-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
LGHL You’re Nuts: What does Ohio State have to do to beat Auburn?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What does Ohio State have to do to beat Auburn?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will face their toughest test of the season Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (6-3, 1-1) will face its toughest challenge of the season Saturday afternoon — a statement that could cause some uneasiness among fans who watched the Buckeyes fall behind by 33 points at halftime just last week.
The Buckeyes are set to take on the No. 2 Auburn Tigers Saturday afternoon in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta. Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are led by National Player of the Year frontrunner Johni Broome, who is averaging 19.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game thus far. Auburn’s only loss of the season came at the hands of Duke at Cameron Indoor earlier this month.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated whether Ohio State’s game against Rutgers was a must-win game. With 60% of the vote, Justin won (he said yes).
Connor- 82
The Buckeyes are facing a top-two team in the nation this weekend. Based on the current trends, Ohio State is not likely to face another top-two team for the remainder of the year. Therefore, this is one of the biggest opportunities the team has to add some eye candy to its NCAA Tournament resume.
Here are our thoughts on the game. Specifically, what does Ohio State absolutely have to do to get out of Atlanta with the upset?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25787906/2186899417.jpg "Maui Invitational")
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
It might sound counter-productive to foul the other team’s best player over and over, but when that player’s free throw percentage is barely as high as his overall shooting percentage, it could be worth a shot. Johni Broome is shooting 58.3% from the free throw line this season, which is the second-lowest mark of his five-year career. Yet somehow he’s only drawing 4.5 fouls per game, which isn’t even the highest mark on his own team.
Last year against Purdue, Ohio State fouled Zach Edey more than 10 times. Sometimes they fouled him on the shot and sent him to the free throw line, where he finished the game a perfect 8-for-8. More often, however, they fouled Edey on the catch, stopping play before he had a chance to reach up and “drunk” the ball using his vine-like arms.
Yes, the Buckeyes racked up the fouls and yes, Edey wound up having a good — but not great — game. He finished with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and was perfect at the free throw line. He had 13 rebounds and three blocks. Edey took fewer shots against the Buckeyes than he was averaging, because the Buckeyes were getting physical and fouling him before he even had a chance to shoot.
Felix Okpara fouled out. Zed Key picked up four fouls. Jamison Battle picked up four fouls. Even Austin Parks checked in for a few minutes and picked up a foul.
Ohio State won that game, 73-69.
So, while the Buckeyes will need to be strategic with how they deploy their forwards — especially with Aaron Bradshaw’s status up in the air — it would make a lot of sense to use a similar strategy against Broome and the Tigers.
When Auburn tries to feed Broome the ball in the post, rip for the ball. If they blow the whistle, they blow the whistle. When Broome tries to drive to the basket, hack at the ball. If they call a foul, then a 58% free throw shooter heads to the line.
No easy baskets, and no big momentum plays for the team playing much closer to home that will probably own 75% of the fans in the arena. Make Broome beat you at the free throw line, or make him defer to his teammates.
If the National Player of the Year goes 8-for-8 from the line again, tip your cap. Or if you can limit Broome, but everyone else lights it up from three, you tip your cap. But the Buckeyes can’t let Broome get confident or allow him easy looks... and for him, a free throw is not an easy look.
There is one player who has the most experience playing Auburn on this team, and they will need him to have his best game of the season if the Buckeyes want to pull off an upset: South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson.
The senior guard has been okay so far with the Buckeyes, but he has not been able to catch the wave that he found last year at South Carolina. His three-point shooting is up, but his overall field goal percentage is down, and he is struggling to finish at the basket.
Johnson was All-SEC last season as a Gamecock and had one of his better games against Auburn. He is averaging 9.6 points per game this season, down from 14.1 points per game last season.
Bruce Thornton is one of the top guards in the conference and the country, and many people were excited to see him paired with Johnson. Meechie Johnson’s ability to carry some of the scoring load is a big way to help unlock Thornton and help him reach his full potential.
Johnson has shot the ball well from three-point range, but he can improve his overall scoring ability this season. If the Buckeyes want to upset Auburn, he will have to have an efficient game on offense and make sure the defense cannot key in on Thornton offensively.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will face their toughest test of the season Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (6-3, 1-1) will face its toughest challenge of the season Saturday afternoon — a statement that could cause some uneasiness among fans who watched the Buckeyes fall behind by 33 points at halftime just last week.
The Buckeyes are set to take on the No. 2 Auburn Tigers Saturday afternoon in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta. Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are led by National Player of the Year frontrunner Johni Broome, who is averaging 19.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game thus far. Auburn’s only loss of the season came at the hands of Duke at Cameron Indoor earlier this month.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated whether Ohio State’s game against Rutgers was a must-win game. With 60% of the vote, Justin won (he said yes).
After 182 weeks:
Connor- 82
Justin- 77
Other- 18
(There have been five ties)
The Buckeyes are facing a top-two team in the nation this weekend. Based on the current trends, Ohio State is not likely to face another top-two team for the remainder of the year. Therefore, this is one of the biggest opportunities the team has to add some eye candy to its NCAA Tournament resume.
Here are our thoughts on the game. Specifically, what does Ohio State absolutely have to do to get out of Atlanta with the upset?
This week’s question: What does Ohio State have to do to beat Auburn?
Connor: Foul Johni Broome as much as necessary
It might sound counter-productive to foul the other team’s best player over and over, but when that player’s free throw percentage is barely as high as his overall shooting percentage, it could be worth a shot. Johni Broome is shooting 58.3% from the free throw line this season, which is the second-lowest mark of his five-year career. Yet somehow he’s only drawing 4.5 fouls per game, which isn’t even the highest mark on his own team.
Last year against Purdue, Ohio State fouled Zach Edey more than 10 times. Sometimes they fouled him on the shot and sent him to the free throw line, where he finished the game a perfect 8-for-8. More often, however, they fouled Edey on the catch, stopping play before he had a chance to reach up and “drunk” the ball using his vine-like arms.
Yes, the Buckeyes racked up the fouls and yes, Edey wound up having a good — but not great — game. He finished with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and was perfect at the free throw line. He had 13 rebounds and three blocks. Edey took fewer shots against the Buckeyes than he was averaging, because the Buckeyes were getting physical and fouling him before he even had a chance to shoot.
Felix Okpara fouled out. Zed Key picked up four fouls. Jamison Battle picked up four fouls. Even Austin Parks checked in for a few minutes and picked up a foul.
Ohio State won that game, 73-69.
So, while the Buckeyes will need to be strategic with how they deploy their forwards — especially with Aaron Bradshaw’s status up in the air — it would make a lot of sense to use a similar strategy against Broome and the Tigers.
When Auburn tries to feed Broome the ball in the post, rip for the ball. If they blow the whistle, they blow the whistle. When Broome tries to drive to the basket, hack at the ball. If they call a foul, then a 58% free throw shooter heads to the line.
No easy baskets, and no big momentum plays for the team playing much closer to home that will probably own 75% of the fans in the arena. Make Broome beat you at the free throw line, or make him defer to his teammates.
If the National Player of the Year goes 8-for-8 from the line again, tip your cap. Or if you can limit Broome, but everyone else lights it up from three, you tip your cap. But the Buckeyes can’t let Broome get confident or allow him easy looks... and for him, a free throw is not an easy look.
Justin: Meechie Johnson masterclass
There is one player who has the most experience playing Auburn on this team, and they will need him to have his best game of the season if the Buckeyes want to pull off an upset: South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson.
The senior guard has been okay so far with the Buckeyes, but he has not been able to catch the wave that he found last year at South Carolina. His three-point shooting is up, but his overall field goal percentage is down, and he is struggling to finish at the basket.
Johnson was All-SEC last season as a Gamecock and had one of his better games against Auburn. He is averaging 9.6 points per game this season, down from 14.1 points per game last season.
Bruce Thornton is one of the top guards in the conference and the country, and many people were excited to see him paired with Johnson. Meechie Johnson’s ability to carry some of the scoring load is a big way to help unlock Thornton and help him reach his full potential.
Johnson has shot the ball well from three-point range, but he can improve his overall scoring ability this season. If the Buckeyes want to upset Auburn, he will have to have an efficient game on offense and make sure the defense cannot key in on Thornton offensively.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Is playing a mid-December night game going to impact Ohio State’s playoff game?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Is playing a mid-December night game going to impact Ohio State’s playoff game?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
I’m going to be honest: When Ohio State takes the field against Tennessee on December 21, I don’t think the weather is going to be as big a factor as people are making it seem. I won’t go so far as to call it a non-factor, but it’s highly unlikely cold weather alone is going to be the thing that costs the Volunteers the game.
The early forecasts are projecting temperatures between 23 and 33 degrees, with a real-feel of 17 degrees. That is cold-cold. Cold enough that it’s not fun to play in no matter which jersey you’re wearing.
Some folks are arguing that the Buckeyes are used to it, while Tennessee is not. But Tennessee has a much more seasonal climate than some of the other SEC schools, despite being in the South. Other than today and tomorrow, Knoxville’s temperatures are in the same ballpark as those in Columbus. In fact, as I sit down to write this, I’m in the middle of texting my little brother—a Tennessee graduate—who was pleased to inform me it snowed in Knoxville today and the Volunteers practiced in it.
Now, it’s not going to hit 17 degrees in Knoxville between now and game day, and in the years they make a Bowl Game, the Vols are typically traveling somewhere warm for postseason football. But cold weather isn’t a foreign concept to the Vols.
Except Nico Iamaleava, the Volunteers’ quarterback from Southern California. I’m writing this from Southern California, where I’m bundled up on my couch with a space heater running, and it’s not even close to being below freezing. Iamaleava is certainly not accustomed to playing in that kind of cold—but, I would argue, neither is anyone. It might affect Iamaleava’s play a bit, but who’s to say it won’t also affect the Buckeyes?
Do we ever really get used to that kind of cold? I spent 20 years of my life in Chicago and I’ve lived in places with cold winters for 90 percent of my time on this planet: No amount of living in it makes it feel less cold. How much of an advantage does it really give the Buckeyes, then?
According to NFL data, not much. We have to take NFL data with a grain of salt because NFL teams play more games in cold weather, and most college students haven’t played in that kind of cold yet, but according to Sports-Reference, since 2010, the climate has not drastically impacted the outcome of games.
Individual teams had some variance, but it could be due to a wide range of factors (for example, the New England Patriots—a cold-weather team—had the highest success rate in cold-weather games. However, they also had a stacked roster and played in three Super Bowls in that time, so is it the weather or something else?)
The real trends that emerge from the data show that there are fewer passing yards across the board in cold games—which frankly, might actually work against the Buckeyes (see also: the complete collapse of our rushing game against the Wolverines).
If wind or snow were to factor in, in addition to the cold, that might be a different story. Wind can actively impact kickoffs, punts, field goals, and passing, while snow makes it slippery. Those have much greater implications for the game than temperature alone, and the Buckeyes are categorically more prepared for those types of weather events than the Volunteers.
In the case of either wind or snow, I’d expect some detrimental impact on Tennessee’s performance. But right now, we’re expecting no precipitation and only a mild breeze.
Victory, then, is likely to be less about the weather itself and more about how successfully the coaches can help their players execute and stay focused in temps that would drive most humans to sit by a fire and drink cocoa.
It’s not that the cold won’t affect the game at all, but if the current forecast stands, I don’t think the cold will impact Tennessee more than it does Ohio State. Rather, I think we’ll see two very evenly matched teams adjust their game plans a bit to attempt to account for frigid temperatures, and the team that adjusts more successfully will walk away with a narrow win in a nail-biter.
Let’s call a spade a spade, the Buckeye offense stunk the last time it played a game in particularly cold weather. Against Michigan, the temperatures were in the mid to upper-20s and there were winds from 15 to 25 miles per hour throughout the afternoon.
Now, whether that was the cause for the disjointed, poorly called offense, I don’t know. It could also potentially be the fact that OSU’s quarterback took an ungodly shot to his head in the second quarter, or that the Buckeyes’ head coach can’t seem to get out of his own way in big games. Who’s to say?
But whatever the reason is, it is clear that the Tennessee Volunteers are far more suited to move the ball on offense in poor weather than the Buckeyes are. Just over 50% of the Vols' total yards of offense this season came on the ground, while OSU saw only 40% of its yards come via the running game.
Josh Huepel’s squad ranked second among Power 4 schools with 232 rushing yards per game while Ohio State was 59th nationally at 169.17 ypg. Of course, all stats can be deceiving, especially when trying to compare cross-conference resumes against very different schedules. The Buckeyes also hurt their raw numbers by running far fewer plays than in recent years. Ryan Day’s team ranked 116th nationally in terms of how many seconds it took them to run a play on offense at 28.3. Tennessee snapped the ball every 24 seconds. Now, you might not think that’s a big deal, but that was good enough for them to rank 21st in FBS.
The point is that the Vols run the ball a lot. And while they are fairly balanced, if the weather becomes inclement, they have a much better chance of overcoming it by doing what they do best.
If the winds are swirling inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21, there is substantial doubt in my mind about whether or not Day and Chip Kelly will trust Will Howard to put the ball in the air. Personally, I think that the Kansas State transfer has been excellent this year, but he has admittedly struggled to connect on deep passes, suggesting either a lack of elite arm strength or fundamentals, both of which are required against gusting winds.
Personally, I think that Howard has the capabilities to throw the ball anywhere on the field regardless of any non-catastrophic conditions, but I’m not sure that the OSU offensive brain trust will be able to emerge from their turtle shell long enough to realize it.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: Is playing Tennessee at night in mid-December at Ohio Stadium going to impact the outcome of the College Football Playoff game?
Jami’s Take: Not unless it snows
I’m going to be honest: When Ohio State takes the field against Tennessee on December 21, I don’t think the weather is going to be as big a factor as people are making it seem. I won’t go so far as to call it a non-factor, but it’s highly unlikely cold weather alone is going to be the thing that costs the Volunteers the game.
The early forecasts are projecting temperatures between 23 and 33 degrees, with a real-feel of 17 degrees. That is cold-cold. Cold enough that it’s not fun to play in no matter which jersey you’re wearing.
Some folks are arguing that the Buckeyes are used to it, while Tennessee is not. But Tennessee has a much more seasonal climate than some of the other SEC schools, despite being in the South. Other than today and tomorrow, Knoxville’s temperatures are in the same ballpark as those in Columbus. In fact, as I sit down to write this, I’m in the middle of texting my little brother—a Tennessee graduate—who was pleased to inform me it snowed in Knoxville today and the Volunteers practiced in it.
Now, it’s not going to hit 17 degrees in Knoxville between now and game day, and in the years they make a Bowl Game, the Vols are typically traveling somewhere warm for postseason football. But cold weather isn’t a foreign concept to the Vols.
Except Nico Iamaleava, the Volunteers’ quarterback from Southern California. I’m writing this from Southern California, where I’m bundled up on my couch with a space heater running, and it’s not even close to being below freezing. Iamaleava is certainly not accustomed to playing in that kind of cold—but, I would argue, neither is anyone. It might affect Iamaleava’s play a bit, but who’s to say it won’t also affect the Buckeyes?
Do we ever really get used to that kind of cold? I spent 20 years of my life in Chicago and I’ve lived in places with cold winters for 90 percent of my time on this planet: No amount of living in it makes it feel less cold. How much of an advantage does it really give the Buckeyes, then?
According to NFL data, not much. We have to take NFL data with a grain of salt because NFL teams play more games in cold weather, and most college students haven’t played in that kind of cold yet, but according to Sports-Reference, since 2010, the climate has not drastically impacted the outcome of games.
Individual teams had some variance, but it could be due to a wide range of factors (for example, the New England Patriots—a cold-weather team—had the highest success rate in cold-weather games. However, they also had a stacked roster and played in three Super Bowls in that time, so is it the weather or something else?)
The real trends that emerge from the data show that there are fewer passing yards across the board in cold games—which frankly, might actually work against the Buckeyes (see also: the complete collapse of our rushing game against the Wolverines).
If wind or snow were to factor in, in addition to the cold, that might be a different story. Wind can actively impact kickoffs, punts, field goals, and passing, while snow makes it slippery. Those have much greater implications for the game than temperature alone, and the Buckeyes are categorically more prepared for those types of weather events than the Volunteers.
In the case of either wind or snow, I’d expect some detrimental impact on Tennessee’s performance. But right now, we’re expecting no precipitation and only a mild breeze.
Victory, then, is likely to be less about the weather itself and more about how successfully the coaches can help their players execute and stay focused in temps that would drive most humans to sit by a fire and drink cocoa.
It’s not that the cold won’t affect the game at all, but if the current forecast stands, I don’t think the cold will impact Tennessee more than it does Ohio State. Rather, I think we’ll see two very evenly matched teams adjust their game plans a bit to attempt to account for frigid temperatures, and the team that adjusts more successfully will walk away with a narrow win in a nail-biter.
Matt’s Take: Yes, particularly if it is windy
Let’s call a spade a spade, the Buckeye offense stunk the last time it played a game in particularly cold weather. Against Michigan, the temperatures were in the mid to upper-20s and there were winds from 15 to 25 miles per hour throughout the afternoon.
Now, whether that was the cause for the disjointed, poorly called offense, I don’t know. It could also potentially be the fact that OSU’s quarterback took an ungodly shot to his head in the second quarter, or that the Buckeyes’ head coach can’t seem to get out of his own way in big games. Who’s to say?
But whatever the reason is, it is clear that the Tennessee Volunteers are far more suited to move the ball on offense in poor weather than the Buckeyes are. Just over 50% of the Vols' total yards of offense this season came on the ground, while OSU saw only 40% of its yards come via the running game.
Josh Huepel’s squad ranked second among Power 4 schools with 232 rushing yards per game while Ohio State was 59th nationally at 169.17 ypg. Of course, all stats can be deceiving, especially when trying to compare cross-conference resumes against very different schedules. The Buckeyes also hurt their raw numbers by running far fewer plays than in recent years. Ryan Day’s team ranked 116th nationally in terms of how many seconds it took them to run a play on offense at 28.3. Tennessee snapped the ball every 24 seconds. Now, you might not think that’s a big deal, but that was good enough for them to rank 21st in FBS.
The point is that the Vols run the ball a lot. And while they are fairly balanced, if the weather becomes inclement, they have a much better chance of overcoming it by doing what they do best.
If the winds are swirling inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21, there is substantial doubt in my mind about whether or not Day and Chip Kelly will trust Will Howard to put the ball in the air. Personally, I think that the Kansas State transfer has been excellent this year, but he has admittedly struggled to connect on deep passes, suggesting either a lack of elite arm strength or fundamentals, both of which are required against gusting winds.
Personally, I think that Howard has the capabilities to throw the ball anywhere on the field regardless of any non-catastrophic conditions, but I’m not sure that the OSU offensive brain trust will be able to emerge from their turtle shell long enough to realize it.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Continue reading...
Ohio State vs. #2 Auburn (in Atlanta), Dec. 14 @ 1pm ET, ESPN2
- By brodybuck21
- Buckeye Basketball
- 53 Replies
Ohio State vs Auburn: 2024-25 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose | Dec 11, 2024
Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) goes up for a layup as Auburn Tigers take on Richmond Spiders at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2024. / Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State meets Auburn in Atlanta as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving; will the Tigers keep rolling this season or do the Buckeyes get back on track with a marquee victory?
TV schedule: Saturday, December 14, 1:00 pm ET. ESPN2Arena: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
Trying to ride the high of last season’s ending, Ohio State (6-3) showed promise in a season-opening victory over Texas but recent weeks have been less prosperous. Jake Diebler’s first full season in command has had its share of challenges, including a recent overtime loss to Pittsburgh and tough showing in road losses against Maryland and Texas A&M. Regardless, this trip to Atlanta brings major opportunity.
Much like last season, the Buckeyes lean heavily on junior guard Bruce Thornton (16.2 ppg, 5.7 apg), a great shooter and the key cog in running this offense. After coming off the bench last year, Devin Royal (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg) has taken a nice step forward as a sophomore, carving out a major role in this frontcourt. A few of the newer pieces in the lineup are still adjusting, though freshman John Mobley (12.9 ppg) is satisfying early expectations, shooting 56% from outside the arc.
The Buckeyes have been unranked as a result of their recent defeats, though they sit 29th in KenPom and were 23rd in the most recent NET rankings. This program is still figuring things out for this season, especially with their new faces in the frontcourt not exactly standing out. The offense was putrid just over a week ago against the Terrapins, though the shooting for the most part has been solid this season. In this matchup, Ohio State clearly needs to put together a complete game, much like against Texas in early November.
Things are far clearer at Auburn (8-1), as these Tigers just might be one of the elite teams in the nation this season. This program has already stockpiled impressive wins including Houston, Iowa State, and North Carolina and their lone loss came last week at Duke, a tough place for anyone to win. Much like with the Buckeyes, the Tigers see the opportunity in Atlanta and won’t show up flat.
The leading story with Auburn is clearly Johni Broome (19.6 ppg, 11.9 rpg), the fifth-year senior forward who just might be the best frontcourt player in the entire country. He’s been impressive throughout the Tigers’ awesome opening month. Chad Baker-Mazara (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) is another name to watch, as he’s developed into quite the leader and scorer for Auburn in his second year in town. This senior-laden lineup does have some young talent, as freshman Tahaad Pettiford (11.3 ppg, 2.8 apg) has been playing some inspired ball in recent weeks.
Last week’s loss in Durham only dro
Ohio State vs Auburn: 2024-25 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
Ohio State meets Auburn in Atlanta as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving; will the Tigers keep rolling this season or do the Buckeyes get back on track with a marq
bustingbrackets.com
LGHL Seth McLaughlin becomes Ohio State’s fourth Remington winner
- News
- 0 Replies
Seth McLaughlin becomes Ohio State’s fourth Remington winner
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Seth McLaughlin Wins 2024 Rimington Trophy
Ohio State Athletics
Not bad for a guy who Alabama discarded and only played 10 games this season:
Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin Are Walter Camp First-Team All-Americans, Jeremiah Smith Makes Second Team
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State AD Bjork discusses Ryan Day’s future as Buckeyes head coach
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State prioritizing transfer portal recruiting with the 2025 class wrapped up
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State AD Ross Bjork reveals more details about Buckeyes hosting first-round CFP game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Seth McLaughlin Still Trying to Help Buckeyes from Sidelines, Says Ohio State Has Been “Everything I Needed”
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
MC&J: The 2024-25 college football bowl season kicks off on Saturday night
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State likely to remain shorthanded against No. 2 Auburn
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Taylor and Haley Thierry compete Saturday, celebrating a family legacy
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Will Bruce Thornton enjoy Atlanta return? 4 Ohio State-Auburn questions
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Devin Royal emerging for Ohio State men’s basketball at the right time
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Always get nervous seeing Dick Van Dyke’s name trending, especially after he had to evacuate his home due to a wildfire. But very happy that it was just because it was his 99th birthday!
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Seth McLaughlin Wins 2024 Rimington Trophy
Ohio State Athletics
Not bad for a guy who Alabama discarded and only played 10 games this season:
Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin Are Walter Camp First-Team All-Americans, Jeremiah Smith Makes Second Team
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State AD Bjork discusses Ryan Day’s future as Buckeyes head coach
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State prioritizing transfer portal recruiting with the 2025 class wrapped up
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State AD Ross Bjork reveals more details about Buckeyes hosting first-round CFP game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Seth McLaughlin Still Trying to Help Buckeyes from Sidelines, Says Ohio State Has Been “Everything I Needed”
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
MC&J: The 2024-25 college football bowl season kicks off on Saturday night
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Ohio State likely to remain shorthanded against No. 2 Auburn
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Taylor and Haley Thierry compete Saturday, celebrating a family legacy
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Will Bruce Thornton enjoy Atlanta return? 4 Ohio State-Auburn questions
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Devin Royal emerging for Ohio State men’s basketball at the right time
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
And now for something completely different...
Always get nervous seeing Dick Van Dyke’s name trending, especially after he had to evacuate his home due to a wildfire. But very happy that it was just because it was his 99th birthday!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State continues to search the transfer portal, boasts the nation’s top center
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State continues to search the transfer portal, boasts the nation’s top center
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are leaving no stone unturned this offseason when it comes to the transfer portal.
Just over a week until the big game, Ohio State continues to take care of matters that not only concern the rest of this season, but looking ahead to 2025 as well. Taking measures to make the transfer portal a priority, this staff looks poised to bring in the talent and depth needed to reach their ultimate goals.
With this week bringing several bouts of news that the coaches are ready to host top portal targets, you hope the guys being pursued make the choice to make Ohio State their next home. Whether it’s a direct access to playing time, the potential to compete at the highest of levels, or even the NIL front, Ryan Day and the rest of his crew have to make these next few months a difference maker.
The list of names the Buckeyes are going after in the portal is already very interesting, and that doesn’t even count the guys who still could choose to enter. Day made it clear this program fully intends to bring in a sizable amount of players — and it’s needed. Fortunately, the interest from several players looks to be mutual.
Maybe not the biggest need on the team, Ohio State still is looking to add to their defensive backfield, and a new name on that front is LSU safety Sage Ryan, who has plans to find a new home for next season. The No. 144 player overall and the seventh best safety in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, Ryan has made it clear that he has an interest in the Buckeyes as a potential landing spot, and very well could be a player Ohio State looks to host for a visit in the coming weeks.
Already in on Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman, it’s not an expectation that the Buckeyes take two safeties in the portal, but keeping their attention on multiple guys is the plan as of now. For the immediate future, follow the visits for who the Buckeyes are targeting the hardest to help bolster the back end with Caleb Downs in 2025.
Sticking with the secondary theme, the Buckeyes have also reportedly reached out to Georgia transfer Julian Humphrey. A player that is sure to garner a ton of attention, 247Sports lists him as the 30th best player in the portal and the third best cornerback as well, which isn’t a surprise seeing the amount of programs who are also heavily in the mix interest wise.
A 6-foot-1, 195 pound cornerback, Humphrey has three years of experience under his belt and has shined in many of his chances. The Buckeyes do have plenty of talent already in the position room, but this staff has said they want to add valuable depth, and here’s another name worth watching moving forward with others likely to follow.
Proof to his development at Ohio State, this is not only an awesome feat for McLaughlin, but Justin Frye as well. Having left Alabama with some scrutiny on his play in 2023, McLaughlin was all Ohio State needed and then some as the anchor of their offensive line, and that is something this program can sell moving forward to recruits and portal targets as well.
A job well done, it’s evident how much this team has benefitted from McLaughlin’s play, and would obviously love for that to be the case once again next week if not for his injury.
A five-star recruitment this far in advance can sometimes lead to cause for concern and wonder if the player sticks to his commitment, but safe to say in this situation it’s all Ohio State for the Huber Heights Wayne Warrior.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are leaving no stone unturned this offseason when it comes to the transfer portal.
Just over a week until the big game, Ohio State continues to take care of matters that not only concern the rest of this season, but looking ahead to 2025 as well. Taking measures to make the transfer portal a priority, this staff looks poised to bring in the talent and depth needed to reach their ultimate goals.
With this week bringing several bouts of news that the coaches are ready to host top portal targets, you hope the guys being pursued make the choice to make Ohio State their next home. Whether it’s a direct access to playing time, the potential to compete at the highest of levels, or even the NIL front, Ryan Day and the rest of his crew have to make these next few months a difference maker.
Portal additions continue to show interest in the Buckeyes
The list of names the Buckeyes are going after in the portal is already very interesting, and that doesn’t even count the guys who still could choose to enter. Day made it clear this program fully intends to bring in a sizable amount of players — and it’s needed. Fortunately, the interest from several players looks to be mutual.
Maybe not the biggest need on the team, Ohio State still is looking to add to their defensive backfield, and a new name on that front is LSU safety Sage Ryan, who has plans to find a new home for next season. The No. 144 player overall and the seventh best safety in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, Ryan has made it clear that he has an interest in the Buckeyes as a potential landing spot, and very well could be a player Ohio State looks to host for a visit in the coming weeks.
Already in on Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman, it’s not an expectation that the Buckeyes take two safeties in the portal, but keeping their attention on multiple guys is the plan as of now. For the immediate future, follow the visits for who the Buckeyes are targeting the hardest to help bolster the back end with Caleb Downs in 2025.
Sticking with the secondary theme, the Buckeyes have also reportedly reached out to Georgia transfer Julian Humphrey. A player that is sure to garner a ton of attention, 247Sports lists him as the 30th best player in the portal and the third best cornerback as well, which isn’t a surprise seeing the amount of programs who are also heavily in the mix interest wise.
A 6-foot-1, 195 pound cornerback, Humphrey has three years of experience under his belt and has shined in many of his chances. The Buckeyes do have plenty of talent already in the position room, but this staff has said they want to add valuable depth, and here’s another name worth watching moving forward with others likely to follow.
Georgia Transfer CB Julian Humphrey has heard from theseSchools since entering the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/Zs56o1j4Vx pic.twitter.com/wVwKuXUvsj
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 12, 2024
Quick Hits
- One of the more impressive awards an offensive linemen and specifically a center can earn, Ohio State on Thursday night saw Seth McLaughlin take home the Rimington Trophy for the nation’s top center. The fourth Buckeye to bring home the award, it’s a terrific accomplishment to end Seth’s career considering how he left Alabama.
Proof to his development at Ohio State, this is not only an awesome feat for McLaughlin, but Justin Frye as well. Having left Alabama with some scrutiny on his play in 2023, McLaughlin was all Ohio State needed and then some as the anchor of their offensive line, and that is something this program can sell moving forward to recruits and portal targets as well.
A job well done, it’s evident how much this team has benefitted from McLaughlin’s play, and would obviously love for that to be the case once again next week if not for his injury.
- He might only be in the 2027 class, but five-star and latest commit Jamier Brown is already proving how proud he is to be a Buckeye. The No. 7 player nationally and the top ranked receiver per the 247Sports Composite for his cycle, Brown literally inked his way to showing his future home.
A five-star recruitment this far in advance can sometimes lead to cause for concern and wonder if the player sticks to his commitment, but safe to say in this situation it’s all Ohio State for the Huber Heights Wayne Warrior.
Continue reading...
