The Ohio State men’s basketball team officially dropped its full non-conference schedule this week, and talk about a gauntlet! This isn’t "back to basketball" week just yet, but with schools across central Ohio getting back into it, and Ohio State resuming classes next week on August 25, the release of this schedule is the big news everyone’s been waiting for. We’re talking five games against high-major teams before Big Ten play even begins, and guess what? Only one of those is even in Columbus.
This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Schedule
Get ready, because the Buckeyes are gearing up for a monster 32-game season. That’s 12 non-conference matchups plus 20 Big Ten contests. With so many high-major opponents , and only one home game among them , these early tests are going to be crucial for Jake Diebler’s crew. Remember last week’s “You’re Nuts” debate? Connor said four guys , John Mobley, Amare Bynum, Anthony Thompson, and Justin Pippen , would hit a 30-point game, with Mobley potentially doing it multiple times. Justin argued it would be just Thompson and Mobley, pointing to Mobley’s multiple 28-point outings last year as proof he’ll break through. That kind of offensive firepower will be absolutely vital with a non-conference slate this tough. The squad’s back on campus Sunday for classes Tuesday, and official practices kick off later in September. They’ll need every moment to gel.
Connor’s Bold Bet for the Buckeyes
This week, the big “You’re Nuts” question revolves around the non-conference record, and Connor is going all in with a 10-2 prediction. He thinks Ohio State is finally going to snag some marquee, resume-building wins early on, something he believes they seriously missed last season. That flexibility and early momentum could be huge, saving them from the mad dash for big conference wins in February and March just to make the NCAA Tournament. Last year, they faced one ranked team, North Carolina, and fell by a heartbreaking 71-70. They split their four high-major non-conference games, grabbing wins against Notre Dame and West Virginia, but taking L’s from UNC and Pitt. Connor pointed to past early-season successes, like beating Notre Dame on November 16 last year, or knocking off #19 Texas on November 4 two seasons ago, even beating Duke at home in 2021. He’s already penciling in a "WIN" against BYU to start things off, believing these early season matchups are where the Buckeyes shine.
So, the stage is set. These non-conference games might not have tipoff times announced yet, but we know the opponents and locations, and they’re going to define the early shape of Ohio State’s season. If they can come out of this demanding stretch with some big wins, it sets them up perfectly for Big Ten play. It’s time to show the league what this squad is made of, right from the jump.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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