24. Ohio State (1-0)
Last season was unquestionably a disappointment in Columbus, with Ohio State making a head coaching change back in February. Jake Diebler led the Buckeyes on a fantastic run to end the season and earned the full-time gig as a result. After some hard work in the offseason, he’s put the Buckeyes in decent shape, but opening night proved that they may be more ready to compete than some anticipated.
Ohio State had a tough challenge on opening night but met it head on, winning 80-72 against a ranked Texas squad in Las Vegas. The Buckeyes played efficient offense and were led by Bruce Thornton’s 20-point, 5-rebound effort. New addition Micah Parrish also added 17 points and 6 rebounds in the season-opening win as the Buckeyes picked up right where they left off last season.
A strong shooting performance guided the Buckeyes to that victory over Texas, a great first step for a team looking to prove it belongs. This is a whole new season in Columbus and the talent in this starting lineup can certainly win big games in the months ahead. As if that starter wasn’t challenging enough, an even tougher test awaits at Texas A&M next week. Do the Buckeyes have enough in the tank to handle that hostile road environment?