The Ohio State basketball program is in need of a roster overhaul. After another season without making the NCAA Tournament, Jake Diebler is looking to move forward. He made some questionable moves in the transfer portal last year and is working to correct those mistakes this time around.
Several players have already left via the transfer portal this offseason, but none of them had a significant impact, so these departures aren’t major setbacks. The Buckeyes have already added a guard and have now secured a capable big man.
Having struggled with a lack of consistent scoring and rebounding from the center position, they are optimistic they’ve found the solution. Santa Clara center Christoph Tilly has committed to Ohio State from the transfer portal, providing a much-needed presence in the paint.
Christoph Tilly commits to the Ohio State basketball program
Tilly is a tall presence at 7 feet and 240 pounds. He earned Second Team All-WCC honors this past season at Santa Clara, averaging 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Broncos. Now, he’ll face much tougher competition in the Big Ten.
While Tilly had some strong performances last season, such as a 17-point game against Gonzaga, his rebounding numbers are a concern given his size. He managed to pull down double-digit rebounds only twice throughout the season.
Ohio State still needs more reinforcements from the transfer portal if they’re to improve beyond their performances over the last three years. Tilly is a solid addition, but not someone the Buckeyes can rely on consistently. They still need more talent to compete next season.
This is a crucial year for Jake Diebler. He has work to do in the transfer portal before fans can start feeling optimistic about the team’s prospects next season.
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