Buckeyes at a Crossroads: Jake Diebler, Michigan’s Rise, and the Questions Facing Ohio State Basketball
COLUMBUS, Ohio - If Sunday’s loss to Michigan was rock bottom for Ohio State basketball, then maybe it’s also the start of something bigger - a turning point for a program trying to find its way back to relevance under a young, ambitious head coach.
The Schottenstein Center was loud on Sunday - but not in the way Buckeye fans hoped. The chants of “Let’s go blue” echoed through the arena as No.
2 Michigan pulled away late, silencing the home crowd and putting an exclamation point on a rivalry that’s felt one-sided of late. Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg didn’t hold back after the game, saying Ohio State is “a good team” but one that doesn’t “belong in the same conversation as us.”
And Michigan head coach Dusty May? He was just as confident, calling his team a bad matchup for the Buckeyes - and the scoreboard backed him up.
For Jake Diebler, now in his second full season as Ohio State’s head coach, the loss was a frustrating reminder of how far the program still has to go.
“I know they’re good, but I think we are too,” Diebler said postgame. “Disappointed we didn’t beat them.”
That disappointment is understandable. This wasn’t just another game - it was a measuring stick.
And right now, Michigan looks like a team built for March. Ohio State looks like a team still trying to figure out who it is.
But here’s the thing about Diebler: he’s not running from the challenge. He’s leaning into it.
“We’re not trying to just be good,” he said. “We’re trying to win championships here.”
That’s the standard, and Diebler knows it. He’s coaching at a program that’s seen success - real success - in the not-so-distant past. And he’s trying to bring it back with a roster that’s still developing, a fanbase that’s getting anxious, and a rival that’s already sprinting ahead.
Michigan and Ohio State both made coaching changes two years ago. The Wolverines went bold, hiring Dusty May - a rising star who had just taken Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023. Ohio State promoted from within, giving Diebler the reins after a stint as an assistant.
Since then, the paths have diverged. May has Michigan playing like a powerhouse, already with a conference tournament title under his belt.
Diebler, meanwhile, is still building. Last season, he went 17-15.
This year, the Buckeyes sit at 15-8 - a team hovering on the NCAA Tournament bubble, with resume-defining matchups still ahead against the likes of Virginia, Michigan State, Iowa, and Purdue.
There’s opportunity on the schedule. But there’s also risk.
Ohio State doesn’t have a Quadrant 1 win yet, and the margin for error is thin. Slip-ups against teams like Penn State, Southern Cal, Wisconsin, or Indiana could be costly. Every game from here on out feels like a referendum - not just on the team’s tournament hopes, but on Diebler’s trajectory.
Guard Bruce Thornton, one of the team’s leaders, tried to keep things in perspective after the Michigan loss.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” he said. “The sun is going to rise. We’ve just got to move on.”
That’s the mindset. But the reality is more complicated.
Diebler has shown promise. He’s connected to the program in a meaningful way - his brother Jon was a fan favorite in Columbus, and there’s a sense that Jake understands what Buckeye basketball is supposed to look like. He’s already landed a five-star recruit in Anthony Thompson, a player who could help change the narrative next season.
But in today’s college basketball landscape, time is a luxury few programs can afford. Michigan has shown how quickly things can turn around - from eight wins to a Sweet 16 in just one season. That kind of leap puts pressure on everyone, especially in a rivalry as emotionally charged as this one.
Athletic director Ross Bjork will have to weigh the long-term vision against the short-term results. Is Diebler the guy to bring Ohio State back to championship contention? Can he grow into the role and lead this program through the peaks and valleys that come with rebuilding?
There’s no clear answer - not yet. But one thing is certain: the clock is ticking.
The fans showed up on Sunday. They filled the Schott, hoping to see a statement win over their biggest rival.
They didn’t get it. And with USC coming to town midweek, it’s fair to wonder how many of those same fans will be back.
For now, Diebler is still fighting. Still building. Still believing.
Whether that belief turns into banners - that’s the question Ohio State has to answer. And soon.