Latest news with #JakeDiebler


USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball head coach Jake Diebler provides summer program update
Ohio State basketball head coach Jake Diebler provides summer program update The Ohio State basketball team has started its offseason workouts as it prepares to put the pieces in place for the 2025-2026 season. It welcomed in some former players the last few days for "Vet Week," has done a lot of five-on-five scrimmaging, gone through conditioning, and worked through many drills and skill development already. The hope is that this year is going to be much, much better than what we've seen over the last three years when the Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament. It'll be head coach Jake Diebler's second year, and he sorely needs to build some momentum to turn this program around and get it where everyone believes it should be. Diebler met with the media this week to provide an update on summer workouts, where the team stands, how the House Settlement impacts the program, and much more. We are sharing the entire video of the press conference thanks to the Columbus Dispatch, so you can get Diebler's full comments. Dielber and his staff have a good mix of returning scorers and new blood that will need to mix together and find the chemistry and identity to make a big leap forward. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but we're all here putting the optimism out in the universe hoping it all comes to fruition this season. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.


USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler, former players, praise family culture, expectations at OSU
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler, former players, praise family culture, expectations at OSU The Ohio State basketball program welcomed in some former players for "Vet Week" over the last few days. It's been a great opportunity for the current players on the roster to connect with some of the legends and players that have donned the Scarlet and Gray in the past for some teaching, competition, and camaraderie. One of the things those close to and inside the program always appreciate is the expectations and the family culture through the years. It's clear that the expectations haven't been met over the last decade or so, but head coach Jake Diebler is trying to change that. One thing that has not waned is the family atmosphere, hence all of the former guys coming back to the banks of the Olentangy to be a part of this week. On Thursday, Diebler and the former players spoke to the current roster to let them know about being a part of an extended family and where the program should be going forward. It was a tough love type of moment, especially when the players talked. "The family part of this program is one of my favorite things. It's real," Diebler said. "When we're playing in -- I don't care where -- there's going to be former players in the building and always watching. Their care level is elite. Care just as much as these guys care, because if you do, we'll do something special ..."Many of the guys right here are the ones that put those numbers (accolades) on the wall. You getting to wear Ohio State is the privilege of a lifetime. And our job is just to hold you to that standard." You can watch the rest of the messaging, including guys like Scoonie Penn, D'Angelo Russel, and JJ Sullinger looking to hold the team accountable. Here's to hoping all of this messaging, optimism, and hard work translates to more wins this season, one that results in some of those special things Diebler and the former players were talking about. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.


USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball welcomes in former players to work out with current roster
Ohio State basketball welcomes in former players to work out with current roster One of the great things about being at Ohio State is all of the former athletes who have made it to the pros coming back to mingle and be around the program. And we're not just talking about football, though that's been where most of the traffic has come from through the most recent of years. Don't forget, despite this downturn in the OSU basketball program, the Buckeye hoopsters have a very good tradition themselves as well. You know a head coach really gets it when he invites those who used to don the Scarlet and Gray back to town to interact and work out with the current roster, and Jake Diebler fits that bill. In fact, Monday just so happened to be one of those days when Ohio State welcomed in some of those OSU legends to be a part of Vet camp. The current players got to play with, and be coached by the likes of Greg Oden, D'Angelo Russell, and E.J. Liddell. It was also a chance to see some of the newcomers interact with the current team and former players. Transfers Gabe Cupps, Christoph Tilly, and Brandon Noel were sweating it out alongside freshmen A'mare Bynum and Myles Herro. Germany product Mathieu Grujicic was also there, but things are still being worked out with his eligibility and visa, according to Eleven Warriors, so he was an innocent bystander. Ohio State is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out three straight years. There is a good mix of veteran scorers and incoming talent, so the hope is that all of it comes together to make a run and get back to where the program belongs. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.


USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler breaks down the game of transfer Christoph Tilly
Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler breaks down the game of transfer Christoph Tilly The Ohio State basketball team you see next season will be significantly different than the one you watched this past year. Several players have left the program through the transfer portal, and that has led to some significant additions coming to the banks of the Olentangy as well. One of those incoming newcomers is center Christoph Tilly. He came to the Buckeyes after playing for the Santa Clara Broncos the last three years. He's a big man, but one that can step outside and use his athleticism to stretch the defense. When the Buckeyes signed him out of the portal, it didn't make a big splash in college basketball, but don't tell that to OSU head coach Jake Diebler. He is excited about what the seven-footer can bring to the team next season as the Buckeyes look to rebound from a very disappointing season. Diebler took to social media to discuss what Tilly can do for Ohio State on the court, and after you watch the short video, you too might be feeling rather optimistic about his chances to enhance the team's chance of making some noise this winter. Let's hope Diebler is right and that Tilly brings a different dimension to Ohio State this season. The team sorely needs a turnaround and some momentum to get back to where many believe the program should be. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.


USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State lands another big man via the transfer portal from Baylor
Just a day after Jake Diebler shared an update on where the Ohio State basketball team is and is headed, the Buckeyes landed another key addition to the roster. 6-foot-10 center Joshua Ojianwuna has committed to wear the Scarlet and Gray for the upcoming season. Ojianwuna comes to Columbus via the transfer portal after spending three years with the Baylor Bears. While in Waco, the native Nigerian averaged 5.3 points during his time in Green and Gold. His most productive year came this past season, where he averaged 7.4 points per game on 77 percent shooting and added 6.4 rebounds while starting 23 games. He helped lead the Bears to a 20-15 record and a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament. Ojianwuan is a former four-star recruit and top 100 player. Ojianwuna joins 7-footer Christoph Tilly and Brandon Noel as the latest to join the Buckeyes via the portal. Ohio State needed to address its lack of size on the inside, and Diebler has kept his focus on that need to help the Bucks be able to handle the physical play of the Big Ten. Ojianwuna will have one year of eligibility left and should be a nice addition for the Buckeyes. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle