COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The first full season for coach Jake Diebler gets underway Monday night when Ohio State plays its men’s basketball opener against No. 19 Texas in Las Vegas. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m.
“On a big stage against a really good opponent,” Diebler said. “This will be a great indication of where we’re at with the start of the season, knowing that we have a really tough nonconference schedule.”
The game will mark the second meeting between the schools and the first since March 17, 1986, when the Buckeyes won 71-65 in the second round of the NIT in a home game.
Here are things to know ahead of tipoff.
Familiar name among transfers
Although Ohio State returns seven players, including two starters, from last season’s team, many are new to the program. Five are transfers, including Kentucky’s Aaron Bradshaw and Duke’s Sean Stewart. Both are sophomores seeking fresh starts.
Micah Parrish comes from San Diego State, and Ques Glover from Kansas State. Both are fifth-year players, with Parrish on the Aztecs team that made a run to the national championship game in 2023.
Meechie Johnson Jr. returns to Ohio State after spending the last two seasons at South Carolina, where he averaged 13.4 points and 3.3 rebounds. The Cleveland native spent his first two seasons as a Buckeye under Chris Holtmann and comes back to boost Diebler’s first roster.
“He’s grown up. He’d grown up from the first workout we had back to the day where he lasted about 10-15 minutes,” Diebler said in the offseason. “Now, he can he can go a little longer than that and do it at a at a high level. So it’s been fun to see.”
The freshman class includes reigning Mr. Basketball of Ohio, Colin White, and Reynoldsburg’s John Mobley Jr., who will be making a homecoming of sorts on Monday night. He played at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas for his sophomore and junior seasons.
Thornton, Mahaffey look to lead
Bruce Thornton and Evan Mahaffey are the two Ohio State veterans and returning starters that look to take charge of Team 126. Thornton enters his junior season after leading the team in scoring (15.7), assists (4.8), steals (1.2) and minutes played (33.6).
“I don’t take him for granted. Not even for a day. It’s very comforting as a head coach to have a player like that. That you can lean on and speak to him to get to the team at times,” Diebler said. “Bruce has grown his game and raised his level this offseason.”
Mahaffey also enters his junior season after making significant contributions as a sophomore, mainly on defense. He averaged a steal a game and recorded 25 blocks.
“He’s starting to feel more comfortable and confident offensively, which is important,” Diebler said. “He’s got good basketball instincts.”
Tough test to start the season
For only the third time, Ohio State opens against a ranked opponent. The Buckeyes lost their previous two tries: a loss to No. 12 Utah State on Dec. 1, 1970, and to No. 15 Oklahoma on Nov. 25, 1988, in the first round of the Maui Invitational.
The Longhorns are coming off a 21-13 season and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Diebler knows that Monday presents an opportunity to make some noise on a big stage on the first day of the season.
“That is an awesome aspect of this game. Certainly the quality of opponent is big,” Diebler said. “Being on this stage, Day 1 of college basketball season, is something our guys are excited about.”
And Texas won’t be the last big name opponent that the Buckeyes will face in the nonconference portion of the schedule. Texas A&M, Pitt, Auburn and Kentucky are also ahead.
