Ohio State men’s basketball will host Butler on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus in its final exhibition game before the regular season begins. The contest will be streamed on B1G+ and carried on the Ohio State Radio Network, with Paul Keels and Ron Stokes on the call.
The matchup serves as the Buckeyes’ final dress rehearsal before the regular season opens on Nov. 2. Ohio State has already played one exhibition this fall, facing Cincinnati on Oct. 7 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason in an outdoor setting, where guard John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes with 15 points against the Bearcats.
Sunday’s halftime will bring a special moment for the program, as Ohio State honors legendary head coach Thad Matta. The recognition connects both teams on the floor, because Matta coached at Butler as well as at Ohio State during his career.
Matta built a 21-season head coaching career that included 502 victories, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Fours and eight conference titles. His coaching stops included Ohio State, Butler and Xavier, making Sunday’s opponent a fitting part of the celebration of his impact on college basketball in Ohio and beyond.
On the court, Mobley Jr. will be a focal point again for Ohio State. He was named Preseason All-Big Ten heading into the season after establishing himself as one of the program’s most productive perimeter shooters, making 174 three-pointers in his first two seasons — the seventh-most in program history.
Mobley Jr. also went through the NBA draft process before returning to Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes an experienced guard to lean on as they finish exhibition play. Sunday offers a final chance for the team to test rotations and execution in a game setting before the results begin to count on Nov. 2.
Tickets for Sunday’s exhibition are available through OhioStateBuckeyes.com and by calling 1-800-GOBUCKS. Fans unable to attend in Columbus can follow the 2 p.m. tip on B1G+ or listen on the Ohio State Radio Network as the Buckeyes close the preseason against Butler and celebrate Matta at halftime.