Cleveland Hoops Showdown preview: Ohio State, Ohio Bobcats men’s basketball heading to Rocket Arena for a Sat
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Hoops Showdown takes place this Saturday at Rocket Arena.
The men’s basketball doubleheader will start with the Ohio Bobcats taking on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at 5 p.m., followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes playing the West Virginia Mountaineers at 8 p.m.
Here’s what to know ahead of Saturday:
Ohio Bobcats 3-6 (0-0 MAC)
Ohio head coach Jeff Boals.AP
The Ohio Bobcats return to an arena they have familiarity with, thanks to Rocket Arena hosting the Mid-American Conference Tournament every March.
Head coach Jeff Boals is coaching his seventh season for Ohio, coming off a record of 16–16 in the 2024-25 season that ended in the MAC Tournament quarterfinal round.
The Bobcats last made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, and last appeared in postseason play in 2022 in the CBI.
This year’s squad is headlined by experienced seniors, but has endured early struggles this season.
Ohio started off 1-6 before bouncing back and winning the last two games versus Maine and Marshall.
This season within the MAC, here’s where the Bobcats rank:
CategoryRanking/AveragePoints10th (73.9)Rebounds 11th (43.8) Assists 13th (11.9)FG% 10th (34.4%)3Pt FG%13th (28.8%)
Players to Watch
Ohio guard Jackson Paveletzke.AP
Jackson Paveletzke
The do-it-all senior guard just seems to get better by each game. Paveletzke has been on a tear, demanding respect for his play on both sides of the ball.
Within the MAC, the guard currently ranks fifth in points (17.2) and assists (4.0).
His season has so far been highlighted by his 28 points, four assists and two steals in a 25-point loss to then-No. 12 Louisville.
Aidan Hadaway
The senior forward has made his presence known in the post, where he ranks fifth in the MAC in rebounds (7.6).
Hadaway comes off a 19-point, 11-rebound showing in last Saturday’s seven-point win over Marshall.
Projected lineup vs. St. Bonaventure
F – Sr. Javan Simmons
F – Sr. Aidan Hadaway
G . Fr. JJ Kelly
G – Sr. Ajay Sheldon
G – Sr. Jackson Paveletzke
St Bonaventure Bonnies 10-1 (0-0 A-10)
St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt.AP
Make this 18 seasons for head coach Mark Schmidt, coaching a Bonnies squad that’s coming off a 22–12 record in the 2024-25 season, that ended in the Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinal round.
St. Bonaventure last made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, but hasn’t advanced past the first weekend since 1970.
The Bonnies approach mid-December on as the top team in the country, entering Saturday with a record of 10-1 with their sole loss coming to then-No. 16 North Carolina in November.
They’ve dominated within defending the rim and rank 13th in the nation in blocks (5.7), while Forward Joseph Grahovac leads the team with 1.9 blocks.
This season within the A-10, here’s where the Bonnies rank:
CategoryRanking/AveragePoints8th (76.7)Rebounds 8th (37.2) Assists 3rd (16.6)FG% 6th (47.5%)3Pt FG%3rd (36.1%)
Players to Watch
St. Bonaventure forward Frank Mitchell.AP
Frank Mitchell
Transferring in from Minnesota, Mitchell has been building territory down low for the Bonnies this season.
Along with a productive 14.9 points, the big man leads the A-10 in boards per game (10.6). His season has been highlighted by a 19-point and 16-rebound effort in a 14 point win over Robert Morris.
Daryl Simmons II
The transfer out of Gardner-Webb has been a key addition to the Bonnies backcourt.
Simmons currently leads the team in points (15.1) and ranks second in 3-point percentage (41.4%).
Projected lineup vs. Ohio
F – So. Joe Grahovac
F – Sr. Frank Mitchell
C – Sr. Cayden Charles
G – Jr. Daryl Simmons II
G – Jr. Dasonte Bowen
Ohio State Buckeyes 7-2 (1-1 Big 10)
Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler.AP
Jake Diebler worked his way up the ranks and enters his second full season as Ohio State’s head coach, coming off a record of 17-15 in the 2024-25 season that ended in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
He took over late in the 2023-24 season after Chris Holtmann was relieved of his duties, and finished that season on a strong note.
Ohio State last made the NCAA Tournament in 2022, but hasn’t advanced past the first weekend since 2015.
The Buckeyes started the season red hot at 6-0. That carried over into their efficient shooting, currently ranking 11th in the country in field goal percentage (52.1%)
They’ve since lost two of their last three, including an eight-point loss to No. 13 Illinois.
This season within the Big Ten, here’s where the Buckeyes rank:
CategoryRanking/AveragePoints5th (87.4)Rebounds 11th (36.8) Assists 7th (16.9)FG% 2nd (52.1%)3Pt FG%7th (36.3%)
Players to Watch
Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton.AP
Bruce Thornton
If you didn’t know about the senior guard before Saturday, you surely will afterward.
Thornton’s 21.7 points per game average is good enough for fifth in the country, and second in the Big Ten behind USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara.
He’s coming off a 34-point effort in Tuesday’s loss to No. 13 Illinois, where he hit his first nine shots, including six treys, for a 24-point first half shooting spree.
Thornton does well creating opportunities for his teammates and locking down on the defensive end, leading the Buckeyes in both assists (4.4) and steals (1.3).
Christoph Tilly
The 7-footer from Germany has helped the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball.
Along with his 13.8 points per game, which is second behind Thornton, Tilly also leads the Buckeyes in both rebounds (5.3) and blocks (0.6).
Projected lineup vs. West Virginia
F – Sr. Brandon Noel
F – Jr. Devin Royal
C – Sr. Christoph Tilly
G – So. John Mobley Jr.
G – Sr. Bruce Thornton
West Virginia 8-3 (0-0 Big 12)
West Virginia Head coach Ross Hodge.AP
Ross Hodge enters his first season coaching the West Virginia Mountaineers, a squad coming off a 19–13 record last season, which ended in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
West Virginia last made the NCAA Tournament in 2023, but hasn’t advanced past the first weekend since 2018.
Their brand of ball notoriously aligns with hard nosed defense. The Mountaineers haven’t let up within that area, currently ranking second in the nation in points allowed (58.4).
This season within the Big 12, here’s where the Mountaineers rank:
CategoryRanking/AveragePoints16th (74.2)Rebounds T-10th (36.9) Assists 15th (13.9)FG% 12th (45.4%)3Pt FG%T-11th (34.0%)
Players to Watch
Honor Huff
In a talent-filled Big 12 conference, Huff has held his own while tying for 12th in the conference in points per game (17.3).
Brenen Lorient
The big man has done well so far this season, adding 10.3 points and a team-leading 5.8 boards
Projected lineup vs. Ohio State
G – Sr. Treysen Eaglestaff
F – Sr. Brenen Lorient
C – Sr. Harlan Obioha
G – Sr. Jasper Floyd
G – Sr. Honor Huff
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