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LGHL Basketball fans predict just 1 of 4 remaining Big Ten teams to make Final 4
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Basketball fans predict just 1 of 4 remaining Big Ten teams to make Final 4
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
But Vegas oddsmakers have an even grimmer view of the conference’s chances.
There are 16 teams left in the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament; four of them hail from the Big Ten Conference. However, as the remaining squads fight for a spot in the Final 4, it is logistically and mathematically impossible for all four spots in the national semifinals to be from the league of Leaders and Legends.
That is because the Mitten State siblings of Michigan State and Michigan both find themselves in the South Region. While the two teams could match up for a spot in the Final 4, obviously, they both can’t make it.
Of course, that still means that three of the four final spots in the tournament could be claimed by B1G combatants. However, because everyone outside of the Rust Belt (and now the West Coast) hates everything that the Big Ten stands for, it does not appear that there is much faith in the B1G running the table to claim 75% of the Final 4 invites.
Today, our friends from SB Nation Reacts are revealing the groundthink predictions from their latest survey. They asked who hoops fans expected to emerge from each region, and only one Big Ten squad got the nod, and even that is an upset.
Unfortunately, the fan predictions are even more pro-Big Ten than what the experts at the FanDuel SportsBook are predicting. The biggest difference to my eye is that the oddsmakers have Auburn as the favorite to emerge from the South. They have the Tigers at -155 and Sparty at +310. That’s a much bigger margin than the 5% in the SBN Reacts poll.
In the West, the fans are favoring Maryland far more than the bookies are. FanDuel has Florida as -120 favorites while the Turtles are in third in the region at +470. Then, Vegas has Purdue as the least likely team to emerge from the Midwest. They have Houston at -120 and the Boilermakers at +700.
Chalk one up for the good guys.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929320/_National_1_32525.png)
As if I don’t always want to see the Gators get upset, it would be even sweeter if the Terps pulled it off.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929321/_National_2_32525.png)
No Big Ten teams... who cares? Rooting for anyone other than Duke... or Alabama... or BYU. Ok, I’m rooting for Arizona.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929322/_National_3_32525.png)
This is the MIDWEST Region and people are picking someone other than Purdue to emerge? That just don’t make no sense.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929323/_National_4_32525.png)
Continued Big Ten Supremacy!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25929326/_National_6_32525.png)
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
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
But Vegas oddsmakers have an even grimmer view of the conference’s chances.
There are 16 teams left in the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament; four of them hail from the Big Ten Conference. However, as the remaining squads fight for a spot in the Final 4, it is logistically and mathematically impossible for all four spots in the national semifinals to be from the league of Leaders and Legends.
That is because the Mitten State siblings of Michigan State and Michigan both find themselves in the South Region. While the two teams could match up for a spot in the Final 4, obviously, they both can’t make it.
Of course, that still means that three of the four final spots in the tournament could be claimed by B1G combatants. However, because everyone outside of the Rust Belt (and now the West Coast) hates everything that the Big Ten stands for, it does not appear that there is much faith in the B1G running the table to claim 75% of the Final 4 invites.
Today, our friends from SB Nation Reacts are revealing the groundthink predictions from their latest survey. They asked who hoops fans expected to emerge from each region, and only one Big Ten squad got the nod, and even that is an upset.
Unfortunately, the fan predictions are even more pro-Big Ten than what the experts at the FanDuel SportsBook are predicting. The biggest difference to my eye is that the oddsmakers have Auburn as the favorite to emerge from the South. They have the Tigers at -155 and Sparty at +310. That’s a much bigger margin than the 5% in the SBN Reacts poll.
In the West, the fans are favoring Maryland far more than the bookies are. FanDuel has Florida as -120 favorites while the Turtles are in third in the region at +470. Then, Vegas has Purdue as the least likely team to emerge from the Midwest. They have Houston at -120 and the Boilermakers at +700.
South Region:
Chalk one up for the good guys.
West Region:
As if I don’t always want to see the Gators get upset, it would be even sweeter if the Terps pulled it off.
East Region:
No Big Ten teams... who cares? Rooting for anyone other than Duke... or Alabama... or BYU. Ok, I’m rooting for Arizona.
Midwest Region:
This is the MIDWEST Region and people are picking someone other than Purdue to emerge? That just don’t make no sense.
Bonus Question:
Continued Big Ten Supremacy!
Continue reading...
2027 AL DL Jabarrius Garror(Alabama Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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Class: 2027
Position: DE
School: Prichard(AL)Vigor
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 215lbs
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HudL
Class: 2027
Position: DE
School: Prichard(AL)Vigor
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 215lbs
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State loss on Sunday was more disappointing?
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You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State loss on Sunday was more disappointing?
Brett Ludwiczak 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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Sunday was a rough day for a couple Ohio State teams. Not only did the women’s hockey team lose in overtime to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Championship Game, the women’s basketball team lost at home to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. While both teams were successful enough during the regular season to make the NCAA Tournament, which is something the men’s basketball team wasn’t able to do, they both fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a national title.
This isn’t meant to bring down either team since they had tremendous seasons, today we are dealing more with our personal feelings. The women’s hockey team has now not only made five straight Frozen Fours, they have made three straight championship games, with Wisconsin being their opponent in each of those games. The women’s basketball team won 26 games this season, finishing tied for third in the Big Ten behind USC and UCLA. There is no questioning the effort of either team.
Today we want to know which of the losses on Sunday hit you harder. Maybe it was the hockey team’s loss to Wisconsin since it came in the title game. It would be completely understandable if the loss by the Ohio State women’s basketball team hit a little harder since the hockey team has already won a couple titles this decade, so you felt it was time for the basketball team to get theirs. It would also be a valid reason for the women’s basketball team’s loss being tougher to stomach since it came on Ohio State’s home court. We all process losses in different ways.
I’m a Buffalo Bills fan, so I am more than familiar with losing in the playoffs. Usually, when people ask me in the fall what I think about the Bills' chances, I pretty much always tell them I hope for the best and expect the worst. In a wa,y I feel the same way about Ohio State women’s basketball. Kevin McGuff is running a quality program, but they just aren’t quite at the top tier like UConn or South Carolina. The program made their only Final Four in school history in 1993, and since then, the furthest they have advanced was the Elite Eight in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, the loss to Tennessee hurts, especially since it happened at home. I’m just not all that surprised it happened since it seems more often than not the program gets bounced from the tournament before the second weekend.
On the other hand, the women’s hockey team has captured the moment more often than not under head coach Nadine Muzerall. Wisconsin was a juggernaut this year, but the Buckeyes had not only beaten the Badgers in regulation this season, they also bested Wisconsin at Wrigley Field in a shootout. Ohio State was even up 3-1 early in the second period, and held a 3-2 lead until there were less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
The Badgers needed to not only be on a power play and pull their goalie to tie the score, but they also needed Buckeye goaltender Amanda Thiele to lose her stick, causing a teammate to cover the puck up in the crease with her glove, which resulted in a penalty shot that Wisconsin converted.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25925566/2206104544.jpg "2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship - Finals")
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The loss probably wouldn’t have left such a sour taste in my mouth had the refs not had such a big hand in it. The awarding of a penalty shot after a challenge was sketchy at best. Then it could be argued that the Badger who took the penalty shot actually let the puck move backwards before taking her shot, which should have immediately caused the penalty shot to be called dead at that point.
Then, there could have been an argument made that the game-winning goal was offside. If we are being honest, Wisconsin didn’t beat Ohio State, the refs were the ones who beat the Buckeyes.
Maybe the women’s hockey team goes on to win the national title next year, which makes feeling so disappointed in Sunday’s loss look silly. In my head, you need to win every national title game you make it to, since you never know the next time you are going to be there, especially these days with student-athletes hitting the transfer portal in record numbers. At least the loss is easier to stomach with Muzerall in charge since she has proven she can build a winner, even with top talent leaving annually.
In a vacuum, yes, I agree with Brett. Losing in such a painful way in the national championship game is devastating and overwhelmingly disappointing. However, the OSU women’s hockey program is — along with new national champs Wisconsin — at the top of the sport, and that does not appear to be changing anytime soon. So, while an incredibly painful loss for the team and its fans, there is plenty to be optimistic about going forward.
But things do not feel as rosy over on the women’s hoops side. Not only was getting bounced in the Round of 32 an underwhelming and disappointing performance for a squad that showed flashes of elite play throughout the year (though not as consistently as incarnations in the recent past), but the fallout since the defeat has made things more difficult to hope for a better result in 2025-26.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that arguably head coach Kevin McGuff’s best and most consistent player Cotie McMahon would enter the transfer portal after three seasons in Columbus. While McGuff has had success in the portal before — especially following the departure of a massive star — there is no guarantee that he is going to be able to pull a Taylor Mikesell-sized rabbit out of the hat this time.
The Buckeyes have only advanced past the Sweet 16 once since 1993, when Katie Smith led OSU to the title game against Texas Tech (which the Bucks painfully lost 84-82). The other time was in 2023 — McMahon’s freshman season. Otherwise, they have been upset by lower-seeded teams 11 times in their 18 trips to the Big Dance in the 21st Century. You want to guess how many times they’ve upset a higher seed?
You probably don’t, honestly, but the answer is three; just three times in 18 trips to the tournament has Ohio State beaten a higher seed. One of those wins was in McMahon’s freshman year of 2023 when OSU beat the UConn Huskies who were led in part by former Buckeye All-American Dorka Juhasz.
Of course, you have to factor in that the Buckeyes’ average seed in those appearances has been 3.8, so there are far more teams ranked below them than above them. But they still haven’t been able to pull off the victories when they matter the most.
So, when you couple that troubling history with another disappointing end to the season, that’s bad enough, but then it leads directly to the departure of your best veteran leader, and it is hard not to feel like the Buckeyes are falling a bit further behind in the race to conference and national titles.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak 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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Sunday was a rough day for a couple Ohio State teams. Not only did the women’s hockey team lose in overtime to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Championship Game, the women’s basketball team lost at home to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. While both teams were successful enough during the regular season to make the NCAA Tournament, which is something the men’s basketball team wasn’t able to do, they both fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a national title.
This isn’t meant to bring down either team since they had tremendous seasons, today we are dealing more with our personal feelings. The women’s hockey team has now not only made five straight Frozen Fours, they have made three straight championship games, with Wisconsin being their opponent in each of those games. The women’s basketball team won 26 games this season, finishing tied for third in the Big Ten behind USC and UCLA. There is no questioning the effort of either team.
Today we want to know which of the losses on Sunday hit you harder. Maybe it was the hockey team’s loss to Wisconsin since it came in the title game. It would be completely understandable if the loss by the Ohio State women’s basketball team hit a little harder since the hockey team has already won a couple titles this decade, so you felt it was time for the basketball team to get theirs. It would also be a valid reason for the women’s basketball team’s loss being tougher to stomach since it came on Ohio State’s home court. We all process losses in different ways.
Today’s question: Which Ohio State loss on Sunday was most disappointing?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Ohio State women’s hockey
I’m a Buffalo Bills fan, so I am more than familiar with losing in the playoffs. Usually, when people ask me in the fall what I think about the Bills' chances, I pretty much always tell them I hope for the best and expect the worst. In a wa,y I feel the same way about Ohio State women’s basketball. Kevin McGuff is running a quality program, but they just aren’t quite at the top tier like UConn or South Carolina. The program made their only Final Four in school history in 1993, and since then, the furthest they have advanced was the Elite Eight in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, the loss to Tennessee hurts, especially since it happened at home. I’m just not all that surprised it happened since it seems more often than not the program gets bounced from the tournament before the second weekend.
On the other hand, the women’s hockey team has captured the moment more often than not under head coach Nadine Muzerall. Wisconsin was a juggernaut this year, but the Buckeyes had not only beaten the Badgers in regulation this season, they also bested Wisconsin at Wrigley Field in a shootout. Ohio State was even up 3-1 early in the second period, and held a 3-2 lead until there were less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
The Badgers needed to not only be on a power play and pull their goalie to tie the score, but they also needed Buckeye goaltender Amanda Thiele to lose her stick, causing a teammate to cover the puck up in the crease with her glove, which resulted in a penalty shot that Wisconsin converted.
The loss probably wouldn’t have left such a sour taste in my mouth had the refs not had such a big hand in it. The awarding of a penalty shot after a challenge was sketchy at best. Then it could be argued that the Badger who took the penalty shot actually let the puck move backwards before taking her shot, which should have immediately caused the penalty shot to be called dead at that point.
Then, there could have been an argument made that the game-winning goal was offside. If we are being honest, Wisconsin didn’t beat Ohio State, the refs were the ones who beat the Buckeyes.
Maybe the women’s hockey team goes on to win the national title next year, which makes feeling so disappointed in Sunday’s loss look silly. In my head, you need to win every national title game you make it to, since you never know the next time you are going to be there, especially these days with student-athletes hitting the transfer portal in record numbers. At least the loss is easier to stomach with Muzerall in charge since she has proven she can build a winner, even with top talent leaving annually.
Matt’s answer: Ohio State women’s basketball
In a vacuum, yes, I agree with Brett. Losing in such a painful way in the national championship game is devastating and overwhelmingly disappointing. However, the OSU women’s hockey program is — along with new national champs Wisconsin — at the top of the sport, and that does not appear to be changing anytime soon. So, while an incredibly painful loss for the team and its fans, there is plenty to be optimistic about going forward.
But things do not feel as rosy over on the women’s hoops side. Not only was getting bounced in the Round of 32 an underwhelming and disappointing performance for a squad that showed flashes of elite play throughout the year (though not as consistently as incarnations in the recent past), but the fallout since the defeat has made things more difficult to hope for a better result in 2025-26.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that arguably head coach Kevin McGuff’s best and most consistent player Cotie McMahon would enter the transfer portal after three seasons in Columbus. While McGuff has had success in the portal before — especially following the departure of a massive star — there is no guarantee that he is going to be able to pull a Taylor Mikesell-sized rabbit out of the hat this time.
The Buckeyes have only advanced past the Sweet 16 once since 1993, when Katie Smith led OSU to the title game against Texas Tech (which the Bucks painfully lost 84-82). The other time was in 2023 — McMahon’s freshman season. Otherwise, they have been upset by lower-seeded teams 11 times in their 18 trips to the Big Dance in the 21st Century. You want to guess how many times they’ve upset a higher seed?
You probably don’t, honestly, but the answer is three; just three times in 18 trips to the tournament has Ohio State beaten a higher seed. One of those wins was in McMahon’s freshman year of 2023 when OSU beat the UConn Huskies who were led in part by former Buckeye All-American Dorka Juhasz.
Of course, you have to factor in that the Buckeyes’ average seed in those appearances has been 3.8, so there are far more teams ranked below them than above them. But they still haven’t been able to pull off the victories when they matter the most.
So, when you couple that troubling history with another disappointing end to the season, that’s bad enough, but then it leads directly to the departure of your best veteran leader, and it is hard not to feel like the Buckeyes are falling a bit further behind in the race to conference and national titles.
Continue reading...
2027 TN LB Omarii Sanders(Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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247
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Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Nashville(TN) Franklin Road Academy
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205lbs
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Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Nashville(TN) Franklin Road Academy
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205lbs
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2027 CA LB Taven Epps (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Tustin(CA) Tustin
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220lbs
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Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Tustin(CA) Tustin
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220lbs
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LGHL What will it take for you to consider Ohio State’s 2025-26 football season a success?
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What will it take for you to consider Ohio State’s 2025-26 football season a success?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Also, how do you think Ryan Day did in reconfiguring his coaching staff following the deep run into January?
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Now that the basketball seasons are over for both of Ohio State’s squads, we no longer have to split our focus between the hardwood and the gridiron. So, as we get to a belated fan survey this week, all eyes are on the football Buckeyes as they continue on with spring practice.
So, as we recalibrate our attention on Ryan Day and his squad, we’ve got a couple of questions for Buckeye Nation; one looking forward to the 2025-26 season and one looking back at the new folks that the head coach has added to his staff since winning the national title.
Check out the questions in the sections below, and then head down to the survey at the bottom of the article and have your say. Then, if you don’t see your feelings reflected in the survey options, you can write in your perspective in the comments at the bottom of the page.
There is no doubt that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes climbed to the top of the college football mountain last season. But now, they are back at base camp with everyone else, preparing to start the trek to the summit once again.
So, of course, everyone is going to be wondering whether or not they can do it again, but the question on my mind is whether or not a second-straight title is all that can satisfy you as a fan. Or, will making the semifinals, winning the Big Ten title, or beating Michigan be enough to satisfy you?
What Day had to deal with is far from unprecedented following a national championship season, but losing both coordinators, plus a handful of other position coaches and staffers after playing deep into January does not make for the best situation when trying to put a staff together.
Nonetheless, based on word out of the Woody and early recruiting results, it looks like the staff is settling into place and having some success. Based on what we’ve seen so far, how are you feeling about the job Day did in reconfiguring his coaching staff in short order?
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Also, how do you think Ryan Day did in reconfiguring his coaching staff following the deep run into January?
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Now that the basketball seasons are over for both of Ohio State’s squads, we no longer have to split our focus between the hardwood and the gridiron. So, as we get to a belated fan survey this week, all eyes are on the football Buckeyes as they continue on with spring practice.
So, as we recalibrate our attention on Ryan Day and his squad, we’ve got a couple of questions for Buckeye Nation; one looking forward to the 2025-26 season and one looking back at the new folks that the head coach has added to his staff since winning the national title.
Check out the questions in the sections below, and then head down to the survey at the bottom of the article and have your say. Then, if you don’t see your feelings reflected in the survey options, you can write in your perspective in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: What would the minimum be for you to consider the 2025-26 football season a success for Ohio State?
There is no doubt that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes climbed to the top of the college football mountain last season. But now, they are back at base camp with everyone else, preparing to start the trek to the summit once again.
So, of course, everyone is going to be wondering whether or not they can do it again, but the question on my mind is whether or not a second-straight title is all that can satisfy you as a fan. Or, will making the semifinals, winning the Big Ten title, or beating Michigan be enough to satisfy you?
Question 2: How would you grade Ryan Day’s offseason staff moves?
What Day had to deal with is far from unprecedented following a national championship season, but losing both coordinators, plus a handful of other position coaches and staffers after playing deep into January does not make for the best situation when trying to put a staff together.
Nonetheless, based on word out of the Woody and early recruiting results, it looks like the staff is settling into place and having some success. Based on what we’ve seen so far, how are you feeling about the job Day did in reconfiguring his coaching staff in short order?
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL What does Ohio State women’s basketball look like without Cotie McMahon?
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What does Ohio State women’s basketball look like without Cotie McMahon?
ThomasCostello 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 have bounced back from bigger transfer losses, so how will this edition of Ohio State do?
The foundation of the Ohio State women’s basketball program took a hit on Wednesday when junior forward Cotie McMahon joined the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. With the forward not lacking suitors for her intensity and basketball ability, a move away from Columbus is practically a done deal. So, how do head coach Kevin McGuff and the Scarlet and Gray move forward?
There is recent evidence to support Ohio State bouncing back quickly.
After the 2020-21 season, the Buckeyes lost two starting forwards in the portal, with Dorka Juhasz the biggest loss of the pair. Juhasz led Ohio State for three seasons inside the paint, nearly averaging a double-double in her time in scarlet and gray. When Juhasz left, she took 14.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, with the latter good for second-best in the Big Ten.
Ohio State did not hang their heads too low when Juhasz left for head coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies. McGuff’s side got busy in the transfer portal.
While the Buckeyes’ rebounding has not looked the same since Juhasz left, dropping from a top-three team on the boards to in the bottom third of the conference for the next four seasons, McGuff adjusted the way his team played and built around it.
Shooting guard Taylor Mikesell came in and teamed up with a group of returning players, including guards Jacy Sheldon and Rikki Harris, who ended up being the leaders of the program for nearly five years when it was all said and done.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23227472/usa_today_17596313.jpg "Syndication: HawkCentral")
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The team did not sink into oblivion, which is the normal reaction when a player of McMahon’s magnitude decides to leave. Ohio State won the Big Ten regular season championship.
Now the Buckeyes are in a familiar spot and have a similar group of young players who can lead, starring freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge.
Ohio State never truly hit its peak in the 24-25 season, and that is due in part to the team’s own offensive identity crisis. It was not evident who was running the team between Cambridge and McMahon. While McGuff wanted Cambridge to take the lead, McMahon was often the focal point of the squad, in both good and not-so-good ways.
Cambridge is now firmly in the driver’s seat. Like Sheldon, Cambridge has the speed, defensive ability and diverse scoring to propel the Buckeyes roster, and should the freshman stay the duration of her college career in Columbus, be a player that athletes will want to team up with from the transfer portal.
It has not been a week into the portal yet, but there are already some forwards who could make an impact in the program, should they choose Ohio State.
Outside of McMahon, who is near the top of the portal in terms of quality and experience, there are forwards Serah Williams and Laura Ziegler.
Big Ten fans know Williams well. The forward played three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers under former head coach Marisa Moseley. In the last two seasons, Williams averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, which earned the New York native the 2023-24 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, spots on the All-Big Ten team, and most recently a place on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the 24-25 season.
Williams is a marquee name in the portal and already has public interest from the UConn Huskies, which does not exactly bode well for the Buckeyes’ chances, if they go for the forward at all.
Ziegler joined Saint Joseph’s out of Denmark, and the 6-foot-2 forward excelled in the A10 conference. The forward started all but one of her 93 appearances for the Hawks and this season had a career year with 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Ziegler’s 8.8 rebounds on the defensive boards are the third best in the nation. Named a finalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award, Ziegler can also find open teammates with 4.3 assists per game, the fourth highest in the A10.
Ohio State also has three forwards who will possibly debut for the team next season. On the team already is the forward pair of Seini Henry and Ella Hobbs. Should both stay in the program after having redshirt freshman seasons, they bring different games to the lineup.
Hobbs has the potential to be important for the Buckeyes inside the paint. The 6-foot-4 forward missed her freshman season recovering from an ACL injury, but if paired with center Elsa Lemmila, could create a duo that is unmatched inside the paint. That will mean less dynamic drives to the basket that McMahon was known for, but the Buckeyes will be tough around the rim.
Henry plays more of a guard-turned-forward role like McMahon. While the forward does not have the same size as the soon-to-be ex-Buckeye, Henry could play an important role off the bench.
The third is incoming freshman Daria “Dasha” Biriuk. After leaving Ukraine nearly three years ago due to the war with Russia, Biriuk made a name for herself in the United States. Just three weeks ago, Biriuk led the Webb School to a state title with 26 points and 10 rebounds and will soon play at the Nike Hoop Summit in April.
None of these three is at the same level as McMahon, and each brings a slightly different game, but each has the potential, and four years of eligibility, to grow like guard/forward Taylor Thierry did in the program.
Then there are the non-forwards on the team that Ohio State will rely on, like they did Sheldon, Harris, Madison Greene, and Rebeka Mikulasikova. Should they all return, they will be a new foundation of the program.
Outside of Jaloni Cambridge is her sister Kennedy Cambridge, who can slide into a third guard role as a starter with the graduation of Thierry. Kennedy Cambridge brings flashes on offense, but on defense, does not relent. Jaloni Cambridge’s older sister has two years of eligibility remaining, and the two sisters will pair up with either shooting guard Chance Gray or Ava Watson.
Of the current roster, Gray is the most likely to put her name in the transfer portal after losing minutes at the end of games in the second half of the season. The guard went on a cold streak as the expected three-point shooting focused No. 2 guard. Should she not return for a final year of eligibility in Columbus, freshman shooting guard Watson will be the next player up.
Watson and Jaloni Cambridge have experience playing travel basketball together, and were friends long before joining the Buckeyes. Plus, Watson has shown moments of effectiveness from beyond the arc in a limited role off the bench, like a 4-for-4 game from deep against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13.
Does all this mean that the Buckeyes roster is set and there will only be transfers into Columbus from here on out? Not likely. The portal is open until April 22, and in that time, there will likely be more players coming and going. Should Ohio State’s transfers out stop, though, the Buckeyes would not find themselves in a horrible spot... but either way, it is the start of a new era for Ohio State without McMahon on the roster.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have bounced back from bigger transfer losses, so how will this edition of Ohio State do?
The foundation of the Ohio State women’s basketball program took a hit on Wednesday when junior forward Cotie McMahon joined the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. With the forward not lacking suitors for her intensity and basketball ability, a move away from Columbus is practically a done deal. So, how do head coach Kevin McGuff and the Scarlet and Gray move forward?
There is recent evidence to support Ohio State bouncing back quickly.
After the 2020-21 season, the Buckeyes lost two starting forwards in the portal, with Dorka Juhasz the biggest loss of the pair. Juhasz led Ohio State for three seasons inside the paint, nearly averaging a double-double in her time in scarlet and gray. When Juhasz left, she took 14.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, with the latter good for second-best in the Big Ten.
Ohio State did not hang their heads too low when Juhasz left for head coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies. McGuff’s side got busy in the transfer portal.
While the Buckeyes’ rebounding has not looked the same since Juhasz left, dropping from a top-three team on the boards to in the bottom third of the conference for the next four seasons, McGuff adjusted the way his team played and built around it.
Shooting guard Taylor Mikesell came in and teamed up with a group of returning players, including guards Jacy Sheldon and Rikki Harris, who ended up being the leaders of the program for nearly five years when it was all said and done.
The team did not sink into oblivion, which is the normal reaction when a player of McMahon’s magnitude decides to leave. Ohio State won the Big Ten regular season championship.
Now the Buckeyes are in a familiar spot and have a similar group of young players who can lead, starring freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge.
Ohio State never truly hit its peak in the 24-25 season, and that is due in part to the team’s own offensive identity crisis. It was not evident who was running the team between Cambridge and McMahon. While McGuff wanted Cambridge to take the lead, McMahon was often the focal point of the squad, in both good and not-so-good ways.
Cambridge is now firmly in the driver’s seat. Like Sheldon, Cambridge has the speed, defensive ability and diverse scoring to propel the Buckeyes roster, and should the freshman stay the duration of her college career in Columbus, be a player that athletes will want to team up with from the transfer portal.
It has not been a week into the portal yet, but there are already some forwards who could make an impact in the program, should they choose Ohio State.
Outside of McMahon, who is near the top of the portal in terms of quality and experience, there are forwards Serah Williams and Laura Ziegler.
Big Ten fans know Williams well. The forward played three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers under former head coach Marisa Moseley. In the last two seasons, Williams averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, which earned the New York native the 2023-24 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, spots on the All-Big Ten team, and most recently a place on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the 24-25 season.
Williams is a marquee name in the portal and already has public interest from the UConn Huskies, which does not exactly bode well for the Buckeyes’ chances, if they go for the forward at all.
Ziegler joined Saint Joseph’s out of Denmark, and the 6-foot-2 forward excelled in the A10 conference. The forward started all but one of her 93 appearances for the Hawks and this season had a career year with 17.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Ziegler’s 8.8 rebounds on the defensive boards are the third best in the nation. Named a finalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award, Ziegler can also find open teammates with 4.3 assists per game, the fourth highest in the A10.
Ohio State also has three forwards who will possibly debut for the team next season. On the team already is the forward pair of Seini Henry and Ella Hobbs. Should both stay in the program after having redshirt freshman seasons, they bring different games to the lineup.
Hobbs has the potential to be important for the Buckeyes inside the paint. The 6-foot-4 forward missed her freshman season recovering from an ACL injury, but if paired with center Elsa Lemmila, could create a duo that is unmatched inside the paint. That will mean less dynamic drives to the basket that McMahon was known for, but the Buckeyes will be tough around the rim.
Henry plays more of a guard-turned-forward role like McMahon. While the forward does not have the same size as the soon-to-be ex-Buckeye, Henry could play an important role off the bench.
The third is incoming freshman Daria “Dasha” Biriuk. After leaving Ukraine nearly three years ago due to the war with Russia, Biriuk made a name for herself in the United States. Just three weeks ago, Biriuk led the Webb School to a state title with 26 points and 10 rebounds and will soon play at the Nike Hoop Summit in April.
None of these three is at the same level as McMahon, and each brings a slightly different game, but each has the potential, and four years of eligibility, to grow like guard/forward Taylor Thierry did in the program.
Then there are the non-forwards on the team that Ohio State will rely on, like they did Sheldon, Harris, Madison Greene, and Rebeka Mikulasikova. Should they all return, they will be a new foundation of the program.
Outside of Jaloni Cambridge is her sister Kennedy Cambridge, who can slide into a third guard role as a starter with the graduation of Thierry. Kennedy Cambridge brings flashes on offense, but on defense, does not relent. Jaloni Cambridge’s older sister has two years of eligibility remaining, and the two sisters will pair up with either shooting guard Chance Gray or Ava Watson.
Of the current roster, Gray is the most likely to put her name in the transfer portal after losing minutes at the end of games in the second half of the season. The guard went on a cold streak as the expected three-point shooting focused No. 2 guard. Should she not return for a final year of eligibility in Columbus, freshman shooting guard Watson will be the next player up.
Watson and Jaloni Cambridge have experience playing travel basketball together, and were friends long before joining the Buckeyes. Plus, Watson has shown moments of effectiveness from beyond the arc in a limited role off the bench, like a 4-for-4 game from deep against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13.
Does all this mean that the Buckeyes roster is set and there will only be transfers into Columbus from here on out? Not likely. The portal is open until April 22, and in that time, there will likely be more players coming and going. Should Ohio State’s transfers out stop, though, the Buckeyes would not find themselves in a horrible spot... but either way, it is the start of a new era for Ohio State without McMahon on the roster.
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LGHL Why did Ohio State add Gabe Kupps, where will Buckeyes look next in the transfer portal?
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Why did Ohio State add Gabe Kupps, where will Buckeyes look next in the transfer portal?
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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Kupps transferred to Ohio State on Wednesday after two seasons at Indiana.
In what could be a make-or-break season for Jake Diebler and a pivotal season for the Ohio State men’s basketball program, the Buckeyes kicked off transfer portal season on Wednesday afternoon by adding the 2022 Ohio Mr. Basketball award winner, Gabe Kupps.
Kupps, a Dayton-native and a graduate of Centerville High School, committed to Indiana in November 2021 over Ohio State and Stanford. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard started 22 games as a freshman at IU two years ago, averaging 2.6 points per game on 36.4% shooting and 35.9% from three-point land. Forty-four percent of his shots came from beyond the arc.
With the addition of Kupps, Ohio State now has each of the last three Ohio Mr. Basketball award winners on the roster: Kupps (2022), Devin Royal (2023), and Colin White (2024). The 2025 Ohio Mr. Basketball — Marcus Johnson — has already committed to play for Ohio State in the class of 2026.
As soon as Kupps entered the transfer portal last week, Ohio State was immediately rumored to be a school reaching out to him. Alleged NIL offers to Kupps were shared on the internet, but ultimately the agreements between players and NIL collectives are not public, so none of those figures could be confirmed. By Wednesday noon, however, Kupps had tweeted out that he was headed back to the Buckeye state.
Diebler and the staff went out and got another guard who could handle running point behind Bruce Thornton and absorb some of the lost minutes from Micah Parrish, Ques Glover, and what should have been Meechie Johnson last season. Cupps is also an Ohio kid who was recruited heavily by Ohio State a few years ago, and — as we’ve seen — the relationships you build during high school recruitment can pay dividends down the road.
In a limited sample size, Cupps has shown the ability to knock down the three-ball, hitting them at 35.9% as a freshman. He will get more opportunities at Ohio State, so we will know pretty quickly if Cupps can be counted on as a shooter off the bench, or just a depth option behind Thornton and John Mobley Jr. to handle the ball on occasion.
Kupps was recruited to Indiana by now-former head coach Mike Woodson, who was fired mid-season by Indiana but was allowed to coach out the remainder of the season. Once the season ended, Kupps entered the transfer portal and opted not to return to Indiana to play for new head coach Darian DeVries.
As a freshman, Kupps played in all 33 of Indiana’s games, starting 22 of them in place of Xavier Johnson, who was injured for much of the 2023-2024 season. In 21.6 minutes per game, Kupps’ 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He only took 88 shot attempts all season long, which was eighth on the team, despite playing the fifth-most minutes on the team.
Kupps took more two-point attempts than three-pointers, but many of his jump shots were created off the dribble with a ball screen brought to him at the top of the key. He was adequate enough on catch-and-shoot threes, but more often Kupps was creating for himself off the dribble, either driving to the basket or firing away after waiting for one screen.
His career-high is an 11-point showing against Auburn on December 9, 2023. In 31 minutes, Kupps was 4-of-6 overall, 2-for-3 from the three-point line, had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Indiana lost the game, 104-76.
This past season, Kupps was shut down in early December with a meniscus injury that cost him the remainder of the season. He only appeared in four games, totaling 25 minutes, and did not score in those four appearances. He is expected to be granted a medical redshirt and will be considered a redshirt sophomore at Ohio State.
It depends how aggressive Ohio State is in the transfer portal for the rest of the spring. If Diebler and his staff are able to also add a solid starting center and a small forward who can shoot, then the addition of Kupps is a smart depth move. In that scenario, the addition of Kupps may even get overlooked as we get closer to the season, and the team will be very grateful to have a former top-100 recruit as a backup guard.
If Kupps turns out to be the diamond of the off-season, it meant Ohio State did not go out and add the established talent and production it needed to in order to create a winning roster.
As of Wednesday night, Ohio State only has one more roster spot available for the 2025-2026 season, unless someone else transfers out. Odds are, at least one more spot will become available this week.
While having depth at guard is a blessing, adding more to the existing backcourt was not the priority for this team. Assuming no departures, Ohio State now has Thornton, Mobley, Taison Chatman, Kupps, and Dorian Jones vying for minutes in the backcourt.
Look for Diebler and his staff to prioritize an established center or power forward next. Ohio State did not have any post presence last season, and that lack of foundation made everything harder within the offense. A reliable center who could get Ohio State 8-10 points per game next year is a must.
Thus far, Ohio State has been linked to several post players, with former Rutgers center Lathan Sommerville being one and former Santa Clara center Chris Tilly being another.
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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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Kupps transferred to Ohio State on Wednesday after two seasons at Indiana.
In what could be a make-or-break season for Jake Diebler and a pivotal season for the Ohio State men’s basketball program, the Buckeyes kicked off transfer portal season on Wednesday afternoon by adding the 2022 Ohio Mr. Basketball award winner, Gabe Kupps.
Kupps, a Dayton-native and a graduate of Centerville High School, committed to Indiana in November 2021 over Ohio State and Stanford. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard started 22 games as a freshman at IU two years ago, averaging 2.6 points per game on 36.4% shooting and 35.9% from three-point land. Forty-four percent of his shots came from beyond the arc.
With the addition of Kupps, Ohio State now has each of the last three Ohio Mr. Basketball award winners on the roster: Kupps (2022), Devin Royal (2023), and Colin White (2024). The 2025 Ohio Mr. Basketball — Marcus Johnson — has already committed to play for Ohio State in the class of 2026.
As soon as Kupps entered the transfer portal last week, Ohio State was immediately rumored to be a school reaching out to him. Alleged NIL offers to Kupps were shared on the internet, but ultimately the agreements between players and NIL collectives are not public, so none of those figures could be confirmed. By Wednesday noon, however, Kupps had tweeted out that he was headed back to the Buckeye state.
Why did Ohio State pursue Gabe Kupps?
Diebler and the staff went out and got another guard who could handle running point behind Bruce Thornton and absorb some of the lost minutes from Micah Parrish, Ques Glover, and what should have been Meechie Johnson last season. Cupps is also an Ohio kid who was recruited heavily by Ohio State a few years ago, and — as we’ve seen — the relationships you build during high school recruitment can pay dividends down the road.
In a limited sample size, Cupps has shown the ability to knock down the three-ball, hitting them at 35.9% as a freshman. He will get more opportunities at Ohio State, so we will know pretty quickly if Cupps can be counted on as a shooter off the bench, or just a depth option behind Thornton and John Mobley Jr. to handle the ball on occasion.
Why did Kupps leave Indiana?
Kupps was recruited to Indiana by now-former head coach Mike Woodson, who was fired mid-season by Indiana but was allowed to coach out the remainder of the season. Once the season ended, Kupps entered the transfer portal and opted not to return to Indiana to play for new head coach Darian DeVries.
What did Kupps do at Indiana?
As a freshman, Kupps played in all 33 of Indiana’s games, starting 22 of them in place of Xavier Johnson, who was injured for much of the 2023-2024 season. In 21.6 minutes per game, Kupps’ 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He only took 88 shot attempts all season long, which was eighth on the team, despite playing the fifth-most minutes on the team.
Kupps took more two-point attempts than three-pointers, but many of his jump shots were created off the dribble with a ball screen brought to him at the top of the key. He was adequate enough on catch-and-shoot threes, but more often Kupps was creating for himself off the dribble, either driving to the basket or firing away after waiting for one screen.
His career-high is an 11-point showing against Auburn on December 9, 2023. In 31 minutes, Kupps was 4-of-6 overall, 2-for-3 from the three-point line, had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Indiana lost the game, 104-76.
This past season, Kupps was shut down in early December with a meniscus injury that cost him the remainder of the season. He only appeared in four games, totaling 25 minutes, and did not score in those four appearances. He is expected to be granted a medical redshirt and will be considered a redshirt sophomore at Ohio State.
How excited should we be about the addition of Kupps?
It depends how aggressive Ohio State is in the transfer portal for the rest of the spring. If Diebler and his staff are able to also add a solid starting center and a small forward who can shoot, then the addition of Kupps is a smart depth move. In that scenario, the addition of Kupps may even get overlooked as we get closer to the season, and the team will be very grateful to have a former top-100 recruit as a backup guard.
If Kupps turns out to be the diamond of the off-season, it meant Ohio State did not go out and add the established talent and production it needed to in order to create a winning roster.
What will Ohio State do next in the transfer portal?
As of Wednesday night, Ohio State only has one more roster spot available for the 2025-2026 season, unless someone else transfers out. Odds are, at least one more spot will become available this week.
While having depth at guard is a blessing, adding more to the existing backcourt was not the priority for this team. Assuming no departures, Ohio State now has Thornton, Mobley, Taison Chatman, Kupps, and Dorian Jones vying for minutes in the backcourt.
Look for Diebler and his staff to prioritize an established center or power forward next. Ohio State did not have any post presence last season, and that lack of foundation made everything harder within the offense. A reliable center who could get Ohio State 8-10 points per game next year is a must.
Thus far, Ohio State has been linked to several post players, with former Rutgers center Lathan Sommerville being one and former Santa Clara center Chris Tilly being another.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State and Boston University meet this afternoon in Toledo in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament
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Ohio State and Boston University meet this afternoon in Toledo in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament
Brett Ludwiczak 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
Ohio State’s men’s hockey team heads up to northwest Ohio today to take on Boston University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Toledo.
After fighting valiantly on Saturday night in East Lansing, Ohio State fell just short of winning their first Big Ten Tournament title, losing to Michigan State 4-3 in double overtime. Even though losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Spartans was tough to stomach, the Buckeyes still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, being seeded third in the Toledo region, and 10th overall in the tournament.
Ohio State will square off with Boston University this afternoon, with the winner moving on to the regional final on Saturday to play the winner of the other game on Thursday at Huntington Center between Michigan State and Cornell.
In the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, the Buckeyes fell behind Michigan State in the first period, allowing the Spartans to score two power play goals before the game was even 12 minutes old. Joe Dunlap would pull one back for Ohio State at the 17:51 mark of the period to cut the deficit in half. After a scoreless second period, Michigan State would restore their two-goal lead 42 seconds into the third period.
One thing about Big Ten Coach of the Year Steve Rohlik’s team is they never give up. Damien Carfagna scored 12:46 into the third period to cut Michigan State’s lead to 3-2. Then with just over two minutes left in regulation, Gunnerwolfe Fontaine tied the game with his 17th goal of the season, tying him with Riley Thompson for the team lead. With their scoring output, the Buckeyes have now outscored opponents 53-35 in the third period of games this season.
Following a scoreless first overtime period, Michigan State denied Ohio State a conference tournament title when Issac Howard scored 15:09 into the second overtime period. Even though the Buckeyes lost, goaltender Logan Terness deserves a lot of credit for what he did against the Spartans, stopping 47 shots from the top team in the Big Ten. Terness is 12-9-1 this season with a 2.27 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.
Ohio State also received offensive contributions from a couple defensemen in the loss to Michigan State. Damien Carfagna extended his point streak for four games when he recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday night. Aiden Hansen-Bukata factored in all three Buckeye goals, as he was credited with an assist on each score. Hansen-Bukata now has 27 assists on the season, with his 29 total points ranking fourth on the team, and Carfagna’s 28 points ranking fifth.
Now Ohio State will be looking for their first-ever win over Boston University. The Buckeyes and Terriers have met three times, with the last game between the programs coming in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, where Boston University won 8-3 in Manchester, New Hampshire. This marks the 40th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Terriers.
Boston University is coached by alum and former NHL winger Jay Pandolfo, who is in his third season in charge of the program. The first two years have been very successful for Pandolfo and the Terries, as they have made the Frozen Four each season. Unfortunately, they have failed to make it out of the national semifinals, losing 6-2 to Minnesota in 2023, followed by a 2-1 overtime loss to Denver last year.
The loss to the Pioneers had to sting a little harder since the Terriers had Macklin Celebrini on their roster, who would go on to be the top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25928207/2206164986.jpg "COLLEGE HOCKEY: MAR 17 Hockey East Semifinals - Boston University v UConn")
Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Terriers have run into some issues with consistency this year. While they can hang their hat on beating Boston College, who was the top ranked team in the country at the time, 4-1 in the final of The Beanpot, the Terriers are coming off a 5-2 loss to UConn in the Hockey East semifinals.
Quinn Hutson leads the team with 47 points and is tied with Cole Eiserman for the team lead with 21 goals. Cole Hutson is second on the team with 40 points, and Ryan Greene has 33 points. Each of those four plays have scored at least 10 goals. Joining the quartet as double-digit goal scorers this year are Shane Lachance, and Devin Kaplan.
Likely to start at goalie for Boston University is Mikhail Yegorov. The freshman is 8-5-1 with a shutout in 14 starts with a 1.99 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Yegorov took over in January for senior Mathieu Caron, who was struggling this season with a 3.16 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.
Although Caron has struggled, he did play 40 games in the Frozen Four run by the Terriers last year, so if needed he could replace Yegorov if Pandolfo feels the moment could be too big for the freshman.
One area that could become critical in today’s game is which team is able to stay out of the penalty box. The Terriers have made it a habit of shooting themselves in the foot at times this year, as their 13.4 penalty minutes per game is most in the country. On the other side, the Buckeyes have been pretty disciplined, averaging just 7.69 penalty minutes per game.
If Ohio State can get a couple power play goals and take a lead into the third period it could be tough for Boston University to stay perfect against the Buckeyes. Should Steve Rohlik’s team win in Toledo this afternoon, it could possibly set up a rematch with Michigan State on Saturday.
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
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Brett Ludwiczak 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
Ohio State’s men’s hockey team heads up to northwest Ohio today to take on Boston University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Toledo.
After fighting valiantly on Saturday night in East Lansing, Ohio State fell just short of winning their first Big Ten Tournament title, losing to Michigan State 4-3 in double overtime. Even though losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Spartans was tough to stomach, the Buckeyes still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, being seeded third in the Toledo region, and 10th overall in the tournament.
Ohio State will square off with Boston University this afternoon, with the winner moving on to the regional final on Saturday to play the winner of the other game on Thursday at Huntington Center between Michigan State and Cornell.
In the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, the Buckeyes fell behind Michigan State in the first period, allowing the Spartans to score two power play goals before the game was even 12 minutes old. Joe Dunlap would pull one back for Ohio State at the 17:51 mark of the period to cut the deficit in half. After a scoreless second period, Michigan State would restore their two-goal lead 42 seconds into the third period.
One thing about Big Ten Coach of the Year Steve Rohlik’s team is they never give up. Damien Carfagna scored 12:46 into the third period to cut Michigan State’s lead to 3-2. Then with just over two minutes left in regulation, Gunnerwolfe Fontaine tied the game with his 17th goal of the season, tying him with Riley Thompson for the team lead. With their scoring output, the Buckeyes have now outscored opponents 53-35 in the third period of games this season.
Following a scoreless first overtime period, Michigan State denied Ohio State a conference tournament title when Issac Howard scored 15:09 into the second overtime period. Even though the Buckeyes lost, goaltender Logan Terness deserves a lot of credit for what he did against the Spartans, stopping 47 shots from the top team in the Big Ten. Terness is 12-9-1 this season with a 2.27 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.
Ohio State also received offensive contributions from a couple defensemen in the loss to Michigan State. Damien Carfagna extended his point streak for four games when he recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday night. Aiden Hansen-Bukata factored in all three Buckeye goals, as he was credited with an assist on each score. Hansen-Bukata now has 27 assists on the season, with his 29 total points ranking fourth on the team, and Carfagna’s 28 points ranking fifth.
Now Ohio State will be looking for their first-ever win over Boston University. The Buckeyes and Terriers have met three times, with the last game between the programs coming in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, where Boston University won 8-3 in Manchester, New Hampshire. This marks the 40th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Terriers.
Boston University is coached by alum and former NHL winger Jay Pandolfo, who is in his third season in charge of the program. The first two years have been very successful for Pandolfo and the Terries, as they have made the Frozen Four each season. Unfortunately, they have failed to make it out of the national semifinals, losing 6-2 to Minnesota in 2023, followed by a 2-1 overtime loss to Denver last year.
The loss to the Pioneers had to sting a little harder since the Terriers had Macklin Celebrini on their roster, who would go on to be the top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Terriers have run into some issues with consistency this year. While they can hang their hat on beating Boston College, who was the top ranked team in the country at the time, 4-1 in the final of The Beanpot, the Terriers are coming off a 5-2 loss to UConn in the Hockey East semifinals.
Quinn Hutson leads the team with 47 points and is tied with Cole Eiserman for the team lead with 21 goals. Cole Hutson is second on the team with 40 points, and Ryan Greene has 33 points. Each of those four plays have scored at least 10 goals. Joining the quartet as double-digit goal scorers this year are Shane Lachance, and Devin Kaplan.
Likely to start at goalie for Boston University is Mikhail Yegorov. The freshman is 8-5-1 with a shutout in 14 starts with a 1.99 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Yegorov took over in January for senior Mathieu Caron, who was struggling this season with a 3.16 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.
Although Caron has struggled, he did play 40 games in the Frozen Four run by the Terriers last year, so if needed he could replace Yegorov if Pandolfo feels the moment could be too big for the freshman.
One area that could become critical in today’s game is which team is able to stay out of the penalty box. The Terriers have made it a habit of shooting themselves in the foot at times this year, as their 13.4 penalty minutes per game is most in the country. On the other side, the Buckeyes have been pretty disciplined, averaging just 7.69 penalty minutes per game.
If Ohio State can get a couple power play goals and take a lead into the third period it could be tough for Boston University to stay perfect against the Buckeyes. Should Steve Rohlik’s team win in Toledo this afternoon, it could possibly set up a rematch with Michigan State on Saturday.
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
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LGHL BOOOM! Ohio State lands third OL commitment in 2026 class
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BOOOM! Ohio State lands third OL commitment in 2026 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Tucker Smith
Tucker Smith is the Buckeyes’ latest commit.
A busy Wednesday for Ohio State football, the Buckeyes were the talk of the town with over 140 NFL personnel on hand for their 2025 Pro Day, and the players showed out with the impressive crowd watching their every move. Plenty of elite performances by the draft eligible guys, Ohio State is sure to be well represented with the upcoming NFL Draft keeping their mantra of “Developed Here” as true as ever.
From a recruiting perspective, not much more needs pitched to the recruits on Ohio State’s board other than the amount of NFL scouts and personnel who chose to come to campus to see the Buckeyes perform. Knowing the goal of seemingly every recruit wanting to get to the highest level of play, Ohio State is atop of the college football landscape for development, and Wednesday was another feather in the cap for these Buckeyes.
Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen hasn’t been at the help of his room for long, but his recruiting chops are already being felt in a major way. Landing Maxwell Riley in the 2026 class, Ohio State kept one of their top linemen at home for his college career and that was a huge first win for Bowen, but doing so again with Sam Greer earlier this week was confirmation Day got the right guy to lead this group.
Now two commits in the fold, Bowen has work to do still for this currently cycle and knows this class is far from over, but Wednesday brought more great news for Ohio State when Arizona native Tucker Smith announced his commitment to the Buckeyes’ 2026 class.
The No. 798 player nationally and 71st best interior lineman per the 247Sports Composite, the recruitment of Smith couldn’t have gone any quicker or smoother for that matter. Taking his first trip to Columbus just last week, Smith earned an offer while on campus and took hardly no time at all to realize Ohio State was the place for him to be.
Choosing the Buckeyes over the likes of Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, USC, and Washington, Smith now gives the Buckeyes their third offensive line commit in the 2026 class, which is likely to end up at six or seven. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, Tucker has a wrestling background and makes for an awesome prospect on the interior which is exactly where the staff sees him.
Now at seven members in the 2026 class and a group that is rising in the rankings quickly, the Buckeyes can take a little pressure off of themselves thanks to Bowen’s fast start. A position group that is crucial every year, this new hire by Day is working out impressively well thus far and it looks as if the momentum has no signs of slowing down.
Back on the practice field later today, Ohio State has another opportunity both on and off the field to better their program this spring. Development of the current players being the first goal of spring practice, the Buckeyes are also using this time as a major recruiting tool, and top talent has flocked to Columbus at an impressive rate.
On Thursday in-state running back Favour Akih makes his way back to campus for yet another unofficial visit, and the buzz surrounding Akih is pretty favorable for the Buckeyes. Picking up his Ohio State offer just over a week ago now, it hasn’t taken long for the Buckeyes to rise to the top of his recruitment as the favorite to land his eventual commitment.
The No. 205 player nationally and the 15th best running back in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, Akih has plenty of official visits set for later this summer, but the two programs likely in the lead are Ohio State with Miami being the other.
An important trip for Akih nonetheless, it wouldn’t be a total shock if the in-state running back pulled the trigger and took his spot in this current class following his latest trip to Columbus. A cycle that is sure to take two running backs in the fold, it makes sense to keep a top Ohio native in the fold and that good news could soon be on the verge of coming public.
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Tucker Smith
Tucker Smith is the Buckeyes’ latest commit.
A busy Wednesday for Ohio State football, the Buckeyes were the talk of the town with over 140 NFL personnel on hand for their 2025 Pro Day, and the players showed out with the impressive crowd watching their every move. Plenty of elite performances by the draft eligible guys, Ohio State is sure to be well represented with the upcoming NFL Draft keeping their mantra of “Developed Here” as true as ever.
From a recruiting perspective, not much more needs pitched to the recruits on Ohio State’s board other than the amount of NFL scouts and personnel who chose to come to campus to see the Buckeyes perform. Knowing the goal of seemingly every recruit wanting to get to the highest level of play, Ohio State is atop of the college football landscape for development, and Wednesday was another feather in the cap for these Buckeyes.
BOOM! Buckeyes land another key offensive line addition to 2026 class
Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen hasn’t been at the help of his room for long, but his recruiting chops are already being felt in a major way. Landing Maxwell Riley in the 2026 class, Ohio State kept one of their top linemen at home for his college career and that was a huge first win for Bowen, but doing so again with Sam Greer earlier this week was confirmation Day got the right guy to lead this group.
Now two commits in the fold, Bowen has work to do still for this currently cycle and knows this class is far from over, but Wednesday brought more great news for Ohio State when Arizona native Tucker Smith announced his commitment to the Buckeyes’ 2026 class.
The No. 798 player nationally and 71st best interior lineman per the 247Sports Composite, the recruitment of Smith couldn’t have gone any quicker or smoother for that matter. Taking his first trip to Columbus just last week, Smith earned an offer while on campus and took hardly no time at all to realize Ohio State was the place for him to be.
Choosing the Buckeyes over the likes of Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, USC, and Washington, Smith now gives the Buckeyes their third offensive line commit in the 2026 class, which is likely to end up at six or seven. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, Tucker has a wrestling background and makes for an awesome prospect on the interior which is exactly where the staff sees him.
Now at seven members in the 2026 class and a group that is rising in the rankings quickly, the Buckeyes can take a little pressure off of themselves thanks to Bowen’s fast start. A position group that is crucial every year, this new hire by Day is working out impressively well thus far and it looks as if the momentum has no signs of slowing down.
In-state running back set to see the Buckeyes yet again
Back on the practice field later today, Ohio State has another opportunity both on and off the field to better their program this spring. Development of the current players being the first goal of spring practice, the Buckeyes are also using this time as a major recruiting tool, and top talent has flocked to Columbus at an impressive rate.
On Thursday in-state running back Favour Akih makes his way back to campus for yet another unofficial visit, and the buzz surrounding Akih is pretty favorable for the Buckeyes. Picking up his Ohio State offer just over a week ago now, it hasn’t taken long for the Buckeyes to rise to the top of his recruitment as the favorite to land his eventual commitment.
The No. 205 player nationally and the 15th best running back in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, Akih has plenty of official visits set for later this summer, but the two programs likely in the lead are Ohio State with Miami being the other.
An important trip for Akih nonetheless, it wouldn’t be a total shock if the in-state running back pulled the trigger and took his spot in this current class following his latest trip to Columbus. A cycle that is sure to take two running backs in the fold, it makes sense to keep a top Ohio native in the fold and that good news could soon be on the verge of coming public.
I will be at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY tomorrow for a spring practice
GO BUCKS @Montgomery_DHHS pic.twitter.com/zQzeWigvbF
— Favour Akih 4️ (@FavourAkih) March 26, 2025
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