Even casual fans know that records don’t matter when Ohio State and Michigan play, in any sport.
Mere months ago, the unranked Michigan football team, a three-touchdown underdog, stunned the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes then ran off four straight victories, all by double-digit margins, to clinch the College Football Playoff title.
It will be a role reversal on the basketball court Sunday in Columbus when unranked Ohio State (15-10, 7-7 Big Ten) tries to derail the surprising conference title hopes of No. 20 Michigan (19-5, 11-2).
“I don’t believe in minimizing that game and this rivalry,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “We’ll certainly talk, and there’s even an educational component to this game to make sure our guys understand the history of this game.
“There’s no minimizing it. There’s more to it, certainly in this time of the year and all of that, but make no mistake. This is a rivalry game, and we’ll embrace everything that comes with that.”
The Wolverines moved atop the conference standings on Tuesday with their fifth straight win, a 75-73 conquest of No. 7 Purdue as first-year coach Dusty May tries to accomplish a worst-to-first scenario. Michigan was last in the conference last season (8-24, 3-17 Big Ten) under Juwan Howard.
“We’ve got some tough games in front of us,” May said. “But this is exciting to be in mid-February playing extremely meaningful games, competing for a championship with programs, coaches, and players that are at the top of college basketball.”
He and Michigan junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. are subplots to make the rivalry even spicier. May was rumored to be a top candidate for the Ohio State job after Chris Holtmann was fired in February 2024 and Diebler took over as the interim coach.
When Diebler led the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record, including the Big Ten tournament, he was named permanent coach on March 17. About a week later, May left Florida Atlantic for Michigan.
One of May’s first transfers was Gayle, who played two seasons for the Buckeyes and likely will not receive a friendly homecoming from the fans.
Gayle started Michigan’s first 21 games but was relegated to a reserve role two games ago. He responded with 14 points against Purdue, his highest output since getting 15 against Washington on Jan. 12. He is averaging 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
“Obviously everyone has seen that Roddy hasn’t been as good as we know he is,” Michigan center Danny Wolf said. “I don’t want to say slump, but everyone goes through it throughout the season. The way that guy’s bounced back, it makes me so happy, and we know that Roddy is someone you want to have in your locker room.”
The Buckeyes are relying on a transfer, as well. Former San Diego State guard Micah Parrish followed a career-high 30 points at Nebraska on Sunday with 21 points in a 93-69 win over visiting Washington on Thursday, marking the first time in his 159-game collegiate career he posted consecutive 20-plus point games.
“When we recruited Micah, we really wanted him to have a good opportunity (offensively),” Diebler said. “I think that is what made Ohio State special for him. Sometimes when you transfer to a new program, it takes some time to settle in. We’re starting to see that now. He’s playing confident, and we have great confidence in him.”
–Field Level Media
