Big East coach says exactly what Ohio State basketball fans will want to hear about the Buckeyes transfer portal approach
Ohio State’s basketball season ended last week with a record of 17-15. The Buckeyes opted not to play in the College Basketball Crown event, which was their only postseason option.
The Buckeyes not playing in the event didn’t sit well with many fans, but Diebler pointed to the timing as to why it wouldn’t work for them.
“The timing of the Crown’s not ideal,” Diebler said, via The Columbus Dispatch. “We can be open and direct about that too, but it was more about everything else we’ve had going on physically and what we’ve had going on this year that we thought the best thing for us to do was turn it down. The idea of the Crown, I love what they’re trying to do. The timing of it, it’s tough.”
With not playing in the Crown, Ohio State needs to be active in the transfer portal that opens on March 24 and runs through April 22. According to On3, one Big East coach revealed that the Buckeyes could be rather big spenders in the portal.
“Texas Tech, Ohio State, and Kansas State come to mind. I’ve heard they’ll all be between $8 and $10 million overall.”
Ohio State brought in C Aaron Bradshaw, F Sean Stewart, G Meechie Johnson Jr., and G Micah Parrish in the portal last go around. It is fair to say that none of those worked out for the Buckeyes how they wanted outside of Parrish, who averaged 13.3 points per game and 4.4 rebounds.
To get the top players, the Buckeyes are going to need to have to undoubtedly pay up due to the state of the program. Three straight seasons without making the NCAA Tournament sticks out for the Buckeyes. Clearly, the Buckeyes are going to spend more than last year in the portal to try to improve the team.
Ohio State will have to work to keep their own form entering the portal as well. Players like John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal are easily the biggest needs for Ohio State in terms of returning.
If you aren’t active in the transfer portal in college basketball, you’ll get left behind. Now, we wait to see exactly how deep into the portal the Buckeyes plan to get.
