Who stays and who goes for the Ohio State basketball team

The Ohio State basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss on Tuesday night in the third round of the NIT. The Buckeyes were hosting Georgia and lost by just two points after Jamison Battle’s game-winning three fell just short. Now, the season is over and there is a lot that needs to be sorted out after a strong finish to the year.

Jake Diebler has already made a coaching staff move. He’s going to make more. That’s not going to be his top priority though. The number one thing that he has to get sorted out is who on the roster is going to stay with the program next year and who is headed to the portal. The transfer portal is going to be massive for the Buckeyes.

Which Ohio State basketball players stay and which go?

I wouldn’t be surprised to start seeing players enter the portal as soon as today. Felix Okpara is a name I’m watching in that regard. The center could be on his way out for another opportunity elsewhere. That would be a big blow for the Buckeyes. He has turned himself into a really solid defensive player. His post-game has gotten a lot better on offense too.

If he were to leave, that would leave the Buckeyes extremely thin up front. Zed Key leaves too. It would really just leave Austin Parks as the only big man on the roster. Parks has hardly played in his Ohio State basketball career, so that would be less than ideal. He’s also not really a shot blocker like Okpara is.

I do think that Bruce Thornton stays. He’s the best player on the team and should be even better as a junior next season. He’s the most important guy that Diebler needs to keep. If he can keep Thornton, Devin Royal, Scotty Middleton, and Okpara, the rest of the team doesn’t matter too much. Everyone else is replaceable.

Right now is when portal season starts. I expect the Ohio State basketball team to do the right thing and use the portal to their advantage.