BASKETBALL
Ohio State University Buckeyes Men’s Basketball
A season that started under the brightest lights has ended not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Ohio State began by taking down No. 19 Texas in Las Vegas on the first day of the 2024-25 season and will close the year after a 77-70 first-round upset loss to the first No. 15 seed in Big Ten Tournament history. At 17-15, the Buckeyes missed out on an at-large selection to the 2025 NCAA Tournament when the field was announced Sunday.
One day later, they have chosen not to participate in the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament, making Wednesday’s loss to Iowa the final game for the season.
By finishing as one of the Big Ten’s top two teams in the NCAA’s NET rankings not to be picked for the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes were contractually obligated to participate in the new event if they chose to take part in any postseason event. The Buckeyes were prohibited from playing in the NIT, even if they had desired to do so, and no Big Ten teams are participating in the 32-team event.
Monday, the 16-team field for the College Basketball Crown was announced, and it did not include Ohio State, indicating that the Buckeyes chose not to participate. Butler, coached by former Ohio State coach Thad Matta, will participate and play Utah on March 31.
IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge contest for a chance at $1 million prize.
DePaul, coached by former Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann, will also participate and play Cincinnati on April 1.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy
Ohio State now enters what will be an important offseason. After first-year coach Jake Diebler wasn’t able to snap Ohio State’s two-year streak of missing out on the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes now have to try and retain the players they want to keep while also addressing positions of need via the transfer portal.
That officially opens March 24 and closes April 22, but players can and already are announcing their intentions to enter the portal. The Crown is scheduled to take place in the middle of the portal window, with games being played from March 31-April 6.
It’s not clear yet how many Buckeyes will stay, how many will enter the portal and how many available roster spots they will have for 2025-26. Headlined by second-team all-Big Ten pick and three-time captain Bruce Thornton, Ohio State could return its top two scorers and five of its six top from the roster it finished the season with.
The offseason has officially arrived for Ohio State.
Get more Ohio State basketball news by listening to our podcasts
