Latest news with #MACConferenceTournament
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball to host in-state opponent in preseason open exhibition
According to a report from Eleven Warriors, sources have indicated that the Ohio State basketball team will host a preseason exhibition with in-state MAC opponent, Ohio University. Even more importantly, the scrimmage will be open to the public, so fans will get a look at the 2025-2026 Buckeyes prior to the start of the season. The game will also mark the return of a former Ohio State assistant coach, Jeff Boals, who was a former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta assistant from 2009 to 2016. Since taking over in Athens, Boals and the Bobcats have done very well, even winning the MAC Conference Tournament in 2021. It's an important year for Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes. The momentum the program had at the end of the 2023-2024 season, when Diebler took over when Chris Holtmann was let go, was all but lost when the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season. OSU retained three key pieces on the roster with the return of Bruce Thronton, Devin Royal, and John Mobley Jr., but will have several new faces that must mesh and come together for the Buckeyes to "make a jump" this season. We should get a little peek behind the curtain when the date and time of the scrimmage against Ohio University is announced. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Conference Player of the Year Makes Final Transfer Portal Decision
John Groce and the Akron Zips reached the 2025 NCAA Tournament after capturing the MAC Conference Tournament title. The Zips finished the regular season with a 28-6 overall record, including an impressive 17-1 mark in MAC play. Advertisement Akron was the conference's lone representative in the NCAA Tournament. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they struggled in their opening game and fell 93-65 to the Arizona Wildcats. Despite the early exit, the Zips' successful season brought several individual accolades. Notably, Nate Johnson was named MAC Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Following the conclusion of the season, Johnson announced that he would be moving on from Akron. He has since chosen his next destination, making the leap from the MAC to the Big 12 Conference. Joe Tipton of On3 Sports made the news official on Sunday: "NEWS: Akron transfer guard Nate Johnson has committed to Kansas State, he told @On3sports." In Johnson's final season with the Zips, he posted 14 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Advertisement Johnson will now suit up for Jerome Tang in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats have missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons, though they reached the Elite Eight in 2023. Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34).© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In addition to Johnson, Kansas State has added two other transfers. Abdi Bashir Jr., a guard from Monmouth, is expected to contribute significantly on offense after averaging 20.1 points per game. The other addition is Khamari McGriff, a 6-foot-9 forward from UNC Wilmington. McGriff was one of the top sixth men in the country, averaging 11.6 points per game and helping lead the Seahawks to the NCAA Tournament. Related: Duke's Jon Scheyer Suffers Major Recruiting Loss on Sunday Related: Duke's Cameron Boozer Sends Message to No. 1 College Basketball Recruit
