Ohio State near 100-year drought in game against Cincinnati

The last time Ohio State and Cincinnati was in 1921.

Cincinnati won that low-scoring game 33-17.

The last time played in Cincinnati was a 35-13 win for the Buckeyes.

Since then the two schools that are 108.9 miles NCAA Championship games in 1961 and 1962 to the theory that Ohio Cincinnati, Xavier and Dayton .

But on Wednesday, November 7, the two will finally be in a game that Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann felt was a decision that feels right.

"We would not have played this game if they were a good program and did not have a recent history of being a good program," Holtmann said. "I do not know if it's a benefit to play a team that struggles."

The Bearcats – who are coming off a 31-5 season -have reached the NCAA tournament in eight straight seasons and come into the 2018-19 season the reigning regular season and tournament champions of the American Athletic Conference.

"(Head coach Mick Cronin) has done a tremendous job with that program," Holtmann said. "I have a lot of respect for him, their program, their players and the way those guys compete."

This article is only available when the state of the art is made public. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith first spoke to him about ways to "energize the program." Holtmann was not excited about the idea other ideas in mind.

"I thought maybe we could think of some other ways to energize," Holtmann said. "The donut thing, let's see what it's right now."

Neither team is considered to be in the middle of the night of the NCAA Tournament. Holtmann stated that the success of both teams over the years has become so easy.

"No question," Holtmann said. "It would make sense to do it otherwise."