Falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament constitutes an improvement over what the Ohio State basketball program has done in the last few years. This year was the first time in four years the Buckeyes had managed to play meaningful postseason basketball games.
Since the season has ended, the Ohio State Buckeyes have already lost nearly half the roster. Bruce Thornton graduates, so he won't be back next year. Devin Royal entered the Transfer Portal, meaning Ohio State doesn't have an upperclassman to lead the team.
Juni Mobley also might be leaving. Gabe Cupps, Colin White, and Taison Chatman have now all declared for the portal. Chatman is the biggest loss of the group, as he finally gave the team some production late in the season once he was fully healthy. That means Ohio State has a big hole to fill.
The Ohio State basketball team needs to add guards from the Transfer Portal
With so many guards leaving the Buckeyes, they have an essential need at that position to fill in the portal. If Mobley leaves, Ohio State will need to fill both starting guard spots next year. That means the portal is the only way they are going to do that, because they don't have a guard in the upcoming recruiting class.
Five-star recruit Anthony Thompson is going to have a heavy load on his shoulders next season. He is going to be by far the most talented player on the roster. Adding guards to the roster is essential for them to have any shot of making the NCAA Tournament again next year.
Just making the NCAA Tournament shouldn't be the expectation for the program. They should want to be able to advance multiple weekends, not just be happy making the field. Ohio State needs to be consistently making the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16 every few years.