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Washington enters the closing stages of its first Big Ten Conference season with a sense of urgency, beginning Wednesday in Columbus against Ohio State.

Even though the Huskies (12-11, 3-9 Big Ten) are coming off a 76-71 home win against Northwestern on Saturday for their second win in three games after a six-game skid, they entered Tuesday 17th out of 18 teams, with the top 15 qualifying for the conference tournament.

“It was a huge game, honestly, to keep our hopes alive for that Big Ten tournament,” Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle said. “Some of our seniors are seeing the hourglass ticking a little bit and they’re down to playing their last month of college basketball.”

The Buckeyes (14-10, 6-7), eyeing not only a high seed in the Big Ten tournament but a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons, are at a critical juncture as well with the first of three consecutive home games.

“They’re coming in with some momentum and we need to play at the level we’re capable of,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “That’s going to be the message. We have to put our best foot forward. We’ve got to bring our best stuff and get ready to defend our home court Wednesday night.”

Both teams could be minus a player.

For the Buckeyes, guard Devin Royal injured his right ankle in the first half of a 79-71 loss at Nebraska on Sunday. He made a brief appearance in the second half, but Diebler is unsure if Royal, who is second on the team with a 13.7 scoring average and leads with 7.4 rebounds, will be available.

“It’s too early to tell. It’ll be a kind of a day-by-day thing,” Diebler said.

Washington announced before the Northwestern game that guard Luis Kortright was suspended indefinitely for not meeting program standards, according to a university spokesperson.

Kortright had missed the previous two games with an ankle sprain and is averaging 4.9 points in 18 games (three starts).

Great Osobor paces Washington with 15.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Bruce Thornton is Ohio State’s leading scorer at 17.3 ppg.

–Field Level Media