Schedule doesn't get easier for No. 1 Ohio State after first loss

Taking that first loss – it hit me in the stomach hard," he said.

The 71-67 loss no doubt will make Kansas the No. 1 team Monday in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll and Associated Press news media poll. The Jayhawks, currently No. 2, improved to 24-1 Saturday with an 89-66 rout of Iowa State.

Ohio State (24-1, 11-1) still has a comfortable lead in the Big Ten, ahead of Wisconsin (19-5, 9-3) and Purdue (19-5, 8-3).

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"The goal of this basketball team was not to go undefeated," said Ohio State coach Thad Matta, who never has won at Wisconsin. It is the only Big Ten school at which Matta is winless.

The Buckeyes have six games left before the Big Ten tournament, and it's a tough stretch. They play host to Michigan State on Tuesday in Columbus. On Feb. 20, they will play at Purdue. Another date with Wisconsin looms March 6 in the regular-season finale.

They left Wisconsin unhappy about the loss but didn't complain about their effort.

Really, the Buckeyes didn't make many mistakes.

OSU shot 54.3% from the field; Wisconsin shot 51%.

The Buckeyes shot 87.5% from the free-throw line to 69.2% for Wisconsin.

They committed fewer turnovers, seven to Wisconsin's nine.

But Wisconsin burned them on three-pointers behind the jazzed play of junior guard Jordan Taylor, who had a remarkable second half, by far one of the season's best.

Taylor brought Wisconsin back from a 15-point deficit with about 13 minutes left. He scored 10 points in a 15-0 Wisconsin run to tie the game.

"They had to play darn near perfect to get us," Matta said, "and they did."

Taylor scored 21 of his game-high 27 in the second half. He finished 5-of-8 on three-pointers, had seven assists and committed just one turnover.

"He got rolling and hit some challenged, tough shots," Matta said.

Ohio State freshman Aaron Craft did a respectable job against Taylor, especially in the first half. Taylor's experience, and the electrified audience he had on his side, ultimately won out. After the game Taylor and his teammates received a collective embrace as fans stormed the floor.

"He can score a lot of different ways," Ohio State's Will Buford said of Taylor. "I thought Aaron did a pretty decent job contesting shots. (Taylor) just knocked down some big shots."

Buford scored 21 for OSU; Sullinger scored 19 to go with 12 rebounds.

Twenty-four of Wisconsin's 49 field-goal attempts were three-point tries. The Badgers sank 50%. OSU went 3-of-9 on three-pointers.

"We've struggled a little against teams that shoot half their shots on threes," Matta said. "When you've got that many guys out there that can shoot, it is difficult. There's no question about it."

From 6-10 senior Jon Leuer to Taylor, who is 6-1, Wisconsin is loaded with three-point shooters. Freshman guard Josh Gasser hit three three-pointers and 6-6 sophomore forward Mike Bruesewitz hit two.

"I don't know exactly what we could have done a whole lot different," Matta said. "We tried everything we had … switching rotations and match-ups. (The shots) were going in."

David Lighty noted that Ohio State lost at Wisconsin in 2007 and ended up reaching the national title game. "It's just a building block to learn from," he said. "We'll see them again down the line."

Sullinger is looking forward to it.

"BuckeyeNation if you ever decide to rush the court, don't ever spit on the opponents," he tweeted after the game. "Just a lil tip from me to you."

He followed up later.

"To be spit on is just nasty. On top of that in my face. Before and after the game. … I just kept walking. More fuel to the fire."