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Looking ahead. That’s all Ohio State can do as the Buckeyes seek to rebound from a loss to rival Michigan when they host Northwestern on Thursday.

The Buckeyes (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten) hoped a victory over the then-No. 20 Wolverines on Sunday would fortify their bid to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons.

But the 86-83 setback puts the Buckeyes in a more vulnerable spot even with the struggling and injury-plagued Wildcats (13-13, 4-11) upcoming.

“This time of the year, every game is important and every game is meaningful,” said Ohio State coach Jake Diebler. “Some can hurt you more than others, some can help you more than others, but the most important thing is to give the next game your full attention and focus — because you need it.”

Northwestern, playing without starting guards Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach due to season-ending injuries, have lost three straight.

The most recent was blowing a 20-point lead with 19 minutes left in a 68-64 defeat to Nebraska on Sunday to likely end the Wildcats’ chances of a third consecutive NCAA appearance. More relevant right now: They’re 17th in the 18-team Big Ten, so they need wins in order to be among the 15 teams to qualify for the league’s postseason tournament.

They’re in a place that Northwestern coach Chris Collins hoped they wouldn’t return.

“Sometimes, you have to go through it,” Collins said. “I’ve had to go through it twice here. We’re kind of back there now. Sometimes, there can be a lot of heartache. You’ve got to get to the other side.”

The bright spots from the Nebraska game were the 23 points each for Nick Martinelli and Ty Berry. The downside is opponents are keying on them.

“If you play us, you’re going to stay on Nick, and you’re going to stay on Ty,” Collins said.

The Buckeyes need a better performance from Micah Parrish, who totaled 51 points in the previous two games but had just nine vs. Michigan while shooting 2 of 11 from the floor.

“It wasn’t his night,” Diebler said of Parrish. “But I told him when it’s not, we still need you to be an elite defender, which you can be.”

–Field Level Media