Jake Diebler is getting real about his inaugural season as the head coach of the Ohio State basketball team. CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein reflected on Ohio State’s season in an interview with Diebler posted to YouTube on Thursday.
Diebler’s squad went 17-15 but pulled off impressive wins against top teams like Purdue and Kentucky. The Buckeyes defeated then No. 11 Purdue on the road and dominated No. 4 Kentucky 85-65 at Madison Square Garden. Both the Boilermakers and the Wildcats made the Sweet 16 this season, while Ohio State missed the NCAA Tournament.
Diebler opened up about his team’s lack of consistency in his first season as head coach.
“I think as the season went on, we just ran out of gas,” Diebler said (3:45). “We had ourselves in position to take that step and get into the NCAA Tournament. There’s no nights off in the Big Ten, so you don’t get a chance to catch your breath.”
Diebler pointed to injuries and a tough schedule as reasons why the Buckeyes’ season was derailed in the final month. Despite his team’s shortcomings, the coach remains positive about the future.
”We just didn’t quite have enough there down the stretch … there were some things to be learned in that as well,” Diebler said (4:37).
Ohio State’s 2024-25 campaign wasn’t perfect, but the team had some impressive performances. Diebler recognizes where things went wrong and is looking to grow in his second season as head coach.
Jake Diebler focuses on winner’s mentality for upcoming season at Ohio State
Jake Diebler has embraced a new slogan for his Ohio State squad ahead of his second season as head coach. After coming up short of an NCAA Tournament appearance last year, the Buckeyes will focus on the phrase “winning over everything” this coming season.
Andy Anders of “Eleven Warriors” revealed Diebler’s new mantra after interviewing the coach last month. According to Anders, Diebler first utilized the “winning over everything” slogan toward the end of last season but has brought it into focus this offseason.
Diebler has introduced new ways for his Buckeyes to win. He has secured transfers Gabe Cupps, Brandon Noel, Christoph Tilly and Josh Ojianwuna, and freshmen commits A’mare Bynum, Mathieu Grujicic, and Myles Herro will also be joining the roster this fall.
The coach also brought former Ohio State players who played in the NBA to help guide his team in the program’s veterans camp in June.
Diebler is prioritizing winning this coming season and has provided tools for success for his Ohio State squad.
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