Basketball in Columbus has been a weird ride lately. Honestly, if you just look at the 11-5 record, you’re missing the actual story of what’s happening inside the Schottenstein Center. Jake Diebler is currently navigating a minefield of injuries and "almost" wins that could either define his second full year as head coach or haunt it. It’s early 2026, and the Buckeyes are sitting at 3-3 in the Big Ten, but that number is incredibly deceptive.
The Injury Bug is Getting Aggressive
The most pressing piece of ohio state basketball news involves the training room, which is unfortunately getting crowded. We already knew about Brandon Noel. Losing the Wright State transfer to a foot injury after the Nebraska game was a massive blow to the bench depth. Noel was that "spark plug" guy—the one who could come in and drop 29 points like he did against Northwestern. Now, he’s out for what Diebler calls an "extended period."
Then came the Washington trip.
Losing 81-74 in Seattle was bad enough, but seeing Christoph Tilly leave the floor with a head injury made it worse. Tilly has been the defensive anchor and a surprisingly efficient scorer, averaging 12.4 points. Diebler confirmed on his recent radio show that Tilly is in "protocol." If he’s not cleared soon, the frontcourt becomes dangerously thin.
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Who is Stepping Up?
When the stars go down, the "next man up" cliché usually kicks in. For Ohio State, that’s looked like a mixed bag of veteran grit and freshman flashes.
- Bruce Thornton is a machine: The senior guard just passed 1,800 career points. He dropped 28 against Washington and has been the one constant in an ever-shifting lineup.
- The Amare Bynum Era: The freshman forward is being forced to grow up fast. He put up a season-high 20 points against the Huskies and has been asked to play out of position at center when Tilly went down.
- Ivan Njegovan’s Opportunity: At 7-foot-1, the sophomore center has mostly been a "break glass in case of emergency" player. The emergency is here. He played 24 minutes against Washington, and while he’s not a polished scorer yet, his six rebounds were vital.
The "One Possession" Problem
If you want to get a Buckeye fan frustrated, talk about the margin of defeat. Ohio State’s losses this year are almost comical in how close they’ve been. A one-point loss to North Carolina. A three-point heartbreaker against Nebraska. A one-point slip-up against Pitt.
Basically, this team is four or five plays away from being 15-1 and a top-five team in the country. Instead, they are fighting to stay in the middle of the Big Ten pack. That kind of narrow margin for error is exhausting for a coaching staff, especially one as young as Diebler’s. They are proving they can play with anyone, but they haven't quite figured out how to "slam the door" against elite competition like Nebraska (who, let's be real, looks like a juggernaut this year).
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What’s Next on the Calendar?
The schedule doesn't offer much of a breather. The Buckeyes are back home in Columbus for a massive Saturday showdown against UCLA on January 17th. That game is on CBS, and it’s a huge "prove it" moment. After that, it’s Minnesota at home before a trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on January 23rd.
If Tilly can't go against UCLA’s frontcourt, Diebler is going to have to get creative with small-ball lineups. You might see more of Gabe Cupps in a three-guard look, trying to outrun teams rather than out-muscle them. Cupps had a season-high nine points against Oregon recently, showing he can contribute more than just ball-handling.
Tactical Reality
The reality of ohio state basketball news right now is that the team is essentially reinventing itself on the fly. You’ve got Devin Royal playing heavy minutes—he’s scored double digits in 11 straight games—and he’s becoming the secondary scoring threat they desperately needed. But the defensive rotations are still leaky, especially when they lose their primary rim protectors.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re following the Buckeyes through the rest of January, watch these specific factors to see if the season stays on track:
- Monitor the Free Throw Rate: When Tilly is on the floor, he draws fouls at an elite rate (6.6 per 40 minutes). Without him, Ohio State needs Thornton to be more aggressive in attacking the rim to get to the line.
- Bynum’s Defensive Learning Curve: Watch how freshman Amare Bynum handles post defense. He’s naturally a power forward, but he’s being thrust into a center role. His ability to stay out of foul trouble will decide games.
- The "Schott" Advantage: With UCLA and Minnesota coming to town, the Buckeyes need to protect their home court. They’ve already dropped a home game to Nebraska; they can’t afford to lose many more at the Schottenstein Center if they want a decent seed in March.
- Rotation Health: Keep an eye on the official injury reports 24 hours before the UCLA tip-off. If Tilly remains in protocol, expect a heavy dose of Ivan Njegovan and potentially some "stretch four" minutes from Colin White.
The talent is there. The coaching is energized. But right now, Ohio State is a team holding its breath, waiting for its health to catch up with its potential.