Indiana Basketball Faces Ohio State in Critical Regular Season Finale

Hoosiers look to bolster NCAA Tournament hopes with a win over the Buckeyes

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Indiana Basketball wraps up the regular season with a matchup against Ohio State in Columbus. The Hoosiers, sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, are coming off a dominant win over Minnesota and look to secure a crucial victory over the Buckeyes to improve their postseason chances. Ohio State, led by head coach Jake Diebler, is also fighting for position in the Big Ten standings.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for Indiana's NCAA Tournament hopes, as a win over Ohio State would go a long way in helping the Hoosiers secure a spot in the Big Dance. Both teams are jockeying for position in the competitive Big Ten conference, making this a high-stakes regular season finale.

The details

Indiana, led by first-year head coach Darian DeVries, enters the game with an 18-12 (9-10) record. The Hoosiers are coming off a strong performance against Minnesota and will look to carry that momentum into Columbus. Ohio State, meanwhile, is 19-11 (11-8) on the season and is coming off a dominant win over Penn State.

  • The game is set to tip off at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • Indiana and Ohio State last met on January 14, 2026, with the Buckeyes winning 72-68.

The players

Darian DeVries

First-year head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team.

Jake Diebler

Head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team, in his third season with the program.

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What they’re saying

“Indiana has a very real chance to make the field with a win against Ohio State.”

— Colin McMahon (Twitter)

What’s next

The winner of this game will have momentum heading into the Big Ten Tournament, which begins on March 12, 2026.

The takeaway

This regular season finale between Indiana and Ohio State is a high-stakes affair, with both teams fighting for positioning in the Big Ten and the Hoosiers looking to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume with a crucial victory.