The season wasn’t even 45 minutes done and the focus was already turning to next season.
In this era of college basketball, that’s how season-ending games go, particularly ones for teams like Ohio State. On March 18, one day after the NCAA Tournament field was finalized, the transfer portal officially opened for business. For the Buckeyes, though, there was a first-round NIT game against Cornell scheduled for March 19, giving them an opportunity to chase a trophy in a season unlike any other in recent memory.
Ohio State won that game, as well as Saturday’s second-round date with Virginia Tech, setting up a quarterfinal game against Georgia on March 26. Each step of the way, the Buckeyes kicked the proverbial can down the road, leaving decisions about the future to be dealt with at some undetermined date on the horizon.
More Ohio State sports: As his college career ends, Ohio State’s Jamison Battle grateful for the journey
Now, with a 79-77 loss to the Bulldogs, that time has arrived. Of Ohio State’s 13 scholarship players, 11 have the ability to return next season and join an incoming two-man freshman class. Fifth-year seniors Jamison Battle and Dale Bonner are the only two players listed on Tuesday night’s roster who have exhausted their eligibility. Everyone else, from fourth-year senior Zed Key to a four-man freshman class, could technically suit up for the Buckeyes in 2024-25.
Decision time for Ohio State
Decision time has arrived for Ohio State as it enters its first offseason with Jake Diebler as the full-time coach. As the associate head coach and lead recruiter under coach Chris Holtmann, there’s not a player on this roster who didn’t come to Ohio State in part due to Diebler’s efforts. In his introductory press conference announcing Diebler as the head coach, incoming Ohio State athletic director…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pivotal-offseason-questions-now-await-101223881.html
Author : The Columbus Dispatch
Publish date : 2024-03-27 10:12:23
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