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2024-2025 Ohio State Men's Basketball

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otisu said:
The decision to keep Diebler seemed reasonable when it was made. There weren’t many good candidates available for the cost considering Holtmann’s contact needed paid off. He had elevated the team in his interim tenure and there was excitement around an Ohio kid leading the program. Keeping the core of the team together also seemed likely, but then… Meechie is signed (not good for obvious reasons) and Gayle departs (addition by subtraction). Bradshaw signs (do we now know why UK didn’t bring him back?) and Okpara leaves (big hit to the program). Stewart signs (a 36” vertical doesn’t translate to BB skills) and Parrish signs (turns out to be the one positive from the portal). Chatman gets hurt then Glover (eh) and Njegovan sign (project). A coach that wanted to play more up-tempo ends up with a roster full of players that for the most part is better in a half-court offense. Their defensive woes primarily came down to a lack of a post presence (see Okpara). I say all this, not to defend Diebler’s coaching, but to point out that his portal decisions turned out to be pretty atrocious other than Parrish. This next portal cycle will be telling of what his future with the program will look like.
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Bad portal decisions are definitely on the coach.

Stewart and Bradshaw (especially Bradshaw) definitely did not deliver. I hope we go after more proven production than perceived potential based on past recruiting rankings when it comes to the bigs in the portal this cycle.
 
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otisu said:
The decision to keep Diebler seemed reasonable when it was made. There weren’t many good candidates available for the cost considering Holtmann’s contact needed paid off. He had elevated the team in his interim tenure and there was excitement around an Ohio kid leading the program. Keeping the core of the team together also seemed likely, but then… Meechie is signed (not good for obvious reasons) and Gayle departs (addition by subtraction). Bradshaw signs (do we now know why UK didn’t bring him back?) and Okpara leaves (big hit to the program). Stewart signs (a 36” vertical doesn’t translate to BB skills) and Parrish signs (turns out to be the one positive from the portal). Chatman gets hurt then Glover (eh) and Njegovan sign (project). A coach that wanted to play more up-tempo ends up with a roster full of players that for the most part is better in a half-court offense. Their defensive woes primarily came down to a lack of a post presence (see Okpara). I say all this, not to defend Diebler’s coaching, but to point out that his portal decisions turned out to be pretty atrocious other than Parrish. This next portal cycle will be telling of what his future with the program will look like.
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Exactly. 1 of 4 in portal decisions was a killer. We needed at least 3 of 4 to be hits. I assume we’ll be going after another 3-4 this cycle. He needs better evals (plus he needs to keep the two guards).
 
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CMic said:
Exactly. 1 of 4 in portal decisions was a killer. We needed at least 3 of 4 to be hits. I assume we’ll be going after another 3-4 this cycle. He needs better evals (plus he needs to keep the two guards).
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They didn't even need to be star players. Even just average players in Bradshaw and Glover's place probably gets us over the hump
 
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TDunk said:
Does the team have an identity? I thought Jake wanted to push tempo. Considering we have svelte C's and decent G's. Fast break points = shit. Defense is hit or miss. Rebounding is blah. Besides playing like crap through long stretches in games, there is no consistency. Coaching, players, stupid arena, or something needs to be re-evaluated. I'm out.
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Blowing leads?
 
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DaveyBoy said:
Probably 1 more year…..but it’s NCAA or bust next year. Probably need S16 or bust.
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He needs to get to March being firmly in the tournament and not hoping to back in at the last minute. I'd agree with giving him another year at that point. Not holding my breath though, feels like things will get worse before they get better.
 
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buckeyemania11 said:
He needs to get to March being firmly in the tournament and not hoping to back in at the last minute. I'd agree with giving him another year at that point. Not holding my breath though, feels like things will get worse before they get better.
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Agree. He will get another year and will lose a starter or two to the portal. He will pick up a couple decent additions. Net results will be 17 or 18 wins. blaH.
 
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DaveyBoy said:
Agree. He will get another year and will lose a starter or two to the portal. He will pick up a couple decent additions. Net results will be 17 or 18 wins. blaH.
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They need to take a different approach to the portal this year. Get guys with proven production, even if they are from smaller schools. These former 5* from programs like Duke and Kentucky who don't even care that they walk away are no good.
 
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buckeyemania11 said:
They need to take a different approach to the portal this year. Get guys with proven production, even if they are from smaller schools. These former 5* from programs like Duke and Kentucky who don't even care that they walk away are no good.
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The problem is who in their right mind would choose Ohio State with Diebler over just about every BigTen program except possibly Minnesota, Northwstern, and possibly Nebraska. ?
 
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otisu said:
The decision to keep Diebler seemed reasonable when it was made. There weren’t many good candidates available for the cost considering Holtmann’s contact needed paid off. He had elevated the team in his interim tenure and there was excitement around an Ohio kid leading the program. Keeping the core of the team together also seemed likely, but then… Meechie is signed (not good for obvious reasons) and Gayle departs (addition by subtraction). Bradshaw signs (do we now know why UK didn’t bring him back?) and Okpara leaves (big hit to the program). Stewart signs (a 36” vertical doesn’t translate to BB skills) and Parrish signs (turns out to be the one positive from the portal). Chatman gets hurt then Glover (eh) and Njegovan sign (project). A coach that wanted to play more up-tempo ends up with a roster full of players that for the most part is better in a half-court offense. Their defensive woes primarily came down to a lack of a post presence (see Okpara). I say all this, not to defend Diebler’s coaching, but to point out that his portal decisions turned out to be pretty atrocious other than Parrish. This next portal cycle will be telling of what his future with the program will look like.
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This
 
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DaveyBoy said:
Probably 1 more year…..but it’s NCAA or bust next year. Probably need S16 or bust.
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Depends on what expectations Slap Shot & Aggy have. Until I see otherwise, I think their mentality is right out of the Nebraska/A&M playbook about football being everything and anything more being a bonus. It wouldn't surprise me to see them just fine with Eldon Miller levels of mediocrity.

As for the comment about the arena above, The Schott isn't anywhere near the best in the country, but it's not a hindrance.. It's certainly didn't seem to hinder Thad,.
 
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ORD_Buckeye said:
Depends on what expectations Slap Shot & Aggy have. Until I see otherwise, I think they're mentality is right out of the Nebraska/A&M playbook about football being everything and anything more being a bonus. It wouldn't surprise me to see them just fine with Eldon Miller levels of mediocrity.

As for the comment about the arena above, The Schott isn't anywhere near the best in the country, but it's not a hindrance.. It's certainly didn't seem to hinder Thad,.
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This is what I worry too. Diebler is cheap, doesn't rock the boat and bring any bad press or anything, and the team isn't making the tournament but they aren't completely terrible enough to justify getting rid of him. I fully expect him to be back for a 3rd year even if they miss the tourney again next year, barring some like 10 win or less type disaster year.

And yea it's not the Arena hindering anything, of course nobody wants to show up to get excited about a NIT level team at Ohio State.
 
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buckeyemania11 said:
Bad portal decisions are definitely on the coach.

Stewart and Bradshaw (especially Bradshaw) definitely did not deliver. I hope we go after more proven production than perceived potential based on past recruiting rankings when it comes to the bigs in the portal this cycle.
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Bradshaw made sense if they were planning on Okpara coming back. Initially, he claimed he was returning, then they got Bradshaw, and a week or two later Okpara bolted. Bradshaw was kind of miscast on this team as a big man because they didn't really have one. He'd fit better as a PF able to block shots from the weak side and not be forced to hold his ground in the paint.
 
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