2025-2026 Ohio State Men's Basketball

[buckeyemania11]

Well, I don’t know if we left money on the table or not. But I do know we weren’t able to entice a top forward to OSU last year, which limits my expectations for getting a top PG this year.

That's why I hope they don't even flirt with the elite guys, what are the chances we actually get them? Probably not good.

They need to focus on that next group of players and point out the best fitting much more realistic options there.

Mobley Bynum and Thompson is a a solid 3 man core.

If they can bring in a not elite but pretty good PG and a decent big man who's got the physical chops to hang down low with the better teams we are probably in good shape

 

[DZ83CK]

Well, I don’t know if we left money on the table or not. But I do know we weren’t able to entice a top forward to OSU last year, which limits my expectations for getting a top PG this year.

Yeah, the losses in the portal last season obviously have to impact your grade of the team. The fact is they didn't land top targets like Williams, Swain or Davis Jr. Basically, it seemed like any transfer that other high majors really wanted didn't come to OSU. With the understanding that they obviously swung and missed really hard in the portal last season, it's not a surprise that this team was not able to be a contender. I'm with you about the portal this year, it's wait and see - hopefully they get a good one, but we can't get our hopes too high. We might be looking at a starting lineup of Mobley-Thompson-Royal-Bynum-Ojianwuna.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Yeah, the losses in the portal last season obviously have to impact your grade of the team. The fact is they didn't land top targets like Williams, Swain or Davis Jr. Basically, it seemed like any transfer that other high majors really wanted didn't come to OSU. With the understanding that they obviously swung and missed really hard in the portal last season, it's not a surprise that this team was not able to be a contender. I'm with you about the portal this year, it's wait and see - hopefully they get a good one, but we can't get our hopes too high. We might be looking at a starting lineup of Mobley-Thompson-Royal-Bynum-Ojianwuna.

That's not a bad starting lineup IF Ojianwuna can get back up to speed. That starting lineup with an improved bench would be able to be reasonably competitive. The bench being essentially useless really hurt us this year.

 

[DZ83CK]

Yeah, the bench this year did not really come out to be what the team needed. Chatman proved capable at times, although he did not play well in the postseason. Of course Noel missed almost the entire B1G season and by the time he came back he was basically out of the gameplan - even so, his statistical production prior to his injury was unreliable against high major competition. Other than that, they did not get much out of the bench. Njegovan and Cupps had some flashes where they helped, but their statistical production was almost non-existent. They badly need to upgrade bench production.

 

[Mike80]

Yeah, the bench this year did not really come out to be what the team needed. Chatman proved capable at times, although he did not play well in the postseason. Of course Noel missed almost the entire B1G season and by the time he came back he was basically out of the gameplan - even so, his statistical production prior to his injury was unreliable against high major competition. Other than that, they did not get much out of the bench. Njegovan and Cupps had some flashes where they helped, but their statistical production was almost non-existent. They badly need to upgrade bench production.

Something they should study - watch the best teams in the Big Ten and NCAA as a whole and figure out production ranges between starters vs. bench contributors and copy the equation as best as they can.

I'm hoping all the noise about Ohio State's NIL and funding of the basketball program produces a positive reaction within the budget for the team. There are perceptions that now must be countered whether the athletic department wants to admit it or not.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Yeah, the bench this year did not really come out to be what the team needed. Chatman proved capable at times, although he did not play well in the postseason. Of course Noel missed almost the entire B1G season and by the time he came back he was basically out of the gameplan - even so, his statistical production prior to his injury was unreliable against high major competition. Other than that, they did not get much out of the bench. Njegovan and Cupps had some flashes where they helped, but their statistical production was almost non-existent. They badly need to upgrade bench production.

Chatmans complete lack of effort at times is a real big turnoff. If he returns I hope he really works on that.

Njegovan isn't terrible as a guy at the deeper end of the bench. But he's not a guy you want to ever have to really lean on for sure. He's actually a pretty good defender as long as he's in the post but once he gets drawn out it's ugly. Which of course is a problem lol.

Cupps is just Cupps, he's just kind of there. He's a ok enough defender to play a few minutes here and there but he's a complete black hole offensively

 

[buckeyebri]

What’s the odds that guys we are banking on for next year Mobley, Royal, Bynum get money to go elsewhere?

 

[otisu]

Tilly was the big miss considering he was recruited for a position that had no competition. He would have been fine had he rotated with another experienced center of his caliber or better or a freshman 4/5* . Noll, had he been healthy, would have been a nice rotation piece that added needed depth.

My question is, how does a coach go about bringing in depth from the transfer portal? You want guys that will push the starters but what’s the sales pitch to a transfer if not a chance to start?

 

[Steve19]

Not calling out anyone, but the negativity and doubt in the basketball threads won't get us anywhere. It's not about what can go wrong but a continued focus on what can go right.

Has Jax given up yet? I THINK NOT!

She's searching for Jax every day...