Scarlet Sunrise: Bought-in Buckeyes have chance to take NCAA Tournament push to next level against Illinois
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Bought-in Buckeyes have chance to take NCAA Tournament push to next level against Illinois
Winners of six of its last seven games, Ohio State is now at 20 victories on the season and in the NCAA Tournament conversation. The 10-seed Buckeyes can drive that conversation, at least as far as the bubble is concerned, with an upset of 2-seed Illinois Friday in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
“This time of year, every game you want to be playing meaningful games,” said interim head coach Jake Diebler, the spark for this late-season Ohio State resurgence. “Illinois is a great team. They’ve consistently been a great team all season. So we need this opportunity.”
Diebler went on: “I still think we’ve got a great resume ourselves. I’ve admitted I’m not an expert on all of these metrics and analytics and things. But I know there’s not a team more connected and having more momentum right now than what we have. I think our body of work is good. And then we got an opportunity tomorrow to take it up to another level.”
Illinois, currently ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25, was in the driver’s seat throughout its Jan. 30 meeting with the Buckeyes in the Schottenstein Center, leading for close to 30 minutes of action.
Brad Underwood’s team ended up winning, 87-75. Leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. poured in 23 points — including 18 in the second half — and fellow senior Marcus Domask added 23, too.
That defeat occurred during Ohio State’s second Big Ten slide in as many years. The Buckeyes dropped 8-of-9 games before longtime, and outgoing, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith ultimately fired head coach Chris Holtmann a week after that stretch culminated.
Now, the program looks completely different under Diebler’s direction.
“Our leadership has kept us focused,” Diebler said after the Buckeyes beat Iowa, 90-78, in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday. “We’ve talked openly about what’s at stake and how each opportunity can help us. But we’ve also talked about why we’ve created this opportunity.”
Jamison Battle scored all 23 of his points in the second half against Iowa in front of friends and family just a 15-minute drive away from his hometown of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. The fifth-year grad transfer clarified that there’s a sense of urgency among the team, “but it’s not pressure,” he said.
“It’s just going out here and playing our game,” Battle said. “I think the coaches have preached that, and I think they’ve helped to coach that and helped guys understand that. It starts from the top down. If you got some leadership that outwardly shows that, and you got guys who are bought into that, you’re not going to worry too much about outside noise.”
Ohio State senior center Zed Key noted: “It just feels like everyone’s bought in. The will is there. The want is there. Guys want to win. We’re really connected.”
That connectedness showed up in spades versus the Hawkeyes. Nine different Buckeyes recorded a field goal in the first half. Diebler continues to run 10-plus players deep, and it continues to work.
Ohio State’s increased defensive intensity held Iowa — the third-highest scoring offense in the Big Ten — under its season average. The Buckeyes came into the matchup allowing 65.8 points per game since Diebler took over, as opposed to the 74.9 points per game they gave up in Holtmann’s final 12 outings.
Ohio State will need to use every ounce of its newfound aggressiveness Friday against Illinois. The Buckeyes believe they’re capable of tapping into their A-game.
“I feel like everybody’s understanding of what’s at stake for us,” Gayle said. “I feel like if we win tomorrow’s game, we’ll be able to punch something.”
He added: “That’s what we signed up for, to be able to play important games in March.”
RELATED
Jamison Battle right at home but all business in Target Center
This is Jamison Battle’s last stand. Battle came to Ohio State to reach the NCAA Tournament in his final year of eligibility. Because the Buckeyes have won 6-of-7 games down the stretch, he can realize that goal with a Big Ten Tournament run.
He started that potential run Thursday night against Iowa. After a scoreless first half, he erupted for 23-second half points in front of friends and family in the Target Center.
As special as that was for Battle, he’s playing for more than just the home crowd this week.
“It’s good being home,” Battle said. “But it’s a business trip. It’s not a homecoming, it’s a business trip.”
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ICYMI: Chris Holtmann hired as next DePaul head coach
While Jake Diebler has Ohio State playing with March magic, his former boss has already found a new job. Chris Holtmann, who spent seven seasons with the Buckeyes from 2017-24, has been hired by DePaul to rebuild this year’s Big East bottom dweller and restore the program’s strong tradition.
“So happy for him. He’s too good of a coach not to be coaching. He’s just too good of a coach,” Diebler said postgame.
“I’ve spoken before about what he means to me — he and his family, how important they are to us. I’m really excited for him, and I think he will have a great deal of success there.”
For more details on what’s reported to be a six-year deal for Holtmann, head on over here.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 169 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 260 days
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