Eric Boggs
Ohio State basketball is turning the page, and for Buckeye fans, the 2025-26 season brings cautious optimism with it. After three years of underwhelming results, second-year full-time head coach Jake Diebler is orchestrating a rebuild centered on a strong returning core and a transfer class that looks ready to contribute immediately. That incoming group — Brandon Noel from Wright State, Christoph Tilly from Santa Clara, and Gabe Cupps from Indiana — is already embracing the Buckeye culture and eyeing a Big Ten resurgence.
For Cupps, the transition to Ohio State is personal and familiar. The Centerville native returned to his home state looking for a program that reflected his values and offered stability after a tumultuous stretch at Indiana. Cupps said the coaching staff’s commitment to doing things “the right way” reminded him of his father’s approach, which made his choice to join Diebler’s program an easy one. While Cupps missed much of the 2024-25 season due to injury, he brings with him 20 starts of Big Ten experience and the mentality of a leader. He spoke candidly about seeing the game differently after time away and believes this is his opportunity to play freely and fulfill the potential that many saw in him as a high school recruit.
Tilly, meanwhile, brings international flair and stretch-forward versatility to the Buckeye frontcourt. A native of France, Tilly chose Ohio State after three years at Santa Clara, fulfilling a long-time goal to compete at the high-major level. While he admitted that Ohio State wasn’t a program he initially knew much about beyond its football reputation, he was quickly sold by the energy and transparency of Diebler and assistant coach Brandon Justice. Tilly values honesty and challenge, and that’s exactly what he’s getting in Columbus. He’s working to expand his perimeter game and improve his rebounding and physicality while contributing as a multi-dimensional forward who can run the floor, shoot from distance, and create for others. Tilly already sees his game growing and credits the heightened competition and emphasis on daily intensity — something echoed by his new teammates — as a major reason why.
Then there’s Brandon Noel, a sixth-year senior who transferred from Wright State looking for one thing: to win. Noel was immediately drawn to Ohio State’s combination of returning talent and a coaching staff with a clear vision. He’s already noticed the difference in positional size and physicality in practice, but isn’t fazed by the step up in competition. With seven high-major games already under his belt, Noel knows what it takes to perform at this level and trusts both his own preparation and the staff’s belief in him. Versatility is his calling card — whether in the post, beyond the arc, or switching defensively — and he’s committed to doing whatever the team needs. He’s also quick to credit the returning players for establishing the tone and culture that the newcomers have bought into. For Noel, that foundation, combined with his own veteran leadership, has Ohio State feeling like home.
One common thread from all three interviews is the culture Diebler is building — intense, honest, and focused on team success. Each transfer spoke of how competitive the practices and open gyms have been, even in shooting drills or scrimmages without coaches present. That daily edge, that collective hunger, is something that’s been missing in recent years but is now woven into the DNA of this revamped roster. Cupps, Tilly, and Noel all view themselves not as saviors, but as complements to a program determined to get back to winning basketball.
Buckeye fans, who have endured the frustration of three straight seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance, have reason to believe the tide is finally turning. With a mix of veteran leadership, high-ceiling newcomers, and a coaching staff that has connected with players both tactically and personally, the 2025-26 season feels like a fresh start — not just in rhetoric, but in reality. Whether this new-look Ohio State squad can return to national relevance remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place, the work is being done, and the belief is growing inside the program. For fans in scarlet and gray, that’s the foundation they’ve been waiting for.
