In the world of college basketball, coaching hires are often judged by the ultimate standard: championships. The recent story of Michigan's Dusty May and Ohio State's Jake Diebler provides a fascinating "what-if" scenario that has fans buzzing.

Fresh off leading the Michigan Wolverines to their first national title since 1989 with a 69-63 victory over UConn, head coach Dusty May has cemented his status as one of the sport's brightest minds. His journey to this pinnacle, however, almost took a very different path in the fiercely competitive Big Ten.

Just over a year ago, May was reportedly a top finalist for the head coaching vacancy at Ohio State. According to reports from March 2024, the decision ultimately came down to May and the Buckeyes' eventual choice, Jake Diebler, who was officially hired on March 17, 2024.

Now, with May hoisting the national championship trophy in Ann Arbor, the narrative has taken a dramatic turn. The decision has inevitably sparked reactions and debates among fans, highlighting the high-stakes nature of coaching searches in college sports. For Ohio State, Diebler is building his own legacy, but the "one that got away" narrative adds an intense layer to one of the nation's most storied rivalries.