Ohio State men's basketball opens season vs No. 25 BYU without Bruce Thornton
The gist
Ohio State opens men's basketball season against No. 25 BYU in Salt Lake City, its earliest opener ever.
The Buckeyes added nine new players and must replace four-year captain Bruce Thornton.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026Ohio State beat Butler 82-73 in its final preseason exhibition at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, with former Ohio State and Butler coach Thad Matta in attendance.
- Oct 27, 2026In the Butler win, Ohio State held Butler to 38% shooting but allowed 19 offensive rebounds, 18 second-chance points and 30 points in the paint; Amare Bynum led with 23 points in 31 minutes.
- Nov 2, 2026Ohio State opens the regular season against No. 25 BYU at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, the earliest season opener in program history and the teams' first meeting since 1997.