Yeah, most of us are counting the days down to the start of Ohio State football, but each month that passes by also gets us closer and closer to the start of another college basketball season. To be fair, there’s been a little apathy from fans on the banks of the Olentangy with the men’s basketball program because the administration just doesn’t seem to have the same set of winning expectations the football program has, especially after missing the NCAA Tournament three straight years now.

But there is some optimism growing in Columbus after several transfer portal additions, and perhaps, even some addition by subtraction for guys that underperformed. Add those ingredients to the mix of returning production like guards Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr., as well as forward Devin Royal, and maybe, just maybe, head coach Jake Diebler can get this thing turned around.

The national media seem to be buying into what Ohio State can be this winter as well. Even ESPN’s resident bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, has been fairly bullish on the Buckeyes, having them as a way-too-early No. 4 seed during his May effort of projecting all the teams that will make the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

But that has slipped a little, according to what Lunardi shared for his June bracketology drop. No longer does one of the most popular bracketologists no longer have OSU on the No. 4 seed line; he’s actually dropped the Buckeyes two seed lines down to No. 6. That seems a little harsh based on really not a whole lot of movement in a month by teams either way during the offseason, but based on what we’ve seen from Ohio State over the last three years, I guess it is to be expected.

So, where and who does Lunardi have the Buckeyes playing in the first round (keeping in mind there’s no way this will be right at this point in trying to figure it all out)? Ohio State is slotted in the West region, playing in San Diego against No. 11 seed VCU.

We could throw out more caveats than an insurance terms and conditions disclosure here, so don’t get too upset about any of this. After all, would you sign up for this now, knowing that OSU hasn’t been a part of March Madness since 2022? I think so.

Now, we’ll let you get back to your regularly scheduled football programming …

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