The Ohio State mens basketball roster looks palpably different than it did a summer ago.
The Buckeyes added length, experience, and interior scoring via the transfer portal — most notably Christoph Tilly (Santa Clara), Brandon Noel (Wright State), and Josh Ojianwuna (Baylor) — while also returning a proven interior piece in Devin Royal and a true 7-1 center in Ivan Njegovan.
Those moves are explicitly designed to do what Ohio State couldn’t do reliably in 2024–25: win the rebounding battle, finish
at the rim, and alter shots inside. Whether the Big Ten changes its weekly game plan because of the Buckeyes depends on how quickly the new pieces translate college-level production into league-level impact.
Rebuilding the paint: why size matters
Ohio State’s need for interior reinforcements was obvious on paper. The Buckeyes finished last season with underwhelming rebounding numbers (about 33.7 rebounds per game, a below-average national mark) and too many close losses that hinged on second-chance points and interior defense.
That vulnerability shaped Jake Diebler’s offseason approach. The Buckeyes focused on adding size without sacrificing mobility, bringing in players who can finish efficiently around the rim, and creating matchup flexibility so the coaching staff can vary pace and coverage.
What the newcomers bring in practical terms is straightforward and complementary.
Christoph Tilly arrived after a productive three-year run at Santa Clara (he averaged about 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds as a junior) and projects as a floor-spacing, efficient 7-footer who steps out when needed and competes around the rim.
Brandon Noel is a seasoned mid-major star who averaged roughly 15.5 points and 8+ rebounds across his Wright State career and brings veteran instincts, toughness on the glass, and outside shooting that can stretch opposing fours.
Josh Ojianwuna provides high-efficiency interior scoring and physical finishing after productive seasons at Baylor (7.4 points, 77% FG and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2024–25), though his early-season availability is tied to a knee recovery timeline.
Add in Ivan Njegovan, a vertical rim presence, and you have a mix of size, skill, and positional options that Jake Diebler can deploy.
Schematically, Ohio State can now roll out a frontcourt with true size and versatility, and that starts with Devin Royal shifting into a more hybrid role on the wing. Royal, who thrived as an undersized four last season, will likely see extended minutes at the small forward (3) spot, giving the Buckeyes a unique blend of power and pace on the perimeter.
Alongside him, Noel projects to start at the four, providing interior toughness and stretch shooting, while Tilly anchors the five as a skilled rim protector and pick-and-pop option.
That trio offers Diebler a level of lineup flexibility rarely seen in Columbus: the ability to go big without sacrificing tempo or spacing.
Depending on the opponent, Ohio State can play matchup basketball, slide Royal back to the four in smaller looks, bring Josh Ojianwuna or Ivan Njegovan into bigger lineups, or push the tempo with Noel and Tilly spacing the floor. It’s a dynamic, size-rich rotation that can adapt to almost any style the Big Ten throws at them.
Turning size into strategy
The most immediate and measurable impact should be on rebounding and finishing at the rim.
Ohio State’s 2024–25 season was hampered by an inability to consistently secure defensive boards and limit second-chance points. Adding Tilly, Noel and Ojianwuna — all proven rebounders at the mid-major and Power Five levels — gives the Buckeyes legitimate candidates to flip that stat line.
This frontcourt makeover also reshapes Ohio State’s schematic choices on defense. With credible rim protection and capable interior rebounders, the Buckeyes can afford to send help more aggressively to the perimeter or gamble on switch coverages against pick-and-rolls. These tactics weren’t sustainable a year ago because of the risk of giving up easy interior scores.
In Big Ten terms, the shift is significant.
On paper, the conference still has elite frontcourt threats — Purdue’s 7-footer pipeline, Illinois’s size, Wisconsin’s physicality, and many others but Ohio State’s additions make it far more reasonable to argue the Buckeyes can match up physicality for physicality while also playing with pace.
If the frontcourt delivers, OSU’s perimeter stars like Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr benefit from easier driving lanes and more open looks.
The bottom line
Ohio State’s revamped frontcourt significantly closes the gap that existed in interior play a season ago. The additions bring a mix of finishing, rebounding, and size that if healthy and quickly assimilated, can change how opponents game-plan for the Buckeyes.
It’s not automatic, but the pieces are now in place for Ohio State to make a credible run. The early non-conference slate will tell us whether the theory becomes reality, and whether this new-look frontcourt can truly change the Big Ten’s balance of power.
