Andrew Pace
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team represents Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The team has had a rich history dating back to its formation in 1898. Over the years, the Buckeyes have achieved notable success, including winning one national championship, appearing in 10 Final Fours, and making 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. In the 2014-15 season, the Buckeyes finished in sixth place in the Big Ten Conference. The following year, they improved to finish in second place in the conference, earning a #10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes' performance in recent years has been up and down, with a mix of impressive wins and early tournament exits. Their ranking has varied, with some sources placing them at #9 at certain points in the season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| University | Ohio State University |
| Year Formed | 1898 |
| Home Games Venue | Value City Arena, Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio |
| Home Games Venue Capacity | 19,200 |
| Coach | Thad Matta |
| Former Coach | Jim O'Brien |
| Number of National Championships | 9 |
| Number of Big Ten Tournament Championships | 2 |
| Number of Consecutive Tournament Championships | 2 |
| Number of Consecutive Years in Sweet Sixteen | 2 |
| Number of Jersey Retirements | 5 |
| Number of Seasons as an Independent School | 13 |
| Year of First Conference Championship | 1923 |
| Number of Seasons Coached by Harold Olsen | 24 |
| Year of First NCAA Tournament | 1939 |
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What You'll Learn
OSU's basketball history
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has a long history, with the first basketball team at Ohio State University formed in 1898. They played their first game against East High and had sporadic success during their time as an independent school. In 1912, 13 years after their formation, the Buckeyes joined the Big Nine Conference, later known as the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes struggled to find sustained success in the early years of the conference, never finishing higher than second in the standings. However, in 1923, Harold Olsen was appointed head coach, and his 24-season tenure would become the longest basketball coaching dynasty for OSU. During the 1922-1923 season, Olsen led the Buckeyes to their first conference championship. The team also appeared in the national championship game for the first NCAA Championship tournament in 1939, losing to Oregon 46-33.
The Buckeyes play their home games at Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, which opened in 1998 with a capacity of 19,200. The team has a rich history in the Big Ten Conference, leading the all-time series against seven of their opponents. They have won one national championship (1960), been the national runner-up four times, and appeared in 10 Final Fours (with one additional appearance vacated by the NCAA). They have also appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments (with four other appearances vacated).
In recent years, the Buckeyes have continued to find success, with Thad Matta taking over as head coach in 2004. In the 2010-11 season, Matta led a talented recruiting class and some key seniors to an undefeated start in the Big Ten conference, pushing their record to 24-0 before suffering their first loss. They ended the season with a 29-2 record and won the Big Ten regular-season championship. The Buckeyes repeated as champions the following year, giving Matta his third tournament championship as head coach. Despite this success, the team has struggled in the NCAA tournament, failing to advance past the Sweet Sixteen in consecutive years.
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OSU's ranking in the Big Ten
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team represents Ohio State University in the NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference, having joined the predecessor, the Big Nine Conference, in 1912.
The Buckeyes have experienced varying levels of success throughout their history in the Big Ten. In the 2014-2015 season, OSU finished in sixth place in the Big Ten with an 11-7 record. The following year, they finished in seventh place with an identical record. In the 2016-2017 season, OSU tied for 10th place in the Big Ten with a 7-11 record.
However, in the 2024-2025 season, OSU dominated the Big Ten, ending the season with a 16-2 record and winning the outright Big Ten regular-season championship. They defeated Penn State to win the Big Ten tournament championship, claiming their second consecutive tournament title.
The Buckeyes have also achieved notable success in football within the Big Ten. In the 2022 rankings, OSU was ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten, showcasing their strong performance in this sport as well.
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OSU's NCAA tournament performance
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Division I college basketball competition. As of 2016, they ranked 28th in the nation in average home attendance. The team has had notable success in the NCAA Tournament throughout its history, with a strong record of appearances and several deep runs.
The Buckeyes first appeared in the NCAA Championship tournament in 1939 under head coach Harold Olsen, who led the team to its first conference championship in the 1922-1923 season. In that first NCAA tournament appearance, the Buckeyes reached the national championship game but lost to Oregon, 33-46. This began a long history of appearances and success for OSU in the NCAA tournament.
In recent years, the Buckeyes have continued to perform well in the NCAA tournament. In 2015, led by freshman standout D'Angelo Russell, the team earned a No. 10 seed in the tournament, pulling off an upset over No. 7 VCU in the second round before falling to No. 5 Arizona in the third round. The following year, the Buckeyes did not receive an invite to the NCAA tournament but were instead invited to the NIT, where they lost in the second round.
In 2017, OSU finished the season with a strong 29-2 record and 16-2 in the Big Ten, winning the outright Big Ten regular-season championship. They entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed but were upset in the Sweet Sixteen by Kentucky, losing a close game 62-60. This marked the second consecutive year that the Buckeyes failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen under head coach Matta.
Overall, the Ohio State Buckeyes have appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments (not including vacated appearances) and have achieved significant success, including a national championship in 1960 and four appearances as the national runner-up. The team has also reached the Final Four on ten occasions, showcasing their consistent excellence in the highly competitive NCAA Division I landscape.
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OSU's notable players
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has had many notable players over the years. The Buckeyes have a rich history in college basketball, with one national championship (1960), four runner-up finishes, and appearances in 10 Final Fours.
Some of the greatest OSU basketball players of all time include Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek. Michael Conley Jr., born in 1987, is another notable OSU player. Conley Jr. played for the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to the Utah Jazz in 2019 and is the Grizzlies' all-time leading scorer. Michael Redd, born in 1979, is also an OSU standout. Redd, a shooting guard, played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the U.S. national team.
Other notable OSU players include James Jackson, a retired NBA player who played for 12 different teams over 14 seasons, and Clark Kellogg, Jr., a former NBA player and current college basketball analyst for CBS Sports. The Buckeyes' success can also be attributed to their coaching staff, including Thad Matta, who led OSU to two consecutive Big Ten tournament championships and three tournament championships overall.
The Buckeyes play their home games at Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, with a capacity of 19,200. OSU has a strong following, ranking 28th in the nation in average home attendance as of the 2016 season.
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OSU's basketball coaches
The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team has had 16 head coaches in its history. The first basketball team at Ohio State University was formed in 1898, and the longest-serving coach was Harold Olsen, who led the team for 24 seasons. Olsen's era was marked by success, including the Buckeyes' first conference championship in the 1922-1923 season and an appearance in the national championship game for the first NCAA Championship tournament in 1939, where they lost to Oregon.
In 2004, Thad Matta became the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, replacing Jim O'Brien, who was fired due to NCAA violations. Matta has led the Buckeyes to three tournament championships, including their second in a row in 2015. The team entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed for the second time under Matta but failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen, losing to Kentucky 62-60.
The Buckeyes play their home games at Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, with a capacity of 19,200. The team has a rich history in college basketball, having won one national championship (in 1960), been the national runner-up four times, appeared in 10 Final Fours, and played in 27 NCAA Tournaments.
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