Christoph Tilly walked into Value City Arena as a new face wearing scarlet and gray, and left it as the player of the night.
In his Ohio State debut the 7-foot transfer from Santa Clara poured in 28 points, with 17 of them in the second half on 9-of-11 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds in the Buckeyes’ 118–102 season-opening victory over IU Indy.
It was an eye-popping stat line that immediately begged two questions: Is this the start of a true secondary scoring option for Jake Diebler’s offense, or simply the kind of outburst that comes from a mismatched season opener?
On paper, the debut checked a lot of boxes. Tilly scored efficiently inside and out, attacked closeouts, and generated second-chance opportunities, the box score shows him at 9-of-11 from the floor with nine rebounds, a steal and a block, and he capitalized at the free throw line.
He did his best work in the halfcourt, finishing through contact and converting when the defense collapsed and his size forced IU Indy into uncomfortable matchups that Ohio State exploited all night. Teammates Bruce Thornton (26 points) and Devin Royal (22) also delivered, giving the Buckeyes multiple scoring options and preventing the Jaguars from keying on one threat.
Still, the context around those numbers matters. The Buckeyes set a program mark by making 42 of 53 free throws, a disparity driven by IU Indy’s 36 fouls and a game tempo that encouraged constant attacking of the rim. That free throw influx inflated overall scoring and helped build a lead that allowed Diebler to keep Tilly on the floor late to pad the box score.
In short, some of the production was a product of opponent foul trouble and the frenetic nature of a season-opening mismatch.
Diebler, who recruited Tilly and has talked throughout the offseason about how the big man fits his system, praised the transfer’s feel for the offense without overstating what one night can prove. “He fits perfectly into how we play in this system,” Diebler said earlier in the preseason and reiterated after the opener, noting Tilly’s comfort as a leader and his ability to stretch the defense.
After the game Diebler framed the performance as a promising start but reminded reporters that the defense and overall execution still need polish. “It’s a unique opener. There’s a lot to like, but we know we have to get better defensively,” Diebler said.
Film supports a mixed read. Positives include, Tilly’s touch and mobility in the short roll and his ability to catch-and-shoot from the elbows which opened driving lanes for guards, and he consistently finished through contact, a physical presence Ohio State has lacked in recent years.
He also helped the Buckeyes win the rebound battle and was frequently the last line of attack on the offensive glass. Those traits bode well for a rotation that wants both interior scoring and occasional floor spacing from the five.
Negatives include that fact that Tilly finished with four fouls and Ohio State surrendered 102 points, exposing defensive communication issues, poor closeouts, and weak rim protection at times. The Jaguars repeatedly found clean looks in transition and off passes that should have been contested, the game was a reminder that while offensive fireworks are fun, the Big Ten gauntlet will punish defensive lapses far more readily than a mid-major season opener.
Diebler acknowledged as much, calling the defensive performance a priority for the coaching staff this week.
So what does this mean going forward? If Tilly is who he showed himself to be, a smart, physical big who can score inside, rebound, and stretch the floor enough to create spacing, then he can legitimately be a third or fourth scoring option who changes how opponents defend Ohio State.
That would take pressure off Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal and give the Buckeyes a frontcourt threat to lean on late in games. If, however, opponents in the coming weeks refuse to foul and play more disciplined, physical defense, Tilly will need to show that his scoring is repeatable against better, more prepared defenses.
For now, the debut is both a reason for optimism and a caveat. Christoph Tilly’s 28-point night was real, he looked comfortable, confident, and capable of big minutes in this offense, but the margin for error in conference play is small.
The true test will arrive quickly. A tougher nonconference slate and the Big Ten will reveal whether Saturday was a sign of a new, reliable weapon or a standout opening-night performance that won’t be so easy to replicate.
Either way, Buckeye fans have something new to watch.
