Recent seasons haven’t quite led to the results that many were hoping for in Columbus. We’re entering what could certainly be a make or break year for Jake Diebler, now in his third full season at the helm of this team. Ohio State showed great signs when he first took over in February 2024 but have struggled to contend in a very strong Big Ten and that’s just not where the Buckeyes want to be as a program.
Last season was a step in the right direction for Diebler, leading the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Ohio State finished 8th in a strong Big Ten and settled for an 8-seed in the Big Dance before being edged by TCU in their first contest, settling for a 21-13 season that was a step in the right direction.
Great career comes to an end
However, leading scorer Bruce Thornton saw his fantastic Ohio State career come to an end and is now off to the NBA. Christoph Tilly and a few other important pieces from last season are also gone, but it’s far from panic time in Columbus. The Buckeyes not only return a pair of starters, but have a number of intriguing pieces on this roster thanks also to the transfer portal and some nice work in recruiting.
We’ll dive into just what these new players and returning pieces bring to the lineup for an Ohio State team looking to get back into the conversation in the Big Ten. We won’t see this team on the court in a real game for a few more weeks, but this is certainly Diebler’s most talented group of athletes and this just might be the one that drag this program back into relevance in this sport.
Projected Starters
Guard – Justin Pippen (Junior)
After backup minutes as a freshman at Michigan, Pippen really found his footing at California last season, averaging 14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. The former Top 75 prospect and son of an NBA legend put it together with that opportunity in the ACC and now gets a chance to run the show in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes really need him to be a crafty guard and leader in his junior year.
Guard – John Mobley Jr. (Junior)
A former Top 50 recruit, Mobley returns for three years with the Buckeyes and should be even more important in this backcourt. He showed great potential as an underclassman and is coming off a productive sophomore season where he put up 15.7 points and 2.8 assists. Not only is Mobley further developing his game, he also made 41% of his 3-pointers and is hoping to become one of the Big Ten’s most reliable shooters.
Forward – Anthony Thompson (Freshman)
A consensus 5-star small forward from Hudson, Ohio, Thompson is a major prospect that Ohio State is expecting big things from in his freshman campaign. His stint in Columbus could be short, as Thompson has significant pro potential with his size, versatility, and potential to contribute at a high level on both ends. Expect him making shots from all over the court and don’t be surprised if he’s one of the Big Ten’s most notable freshmen.
Forward – Amare Bynum (Sophomore)
One of Ohio State’s standout freshmen last season, Bynum was a Top 60 recruit from Omaha who played at a high level at times for the Buckeyes. He started a majority of the games in a season where he averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. Now he has every opportunity to be a full-time starter and further develop his game, with those in Columbus expecting a big step forward in his second year.
Forward – Josh Ojianwuna (Senior)
A significant knee injury cost Ojianwuna the final stretch of his junior year and caused him to miss all of last season, but the former Baylor big is ready to contribute with Ohio State. When we last saw him on the court, he was putting up 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds as the starting center on a talented Baylor squad while making 78% of his 2-point attempts. The Nigerian forward transferred to Ohio State and spent a year rehabbing and learning the Buckeyes system.
Key Reserves
Guard – Curtis Givens III (Junior)
Another example of a previously touted player heading to Columbus, Givens was a Top 60 recruit in the class of 2024 before spending a season apiece at LSU and Memphis. His game developed last year with the Tigers with 9.4 points and 2.3 assists per game and some better shooting figures. The Memphis native provides new depth in the backcourt at both positions and can hopefully really contribute down the stretch.
Guard – Jimmie Williams (Senior)
What might be the final stop of Williams’ college career takes him to Ohio State after previously work at the JUCO level, at South Florida, and with Duquesne. He became a full-time starter and Third Team All-A10 with the Dukes, putting up 15.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season as a junior. Don’t be surprised if the 6-5 guard secures a significant role off the bench.
Forward – Andrija Jelavic (Junior)
Year one in college ball was an up and down adventure for Jelavic, who spent most of that season as a starting forward for Kentucky in the SEC. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game but did have some bright moments for the Wildcats. Now the 6-11 big will hope to carve out an important role in the Buckeyes’ frontcourt.
Center – Ivan Njegovan (Junior)
We’re not quite sure what kind of role Njegovan will play in year three with the Buckeyes, but the 7-1 center from Croatia is certainly worth mentioning. He earned a couple of starts last season and contributed 2.6 points and 3.0 rebounds a game in limited opportunities. He’s clearly got the size to impact the game around the rim and we’ll see just how much that game has improved as an upperclassman.
Guard – LJ Smith (Freshman)
The latest Top 60 guard entering the fold for the Buckeyes, Smith is from Lincolnton, North Carolina and his reclassification brought him to Columbus a year earlier than some expected. He’s a very solid prospect who chose Ohio State over a number of schools and can score buckets in a hurry, though we’ll see what kind of impact he can have right off the bat.
Schedule Outlook
Ohio State jumps right into the action, starting the regular season in Salt Lake City against BYU on November 2nd. After a few home games, an even tougher test looms with a road game at UConn on November 13th. There’s no big tournament on the Buckeyes’ schedule, but November 24 brings a tough Vanderbilt team to Columbus for a must-see game right before Thanksgiving.
The early Big Ten action includes a tough test at Nebraska before a few more nonconference tests. The Buckeyes head to South Bend on December 12th for a weekend trip at Notre Dame. Exactly one week later they’ll be in New York to play Kansas as part of the CBS Sports Classic. There’s just one more game after that before conference play begins in earnest on December 30th against Oregon.
The Buckeyes unsurprisingly see rival and defending champion Michigan twice, with the first matchup on the road on January 30th. Their lone contests with Illinois and Purdue are also on the road while also having a late February trip to Los Angeles to play those two teams. Four of Ohio State’s last six games are on the road, though the Buckeyes do get Senior Night against Michigan to finish things up.
Season Outlook
If everything goes according to plan, Ohio State could take that next step forward and be a team that can be in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. If things don’t go according to plan, this program could be hunting for Diebler’s replacement, especially with these underwhelming results in recent years.
The transfer haul was fantastic, with Ohio State getting four players who can all contribute in different ways this season. Replacing Thornton with Pippen isn’t a direct solution, but the 1-2 punch of Mobley and Pippen in that backcourt can still be fantastic. The Buckeyes have every opportunity to have one of the more solid backcourts in the Big Ten.
There are certainly a few more questions in the frontcourt, but the potential for greatness is there. Bynum showed what he can do as a freshman and can be even better this year while Johnson has looked like the real deal even if still a raw prospect. We can’t forget about Ojianwuna and how we’ll look finally back on the court nearly two years after that injury.
We have a unique blend on this Ohio State roster of homegrown talent, international flair, and some notable transfer additions. This might not be the most experienced roster in the league, but the talent and potential is there to build something special this season. The expectations will certainly be higher for this crew and it all depends on if Diebler and company live up to the hype or fold under the pressure.
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