Ohio State Men’s Basketball Opens Preseason Practices Under Head Coach Jake Diebler
According to team announcements, the Ohio State men’s basketball program opened its preseason practices on Monday at the Schottenstein Center, with photos and video capturing the team taking the floor for the first time. Head coach Jake Diebler returns for his third full season leading the Buckeyes, following a campaign that ended with a 21-13 overall record and an 12-8 mark in the Big Ten, good for eighth place in the conference standings.
The program enters the new season looking to build on momentum that broke a three-year NCAA tournament drought. According to program records, the Buckeyes reached the Big Dance last season before sustaining a first-round loss to TCU in Greenville, South Carolina.
Roster Turnover Brings Six Returners and Nine Newcomers
Ohio State returns six players from last year’s roster, anchored by two returning starters: junior guard John Mobley Jr. and sophomore forward Amare Bynum, as detailed in team reports. Additional returning letterwinners include junior center Ivan Njegovan, senior center Josh Ojianwuna, junior guard Braylen Nash, and redshirt freshman guard Myles Herro.
To fill out the roster, the coaching staff added nine newcomers, split between four transfers and five freshmen. According to program rosters, the incoming transfers are junior guard Curtis Givens from Memphis, senior guard Jimmie Williams from Duquesne, junior forward Andrija Jelavic from Kentucky, and junior guard Justin Pippen from Cal. The freshman class features wing Anthony Thompson, guard LJ Smith, forwards Alex Smith and Lee Aaliya, and center Vuk Lazarevic.
Key Nonconference Matchups Shape the Schedule
The Buckeyes open public exhibition play against Cincinnati on October 7 outdoors at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, followed by a home exhibition against Butler on October 25 at the Schottenstein Center, according to scheduling announcements. The regular season tips off on Monday, November 2, against BYU at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, located approximately 45 miles from the BYU campus in Provo. The home opener follows on November 6 against Youngstown State.
The nonconference slate features five games against Power Five opponents. Aside from the BYU matchup, Ohio State visits UConn on November 13, hosts Vanderbilt on November 24, plays at Notre Dame on December 12, and faces Kansas in the CBS Sports Classic on December 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Did You Know?
Ohio State’s season-opening matchup against BYU takes place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, roughly 45 miles away from the university’s Provo campus.
Big Ten Conference Slate and Tournament Details
Conference play opens early in December with a pair of matchups, according to the league schedule. The Buckeyes travel to face Nebraska on December 2 and return home to host Maryland on December 6. After a three-week hiatus, Big Ten play resumes when Oregon visits Columbus on December 30.
Ohio State will play traditional home-and-away series against defending national champion Michigan, closing out the regular season at home against the Wolverines on Sunday, March 7, after visiting Ann Arbor on January 30. The Buckeyes also play home-and-away series against Iowa and Penn State. Single-play home opponents include Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Washington, and Rutgers. Single-play away games feature trips to Nebraska, Illinois, Purdue, UCLA, USC, Indiana, and Minnesota, with a West Coast swing including games at UCLA on February 17 and USC on February 20.
Weekend home conference games feature visits from Penn State on January 17, Michigan State on January 23, and Washington on February 14. Game start times and television assignments across CBS, FOX, Fox Sports 1, Peacock, Big Ten Network, and BTN-Plus will be finalized in the coming weeks. The 18-team Big Ten tournament runs from March 9 through March 14 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the head coach of the Ohio State men’s basketball team?
Jake Diebler serves as the head coach, entering his third full season at the helm of the program.
How many starters are returning for the Buckeyes?
Ohio State returns two starters from last season: junior guard John Mobley Jr. and sophomore forward Amare Bynum.
When does the regular season begin?
The regular season starts on Monday, November 2, with a matchup against BYU at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Where will the Big Ten Tournament take place?
The 18-team conference tournament is scheduled for March 9-14 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Stay Updated on Buckeye Basketball
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