Latest news with #BruceThornton
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball drops a bit in latest Joe Lunardi March Madness bracketolgy
Yeah, most of us are counting the days down to the start of Ohio State football, but each month that passes by also gets us closer and closer to the start of another college basketball season. To be fair, there's been a little apathy from fans on the banks of the Olentangy with the men's basketball program because the administration just doesn't seem to have the same set of winning expectations the football program has, especially after missing the NCAA Tournament three straight years now. But there is some optimism growing in Columbus after several transfer portal additions, and perhaps, even some addition by subtraction for guys that underperformed. Add those ingredients to the mix of returning production like guards Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr., as well as forward Devin Royal, and maybe, just maybe, head coach Jake Diebler can get this thing turned around. The national media seem to be buying into what Ohio State can be this winter as well. Even ESPN's resident bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, has been fairly bullish on the Buckeyes, having them as a way-too-early No. 4 seed during his May effort of projecting all the teams that will make the 2026 NCAA Tournament. But that has slipped a little, according to what Lunardi shared for his June bracketology drop. No longer does one of the most popular bracketologists no longer have OSU on the No. 4 seed line; he's actually dropped the Buckeyes two seed lines down to No. 6. That seems a little harsh based on really not a whole lot of movement in a month by teams either way during the offseason, but based on what we've seen from Ohio State over the last three years, I guess it is to be expected. So, where and who does Lunardi have the Buckeyes playing in the first round (keeping in mind there's no way this will be right at this point in trying to figure it all out)? Ohio State is slotted in the West region, playing in San Diego against No. 11 seed VCU. We could throw out more caveats than an insurance terms and conditions disclosure here, so don't get too upset about any of this. After all, would you sign up for this now, knowing that OSU hasn't been a part of March Madness since 2022? I think so. Now, we'll let you get back to your regularly scheduled football programming ... Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball guard Bruce Thornton discusses why he returned to Buckeyes
#Buckeyes Bruce Thornton leaned on his morals when he decided to return for another season; loyal to the program. @OhioStateHoops Loyalty can be a hard thing to come by in the day and age of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. You can't blame college players for looking out for themselves, but it's refreshing when a guy makes a decision based on a commitment and follows through on what he started. That's where Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton comes in. During his three years in Columbus, the Buckeyes have yet to reach the NCAA Tournament. The program has been in purgatory, trying to get back to where it once was, and he's thought to be a key part of that. It has to be disappointing to not experience some of the things Thornton thought he would when he committed to play on the banks of the Olentangy, so nobody could really blame him if he decided to move on to another program for his last season in college. That's not what happened, though. Instead, Thornton decided to come back to Columbus for his last season to help lead the team to where he thinks it can go. When asked by Kellyanne Stitts of the ABC affiliate in Columbus, WSYX, on what went into his decision to return to Ohio State, Thornton pointed to unfinished business. "I've always been a loyal guy," Thornton said. "Me being here just sticking it out just showing love back to Ohio State because they've been nothing but great to me this whole time since I've been here throughout the whole process, good, bad and ugly, so it just felt right to do it one more time. Thornton was then asked about all of the new guys on the team this season and how things are coming together, and he felt quite optimistic. "We have a lot of new guys this year, and I'm very excited," said Thornton. "I feel like our chemistry and our camaraderie together to try to build each and every day the best way we can each and every day so that we can be the best team we can possibly be." But there always has to be improvement to continue to move things forward, so the All-Big Ten performer was then asked what he's looking for in his game coming into the season. "I'm just trying to win games. I don't care what else I do, just make sure I win games and put a banner up in our practice gym, that's it." There seems to be more optimism coming out of the program this year. Something feels a little different, but of course, things have to happen on the court for the program to start to get back to one of the best in the Big Ten, and by extension, the country. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Ohio State incoming transfer Christoph Tilly is already balling in Columbus
The Ohio State basketball program went through an extreme makeover after the disappointing season last year. The Buckeyes kept the likes of Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, and John Mobley Jr., but they lost others who were thought to be key pieces of the future when OSU got them prior. So, head coach Jake Diebler and the staff had to retool a bit and try to bring in the talent and pieces they thought could build momentum to get back to the NCAA Tournament this year and lay a foundation for getting the team back among one of the best in the Big Ten and country. One of those keys was to bring in a big man, but not just any big man. Today's game almost necessitates a guy who can go both inside and out for spacing on the floor and forced matchups from the other sideline. To do that, Ohio State went out and convinced former Santa Clara big man, Christop Tilly to come to Columbus out of the transfer portal. We've already heard from Dielber on what he brings to the table, but now we have some highlights of him balling out in some of the controlled scrimmages the OSU basketball team has been going through. By the looks of the video shared on the Ohio State Hoops "X" account, it sure feels like Tilly should provide Ohio State with some scoring, athleticism, and needed stretching of opposing Big Ten defenses next year. Take a look for yourself below. There's a lot of optimism in Columbus because of Tilly and the other pieces that have been brought in, but it all means absolutely nothing until the team shows what it can do on the floor when things tip off this winter. Let's hope what we're hearing from the coaches and players unfolds the way they -- and fans -- would like. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State point guard Bruce Thornton makes decision for next season
Ohio State point guard Bruce Thornton makes decision for next season One of the few bright spots on the Ohio State Men's basketball team over the past few seasons has announced he will be returning for one more run with the Buckeyes. Do-it-all point guard Bruce Thornton will be back in Columbus for his final year of eligibility. Thornton has been a leader for Ohio State on and off the floor since he arrived on campus in 2022. Named third-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore, Thornton would do himself one better his junior year with a second-team All-Conference selection. He led the team the past season in scoring at nearly 18 points per game and assists with close to five per contest. He led the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio and was in the Top 10 nationally. Thornton also topped the 1,000-point mark earlier in the year and now stands at No. 21 on the all-time scoring list in Buckeye basketball history. He should easily move into the Top 10 with another season under his belt. He is No. 10 all-time in program history with 408 assists. Thornton has been a starter for the Buckeyes since day one and is a three-time captain. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he'll become the first four-time captain ever at Ohio State. He's pretty special, to say the least. Head coach Jake Diebler has to be ecstatic to be getting his veteran point guard back for one more run. It gives the Buckeyes the experience they need along with Devin Royal and freshman John Mobley Jr. Diebler will need to add some pieces after losing several players to the transfer portal if OSU wants to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for a fourth year in a row. Having Thornton back makes that path much more attainable.
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness to March Sadness. Ohio State declines invitation to College Basketball Crown
March Madness to March Sadness. Ohio State declines invitation to College Basketball Crown If you were like me, you were waiting on the edge of your seat to see if the Ohio State basketball team somehow snuck its way into all of the March Madness with an invite to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday evening. When that didn't happen, my gaze quickly fixed on the new College Basketball Crown tournament put on by Fox Sports because that's where the Buckeyes were obligated to play contractually if they didn't get into the NCAA and wanted an option to get into another tournament. By finishing as one of the Big Ten's top two teams in the NCAA's NET rankings not to be picked for the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes were prohibited from playing in the NIT, even if they had desired to do so. As it turns out, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch, head coach Jake Diebler and staff have decided to decline the invitation for the College Basketball Crown and will instead end the 2024-2025 season in a state of disrepair, having missed the NCAA Tournament three straight years now. That means a season that started out with such promise has ended transitioning things to a very, very important offseason for the program. The roster almost has to look different after it never really came together. It's unclear if some players like Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal will enter the transfer portal or trust the process to get the OSU program back among the best in the country. For Thornton, in particular, it will be his last chance to have a crack at March Madness. How active Ohio State is in the transfer portal itself in attracting talent that can turn things around in short order will also be key. Long story short -- there are likely to be quite a few moves in the offseason with personnel, so prepare to have your head on a swivel as Diebler looks to reshape and retool things for a run at the NCAA Tournament next year.
