COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State basketball team opens up its season at home against Oakland as it hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2022-23.

For the first time in almost 20 years, the Buckeyes finished the season under .500 with a 16-19 record (5-15 Big Ten). They also failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the Chris Holtmann era. Despite the downfalls of last season, the silver lining was a run in the Big Ten Tournament much of which was sparked by a freshmen class that returns all but leading score Brice Sensabaugh.

With that group a year older, mixed with another top 10 recruiting class and a few veteran transfers, there’s some optimism that OSU will get back to at the bare minimum being a team expected to be still playing in March.

What: Ohio State vs. Oakland

The point spread: Ohio State minus-20.5; over-under 145.5.

Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio.

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

TV: Big Ten Plus.

Ohio State projected starters (2022-23 stats)

Bruce Thornton, guard, 10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg.

Roddy Gayle Jr., guard, 4.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.9 apg.

Evan Mahaffey (Penn State), guard, 2.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.4 apg.

Jamison Battle (Minnesota), forward, 12.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.7 apg.

Felix Okpara, center, 4.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.3 apg.

Oakland projected starters (2022-23 stats)

Blake Lampman, guard, 10.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.7 apg.

Rocket Watts, guard, 8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg.

Chris Conway, guard, 4.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.3 apg.

Trey Townsend, forward, 16.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg.

Audre Polk, forward, 3.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.3 apg.

What to Watch For

Who flashes?

Ohio State’s first real test won’t come until Friday when it hosts Texas A&M. A season-opener against an Oakland program going through a bit of a rough stretch under Greg Kampe shouldn’t put the Buckeyes in jeopardy of starting off the year 0-1.

But whether it’s second-year players who got a ton of experience as freshmen last season, transfer additions expected to be immediate contributors or freshmen who show they’re ready for immediate big role. This team drastically needs to give its fanbase a reason to be excited again after last season’s failures.

It’s a modest first step for a major college basketball program. But it’s a necessary one.

Prediction

Stephen’s pick: Walking away with a win shouldn’t be much of a problem for the Buckeyes. They’ve won their season-opener in 19-straight seasons with the last loss being in 2013 when they lost to San Francisco. That shouldn’t change to start the 2023-24 season. 85-59 Ohio State.