The Ohio State Buckeyes are heading into a Friday night showdown with a mountain to climb - and that mountain is wearing maize and blue.
Michigan, sitting at 17-1 overall and 7-1 in Big Ten play, is a juggernaut right now. Ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll and No. 1 in the NET rankings, the Wolverines have been steamrolling their competition all season long.
Their résumé is loaded - a 12-1 mark in Quad-1 and Quad-2 games, and they’re currently boasting the highest adjusted efficiency rating in Big Ten history, per KenPom, at 36.04. That’s not just elite - that’s historic.
Led by head coach Dusty May, Michigan has looked every bit the part of a national title contender. Early in the season, they weren’t just winning - they were dismantling teams.
They racked up three 30-point blowouts at the Players’ Era Festival, crushed USC by 30, and absolutely obliterated Rutgers by 41. For a stretch, it looked like they were playing a different sport.
Things have cooled slightly - emphasis on slightly. Over the past five games, Michigan is 4-1, with their lone loss coming at home to Wisconsin.
But even in that stretch, they’ve beaten Penn State, Washington, Oregon, and Indiana by an average of nine points. The margin of victory may have shrunk, but the threat hasn’t.
Now, enter Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten, and they’ve quietly found some rhythm.
Winners of three of their last four, they’re playing their best basketball of the season. But they’re walking into a hornet’s nest in Ann Arbor - and they’ve brought some bulletin board material with them.
It started back in October at Big Ten media days. Senior guard Bruce Thornton - Ohio State’s first-ever four-time captain - didn’t just say he was excited to face Michigan. He guaranteed two wins over the Wolverines this season.
“Of course, especially because we’re going to beat them twice before I leave out,” Thornton told the Columbus Dispatch. “I feel like there ain’t no better feeling than that.
I feel like we’re very capable this year of making that happen. Why not us?”
That’s confidence. But now, with Michigan looking like a steamroller and Ohio State heading into a tough road environment, those words loom large.
To be fair, Thornton’s fire isn’t misplaced. He’s 1-3 against Michigan in his career, and last season, he had to watch his former teammate - and close friend - Roddy Gayle Jr. transfer to Michigan and thrive.
Gayle hit the go-ahead layup in last season’s 86-83 win in Columbus, then led the Wolverines in a celebratory rendition of “Hail to the Victors” in the visiting locker room. He went on to win the Big Ten Tournament and made his first NCAA Tournament appearance - something Thornton is still chasing.
Thornton could’ve left. He could’ve followed the transfer trend, looked for a better opportunity, or joined a team with a clearer path to March Madness.
But he stayed. He’s the last man standing from Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class, and he’s trying to finish what he started.
Beating Michigan - especially this Michigan - would be a major step.
And Thornton isn’t the only Buckeye turning up the heat. After Tuesday night’s 82-74 overtime win over Minnesota, sophomore forward Colin White made sure to stoke the rivalry flames. Speaking during a postgame interview, White didn’t hold back.
“We hate Michigan, so we’re coming out for blood,” White said. “We’re going up there to win, and we’re going to have fun doing it.”
White’s not a headliner in the box score - he’s averaging just under a point and a rebound per game - but his energy and attitude reflect the mindset this Buckeyes team is bringing into Friday night. That kind of fire isn’t just for show. It’s part of the DNA of this rivalry.
Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler addressed White’s comments after the game, acknowledging the emotion behind them while keeping the focus on preparation.
“I think I understand what he means, figuratively, at least,” Diebler said. “This is a game we’re all really excited for.
This is a game that should be played twice a year, and I’m glad the Big Ten did that. It should be that way always and forever.”
Diebler didn’t downplay the stakes. Yes, it’s one game in the standings. But no, it’s not just another game.
“They’re playing really well, but we’re doing some really good things, too,” he added. “We’re going to go up there and give it our absolute best, and we’re going to prepare our absolute best for this game. This game means more.”
And he’s right - the Buckeyes are trending upward. In their recent wins over UCLA and Minnesota, Thornton averaged 22 points per game, freshman John Mobley Jr. put up 27 per, and Devin Royal added 19 per contest. That trio has been carrying the scoring load, and they’ll need to be at their absolute best to keep pace with Michigan.
Because Michigan isn’t just talented - they’re overwhelming. They’ve got size (three starters at 6-foot-9 or taller), speed (fastest tempo in the Big Ten per KenPom), and a 7-foot-3 rim protector in Aday Mara who can change the game on both ends. They’re deep, they’re experienced, and they’re motivated.
KenPom projects an 89-73 win for the Wolverines. ESPN’s BPI gives Ohio State just an 11% chance to pull off the upset.
The betting line is expected to favor Michigan by more than 16 points. And just to add a little more juice to the night, Michigan will be retiring the jersey of Columbus native and former National Player of the Year Trey Burke at halftime.
So yeah - the odds are stacked against Ohio State. But that’s what rivalry games are for.
Records, rankings, and projections don’t always tell the story. Sometimes, it comes down to pride, passion, and who wants it more.
Thornton wants it. White wants it. The Buckeyes want it.
Now they’ve got to go into Ann Arbor and prove it.