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The action from our bigs is promising so far. Lets see if that lasts when we play people with a pulse.
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THE BASKETBUCKS ARE BACK. Ohio State has a men’s basketball team, too!
The Basketbucks will host IU Indy for their season opener on Monday. The Buckeyes and Jaguars will tip off at 6:30 p.m. inside Value City Arena. The matchup will be broadcast behind a big, bad paywall on BTN+.
For those who plan to attend the game in which Ohio State is a 29.5-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet, you will have “an upgraded experience” at the Schottenstein Center. That’s what athletic director Ross Bjork and his associates called it in a press release the school shared last week.
“From a new court, to new lighting, to better sound and new food offerings, there will be plenty for fans to explore,” the press release reads.
Here’s a look at all the new stuff:
And two, already a promotion tactic for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes will hand out a double-sided replica mini-court to the first 1,500 fans and first 500 students in attendance for the season opener:
Be there or be square!
www.elevenwarriors.com
The Basketbucks will host IU Indy for their season opener on Monday. The Buckeyes and Jaguars will tip off at 6:30 p.m. inside Value City Arena. The matchup will be broadcast behind a big, bad paywall on BTN+.
For those who plan to attend the game in which Ohio State is a 29.5-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet, you will have “an upgraded experience” at the Schottenstein Center. That’s what athletic director Ross Bjork and his associates called it in a press release the school shared last week.
“From a new court, to new lighting, to better sound and new food offerings, there will be plenty for fans to explore,” the press release reads.
Here’s a look at all the new stuff:
Regarding the new court, it is one, very cool:
And two, already a promotion tactic for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes will hand out a double-sided replica mini-court to the first 1,500 fans and first 500 students in attendance for the season opener:
Be there or be square!
Skull Session: Julian Sayin is the Best Quarterback in College Football; Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Arvell Reese Are Out of This World
Julian Sayin is the best quarterback in college football and the Heisman frontrunner, while Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Arvell Reese continue to look out of this world.
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DZ83CK
Not Banned
What are the new food offerings? It may make no difference. I don’t feel that the food at OSU games in general is particularly good quality. It seems highly processed and not very fresh especially for the money they charge. It seems to me they have made everything worse over the years. They should probably just get Roosters to take over all concessions and we'd be set.
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Ohio State Gave Up 102 Points In Its Season Opener, But IU Indy Presented A Unique Challenge
By Josh Poloha on November 5, 2025 at 8:35 am @jorshp
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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What an interesting way to start the season, to say the least.
Ohio State beat IU Indy on the opening day of the college basketball season, but the Buckeyes allowed 102 points while doing so. It was the first time an OSU opponent scored 100 in regulation since a 100-65 loss to Maryland on Jan. 16, 2016.
On paper, allowing a program such as IU Indy to score 102 points in the season opener is, well, not good. But when you really break it down, it wasn't as bad as the final score might have shown.
Four-time Ohio State captain Bruce Thornton isn't worried, stating after the game that it's just some small details that the Buckeyes must fix moving forward.
"They have a lot of great shooters," he said of IU Indy. "They had a great offensive scheme. They had a lot of back-door cuts and some shooters who shot over 45% last year. Sometimes, we were overplaying. It was just little details that we have to make sure we tighten up and be a better defensive team."
We break down how Ohio State's season-opening win over the Jaguars will likely be the type of game that the Buckeyes won't see again this season, or next season, or the season after that. It's that rare.
Ben Howlett's Past
The 38-year-old is in his first season leading IU Indy, his first job as a Division I basketball coach. That said, he has plenty of experience. After playing at West Liberty from 2005-09 and spending seven years as an assistant coach, he led his alma mater from 2017-25, a stretch where he went 217-37 as a head coach while winning seven MEC regular season titles and three conference tournament championships. Howlett was named the MEC Coach of the Year three times (2018, 2022 and 2025).In 2024-25, Howlett's final season leading the Hilltoppers, they went 30-5 and scored 100-plus points in 17 games, including a 162-106 win in regulation. While the Marietta, Ohio native has a history of being a successful coach at the Division II level, he's hoping that success transitions to the top level of college basketball.
Part of that success has been that Howlett's teams love to run up and down the court all game, putting on a full-court press for 40 minutes and using the bulk of their depth and bench to remain as fresh as possible while doing so. Against Ohio State, nine IU Indy players played at least 14 minutes while six notched at least 20 minutes.
At the very least, Howlett will make sure that scoring and pace are mandatory, while defense might be optional at times.
The Pace
Given Howlett's past and the fact that Ohio State was expected to have a very good offense and questionable defense heading into this season, Monday night's game was always expected to be a high-scoring affair. Yet, somehow, no one could have projected that it would lead to 220 combined points.While IU Indy scored 102, it was as much to do with the pace and not just OSU straight up allowing triple digits. Even then, though, center Christoph Tilly knows that the Buckeyes must improve defensively, even though the Santa Clara transfer is only one game into his Ohio State career.
"Defensively, we still have to work on some stuff, obviously," he said. "They scored over 100 points – that can't happen. We will keep working on that."
The Jaguars shot 50% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc, the former of which Jake Diebler knows that his team must improve on.
"The 50% stands out, and we only had six steals," Diebler said. "They made some midrange floaters in the paint over size that we challenged. They banked a couple in. Defensively, the field-goal percentage is obviously not good enough. We've got to get more deflections and be more active and pressure more defensively."
Ohio State Gave Up 102 Points In Its Season Opener, But IU Indy Presented A Unique Challenge
Ohio State allowed IU Indy to score 102 points Monday night, which looks bad on paper. But, when broken down, it isn't as bad as it might seem.
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Jay Bilas has the team #43 in his Top 68 to start the season.
www.espn.com
43. Ohio State Buckeyes
The incredibly efficient Bruce Thornton (50.1% shooting, 42.4% on 3s) is sticking around Columbus for another season, giving Jake Diebler his best chance to return the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament in his second full season as head coach. Thornton will have John Mobley Jr., another efficient player (13.0 PPG, 39% on 3s), and breakout junior forward Devin Royal (26 points vs. Michigan last season) around him. A tough stretch for Ohio State looks closer to ending.
The Bilas Index: Jay Bilas picks his top 68 teams this season
It's time for the only NCAA season preview you need. You're welcome.
43. Ohio State Buckeyes
The incredibly efficient Bruce Thornton (50.1% shooting, 42.4% on 3s) is sticking around Columbus for another season, giving Jake Diebler his best chance to return the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament in his second full season as head coach. Thornton will have John Mobley Jr., another efficient player (13.0 PPG, 39% on 3s), and breakout junior forward Devin Royal (26 points vs. Michigan last season) around him. A tough stretch for Ohio State looks closer to ending.
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Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
By Dan Hope on November 6, 2025 at 12:38 am @dan_hope
Reggie Hildred – Imagn Images
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A potential addition to the Ohio State men’s basketball team is suing the NCAA after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
Puff Johnson, who previously played for Penn State and North Carolina, filed a legal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the NCAA on Wednesday. Johnson is seeking the opportunity to play for Ohio State this season after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
According to the complaint, which was shared publicly by attorney Mit Winter, Johnson – who enrolled at Ohio State in July – sought a medical hardship waiver in conjunction with Ohio State to play for the Buckeyes this season. While Johnson has not been formally added to Ohio State’s roster, the complaint states that Johnson was offered a scholarship to play for the Buckeyes.
Johnson argues that he should be eligible for a medical hardship waiver due to a multitude of injuries he suffered over the past five years. He alleges that the denial of his waiver violates the Sherman Antitrust Act as well as Ohio’s Valentine Act.
As a freshman at North Carolina in 2020-21, Johnson suffered a broken foot that “severely limited his participation.” After returning to competition midway through his sophomore season, Johnson battled patellar fat pad inflammation that caused him to miss time in his junior season.
Johnson tore his patellar tendon after transferring to Penn State in 2023, causing him to miss multiple games. He was limited to 17 games for Penn State last season due to a heel stress fracture, a right wrist injury, a concussion and a broken right hand.
In addition to his physical injuries, Johnson has also been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has “experienced family emergencies and mental health challenges” during his college career, according to the complaint.
The NCAA denied Johnson’s request because he played in more than 30% of Penn State’s games, the limit to receive a medical hardship waiver, during the 2024-25 season. Johnson and Ohio State “timely appealed the NCAA’s denial, acknowledging that Johnson appeared in more than thirty percent (30%) of Penn State’s games but emphasizing the extraordinary and extenuating medical circumstances that characterized his 2024–2025 season.” The appeal stated that Johnson’s wrist injury was misdiagnosed and that he should not have been cleared to return to play.
Collectively, Johnson has played in 114 games over the past five years, using the fifth year of eligibility all athletes received due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to play for Penn State last season. That said, the complaint argues that Johnson should be eligible for a medical hardship year because he missed 54 total games over those five years due to his injuries.
The NCAA has not yet issued a decision on Johnson’s appeal. However, Johnson is seeking an injunction against the NCAA that would require it to “immediately issue a waiver” to allow him to play for Ohio State this season.
Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
Puff Johnson, a Penn State transfer who sought a medical hardship waiver to play basketball for Ohio State this season, is suing the NCAA after his waiver request was denied.
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DZ83CK
Not Banned
Right, so as I understand it, his argument to get the extra year comes down to PSU clearing him to play when he was still injured and playing him when he was still injured 2 games more than allowed. I didn't realize what he went through exactly last year, but if a school did clear a player and put him out there when he was still injured 2 games beyond the cut-off, that's a pretty good justification for not counting that year against him.Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
By Dan Hope on November 6, 2025 at 12:38 am @dan_hope
Reggie Hildred – Imagn Images
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29 Comments
A potential addition to the Ohio State men’s basketball team is suing the NCAA after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
Puff Johnson, who previously played for Penn State and North Carolina, filed a legal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the NCAA on Wednesday. Johnson is seeking the opportunity to play for Ohio State this season after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
According to the complaint, which was shared publicly by attorney Mit Winter, Johnson – who enrolled at Ohio State in July – sought a medical hardship waiver in conjunction with Ohio State to play for the Buckeyes this season. While Johnson has not been formally added to Ohio State’s roster, the complaint states that Johnson was offered a scholarship to play for the Buckeyes.
Johnson argues that he should be eligible for a medical hardship waiver due to a multitude of injuries he suffered over the past five years. He alleges that the denial of his waiver violates the Sherman Antitrust Act as well as Ohio’s Valentine Act.
As a freshman at North Carolina in 2020-21, Johnson suffered a broken foot that “severely limited his participation.” After returning to competition midway through his sophomore season, Johnson battled patellar fat pad inflammation that caused him to miss time in his junior season.
Johnson tore his patellar tendon after transferring to Penn State in 2023, causing him to miss multiple games. He was limited to 17 games for Penn State last season due to a heel stress fracture, a right wrist injury, a concussion and a broken right hand.
In addition to his physical injuries, Johnson has also been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has “experienced family emergencies and mental health challenges” during his college career, according to the complaint.
The NCAA denied Johnson’s request because he played in more than 30% of Penn State’s games, the limit to receive a medical hardship waiver, during the 2024-25 season. Johnson and Ohio State “timely appealed the NCAA’s denial, acknowledging that Johnson appeared in more than thirty percent (30%) of Penn State’s games but emphasizing the extraordinary and extenuating medical circumstances that characterized his 2024–2025 season.” The appeal stated that Johnson’s wrist injury was misdiagnosed and that he should not have been cleared to return to play.
Collectively, Johnson has played in 114 games over the past five years, using the fifth year of eligibility all athletes received due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to play for Penn State last season. That said, the complaint argues that Johnson should be eligible for a medical hardship year because he missed 54 total games over those five years due to his injuries.
The NCAA has not yet issued a decision on Johnson’s appeal. However, Johnson is seeking an injunction against the NCAA that would require it to “immediately issue a waiver” to allow him to play for Ohio State this season.
Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
Puff Johnson, a Penn State transfer who sought a medical hardship waiver to play basketball for Ohio State this season, is suing the NCAA after his waiver request was denied.
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