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Jake Diebler Emerging as One of Two 'Top Candidates' For Ohio State
Matt Krohn -USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Buckeyes interim head coach Jake Diebler might not be interim for much longer.

According to reports, the temporary helmsman of Buckeyes men's basketball, who took over following the firing of Chris Holtmann, has emerged as one of two favorites for the job alongside Florida Atlantic's Dusty May.

Diebler has accomplished several impressive feats already, including upsetting the then-No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers and breaking Ohio State's 17-game losing streak on the road.

Six games remained on the Buckeyes' regular-season schedule when Diebler took the reigns of the 14-11 team. 

Doing what many believed impossible, Diebler and his guys proceeded to win six of their last seven contests (including a victory against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the opening round of the 2024 Big Ten Tournament) to improve to 20-12 overall.

Diebler will have another chance to prove he is the solution to Ohio State's recent troubles tonight when the Scarlet and Gray continue their tournament run against the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini.

May has been head coach of the Owls for the last six years and has recently become a national name.

Around this time last season, May and the Owls tipped off an impressive showing in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. FAU made it all the way to the Final Four before their wings were clipped by the San Diego State Aztecs.

May has followed up that performance by leading the Owls to a 24-7 overall record this year. 

Florida Atlantic also continues its postseason run tonight, battling the North Texas Mean Green in the 2024 ACC Tournament's second round.

This article first appeared on FanNation Buckeyes Now and was syndicated with permission.

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