Expectations were high for the Ohio State men’s basketball team going into the first year under head coach Jake Diebler. In the 2023-24 season, however, the Buckeyes failed to meet those expectations, leading to the mid-season firing of Chris Holtmann in February. Holtmann had experienced early success with Ohio State, leading the team to the NCAA tournament in four of his first five seasons and reaching the round of 32 in three of those seasons. However, in recent years, the team had developed a pattern of excelling in nonconference play but struggling in Big Ten competition.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Ultimately, Holtmann’s inability to break that cycle led to his dismissal, and assistant coach Jake Diebler was named interim head coach. In his first game at the helm, the Buckeyes pulled off an impressive upset over No. 2 Purdue. Ohio State finished the regular season 5-1 under Diebler, but ultimately missed out on the NCAA tournament. They did qualify for the NIT (National Invitation Tournament), where they won two games before falling to Georgia in the Elite 8.
With a final record of 8-3 under Diebler, the team’s improved performance earned him the head coaching job heading into the 2024-25 season. The momentum appeared to continue as Ohio State opened the new season with a victory over No. 19 Texas. The Buckeyes also earned key wins against teams like Kentucky, Maryland, and Purdue. However, for every significant win, Ohio State suffered multiple disappointing losses.
As the season neared its end, bracketologists still projected Ohio State as one of the last teams in the NCAA tournament field, but the Buckeyes needed to finish strong. Unfortunately, Ohio State lost six of their final ten regular-season games, including defeats to Nebraska, Northwestern, and Indiana—all of whom missed the NCAA tournament. Entering the Big Ten tournament, Ohio State was still projected to make the tournament but needed a few wins to solidify their spot.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Their first matchup in the Big Ten tournament was against Iowa, a team that finished 15th in the conference and had already lost to Ohio State by 17 points earlier in the season. With everything to play for, the Buckeyes led for most of the game but failed to close out the win, ultimately losing to Iowa. This loss dashed Ohio State’s hopes of making the NCAA tournament and left them on the outside looking in.
You might expect the Buckeyes to pursue a different postseason opportunity, like the NIT, as they did last year. However, that won’t be the case this time. Due to TV contract obligations, Ohio State is no longer eligible for the NIT. The Big Ten, along with the Big 12 and Big East, has a contract with Fox Sports, which is launching its inaugural postseason tournament for teams that did not make the NCAA tournament. This event, called the Crown Tournament, will take place in Las Vegas and feature sixteen teams. The top two remaining teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East will be invited, along with at-large bids for teams from smaller conferences.
The NIT is broadcast on ESPN, and Fox has made it clear that it does not want teams from conferences it has deals with to participate in tournaments affiliated with other networks. Ohio State, being one of the top two remaining Big Ten teams, was invited to the Crown Tournament but chose to decline the invitation. The timing of the tournament, which starts after the basketball transfer portal opens on March 24, appears to be the primary reason.
The portal opens while the NCAA tournament is still underway, but by the time the Crown Tournament starts on March 31, many top players could already be in the portal, leaving Ohio State with a more uncertain roster situation. While it’s not confirmed yet which players Ohio State may lose to the portal, all eyes are on star point guard Bruce Thornton. With one year of eligibility left and no NCAA tournament appearances to his name, Thornton could choose to transfer or test his potential in the NBA draft.
There’s no doubt that the Ohio State basketball program has a lot of work ahead. Diebler’s first year didn’t go as fans had hoped, and much of the focus now shifts to roster retention as the transfer portal opens. Historically, Ohio State has been a competitive program with the resources to succeed, but recent years have been a disappointment. The Buckeyes haven’t advanced past the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since the 2014-15 season, and it’s unclear when they will return to prominence in college basketball. The next few weeks will be crucial in shaping the future of the program.
