Eric Boggs
Ohio State men’s basketball head coach Jake Diebler met with reporters at Big Ten Media Days and offered an in-depth look at his team’s offseason progress, chemistry, and expectations for the upcoming season. Entering his second year at the helm, Diebler spoke with energy and conviction, making it clear that the Buckeyes’ standard hasn’t changed — and won’t. “Thank you all very much for being here in what has been a great offseason heading into practice and excited to talk about this year’s team with you,” Diebler opened. “Dating back to last spring and from then until now, I could not be more excited about the progress our program has made.”
That progress, he said, has come through smart roster management and building team chemistry. “It certainly started with roster management built upon retention, and I think retention gets used a lot but the right retention and then complemented in the transfer portal which has brought together what I just have been amazed at how close and connected a group can be in a short amount of time and we certainly have that here,” Diebler explained. The team’s unity, he emphasized, has carried from off-court relationships into their on-court performance.
A major offseason focus for Diebler’s group has been physical development and conditioning. “We wanted to get stronger so a lot of what we did outside of the court was to build strength and lay a really firm foundation,” he said. “So I anticipated our conditioning maybe not being great with the start of practice but our guys have been better than I thought they would be. So I’ve loved the pace that we’ve been able to play at so far.”
Diebler also discussed some of his standout players, including freshman Mathieu Grujicic. “I think the game is slowly starting to slow down for him,” Diebler said. “You know the pace that we’re playing at is different, it’s not what he’s used to… but I’ve been really impressed since Monday to now yesterday just how much he’s improved in understanding what we’re doing.” He credited Grujicic’s adjustment to the college game and praised his development despite a late start due to national team duties.
Transfer forward Christoph Tilly has also caught Diebler’s attention as both a key contributor and emerging leader. “I think he’s learning, you know, figuring out where he’s comfortable and the beautiful thing about this team is he can be the best version of himself,” Diebler said. “His production is going to be important, his minutes are going to be there, and I think his leadership and how he leads is equally important because it’s different than some of the other guys so he seems really comfortable with that.”
Diebler highlighted the growth of senior guard Bruce Thornton, who looks poised for a big year after leading the Buckeyes last season. “He does seem different,” Diebler said. “I wish you guys could watch this first week of practices—he’s been unbelievable. He just seems laser focused on this team getting better each and every day, him taking ownership as a leader… he seems lighter, he’s playing with joy, and he’s been competing at such a high level.”
When asked about the team’s depth and versatility, Diebler didn’t hesitate. “Without question this team is significantly deeper than last year,” he said. “The experience of this team compared to last year has been impactful already. It was important for us to play with more pace and more versatility, and to raise our collective basketball IQ. Experience helps with that, and we targeted specific basketball characteristics in the portal to complement the guys that we had.”
Still, Diebler acknowledged the areas the Buckeyes must improve to take the next step. “There were some clear deficiencies that we had,” he admitted. “First and foremost it started with rebounding… we were one of the worst teams in the Big Ten at second-chance points per game and defensive rebound percentage. So we wanted to be able to play bigger.” He noted that moving Devin Royal to the perimeter and adding frontcourt size with players like Brandon Noel and Tilly should address that issue.
For Diebler, the expectation for Ohio State basketball is non-negotiable. “I think you can look on the back wall and see what the standard is,” he said. “I don’t apologize for having big expectations. I believe Ohio State basketball belongs as one of the best programs in the country. However, talking about it isn’t enough—we’ve got a lot of work to do to get there. But we’re shooting for the moon, and that’s how we operate every single day.”
Even with the sting of last year’s near-miss at an NCAA Tournament bid, Diebler remains optimistic. “It made me sick,” he said bluntly about watching the tournament. “I think disappointed certainly, and the wound was fresh. But it’s instantly a reminder (that) we got to get this thing back to where it belongs—and that’s what we’re working towards every day.”
As he enters his first full season as head coach, Diebler reflected on his personal growth as well. “When you consider the whole picture of last year, it was like getting a doctorate in coaching,” he said. “I’m not afraid to stand up here and say I’m a better coach now than I was this time last year. I think that’s part of it. I feel like we’re clicking on all cylinders right now and we’re prepared for when that adversity comes, because it’s big-time basketball and you know you’re going to see it.”
The Buckeyes will face a challenging schedule this year, but Diebler welcomes it. “Scheduling is nowhere near as easy as anybody thinks it is,” he said. “We’ve tried to schedule aggressively… getting a home and home with a team like Notre Dame is a big-time home game. That weekend, with Jerry Lucas’ statue, Ohio State versus UCLA, us versus Notre Dame—that’s a big-time weekend for Buckeye fans.”
For Diebler, this season is about more than wins and losses—it’s about restoring Ohio State basketball to its rightful place among the nation’s elite. “It’s been over a decade since the program’s been at that level,” he said. “We set the bar at the highest level here—that’s just how I’m wired. We’re going to fight, scratch, and claw every single day to get this program back to that level, however long it takes. That’s what we’re doing.”
