en-us SportSpyder - Ohio State Buckeyes Basketball (Eleven Warriors) https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/sources/10869/news Welcome to the Skull Session. It was quite a week in Columbus, all thanks to Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament. J.T. Poston gets his moment . — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) Have a good Monday. JEREMIAH SMITH — GOOD AT FOOTBALL. Last week, selected the best non-quarterback playmakers in college football entering 2026. Surprise, surprise, Jeremiah Smith was on the list. Why he's here: Smith is arguably the best overall player in the sport entering his third season. He's still seeking a Biletnikoff Award after finishing as a finalist last season and should be among the top non-quarterback candidates for the Heisman Trophy. In two seasons with the Buckeyes, he has 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, recording three or more receptions in all but one game. Last season, Smith reached the end zone in all but four games. While the Buckeyes' offense struggled in losses to Indiana and Miami to close the season, Smith still made a combined 15 receptions for 301 receiving yards. "He came in from Day 1 with a seriousness to him," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. " ... He wants to have a great third year here, but for him it's more than just playing the wide receiver position. It's going to be the impact he has on everybody else on that field." Smith is widely projected as the first non-quarterback to be selected in the 2027 NFL draft. He has been the sport's most complete wide receiver and has 420 more receiving yards and four more touchdowns than any other player since the start of the 2024 season. Other players featured on the list included Miami WR Malachi Toney, Michigan DE John Henry Daley, Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy, Texas DE Colin Simmons, Texas Tech LB Trey White and LB Adam Trick, Auburn LB Xavier Atkins, West Virginia RB Cam Cook, Virginia LB Kam Robinson, Indiana DT Tyrique Tucker, BYU RB LJ Martin, Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore, Oregon S Koi Perich and Memphis DL J’Mond Tapp. Smith is the best player on the list. But you all already knew that. The third year of Jeremiah Smith will be scary. HIS JURISDICTION. My brother. My captain. My king… My Warden. In the wake of the Browns trading two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, at his inaugural celebrity softball game that he wants to remain with the franchise. “I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.” With Garrett gone, Ward becomes the longest-tenured player on the Browns, having been with the franchise for eight years. The Northeast Ohio native has two years remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract extension he signed in April 2022. There is no guaranteed money remaining on the deal. Here for Browns CB Denzel Ward’s inaugural celebrity softball game. Ward says “I still want to be here” even after Cleveland trading Myles Garrett. — Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters last week that Ward is still a cornerstone of the team and will remain so after the Garrett deal. “He is a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” he said last week. “He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.” That’s music to my ears. Last week was a tough one. Garrett was my favorite player on the Browns, so seeing him leave Cleveland was difficult to stomach. But hearing that Ward — a Buckeye through and through — wants to continue his career in Cleveland brought me some joy over the weekend. The town will be just fine as long as the Warden is in charge. PAUL KEELS — HALL OF FAMER. The longtime “Voice of the Buckeyes” added another honor to his decorated career this weekend, earning induction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. Keels was one of 14 members of, joining a distinguished group of former players, coaches, officials and administrators. He was the only broadcaster selected. Since arriving at Ohio State in 1998, Keels has served as the play-by-play voice for Buckeye football and men's basketball. Though he's best known for calling football games alongside former Ohio State All-American offensive lineman Jim Lachey each fall, Keels has also spent decades behind the microphone with former Buckeye guard Ron Stokes on basketball broadcasts. Congrats to Big Daddy on being inducted tonight into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. — Skip Mosic (@SkipMosic) A native of Cincinnati, Keels launched his broadcasting career at WLW Radio in 1979 as a news anchor and reporter. He moved to Detroit the following year, calling Detroit Pistons games on WJR Radio in 1980 and 1981 before joining WWJ Radio, where he handled Michigan football and basketball broadcasts from 1981-87. After a short stop with UPI Radio Network in Washington, D.C., Keels returned to Cincinnati in 1988, covering the Bearcats and hosting a sports talk show on WCKY-... Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:18:13 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56879675 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56879675 false false Jake Diebler traded in a basketball for golf clubs on Wednesday. The Ohio State men’s basketball coach joined PGA Tour professionals Brian Harman (front nine) and Lucas Glover (back nine), former Buckeye quarterback Bobby Hoying and Ohio State deputy athletic director Dan Cloran for a round in the Memorial Tournament’s Golden Bear Pro-Am. Ohio Stars mens basketball coach Jake Diebler is playing in the Memorial Tournaments Golden Bear Pro-Am. He's spent a lot of time speaking with fans and signing autographs so far. — Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) Diebler’s appearance came one year after Ohio State football coach Ryan Day. The national championship-winning coaches teamed up with PGA Tour professionals Justin Thomas (front nine) and Corey Conners (back nine) at Muirfield Village Golf Club, with philanthropist Lee Styslinger III rounding out the group. Hoying quarterbacked Ohio State from 1992-95 and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. The Philadelphia Eagles selected him with the No. 85 overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, and he spent six NFL seasons between the Eagles and the Oakland Raiders. Cloran is in his 13th year at Ohio State and has served as executive associate athletic director for development and sports administration for the past 11. He oversees men’s basketball, men's golf and women's golf for the Buckeyes. Ohio State mens basketball coach Jake Diebler crushed this drive down the middle. — Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) Over the portion of the round Eleven Warriors observed — holes Nos. 1-3 — Diebler showed both power and accuracy off the tee but struggled to adjust to the speed of the tour-level greens. His best shot came on the par-3 third hole, where he finished closest to the pin. Harman’s tee shot came up short and settled near the greenside water, Hoying found the bunker and Cloran missed left into the rough. Diebler’s worst shot came on his final hole of the day, as an errant approach shot right of the green bounced off the top of a stroller, but fortunately avoided striking anyone in the gallery. “I almost hit somebody. Thank God I didn’t. It was close,” Diebler said after the round. Overall, Diebler assessed his play on Wednesday as “not great.” But he was proud to receive a compliment on his driving from one of the pros he played with, and said it was an honor to play in an event hosted by Jack Nicklaus. “To be a part of an event hosted by one of the ultimate Buckeyes is pretty special,” Diebler said. Diebler also enjoyed having the opportunity to interact with Ohio State fans throughout the day, stopping to sign autographs and/or take photos with just about everyone who asked. “When you get to sit in the seat, you've got a responsibility to give back. And we have unbelievable support. People are really excited about this team. We felt that today. And listen, I was once those kids. So I try not to take a single opportunity for granted and want to make sure that we're taking care of those young Buckeye fans. “It’s a great reminder: Buckeye Nation is the best. And any time you get a chance to get out and be around them, it's a great thing.” Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:58:41 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56838111 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56838111 false false After nearly a decade away from Columbus, Dave Richardson is returning to Ohio State. Jake Diebler has added Richardson as the Buckeyes' strength and conditioning coach, the same position Richardson previously held from 2005-17, the Ohio State coach announced Monday. Richardsons getting us ready in the weight room Buckeye Nation, welcome back Dave Richardson as our Strength and Conditioning Coach | — Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) Richardson returns to Columbus after spending the last eight years as the strength and conditioning coach for Arkansas men's basketball, a position he held under Mike Anderson (2018-19), Eric Musselman (2019-24) and John Calipari (2024-26). He also served as strength and conditioning coach for the Razorbacks' women's tennis team since 2018, along with the women's basketball team since 2019. Dave Richardson's Strength and Conditioning Experience YEAR SCHOOL TITLE 1986-90 LOUISIANA MONROE STUDENT ASSISTANT 1990-95 NICHOLLS STATE HEAD S&C COACH 1991 CENTRAL AMERICA'S DAVIS CUP TENNIS TEAM HEAD S&C COACH 1995-2001 LOUISIANA MONROE HEAD S&C COACH 2001-05 MIAMI (FLORIDA) ASSISTANT S&C COACH 2005-18 OHIO STATE HEAD S&C COACH 2018-26 ARKANSAS HEAD S&C COACH While in Fayetteville, Richardson earned his Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E) designation by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in June 2020. “The RSCC Program represents the highest standards of experience and education for strength and conditioning coaches in the industry,” NSCA’s Coaching Program Manager Eric McMahon . “We are proud to recognize Coach Richardson with our highest coaching designation for his continued service and dedication to the strength and conditioning profession.” The 63-year-old has been a strength and conditioning coach since 1990 after serving five years in the Army, where he was also a member of the All-Army powerlifting team. He's been a strength and conditioning coach at five different universities over the last three-plus decades: Nicholls State (1990-95), Northeast Louisiana (1995-2001), Miami (Florida) (2001-05), Ohio State (2005-18) and Arkansas (2018-26). Thad Matta initially hired Richardson as Ohio State’s strength and conditioning coach in 2005, following Matta's first season at OSU. It was a position he held for 12 seasons before Matta was fired in 2017. Chris Holtmann, who took over for Matta, didn't retain Richardson, who became the strength and conditioning coach for Ohio State's men's lacrosse before making the move to Arkansas in 2018. Richardson has been part of plenty of successful men's basketball teams over the last two decades. Most recently, Arkansas has advanced to the Sweet 16 in five of the last six years, after previously doing so only once since 1996. During his 12 seasons on Matta's staff, Richardson helped the Buckeyes to 11 postseason appearances, including five Sweet 16 berths, two Final Fours, a national runner-up finish in 2007 and an NIT championship in 2008. He coached nine players who were selected in the NBA draft and 21 who went on to play professionally. Throughout that 12-year stint, Richardson proved to be more than just a strength and conditioning coach for the Buckeyes, as former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas explained that he provided OSU players with much more than just Richardson's title suggests. "Coach Richardson was far more than a strength and conditioning coach to us at Ohio State," Thomas told Eleven Warriors. "He consistently challenged us mentally and inspired us to perform at our highest level. He emphasized the values of toughness, discipline, and personal growth, helping shape us not only into better athletes but into responsible and resilient men. "What distinguished Coach Richardson most was his emphasis on mental fortitude. He taught us how to persevere through adversity, how to continue pushing ourselves when fatigued, and how to compete with pride and commitment for the name on the front of our jerseys," he continued. "He made it clear that mental toughness was every bit as important as physical strength. "Many of the lessons he taught me remained with me throughout my professional career overseas. In particular, during difficult fourth-quarter situations when exhaustion sets in and the outcome of the game is uncertain, mental and physical preparedness are what elevate performance to another level. Coach Richardson helped prepare us for those defining moments, and that is something I will always respect and deeply appreciate about him." Richardson and Diebler were previously on the same coaching staff at Ohio State from 2013-16, when the current Buckeyes' head coach was Matta's video coordinator while Dave Dickerson was an assistant. Now, the three are reunited in Columbus. OSU in April, who had led the strength and conditioning program for Ohio State men’s basketball since 2017. Richardson is one of three new members of Ohio State’s staff for the 2026-27 season. Diebler also hired as an a... Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:37:47 GMT Josh Poloha https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56808393 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56808393 false false Jake Diebler has added an Ohio State basketball legend to his staff. Diebler announced Monday that former Buckeye guard William Buford will join the program as a program assistant. He played at Ohio State from 2008-12 before spending the next 14 years playing professionally overseas. Buford is back with the Buckeyes Buckeye Nation, welcome back William Buford as our new Program Assistant | — Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) Buford arrived in Columbus as one of the nation's top recruits. A Toledo native, he was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American after averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior at Libbey High School. He signed with Thad Matta and the Buckeyes as a five-star prospect in the 2008 recruiting class. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Buford improved in each of his four seasons at Ohio State, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition as a sophomore (14.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and second-team honors as both a junior (14.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG) and senior (14.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG). By the end of his career, he had scored 1,990 points, which now ties Jerry Lucas for fourth place on the program's all-time scoring list. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard was a key contributor on some of the most successful teams in program history. Ohio State reached four consecutive NCAA Tournaments during his career, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2010 and 2011 before making a Final Four run in 2012. After going undrafted in 2012, Buford carved out a lengthy professional career overseas. While he briefly appeared in NBA Summer League and G League competition, he spent the bulk of his 14-year career playing in Germany, France, Greece, Italy and Turkey. The coaching staff in Columbus has been finalized for the 2026-2027 season | — Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) Buford also helped lead Carmen's Crew to a , earning tournament MVP honors as the Ohio State alumni team captured its first title and the event's $2 million winner-take-all prize. The addition of Buford is one of several staff announcements Diebler made on Monday. He also promoted Jamall Walker to associate head coach, hired Mike Wells as an assistant coach and hired . Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:37:42 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56808391 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56808391 false false John Mobley Jr. is returning for his third season with the Buckeyes. Ohio State basketball’s creative team fittingly made the announcement official — like the return of a Marvel superhero. John Mobley Jr. will return. — Eleven Warriors (@11W) After a sensational sophomore campaign in which he averaged 15.7 points per game while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc, Mobley entered the NBA draft process to explore his professional options. The honorable mention All-Big Ten selection stayed committed to that plan earlier this month, even after not receiving an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine on May 1. But just over two weeks later, Mobley decided to run it back in Columbus. His return is a massive boost for Jake Diebler’s squad, which also brings back Amare Bynum, Josh Ojianwuna and Ivan Njegovan from last season’s roster. Diebler and the Buckeyes were also aggressive in the transfer portal, adding guards (Cal), (Duquesne) and (Memphis), along with forward (Kentucky). Top-10 prospect headlines Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class, the program’s highest-rated recruit since Jared Sullinger in 2010. Thompson is also Ohio State’s first five-star commit since D’Angelo Russell in 2014 and its . The Buckeyes also added forwards and in the class. Mon, 18 May 2026 23:18:00 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56665891 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56665891 false false Jake Diebler has added an assistant coach with more than two decades of NBA coaching experience. Six weeks after Ohio State's top assistant, Joel Justus, , the Buckeyes hired Mike Wells as an assistant coach on Wednesday, a source told Eleven Warriors. The 54-year-old stepped down from being the head coach of the NBL's Adelaide 36ers in Australia last week, as he wanted to return to the United States and be closer to his family, who resides in Utah. Wells led the 36ers to the 2026 NBL Championship Series this past season. Adelaide's 27-14 record in Wells' lone season leading the team was their best since 1986. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've built in Adelaide over the past two seasons," . "The players, staff and fans have made my family and me welcome. Adelaide is a special place, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the 36ers. "But having spent some time back home in Utah with my sons, seeing my dad who is getting older, realizing I have been away from family for much of the past three decades, I know the decision to step down to be with my family is right." Mike Wells' Coaching Career YEAR TEAM/SCHOOL ROLE 1993-94 MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE ASSISTANT 1994-96 HOUSTON ROCKETS ASSISTANT VIDEO COORDINATOR 1996-99 HOUSTON ROCKETS VIDEO COORDINATOR 1999-2004 HOUSTON ROCKETS ASSISTANT 2004-05 LOS ANGELES LAKERS ASSISTANT 2005-09 SAN ANTONIO SPURS ASSISTANT 2009-11 WASHINGTON WIZARDS ASSISTANT 2011-13 GEORGE MASON ASSISTANT 2013-14 SOUTH FLORIDA ASSISTANT 2014-22 UTAH JAZZ ASSISTANT 2023-24 CHARLOTTE HORNETS ASSISTANT 2024-25 ADELAIDE 36ERS ASSISTANT 2025-26 ADELAIDE 36ERS HEAD COACH A native of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Wells played basketball at Mount Vernon Nazarene from 1991-93 before starting his coaching career in 1993, where he was an assistant for Mount Vernon Nazarene while also attending the United States Sports Academy. After just one season at his alma mater, Wells joined the Houston Rockets as an intern and assistant video coordinator in 1994 before becoming the video coordinator in 1996. He was then promoted to an assistant coach in 1999. He has over 27 years of coaching experience, both as an assistant at the college, NBA and NBL levels, along with his lone season as a head coach in Australia after being elevated from assistant to the head job this past season. His coaching history includes assistant coaching tenures with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets. He won NBA championships with the Rockets in 1995 and Spurs in 2007. "He is not only an outstanding coach, but a person of great character who has made a significant impact," 36ers owner and executive chairman Grant Kelley said of Wells. Along with that experience, he also served as an assistant coach with USA Basketball in three of six qualifying windows for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, was a head scout for Team USA from 1998-2003 and was the Jazz's director of basketball operations in his final three seasons (of eight) with the NBA team between 2014-22. Wells joins a staff of assistant coaches that also includes Dave Dickerson, Jamall Walker, Luke Simons and Brian Walsh, each of whom returns from last season. Ohio State is still looking for a new strength and conditioning coach to fill out Jake Diebler's staff after the Buckeyes , who had led the strength and conditioning program for Ohio State men’s basketball since 2017. Thu, 14 May 2026 01:16:38 GMT Josh Poloha https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56613110 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56613110 false false Ohio State is adding a late bit of size to its 2026 freshman class. 7-foot-1 center , who is from Serbia but spent this past season playing in the United States for Wasatch Academy, committed to Ohio State on Friday. A very late riser in the class, Lazarevic had recently visited the 2026 national runner-up and 2025 national champion UConn. NEWS: 7-foot-1 Serbian center Vuk Lazarevic has committed to Ohio State, his agent Stevan Petrovic of told . — Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) Lazarevic hails from Belgrade, Serbia, where he developed a diverse skill set for a man of his size. He can drive to finish at the rim and distribute in the passing game, and has even been known to knock down a 3-pointer or two. The Lazarevic File Class: 2026 Size: 7-1/200 Pos: C School: Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) A move to the United States to play for a basketball powerhouse in Wasatch Academy introduced Lazarevic to a higher level of competition. He held his own in Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging 8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and a team-high 1.2 blocks per game. Lazarevic's international experience includes a few games with KK Crvena Zvezda Youth, competing in an Adriatic Junior Liga ABA tournament against other top junior players from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Slovenia. Unrated by the major recruiting services, Lazarevic has great length and a handful of still-developing skills that make him an intriguing prospect. He joins in Ohio State's 2026 freshman class. He becomes the fourth center on the Buckeyes' 2026-27 roster, joining redshirt senior Josh Ojianwuna, Kentucky transfer and junior Andrija Jelavić and junior Ivan Njegovan. Fri, 08 May 2026 20:59:43 GMT Andy Anders https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56558115 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56558115 false false Alabama will stay the course and play Ohio State in 2027 and 2028. According to , the Crimson Tide have decided to keep the Buckeyes on their 2027 and 2028 schedules. The report comes after sources told On3 that Alabama canceled its two-game series with Oklahoma State in 2028 and 2029. In a February interview with Eleven Warriors, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said the Buckeyes looked forward to facing the Crimson Tide in Columbus in 2027 and Tuscaloosa in 2028. Bjork believes “high-level matchups” like Ohio State vs. Alabama benefit the sport and are the kinds of games fans want to see. “We should not be afraid of that here at Ohio State. We need to embrace all opponents. We need to embrace high-level matchups,” Bjork said. “We’re driving value in this whole new era of college sports. Until somebody shows us a different model where those games will cost you either way, then we will look at it. "But until then, these games are on the schedule. There are contracts in place that have been in place for a long, long time. We’re going to honor those contracts unless there’s another way, another model that somebody presents to us that says, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t play those games because it’s going to cost you in this category.’ Then we’re going to embrace these high-leverage matchups.” Bjork pointed to Ohio State’s 2026 schedule as an example of elite competition preparing the Buckeyes for a championship run. Ohio State will battle Texas in nonconference play before facing conference opponents such as Iowa, Indiana, USC, Oregon and Michigan this fall. “I think it prepares you for what the rest of the Big Ten looks like, and then it prepares you for the postseason and what that looks like. You need to see teams that you match up with throughout the year. Ohio State’s always going to embrace these kinds of matchups,” Bjork said. “These games were put on the schedule for a reason. Both institutions embraced it at the time. Again, until somebody shows us a different model, we need to go in and embrace these games and win. That’s the goal: win all these games and make sure we come out on top.” Thu, 07 May 2026 17:38:19 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56543675 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56543675 false false Ohio State's nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons just added a lot more difficulty. The Buckeyes are scheduling a home-and-home series with UConn, the 2025 NCAA Tournament champions and 2026 NCAA Tournament runner-up, for those two campaigns. Ohio State will play at UConn in the 2026-27 season before the Huskies travel to Columbus for the rematch in 2027-28. The Buckeyes have already scheduled three other power conference opponents for 2026-27: Neutral-site games with BYU and Kansas and a road contest at Notre Dame, the conclusion of a home-and-home with the Fighting Irish that started this past year. This year's meeting will be the seventh all-time between Ohio State and UConn, with the Buckeyes holding a 4-2 record all-time against the Huskies. OSU won the previous meeting between them in 2016 by a 64-60 scoreline. UConn has achieved great heights under head coach Dan Hurley in the past several seasons. As Jake Diebler seeks similar – or even comparable – peaks for his program, the Huskies will be a great litmus test. Wed, 06 May 2026 23:54:03 GMT Andy Anders https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56535857 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56535857 false false Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next. Duke, Amazon Reach Multi-Year Agreement to Televise Marquee Basketball Games One of the biggest names in the sport has entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership with Amazon, as the latter's streaming service will televise three of the Blue Devils' marquee men's basketball games next season, the . It marks Prime Video's first college sports partnership, as Amazon will have exclusive rights for three of Duke's biggest non-conference games next season: Nov. 25: vs. UConn in Las Vegas Dec. 21: vs. Michigan at MSG Feb. 20: vs. Gonzaga in Detroit Beginning with the upcoming season, Prime Video will exclusively present three Duke neutral-site non-conference games over the next three seasons. "It's exciting to bring this relationship with Duke University to life, and we're looking forward to presenting this premium college basketball showcase to fans around the world next season and beyond," said Charlie Neiman, Head of Sports Partnerships, Prime Video. "Duke basketball games transcend the schedule, and the creation of this all-new offering gives fans more of what we all want, marquee matchups featuring the most successful programs in the nation." "In addition to our outstanding partnership with ESPN, we are excited to work with Prime Video on this groundbreaking initiative," said Nina King, Vice President and King-Compton Families Director of Athletics, Duke. "As Prime Video's first college sports partner, this collaboration not only expands the global reach of Duke Men's Basketball, but also creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes in a way that reflects innovation and excellence." But, how, you ask, given that the ACC has a television rights deal with ESPN? Duke worked with the ACC and ESPN on future scheduling commitments – including playing in select additional ESPN-owned and operated men's basketball neutral-site events – in exchange for the ability to play these three neutral-site games, including participating in neutral-site events in the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. That said, the Big Ten notified the ACC and ESPN on Friday that it owns the rights of the announced neutral-site game between Duke and Michigan at MSG, according to . So, it looks like there could be some loopholes to iron out sooner rather than later. While Duke continually churns out NBA talent and its recruiting classes are among the best in the country every year, the Blue Devils have now gained another advantage, both for their players and in the recruiting space: NIL money from Amazon. Big 12 Reaches Private Capital Deal Six months after the Big Ten put its , the on Wednesday, becoming the first conference in major college sports to reach a league-wide, private capital deal. The deal was approved by all 16 university presidents and chancellors in the conference. While it's unclear which Big 12 schools will consider taking the money, RedBird will provide the conference with a $12.5 million capital infusion and help create more commercial revenue. It could also have ramifications on TV deals down the road, according to ESPN. RedBird is the second-biggest shareholder of Paramount, which owns CBS and is working to acquire TNT. And that could help create additional television partners for the Big 12 during its next negotiating window. The league's current broadcast deal expires in 2031. Media rights deals for major conferences account for a majority of the revenue distributed to its members. While it may yield a short-term gain due to the infusion of money, it could have long-term effects, given past talks of a possible super league and other factors in the ever-changing college sports landscape. In December, Utah, which is a member of the Big 12, became (Otro Capital). Jameson Williams Files Lawsuit, Sues NCAA, Big Ten and SEC Over NIL Misuse Williams is seeking to hold the NCAA accountable after not receiving any NIL compensation. The former Ohio State and Alabama wide receiver and current Detroit Lion sued the NCAA, Big Ten and SEC over allegations that they have used his name, image, and likeness – both during his time in college and since then – in on Tuesday. Williams, who played at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020 before finishing his collegiate career at Alabama in 2021, now wants money — and an injunction barring the defendants from using his NIL “for financial or any similar gain or reason without his consent and compensation.” “To date, Williams has received no fair compensation from Defendants for the full commercial value of his name, image, and likeness. Defendants continuously financially benefit from Jameson Williams’ name, image and likeness rights, while also doing so without providing him with just compensation. In addition, Williams also wants "the social media earnings that (he) would have received but for Defendants’ unlawful conduct” as well as a... Sun, 03 May 2026 19:38:59 GMT 11W Staff https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56498514 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56498514 false false Bruce Thornton is one of 73 NBA draft hopefuls who will get a chance to display their skills live in front of scouts at the NBA Scouting Combine. The renowned Ohio State guard received an invitation to the combine, per a release from the NBA on Friday. The NBA announced today that 73 players have been invited to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026, which will take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago. Additionally, a select number of standout players from the AWS NBA G League Draft Combine 2026, — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) Thornton's 2025-26 Buckeye teammate and star guard John Mobley Jr. did not receive an invite to the combine, but an Ohio State spokesperson confirmed to Eleven Warriors that he is still going through the NBA draft process while maintaining his eligibility and is on the league's list of early entrants. An initial release from the NBA on Monday did not include Mobley as an early entrant. Thornton aims for a first-round selection in the 2026 NBA draft after solidifying himself as one of the greatest Buckeye hoopers to ever don the Scarlet and Gray. The only four-time captain in team history, he became the school'sin his senior season, finishing with 2,164. He also landed at No. 3 all-time in Ohio State history in assists, with 541. While Thornton started from the first game of his freshman season and became a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection, steady improvement led to the best season of his career as a senior in 2025-26. He racked up 19.9 points per game on a 55.4% clip from the field, both career highs, while shooting a fantastic 40% from three. He tacked on 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game to contribute in all facets of winning, guiding Ohio State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in four years. Mobley is a major piece the Buckeyes hope to get back for his would-be junior season in 2026-27, which could be likely, given that he's not projected as an NBA draft pick in the latest As a sophomore, he picked up 15.7 points per game and shot 41.1% from 3-point range, good for fifth in the Big Ten among qualified shooters. He added 2.8 assists per game en route to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Mobley announced he'd be going through the NBA draft process while maintaining his collegiate eligibility via social media . In his posts, he confirmed that he wouldn't be entering the transfer portal and will return to Ohio State if he withdraws from the 2026 NBA draft. May 27 is the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft who wish to maintain their college eligibility. Fri, 01 May 2026 22:05:44 GMT Andy Anders https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56482149 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball/articles/56482149 false false