The Ohio State basketball program fell short of its goals this past season. While they finally made the NCAA Tournament, they were eliminated in the first round by TCU. It was a step forward, but it wasn't a big enough step for what the Buckeyes want to accomplish in the future.
Making the NCAA Tournament was step one for Jake Diebler, but he needs to take a bigger leap next season to get fans off his back. He has added several players from the Transfer Portal in order to help him succeed more next season. The schedule is going to be tough.
Ohio State announced that it added a premier non-conference matchup against the UConn Huskies. The Ohio State Buckeyes have also learned who their Big Ten opponents are going to be for next season, and it doesn't look any easier for the Buckeyes on that front.
Ohio State basketball reveals tough conference slate for 2026-27
On social media, the Buckeyes announced their opponents in the Big Ten for next season. Some of the highlights include that Ohio State gets to play Michigan twice, who are the defending national champion. They will play them on the road and at home.
Their road games are brutal. They only take on Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, and Indiana once next season. All of those matchups are on the road. Nebraska, Illinois, and Purdue were all top-four seeds in the NCAA Tournament last year. Ohio State also has to take on Iowa twice, and they made the Elite 8.
Of the single Big Ten matchups the Buckeyes have, they pretty much have all of the stinky teams. They take on Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern, Washington, and Rutgers. None of those teams made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. They do take on Michigan State and Wisconsin at home, which is nice.
The Ohio State basketball team gets brutally tough draw in the Big Ten
This schedule looks like a murder's row for Ohio State next season. They struggled to get quality wins in the Big Ten this past season with Bruce Thornton on the roster. With their best player gone, it's going to be even harder for them to get the victories necessary to make the NCAA Tournament.
Anthony Thompson is going to have an enormous amount of pressure on him to carry the team as a five-star freshman talent. Justin Pippen has a lot on his plate as a high-priced portal player. Diebler will have a lot of work in front of him to improve on last year's efforts.
Diebler's ability to draw up an offense that will get Thompson in spots to succeed is going to be the key to success this season. That is the best way for this team to get wins against the best teams in the Big Ten. Ohio State needs to finish at least .500 in conference play to make March Madness.
Ohio State could still add another player to the roster before the season begins in a few months.
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