Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes ranked in Sport Illustrated's way-too-early Top 25 for 2024-25
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Buckeyes ranked in Sport Illustrated’s way-too-early Top 25 for 2024-25
UConn repeated as national champions with arguably the most dominant March Madness run to date, outscoring its six opponents by a combined margin of 140 points, the most ever by a team in a single NCAA Tournament.
Even so, Dan Hurley’s Huskies aren’t projected as the No. 1 team in Sport Illustrated’s initial way-too-early Top 25 for next season.
They’re No. 5.
Duke, on the other hand, is No. 1, in large thanks to the upcoming arrival of top prospect Cooper Flagg.
And Ohio State, which has missed out on the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years, is No. 19.
“New coach Jake Diebler has a lot to prove still, but he did successfully energize the Buckeyes late in 2023–24 and has capitalized on that momentum so far this offseason. The Buckeyes have kept their core together, with PG Bruce Thornton and C Felix Okpara each confirming their return, and have since added South Carolina Gamecocks star Meechie Johnson Jr. in a homecoming of sorts for the once-former Buckeye. If rising sophomore forward Devin Royal takes a step forward, this group could be dangerous.”
Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated
Here’s the full way-too-early Top 25:
- Duke
- Iowa State
- Kansas
- Gonzaga
- UConn
- Arizona
- Houston
- Purdue
- Tennessee
- Baylor
- Alabama
- North Carolina
- Saint Mary’s
- Florida
- Auburn
- Marquette
- Miami
- Maryland
- Ohio State
- UCLA
- New Mexico
- Cincinnati
- Rutgers
- Mississippi State
- BYU
Ohio State never cracked the AP Top 25 this season. Although the Buckeyes won 22 games — their most since now-former head coach Chris Holtmann’s first year with the program (2017-18) — eight of those wins came in the final 11 games. Jake Diebler piloted that stretch, first as interim head coach and then as full-time head coach.
Under Diebler, Ohio State made an NCAA Tournament push, starting with an upset win over eventual national runner-up Purdue. Wins over future NCAA Tournament teams Michigan State and Nebraska bolstered a Buckeyes resume that also featured a victory over Final Four-bound Alabama earlier in the season.
Ohio State wound up bowing out to Elite Eight-destined Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The Buckeyes reached the NIT quarters before their roller coaster 2024-25 season, split up by the midseason firing of Holtmann, came to an end.
A return to the Top 25 would be the first step toward a return to prominence for the Buckeyes. SI’s already taking note of Ohio State’s potential in 2024-25.
Jake Diebler hires N.C. State’s Joel Justus as associate head coach
Diebler just made his second hire since taking over as head coach. He brought aboard North Carolina State assistant Joel Justus Monday to become his new associate head coach.
Justus recruited two of the top-three scorers on the Wolfpack squad that he helped orchestrate a magical nine-game run, first to an ACC Tournament title as a 10-seed and then to the Final Four as an 11-seed. He also secured several recruiting wins in his five seasons as an assistant at Kentucky.
Diebler’s right-hand man is a proven recruiter and up-and-coming coach. He’ll accompany former Tulane and South Carolina Upstate head coach Dave Dickerson on a new-look Buckeyes bench.
For more on Justus, head on over here.
Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden reportedly plans to enter transfer portal
Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden plans to enter the portal when the spring transfer window opens on April 16, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
The Buckeyes redshirted Hayden last year after he burst onto the scene with a productive true freshman season that saw him rush for 553 yards and five touchdowns and, ultimately, make his first career start in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.
Since Hayden redshirted the 2023 campaign, though, Ohio State added former Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins from the transfer portal, and TreVeyon Henderson decided to return for the 2024 season. Plus, two practices into spring ball, Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford left for the same position at Michigan.
Now, Hayden’s reportedly planning to make a change of his own. Find out more here.
RELATED
- What Dallan Hayden’s transfer portal plans mean for the Buckeyes
- Dallan Hayden intends to transfer, does it impact Ohio State recruiting? Yes and no.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 144 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 235 days
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