The Schottenstein Center hasn’t always been the loudest building in college basketball - its size can sometimes swallow the energy. But on Saturday, Buckeye fans brought it.
With UCLA in town, the arena had a pulse again, and Ohio State fed off it. The Buckeyes rolled to an 86-74 win over one of the sport’s bluebloods, and it wasn’t just the play on the court that stood out - it was the atmosphere.
Interim head coach Jake Diebler made it clear: that kind of energy matters. And he’s hoping to see it again Tuesday night when Minnesota comes to Columbus.
“I certainly think the energy in the Schott played a factor in being able to stretch some good possessions into another good one or two,” Diebler said Monday. “I think our guys were flying around the court, that was great.
It was great to have the Nuthouse back, that plays a role. But we need the same thing for tomorrow night.”
Diebler isn’t pretending it’s easy to fill a venue the size of the Schottenstein Center - one of the largest in the Big Ten - but when it’s rocking, it can be a real home-court advantage. And with a Minnesota team that’s been quietly dangerous in January coming to town, the Buckeyes could use every bit of that energy.
Don’t let the Gophers’ 10-8 record fool you. They’ve been trending upward.
A road win over then-No. 19 Iowa on Jan. 6 turned heads, and they followed that up with narrow losses to Wisconsin and USC - both by a single possession.
Even in a recent 10-point loss at No. 11 Illinois, Minnesota showed they can hang with top-tier competition.
“You look at their last five, six games, they’re playing really well,” Diebler said. “A couple ranked wins, down to the wire on the road.
So, really good team, a lot of respect for them, certainly. Big opportunity, like I’ve said.
It’s a big opportunity for us tomorrow night.”
The biggest test for Ohio State’s defense? Cade Tyson.
The senior wing is one of the most complete scorers in the conference this season. He’s averaging 20.8 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 40% from deep.
He’s not just a shooter, either - he’s a true three-level threat who can hurt you off the dribble, in the post, or crashing the glass.
“His motor off the ball is really good,” Diebler said. “They run some really good actions, create advantages for him. He’s posting the ball some, going to the offensive glass, he’s playing at a really high level.”
Beyond the matchup with Minnesota, Diebler also touched on the internal growth of his team - particularly the leadership emerging in the locker room and the development of freshman forward Devin Royal, who’s been making strides at the small forward spot. It’s the kind of progress that doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it’s crucial as the Buckeyes look to build consistency in Big Ten play.
A win Tuesday would give Ohio State back-to-back conference victories - something they haven’t managed yet this season. With momentum from the UCLA game, growing confidence within the roster, and a potential home-court boost from the fans, the pieces are there.
Now it’s about putting it all together - again.