2025-2026 Ohio State Men's Basketball

[DZ83CK]

I wouldn't play the "what if" game with this team because there have been a handful of close games that OSU has won. I'd say the Buckeyes have prevailed more often than not in games that came down to the wire this season. They had to rally and had just a 1-point lead within the last 30 seconds at Northwestern (won by 4). While it wasn't super close at the end, they had to rally at Rutgers. The Buckeyes had to get a bucket from Tilly in the final possession to beat ND. They had to go to double-OT to beat West Virginia, and OT to beat Minnesota. The other reason I don't look back and wonder "what could have been" is there are plenty of chances looking ahead that offer this team the opportunity to earn their way into the tournament. I feel like they've improved as the season has developed so they have legitimate hopes of earning their way into the field with the games remaining on the schedule, and it's not going to take them performing over their heads to do it.

 

[Mike80]

10 games left...6 wins to get to 20 on the season.

Wins I see: Maryland, USC, Iowa, Ped State

Toss-ups: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin

Unlikely to win: TCUN, Purdue

Not winning: @Sparty

@ Maryland

vs 3 Michigan

vs USC

vs 17 Virginia *

vs Wisconsin

@ 7 Michigan State

@ Iowa

vs 12 Purdue

@ Penn State

vs Indiana

I think if they can get to 20 wins against what they have left, and maybe win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament, they get in. We'll see - they could easily blow any of the 4 games they "should" win at the top too...

 

[Thump]

10 games left...6 wins to get to 20 on the season.

Wins I see: Maryland, USC, Iowa, Ped State

Toss-ups: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin

Unlikely to win: TCUN, Purdue

Not winning: @Sparty

@ Maryland

vs 3 Michigan

vs USC

vs 17 Virginia *

vs Wisconsin

@ 7 Michigan State

@ Iowa

vs 12 Purdue

@ Penn State

vs Indiana

I think if they can get to 20 wins against what they have left, and maybe win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament, they get in. We'll see - they could easily blow any of the 4 games they "should" win at the top too...

Not happening.

 

[Mike80]

Not happening.

We'll see....right now, no, they're probably in the first 4 out category. The door isn't totally shut at least.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Being a annual national title contender is an unrealistic expectation but I don't think making the tournament most years with maybe a deeper run a couple of times a decade is a unrealistic expectation. What we have right now and the past couple of years is just not acceptable though.

 

[otisu]

10 games left...6 wins to get to 20 on the season.

Wins I see: Maryland, USC, Iowa, Ped State

Toss-ups: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin

Unlikely to win: TCUN, Purdue

Not winning: @Sparty

@ Maryland

vs 3 Michigan

vs USC

vs 17 Virginia *

vs Wisconsin

@ 7 Michigan State

@ Iowa

vs 12 Purdue

@ Penn State

vs Indiana

I think if they can get to 20 wins against what they have left, and maybe win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament, they get in. We'll see - they could easily blow any of the 4 games they "should" win at the top too...

Must win: Maryland, USC, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ped State, IU
Steal one of these: TCUN, Virginia, MSU, Purdue

Without a fully healthy Tilly, I just don't see it happening.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Win @Maryland or it's over. Could possibly pull the upset vs scum if we get the Home refs cooking like they did but there's no room for error.

 

[calibuck]

Have heard it said, 'if you have to win the game based on the refs' - then you're in trouble. Consistent effort, in crunch time, start looking towards the basket, not running around, passing, beyond the arc, afraid to take the shot....Yeah, Tilly needs to stay healthy, and getting Noel back is key.

 

[lvbuckeye]

10 games left...6 wins to get to 20 on the season.

Wins I see: Maryland, USC, Iowa, Ped State

Toss-ups: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin

Unlikely to win: TCUN, Purdue

Not winning: @Sparty

@ Maryland

vs 3 Michigan

vs USC

vs 17 Virginia *

vs Wisconsin

@ 7 Michigan State

@ Iowa

vs 12 Purdue

@ Penn State

vs Indiana

I think if they can get to 20 wins against what they have left, and maybe win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament, they get in. We'll see - they could easily blow any of the 4 games they "should" win at the top too...

this is why i don't even watch them any more. y'all are hoping they can make the dance. it's a disgrace. they haven't made it past the first weekend since 2013.

 

[otisu]

There's is discussion on 11W that OSU's basketball NIL is ranked 12th in the Big Ten and TCUN is ranked 5th nationally (per something Jardy stated). I have no idea how accurate that is, but if relatively close then it's no wonder May is where he's at and Diebler has the bench he does.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Win @Maryland or it's over. Could possibly pull the upset vs scum if we get the Home refs cooking like they did but there's no room for error.

Yep. If they lose to Maryland they probably have to beat 2 of the more upper level teams left on the schedule (scUM, Virginia, Sparty and Purdue) to make up for it, and that likely is not happening with this squad

 

[Mike80]

this is why i don't even watch them any more. y'all are hoping they can make the dance. it's a disgrace. they haven't made it past the first weekend since 2013.

I mean the alternative is hoping they DON'T make the dance.

I know which side I'm going to fall on 100 times out of 100.

 

[DZ83CK]

There's is discussion on 11W that OSU's basketball NIL is ranked 12th in the Big Ten and TCUN is ranked 5th nationally (per something Jardy stated). I have no idea how accurate that is, but if relatively close then it's no wonder May is where he's at and Diebler has the bench he does.

I'm not an insider by any means, even I can see OSU didn't spend in the last offseason. Tilly is German-born, which means his NIL options are more limited, and logically speaking that had to impact his decision as OSU's meager offering was comparable to what others could offer ... and he was the best transfer OSU got. Cupps and Ojianwuna, both coming off injuries (and Ojianwuna in fact missing this season because of it) were obviously not guys who would command significant dollars last year. Noel was a local guy who played at Wright State, again not someone you would expect would require big money to come to OSU. Bynum is the only guy they brought in that looks like he could have gotten some decent NIL offers from other schools, and it's not even clear he would have been in line for big money. I do believe some hesitancy with uncertainty regarding the Commission coming & restructuring of OSU's NIL collectives, along with the obvious need to devote most resources to football, were factors in OSU being hesitant to release substantial NIL funds for basketball last year.