Connor Lemons
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You’re Nuts: Does Ohio State men’s disappointing finish change expectations for next season?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes failed to meet expectations in year one of the Jake Diebler era — what are the expectations going into year two?
Well, that wasn’t how the season was supposed to end.
The 2024-25 season blew in like a lion, with Ohio State bombing 14 three-pointers against Texas on Nov. 4 in a win over the Longhorns, and out like a lamb, losing five of their last seven games and almost certainly missing the NCAA Tournament yet again.
The bar was set fairly low for Jake Diebler in Year 1 — just make the tournament. Most fans simply wanted to see the Buckeyes back in the Big Dance, and anything beyond that would be a cherry on top. Ohio State did not get that far this season, and people are — understandably — not happy.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated what Ohio State needed to do differently to beat Indiana in the rematch in Assembly Hall. Connor said the Buckeyes needed to deny Oumar Ballo the ball to prevent him from getting as many scoring chances, and Justin said Ohio State had to limit Indiana's second-chance points.
Sixty-one percent of the readers sided with Justin, but Indiana did win the second-chance points battle, 18-10. Ballo took nine shots, which was the third-most shot attempts of all the Hoosiers.
Connor- 86
Now that Year 1 of the Jake Diebler era is over (maybe they will play in the CBB Crown Tournament, who knows), fans will look towards Year 2. After not making the NCAA Tournament this season, will that impact expectations for next season?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25911197/usa_today_25652778.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament First Round-Ohio State vs Iowa")
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
This season, Ohio State was expected to at least make the NCAA Tournament, and next season, they needed to build on that—maybe win one or two games in the tournament.
Just because they fell short of expectations this season does not mean that the standards that fans have for the program will be adjusted. Ohio State fans should not — and won’t — wait several years for the team to go on a March Madness run, just because the team floundered around in year one.
Next season, I think the expectation should still be that the team operates like a well-oiled machine, competes at the top of the Big Ten (not 10th-place), and locks up a win or two in the NCAA Tournament. Clearly, that’s going to be a tall task considering that this year’s team failed to even make the tournament.
What could make it even tougher is player retention. Will any of this year’s players decide to leave because they want to go somewhere where they can win? Every player has different values. College athletes could value winning the most, making money, or getting exposure to go pro. But it may be a tough sell for some players to return next year after missing the NCAA Tournament.
If you asked Jake Diebler, even he would say that the goal for Ohio State is not to just make the NCAA Tournament. He’s spoken about winning championships, hanging banners, and playing to the lofty expectations that the program has. He knows that former players are watching, too, and nobody wants to lose the support of your alumni base.
Year one should have been a “get in the door” season, where they make the tournament at the very least. Next season needs to be even better than that, despite missing the mark this year. Nobody will give them a pass next season.
At this point, I am a broken man. The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team hasn’t made the NCAA tournament in three years now, and I miss it.
When Jake Diebler was announced as the new head coach last year, the only goal for the season was to make the tournament since they had missed it the last two years.
They did not do that, and it was a failure of a season, by all accounts.
However, Diebler will be back as the head coach and the goal again is going to be to make the tournament.
But this time, it will likely be to save his job.
Ohio State has already set the precedent. Thad Matta was let go after missing the tournament two straight years, and Chris Holtmann was let go after missing the tournament two straight years.
Even though it is a different athletic director, I think it will be the same. If Jake Diebler misses the tournament two years in a row, even if it is his first two years, he will be gone.
So next year, get back to the tournament and show that improvement. Or they may have another coaching search on their hands.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes failed to meet expectations in year one of the Jake Diebler era — what are the expectations going into year two?
Well, that wasn’t how the season was supposed to end.
The 2024-25 season blew in like a lion, with Ohio State bombing 14 three-pointers against Texas on Nov. 4 in a win over the Longhorns, and out like a lamb, losing five of their last seven games and almost certainly missing the NCAA Tournament yet again.
The bar was set fairly low for Jake Diebler in Year 1 — just make the tournament. Most fans simply wanted to see the Buckeyes back in the Big Dance, and anything beyond that would be a cherry on top. Ohio State did not get that far this season, and people are — understandably — not happy.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated what Ohio State needed to do differently to beat Indiana in the rematch in Assembly Hall. Connor said the Buckeyes needed to deny Oumar Ballo the ball to prevent him from getting as many scoring chances, and Justin said Ohio State had to limit Indiana's second-chance points.
Sixty-one percent of the readers sided with Justin, but Indiana did win the second-chance points battle, 18-10. Ballo took nine shots, which was the third-most shot attempts of all the Hoosiers.
After 195 weeks:
Connor- 86
Justin- 84
Other- 19
(There have been six ties)
Now that Year 1 of the Jake Diebler era is over (maybe they will play in the CBB Crown Tournament, who knows), fans will look towards Year 2. After not making the NCAA Tournament this season, will that impact expectations for next season?
This week’s question: Does Ohio State’s disappointing finish change expectations for next season?
Connor: No — they still need to do better than just make the tournament in Year 2
This season, Ohio State was expected to at least make the NCAA Tournament, and next season, they needed to build on that—maybe win one or two games in the tournament.
Just because they fell short of expectations this season does not mean that the standards that fans have for the program will be adjusted. Ohio State fans should not — and won’t — wait several years for the team to go on a March Madness run, just because the team floundered around in year one.
Next season, I think the expectation should still be that the team operates like a well-oiled machine, competes at the top of the Big Ten (not 10th-place), and locks up a win or two in the NCAA Tournament. Clearly, that’s going to be a tall task considering that this year’s team failed to even make the tournament.
What could make it even tougher is player retention. Will any of this year’s players decide to leave because they want to go somewhere where they can win? Every player has different values. College athletes could value winning the most, making money, or getting exposure to go pro. But it may be a tough sell for some players to return next year after missing the NCAA Tournament.
If you asked Jake Diebler, even he would say that the goal for Ohio State is not to just make the NCAA Tournament. He’s spoken about winning championships, hanging banners, and playing to the lofty expectations that the program has. He knows that former players are watching, too, and nobody wants to lose the support of your alumni base.
Year one should have been a “get in the door” season, where they make the tournament at the very least. Next season needs to be even better than that, despite missing the mark this year. Nobody will give them a pass next season.
Justin: No, the expectation is the tournament or bust
At this point, I am a broken man. The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team hasn’t made the NCAA tournament in three years now, and I miss it.
When Jake Diebler was announced as the new head coach last year, the only goal for the season was to make the tournament since they had missed it the last two years.
They did not do that, and it was a failure of a season, by all accounts.
However, Diebler will be back as the head coach and the goal again is going to be to make the tournament.
But this time, it will likely be to save his job.
Ohio State has already set the precedent. Thad Matta was let go after missing the tournament two straight years, and Chris Holtmann was let go after missing the tournament two straight years.
Even though it is a different athletic director, I think it will be the same. If Jake Diebler misses the tournament two years in a row, even if it is his first two years, he will be gone.
So next year, get back to the tournament and show that improvement. Or they may have another coaching search on their hands.
Continue reading...