Kristian Ferrell
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has had its fair share of successes and setbacks over the years. With a rich history dating back to 1898, the Buckeyes joined the Big Nine Conference in 1912, which later became known as the Big Ten. Under the leadership of legendary coach Harold Olsen, the team enjoyed a glorious era, including an appearance in the first NCAA Championship tournament in 1939. More recently, the Buckeyes have experienced a mix of NCAA Tournament appearances and disappointments. In 2023, the men's team missed out on March Madness, while the women's team participated. The OSU men's basketball programme has a proud tradition, and its future remains to be written.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| OSU Men's Basketball Team's participation in March Madness 2023 | Did not qualify |
| OSU Men's Basketball Team's participation in March Madness 2024 | Did not qualify |
| OSU Women's Basketball Team's participation in March Madness 2023 | Qualified |
| OSU Women's Basketball Team's participation in March Madness 2024 | Did not find relevant information |
| OSU Men's Basketball Team's participation in March Madness 2025 | Did not find relevant information |
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What You'll Learn
OSU's absence from March Madness in 2025
For the third year in a row, Ohio State (OSU) men's basketball will be absent from March Madness in 2025. The Buckeyes have failed to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament, despite a strong start to the season. With a 17-15 season record, the team crumbled towards the end, managing only a 9-11 record in Big Ten play. This marks the first time in 20 years that OSU has missed March Madness for three consecutive years.
OSU's absence from March Madness comes as a disappointment to fans and players alike. The Buckeyes had multiple opportunities to stack victories and secure their spot, but inconsistent play, particularly on the offensive end, hindered their progress. Their three-game losing streak at the end of the regular season, which included losses to Northwestern, Michigan, and UCLA, proved detrimental to their tournament hopes.
OSU's absence from March Madness is notable, given their strong start to the season. They began the season with a 5-1 record and finished non-conference play with an impressive 8-4 record. Their victory against Texas, who are also on the bubble, and their upset against Purdue, were key highlights. However, these successes were not enough to secure a spot in the tournament.
As a result of their absence from March Madness, the Buckeyes are contractually obligated to participate in the inaugural College Basketball Crown, a 16-team event in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 6. Whether the Buckeyes will choose to participate remains to be seen. The team has indicated that they will make a collective decision on their next steps.
The 2025 March Madness tournament, featuring 68 teams, began on April 7 with a national championship game between Houston and Florida, with Florida emerging as the winner.
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OSU's NCAA tournament drought
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has had a long history of participation in the NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team has had its fair share of successes and droughts over the years.
In the early years, the Buckeyes struggled to mount a sustained run, often finishing second in the conference standings. However, in 1923, Harold Olsen was appointed head coach, marking the beginning of OSU's longest basketball coaching dynasty, spanning 24 seasons. During this era, the Buckeyes achieved their first conference championship in the 1922-1923 season and made an appearance in the first NCAA Championship tournament in 1939, where they lost to Oregon.
Moving forward to the 21st century, the Buckeyes have experienced a mix of tournament qualifications and droughts. Between 1976 and 1997, the team only made the NCAA bracket eight times and won the conference championship twice. However, with the arrival of head coach Thad Matta in 2004, the team's fortunes improved significantly. Under Matta, the Buckeyes achieved eight NCAA Tournament appearances, four Sweet Sixteen appearances, and two Final Four appearances. They also won the Big Ten regular-season championship five times and the Big Ten tournament championship four times during his tenure.
Despite these successes, there were also years when the Buckeyes did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. For example, in the 2016-2017 season, OSU finished with a 17-15 record and did not receive an invitation to a postseason tournament. This led to a change in coaching staff, with Chris Holtmann being hired as the new head coach in 2017.
In recent years, the OSU men's basketball team has experienced another drought, failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament from 2022 to 2024. This has sparked discussions about the team's performance and coaching staff, with Mike Boynton being fired and the university searching for a replacement.
Overall, while the Ohio State Buckeyes have experienced both triumphs and setbacks in their NCAA Tournament journey, they continue to strive for success and work towards breaking any tournament droughts they may encounter.
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OSU's coaching changes
The Ohio State University (OSU) men's basketball team has had a long history of coaching changes, dating back to the early days of the program. The first basketball team at OSU was formed in 1898, and over the years, the program has seen numerous coaches come and go, with varying levels of success.
One of the most notable coaching changes for OSU men's basketball occurred in 1958 with the hiring of Fred Taylor. Taylor is credited with putting Ohio State basketball on the map, leading the team to their first national championship in 1960. During his 18-year tenure, Taylor made four trips to the Final Four and a total of five tournament appearances.
Another significant coaching change came in 1997 when Jim O'Brien was hired to replace head coach Randy Ayers. O'Brien enjoyed a successful seven-year tenure, leading the Buckeyes to four 20+ win seasons, two Big Ten regular-season co-championships, and the 2002 Big Ten tournament championship. However, O'Brien was fired in 2004 due to alleged NCAA rules violations, leading to the appointment of Thad Matta as the new head coach.
Matta's tenure at OSU was also highly successful, with the team winning 20 or more games in 12 of his 13 seasons. During Matta's time as head coach, the Buckeyes received a berth in the NCAA Tournament eight times, made it to the Sweet Sixteen four times, and reached the Final Four twice. They also won the Big Ten regular-season championship five times and the Big Ten tournament championship four times. However, after failing to make the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2017, Matta was replaced by Chris Holtmann in 2017.
Holtmann led the team for seven years before being fired in 2024. During his time as head coach, Holtmann guided the Buckeyes to success, including winning the Big Ten tournament championship. After Holtmann's departure, his former assistant coach, Jake Diebler, took over as interim head coach. Diebler's first season as head coach ended with a first-round exit in the Big Ten tournament, and the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. Despite this, Diebler is expected to continue coaching the Buckeyes for at least another year, with athletic director Ross Bjork expressing confidence in his performance.
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OSU's performance in the Big Ten tournament
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has had a long history in the Big Ten tournament, with the team joining the Big Ten Conference (then known as the Big Nine Conference) way back in 1912. The Buckeyes first found success in the 1922-1923 season, winning their first conference championship under head coach Harold Olsen.
In more recent times, the Buckeyes have continued to perform well in the Big Ten tournament. In the 2010-11 season, OSU dominated the regular season, going 24-0 before losing to Wisconsin. They ended the season with a 29-2 record and won the Big Ten regular-season championship. They then defeated Penn State in the Big Ten tournament championship, giving them their second consecutive tournament title.
The following season, OSU again won the Big Ten regular-season championship, but they were unable to replicate their tournament success, losing in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. In the 2015 Big Ten tournament, OSU lost to Michigan State in the quarterfinals but still received a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they made it to the third round.
In 2016, the Buckeyes finished 7th in the Big Ten and lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament, failing to receive an invite to the NCAA tournament. The 2016-17 season saw a similar outcome, with OSU finishing 10th in the Big Ten and losing in the first round of the Big Ten tournament to Rutgers.
More recently, in 2025, the Buckeyes entered the Big Ten Tournament needing at least one win to have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. However, they suffered a 77-70 loss to Iowa, bringing their season to an end.
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OSU's performance in the 2024-25 season
The 2024-25 season has been a challenging one for OSU men's basketball. After a strong start, the team fell short of making it to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year. With a 17-15 season record, the Buckeyes struggled to maintain their early momentum, particularly in conference play, where they finished with a 9-11 record in the Big Ten. This inconsistent performance, especially on the offensive end, led to their absence from March Madness once again.
OSU's men's basketball team faced a difficult road in the 2024-25 season, with close games and narrow misses. Despite starting the season with a promising 5-1 record and an impressive 8-4 finish in non-conference play, the team couldn't sustain their success. They faced tough competition in the Big Ten conference, which ultimately proved to be their downfall.
Inconsistency plagued the team, and they struggled to string together wins consistently. A notable setback was their matchup against Indiana in the regular season finale, where they squandered a 10-point lead in the second half, ultimately losing 66-60. This defeat was crucial, as a victory would have secured their place in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
The Buckeyes' offensive performance was particularly lacking, and they were unable to capitalise on multiple opportunities to secure victories late in the season. Their absence from March Madness for three consecutive years is a significant disappointment for the team and its fans, especially considering the program's history of success.
Moving forward, OSU will be focused on rebuilding and improving their performance for the upcoming seasons. With a new coach, the team will aim to develop a stronger and more consistent strategy to return to the NCAA tournament and compete at the highest level. The 2024-25 season has been a learning experience, and the team will look to turn their challenges into opportunities for growth.
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Frequently asked questions
No, OSU men's basketball did not make it to March Madness in 2023.
Yes, the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has made it to March Madness several times. The team has won one national championship (in 1960), been the national runner-up four times, appeared in 10 Final Fours, and appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments.
OSU finished the 2016-17 season with a 17-15 record, 7-11 in Big Ten play, tying for 10th place. They lost in the first round of the Big Ten tournament to Rutgers and did not receive an invite to a postseason tournament.
The current coach of OSU men's basketball is Jake Diebler, who was hired as an interim coach following the firing of Chris Holtmann in 2024.
No, the closest they have come was in 1939 when they appeared in the national championship game for the first NCAA Championship tournament, losing to Oregon 33-46.
