COLUMBUS, OH — For the first time in four years, the “Scarlet and Gray” will be represented in both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments, sparking a frenzy of ticket requests and bracket-filling across Ohio.
The Men: Diebler’s Debut & Thornton’s Last Dance
After three long years of watching from the sidelines, the Ohio State men (21–12) have officially punched their ticket. The Buckeyes were awarded a No. 8 seed in the East Region, a testament to their late-season surge under second-year head coach Jake Diebler.
The story of the season has been senior guard Bruce Thornton. After becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer in a win over Indiana, Thornton finally gets his first taste of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Matchup: Ohio State will face the scrappy No. 9 seed TCU Horned Frogs (22–11) in Greenville, South Carolina.
- The Stakes: This is the first tournament appearance for this roster, with senior Puff Johnson being the only player with prior “Big Dance” experience.
- Tip-off: Thursday, March 19, at 12:15 PM ET on CBS.
The Women: “The Schott” Becomes a Fortress
While the men head south, the No. 3-seeded Ohio State women (26–7) are staying right where they are. For the fourth consecutive year, the Schottenstein Center will play host to the first and second rounds of the tournament.
Led by All-Big Ten point guard Jaloni Cambridge, the Buckeyes enter the tournament as one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging nearly 82 points per game. Coach Kevin McGuff has made it clear: they aren’t just happy to be here; they are looking to surpass their 2023 Elite Eight run.
- The Matchup: Howard (No. 14 seed) comes to Columbus this Saturday.
- The Path: A win against Howard sets up a high-stakes second-round clash against either No. 6 Notre Dame or No. 11 Fairfield.
A State Divided (By Brackets)
The excitement isn’t limited to Columbus. With Miami (OH) clinching a No. 11 seed after a nearly undefeated season and Akron entering as a No. 12 “Cinderella” favorite, the state of Ohio is positioned to be the epicenter of March Madness.
As for the Buckeyes, the goal is simple: survive and advance. For the men, a potential second-round date with No. 1 overall seed Duke looms. For the women, the road to the Final Four in Indianapolis starts in their own backyard.
