Many things have been apparent about the eternally authentic Jake Diebler since he became Ohio State’s head basketball coach.
For a man born and raised in Northwest Ohio, one of those things is a profound respect and understanding of the school’s rivalry with Michigan.
“I think regardless of when you play the Team Up North, it doesn't matter what time of the year, it doesn't matter what sport, it's different,” Diebler said. “It's not just another game. And I think you have to embrace that. We certainly are as a program.”
Like any good rivalry game, there are stakes for Ohio State. The Buckeyes currently sit in a good spot along the NCAA Tournament bubble, but a win over the No. 20 Wolverines – who currently sit atop the Big Ten Conference – would put them close to clinching their first bid to the Big Dance in three years. And the Scarlet and Gray expect a packed house behind them in Value City Arena on Sunday (1:30 p.m., CBS).
“Every game right now is really important for us,” Diebler said. “There's no question about it. And we've certainly embraced that part of this time of year. But I also don't want to dismiss that this is a rivalry game.”
One man who aided Ohio State’s cause in beating Michigan while Diebler was interim head coach in 2024 is lined up against the Buckeyes in 2025. Roddy Gayle Jr. transferred from Columbus to Ann Arbor this past offseason, though his numbers have dipped a touch with the Wolverines. He averages 10.9 points and 2.8 assists per game this year.
“It'll be different,” Diebler said. “Roddy was family and came over to our house a lot. I had one of their games on in the background when I was watching film one night and one of my daughters was like, ‘Is that Roddy?’ It's like, ‘Yeah, that is, he's, you know, he's a part – he's on the enemy's team now.”
Diebler, standing before a wall of modern-day Ohio State basketball shoes, laughed with the media scrum and continued.
“I hope we get a moment to see each other before the game and, you know, he was an important part of our family for a significant amount of time. But this rivalry game is bigger than any one player. I think that's the thing for me, that's the thing for us, that it doesn't really matter what happens within. It's just, this is The Game. And it's bigger, it supersedes anything like that. And that's our focus. Our focus is embracing everything that this rivalry presents.”
“I think regardless of when you play the Team Up North, it doesn't matter what time of the year, it doesn't matter what sport, it's different.”– Jake Diebler on the Michigan rivalry
Even freshmen like guard John Mobley Jr. appreciate the added intensity of a matchup with Michigan. It probably helps that Mobley grew up in central Ohio before finishing his high school career at Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah.
"Me growing up, from here, I never really liked Michigan," Mobley said. "So, definitely need that one."
Michigan presents one of the tallest tasks this season for Ohio State’s frontcourt. The Wolverines start two 7-footers at forward, star transfers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin. Wolf, an import from Yale, picks up 12.8 points, 1.6 blocks and a Big Ten-best 10 rebounds per game. Goldin, who followed head coach Dusty May from Florida Atlantic to Michigan, adds a team-best 15.5 points per game to six rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks per game.
“I think it's unique,” Diebler said. “You don't see it a lot in college basketball and certainly, although both of them are really tall, they're very different players. And they’ve found a way to utilize that in a really efficient way. So it presents challenges, certainly defensively and offensively with their ability to protect the rim. But I think, like anything, right, we've now moved on to the next game and we've got to come up with a great plan and have some great prep.”
Diebler said that two-center lineups with Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart and perhaps a sprinkle of Ivan Njegovan could be an option to match Goldin and Wolf. Ohio State has very rarely opted for such looks given Bradshaw’s availability issues (he’s missed eight games and been limited in several others) and Stewart’s foul trouble (he averages 3.5 personal fouls per game), but got a chance to experiment with them a few times in the Buckeyes’ 93-69 win over Washington on Wednesday.
Bradshaw and Stewart also produced one of their best combined outings this season against the Huskies. Bradshaw collected 12 points, three rebounds, a block and a steal while flexing some range by going 2-of-2 from 3-point distance. Stewart stayed out of foul trouble and filled a critical role as a rebounder and defender, picking up six points, seven rebounds and two blocks. He’s Ohio State’s most efficient rebounder this season with 12.8 boards per 40 minutes.
Sean Stewart sent this ball to the moon. pic.twitter.com/D8yUSnaD8O
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) February 13, 2025
Beyond just the rivalry, Diebler feels the Michigan game represents the next step in his team’s evolution. His goal at Ohio State is to build a squad that can compete for more than just an NCAA Tournament bid, he wants to get to a place where the Buckeyes are contending for championships. And one that can win big games against its first-place rival.
“I have big aspirations for this program, and I've not been shy about what the expectations and the standard is for this program,” Diebler said. “We've had, certainly, our fair share of adversity this season, but I'm really proud of the way this group has responded to that. And we're playing our best basketball in the last month or so. And we've got to continue to do that.
“I've also said I don't feel like we've peaked yet. I feel like we still have a long way to go. I feel like we still have some room to continue to grow, to reach that last level. And we need to take a step forward here on Sunday.”
