COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The word kept coming up again and again as Ohio State players spoke about their most recent outing: Embarrassing.

That’s how Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Sam Thompson repeatedly described the 18th-ranked Buckeyes’ effort, mindset, defense and overall performance in Sunday’s 71-49 trashing at Wisconsin on Sunday.

Smith said it appeared the Buckeyes felt they could just roll out of bed, warm up a little bit and manhandle the Badgers in Kohl Center, where they lose about as often as coach Bo Ryan cracks a smile.

Now a bewildered coach Thad Matta is expecting Ohio State (18-7, 8-5 Big Ten) to regroup and play much better when it hosts another enigma of a team, Minnesota (18-8, 6-7), on Tuesday night in a game which could have major ramifications come tourney time.

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