Buckeye fans celebrate following the game against Michigan State on Jan. 7 in Value City Arena. Ohio State won 80-64. Credit: Jack Westerheide | Photo Editor
Ohio State students might receive a price break to watch their men’s basketball team play.
Students would pay just $9 for all individual game tickets if the proposal is approved by the Board of Trustees Finance Committee. Previously, students had to pay $13 for Big Ten games and $12 for nonconference game.
Ohio State enjoyed a resurgent 2017-18 season, and the success the team found led to an increase in attendance for the team. An average of 13,495 people attended games at the Schottenstein Center during the 2017-18 season, well above the 12,324 average of the 2016-17 season and the 12,283 average of the 2015-16 campaign. Ohio State also hosted crowds above 18,000 fans on two occasions, first against Illinois on Feb. 4 and against Iowa on Feb. 10.
The Board is set to go over the proposal at approximately 12:55 p.m. Thursday during the Finance Committee Meeting.
The remainder of the tickets will not see a price change from the cost for the previous season. Season-ticket holders will continue to have a 12-percent discount from the price of a season’s worth of individual tickets while faculty and staff will have a 20-percent discount.
The Ohio State Board of Trustees Finance Committee will vote Thursday on a proposal to reduce ticket prices for students while leaving the remainder of the tickets the same. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State
Ohio State is coming off its first season under head coach Chris Holtmann in which it finished 25-9 overall with a 15-3 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes lost just two games at home — 79-65 against Clemson on Nov. 29 and 82-79 on a buzzer-beating loss to Penn State on Jan. 25. The overall record was the team’s best mark since the 2012-13 season.
The Buckeyes also reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Fifth-seeded Ohio State lost in the second round to fourth-seeded Gonzaga.
Holtmann will hope to find continued success in his second season at the helm despite a litany of losses. His team saw three seniors graduate in guard Kam Williams, guard Andrew Dakich and forward Jae’Sean Tate and watched forward and 2018 Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop declare for the NBA draft, forgoing his final year of collegiate eligibility.
Joining Ohio State will be the 23rd-best recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports composite rankings. Guard Luther Muhammad and forward Jaedon LeDee are the only two four-star prospects joining the team while a pair of three star recruits — guard Duane Washington and forward Justin Ahrens — also join the team.
