Myron P. Medcalf's College Basketball Insider: Why no love for Buckeyes' quest for perfection?

Saturday's game between top-ranked Ohio State and 13th-ranked Wisconsin in Madison, Wis. (1 p.m., ESPN) will feature two of the premier teams in America. The Badgers possess the size and skill to hand the Buckeyes their first loss, but the Buckeyes are equally equipped to extend their perfect start to 25-0.

The buildup to the weekend matchup, however, has centered on a growing expectation that Ohio State is due to lose, and that that first loss likely will come at the Kohl Center.

There's no way they'll keep this up, right? How can any team go unbeaten with today's lengthy, challenging schedules?

Well, the Buckeyes have the tools to run the table, regardless of what the naysayers predict.

Jared Sullinger might not win national player of the year honors. But it's difficult to identify a better college player.

His supporting cast of David Lighty, William Buford and Jon Diebler is as good as any in the country. And the Buckeyes have other mature freshmen besides Sullinger.

But their chances at finishing as the first perfect team in more than 30 years don't solely depend on their talent. The national college basketball landscape is clearly lukewarm, which figures to ease their path if they can get through Big Ten play without a blemish.

Texas and Kansas will be Ohio State's greatest threats during the NCAA tournament. Still, ESPN.com bracketologist Joe Lunardi picked the Buckeyes as 5-1 favorites to win the 2011 national championship in a Friday report.

In Big Ten competition, the Buckeyes have secured easy victories and tight ones this season. Their six conference victories by five points or fewer have fueled speculation that it won't be long before they lose.

But they have won three of their past four by at least nine points. They whipped second-place Purdue by 23 points Jan. 25.

Ohio State has adjusted to every adverse situation, an indicator it is capable of maintaining success.

The feat of the 1975-76 Indiana squad -- at 32-0 the last Division I team to win every game in a season -- remains one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of college basketball. That team faced similar scrutiny and doubt.

Awaiting a Buckeyes loss, instead of tracking their pursuit of perfection, takes away from a potentially historic moment.

Sure, the Badgers might win, especially since Wisconsin has won its past eight home games against Ohio State. But the Badgers could also end up as Victim No. 25 for the Buckeyes.

And that would be another step toward a ridiculous accomplishment.