No. 19 Texas and Ohio State will glance to start their campaigns at the proper foot after they sq. off Monday in Las Vegas as a part of the season-opening Corridor of Popularity Sequence. Each groups are rebuilding round key gamers from the switch portal.
The Longhorns went 21-13 in 2023-24 in trainer Rodney Terry’s first complete marketing campaign on the helm that integrated a 9-9 document of their ultimate season within the Large 12. Texas earned a 7th seed within the NCAA Match and fell to Tennessee, now a Southeastern Convention rival, in the second one spherical of the Midwest Area.
Terry can be inquiring for extra from his group this season.
“That first yr we have been in reality looking to construct a tradition,” Terry mentioned. “We have been looking to instill in our guys how exhausting you need to paintings, accept as true with the method, competing at an improbable stage, having a bodily mindset. Listed here are the expectancies, listed below are the criteria, and that is how we do it.
“On this panorama and all of the faculty athletics, if you are ready to have some shape (of) a degree of continuity, then you definitely give your self a possibility.”
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, overdue of Kansas State; the beginning crew can be led via sensational 6-foot-6 freshman guard Tre Johnson, ranked because the No. 5 participant within the country within the Elegance of 2024 via 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 complete season beneath trainer Jake Diebler, who took over after Chris Holtmann was once fired in February. Ohio State went 19-12 total and completed September 11 in Large Ten play in a three-way tie for 9th position. The Buckeyes have been a No. 2 seed within the NIT, profitable two times earlier than shedding to Georgia within the quarterfinals.
Development some continuity can be a key for early-season good fortune for the Buckeyes, who’ve skill however lack enjoy enjoying in combination.
“Now we have an excellent mixture of athleticism and talent in our entrance courtroom,” Diebler mentioned. “We are gifted, we are flexible, we’ve a couple of guys who can play other positions, however the inexperience is one thing we need to solution. I need our guys enjoying with nice freedom, being competitive and assured. As a trainer you need to create house to your gamers’ skill to polish via.”
Junior guard Bruce Thornton is Ohio State’s most effective returning starter from final yr’s group. He earned all-conference honors via main the Buckeyes in scoring with 15.7 issues whilst grabbing 3.7 rebounds and doling out 4.8 assists consistent with contest.
He’s going to be joined via 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 get started on the forwards.
Reserves are freshman John Mobley Jr., returners Taison Chatman and Evan Mahaffey, and previous Florida and Samford participant Ques Glover, who neglected all of final season as a part of the Kansas State roster with a meniscus harm.
–Box Degree Media
