Skull Session: Jake Diebler Welcomes Thad Matta, Former Players Back to Campus for “Vet Week”; 2029 Ohio State Commit Austin Miller is Already Peer Recruiting for the Buckeyes

By Chase Brown on June 25, 2026 at 4:55 am
Jake Diebler and Thad Matta
X / @OhioStateHoops
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

And welcome to the NBA, Bruce Thornton.

Have a good Thursday.

 ONCE A BUCKEYE… I attended an Ohio State men’s basketball workout on Wednesday expecting to see Jake Diebler holding a whistle and coaching his team. 

Instead, when I walked into the practice gym, Diebler was chatting on the sideline with Greg Oden.

While I was at the Schott, I saw more than a dozen former Buckeyes in the gym: Scoonie Penn, Ron Lewis, Greg Oden, David Lighty, William Buford, Jared Sullinger, Evan Ravenel, Jae’Sean Tate, Keyshawn Woods, E.J. Liddell, Brice Sensabaugh, Christoph Tilly and Brandon Noel. That’s likely not even a complete list.

Those players were back in Columbus for the program’s “Vet Week,” where Old Heads play against and coach the current generation of Buckeyes, helping them understand what it takes to succeed at Ohio State.

In a 12-minute press conference Wednesday, Diebler discussed the importance of former players returning to the program and the impact it can have on the Buckeyes.

“I think it’s important when you’re in this position to bridge any gaps that may exist between current and former. This is certainly an opportunity for us to do that,” Diebler said. “We have other events throughout the season, but I think when you have a chance for our guys to play against and get coached by and work out with former players or former players that are currently playing, there’s so much value in it. It’s one thing to have dinner — which we’ll do — and it’s another thing to have meetings and stuff, but when you can do it between the lines, I think that’s really, really special.

“I care deeply about our former players. We owe them a sense of gratitude for us to have unbelievable facilities and to be able to sell an unbelievable tradition. This program should always be a home for them. We want to make them feel at home as often as possible. It’s great to see multiple generations in the gym, some guys who are maybe not so engaged in between the lines as some others, but just being here and watching — and we’ll have dinner tonight — it couldn’t be better.”

I love it.

More alumni were expected back for Wednesday’s dinner and Thursday's workouts, turning Vet Week into a true reunion of Ohio State basketball generations — one that can only benefit a program looking to continue building in Year 3 under Diebler.

“It’s a reminder of where this program has been,” Diebler said. “They’re here because they’re gonna help us win, and they’re gonna help us take this thing to the next level.”

 … ALWAYS A BUCKEYE. Not featured in Ohio State’s “Vet Camp” photo was former head coach Thad Matta, who also popped into the Schottenstein Center on Wednesday to see some of his former players.

Jake Diebler addressed Matta’s cameo in his Wednesday media appearance.

“That’s been a long time coming,” Diebler said. “His influence on me as a coach and as a man, I’ve spoken about that before. He means the world to me and my family. He means a ton to our basketball family. Being able to get him back here says something about just how close this basketball family is. He’s in the rafters. He’s in the record books. I’ve talked about the peaks of our program, and he’s certainly been a part of some of those. For him to be here means a great deal to me personally, but it also means a great deal to our program because he’s a guy we celebrate around here.”

Matta does not have an official role at Ohio State, but neither does Jim Tressel, who has become a trusted mentor of Ryan Day in recent years. If Matta can fill a similar role for Diebler, that would be an absolute win. He led the Buckeyes into a golden era of Ohio State hoops, second only to the program’s run of three straight national championship game appearances and one title in the early 1960s. 

If Matta can impart wisdom to Diebler on how to bring the Buckeyes back to that level, I’m all for it.

So is Diebler.

“When you take over a program, you can either hide from the success and the tradition or kind of keep it behind the curtain, or you can celebrate it. You can strive to get the program back to that level,” Diebler said. “That’s the route I’ve chosen because I care deeply about this program. I’ve seen what it’s meant to my family and my brother. I’ve watched those peaks as a fan; I’ve watched those peaks with great investment when my brother was playing. I absolutely want to celebrate that.”

This is the stuff that fires me up.

It’s what makes me wonder… is Ohio State basketball back?

 THE CHOS1N. Austin Miller is my favorite commit in Ohio State’s 2029 class. Yes, he’s the only commit in the class — but he’s my favorite.

After committing to Ohio State on Monday, Miller has made it clear he has every intention of becoming a Buckeye in three years. He even posted a video on social media thanking Ohio State fans and coaches Ryan Day, Cortez Hankton and Devin Jordan for welcoming him into Buckeye Nation.

“What’s up, Buckeye Nation? It’s Austin Miller, newest addition to Zone 6,” Miller said in the video. “I’d like to thank Buckeye Nation for welcoming me with open arms. I’d also like to thank Coach Day, Coach Hankton and Coach Jordan. I’m currently home in Bellflower, California, but I’ll be back in my second home, Columbus, Ohio, in the fall to see the Buckeyes play in the Horseshoe. O-H.”

Miller has already begun peer recruiting for Ohio State. He told four-star quarterback Josiah Boyd in an X post to “come home” and choose the Buckeyes in the 2028 class. He did the same for five-star wide receiver Jett Harrison, the younger brother of former Ohio State All-American Marvin Harrison Jr.

He also called his shot that Ohio State would win a national title during his tenure.

Yeah, this dude rocks.

 BRIAN KELLY, COLOR COMMENTATOR? From Cincinnati to Notre Dame to LSU to… calling Mountain West games for CBS Sports. This is The Brian Kelly Experience.

I can’t wait for him to show up for his first broadcast dressed like a character from Yellowstone.

Now that would be The Brian Kelly Experience.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Learn to Fly" - Foo Fighters.

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