Ohio State Buckeyes Guard Bowen Hardman Hits the Portal

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bowen Hardman won't be returning to play for Jake Diebler.

Feb 1, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bowen Hardman (15) shoots over Illinois / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

It's been a rough last week for Ohio State basketball.

Just a day after Emma Shumate entered the transfer portal for Kevin McGuff, Jake Diebler's Bowen Hardman entered the portal Thursday, he announced on Instagram Thursday.

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A post shared by Bowen Hardman (@hardmanbowen)

Hardman thanked former head coach Chris Holtmann — who coached the sophomore guard for a season-and-a-half — Diebler and the Ohio State community in his post.

"I would like to thank [B]uckeye nation for all of the love and support the last 2 amazing years. I also would like to thank the staff and my teammates for all of the memories we have made as a team. I wouldn't be the man I am today without this university and the resources I have had at my side," Hardman said.

The Cincinnati native averaged just 1.8 points in 4.3 minutes per game this season but erupted for a career-high 11 points in a loss at Nebraska on Jan. 23. Over that span of his next five games, Hardman began to see the floor much more but was moved back to a minor role off the bench after Diebler took over. Hardman played just 25 games total in his two years as a Buckeye.

Although seniors Dale Bonner and Jamison Battle are on their way out of the program, Hardman likely still would have been behind sophomores Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. and freshman Scotty Middleton in the backcourt, perhaps leading him to look for a place where he could have a more prominent role.

Hardman has not yet been linked to any schools, per 247Sports.