Ohio State basketball team adds final game against Auburn

The Ohio State basketball program had set most of its non-conference schedule last month. When they released it, they left room open to add a final game. There was a rumor that the Buckeyes could add another game against an SEC foe. That game would add some strength to their schedule.

Nothing had been official about that additional game until today. The Buckeyes have announced a neutral-site game against Auburn in Atlanta. The game will take place on December 14th. As we talked about before, this isn't much of a neutral-site game with it taking place in Georgia.

Adding a program like Auburn will help add to the Buckeyes' resume if they can win a game like that. Auburn has been one of the top programs in the SEC in recent years ever since Bruce Pearl took over that program. Ohio State is going to get tested in that game.

Looking at their entire non-conference schedule, there are only two games that are against marquee opponents. Both are neutral-site games against SEC foes. They have this game against Auburn and they will also take on Kentucky in Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.

Ohio State should be a lot better this year as a whole. The non-conference schedule isn't super-tough, but that's because the conference schedule will be even more grueling than usual. Adding four new programs into the Big Ten makes things harder for everyone else.

Oregon and UCLA are really good at basketball and the addition of both programs will make things a lot harder for Ohio State in the coming years. Jake Diebler is just in the infancy of rebuilding the Ohio State basketball program. A strong first year would make a great impression on future recruits.

The Buckeyes will start their season in just a few months.