Ohio State Buckeyes Men’s Basketball 2026–27 Season Preview: Turning a Tournament Return Into Lasting Success

Ohio State enters the 2026–27 season with renewed expectations and a significant challenge: building on its return to the NCAA Tournament while replacing the leadership of Bruce Thornton. The Buckeyes have experienced scorers, promising young forwards, and several options inside. How quickly those pieces come together will determine whether Ohio State can move further up the Big Ten standings.

John Mobley Jr.’s shooting provides a dependable offensive foundation. Amare Bynum offers returning production in the frontcourt, while newcomers Justin Pippen and Anthony Thompson give the Buckeyes intriguing possibilities. The potential is there for another tournament team, but establishing consistent defense and dependable late-game execution will be essential.

Last Season: Progress With a Painful Finish

Ohio State finished 21–13 overall and 12–8 in the Big Ten, returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Its postseason ended with a 66–64 first-round loss to TCU, despite overcoming a 15-point halftime deficit. The comeback demonstrated resilience, but the final result left the Buckeyes with unfinished business.

That game also closed Thornton’s remarkable college career. He finished as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer with 2,164 points and became the program’s first four-time captain. Replacing him means finding someone who can organize the offense and provide composure when possessions become difficult—not simply replacing his scoring.

The next step is consistency. Ohio State showed it could reach the tournament; now it must build a team capable of winning there.

Coaching: Jake Diebler’s Next Test

Head coach Jake Diebler leads a staff featuring associate head coach Jamall Walker and assistants Dave Dickerson, Mike Wells, Brian Walsh, and Luke Simons. Former Buckeye standout Jared Sullinger serves as director of player development.

Diebler’s most important task will be defining responsibilities within a reshaped rotation. The Buckeyes need a clear distribution of ballhandling duties, effective combinations around Mobley, and an interior rotation that can defend without limiting offensive spacing.

There is enough talent to experiment with different lineups. The challenge is identifying which combinations remain effective against physical opponents and in close games. Developing that reliability will matter more than producing occasional impressive offensive performances.

Centers and Interior Play: Ojianwuna’s Availability Matters

Josh Ojianwuna is a major factor in Ohio State’s frontcourt outlook. The 6-foot-10, 270-pound veteran missed the entire 2025–26 season while recovering from knee surgery. During his last active season at Baylor in 2024–25, he averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, shooting better than 77 percent from the field.

Although listed as a forward, Ojianwuna projects as an important option at center. If he can handle regular minutes effectively, his finishing and rebounding could complement Ohio State’s perimeter scoring. His return should be evaluated through his movement and endurance rather than assuming an immediate return to his previous production.

The roster also includes 7-foot-2 junior Ivan Njegovan and 7-foot-1 freshman Vuk Lazarevic, giving Diebler additional size. Lee Aaliya, a 6-foot-9 newcomer, adds another frontcourt option. Their precise roles remain to be established.

The assignment for this group is straightforward: protect the basket, finish defensive possessions with rebounds, and convert opportunities created by the guards.

Forwards: Bynum’s Growth and Thompson’s Potential

Amare Bynum returns after averaging 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds as a freshman. He made 24 starts and improved down the stretch, averaging 12.3 points while shooting better than 60 percent over Ohio State’s final six games.

That finish makes Bynum a strong candidate for a larger role. His next step is sustaining that production while becoming a more consistent rebounder and defender. Ohio State needs him to provide dependable contributions even when perimeter shots are falling.

Freshman Anthony Thompson brings considerable promise. The 6-foot-9 forward arrived as a consensus five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American. At Western Reserve Academy last season, he averaged 24.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, shooting 35 percent from three-point range.

Thompson’s size and scoring ability could create difficult matchups, but adjusting to college defensive responsibilities will help determine how quickly he becomes a trusted contributor.

Andrija Jelavic, a 6-foot-11 transfer from Kentucky, adds experience. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds last season and started Kentucky’s final 20 games. His presence gives Ohio State another experienced option alongside its younger forwards.

Guards: Mobley Leads a Reshaped Backcourt

John Mobley Jr. is the centerpiece of Ohio State’s perimeter offense. Last season, he averaged 15.7 points and 2.8 assists, shot better than 41 percent from three, and made 97 three-pointers, the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.

His shooting forces defenses to extend away from the basket. With greater attention coming his way, his decisions against pressure will become increasingly important.

Justin Pippen offers a potential answer to the team’s playmaking needs. At California last season, he averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 assists, earned honorable mention All-ACC recognition, and recorded 61 steals. He projects as a valuable partner who can help create shots and reduce Mobley’s ballhandling burden.

Jimmie Williams brings additional scoring and experience after averaging 15.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists at Duquesne. He also recorded 52 steals and earned third-team All-Atlantic 10 honors. His ability to contribute across several areas could make him important in different lineup combinations.

Season Prediction

My projection is 21–23 regular-season wins, a finish between sixth and eighth in the Big Ten, and an NCAA Tournament berth around the No. 6–8 seed range.

The strongest reasons for optimism are Mobley’s shooting, Pippen’s playmaking, and the potential growth of Bynum and Thompson. The biggest uncertainties are interior durability, defensive consistency, and how effectively the new backcourt replaces Thornton’s leadership.

A Sweet 16 appearance is a plausible upside outcome if those pieces come together. A return to the tournament and a first-round victory would represent meaningful progress.

Conclusion

Ohio State has the personnel to sustain last season’s improvement. Mobley supplies proven scoring, Pippen strengthens the backcourt, and Bynum and Thompson give the frontcourt room to grow.

The Buckeyes’ season will ultimately depend on the less glamorous details: rebounding, defensive communication, and sound decisions in close games. If those become consistent strengths, Ohio State can turn a welcome tournament return into a more durable run of success.