Eric Boggs
There was a time when Ohio State basketball making deep NCAA Tournament runs felt routine, but as originally detailed by Eleven Warriors, an entire generation of young fans has now grown up without seeing it. It has been more than a decade since the Buckeyes reached the Sweet 16, and for many current middle-schoolers and teenagers, sustained March success exists only in highlights and stories. The program has also missed the NCAA Tournament entirely since 2022, a drought that underscores just how far expectations and reality have drifted apart.
Despite those results, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork made it clear in comments that simply reaching the tournament is not the ultimate goal. He emphasized that the standard is not just participation but advancing deep into March, pointing out that such runs are part of the program’s history and should still define its future. His stance reflects an internal belief that the Buckeyes should annually contend, not hover around the bubble.
That confidence comes at a time when the on-court product still looks like a work in progress. A recent 21-point loss to rival Michigan — now thriving in year two under Dusty May — served as another reminder that rebuilding a program is rarely linear. Bjork acknowledged that there is significant work happening behind the scenes with recruiting, roster construction, and financial resources, particularly as college basketball continues to evolve in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. He stressed that Ohio State is increasing its investment and pushing supporters to step up financially so the program can compete at the highest level.
From my perspective covering this team for The OHIO Podcast, I want Jake Diebler to succeed in the worst way possible. Honestly, maybe more than just about anyone. He represents stability, energy, and a vision Buckeye fans can rally behind. But I would be lying if I said my confidence hasn’t started to waver. The flashes are there, yet consistency — the very word Bjork himself used repeatedly when speaking to Eleven Warriors — has been elusive. Until that changes, belief will continue battling doubt within the fanbase.
Bracket projections illustrate how thin the margin is. According to aggregated projections, roughly half of bracketologists currently have Ohio State in the field, with the overall average placing the Buckeyes as the very last team in. Even after the Michigan loss, their standing did not collapse, which speaks to how fluid the bubble picture remains. The locker room may have been frustrated after the Michigan loss but insisted of dwelling on it, the team must turn the page quickly with eight games remaining.
The modern landscape presents challenges that didn’t exist the last time Ohio State made a second-weekend run. The transfer portal, NIL collectives, and revenue sharing have transformed roster building into a financial arms race. Bjork explained that while every sport wants a larger share of resources, the department must balance allocations carefully. Football remains the primary engine driving revenue, yet basketball is receiving what he described as a sizable portion and is expected to get even more once certain accounting constraints disappear next year.
Investment, however, is only part of the equation. Fan engagement has dipped, with several recent conference home games drawing crowds far below capacity. On-court results often dictate off-court enthusiasm, and the Buckeyes need wins — particularly in high-profile matchups and the transfer portal — to reignite energy. Highly touted additions have not consistently met expectations, and lingering issues such as interior defense and rebounding still surface too often.
The final stretch run offers opportunity. There are winnable games left but the team simply has to deliver. That word — deliver — may ultimately define how this season and this era are judged. Ohio State is still in the conversation, still on the bubble, and still capable of changing its narrative. But until results match ambition, the tension between belief and concern will remain a defining storyline surrounding Buckeye basketball.
