Ohio State’s summer work is starting to sketch out a different-looking team for the 2026-27 season, one built with more scoring options, better size and quicker feet on defense than Buckeye fans have seen in recent years.
That picture should get a little sharper when Jake Diebler’s group heads to Puerto Rico for two international exhibition games on Aug. 2 and 3. Diebler said Tuesday’s practice was almost entirely about defense, a session he called a “defensive bootcamp,” and he made it clear he wants those games to show how far the team has come on both sides of the floor.
The opponents for those exhibitions have not been announced yet, but Diebler is already looking for answers. He wants to see how the Buckeyes handle live action and which players step forward as leaders next to veteran guard John Mobley Jr.
The tone in practice matched that mission. Diebler said he wants his players to attack offensively and live with mistakes, but he drew a hard line on defensive breakdowns that come from poor communication or a lack of effort.
At one point, he kept hammering home the need to stay locked in away from the ball.
“Stop relaxing off the ball,” Diebler said. “Have awareness off the ball. Your job is not done till we get a rebound.”
He also spent time correcting his frontcourt players, including 7'2" center Ivan Njegovan, whom he directed to improve his positioning.
Transition defense was another major theme.
“This isn’t junior high basketball,” Diebler said. “Sprint back and help us anchor our defense. You either guard him for 94 feet or you get back.”
Mobley remains the team’s main vocal presence, but some of the newcomers are already sounding ready to take on more. Junior guard Justin Pippen said he is comfortable stepping into a leadership role, and he pointed to Ohio State’s returning core as a big reason he chose the Buckeyes in the transfer portal.
“The process for me was just finding a team where I could go and just grow as a player and get me to achieve my goals of making it to the NBA, as well as just playing with returning players like John and Amare,” Pippen said.
Pippen said his relationship with Diebler is different away from the court than it is during practice.
“He’s been pushing me a lot,” Pippen said. “He’s definitely getting me better, so I look forward to playing for him during the season.”
Asked how Diebler pushes him, Pippen laughed.
“Just yelling at me and making me go harder,” he said.
Another player drawing attention is 6'11" junior Andrija Jelavić, whose size adds a new wrinkle to Ohio State’s front line. Jelavić said his game gives the Buckeyes something distinct.
“I feel I’m a little different from all the other bigs,” Jelavić said.
He described himself as more mobile and versatile than fellow post players Ivan Njegovan and Josh Ojianwuna, saying his speed, passing and perimeter shooting separate him from the more traditional bigs.
Those two games in Puerto Rico will be Diebler’s first real chance to see whether the Buckeyes’ added size, emerging leadership and defensive focus hold up against outside competition.
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