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LGHL Uncut: McGuff discusses technical foul in Ohio State win over Montana State
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Uncut: McGuff discusses technical foul in Ohio State win over Montana State
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
Plus, Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge talk about their first appearances in the NCAA Tournament
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament field of 64 teams Friday against the Montana State Bobcats. The Big Sky champions came into Columbus after winning the regular season and conference tournament with a 30-3 record, but after a back-and-forth start to the game, Ohio State ran away in a 71-51 win.
After the game, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about how the Buckeyes lack of extra passes in the first quarter led to the game being so close, with six lead changes in the first half. Also, his message to the team at halftime, which led to a 15-point third quarter run that put the game away for Ohio State and the moment that led to a technical foul for the coach.
Gray and Cambridge talked about what forward Cotie McMahon texted to them Friday morning and how the team responded to McGuff’s second quarter technical foul and the Buckeyes’ 26 forced turnovers against the Bobcats.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
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
Plus, Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge talk about their first appearances in the NCAA Tournament
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament field of 64 teams Friday against the Montana State Bobcats. The Big Sky champions came into Columbus after winning the regular season and conference tournament with a 30-3 record, but after a back-and-forth start to the game, Ohio State ran away in a 71-51 win.
After the game, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about how the Buckeyes lack of extra passes in the first quarter led to the game being so close, with six lead changes in the first half. Also, his message to the team at halftime, which led to a 15-point third quarter run that put the game away for Ohio State and the moment that led to a technical foul for the coach.
Gray and Cambridge talked about what forward Cotie McMahon texted to them Friday morning and how the team responded to McGuff’s second quarter technical foul and the Buckeyes’ 26 forced turnovers against the Bobcats.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State to face Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of March Madness
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Ohio State to face Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of March Madness
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Volunteers face-off in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history
Ohio State women’s basketball returns to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday after the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats on Friday night. Now the Scarlet and Gray know the team they will face when the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the No. 12 USF Bulls 101-66.
The Volunteers and Bulls got off to a fast start on Friday night, with Tennessee playing a fast-paced offense under first year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell. To USF’s credit, the AAC conference tournament champions responded to everything the Vols threw at them with five lead changes in the first quarter.
However, in the second the Tennessee defense made things difficult on the Bulls. USF shot 4-of-14 from the line and the Vols forced six turnovers, with nine points coming off of those turnovers.
Standing out for Tennessee was guard Talaysia Cooper, who scored 16 points in the first half alone to nearly match her team-leading 16.7 points per game. What made the performance so special was that it was Cooper’s return from an ankle injury the sophomore sustained on March 6, on Tennessee’s Senior Day.
Cooper led the team with 20 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
Tennessee outscored USF 29-9 in the second quarter and there was no coming back for the AAC side in the final half. USF stayed with the Vols in the third quarter but did not do enough on the defensive end of the court to stop Tennessee from keeping up. Caldwell’s side increased their lead by two points by the end of the third quarter.
Ohio State and Tennessee have history in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols defeated the Buckeyes three previous times during the 1996, 2011 and 2016 editions of March Madness, with the past two during the Sweet Sixteen round of games.
The first two defeats came against legendary head coach Pat Summitt, who led the Vols to a national title during the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
However, in the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons, the two teams played a home-and-home series that began in Columbus on the first night of the 22-23 campaign. In that game, Ohio State shocked the top-10 ranked Vols 87-75 in junior Cotie McMahon’s first NCAA game. The next season, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and defeated then head coach Kellie Harper’s Volunteers 78-58.
At the end of last season, Tennessee moved on from Harper and hired Caldwell, who is known for an offense that shots a lot of shots from beyond the arc. The Vols are No. 3 in the nation with 30.9 three-point attempts per game. Last season, with the Marshall Thundering Herd, Caldwell’s side led the nation with 31.9 shots from deep per game, a then NCAA record before Arkansas State shot 32.5 this season.
There is no official time for the Second Round game until the completion of Friday night’s First Round tournament matchups.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Volunteers face-off in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history
Ohio State women’s basketball returns to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday after the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats on Friday night. Now the Scarlet and Gray know the team they will face when the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the No. 12 USF Bulls 101-66.
The Volunteers and Bulls got off to a fast start on Friday night, with Tennessee playing a fast-paced offense under first year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell. To USF’s credit, the AAC conference tournament champions responded to everything the Vols threw at them with five lead changes in the first quarter.
However, in the second the Tennessee defense made things difficult on the Bulls. USF shot 4-of-14 from the line and the Vols forced six turnovers, with nine points coming off of those turnovers.
Standing out for Tennessee was guard Talaysia Cooper, who scored 16 points in the first half alone to nearly match her team-leading 16.7 points per game. What made the performance so special was that it was Cooper’s return from an ankle injury the sophomore sustained on March 6, on Tennessee’s Senior Day.
Cooper led the team with 20 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
Tennessee outscored USF 29-9 in the second quarter and there was no coming back for the AAC side in the final half. USF stayed with the Vols in the third quarter but did not do enough on the defensive end of the court to stop Tennessee from keeping up. Caldwell’s side increased their lead by two points by the end of the third quarter.
Ohio State and Tennessee have history in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols defeated the Buckeyes three previous times during the 1996, 2011 and 2016 editions of March Madness, with the past two during the Sweet Sixteen round of games.
The first two defeats came against legendary head coach Pat Summitt, who led the Vols to a national title during the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
However, in the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons, the two teams played a home-and-home series that began in Columbus on the first night of the 22-23 campaign. In that game, Ohio State shocked the top-10 ranked Vols 87-75 in junior Cotie McMahon’s first NCAA game. The next season, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and defeated then head coach Kellie Harper’s Volunteers 78-58.
At the end of last season, Tennessee moved on from Harper and hired Caldwell, who is known for an offense that shots a lot of shots from beyond the arc. The Vols are No. 3 in the nation with 30.9 three-point attempts per game. Last season, with the Marshall Thundering Herd, Caldwell’s side led the nation with 31.9 shots from deep per game, a then NCAA record before Arkansas State shot 32.5 this season.
There is no official time for the Second Round game until the completion of Friday night’s First Round tournament matchups.
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2026 AZ OL Tucker Smith is a Buckeye!!!
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 19 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Phoenix (AZ) O'Conner
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 280lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Phoenix (AZ) O'Conner
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 280lbs
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2027 SC OL Nathan Carson (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: OT
School: Columbia (SC) Irmo
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 288lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: OT
School: Columbia (SC) Irmo
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 288lbs
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2027 TX LB Cooper Witten (Verbal Offer)
- By ScriptOhio
- Football Recruiting
- 9 Replies
247
Rivals
Hudl
On3
"X"
Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Argyle (TX) Liberty Christian
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 210 lbs
In each and every class, the Buckeyes take big swings at landing the best players. Chris Henry Jr. is the big fish for the Buckeyes in the class of 2026 where their focus is primarily.
Ohio State has put some resources toward the class of 2027 as well. The Buckeyes are set to receive a spring visit from the son of an NFL legend.
2027 LB Cooper Witten will be in Columbus on March 21 visiting the Buckeyes, a day after he visits Michigan. Other spring visits for the son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end and 11-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten will be Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson, SMU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.
Login to view embedded media .
.
.
continued
Just sayin':
1) Getting him on campus for an "unofficial visit" is a good start......
2) It appears that he is a safety not a LB (as shown in On3 picture).
3) In case you wondered, C. J. Witten is a 3 star LB who signed a LOI with Rice per 24/7 and Rivals.
Rivals
Hudl
On3
"X"
Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Argyle (TX) Liberty Christian
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 210 lbs
Ohio State Buckeyes to receive visit from NFL legend’s son that will make everyone feel a bit old
If the Ohio State Buckeyes recruit a player hard they are normally in the mix in the end. Ryan Day and his staff have continued the top level of recruiting since taking over for Urban Meyer over a half-decade ago.In each and every class, the Buckeyes take big swings at landing the best players. Chris Henry Jr. is the big fish for the Buckeyes in the class of 2026 where their focus is primarily.
Ohio State has put some resources toward the class of 2027 as well. The Buckeyes are set to receive a spring visit from the son of an NFL legend.
2027 LB Cooper Witten will be in Columbus on March 21 visiting the Buckeyes, a day after he visits Michigan. Other spring visits for the son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end and 11-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten will be Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson, SMU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.
Login to view embedded media .
.
.
continued
Just sayin':
1) Getting him on campus for an "unofficial visit" is a good start......
2) It appears that he is a safety not a LB (as shown in On3 picture).
3) In case you wondered, C. J. Witten is a 3 star LB who signed a LOI with Rice per 24/7 and Rivals.
LGHL Ohio State women run away from Montana State for 71-51 NCAA Tournament win
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Ohio State women run away from Montana State for 71-51 NCAA Tournament win
ThomasCostello 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
It was a back-and-forth game, with a technical, in the first half but a 24-point Buckeye run sealed the win.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not lost a first-round game in the 12-year tenure of head coach Kevin McGuff. That continued Friday when the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats behind five Ohio State players in double figures in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Big Sky champions 71-51.
Before the ball was tipped, the Buckeyes were already behind due to injury. Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä, who came on strong at the start of the 2025 calendar, missed the game due to a foot injury. Head coach Kevin McGuff listed Lemmilä as questionable but the center had a boot on her left foot and did not suit up.
Even so, the game was going to be played in the press. Both the Bobcats and Buckeyes are known for playing full-court pressure defenses and they did not disappoint. In the first half, the teams combined for 24 turnovers, with the Buckeyes forcing 14 of the visiting side from Montana.
Ohio State turned those into 18 first-half points and at the end of the first half it was a 32-27 advantage for the Buckeyes, but by no means was it easy for the home side.
In the first quarter, the programs swapped the lead four times, despite the Buckeyes starting the game with turnovers on two of the first three Montana State plays. Giving the visitors an early lead was Big Sky Player of the Year Esmeralda Morales. The guard hit two three-point shots and was part of a seven-point run that put the Buckeyes down four points within the first four minutes.
The Buckeyes answered back with two fast-break baskets off turnovers, followed by a seven-point run that swung the game into Ohio State’s favor.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes were the aggressors with six points to start the quarter but then the Bobcats flipped the momentum of the game, with some assistance from the officiating crew.
It began with an elbow thrown by forward Addison Harris but was called a foul against shooting guard Chance Gray. Soon after that, Gray went up for a shot inside the arc and it looked like a defensive foul. Instead, Gray got called for a travel.
Then on defense, the ball went off Bobcat forward Katelynn Martin and it rolled parallel to the benches courtside. Instead of eventually calling it out on Martin, the referees called a backcourt violation on Thierry even though she was not the last one to touch the ball.
That sent McGuff from angry to incensed. The 12-year Buckeye head coach earned a technical foul for his troubles and Montana State guard Natalie Picton hit two free throws.
They were two of 10-straight points for Picton, part of a one-player 10-point run for Montana State that gave the Bobcats a four-point lead. Afterward, it was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored the last nine points of the second quarter, including six from forward Cotie McMahon. It was part of a 10-point first half for the forward and she and the Buckeyes were only getting started.
Ohio State went on a 24-point run from the 3:17 mark of the second quarter through the 7:08 mark of the third. Out of halftime, Gray hit her first three shots, all from beyond the arc, with Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon, and Petty finishing up a 15-point third-quarter run.
The Buckeyes extended their five-point halftime lead to 18 by the end of the third quarter but near the end of the period, Ohio State looked like a team that knew they were up by 18 points.
Montana State scored seven points to end the third quarter, including one layup where the Buckeye defense had nobody on the player who went up to the rim for an easy layup like she was in practice.
McGuff’s side woke up to start the fourth quarter, scoring seven of the first eight points. With a 24-point lead, all the Buckeyes had to do was outlast the Bobcats. Instead, the Buckeyes kept up the pressure.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Thierry took a shot that missed the rim completely and headed toward the out-of-bounds line. Guard Kennedy Cambridge was not satisfied with giving up the possession and the redshirt sophomore sprinted toward the ball and leapt out of bounds to save it. It went back to Thierry for a layup that kept the Ohio State lead at 24 points.
Montana State cut into the lead but did not have enough time to make the game competitive in the latter minutes of the quarter. With under two minutes remaining, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford brought in backups to give players minutes before the final buzzer.
There were five Ohio State players who scored in double-digits in the win, with Thierry scoring 16 points with five rebounds. Jaloni Cambridge added 12 points 6 assists and 6 steals. McMahon and Gray scored 15 points each. For the Bobcats, Morales led with 18 points while Picton scored 12.
Ohio State also won the battle of the full-court presses. Montana State gave the ball away 26 times, the most turnovers for the Bobcats this season. The Buckeyes had 16 but outscored the Bobcats 32-21 on points off turnovers.
With Ohio State’s win over the Bobcats, the Buckeyes now wait roughly two hours to see who they play in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be either the No. 14 South Florida Bulls or No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers with the time to be announced.
The Buckeyes have recent history against both sides, with a two-game series against the Vols during the 2022-23 and 23-24 seasons. Ohio State won both of the games of the home-and-home.
Ohio State played USF at the San Diego Invitational in December of 2022 and needed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Bulls. In the game, Buckeyes’ point guard Madison Greene tore her ACL for a second consecutive season, ending her 2022-23 campaign.
Overall, Ohio State is 3-10 against the Volunteers and 2-2 against the Bulls in program history.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello 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
It was a back-and-forth game, with a technical, in the first half but a 24-point Buckeye run sealed the win.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not lost a first-round game in the 12-year tenure of head coach Kevin McGuff. That continued Friday when the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats behind five Ohio State players in double figures in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Big Sky champions 71-51.
Before the ball was tipped, the Buckeyes were already behind due to injury. Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä, who came on strong at the start of the 2025 calendar, missed the game due to a foot injury. Head coach Kevin McGuff listed Lemmilä as questionable but the center had a boot on her left foot and did not suit up.
Even so, the game was going to be played in the press. Both the Bobcats and Buckeyes are known for playing full-court pressure defenses and they did not disappoint. In the first half, the teams combined for 24 turnovers, with the Buckeyes forcing 14 of the visiting side from Montana.
Ohio State turned those into 18 first-half points and at the end of the first half it was a 32-27 advantage for the Buckeyes, but by no means was it easy for the home side.
In the first quarter, the programs swapped the lead four times, despite the Buckeyes starting the game with turnovers on two of the first three Montana State plays. Giving the visitors an early lead was Big Sky Player of the Year Esmeralda Morales. The guard hit two three-point shots and was part of a seven-point run that put the Buckeyes down four points within the first four minutes.
The Buckeyes answered back with two fast-break baskets off turnovers, followed by a seven-point run that swung the game into Ohio State’s favor.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes were the aggressors with six points to start the quarter but then the Bobcats flipped the momentum of the game, with some assistance from the officiating crew.
It began with an elbow thrown by forward Addison Harris but was called a foul against shooting guard Chance Gray. Soon after that, Gray went up for a shot inside the arc and it looked like a defensive foul. Instead, Gray got called for a travel.
Then on defense, the ball went off Bobcat forward Katelynn Martin and it rolled parallel to the benches courtside. Instead of eventually calling it out on Martin, the referees called a backcourt violation on Thierry even though she was not the last one to touch the ball.
That sent McGuff from angry to incensed. The 12-year Buckeye head coach earned a technical foul for his troubles and Montana State guard Natalie Picton hit two free throws.
They were two of 10-straight points for Picton, part of a one-player 10-point run for Montana State that gave the Bobcats a four-point lead. Afterward, it was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored the last nine points of the second quarter, including six from forward Cotie McMahon. It was part of a 10-point first half for the forward and she and the Buckeyes were only getting started.
Ohio State went on a 24-point run from the 3:17 mark of the second quarter through the 7:08 mark of the third. Out of halftime, Gray hit her first three shots, all from beyond the arc, with Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon, and Petty finishing up a 15-point third-quarter run.
The Buckeyes extended their five-point halftime lead to 18 by the end of the third quarter but near the end of the period, Ohio State looked like a team that knew they were up by 18 points.
Montana State scored seven points to end the third quarter, including one layup where the Buckeye defense had nobody on the player who went up to the rim for an easy layup like she was in practice.
McGuff’s side woke up to start the fourth quarter, scoring seven of the first eight points. With a 24-point lead, all the Buckeyes had to do was outlast the Bobcats. Instead, the Buckeyes kept up the pressure.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Thierry took a shot that missed the rim completely and headed toward the out-of-bounds line. Guard Kennedy Cambridge was not satisfied with giving up the possession and the redshirt sophomore sprinted toward the ball and leapt out of bounds to save it. It went back to Thierry for a layup that kept the Ohio State lead at 24 points.
Montana State cut into the lead but did not have enough time to make the game competitive in the latter minutes of the quarter. With under two minutes remaining, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford brought in backups to give players minutes before the final buzzer.
There were five Ohio State players who scored in double-digits in the win, with Thierry scoring 16 points with five rebounds. Jaloni Cambridge added 12 points 6 assists and 6 steals. McMahon and Gray scored 15 points each. For the Bobcats, Morales led with 18 points while Picton scored 12.
Ohio State also won the battle of the full-court presses. Montana State gave the ball away 26 times, the most turnovers for the Bobcats this season. The Buckeyes had 16 but outscored the Bobcats 32-21 on points off turnovers.
What’s Next
With Ohio State’s win over the Bobcats, the Buckeyes now wait roughly two hours to see who they play in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be either the No. 14 South Florida Bulls or No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers with the time to be announced.
The Buckeyes have recent history against both sides, with a two-game series against the Vols during the 2022-23 and 23-24 seasons. Ohio State won both of the games of the home-and-home.
Ohio State played USF at the San Diego Invitational in December of 2022 and needed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Bulls. In the game, Buckeyes’ point guard Madison Greene tore her ACL for a second consecutive season, ending her 2022-23 campaign.
Overall, Ohio State is 3-10 against the Volunteers and 2-2 against the Bulls in program history.
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LGHL Hockey Roundup: Ohio State women’s hockey playing in fifth straight Frozen Four
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Hockey Roundup: Ohio State women’s hockey playing in fifth straight Frozen Four
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeye women will try and bring home their third national title in four years this weekend, while the men battle Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament title game.
Not only are the men’s and women’s basketball seasons heading into their final act as the NCAA Tournaments are beginning, the men’s and women’s hockey seasons also are getting ready to come to a close.
On Sunday a women’s hockey champion will be crowned in Minneapolis. On the men’s side, conference tournament finals are being played, and soon the bracket for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed. Ohio State is not only playing in the women’s Frozen Four, the men’s team will move on to the NCAA Tournament after they play in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday night.
Ohio State’s women’s hockey team is in the midst of an impressive run under head coach Nadine Muzerall. With their 6-1 win over St. Lawrence on Saturday, the Buckeyes secured a spot in their fifth straight Frozen Four, and sixth overall under Muzerall.
To earn their fourth straight championship game appearance, Ohio State will take on Cornell on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, with the winner meeting the winner of the other semifinal between Minnesota and Wisconsin on Sunday.
In their first NCAA Tournament game on Saturday, the Buckeyes hosted St. Lawrence at OSU Ice Rink. The game got off to a rough start when the Saints opened up the scoring 6:26 into the game when Aly McLeod scored a power play goal. The lead didn’t last long, as Sloane Matthews leveled the score seven minutes later. Joy Dunne’s goal with just over a minute left in the first period ended up being the game-winning goal.
After a scoreless second period, the Buckeyes added on to their lead in the third period when Jocelyn Amos, Makenna Webster, Dunne, and Jordyn Petrie netted goals. Dunne became the first Ohio State woman to record multiple goals in an NCAA Tournament game, and her four points were the most by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Goaltender Amanda Thiele made 13 saves to earn the victory, improving her record to 6-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Now Ohio State turns their attention to Cornell, who earned a spot in the Frozen Four by defeating Minnesota-Duluth 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Alyssa Regalado 3:24 into the third period, marking just the second goal of the season for Regalado.
By stopping all 28 shots she faced, goalie Annelies Bergmann recorded her 10th shutout of the season. The Big Red will be making their first Frozen Four appearance since 2019, and their fifth in program history.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25918998/usa_today_24595392.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State and Cornell have already met once this season, with the Buckeyes winning 7-3 in late October in the Icebreaker Tournament Championship Game. Jocelyn Amos recorded two goals and two assists in the game, while Sloane Matthews and Kiara Zanon each had a goal and two assists. So far this season, Cornell has allowed 47 goals to opponents, with seven of those tallies coming in their loss to the Buckeyes in Columbus.
If Ohio State is able to put pucks past Bergmann like they did in the first meeting, they should be in good shape to make the final. Bergmann has been one of the best goalies in the country this year, posting a 1.28 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
If Bergmann isn’t on top of her game, the Big Red might have trouble keeping pace with Ohio State since Cornell doesn’t have quite as much firepower as the Buckeyes. Lindzi Avar leads the team with 15 goals, and is one of five Big Red players with at least 10 goals this year.
By comparison, Ohio State has six players with at least 10 goals, but three have scored at least 17 goals. Jocelyn Amos leads the team with 27 goals, followed by Joy Dunne’s 26 goals.
Time: Friday 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
The Ohio State men’s hockey team also has a very important game this weekend. On Saturday, the Buckeyes take on Michigan State in East Lansing in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
To earn a place in the title game for the third time in program history, Ohio State beat Penn State 4-3 in overtime at Value City Arena on Saturday night. If the Buckeyes are able to beat the Spartans on Saturday, it will be their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. The previous appearances in the championship game came in 2014 and 2018.
The semifinal game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions was a thrilling battle. Ohio State jumped out to a lead when Gunnerwolfe Fontaine scored halfway through the first period. Penn State would come out of the gates firing in the second period, with Ben Schoen scoring at the 2:08 mark, followed by JJ Wiebusch’s power play goal at 9:05 of the period giving the Nittany Lions the lead.
The third period was a wild ride, as Nathan Lewis tied the game halfway through the period. Then Patrick Guzzo gave the Buckeyes the lead a couple minutes later. The advantage wouldn’t last long, though. Matt DiMarsico tied the game back up just a few minutes later. After a tense close to the third period and overtime, Fontaine netted the game-winner at 14:31 of the first overtime period to give Ohio State the win on their home ice. Logan Terness made 23 saves to push his record to 10-8-1 on the season.
Now the Buckeyes will square off with Michigan State, who beat Notre Dame 1-0 on Saturday to keep their dream alive of winning their second straight Big Ten Tournament. The only goal of the victory over the Fighting Irish was scored by Issac Howard 19 seconds into the third period.
Trey Augustine made 18 saves to record his third shutout of the season. If Michigan State is able to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament, they’ll join Notre Dame, who won back-to-back tournament titles in 2017 and 2018, along with Michigan in 2022 and 2023 as schools to win the conference tournament in back-to-back years.
If the four games they played in the regular season are any indication on what we’ll see on Saturday night, Ohio State could have their work cut out for them in East Lansing. The Buckeyes lost three of four meetings with the Spartans, with their only triumph being a 4-2 victory in Columbus on Jan. 30.
Ohio State allowed four goals in each of the other three games the schools played. Then again, not a lot of teams have been able to get the better of Michigan State this year, as the Spartans have a 25-6-4 record, and will be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.
Both squads have shown plenty of offensive prowess this season, with each rostering four players with at least 10 goals. Issac Howard is the most dangerous offensive threat, recording 24 goals and 47 points for Michigan State. The Buckeyes are led in points by Gunnerwolfe Fontaine, who has 36 points, and Riley Thompson has netted a team-high 17 goals.
The title game tilt will likely come down to who is better between the pipes. Trey Augustine has a 2.02 goals against average and .927 save percentage for the Spartans. Logan Terness counters with a 2.25 goals against average and .925 save percentage for the Buckeyes.
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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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
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The Buckeye women will try and bring home their third national title in four years this weekend, while the men battle Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament title game.
Not only are the men’s and women’s basketball seasons heading into their final act as the NCAA Tournaments are beginning, the men’s and women’s hockey seasons also are getting ready to come to a close.
On Sunday a women’s hockey champion will be crowned in Minneapolis. On the men’s side, conference tournament finals are being played, and soon the bracket for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed. Ohio State is not only playing in the women’s Frozen Four, the men’s team will move on to the NCAA Tournament after they play in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday night.
Women’s hockey
Ohio State’s women’s hockey team is in the midst of an impressive run under head coach Nadine Muzerall. With their 6-1 win over St. Lawrence on Saturday, the Buckeyes secured a spot in their fifth straight Frozen Four, and sixth overall under Muzerall.
To earn their fourth straight championship game appearance, Ohio State will take on Cornell on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, with the winner meeting the winner of the other semifinal between Minnesota and Wisconsin on Sunday.
In their first NCAA Tournament game on Saturday, the Buckeyes hosted St. Lawrence at OSU Ice Rink. The game got off to a rough start when the Saints opened up the scoring 6:26 into the game when Aly McLeod scored a power play goal. The lead didn’t last long, as Sloane Matthews leveled the score seven minutes later. Joy Dunne’s goal with just over a minute left in the first period ended up being the game-winning goal.
After a scoreless second period, the Buckeyes added on to their lead in the third period when Jocelyn Amos, Makenna Webster, Dunne, and Jordyn Petrie netted goals. Dunne became the first Ohio State woman to record multiple goals in an NCAA Tournament game, and her four points were the most by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Goaltender Amanda Thiele made 13 saves to earn the victory, improving her record to 6-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Now Ohio State turns their attention to Cornell, who earned a spot in the Frozen Four by defeating Minnesota-Duluth 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Alyssa Regalado 3:24 into the third period, marking just the second goal of the season for Regalado.
By stopping all 28 shots she faced, goalie Annelies Bergmann recorded her 10th shutout of the season. The Big Red will be making their first Frozen Four appearance since 2019, and their fifth in program history.
Ohio State and Cornell have already met once this season, with the Buckeyes winning 7-3 in late October in the Icebreaker Tournament Championship Game. Jocelyn Amos recorded two goals and two assists in the game, while Sloane Matthews and Kiara Zanon each had a goal and two assists. So far this season, Cornell has allowed 47 goals to opponents, with seven of those tallies coming in their loss to the Buckeyes in Columbus.
If Ohio State is able to put pucks past Bergmann like they did in the first meeting, they should be in good shape to make the final. Bergmann has been one of the best goalies in the country this year, posting a 1.28 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
If Bergmann isn’t on top of her game, the Big Red might have trouble keeping pace with Ohio State since Cornell doesn’t have quite as much firepower as the Buckeyes. Lindzi Avar leads the team with 15 goals, and is one of five Big Red players with at least 10 goals this year.
By comparison, Ohio State has six players with at least 10 goals, but three have scored at least 17 goals. Jocelyn Amos leads the team with 27 goals, followed by Joy Dunne’s 26 goals.
Time: Friday 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Men’s hockey
The Ohio State men’s hockey team also has a very important game this weekend. On Saturday, the Buckeyes take on Michigan State in East Lansing in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
To earn a place in the title game for the third time in program history, Ohio State beat Penn State 4-3 in overtime at Value City Arena on Saturday night. If the Buckeyes are able to beat the Spartans on Saturday, it will be their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. The previous appearances in the championship game came in 2014 and 2018.
The semifinal game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions was a thrilling battle. Ohio State jumped out to a lead when Gunnerwolfe Fontaine scored halfway through the first period. Penn State would come out of the gates firing in the second period, with Ben Schoen scoring at the 2:08 mark, followed by JJ Wiebusch’s power play goal at 9:05 of the period giving the Nittany Lions the lead.
The third period was a wild ride, as Nathan Lewis tied the game halfway through the period. Then Patrick Guzzo gave the Buckeyes the lead a couple minutes later. The advantage wouldn’t last long, though. Matt DiMarsico tied the game back up just a few minutes later. After a tense close to the third period and overtime, Fontaine netted the game-winner at 14:31 of the first overtime period to give Ohio State the win on their home ice. Logan Terness made 23 saves to push his record to 10-8-1 on the season.
Now the Buckeyes will square off with Michigan State, who beat Notre Dame 1-0 on Saturday to keep their dream alive of winning their second straight Big Ten Tournament. The only goal of the victory over the Fighting Irish was scored by Issac Howard 19 seconds into the third period.
Trey Augustine made 18 saves to record his third shutout of the season. If Michigan State is able to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament, they’ll join Notre Dame, who won back-to-back tournament titles in 2017 and 2018, along with Michigan in 2022 and 2023 as schools to win the conference tournament in back-to-back years.
If the four games they played in the regular season are any indication on what we’ll see on Saturday night, Ohio State could have their work cut out for them in East Lansing. The Buckeyes lost three of four meetings with the Spartans, with their only triumph being a 4-2 victory in Columbus on Jan. 30.
Ohio State allowed four goals in each of the other three games the schools played. Then again, not a lot of teams have been able to get the better of Michigan State this year, as the Spartans have a 25-6-4 record, and will be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.
Both squads have shown plenty of offensive prowess this season, with each rostering four players with at least 10 goals. Issac Howard is the most dangerous offensive threat, recording 24 goals and 47 points for Michigan State. The Buckeyes are led in points by Gunnerwolfe Fontaine, who has 36 points, and Riley Thompson has netted a team-high 17 goals.
The title game tilt will likely come down to who is better between the pipes. Trey Augustine has a 2.02 goals against average and .927 save percentage for the Spartans. Logan Terness counters with a 2.25 goals against average and .925 save percentage for the Buckeyes.
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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LGHL Buckeye fans not overly optimistic about women’s basketball’s tournament chances
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Buckeye fans not overly optimistic about women’s basketball’s tournament chances
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar USA TODAY Network via IMAGN IMAGES
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Friends, we are living in the madness of March and while the Ohio State men’s basketball team has already closed the book on the 2024-25 season, the Buckeye women are gearing up to start their Big Dance tonight at 5:30 p.m. in a game being broadcast on ESPN2.
So heading into the tournament, we asked Buckeye Nation a pair of questions about the school’s two basketball programs.
We wanted to know what fans’ expectations were for the women’s team as they start their tournament run, and what they would need to get invested in the men’s team next season.
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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.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar USA TODAY Network via IMAGN IMAGES
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Friends, we are living in the madness of March and while the Ohio State men’s basketball team has already closed the book on the 2024-25 season, the Buckeye women are gearing up to start their Big Dance tonight at 5:30 p.m. in a game being broadcast on ESPN2.
So heading into the tournament, we asked Buckeye Nation a pair of questions about the school’s two basketball programs.
We wanted to know what fans’ expectations were for the women’s team as they start their tournament run, and what they would need to get invested in the men’s team next season.
Question 1: How will the Ohio State women’s basketball season end?
Question 2: What needs to happen in 2025-26 season to get you back on the OSU men’s basketball team bandwagon?
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.
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LGHL You’re Nuts: What should be the transfer portal priority for Ohio State men’s basketball?
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You’re Nuts: What should be the transfer portal priority for Ohio State men’s basketball?
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What’s the most dire need for Ohio State as they look to improve the roster?
Welcome to the madness, friends. March Madness, transfer portal madness, the madness of wearing a jacket to work in the morning because it’s chilly, but not needing it by the afternoon because the temperature jumped 20 degrees by the time you head home — welcome all of it.
As we sink deeper into our couches this weekend and watch basketball until our eyeballs sink into our skulls, we’re also looking at Ohio State and its needs as the offseason develops. So far Austin Parks has entered the portal, opening up one roster spot for next season, but odds are that won’t be the only spot that opens up.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated if this year’s failures change the expectations for next season at all. Both writers said no, the expectations won’t change at all, but that’s because Connor and Justin have different expectations. Justin said Jake Diebler’s second team needs to make the NCAA Tournament still. Connor said Ohio State needs to take a step forward as if they had made the NCAA Tournament this year, which means actually winning a game or two in the Big Dance.
Fifty-five percent of the readers sided with Connor last week, saying that the program’s failure to meet expectations this year does not mean the bar will remain at just making the NCAA Tournament next year.
Connor- 87
Without knowing how many spots Ohio State will have, we have to assume that the roster won’t be too flexible and the Buckeyes may not be adding a ton. If that’s the case, Diebler and his staff will need to be very deliberate in which players they add to the program between now and say, May.
In Ohio State’s loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw combined to score two points on 1-of-6 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. On the season, they combined to average 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Austin Parks and Ivan Njegovan provided basically nothing behind the two of them.
Ohio State’s biggest weakness this past season was the lack of a strong foundation at the center position, both offensively and defensively. Bradshaw was not sturdy enough to guard the paint, so Stewart had to slide over to center. However, Stewart is only 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, so he was constantly playing out of position. That led to him fouling a ton, averaging one foul every 5.4 minutes of gameplay this past season.
Diebler and his staff really have no choice this off-season but to add a starting-caliber center. Ohio State’s offense was far too reliant on its guards to go out and create offense on their own with terrible spacing because teams did not have to respect the painted area.
Former Iowa center Owen Freeman is the best center available right now in the transfer portal, but I’m skeptical Ohio State will land any of the elite transfer players this spring and I also don’t think the Buckeyes need an elite center to turn this team into an NCAA Tournament roster. Even someone similar to the Ohio State version of Zed Key — 10 points and six rebounds per game — would have been really helpful this past season to create some spacing for Ohio State’s guards.
I’m not sure who it will be, but the coaching staff has to go add a post player that they can insert into the starting lineup in November who will help space the offense and create a little more open space for guys like Bruce Thornton and John Mobley.
Over the last two years, the Buckeyes have brought in Micah Parrish and Jamison Battle as proven and experienced wings who can shoot the ball and play high minutes as starters.
They will have to do that again with the loss of Parrish to graduation.
In my ideal world, the Buckeyes bring in a starting wing and center and start those two transfers, with Devin Royal at the four and Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw as backups in the front court. The backcourt remains the same.
Finding a wing in the portal is the priority because no one can step into that role right now. Royal is not a consistent enough shooter to play the three, and his main impact is in the paint.
As for a center, Stewart and Bradshaw are still young and can improve, so even though I do think you have to bring in someone else to start, they are at least there if they swing and miss.
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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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What’s the most dire need for Ohio State as they look to improve the roster?
Welcome to the madness, friends. March Madness, transfer portal madness, the madness of wearing a jacket to work in the morning because it’s chilly, but not needing it by the afternoon because the temperature jumped 20 degrees by the time you head home — welcome all of it.
As we sink deeper into our couches this weekend and watch basketball until our eyeballs sink into our skulls, we’re also looking at Ohio State and its needs as the offseason develops. So far Austin Parks has entered the portal, opening up one roster spot for next season, but odds are that won’t be the only spot that opens up.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated if this year’s failures change the expectations for next season at all. Both writers said no, the expectations won’t change at all, but that’s because Connor and Justin have different expectations. Justin said Jake Diebler’s second team needs to make the NCAA Tournament still. Connor said Ohio State needs to take a step forward as if they had made the NCAA Tournament this year, which means actually winning a game or two in the Big Dance.
Fifty-five percent of the readers sided with Connor last week, saying that the program’s failure to meet expectations this year does not mean the bar will remain at just making the NCAA Tournament next year.
After 196 weeks:
Connor- 87
Justin- 84
Other- 19
(There have been six ties)
Without knowing how many spots Ohio State will have, we have to assume that the roster won’t be too flexible and the Buckeyes may not be adding a ton. If that’s the case, Diebler and his staff will need to be very deliberate in which players they add to the program between now and say, May.
This week’s question: What should the transfer portal priority be for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor: Starting center
In Ohio State’s loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw combined to score two points on 1-of-6 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. On the season, they combined to average 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Austin Parks and Ivan Njegovan provided basically nothing behind the two of them.
Ohio State’s biggest weakness this past season was the lack of a strong foundation at the center position, both offensively and defensively. Bradshaw was not sturdy enough to guard the paint, so Stewart had to slide over to center. However, Stewart is only 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, so he was constantly playing out of position. That led to him fouling a ton, averaging one foul every 5.4 minutes of gameplay this past season.
Diebler and his staff really have no choice this off-season but to add a starting-caliber center. Ohio State’s offense was far too reliant on its guards to go out and create offense on their own with terrible spacing because teams did not have to respect the painted area.
Former Iowa center Owen Freeman is the best center available right now in the transfer portal, but I’m skeptical Ohio State will land any of the elite transfer players this spring and I also don’t think the Buckeyes need an elite center to turn this team into an NCAA Tournament roster. Even someone similar to the Ohio State version of Zed Key — 10 points and six rebounds per game — would have been really helpful this past season to create some spacing for Ohio State’s guards.
I’m not sure who it will be, but the coaching staff has to go add a post player that they can insert into the starting lineup in November who will help space the offense and create a little more open space for guys like Bruce Thornton and John Mobley.
Justin: Sharp shooting wing
Over the last two years, the Buckeyes have brought in Micah Parrish and Jamison Battle as proven and experienced wings who can shoot the ball and play high minutes as starters.
They will have to do that again with the loss of Parrish to graduation.
In my ideal world, the Buckeyes bring in a starting wing and center and start those two transfers, with Devin Royal at the four and Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw as backups in the front court. The backcourt remains the same.
Finding a wing in the portal is the priority because no one can step into that role right now. Royal is not a consistent enough shooter to play the three, and his main impact is in the paint.
As for a center, Stewart and Bradshaw are still young and can improve, so even though I do think you have to bring in someone else to start, they are at least there if they swing and miss.
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LGHL Five things to watch in Ohio State’s 2025 March Madness debut
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Five things to watch in Ohio State’s 2025 March Madness debut
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The Buckeyes start their 29th NCAA Tournament on Friday. Here’s what you need to watch as OSU faces Montana State.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not faced the Montana State Bobcats in program history. It is not often that the Big Ten and Big Sky face off against each other, but on Friday at the Schottenstein Center, the two sides play for a chance to move on into the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.
It’s a matchup that features two similar defenses, with slight variations, a pair of dynamic point guards who excelled in their first seasons with new teams, and one Ohio State player who is likely to receive extended minutes off the bench.
Here’s what to watch when the Buckeyes and Bobcats take to the court Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The last time Ohio State stepped onto a basketball court in a competitive game, they did not last too long when it came to the competitive piece. In the Big Ten Tournament semifinal, the UCLA Bruins won the jump, scored the first points and the Buckeyes tied the game at 2-2. That was the last time the game was even close.
Athletes do well when they have poor short-term memory and Ohio State is not spending much time looking back, but bringing lessons from the conference tournament into the NCAA Tournament.
“I would say Big Ten Tournament, first game our energy was great,” said Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon. “Second game, dead, even during warmups. So I just feel like as long as we find that energy and that fight from everyone and not just one, two people, I mean, we can really do anything.”
What kind of energy will Ohio State have Friday against Montana State? According to the seeding, it should be a more comfortable win for the Buckeyes, but look back at this season with a close win against mid-major Belmont and a loss to 18th-place Penn State and there is no such thing as a guaranteed win.
Plus, a potential matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in round two has the potential to distract, especially when there will be a lot of orange expected in the crowd this weekend.
“As I have told the team all week, Montana State is used to winning,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They’ve won 30 games for a reason. They’re well-coached. They play extremely hard, and they’re going to show up here and compete to win. So we better have the same mindset if we want to be successful.”
Leading the Bobcats is senior point guard Esmeralda Morales, who will go up against Ohio State freshman Jaloni Cambridge in an explosive matchup.
Both Cambridge and Morales are first-year players on their respective teams. For Cambridge, it’s because she just came out of high school and is finishing off her first season in college basketball. For Morales, the guard featured for Portland State in her first three years of NCAA basketball. Morales started at least 29 games each season since entering college and although she went the mid-major route, like Cambridge, she excelled, averaging at least 12 points per game in all four seasons.
Now the two go at each other Friday afternoon. Both have similar characteristics on the court. Each of them is a three-level scorer, plays well off screens, and can use speed to attack the basket. Cambridge is the faster of the two, but both still set the tone for their respective offenses.
“Composure, steadiness. She was kind of our missing piece,” head coach Tricia Binford said. “We had a really fantastic freshman class also coming in, but we needed somebody who could put the ball in their hands, be our leader on the floor. She just brings out the best of everyone.”
Both guards also bring strong defensive ability. Cambridge is eighth in the Big Ten with two steals per game and has the 11th-best defensive rating at 82.9. Take the eye off the ball or give Cambridge any room and the guard will take advantage by poking the ball away or anticipating passes.
For Morales, she came to Montana State to develop herself defensively and better position herself for a spot in the WNBA. Morales did just that with a career-low defensive rating of 83, on her way to a Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She has tremendous instincts. She played three years in a 2-3-zone, 2-2-1 and really there’s a lot of similar concepts but when you have great instincts and you’re a willing kid, you can learn defense very quickly and she’s got a tremendous IQ,” said Binford.
“She also has some veterans on the defensive end with our returners who helped her pick those things up quickly and she probably had it down within the first couple weeks of practice.”
Montana State brings the most steals (14.6) and fifth most forced turnovers (23.67) per game in the nation, with Ohio State behind them in Division I in 10th and 11th place respectively.
When either team makes a basket, they may jump right into their full-court pressing set, but there are differences.
“Yeah, they have some similarities in terms of just disrupting the other team,” McGuff said. “Theirs is usually more a little bit of run and jump, and ours is a little more of a zone press, I guess, is what I would say.”
Once it gets into the half court, Montana State goes into a zone where they are not necessarily trying to block the paint but stop passes. Ohio State has an athleticism advantage over Montana State, so the Buckeyes will need to leverage speed and quick passing to break through the disciplined Bobcats defense.
Part of that defense is freshman Taylee Chirrick, who won the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award despite starting only two of her 33 appearances for the Bobcats. Chirrick is first in the Big Sky in steals per game (3.4) and defensive rating (67.2). Her defensive rating is also second in the entire country.
Chirrick is able to do that with her speed and conditioning. The guard ran in high school and is not going to get tired out from the Ohio State defense too easily. Chirrick set state track records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 300-meter hurdles. However, it’s more than running that goes into taking the ball away from an opponent.
“She’s relentless so for us, she just gets her hands on a lot of basketballs defensively,” said Binford. “She’s never going to give up. She’s going to keep attack-minded.”
When Chirrick gets on the court, which she does often averaging 21.3 minutes per game, guards Chance Gray, Taylor Thierry, and bench guard Kennedy Cambridge will have to keep their eyes on her and on the ball at the same time. Offensively, Chirrick has not blown the college game away at seven points per game, but she averaged over 30 points per game as a senior in high school, including a 51-point game. If attention is given to Morales, Chirrick could surprise the Buckeyes.
An area to watch for Ohio State is their bench. Entering Friday, freshman guard Ava Watson and freshman Center Elsa Lemmilä are game-time decisions for McGuff. Watson has experience in the press in high school and is Ohio State’s shooting guard for the future, although her offensive production off the bench has been sporadic.
Watson has not played since Feb. 13 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers where she went 4-of-4 from beyond the arc before badly spraining her ankle at the start of the fourth quarter. The guard out of Georgia practiced normally on Friday and looked like she might be available for selection.
“Ava is in a good place,” said McGuff. “She should be good to go.”
Lemmilä is a different story. The center did not have a singular moment where she injured herself, but it appears that over time the center developed a foot injury. Lemmilä practiced on Friday but winced in pain following a play.
The Finnish center has 58 blocks for Ohio State with her 6-foot-6 frame, the most in a season for the Buckeyes since Tori McCoy in the 2016-17 season.
With Lemmilä more likely out, look for forward Eboni Walker to play the backup role behind starting forward Ajae Petty. Walker has the NCAA Tournament experience after the graduate senior started every game for Ohio State during the 2023 run to the Elite Eight.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25921400/2203308302.jpg "Iowa v Ohio State")
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Walker does not bring the same size as Petty or Lemmilä but is the quickest of the three players who play the No. 5 role for the Buckeyes. She also brings a spark of energy off the bench, which made her a Buckeye fan favorite.
If Ohio State wins, the extra day off for Lemmilä could mean minutes against either the Tennessee Volunteers or the USF Bulls.
The Buckeyes want to make a run in the tournament and are not only happy to be in March Madness. Ohio State has the pieces to do that but they need to have their biggest names playing to their potential.
That means Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon and guard/forward Taylor Thierry.
McGuff’s trio brings deep shooting, defensive presence, and explosive moments on offense. When the Buckeyes get turnovers, it will be likely one of the three getting the chance to turn them into points on the fast break.
This season, it has not always been effective like in previous seasons. Ohio State gives up some size to Montana State with three probable starters standing at least 6-foot-2, so the rebound margin may not go Ohio State’s way. That puts additional; pressure on fast break opportunities.
“I think at our best this year it’s been really good, but we just haven’t found a rhythm where we’ve consistently been close enough to 40 minutes of that to feel like we’ve played our best,” said McGuff. “I think that’s the key is we’re just trying to be the best version of ourselves.”
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The Buckeyes start their 29th NCAA Tournament on Friday. Here’s what you need to watch as OSU faces Montana State.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not faced the Montana State Bobcats in program history. It is not often that the Big Ten and Big Sky face off against each other, but on Friday at the Schottenstein Center, the two sides play for a chance to move on into the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.
It’s a matchup that features two similar defenses, with slight variations, a pair of dynamic point guards who excelled in their first seasons with new teams, and one Ohio State player who is likely to receive extended minutes off the bench.
Here’s what to watch when the Buckeyes and Bobcats take to the court Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Bruin Bounce Back
The last time Ohio State stepped onto a basketball court in a competitive game, they did not last too long when it came to the competitive piece. In the Big Ten Tournament semifinal, the UCLA Bruins won the jump, scored the first points and the Buckeyes tied the game at 2-2. That was the last time the game was even close.
Athletes do well when they have poor short-term memory and Ohio State is not spending much time looking back, but bringing lessons from the conference tournament into the NCAA Tournament.
“I would say Big Ten Tournament, first game our energy was great,” said Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon. “Second game, dead, even during warmups. So I just feel like as long as we find that energy and that fight from everyone and not just one, two people, I mean, we can really do anything.”
What kind of energy will Ohio State have Friday against Montana State? According to the seeding, it should be a more comfortable win for the Buckeyes, but look back at this season with a close win against mid-major Belmont and a loss to 18th-place Penn State and there is no such thing as a guaranteed win.
Plus, a potential matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in round two has the potential to distract, especially when there will be a lot of orange expected in the crowd this weekend.
“As I have told the team all week, Montana State is used to winning,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They’ve won 30 games for a reason. They’re well-coached. They play extremely hard, and they’re going to show up here and compete to win. So we better have the same mindset if we want to be successful.”
Leading the Bobcats is senior point guard Esmeralda Morales, who will go up against Ohio State freshman Jaloni Cambridge in an explosive matchup.
Cambridge vs. Morales
Both Cambridge and Morales are first-year players on their respective teams. For Cambridge, it’s because she just came out of high school and is finishing off her first season in college basketball. For Morales, the guard featured for Portland State in her first three years of NCAA basketball. Morales started at least 29 games each season since entering college and although she went the mid-major route, like Cambridge, she excelled, averaging at least 12 points per game in all four seasons.
Now the two go at each other Friday afternoon. Both have similar characteristics on the court. Each of them is a three-level scorer, plays well off screens, and can use speed to attack the basket. Cambridge is the faster of the two, but both still set the tone for their respective offenses.
“Composure, steadiness. She was kind of our missing piece,” head coach Tricia Binford said. “We had a really fantastic freshman class also coming in, but we needed somebody who could put the ball in their hands, be our leader on the floor. She just brings out the best of everyone.”
Both guards also bring strong defensive ability. Cambridge is eighth in the Big Ten with two steals per game and has the 11th-best defensive rating at 82.9. Take the eye off the ball or give Cambridge any room and the guard will take advantage by poking the ball away or anticipating passes.
For Morales, she came to Montana State to develop herself defensively and better position herself for a spot in the WNBA. Morales did just that with a career-low defensive rating of 83, on her way to a Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award.
“She has tremendous instincts. She played three years in a 2-3-zone, 2-2-1 and really there’s a lot of similar concepts but when you have great instincts and you’re a willing kid, you can learn defense very quickly and she’s got a tremendous IQ,” said Binford.
“She also has some veterans on the defensive end with our returners who helped her pick those things up quickly and she probably had it down within the first couple weeks of practice.”
Press vs. Press
Montana State brings the most steals (14.6) and fifth most forced turnovers (23.67) per game in the nation, with Ohio State behind them in Division I in 10th and 11th place respectively.
When either team makes a basket, they may jump right into their full-court pressing set, but there are differences.
“Yeah, they have some similarities in terms of just disrupting the other team,” McGuff said. “Theirs is usually more a little bit of run and jump, and ours is a little more of a zone press, I guess, is what I would say.”
Once it gets into the half court, Montana State goes into a zone where they are not necessarily trying to block the paint but stop passes. Ohio State has an athleticism advantage over Montana State, so the Buckeyes will need to leverage speed and quick passing to break through the disciplined Bobcats defense.
Part of that defense is freshman Taylee Chirrick, who won the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award despite starting only two of her 33 appearances for the Bobcats. Chirrick is first in the Big Sky in steals per game (3.4) and defensive rating (67.2). Her defensive rating is also second in the entire country.
Chirrick is able to do that with her speed and conditioning. The guard ran in high school and is not going to get tired out from the Ohio State defense too easily. Chirrick set state track records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 300-meter hurdles. However, it’s more than running that goes into taking the ball away from an opponent.
“She’s relentless so for us, she just gets her hands on a lot of basketballs defensively,” said Binford. “She’s never going to give up. She’s going to keep attack-minded.”
When Chirrick gets on the court, which she does often averaging 21.3 minutes per game, guards Chance Gray, Taylor Thierry, and bench guard Kennedy Cambridge will have to keep their eyes on her and on the ball at the same time. Offensively, Chirrick has not blown the college game away at seven points per game, but she averaged over 30 points per game as a senior in high school, including a 51-point game. If attention is given to Morales, Chirrick could surprise the Buckeyes.
Eyes on the Bench
An area to watch for Ohio State is their bench. Entering Friday, freshman guard Ava Watson and freshman Center Elsa Lemmilä are game-time decisions for McGuff. Watson has experience in the press in high school and is Ohio State’s shooting guard for the future, although her offensive production off the bench has been sporadic.
Watson has not played since Feb. 13 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers where she went 4-of-4 from beyond the arc before badly spraining her ankle at the start of the fourth quarter. The guard out of Georgia practiced normally on Friday and looked like she might be available for selection.
“Ava is in a good place,” said McGuff. “She should be good to go.”
Lemmilä is a different story. The center did not have a singular moment where she injured herself, but it appears that over time the center developed a foot injury. Lemmilä practiced on Friday but winced in pain following a play.
The Finnish center has 58 blocks for Ohio State with her 6-foot-6 frame, the most in a season for the Buckeyes since Tori McCoy in the 2016-17 season.
With Lemmilä more likely out, look for forward Eboni Walker to play the backup role behind starting forward Ajae Petty. Walker has the NCAA Tournament experience after the graduate senior started every game for Ohio State during the 2023 run to the Elite Eight.
Walker does not bring the same size as Petty or Lemmilä but is the quickest of the three players who play the No. 5 role for the Buckeyes. She also brings a spark of energy off the bench, which made her a Buckeye fan favorite.
If Ohio State wins, the extra day off for Lemmilä could mean minutes against either the Tennessee Volunteers or the USF Bulls.
Watch the Stars
The Buckeyes want to make a run in the tournament and are not only happy to be in March Madness. Ohio State has the pieces to do that but they need to have their biggest names playing to their potential.
That means Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon and guard/forward Taylor Thierry.
McGuff’s trio brings deep shooting, defensive presence, and explosive moments on offense. When the Buckeyes get turnovers, it will be likely one of the three getting the chance to turn them into points on the fast break.
This season, it has not always been effective like in previous seasons. Ohio State gives up some size to Montana State with three probable starters standing at least 6-foot-2, so the rebound margin may not go Ohio State’s way. That puts additional; pressure on fast break opportunities.
“I think at our best this year it’s been really good, but we just haven’t found a rhythm where we’ve consistently been close enough to 40 minutes of that to feel like we’ve played our best,” said McGuff. “I think that’s the key is we’re just trying to be the best version of ourselves.”
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LGHL NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Montana State
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NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Montana State
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Bobcats meet in the first round of March Madness.
It’s that time of year again. It’s March Madness, and for the third season in a row the NCAA Tournament goes through Columbus. This time around, Ohio State women’s basketball enters as a No. 4 seed, narrowly earning the right to host the first two rounds, and it begins with a matchup against the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats.
The Buckeyes are undefeated at home this season, while the Bobcats won 23 of their last 24, in a game where the two sides bring eerily similar playing styles.
Montana State earned the right to play NCAA Tournament basketball after winning the Big Sky Tournament, and they did it in exciting fashion. Dubbed “Starch Madness” because of the Boise, Idaho tournament location, Montana State took their regular season championship season into the final against the Montana Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies brought a 14-17 record and an interim head coach into the championship game and nearly won it. Down two points, Montana guard Dani Bartsch hit a three-point shot to give the Grizzlies a one-point lead with 7.9 seconds remaining. The Bobcats attempted a play but the Montana defense was too strong, so forward Marah Dykstra ran around a screen and went to the basket.
Dykstra missed the layup, throwing it over the basket but she did not give up on the play. The junior grabbed the offensive rebound on the other side of the rim and hit the second chance basket as the game clock expired.
“Just to have that moment seal the deal for us to go to March was just such a big deal,” said Dykstra. “But honestly, it’s in the past for me now. I’m just really looking forward to this next game.”
The battle of Montana featured seven lead changes and four ties in arguably the most exciting conference tournament finale of the past two weeks, but like Dykstra said, it’s in the past. The present is Ohio State versus Montana State and it’s a matchup that has similarities.
Defense sticks out the most, with both teams using a full court press. The Bobcats are fifth in the nation in forced turnovers per game (23.67) and lead all Division I programs in steals per game (14.6). While Ohio State is behind them in 11th and 10th place, respectively, the teams played vastly different schedules.
Montana State enters Friday with the 190th strongest schedule in the country, compared to 23 for the Buckeyes. On Nov. 24, the Bobcats played one of their two power conference opponents in the season when they traveled to Utah. The Big 12 side beat Montana State 72-53. To the Bobcats’ credit, they responded.
“What we reflected back on Utah, that was kind of our first big conference game that we had and after that game, we watched film before we went to Las Vegas on just really focusing on doing what we do well and getting back to habits,” said Montana State head coach Tricia Binford.
The Bobcats responded with wins against East Carolina of the AAC and UCF of the Big 12, but the Knights went 6-16 to end the season following that defeat.
Either way, it shows that Montana State can adjust and now, after having a program record season at 30-3, go from the hunter in the Big Sky to the hunted in the NCAA Tournament.
They are led by senior guard Esmeralda Morales, a senior transfer from Portland State, moving within the Big Sky conference to learn from the former WNBA player turned coach in Binford. It worked, with Morales leading the team with 15.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, which earned the senior the Big Sky Player of the Year award.
Morales sets the tone for the Bobcat offense, like Ohio State freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge. The senior stays cool under pressure and directs the team effectively. On defense, Morales adjusted quickly and knew the full court press before the regular season got going for Binford and Montana State.
Elsewhere defensively is Defensive Player of the Year Taylee Chirrick who is amazingly a freshman who only started two of the Bobcats’ 33 games this season. Chirrick led the Big Sky conference with 3.4 steals per game, playing with a seemingly endless motor and turning it into steals.
A question for Ohio State is will there be enough depth to compete with the Bobcats for 40 minutes? Both Cambridge and junior forward Cotie McMahon are good to play after missing the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins with a sprained ankle and right arm injury, respectively.
Beyond that, freshmen Ava Watson and Elsa Lemmilä are game time decisions. The shooting guard Watson has not played since scoring 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc on Feb. 13. The 6-foot-6 center Lemmilä is playing through foot pain and met with a doctor during the week. Lemmilä practiced on Thursday, but was visibly wincing in pain after running a play. Watson participated in practice too and did not have limited mobility.
Should they play, the Buckeyes will have enough depth to rotate effectively to the fast-moving Bobcats. Should they both miss, it gives Ohio State an eight-player rotation that will have little margin for error. Guards Madison Greene and Kennedy Cambridge will get ample minutes and forward Eboni Walker will come in for starting forward Ajae Petty.
Even so, the Buckeyes do have McMahon and Cambridge, who have been enough for Ohio State for much of this season, ending the campaign in third place in the Big Ten behind two No. 1 NCAA Tournament seeded teams in the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans. Ohio State has confidence through their play and have an idea on how they can effectively work through the Montana State defense.
“As far as our offense, making sure that we execute and just do what we do, making the extra pass when needed,” said McMahon. “Hopefully we can get going in transition. I think we would thrive against them to kind of just push the ball because they do press, yeah.”
The Buckeyes practice against the press everyday when they work on their own. On Feb. 26, Ohio State welcomed the Michigan State Spartans to the Schottenstein Center, a team that also played similarly on defense to the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no trouble dispatching the Spartans in an 89-78 win.
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G- Esmeralda Morales
G- Ella Johnson
G- Isobel Bunyan
F- Marah Dykstra
F- Katelynn Limardo
Montana State will bring underdog energy into Value City Arena and start the game off strong, but Ohio State will not be surprised by it. The Bobcats will carry a slight lead in the first quarter but the Buckeyes will keep the game manageable until halftime.
In the third quarter, Ohio State will pick up the intensity behind a strong day by Jaloni Cambridge offensively. The guard will excel by getting to the basket and either going to the rim or finding outlets with the Bobcats effectively clogging up passing lanes and leaving room for movement inside the paint.
Overall, the Buckeyes’ athleticism will outmatch Montana State and Ohio State will move on to the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, on Sunday.
Date: Friday, March. 21, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN 2
Stream: ESPN App
Before the postseason gets fully going on Friday with the start of the field of 64 teams, the Big Ten announced its Academic Big Ten athletes. The Buckeyes had four players earn the honor. Guards Taylor Thierry, Madison Greene and Kennedy Cambridge received the award with forward Eboni Walker joining the trio.
Greene earns the honor for a program-record fifth time in her NCAA career, with Thierry earning her second. It is the first Academic All-Big Ten selection for Cambridge and Walker.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Bobcats meet in the first round of March Madness.
It’s that time of year again. It’s March Madness, and for the third season in a row the NCAA Tournament goes through Columbus. This time around, Ohio State women’s basketball enters as a No. 4 seed, narrowly earning the right to host the first two rounds, and it begins with a matchup against the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats.
The Buckeyes are undefeated at home this season, while the Bobcats won 23 of their last 24, in a game where the two sides bring eerily similar playing styles.
Preview
Montana State earned the right to play NCAA Tournament basketball after winning the Big Sky Tournament, and they did it in exciting fashion. Dubbed “Starch Madness” because of the Boise, Idaho tournament location, Montana State took their regular season championship season into the final against the Montana Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies brought a 14-17 record and an interim head coach into the championship game and nearly won it. Down two points, Montana guard Dani Bartsch hit a three-point shot to give the Grizzlies a one-point lead with 7.9 seconds remaining. The Bobcats attempted a play but the Montana defense was too strong, so forward Marah Dykstra ran around a screen and went to the basket.
Dykstra missed the layup, throwing it over the basket but she did not give up on the play. The junior grabbed the offensive rebound on the other side of the rim and hit the second chance basket as the game clock expired.
“Just to have that moment seal the deal for us to go to March was just such a big deal,” said Dykstra. “But honestly, it’s in the past for me now. I’m just really looking forward to this next game.”
The battle of Montana featured seven lead changes and four ties in arguably the most exciting conference tournament finale of the past two weeks, but like Dykstra said, it’s in the past. The present is Ohio State versus Montana State and it’s a matchup that has similarities.
Defense sticks out the most, with both teams using a full court press. The Bobcats are fifth in the nation in forced turnovers per game (23.67) and lead all Division I programs in steals per game (14.6). While Ohio State is behind them in 11th and 10th place, respectively, the teams played vastly different schedules.
Montana State enters Friday with the 190th strongest schedule in the country, compared to 23 for the Buckeyes. On Nov. 24, the Bobcats played one of their two power conference opponents in the season when they traveled to Utah. The Big 12 side beat Montana State 72-53. To the Bobcats’ credit, they responded.
“What we reflected back on Utah, that was kind of our first big conference game that we had and after that game, we watched film before we went to Las Vegas on just really focusing on doing what we do well and getting back to habits,” said Montana State head coach Tricia Binford.
The Bobcats responded with wins against East Carolina of the AAC and UCF of the Big 12, but the Knights went 6-16 to end the season following that defeat.
Either way, it shows that Montana State can adjust and now, after having a program record season at 30-3, go from the hunter in the Big Sky to the hunted in the NCAA Tournament.
They are led by senior guard Esmeralda Morales, a senior transfer from Portland State, moving within the Big Sky conference to learn from the former WNBA player turned coach in Binford. It worked, with Morales leading the team with 15.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, which earned the senior the Big Sky Player of the Year award.
Morales sets the tone for the Bobcat offense, like Ohio State freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge. The senior stays cool under pressure and directs the team effectively. On defense, Morales adjusted quickly and knew the full court press before the regular season got going for Binford and Montana State.
Elsewhere defensively is Defensive Player of the Year Taylee Chirrick who is amazingly a freshman who only started two of the Bobcats’ 33 games this season. Chirrick led the Big Sky conference with 3.4 steals per game, playing with a seemingly endless motor and turning it into steals.
A question for Ohio State is will there be enough depth to compete with the Bobcats for 40 minutes? Both Cambridge and junior forward Cotie McMahon are good to play after missing the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins with a sprained ankle and right arm injury, respectively.
Beyond that, freshmen Ava Watson and Elsa Lemmilä are game time decisions. The shooting guard Watson has not played since scoring 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc on Feb. 13. The 6-foot-6 center Lemmilä is playing through foot pain and met with a doctor during the week. Lemmilä practiced on Thursday, but was visibly wincing in pain after running a play. Watson participated in practice too and did not have limited mobility.
Should they play, the Buckeyes will have enough depth to rotate effectively to the fast-moving Bobcats. Should they both miss, it gives Ohio State an eight-player rotation that will have little margin for error. Guards Madison Greene and Kennedy Cambridge will get ample minutes and forward Eboni Walker will come in for starting forward Ajae Petty.
Even so, the Buckeyes do have McMahon and Cambridge, who have been enough for Ohio State for much of this season, ending the campaign in third place in the Big Ten behind two No. 1 NCAA Tournament seeded teams in the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans. Ohio State has confidence through their play and have an idea on how they can effectively work through the Montana State defense.
“As far as our offense, making sure that we execute and just do what we do, making the extra pass when needed,” said McMahon. “Hopefully we can get going in transition. I think we would thrive against them to kind of just push the ball because they do press, yeah.”
The Buckeyes practice against the press everyday when they work on their own. On Feb. 26, Ohio State welcomed the Michigan State Spartans to the Schottenstein Center, a team that also played similarly on defense to the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no trouble dispatching the Spartans in an 89-78 win.
Projected Lineups
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Montana State
G- Esmeralda Morales
G- Ella Johnson
G- Isobel Bunyan
F- Marah Dykstra
F- Katelynn Limardo
Prediction
Montana State will bring underdog energy into Value City Arena and start the game off strong, but Ohio State will not be surprised by it. The Bobcats will carry a slight lead in the first quarter but the Buckeyes will keep the game manageable until halftime.
In the third quarter, Ohio State will pick up the intensity behind a strong day by Jaloni Cambridge offensively. The guard will excel by getting to the basket and either going to the rim or finding outlets with the Bobcats effectively clogging up passing lanes and leaving room for movement inside the paint.
Overall, the Buckeyes’ athleticism will outmatch Montana State and Ohio State will move on to the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, on Sunday.
LGHL Score Prediction: 78-60, Ohio State Buckeyes
How to Watch
Date: Friday, March. 21, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN 2
Stream: ESPN App
Academic All-Big Ten
Before the postseason gets fully going on Friday with the start of the field of 64 teams, the Big Ten announced its Academic Big Ten athletes. The Buckeyes had four players earn the honor. Guards Taylor Thierry, Madison Greene and Kennedy Cambridge received the award with forward Eboni Walker joining the trio.
Greene earns the honor for a program-record fifth time in her NCAA career, with Thierry earning her second. It is the first Academic All-Big Ten selection for Cambridge and Walker.
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