared to the Buckeyes' 11 in the matchup.
Minnesota finishing the regular season 10-1. The Buckeyes are very vulnerable to being knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinals if they are outrebounded and fail to force the Golden Gophers into turnovers.
How far will Ohio State go in Big Ten Tournament?
The Buckeyes' path to the Big Ten Tournament final is the most difficult one they could have asked for, as a victory in the quarterfinals over Minnesota brings them to a likely semifinal matchup against theNo. 1 seed UCLA.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff reacts during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026. Ohio State lost 88-86 in overtime.
The Bruins (28-1, 18-0) are the only undefeated team in conference play, with their only loss of the season coming against Texas.
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Ohio State would be facing an even stronger UCLA lineup compared to the matchup from Dec. 28 when the Buckeyes fell 82-75, as freshman Sienna Betts is full back following a lower leg injury.
The semifinals are likely the ceiling for the Buckeyes if they manage to get around Minnesota and go head-to-head against UCLA.
