Both Ohio State programs entered March Madness with momentum and legitimate expectations, as the men’s team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022 and the women’s team looked to build on a strong regular season and recent tournament success.
Each squad earned favorable positions to make a push, with the men drawing a competitive first-round matchup and the women advancing to the second round with confidence. Despite those opportunities, neither team was able to break through to the second weekend—bringing a familiar sense of frustration back to Columbus.
From a narrow, last-second loss for the men to another early exit for the women, the results leave Ohio State with plenty to evaluate. There were clear signs of progress, standout individual performances, and young cores worth believing in—but also lingering questions about what it will take to take the next step.
OHIO STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Ohio State men’s team entered Thursday’s first-round matchup as the No. 8 seed, returning to the NCAA Tournament looking to build on a strong finish to the regular season. The Buckeyes drew No. 9 seed TCU, setting up a physical, tightly contested opener.
TCU controlled the game early, using its defense and rebounding to disrupt Ohio State’s rhythm. The Horned Frogs built a double-digit lead in the first half and took a 15-point advantage into the break, putting the Buckeyes in a difficult position.
Ohio State responded with urgency in the second half, tightening up defensively and finding a groove offensively. The Buckeyes chipped away at the deficit and eventually erased it, briefly taking the lead as Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. helped spark the comeback.
The final minutes turned into a back-and-forth battle. Thornton delivered a clutch three to tie the game late, but TCU answered on the other end with a go-ahead layup in the closing seconds. Ohio State’s final look came up short, sealing a 66-64 loss.
Micah Robinson led TCU with 18 points, while Xavier Edmonds and David Punch added key contributions, with Punch recording a double-double. Ohio State had a balanced scoring effort, led by Mobley Jr., but couldn’t overcome the early deficit.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes’ slow start and TCU’s physical play proved to be the difference, as Ohio State’s comeback effort fell just short in a first-round exit.
TAKEAWAYS
The Buckeyes getting back to the tournament for the first time since 2022 is a step forward. This is a program with high expectations—and it should be—but progress was made. Now it’s about taking that next leap.
If the core of John Mobley, Devin Royal, and Amare Bynum stays intact through the portal cycle, that’s a strong foundation. Add in five-star freshman Anthony Thompson—the program’s first since D’Angelo Russell and the 2026 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year—and this group has real upside. You’d still like to see an experienced ball-handling guard and a physical presence at center from the portal, along with development from returning pieces.
Losing Bruce Thornton hurts. You don’t replace an all-time leading scorer easily. But Thompson is expected to help carry that scoring load.
There are still questions about Jake Diebler, but he’s set up well heading into 2026-27. There’s a long way to go, but the biggest step was getting back to the tournament—and they did that. Now it’s time for more.
OHIO STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Ohio State women’s team entered Monday night’s second-round matchup looking to build off a strong opening performance, after defeating Howard 75-54 behind a dominant second quarter where they outscored the Bison 23-4. Jaloni Cambridge led the way with 21 points in that win, carrying momentum into a matchup with a surging Notre Dame squad.
The Fighting Irish advanced with a 79-60 win over Fairfield and came in red hot, winning nine of their last 11 games since early February. They were led by Hannah Hidalgo, who filled the stat sheet in the first round with 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Ohio State couldn’t have opened much better, racing out to an 11-0 lead behind Cambridge’s early scoring burst and strong defensive pressure. The Buckeyes controlled the tempo early and led 22-20 after one, but Notre Dame quickly settled in and began to take control in the second quarter.
The game turned when the Irish started breaking Ohio State’s press and dominating second-chance opportunities. A cold stretch offensively, combined with turnovers, allowed Notre Dame to build an eight-point halftime lead. The Buckeyes never fully recovered.
Ohio State showed fight in the third, going on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to three and eventually within two, but each push was answered by the Irish. Notre Dame’s efficiency in the paint and ability to capitalize on extra possessions kept them in front.
In the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes went ice cold, going more than seven minutes without a field goal as Notre Dame stretched the lead into double digits. Timely threes and steady free-throw shooting from the Irish sealed it down the stretch. The Irish will be playing in the second weekend for the fifth consecutive year.
Hannah Hidalgo led the way for Notre Dame with a dominant all-around performance, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 steals. Meanwhile, Jaloni Cambridge did everything she could to keep Ohio State alive, erupting for 41 points and 7 rebounds in a standout effort.
Ultimately, turnovers, second-chance points, and a prolonged scoring drought proved too much to overcome, as the Buckeyes exit the tournament short of the Sweet 16 once again.
TAKEAWAYS
It’s another early exit for a Kevin McGuff team in the NCAA Tournament—a trend that’s continued since the Buckeyes’ Elite Eight run in 2023, which included a win over UConn. That means both programs will face some scrutiny, but this one feels a little different.
Unlike past McGuff teams that leaned on veteran experience—players like Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry, Taylor Mikesell, and Jacy Sheldon—this group is young. Chance Gray is the only rotation senior departing, and while her presence will be missed, the core is still very much intact.
The Cambridge sisters, Jaloni and Kennedy, are stars, with Jaloni earning All-American honors this season. Elsa Lemmila and Ava Watson both took major steps as sophomores, and a talented freshman class is set to take on bigger roles next year.
There’s still work to do in the portal to add experience and depth, but if this core stays together, this team is well-positioned to finally break through and get past that first weekend in 2026-27.
