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2025-2026 Ohio State Men's Basketball

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2025-26 Ohio State Men’s Basketball Preview​

Posted on October 14, 2025 by jayharris11 Leave a comment
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From Foundation to Elevation: Team 126 Targets a Big Jump in Year Two under Jake Diebler​

Expectations are high as Coach Jake Diebler enters his second season leading Buckeye Basketball. After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament last year, optimism surrounds a retooled roster that features seven newcomers, including four transfers. Unlike last offseason—when Diebler was scrambling after his late hire to assemble a staff and roster—the Buckeyes took a more deliberate approach this time around. A year ago, big swings on high-upside but inexperienced transfers, coupled with injuries and inconsistency, left the team struggling to find its footing, despite an early marquee win over Kentucky and win over Purdue. This summer, the focus shifted to roster stability and experience. The Buckeyes retained their top three ‘eligible-to-return’ scorers as well as key developmental players and added proven veteran transfers, prioritizing reliability over raw upside. With that blend of returning production, portal additions, and incoming freshmen, Ohio State enters the 2025–26 season with renewed confidence in a loaded and competitive Big Ten.
Ohio State returns six scholarship players, led by the core trio of Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., and Devin Royal — the foundation of the program heading into the season. Coach Diebler added four transfers to bolster the roster, highlighted by 7-foot center Christoph Tilly from Santa Clara, an athletic big man who has impressed in early workouts. Fifth-year forward Brandon Noel, a Chillicothe native from Wright State, brings 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game a year ago, and has drawn early comparisons to former Buckeye Kyle Young.
Ohio State bolstered both its backcourt and frontcourt with the additions of Centerville, Ohio native Gabe Cupps, a guard transferring from Indiana, and forward Josh Ojianwuna from Baylor, who is rehabbing a knee injury that will sideline him early but could prove to be a major portal steal once healthy. The Buckeyes also bring in three freshmen, headlined by top-50 prospect Amare Bynum, a high-upside talent who has impressed in early workouts and could push for a starting role by season’s end.
Despite finishing with a top-30 offense last season, there were clear deficiencies Coach Diebler aimed to fix. Rebounding was the first priority, addressed through portal additions like Tilly and Noel, the arrival of Bynum, and shifting Devin Royal to the wing. A lack of frontcourt production also contributed to a low assist rate, but early practices suggest that issue has been significantly improved. Another problem that significantly plagued last year’s team was the excessive fouling, tied to inexperience and limited size—a concern the new roster seems better built to handle.
While roster turnover often brings early chemistry challenges, Diebler believes this group is already well ahead of where last year’s team was at this stage. With veteran leadership, transfer experience, and promising young talent, Ohio State has raised its floor and looks poised to contend in the upper half of the Big Ten and secure a long awaited NCAA tournament berth.

buckeye50.com

2025-26 Ohio State Men’s Basketball Preview

From Foundation to Elevation: Team 126 Targets a Big Jump in Year Two under Jake Diebler Expectations are high as Coach Jake Diebler enters his second season leading Buckeye Basketball. After narro…
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