Well, now is truly the time when we fans and media need to understand that — as the venerable Bo Ryan once stated — you just can't win if the ball doesn't go through the hoop.

Facing a Michigan team that had been dismantled by the Buckeyes three weeks earlier in Columbus, Ohio State had another abysmal night of shooting the basketball (outside of Deshaun Thomas) and fell to the Wolverines 56-51.

The loss was the team's second in its previous three games and fourth against ranked opponents, and while Michigan certainly appears to have gotten its act together of late, it was clear once again that the Buckeyes' offensive identity can at times be very muddy.

The aforementioned Thomas had an excellent evening, going 8-for-13 overall, 3-for-6 from distance, and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. He logged 25 points and accompanied them with a game (and personal career) high 13 boards. The big guy even had himself one whole assist after going three straight games without one.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the last and only 'plus' performance turned in by a Buckeye in Saturday's game. The entire remainder of the team combined to score just 26 points, making just 11 of 36 shots and failing to hit a single three-pointer apart from the three dropped in by Thomas--in ten attempts.

Leading scorer Jared Sullinger did score in double figures (14); down by 10 midway through the second half, the team's strategy shifted (and rightly so) and Sullinger scored three times in four possessions in just over two minutes.

But it was, at that point, just not enough to overcome the lead that Michigan had built and — as it turned out — would never relinquish.

To be fair, there were a number of simply baffling calls (and non-calls) made by an officiating crew comprised of Tom Eades, Mike Kitts and Ted Valentine.

One particularly crucial sequence late in the game saw Michigan guard Zack Novak get away with what probably should have been a technical foul for arguing with officials and Lenzelle Smith, Jr. called for a travel after falling to the ground with a defensive rebound. Players that lose footing and slide on the ground are called for traveling -— except Smith didn't slide.

But excuses are irrelevant at this stage. Yes, the Buckeyes lost footing in the conference race and very likely cost themselves a one seed in the upcoming tournament. But the most important thing now is not what just happened, but what they do from here out.

A strong finish and deep run in the conference tournament may keep the Bucks in consideration for a top seed, and of course, a team needs only to get hot for a handful of games to hoist a banner. And if they can figure out some way to score the basketball, hey--they might even do it.