Welcome to “Massive Ten offseason at a look,” a team-by-team take a look at the convention at first of the summer time. We’ll look at roster motion for every Massive Ten roster and provides an early outlook for every Massive Ten program for the 2024-25 season.
Beforehand: Penn State, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Immediately: Ohio State (22-14 general in 2023-24, September 11 in Massive Ten play)
The Buckeyes fired Chris Holtmann on February 14 after a 62-54 loss at Wisconsin. That loss dropped the Buckeyes to 14-11 and 4-10 within the Massive Ten. Interim coach Jake Diebler went 8-3 over the subsequent 11 video games and reached the NIT, incomes himself the everlasting place in Columbus.
Ohio State roster motion
Gamers returning with eligibility remaining: Bruce Thornton, Evan Mahaffey, Devin Royal, Taison Chatman, Austin Parks, Kalen Etzler
Gamers departing resulting from exhausted eligibility: Jamison Battle, Dale Bonner
Gamers who departed through the switch portal: Felix Okpara (to Tennessee), Zed Key (to Dayton), Roddy Gayle Jr. (to Michigan), Scotty Middleton (to Seton Corridor), Bowen Hardman (to Akron)
Gamers arriving through the switch portal: Meechie Johnson Jr. (from South Carolina), Micah Parrish (from San Diego State), Aaron Bradshaw (from Kentucky), Sean Stewart (from Duke)
Gamers arriving through highschool: Juni Mobley (247Composite high 55), Colin White
As anticipated, there was numerous roster motion at Ohio State after the teaching change. 4 rotation gamers, together with a pair of starters in Okpara and Gayle Jr., left. The Buckeyes had been lively within the portal and added a number of potential starters to enrich Thornton, who ought to be one of many league’s high level guards.
What to love about Ohio State
There’s loads of expertise on the roster. Thornton might be an All-Massive Ten participant. Johnson, who started his profession at Ohio State earlier than transferring to South Carolina, is again for one ultimate run in Columbus.
Parrish, a Detroit native, has loads of expertise on the highest stage of school basketball from his time at San Diego State. Within the frontcourt, Stewart and Bradshaw arrive after underwhelming freshman seasons at Duke and Kentucky. Each ought to have chips on their shoulder and have one thing to show after being extremely touted out of highschool.
And Mobley, a high 50 participant, ought to bolster the guard depth with Chatman, one other former high 50 participant, seeking to take a step ahead as a sophomore. Royal must also get a possibility for an elevated position beneath Diebler, who performed him heavy minutes after taking up for Holtmann in mid-February.
What to query with Ohio State
Is Diebler able to be a head coach at a big-time program? He gained down the stretch, however is hardly confirmed.
Ohio State ought to have one of many Massive Ten’s greatest backcourts however the wing and frontcourt play has some inquiries to reply. Can Stewart and Bradshaw produce if given the chance? Does Ohio State have sufficient wing capturing? And may Royal proceed the sturdy play he exhibited down the stretch final season and escape as a sophomore?
Ohio State’s outlook for the 2024-25 season
Right here’s Ohio State’s Massive Ten schedule for subsequent season:
House: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Rutgers, WashingtonAway: Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC, WisconsinHome/Away: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska
Bart Torvik’s present projections for subsequent season have Ohio State at No. 34 nationally and Lunardi’s bracketology has the Buckeyes as a No. 6 seed, which appears excessive.
Diebler earned the chance to guide this system after final season’s end, however that was a a lot lower-pressure state of affairs than he’ll face as the top coach. Ohio State ought to be a event crew with its expertise stage however the frontcourt has to carry out and the combo of Thornton and Johnson wants to suit collectively seamlessly.
(Photograph credit score: Ohio State Athletics)
Filed to: 2024-25 Massive Ten preview, Ohio State Buckeyes
