The conversation around Ohio State’s men’s basketball team ahead of the upcoming season is dominated by where the Buckeyes will finish in the Big Ten. Forecasts from analysts place the program between sixth and seventh in the conference, a range that reflects both optimism and caution.
A demanding non‑conference schedule
Ohio State will open its exhibition slate on October 25 with a home matchup against the Butler Bulldogs at the Schottenstein Center, followed by participation in the CareSource Invitational where they will meet the Cincinnati Bearcats on October 7. The regular season debut comes on November 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah, against the BYU Cougars, after a closed‑door scrimmage that will test the team’s chemistry.
Last season the Buckeyes slipped to eighth in the Big Ten, marking their lowest conference finish since the 2021‑22 campaign, a result that has amplified the scrutiny surrounding this year’s projections.
Analyst perspectives
Connor predicts a seventh‑place finish, citing lingering questions about center production, Justin Pippen’s field‑goal percentage and the freshman adjustment of Anthony Thompson. Justin, meanwhile, argues for a sixth‑place finish, positioning the Buckeyes in the conference’s second tier behind Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan. Both analysts agree that scheduling competitive mid‑major programs such as Grand Canyon and Kent State offers valuable “buy” games that could shape early momentum.
Roster dynamics add another layer of intrigue. The departure of key contributors has left a void in the frontcourt, prompting concerns about rebounding and interior defense. At the same time, the emergence of freshman Anthony Thompson is viewed as a potential catalyst, though his transition to college speed remains uncertain.
Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman‑Renn, who anchored Purdue’s recent success, are absent from the conversation, underscoring the broader uncertainty that envelopes the conference. Ohio State’s bench depth, therefore, becomes a critical barometer for whether the Buckeyes can translate preseason optimism into on‑court results.
Beyond the immediate schedule, the team’s placement among peers such as Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, UCLA, USC, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue and Michigan defines a crowded second tier. How the Buckeyes navigate this landscape will likely determine not only their conference standing but also their national perception as the season unfolds.