No. 19 Texas and Ohio State will look to start their campaigns on the best foot once they sq. off Monday in Las Vegas as a part of the season-opening Corridor of Fame Sequence. Each groups are rebuilding round key gamers from the switch portal.
The Longhorns went 21-13 in 2023-24 in coach Rodney Terry’s first full marketing campaign on the helm that included a 9-9 file of their closing season within the Huge 12. Texas earned a seventh seed within the NCAA Event and fell to Tennessee, now a Southeastern Convention rival, within the second spherical of the Midwest Area.
Terry will likely be asking for extra from his crew this season.
“That first yr we have been actually attempting to construct a tradition,” Terry stated. “We have been attempting to instill in our guys how exhausting it’s a must to work, belief the method, competing at an unbelievable stage, having a bodily mindset. Listed below are the expectations, listed here are the requirements, and that is how we do it.
“On this panorama and all the school athletics, if you happen to’re capable of have some type (of) a stage of continuity, then you definately give your self an opportunity.”
The Longhorns have two key returning gamers in reserve guard Chendall Weaver and ahead Kadin Shedrick. Texas added guards Jordan Pope as a switch from Oregon State, Tramon Mark from Arkansas and ahead Arthur Kaluma, late of Kansas State; the beginning group will likely be led by sensational 6-foot-6 freshman guard Tre Johnson, ranked because the No. 5 participant within the nation within the Class of 2024 by the 247 Sports activities Composite.
Texas expects contributions from former Indiana State forwards Julian Larry and Jayson Kent in addition to returning put up Ze’Rik Onyema, who performed in a backup function for the Longhorns final season.
The Buckeyes are of their first full season below coach Jake Diebler, who took over after Chris Holtmann was fired in February. Ohio State went 19-12 total and completed 11th of September in Huge Ten play in a three-way tie for ninth place. The Buckeyes have been a No. 2 seed within the NIT, profitable twice earlier than shedding to Georgia within the quarterfinals.
Constructing some continuity will likely be a key for early-season success for the Buckeyes, who’ve expertise however lack expertise taking part in collectively.
“We now have an awesome mixture of athleticism and talent in our entrance courtroom,” Diebler stated. “We’re gifted, we’re versatile, we have now a number of guys who can play completely different positions, however the inexperience is one thing we have now to reply. I need our guys taking part in with nice freedom, being aggressive and assured. As a coach it’s a must to create house on your gamers’ expertise to shine by means of.”
Junior guard Bruce Thornton is Ohio State’s solely returning starter from final yr’s crew. He earned all-conference honors by main the Buckeyes in scoring with 15.7 factors whereas grabbing 3.7 rebounds and meting out 4.8 assists per contest.
He will likely be joined by South Carolina switch Meechie Johnson Jr. in addition to Micah Parrish, a San Diego State switch, at guard. Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw, who performed final season at Duke and Kentucky, respectively, will begin on the forwards.
Reserves are freshman John Mobley Jr., returners Taison Chatman and Evan Mahaffey, and former Florida and Samford participant Ques Glover, who missed all of final season as a part of the Kansas State roster with a meniscus damage.
–Area Stage Media
