Ohio State has caught its breath with a quality conference win and a week between games after a 6-3 start to its 2024-25 season.
That's good because the Buckeyes will need to be fully winded for a showdown with No. 2 Auburn in Atlanta as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving on Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN2). The Tigers are off to an 8-1 start to their campaign, the lone loss coming at No. 4 Duke. While Ohio State and Auburn's clash will technically be a neutral-site game, there will likely be a Tiger tilt to the crowd, given their closer proximity to Atlanta.
Jake Diebler met with the Buckeyes' media on Thursday to discuss the upcoming clash. He also updated the status of starting center Aaron Bradshaw, who is still working his way back after being removed from team activities for five games after a university investigation, saying there are no "firm decisions" on a timeline for his return. He added that guard Ques Glover and forward Colin White remain out with injury.
“It's been good to get him back in the gym and start his return to play. But no real firm decisions as to what the specific timeline is going to look like yet.”– Jake Diebler on Aaron Bradshaw's timeline for returning to games
Diebler said that Bradshaw's gone through a few workouts since being reinstated, but he still has work to do to get back to where he needs to be physically to play. That will be the primary part of the evaluation that determines when the big man will be back on the floor, the coach added.
“He's a really good offensive player and he's got really good shooting on the perimeter around him. ... They're certainly a really good team that's well-coached, but we're excited about the opportunity on Saturday.”– Jake Diebler on Johni Broome and Auburn
Star Auburn forward Johni Broome piles up a team-high 19.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He leads the entire SEC in the latter two statistics. He's surrounded by three guards who all average at least 11 points per game and shoot at least 42.9% from 3-point range, those being Chad Baker-Mazara, Tahaad Pettiford and Miles Kelly. With or without Bradshaw Ohio State faces steep challenges inside and out defensively vs. the Tigers.
“I expect him to play well whether we're in Atlanta or Columbus or somewhere else. I don't anticipate him treating this game any differently, I think the biggest difference is he'll get to see some more family and some more friends. ... I'm happy he gets to go home and play, I think it's really cool when guys get to do that.”– Jake Diebler on Bruce Thornton returning to Play in Atlanta
This Saturday will mark the second time in his three-year Ohio State career that Bruce Thornton will play in Atlanta. The Buckeyes' star point guard grew up just a 40-minute drive away in Alpharetta. Ohio State also played UCLA in State Farm Arena on Dec. 16, 2023, and won 67-60, with Thornton collecting 13 points.
