Ohio State’s decision to turn down an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown (CBC) in 2025 raised eyebrows within the basketball community. As one of the most storied programs in college basketball, the Buckeyes’ absence from the prestigious postseason event left many questioning their direction under first-year head coach Jake Diebler. To understand the rationale behind this decision, it’s essential to examine the broader context of the Ohio State basketball program, the circumstances surrounding their 2024-2025 season, and the factors that ultimately influenced their choice to forgo the CBC invitation.
The State of Ohio State Basketball
Ohio State’s basketball program has long been a cornerstone of the Big Ten, with consistent success in the NCAA Tournament and numerous conference championships. However, in recent years, the Buckeyes have struggled to return to the heights that once defined their program. In the 2024-2025 season, Ohio State finished with a record of 17-15, with a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play. This performance marked the third consecutive season in which the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament, a trend that many fans and analysts were hoping would be reversed under Jake Diebler’s leadership.
Diebler, who had spent several years as an assistant coach under Chris Holtmann, was elevated to the head coaching role after Holtmann’s departure in 2024. The transition was expected to bring fresh energy and a renewed commitment to the program, but the season proved to be challenging. Ohio State struggled in close games, with numerous losses by narrow margins, such as an 86-83 defeat to Michigan and a 77-70 loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament. These close defeats highlighted the team’s inconsistency and inability to close out games, which ultimately kept them from qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and left their postseason hopes in question.
The College Basketball Crown: A New Opportunity
The College Basketball Crown was introduced by FOX Sports as a new postseason tournament for college basketball teams. The CBC was designed as an alternative for programs that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament or the NIT (National Invitation Tournament), giving them another shot at postseason glory. With a total of 16 teams selected to participate, the CBC aimed to provide a platform for teams to showcase their talent and build momentum heading into the following season.
For Ohio State, the invitation to the College Basketball Crown represented a chance to compete in a postseason event, which many saw as a step toward rebuilding their program’s reputation. However, despite the potential benefits, the Buckeyes ultimately decided to decline the invitation. To understand why Ohio State made this decision, we need to delve deeper into the various factors at play.
1. The Evaluation of the Program
One of the primary reasons Ohio State turned down the CBC invitation was the need for an honest evaluation of the program’s current state. The coaching staff and athletic department recognized that the team had underperformed during the regular season, and they wanted to focus their efforts on identifying and addressing the issues that had plagued them.
Diebler, in his first year as head coach, was tasked with turning around a program that had struggled for several seasons. While the team showed flashes of promise, they were inconsistent and lacked the ability to close out games. As a result, the coaching staff wanted to use the time that would have been spent preparing for the CBC to reevaluate their roster, assess individual player development, and devise a more strategic approach for the following season. The postseason was seen as an opportunity for growth and reflection, but not at the cost of further overextending a team that had already faced significant challenges during the regular season.
In his remarks about the decision, Diebler emphasized that the priority was to ensure that the program was heading in the right direction. “We’re focused on making the necessary adjustments to take this program to the next level,” he said in a press conference. “It’s important for us to assess where we stand and not to rush into a postseason that may not give us the best opportunity to grow.”
2. Roster Stability and Player Development
Another key factor in Ohio State’s decision to decline the invitation was the importance of roster stability and player development. College basketball is increasingly defined by the transfer portal, with teams constantly retooling their rosters as players move in and out of programs. Ohio State was no exception, and the coaching staff was keenly aware of the need to retain key players and develop the young talent on the roster.
By participating in the College Basketball Crown, Ohio State would have extended their season and risked further wear and tear on their players, particularly those who had been battling through injuries or had been inconsistent throughout the year. The coaching staff felt that a few extra weeks of rest and training would benefit the players more in the long run, especially as they prepared for the following season.
Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the futures of some players, particularly those in the transfer portal, made it difficult for the team to fully commit to the CBC. If Ohio State had accepted the invitation, they would have been forced to field a team that was still uncertain in terms of personnel, with potential transfers and incoming recruits on the horizon. With roster changes likely, the coaching staff opted to focus on solidifying their team for the future rather than risking further instability by extending their season in a less prestigious tournament.
3. Fan and Stakeholder Expectations
Ohio State basketball is not a program known for its mediocrity, and the fanbase has high expectations when it comes to postseason play. With the team having missed the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, there was growing frustration among fans and alumni about the direction of the program. Many supporters had hoped that Diebler’s appointment would bring a fresh approach and spark the team to return to the NCAA Tournament, but the 2024-2025 season did not provide the immediate success that was hoped for.
In light of these expectations, accepting an invitation to the College Basketball Crown could have been seen as a sign of failure or a lack of ambition. Fans were hoping for a return to the NCAA Tournament, and participation in a lesser tournament like the CBC may have been viewed as a step backward. The program’s administrators were keenly aware of the optics of such a decision, and there were concerns that playing in a tournament that lacked the same prestige as the NCAA or NIT could further damage the program’s reputation.
By declining the invitation, Ohio State was signaling to its fans, alumni, and other stakeholders that they were committed to rebuilding the program in a more strategic and sustainable way. The decision to focus on long-term goals rather than immediate postseason play was framed as an effort to restore the program’s status and reputation.
4. The Future of Jake Diebler as Head Coach
Jake Diebler’s tenure as head coach was still in its infancy, and the decision to turn down the CBC invitation also reflected a desire to give him the time and space necessary to build his program. As a first-time head coach, Diebler faced considerable pressure to prove himself, especially with Ohio State’s recent struggles. However, the decision to prioritize rebuilding over postseason play also underscored the confidence that the athletic department had in Diebler’s ability to lead the program through a period of transition.
Diebler’s commitment to development, both of his players and the program itself, was emphasized throughout the season. His decision to turn down the CBC invitation was part of a larger strategy to establish a foundation for success that would pay dividends in the years to come. While fans and pundits might have hoped for a more immediate turnaround, the administration believed that Diebler’s approach was the best path forward.
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