Former Ohio State forward Kyle Young (25) shoots a free throw in the second half of the game against Cincinnati, in the Buckeyes’ 64-56 win Nov. 6, 2019. It marked the last time Ohio State and Cincinnati faced off in the Schottenstein Center. Credit: Cori Wade | Lantern File Photo.
On Oct. 7, the familiar sound of tennis balls echoing across the Lindner Family Tennis Center outdoor courts in Mason, Ohio, will be replaced by the bounce of basketballs.
Ohio State will take part in the CareSource Invitational — Supporting Mental Health event at the outdoor tennis facility with three other Ohio Division I basketball programs. The invitational will be a doubleheader with the Buckeyes taking on Cincinnati in the earlier session and the Xavier Musketeers taking on the Dayton Flyers in the second game.?
The event, designed to support mental health awareness and suicide prevention among young people, will open the Buckeyes 2026-27 exhibition campaign.?
The CareSource Invitational is now in its fourth year advocating with the foundational message of “It’s OK to not be OK,” and to date has raised more than $500,000 to support Jay’s Light, an organization created as a mental health and suicide prevention initiative, among other foundations.?
“[It’s] for something bigger than basketball,” head coach Jake Diebler said. “It’s great for the basketball community in Ohio, but it’s also great for what CareSource is doing, Jay’s Light, which we’re familiar with, and Coach [Anthony] Grant and his family, and to be a part of that and help support what they’re doing is special.”
The 40-acre facility, also used for the Cincinnati Open, which occurs every August, underwent a $260 million campus renovation to expand and enhance operation as a year-round sports and entertainment destination, according to the release.?
“The CareSource Invitational is exactly the type of unique event we envisioned when we reimagined the Lindner Family Tennis Center beyond the Cincinnati Open,” Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment said in a press release. “Center Court has long been the stage for unforgettable moments, and we’re excited to create an atmosphere and energy that will be unlike anything college basketball fans have experienced before.”
As an Ohio native, Diebler expressed his excitement for the event featuring four Ohio Division l programs.
“Having grown up in Ohio, having played high school basketball here, played AAU basketball here, you always were familiar with these four schools, and I think everybody’s always agreed it’d be really, really cool to have an event where all four are involved,” Diebler said.
Ohio State last faced Cincinnati in an exhibition game on Oct. 18, 2024, in which the Bearcats won 80-62. The two programs have not met in the regular season since Nov. 22, 2023, when the Buckeyes defeated Cincinnati 81-53 in the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.?
In case of inclement weather during the invitational, the games will take place at the UD Arena in Dayton and while there will not be a television broadcast, tickets will be available for purchase. Additional details about the CareSource Invitational and ticket information for the public are still forthcoming.?
Diebler stated he’s wanted for an all-Ohio event like this to take place since he took on the head coach role in 2024.
“[I’m] just excited everybody’s gotten together to make it happen, where it goes from here, we’ll see,” Diebler said. “But I think this is a great first step, certainly.”
?The Buckeyes, Diebler expressed, hope to schedule at least one home live exhibition game and one match in private and is still finalizing those details. He also said every non-conference game for the season is set and once the contracts are finished, will be released soon.
