Ohio State Pushes No. 3 Michigan to the Brink, But Falls Short in Ann Arbor
For most of Friday night in Ann Arbor, Ohio State looked like a team ready to punch above its weight. Facing the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines on their home floor at Crisler Arena, the Buckeyes didn’t back down. They played with grit, energy, and-for long stretches-looked like a group starting to figure things out.
The final score, 74-62 in favor of Michigan, doesn’t quite tell the full story. This wasn’t a blowout.
It was a battle. And while there are no moral victories in a conference as unforgiving as the Big Ten, there were flashes that suggest Ohio State might be turning a corner under head coach Jake Diebler.
After the game, Diebler met with a small group of reporters outside the locker room. No podium, no packed press conference-just a coach speaking candidly about what he saw from his team and what still needs to improve. And while the scoreboard didn’t tilt in Ohio State’s favor, Diebler made it clear: this group isn’t far off.
He praised Michigan’s execution and toughness-after all, there's a reason the Wolverines are sitting near the top of the national rankings-but also pointed to the way his Buckeyes competed. They were in it until the end, and though a few breakdowns proved costly, the fight was there. That matters.
Diebler also acknowledged the reality of the situation. If Ohio State wants to be in the NCAA Tournament conversation come March-for the first time in three years-they can’t just play close games against elite teams.
They need to start stacking wins. That means consistency, execution, and finding ways to close out games like this one.
The next opportunity comes quickly. Ohio State returns home Monday to face Penn State, a game that looks winnable on paper.
But nothing comes easy in the Big Ten, where even the so-called “easier” matchups can become dogfights. The Buckeyes will need to bring the same intensity-and clean up the late-game mistakes-if they want to turn competitive performances into actual results.
There’s still time for this team to make a run. But that window won’t stay open forever.