Ohio State's 2020-21 non-conference slate is set.
The Buckeyes will open the season against Oakland on Nov. 11, and the out-of-conference opponents will feature a CBS Sports Classic matchup with North Carolina on Dec. 19 at a yet-to-be disclosed location.
They'll also participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis, an eight-team early season tournament in the Bahamas, on Nov. 25-27. Creighton, Duke, Memphis, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Wichita State and Utah are locked in as participants. The Buckeyes will play three games over three days.
Ohio State's Big Ten/ACC Challenge opponent is not yet set. That will take place in early December along with two Big Ten games surrounding its Dec. 9 home game against Towson.
After two years of playing one game per season at St. John Arena, Ohio State has not yet announced any games at the historic building next season. The arena is not mentioned in the press release announcing the non-conference slate.
We cant wait for basketball to be back. Our 2020-21 Non-Conference schedule is live!
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) May 5, 2020
: https://t.co/UYTHElXVAN pic.twitter.com/fudWCvxX5b
Ohio State will take on Oakland (Nov. 11), Niagara (Nov. 15), Akron (Nov. 19), Towson (Dec. 9), Morehead State (Dec. 22) and Alabama A&M (Dec. 30) as part of next season's non-conference slate. These home games are typically known as "buy games," a name derived from the major conference programs paying the mid-major or low-major teams to play at their arena.
Chris Holtmann has a history with Akron's coach, John Groce, who's now leading Akron's program. Groce was an assistant coach at Ohio State between 2005 and 2008, and he hired Holtmann as one of his assistants while working as Ohio University's head coach in 2009. They spent two years together in Athens, Ohio.
On Nov. 5, the Buckeyes will play their preseason exhibition against a yet-to-be-named opponent. It's expected to be an in-state team from the Division-II or Division-III level.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| THU 11/5/20 | TBD (Exhibition) | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| WED 11/11/20 | OAKLAND | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| SUN 11/15/20 | NIAGRA | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| THU 11/19/20 | AKRON | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| WED11/25/20 | TBD (Battle 4 Atlantis) | Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas) |
| THU 11/26/20 | TBD (Battle 4 Atlantis) | Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas) |
| FRI 11/27/20 | TBD (Battle 4 Atlantis) | Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas) |
| MON 12/1/20 or TUE 12/2/20 | TBD (Big Ten/ACC Challenge) | TBD |
| WED 12/9/20 | TOWSON | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| SAT 12/19/20 | NORTH CAROLINA (CBS Sports Classic) | TBD |
| TUE 12/22/20 | MOREHEAD STATE | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
| WED 12/30/20 | ALABAMA A&M | Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio) |
