Ohio State Men's Basketball: Ranked High, Going Higher?

what is ohio state men

The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has a rich history, with the team playing in the St. John Arena, a 13,276-capacity facility named after Lynn St. John, a former Ohio State basketball coach and athletic director. The team has seen success over the years, winning the NCAA Championship in 1960 and the Big Ten tournament in 2007 and 2010. They have also made it to the NCAA tournament multiple times, including as the No. 1 seed in 2007. The Buckeyes have had notable players such as Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., and Evan Turner, who was named the National Player of the Year in 2010. With a history of strong recruiting classes and a recent focus on improving facilities, the Ohio State men's basketball team has consistently been ranked and has a winning record.

Characteristics Values
Location Columbus, Ohio
Conference Big Ten
Record (since 1898-99) 1884-1196 .612 W-L%
Conference Champion 22 Times (Reg. Seas.), 5 Times (Tourn.)
NCAA Tournament 35 Years (58-34), 11 Final Fours, 1 Championship
NCAA Champion 1960
Ranked in AP Poll 22 Times (Preseason), 24 Times (Final), 448 Weeks (Total)
2024-25 Season 6-11 Quad I record, 3-4 Quad II record, 2-0 Quad III record, 6-0 Quad IV record
Arena St. John Arena, Value City Arena
Matta's First Season Record 20–12
2005-06 Season Record 26–6
2006-07 Season Record 27–3
2009-10 Season Ranking No. 17 in the nation
2009-10 Season Record 24–7

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Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball history

The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has a long and illustrious history, representing Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team's history dates back to 1898 when the first basketball team was formed at the university, playing its inaugural game against East High.

During their early years as an independent school, the Buckeyes experienced sporadic success. However, in 1912, they joined the Big Nine Conference, which later evolved into the Big Ten Conference, of which they remain a member today. The Buckeyes played their home games at the Ohio State University Armory during their formative years.

In terms of their arena, between 1920 and 1955, the Buckeyes called a 7,000-capacity arena their home. In 1955, Ohio State constructed a new facility named the St. John Arena, honouring Lynn St. John, a basketball coach, and athletic director at the university. This arena has a capacity of 13,276 and remains in use today for volleyball, gymnastics, and wrestling, in addition to having hosted the men's basketball team for many years.

The Buckeyes have achieved notable success in their basketball history. They have been Conference Champions 22 times during the regular season and five times during the tournament. They have participated in the NCAA Tournament an impressive 35 times, reaching the Final Four on 11 occasions and clinching the championship title in 1960. The team has also been ranked in the AP Poll numerous times, including 22 times in the preseason and 24 times in the final poll.

The Ohio State University has also shown its commitment to the team's success through significant investments. In 2013, a $19 million renovation project was completed on the Schottenstein Center, providing upgraded facilities for both the men's and women's basketball teams. This was followed by a $34 million renovation in 2018, which further improved the facilities and added new spaces for coaches and administration. Today, the Buckeyes play their home games at the Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

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NCAA Tournament appearances

The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has a rich history of NCAA Tournament appearances, dating back to the 1950s. The team plays in the Value City Arena, which was completed in 1998 and can accommodate 19,500 spectators for basketball games. The Buckeyes have made 35 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 11 Final Fours and one championship in 1960.

One notable NCAA Tournament run was during the 2005-06 season. The Buckeyes entered the tournament as a No. 2 seed after compiling a 26–6 record and winning the Big Ten regular-season championship. However, they were upset in the second round by the No. 7 seed, Georgetown, 70–52.

The 2006-07 season saw Matta's Ohio State team enter the NCAA tournament as the overall No. 1 seed, with a 27–3 record. This team, led by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time under Matta, showcasing their talent and potential.

In the 2009-10 season, the Buckeyes entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed again. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, where they faced the No. 6-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. In a close contest, Ohio State fell just short, losing 76–73 and ending their tournament run.

The Buckeyes' success in the NCAA Tournament has been a combination of strong recruiting classes, talented individual performances, and strategic coaching. With a history of appearances and a passionate fan base, the Ohio State men's basketball team continues to be a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.

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Matta's 2006-07 season

The 2006–07 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team was led by third-year head coach Thad Matta. They played their home games at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, as members of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to the 2006-07 season, Matta brought in the highest-rated recruiting class in school history, known as the 'Thad Five'. This group included Mike Conley, Daequan Cook, David Lighty, Greg Oden, and Othello Hunter.

The Buckeyes finished the season with a 35–4 record, including a 15–1 record in Big Ten play, which earned them the regular-season Big Ten championship. As the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they defeated Michigan, Purdue, and Wisconsin to become tournament champions. This success continued into the NCAA tournament, where they received the No. 1 seed in the South regional and were the overall top seed. They defeated Central Connecticut State and Matta's former team, Xavier, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Buckeyes then defeated Tennessee and Memphis to advance to the Final Four, their first appearance under Matta.

Individually, Oden led the team in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (9.6), while Conley ranked third in scoring (11.3) and first in assists (6.1). Cook was the fourth-leading scorer (9.8) and third-leading rebounder (4.3), and Hunter ranked second in rebounds (4.5). Lewis also contributed with 12.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, serving as a key complementary player to Oden and Conley. Jamar Butler and Ivan Harris provided additional support, with Butler averaging 7.6 points and 3.6 assists, and Harris adding 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Conley and Oden were the stand-out prospects, both rated as five-star recruits. However, Oden was sidelined at the start of the season due to surgery, and he played much of the year with an injured shooting hand. Despite this setback, the Buckeyes achieved remarkable success during the 2006-07 season, advancing deep into the NCAA tournament and showcasing the talent and potential of their young core.

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2009-10 season

The 2009-10 season marked Thad Matta's sixth season as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team. The team entered the season ranked 17th in the nation.

The Buckeyes started the season strongly, compiling a 7-1 record before Evan Turner, who was averaging 20.6 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, suffered an injury. Despite this setback, the team continued to perform well, and Turner returned later in the season to help them finish with a 24-7 record and a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship.

The Buckeyes then went on to defeat Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament, claiming the title and securing a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. This was the second time the team had won the Big Ten tournament under Matta's leadership. The Buckeyes advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, where they faced a tough matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers, eventually losing by a narrow margin of 76-73.

Overall, the 2009-10 season was a successful one for the Ohio State Buckeyes, with the team achieving a strong record and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The season also marked the second time the Buckeyes had won the Big Ten tournament under Matta, showcasing the team's consistent performance in both regular-season and tournament play.

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St. John Arena

In addition to sports-related events, St. John Arena has also hosted concerts by popular musical artists from 1971 to 1980. In recent years, it has been used for the Freshmen Convocation, where the entire freshman class meets for the first time and interacts with university leaders. While plans to demolish the arena were announced in 2012, these plans appear to have been shelved, with the university indicating in 2016 that demolition was unlikely in the foreseeable future.

Frequently asked questions

The Ohio State men's basketball team is in the Big Ten conference and has a 6-11 Quad I record, a 3-4 Quad II record, a 2-0 Quad III record, and a 6-0 Quad IV record.

The rankings are based on the number of quality wins a team has.

The St. John Arena, which was built in 1955, has a capacity of 13,276.

The Ohio State men's basketball team has played in 35 NCAA Tournament games, with a record of 58-34.

The Ohio State men's basketball team has won the Big Ten tournament title twice, in 2007 and 2010.

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