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#8 Ohio State vs #9 TCU, Thursday March 19, 1215pm ET, CBS

I don't like the 12:15 start time the very 1st game right out of the shoot. The 3 teams I want to watch the most all play in the 12:00 windows.

Ohio State Thursday 12:15
Kentucky Friday 12:15
Akron Friday 12:40

I couldn't be more annoyed plus the other games I really wanted to watch are on at same time Ohio State is playing Troy and South Florida and High Point.

Most of the night game are boring to boot. Really annoying scheduling.
Henry. Find a sports bar.
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Jake Diebler (Head Coach)

Read in several places that Diebs and Bjork are 'negotiating' for a new salary for Diebs. Article goes on to say that Diebs won't be back unless they come to mutual resolution. That gives credence to Mike's 3 year contract, but never get all the information, do we? Anyway, personally believe that Diebs has done enough to stay around. But would think that maybe the 'negotiations' might hinge on how much NIL is allocated to men's basketball. Also heard that tOSU is 14th in B10 basketball NIL. It's a given that football is #1, but if Gene Smith were still around, he'd certainly want to spike up basketball, as it's a Sears Cup point producer, so the monster that is tOSU athletic department should flex a bit. Finally, it was noted that LeBron needs to be tapped for some on-going donations for basketball. If he's proud of his locker in tOSU basketball room, maybe he can/could spring for some NIL money? Thinking $5 million per year might get us some top flight personnel......
I’m not sure what that means? Of his own volition?
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#8 Ohio State vs #9 TCU, Thursday March 19, 1215pm ET, CBS

I don't like the 12:15 start time the very 1st game right out of the shoot. The 3 teams I want to watch the most all play in the 12:00 windows.

Ohio State Thursday 12:15
Kentucky Friday 12:15
Akron Friday 12:40

I couldn't be more annoyed plus the other games I really wanted to watch are on at same time Ohio State is playing Troy and South Florida and High Point.

Most of the night game are boring to boot. Really annoying scheduling.
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SF Puff Johnson (Official Thread)

Fun fact, OSU has a player on the roster this season who scored 11 points in the national championship game. Puff Johnson! 2022 vs Kansas (with UNC):

Puff did play a reserve role for the Tar Heels in their 2022 Final Four run, appearing in all 6 games. Hopefully he can provide this team a lift off the bench similar to what he did in 2022.
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#8 Ohio State vs #9 TCU, Thursday March 19, 1215pm ET, CBS

I'm sorry, I can't give them much credit for a win against Texas Tech without Toppin, who was the Red Raiders' best player. Iowa State was a great win for TCU, but to me, it raises more questions about Iowa State - can the Cyclones win games when the opponent pressures the 3-point arc, forces the ball out of the PGs hands, and doubles the post? TCU is a legit team, they have very good & talented players. But if you're a serious team, a tough group that has patience, offensive balance, willingness to play together and find the open man, you can beat them.
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#8 Ohio State vs #9 TCU, Thursday March 19, 1215pm ET, CBS

Joe Lunardi's ultimate guide to men's March Madness 2026​

We've made the case for exactly how each team will advance -- and how they won't. Bracketologist in Chief Joe Lunardi also ran the numbers one last time to forecast where each will actually finish in the final field of 68.

No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes

Why they will advance

After a month of life on the bubble, the Buckeyes quieted the critics with an impressive four-game winning streak -- which included wins over Purdue, Indiana and Iowa -- and then a close loss against mighty Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Now in the field of 68, Ohio State could wreak some havoc, thanks to proven scorers Bruce Thornton (20.2 PPG) and John Mobley Jr. (15.8 PPG).

Why they won't advance

Jake Diebler's squad has struggled at times on the defensive glass, leading to second-chance points for opponents. Another fatal flaw is that the starting five is strong, but the bench offers few reliable options. That means heavy minutes for the core group of Thornton, Mobley, Devin Royal (13.7 PPG), Christoph Tilly (11.1 PPG) and Amare Bynum (9.8 PPG).

Did you know?

In a sign of the NIL times, Thornton is one of just 22 current power-conference men's basketball players to play at the same school for four years. The first four-time captain in Ohio State program history, he surpassed Dennis Hopson (1984-87) this season to become the program's all-time leading scorer. He is at 2,156 career points and counting. -- Bill Doherty

By the numbers

Eye test rank:
26
Résumé rating: 36
NCAA seed list: 31

Joey Brackets says ...

The Buckeyes' core is made up of four double-digit scorers and a fifth (Bynum) within a whisker. They play with a hard-hat toughness, a trait that helped them play themselves firmly off the bubble and into the bracket. But will their stay in Bracketville be lengthy? Probably not, as TCU's balance proves too much in the first tip of the full bracket.

Final field rank: 38

No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs

Why they will advance

The Horned Frogs finished the regular season on somewhat of a roll, winning their final five games and eight of their last nine -- including over then-No. 5 Iowa State and at then-No. 10 Texas Tech. They're balanced, too: Four players average double figures, though no one has more than 13.6 PPG.

Why they won't advance

While TCU is solid in most areas, it is not exceptional at any one thing. In the NCAA tournament, where the competition gets tougher, it doesn't have a superpower to rely on. The Frogs can't depend on 3-point shooting (32.9%), clutch free throw shooting (70.6%) or rebounding dominance (plus-2.7 margin).

Did you know?

TCU is appearing in its 12th NCAA tournament, and Jamie Dixon has been involved in half of those. He helped the Frogs win a game in the tournament in 1987 as the starting point guard, and has been the head coach for the last five appearances. The Frogs are a combined 2-4 so far with him. -- David Smale

By the numbers

Eye test rank:
45
Résumé rating: 36
NCAA seed list: 34

Joey Brackets says ...

A late surge took TCU from the outside of the bubble to solidly in the tournament, and the Frogs have impressed enough to lead me to give them one NCAA win. They've got the moxie to escape Ohio State in a true 50-50 game, but that's it, with Duke on the horizon.

Final field rank: 27
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