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LGHL Ohio State hosts nation’s No. 1 OL, sends out trio of new offers
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Ohio State hosts nation’s No. 1 OL, sends out trio of new offers
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantwell (left) and his family with Ryan Day | via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
The Buckeyes continue to utilize their spring practice periods as an asset on the recruiting trail.
The first week of spring practice is now in the books for Ohio State, and with it came a great early glimpse of this current crop of Buckeyes. Additionally, it has already provided the coaching staff with an excellent recruiting tool, as prospects from all across the country have flocked to Columbus to watch the reigning national champions prepare for next season.
One of those prospects was none other than Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class as well as, of course, the top offensive tackle in the cycle. The Missouri native just wrapped up a multi-day visit to Ohio State, his second trip to the school after taking in one of the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff practices back in December.
Ryan Day and Tyler Bowen are obviously making a heavy push for the five-star offensive lineman. Cantwell was the first player Day made a trip to visit shortly after Ohio State won its title, and Bowen is making up for lost time after joining the Buckeyes’ staff in February. Ohio State is included among Cantwell’s top six schools, but is the only one of the group without an official visit date set. Bowen will look to change that coming off this most recent visit.
Elsewhere, Ohio State sent out a trio of new offers following spring practice on Friday.
Remaining on the offensive line theme, one of those offers went out to 2026 IOL Tucker Smith. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound recruit is the No. 10 player out of his home state of Arizona as well as the No. 68 IOL in the country, per 247Sports’ rankings.
Smith holds a dozen offers to his name from the likes of Arizona State, Kansas State, Minnesota, USC, Washington and now Ohio State. Despite being listed as an interior lineman, Smith plays tackle at Sandra Day O’Connor, showcasing his versatility and being know for playing with an edge. His recruitment has seen a bit of an uptick at the turn of the calendar, having also recently been named Arizona Republic’s First Team All-Arizona.
A last name that will likely sound familiar to football fans, Ohio State also extended an offer on Friday to 2027 safety/linebacker, Cooper Witten — the son of 11-time Pro Bowl tight end, Jason Witten. The former is the No. 1 safety and No. 24 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, but James Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes are recruiting the multi-talented prospect as a linebacker.
“I was really excited to get that offer from Ohio State because they are an elite program coming off of an outstanding season,” Witten told Bucknuts. “It was my first time [at Ohio State] seeing everything, so it was super cool seeing what they are all about. I got to spend some time with coach (James) Laurinaitis on the visit and he is a great coach who has a big heart for the players.”
A true do-it-all type of athlete, Witten plays multiple positions on the football field as well as playing basketball and running track. As a freshman in 2023, the 6-foot-2 multi-level defender registered 82 tackles, four TFLs, two picks and two forced fumbles while also blocking three kicks. Witten plans to make a return trip to Columbus in the fall to see the Buckeyes in action.
Last but not least, Ohio State also sent out an offer on Friday afternoon to 2027 athlete, Nate Carson. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound lineman plays both offensive tackle and defensive end, but the Buckeyes are recruiting him on offense.
Ohio State is among the early offers for Carson, joining a small group that includes Alabama, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and a few others. His visit to campus this past weekends sounds like it went very well, and it is clear Bowen is already having a tremendous impact on the Buckeyes’ offensive line recruiting.
“I loved everything about Ohio State; everything was just perfect,” Carson told Bucknuts. “The practice was very intense. I loved how everybody competed and how the coaches coach their players. The visit was amazing. Talking to coach Bowen and the other O-line coaches was great. I can say Ohio State makes you feel welcome. Everybody talks to you, players included. Overall Ohio State in general is amazing.”
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Jackson Cantwell (left) and his family with Ryan Day | via @jcantwell2499 on Twitter
The Buckeyes continue to utilize their spring practice periods as an asset on the recruiting trail.
The first week of spring practice is now in the books for Ohio State, and with it came a great early glimpse of this current crop of Buckeyes. Additionally, it has already provided the coaching staff with an excellent recruiting tool, as prospects from all across the country have flocked to Columbus to watch the reigning national champions prepare for next season.
One of those prospects was none other than Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class as well as, of course, the top offensive tackle in the cycle. The Missouri native just wrapped up a multi-day visit to Ohio State, his second trip to the school after taking in one of the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff practices back in December.
Ryan Day and Tyler Bowen are obviously making a heavy push for the five-star offensive lineman. Cantwell was the first player Day made a trip to visit shortly after Ohio State won its title, and Bowen is making up for lost time after joining the Buckeyes’ staff in February. Ohio State is included among Cantwell’s top six schools, but is the only one of the group without an official visit date set. Bowen will look to change that coming off this most recent visit.
Elsewhere, Ohio State sent out a trio of new offers following spring practice on Friday.
Remaining on the offensive line theme, one of those offers went out to 2026 IOL Tucker Smith. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound recruit is the No. 10 player out of his home state of Arizona as well as the No. 68 IOL in the country, per 247Sports’ rankings.
Smith holds a dozen offers to his name from the likes of Arizona State, Kansas State, Minnesota, USC, Washington and now Ohio State. Despite being listed as an interior lineman, Smith plays tackle at Sandra Day O’Connor, showcasing his versatility and being know for playing with an edge. His recruitment has seen a bit of an uptick at the turn of the calendar, having also recently been named Arizona Republic’s First Team All-Arizona.
A last name that will likely sound familiar to football fans, Ohio State also extended an offer on Friday to 2027 safety/linebacker, Cooper Witten — the son of 11-time Pro Bowl tight end, Jason Witten. The former is the No. 1 safety and No. 24 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, but James Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes are recruiting the multi-talented prospect as a linebacker.
“I was really excited to get that offer from Ohio State because they are an elite program coming off of an outstanding season,” Witten told Bucknuts. “It was my first time [at Ohio State] seeing everything, so it was super cool seeing what they are all about. I got to spend some time with coach (James) Laurinaitis on the visit and he is a great coach who has a big heart for the players.”
A true do-it-all type of athlete, Witten plays multiple positions on the football field as well as playing basketball and running track. As a freshman in 2023, the 6-foot-2 multi-level defender registered 82 tackles, four TFLs, two picks and two forced fumbles while also blocking three kicks. Witten plans to make a return trip to Columbus in the fall to see the Buckeyes in action.
Last but not least, Ohio State also sent out an offer on Friday afternoon to 2027 athlete, Nate Carson. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound lineman plays both offensive tackle and defensive end, but the Buckeyes are recruiting him on offense.
Ohio State is among the early offers for Carson, joining a small group that includes Alabama, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and a few others. His visit to campus this past weekends sounds like it went very well, and it is clear Bowen is already having a tremendous impact on the Buckeyes’ offensive line recruiting.
“I loved everything about Ohio State; everything was just perfect,” Carson told Bucknuts. “The practice was very intense. I loved how everybody competed and how the coaches coach their players. The visit was amazing. Talking to coach Bowen and the other O-line coaches was great. I can say Ohio State makes you feel welcome. Everybody talks to you, players included. Overall Ohio State in general is amazing.”
Quick Hits:
- Another big name in attendance for Ohio State this past weekend was 2026 four-star running back Jae Lamar. Listed as the No. 7 RB and the No. 94 prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Lamar has official visits set with four other schools, but plans to add the Buckeyes to the list after a successful visit. He has a commitment date set for July 4.
- Five-star 2027 defensive lineman Chris Whitehead has an upcoming visit planned with Ohio State. Ranked as the No. 4 EDGE and No. 11 player in the cycle overall per the 247Sports Composite, Whitehead will be in Columbus on April 3. He currently does not hold on offer from the Buckeyes, but that could likely change following the trip.
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LGHL Furious rally stalls late as Ohio State women fall to Tennessee in NCAA second round, 82-67
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Furious rally stalls late as Ohio State women fall to Tennessee in NCAA second round, 82-67
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
Despite a furious third quarter rally, the Buckeyes were eliminated in the second round for the second consecutive season.
Ohio State women’s basketball welcomed the Tennessee Volunteers to the Schottenstein Center Sunday night in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round. It was a game that came with the expectation of a track meet. Both the Buckeyes and Vols were known for fast-paced play on both sides of the court. The game met expectations but the Volunteers played their own game better to defeat Ohio State 82-67 to head to the Sweet Sixteen.
In pregame warmups, Ohio State looked focused. There was not a lot of joking, and almost looked somber until the jump ball. Forward Ajae Petty won the tip and the Buckeyes got on the board first with a layup by Chance Gray 10 seconds into the game.
Tennessee answered back with a three-point shot on their first deep attempt of the game. Two possessions later, when the clock stopped for a foul, junior forward Cotie McMahon huddled the team up to tell them that three was given up too easily.
Out of the brief pause, the Buckeyes went on a nine-point run with Petty hitting to shots inside the paint. McMahon added a three-point shot before head coach Kevin McGuff did his best to emulate the Volunteers’ full five-player substitutions.
On the first play with guards Kennedy Cambridge and Madison Greene on the court, Greene forced a jump ball that pushed the Buckeyes’ intensity to another level, with McMahon pounding her feet on the court and Gray showing rare emotion on the court.
From there though, the Volunteers regrouped. It started with a three-point shot by Talaysia Cooper and then a series of miscues by the Buckeyes. Ohio State had three turnovers after the Cooper three and the Vols turned them into a 12-2 run, which cut the Buckeyes’ lead to one point, 18-17, with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
Ohio State hit three free throws to end the quarter and the Buckeyes took a 21-17 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter of Tennessee’s game against the USF Bulls on Friday, the Vols outran and out shot the Bulls to the tune of a 29-9 scoring quarter. At the start of the second quarter on Sunday, it looked like Tennessee would do the same. Tennessee outscored Ohio State 10-4 in the first four minutes, with Ohio State missing four shots in a row and turned the ball over recklessly.
The Buckeyes were again passing the ball directly to Tennessee players, trying to force passes into teammates. Ohio State also had only two assists in the entire 10-minute period where the Scarlet and Gay went 5-of-13.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side needed a turnover and got it from Kennedy Cambridge. The guard turned a fumbled Tennessee pass into a fast break opportunity. The redshirt sophomore went up for a layup and guard Avery Strickland went up to stop the shot. Strickland collided with Kennedy Cambridge and sent her to the court and out of the game for almost four game minutes.
When Kennedy Cambridge reentered the game, freshman center Elsa Lemmilä left the game, limping on her left foot. Lemmilä did not play Friday against the Montana State Bobcats and was questionable entering Sunday’s game. In eight first half minutes, Lemmilä had two blocks before she left the game.
Ohio State gathered their composure and outscored Tennessee nine to eight in the final 3:40 to enter the locker room down 40-35.
With the Vols mass substitutions, playing 10 players at least five minutes in the first half, McGuff responded by giving his own players more of a break than usual, except guard/forward Taylor Thierry. The senior, playing in her final game in Columbus, played all 20 first half minutes and did a little bit of everything with four rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. McMahon led all scorers with 11 points after 20 minutes.
Out of the halftime locker room, Jaloni Cambridge hit a fast break layup on a Tennessee three-point shot missed the target. It did not swing momentum in Ohio State’s favor as the Buckeyes gave up three turnovers in the first two minutes to contribute to an eight-point lead for Tennessee.
It looked like the Vols were on their way to a convincing victory until the Buckeyes stopped giving the ball away. First it was guard Greene who hit a corner three to stop a 14-point Tennessee run. It turned into a 12-point Ohio State run where the Buckeyes were the ones now forcing turnovers, including a rare shot clock violation for a Vols side known for scoring early in possessions.
Coming up big in the run was freshman Jaloni Cambridge, who had nine of what ended up being a 16-0 Buckeye run on the initial Ohio State burst of energy, taking a brief 57-56 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes erased the 17-point point Tennessee lead with 20 of the next 18 points where Ohio State seemed to do everything right. The Scarlet and Gray forced five turnovers during the run and it ended with McMahon hitting a three-point shot that tied the game and then a free throw to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the second half.
However, that’s when things went south. Call it a combination of Ohio State complacency and Tennessee turning up the intensity but the Buckeyes went back to turning the ball over. The Vols held Ohio State from making any baskets in the run of play in the final 2:48 and forced four turnovers to end the quarter.
Tennessee took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, up 66-59.
In the final 10 minutes, Tennessee and Ohio State were still running and Thierry got the scoring going with a layup to start the frame. That made way for a run of 1-of-8 scoring for Ohio State while the Vols started 3-of-6 and extended their lead back to double digits.
With 4:26 remaining, Ohio State had the media timeout to try and turn the game around and find another run like they had in the third quarter to get back into the game. Tennessee was fast approaching the 80-point mark in the game and when the Vols hit it they are 19-2 on the season.
Ohio State hit baskets but still could not stop the Volunteers. The energy left the arena, aside from forward Eboni Walker who was substituted out for the last time and received an ovation from the crowd. It was the only substitution McGuff gave to an exiting senior in the final game for four Buckeyes.
The duo of McMahon and Jaloni Cambridge led the Buckeyes’ scoring in the defeat. McMahon scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, going perfect from deep. Cambridge had 19 points but eight of Ohio State’s 23 turnovers.
In their last Ohio State games, Thierry had eight points with six rebounds. She led the team playing 39 minutes. Greene had three points while forward Ajae Petty scored eight points with six rebounds.
Cooper led Tennessee with 19 points and eight rebounds, plus a game-high seven steals. The Vols had four players score at least 10 points in the victory.
What’s Next
With the season now over for Ohio State, the Scarlet and Gray head into the offseason where five Buckeyes are guaranteed to not return due to eligibility. Odds are that the remaining nine will likely dwindle in the coming weeks in the transfer portal.
For the Volunteers, they head to Birmingham, Alabama for the regional semifinal against either the Illinois Fighting Illini or Texas Longhorns, who play Monday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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
Despite a furious third quarter rally, the Buckeyes were eliminated in the second round for the second consecutive season.
Ohio State women’s basketball welcomed the Tennessee Volunteers to the Schottenstein Center Sunday night in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round. It was a game that came with the expectation of a track meet. Both the Buckeyes and Vols were known for fast-paced play on both sides of the court. The game met expectations but the Volunteers played their own game better to defeat Ohio State 82-67 to head to the Sweet Sixteen.
In pregame warmups, Ohio State looked focused. There was not a lot of joking, and almost looked somber until the jump ball. Forward Ajae Petty won the tip and the Buckeyes got on the board first with a layup by Chance Gray 10 seconds into the game.
Tennessee answered back with a three-point shot on their first deep attempt of the game. Two possessions later, when the clock stopped for a foul, junior forward Cotie McMahon huddled the team up to tell them that three was given up too easily.
Out of the brief pause, the Buckeyes went on a nine-point run with Petty hitting to shots inside the paint. McMahon added a three-point shot before head coach Kevin McGuff did his best to emulate the Volunteers’ full five-player substitutions.
On the first play with guards Kennedy Cambridge and Madison Greene on the court, Greene forced a jump ball that pushed the Buckeyes’ intensity to another level, with McMahon pounding her feet on the court and Gray showing rare emotion on the court.
From there though, the Volunteers regrouped. It started with a three-point shot by Talaysia Cooper and then a series of miscues by the Buckeyes. Ohio State had three turnovers after the Cooper three and the Vols turned them into a 12-2 run, which cut the Buckeyes’ lead to one point, 18-17, with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
Ohio State hit three free throws to end the quarter and the Buckeyes took a 21-17 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter of Tennessee’s game against the USF Bulls on Friday, the Vols outran and out shot the Bulls to the tune of a 29-9 scoring quarter. At the start of the second quarter on Sunday, it looked like Tennessee would do the same. Tennessee outscored Ohio State 10-4 in the first four minutes, with Ohio State missing four shots in a row and turned the ball over recklessly.
The Buckeyes were again passing the ball directly to Tennessee players, trying to force passes into teammates. Ohio State also had only two assists in the entire 10-minute period where the Scarlet and Gay went 5-of-13.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side needed a turnover and got it from Kennedy Cambridge. The guard turned a fumbled Tennessee pass into a fast break opportunity. The redshirt sophomore went up for a layup and guard Avery Strickland went up to stop the shot. Strickland collided with Kennedy Cambridge and sent her to the court and out of the game for almost four game minutes.
When Kennedy Cambridge reentered the game, freshman center Elsa Lemmilä left the game, limping on her left foot. Lemmilä did not play Friday against the Montana State Bobcats and was questionable entering Sunday’s game. In eight first half minutes, Lemmilä had two blocks before she left the game.
Ohio State gathered their composure and outscored Tennessee nine to eight in the final 3:40 to enter the locker room down 40-35.
With the Vols mass substitutions, playing 10 players at least five minutes in the first half, McGuff responded by giving his own players more of a break than usual, except guard/forward Taylor Thierry. The senior, playing in her final game in Columbus, played all 20 first half minutes and did a little bit of everything with four rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. McMahon led all scorers with 11 points after 20 minutes.
Out of the halftime locker room, Jaloni Cambridge hit a fast break layup on a Tennessee three-point shot missed the target. It did not swing momentum in Ohio State’s favor as the Buckeyes gave up three turnovers in the first two minutes to contribute to an eight-point lead for Tennessee.
It looked like the Vols were on their way to a convincing victory until the Buckeyes stopped giving the ball away. First it was guard Greene who hit a corner three to stop a 14-point Tennessee run. It turned into a 12-point Ohio State run where the Buckeyes were the ones now forcing turnovers, including a rare shot clock violation for a Vols side known for scoring early in possessions.
Coming up big in the run was freshman Jaloni Cambridge, who had nine of what ended up being a 16-0 Buckeye run on the initial Ohio State burst of energy, taking a brief 57-56 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes erased the 17-point point Tennessee lead with 20 of the next 18 points where Ohio State seemed to do everything right. The Scarlet and Gray forced five turnovers during the run and it ended with McMahon hitting a three-point shot that tied the game and then a free throw to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the second half.
However, that’s when things went south. Call it a combination of Ohio State complacency and Tennessee turning up the intensity but the Buckeyes went back to turning the ball over. The Vols held Ohio State from making any baskets in the run of play in the final 2:48 and forced four turnovers to end the quarter.
Tennessee took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, up 66-59.
In the final 10 minutes, Tennessee and Ohio State were still running and Thierry got the scoring going with a layup to start the frame. That made way for a run of 1-of-8 scoring for Ohio State while the Vols started 3-of-6 and extended their lead back to double digits.
With 4:26 remaining, Ohio State had the media timeout to try and turn the game around and find another run like they had in the third quarter to get back into the game. Tennessee was fast approaching the 80-point mark in the game and when the Vols hit it they are 19-2 on the season.
Ohio State hit baskets but still could not stop the Volunteers. The energy left the arena, aside from forward Eboni Walker who was substituted out for the last time and received an ovation from the crowd. It was the only substitution McGuff gave to an exiting senior in the final game for four Buckeyes.
The duo of McMahon and Jaloni Cambridge led the Buckeyes’ scoring in the defeat. McMahon scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, going perfect from deep. Cambridge had 19 points but eight of Ohio State’s 23 turnovers.
In their last Ohio State games, Thierry had eight points with six rebounds. She led the team playing 39 minutes. Greene had three points while forward Ajae Petty scored eight points with six rebounds.
Cooper led Tennessee with 19 points and eight rebounds, plus a game-high seven steals. The Vols had four players score at least 10 points in the victory.
What’s Next
With the season now over for Ohio State, the Scarlet and Gray head into the offseason where five Buckeyes are guaranteed to not return due to eligibility. Odds are that the remaining nine will likely dwindle in the coming weeks in the transfer portal.
For the Volunteers, they head to Birmingham, Alabama for the regional semifinal against either the Illinois Fighting Illini or Texas Longhorns, who play Monday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
LGHL The key from Ohio State’s win on Friday that can help them beat Tennessee on Sunday
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The key from Ohio State’s win on Friday that can help them beat Tennessee on Sunday
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
For the Buckeyes, attacking the basket is not the only way to win.
Ohio State women’s basketball features two dynamic stars who bring speed and creativity inside the paint. Freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge is arguably one of the fastest players in the country and she uses speed to break through defenses to hit layups with frequency. Junior forward Cotie McMahon has the speed of a guard but the size of a forward, a combination that makes teams struggle.
The two offensive stars for head coach Kevin McGuff have been crucial this season. Cambridge and McMahon have taken over games and pushed the Buckeyes to wins in games where the rest of the team was not as productive offensively.
For Ohio State to move on in the NCAA Tournament, that will not be enough on Sunday night against the Tennessee Volunteers. On Friday, the Buckeyes showed that passing and finding teammates is the key to making the Ohio State offense click.
In the second quarter, the Scarlet and Gray did not move the ball well, with only one assist in the first 7:13 minutes of the period. Combine this with a period of calls against the Buckeyes, including a technical foul assessed to McGuff for his frustration boiling over because of those calls, and the No. 13-seeded Montana State Bobcats had a four-point lead.
Ohio State responded with turnovers and fast-break baskets to go on a nine-point run, erasing the Bobcats’ lead. The mid-major side did not come back in the game because, following a halftime locker room talk by McGuff, the Buckeyes refocused their attention on their passing game, and the First-Round contest broke wide open for Ohio State.
“What we mostly talked about is making the extra pass,” McGuff said. “Because I thought we were getting great opportunities but taking tougher shots than we needed to.”
In the third quarter, five of Ohio State’s first six baskets came off an assist. With McMahon and Cambridge on the floor, and taking up attention on defense, the pair went from offensive attackers to expert passers.
McMahon and Cambridge accounted for three of those five to start the half, with guard/forward Taylor Thierry getting into the fun with two of her own.
When those passes go around the floor, the team still needs someone to put the ball into the basket and that was shooting guard Chance Gray. The junior transfer out of the Oregon Ducks program played in her first NCAA Tournament game on Friday and was not afraid of the spotlight. Gray hit her first three shots of the second half, all from beyond the arc.
“I was kind of ready to shoot whenever my teammates got the ball,” Gray said. “We were moving the ball really well. And that’s something we’ve been emphasizing the last couple of weeks, just one dribble, push the ball up the floor and see what we can get, get easy shots and do simple things.”
Ohio State made baskets which allowed the team to get into their press and cause issues on the defensive end of the court. It’s no coincidence that the third quarter featured eight turnovers by the Bobcats. It tied the first quarter when the Buckeyes were also finding teammates with five total assists to start the first 10 minutes.
Cambridge led the Scarlet and Gray with six assists, and McMahon was second with four, on top of 12 points for the freshman and 15 for the junior. The Buckeyes ended the night with 17 assists. When Ohio State has at least 15 assists in a game, their record is 15-1. That lone loss came against the Penn State Nittany Lions, with Cambridge out due to illness.
On Sunday, Tennessee is not going to be the same challenge as Montana State. For one, the Volunteers are more athletic with higher-ranked recruits coming into the program than the mid-major Bobcats. Also, the Vols play a different style of defense.
The Vols bring full-court pressure one-on-one, doing their best to make even getting the ball up the court difficult, with traps coming when the Buckeyes make it across mid-court. Montana played a game more aligned with Ohio State by throwing two players toward the ball to try and force bad passes.
The Buckeyes ball handling will be crucial and when they get into their offensive end of the court, those passes will continue if Ohio State hopes to move into their third Sweet Sixteen in four seasons.
McMahon and Cambridge are going to be a focus, especially when they go to the basket. What the two do when they have the ball will go a long way to determine the Buckeyes’ end result.
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
For the Buckeyes, attacking the basket is not the only way to win.
Ohio State women’s basketball features two dynamic stars who bring speed and creativity inside the paint. Freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge is arguably one of the fastest players in the country and she uses speed to break through defenses to hit layups with frequency. Junior forward Cotie McMahon has the speed of a guard but the size of a forward, a combination that makes teams struggle.
The two offensive stars for head coach Kevin McGuff have been crucial this season. Cambridge and McMahon have taken over games and pushed the Buckeyes to wins in games where the rest of the team was not as productive offensively.
For Ohio State to move on in the NCAA Tournament, that will not be enough on Sunday night against the Tennessee Volunteers. On Friday, the Buckeyes showed that passing and finding teammates is the key to making the Ohio State offense click.
In the second quarter, the Scarlet and Gray did not move the ball well, with only one assist in the first 7:13 minutes of the period. Combine this with a period of calls against the Buckeyes, including a technical foul assessed to McGuff for his frustration boiling over because of those calls, and the No. 13-seeded Montana State Bobcats had a four-point lead.
Ohio State responded with turnovers and fast-break baskets to go on a nine-point run, erasing the Bobcats’ lead. The mid-major side did not come back in the game because, following a halftime locker room talk by McGuff, the Buckeyes refocused their attention on their passing game, and the First-Round contest broke wide open for Ohio State.
“What we mostly talked about is making the extra pass,” McGuff said. “Because I thought we were getting great opportunities but taking tougher shots than we needed to.”
In the third quarter, five of Ohio State’s first six baskets came off an assist. With McMahon and Cambridge on the floor, and taking up attention on defense, the pair went from offensive attackers to expert passers.
McMahon and Cambridge accounted for three of those five to start the half, with guard/forward Taylor Thierry getting into the fun with two of her own.
When those passes go around the floor, the team still needs someone to put the ball into the basket and that was shooting guard Chance Gray. The junior transfer out of the Oregon Ducks program played in her first NCAA Tournament game on Friday and was not afraid of the spotlight. Gray hit her first three shots of the second half, all from beyond the arc.
“I was kind of ready to shoot whenever my teammates got the ball,” Gray said. “We were moving the ball really well. And that’s something we’ve been emphasizing the last couple of weeks, just one dribble, push the ball up the floor and see what we can get, get easy shots and do simple things.”
Gray Gets Buckets
No big deal juststraight three pointers to open the second half ️@chancegrayy | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/wDKneOzMQo
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) March 22, 2025
Ohio State made baskets which allowed the team to get into their press and cause issues on the defensive end of the court. It’s no coincidence that the third quarter featured eight turnovers by the Bobcats. It tied the first quarter when the Buckeyes were also finding teammates with five total assists to start the first 10 minutes.
Cambridge led the Scarlet and Gray with six assists, and McMahon was second with four, on top of 12 points for the freshman and 15 for the junior. The Buckeyes ended the night with 17 assists. When Ohio State has at least 15 assists in a game, their record is 15-1. That lone loss came against the Penn State Nittany Lions, with Cambridge out due to illness.
On Sunday, Tennessee is not going to be the same challenge as Montana State. For one, the Volunteers are more athletic with higher-ranked recruits coming into the program than the mid-major Bobcats. Also, the Vols play a different style of defense.
The Vols bring full-court pressure one-on-one, doing their best to make even getting the ball up the court difficult, with traps coming when the Buckeyes make it across mid-court. Montana played a game more aligned with Ohio State by throwing two players toward the ball to try and force bad passes.
The Buckeyes ball handling will be crucial and when they get into their offensive end of the court, those passes will continue if Ohio State hopes to move into their third Sweet Sixteen in four seasons.
McMahon and Cambridge are going to be a focus, especially when they go to the basket. What the two do when they have the ball will go a long way to determine the Buckeyes’ end result.
Continue reading...
TSUN Baseball Shenanigans, Arguments, etc.
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Baseball
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The Weekender: Colorado and Syracuse Hope to Play Spring Game Against Each Other, Georgia Suspends Two Players for Reckless Driving and A Michigan Baseball Player Pretends to Snort Cocaine
Colorado and Syracuse want to scrimmage each other this spring, Georgia suspends two players for reckless driving and a Michigan baseball player pretends to snort cocaine.
A cocaine-themed celebration up north
A Michigan baseball player received national attention this week for his questionable celebration during the Wolverines’ win over USC last Sunday.After sliding into third base on a bases-clearing triple, Michigan infielder Mitch Voit celebrated his big hit by pretending to take a hit, sliding his nose along the baseline chalk as if he was snorting cocaine.
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After the celebration went viral, Voit took to social media on Monday to apologize for his actions, saying he “made an immature decision in the heat of the moment.”
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Michigan did not punish Voit, who earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors last week after a 12-hit, 12-RBI week. A Michigan spokesperson told The Athletic that the university “did not feel that it was necessary to issue any discipline,” saying Voit “immediately apologized for his actions in the heat of the moment.”
Just sayin': Obviously the scUM baseball player is (somehow......
) familiar with how you snort cocaine. Not a "good look" at all for scUM. 
Spring Games
- By ScriptOhio
- College Football
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The Weekender: Colorado and Syracuse Hope to Play Spring Game Against Each Other, Georgia Suspends Two Players for Reckless Driving and A Michigan Baseball Player Pretends to Snort Cocaine
Colorado and Syracuse want to scrimmage each other this spring, Georgia suspends two players for reckless driving and a Michigan baseball player pretends to snort cocaine.
The Weekender: Colorado and Syracuse Hope to Play Spring Game Against Each Other
Colorado, Syracuse pushing for spring scrimmage
While some college football teams are choosing not to play spring games this year, Colorado and Syracuse are hoping to start a new kind of spring game.
After Colorado coach Deion Sanders said Monday that he wanted the Buffaloes to play another team in their spring game, Syracuse coach Fran Brown responded to his call on social media, telling Sanders that he would bring his team to Boulder for three days to practice and scrimmage against the Orange.
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Now, the two teams are taking real steps to try to make that happen. Syracuse.com reported Saturday that both teams’ compliance offices have filed paperwork with the NCAA petitioning for the opportunity to schedule joint practices and a scrimmage against each other in Boulder this spring.
NCAA rules currently prohibit teams from holding joint practices or intersquad scrimmages, and it’s unclear whether their petition will be approved. If it does come to fruition, however, college football coaches around the country will have one more option to consider when deciding whether their teams should hold spring games going forward.
Just sayin': Probably a bad idea. I do think that, an "intrasquad scrimmage" would lead to more injures. Besides you want to keep some of your practices and the plays that you run "secret".
LGHL Bench depth vital for Ohio State Sunday against Tennessee
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Bench depth vital for Ohio State Sunday against Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Vols bring five-player substitutions to support Kim Caldwell’s game plan, and here is how Ohio State’s bench will help
For sports fans who have never attended a track meet, Sunday night’s game between Ohio State women’s basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers will be their first. The Big Ten and SEC sides do not shy away from running, and conditioning for both sides is vital in team strategy. How can the Buckeyes outlast the Vols onslaught? Look to the bench.
First year Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell brought tactics to basketball that make the phrase “run and gun” look like it's in slow motion. On offense, the Vols do not waste time taking shots, and a lot of those come from beyond the arc. The 31.1 attempts per game is top of the SEC and third in the nation, with seven players averaging at least two attempted shots from deep per game.
Defensively, the Vols press their opponents to force live ball turnovers and generally disrupt their opponent’s rhythm.
It is going to be a handful for the starting five of Ohio State. When the taller Tennessee side passes out of the press, Buckeye defenders have to get back faster than usual to get a hand in the face of whoever has the ball outside of the arc, because it could be one of many. Then, on offense, the Scarlet and Gray have to move both quickly and while protecting the ball to try and get behind the Tennessee defense.
The Tennessee starting five does not matter in the slightest. In 32 games, Caldwell picked 17 different starting five groups. That’s because within a couple minutes of the tip, five new players will come in and take their place. The Vols have 10 players who average between 14.7 and 25 minutes per game, with nobody playing more than those 25 minutes by guard Samara Spencer.
What this all means is that there cannot be a dip in intensity for Ohio State when players come in off the bench. More than any other game this season, the substitutes need to match Tennessee the second they get on the floor, without time to get a feel for the game.
“I mean, for me, I’m excited,” said graduate senior forward Eboni Walker, with a smile on her face. “I do my best to come out on fire. I mean, that’s what we want to do. I think from all the years of playing, I kind of get excited with teams that do a lot of subbing, just giving you new looks, a new way to score, and just having that flow of basketball.”
Walker is one of five likely available players for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side, and one of the reasons Ohio State’s bench depth is different than other teams in the country.
Ohio State does not have a roster of 13-15 players who come in every game, but the bench is a story of quality over quantity and, on their best nights, bring different looks to the game that make opponents adjust.
Take graduate senior Madison Greene for example. The guard is not an offensive weapon like starting freshman Jaloni Cambridge, but she has six years in the Ohio State program and 47 starts under her belt. Before two ACL tears sidelined the Pickerington, Ohio native, Greene started as a freshman and earned the trust of coach McGuff quickly.
When Greene comes into the game, she brings a calm to the team on offense, and enhanced ball handling, something the Buckeyes will need against Tennessee’s full court pressure. How good is it? Against the Maryland Terrapins on the final day of the regular season, Greene went to the ground twice while still keeping a dribble going to avoid a travel.
For Walker, the fifth year senior forward plays a hybrid power forward/center-like position for McGuff. If the Buckeye defense forces tough shots for Tennessee that clang off the rim, Walker brings energy to the boards and is not afraid to go up against players taller than her inside the paint.
The two experienced Ohio State players are also playing in their last game on their home court, adding even more motivation to a game that is already overflowing with expectations to move on in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s win-or-go-home and we need to come out there tomorrow and just give it our all, and just have fun at the end of the day,” said Greene.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge does not need much help matching a team’s pressure because when the defense-minded guard enters the game she typically raises the intensity levels. Ohio State needs Cambridge to come in and annoy the Volunteers, force turnovers and go for loose basketballs.
Then there is the freshman duo of guard Ava Watson and center Elsa Lemmilä rounding out who will be available for Ohio State. Both are either coming off of, or playing through, injuries at this point of the season, but each brings skills that enhance what the Buckeyes can do against Tennessee on the court.
Watson came back against Montana State on Friday for the first time in over a month, after spraining her ankle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13. The shooting guard has featured in a few games in her freshman season from beyond the arc, and if Ohio State is hitting extra passes and finding Watson, shots going down will go a long way.
However, Watson can also defend. In high school, Watson led her team to a state championship using a full court press like McGuff’s at Ohio State. Although the freshman did not score any points on Friday, she forced a steal and played well in one-on-one defense.
“I think she could be really instrumental tomorrow and with their style of play,” said McGuff. “We are going to interest to play a lot of people to try to stay fresh. Everybody is kind of all hands on deck. Everybody should show up and be ready.”
The question mark of the group of substitutes is Lemmilä. Since the end of 2024, the 6-foot-6 Finn played through a foot injury, but returned to practice on Friday. Lemmilä did not dress for Ohio State’s First Round game, likely as a means to keep the center’s minutes reserved for the challenge of Tennessee.
Tennessee’s length will be difficult for Ohio State, especially 6-foot-4 forward Zee Spearman and 6-foot-5 forward Jillian Hollingshead. When either are in the game, having someone like Lemmilä available will help the Vols think twice going attacking the basket. Lemmilä’s 58 blocks this season is the most for a Buckeye since the Tori McCoy’s 59 in the 16-17 campaign. All of Lemmilä’s came from the bench too.
How the bench five play is crucial for Ohio State’s success on Sunday, and on Saturday Walker gave the fans credit for one of the last times in her NCAA career. She also turned into an expert marketer.
“I think it’s almost unfair for us to be here; they give us a lot of added energy, and we definitely feed off of them. So if anyone is listening, come to the game tomorrow, 8:00, after church. You know, church is early, 8:00 is late. Perfect time for us,” said Walker. “It’s going to be special, thinking about how long we’ve been here and the kind of history that we’ve been able to build.”
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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
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Vols bring five-player substitutions to support Kim Caldwell’s game plan, and here is how Ohio State’s bench will help
For sports fans who have never attended a track meet, Sunday night’s game between Ohio State women’s basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers will be their first. The Big Ten and SEC sides do not shy away from running, and conditioning for both sides is vital in team strategy. How can the Buckeyes outlast the Vols onslaught? Look to the bench.
First year Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell brought tactics to basketball that make the phrase “run and gun” look like it's in slow motion. On offense, the Vols do not waste time taking shots, and a lot of those come from beyond the arc. The 31.1 attempts per game is top of the SEC and third in the nation, with seven players averaging at least two attempted shots from deep per game.
Defensively, the Vols press their opponents to force live ball turnovers and generally disrupt their opponent’s rhythm.
It is going to be a handful for the starting five of Ohio State. When the taller Tennessee side passes out of the press, Buckeye defenders have to get back faster than usual to get a hand in the face of whoever has the ball outside of the arc, because it could be one of many. Then, on offense, the Scarlet and Gray have to move both quickly and while protecting the ball to try and get behind the Tennessee defense.
The Tennessee starting five does not matter in the slightest. In 32 games, Caldwell picked 17 different starting five groups. That’s because within a couple minutes of the tip, five new players will come in and take their place. The Vols have 10 players who average between 14.7 and 25 minutes per game, with nobody playing more than those 25 minutes by guard Samara Spencer.
What this all means is that there cannot be a dip in intensity for Ohio State when players come in off the bench. More than any other game this season, the substitutes need to match Tennessee the second they get on the floor, without time to get a feel for the game.
“I mean, for me, I’m excited,” said graduate senior forward Eboni Walker, with a smile on her face. “I do my best to come out on fire. I mean, that’s what we want to do. I think from all the years of playing, I kind of get excited with teams that do a lot of subbing, just giving you new looks, a new way to score, and just having that flow of basketball.”
Walker is one of five likely available players for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side, and one of the reasons Ohio State’s bench depth is different than other teams in the country.
Ohio State does not have a roster of 13-15 players who come in every game, but the bench is a story of quality over quantity and, on their best nights, bring different looks to the game that make opponents adjust.
Take graduate senior Madison Greene for example. The guard is not an offensive weapon like starting freshman Jaloni Cambridge, but she has six years in the Ohio State program and 47 starts under her belt. Before two ACL tears sidelined the Pickerington, Ohio native, Greene started as a freshman and earned the trust of coach McGuff quickly.
When Greene comes into the game, she brings a calm to the team on offense, and enhanced ball handling, something the Buckeyes will need against Tennessee’s full court pressure. How good is it? Against the Maryland Terrapins on the final day of the regular season, Greene went to the ground twice while still keeping a dribble going to avoid a travel.
For Walker, the fifth year senior forward plays a hybrid power forward/center-like position for McGuff. If the Buckeye defense forces tough shots for Tennessee that clang off the rim, Walker brings energy to the boards and is not afraid to go up against players taller than her inside the paint.
The two experienced Ohio State players are also playing in their last game on their home court, adding even more motivation to a game that is already overflowing with expectations to move on in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s win-or-go-home and we need to come out there tomorrow and just give it our all, and just have fun at the end of the day,” said Greene.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge does not need much help matching a team’s pressure because when the defense-minded guard enters the game she typically raises the intensity levels. Ohio State needs Cambridge to come in and annoy the Volunteers, force turnovers and go for loose basketballs.
Then there is the freshman duo of guard Ava Watson and center Elsa Lemmilä rounding out who will be available for Ohio State. Both are either coming off of, or playing through, injuries at this point of the season, but each brings skills that enhance what the Buckeyes can do against Tennessee on the court.
Watson came back against Montana State on Friday for the first time in over a month, after spraining her ankle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13. The shooting guard has featured in a few games in her freshman season from beyond the arc, and if Ohio State is hitting extra passes and finding Watson, shots going down will go a long way.
However, Watson can also defend. In high school, Watson led her team to a state championship using a full court press like McGuff’s at Ohio State. Although the freshman did not score any points on Friday, she forced a steal and played well in one-on-one defense.
“I think she could be really instrumental tomorrow and with their style of play,” said McGuff. “We are going to interest to play a lot of people to try to stay fresh. Everybody is kind of all hands on deck. Everybody should show up and be ready.”
The question mark of the group of substitutes is Lemmilä. Since the end of 2024, the 6-foot-6 Finn played through a foot injury, but returned to practice on Friday. Lemmilä did not dress for Ohio State’s First Round game, likely as a means to keep the center’s minutes reserved for the challenge of Tennessee.
Tennessee’s length will be difficult for Ohio State, especially 6-foot-4 forward Zee Spearman and 6-foot-5 forward Jillian Hollingshead. When either are in the game, having someone like Lemmilä available will help the Vols think twice going attacking the basket. Lemmilä’s 58 blocks this season is the most for a Buckeye since the Tori McCoy’s 59 in the 16-17 campaign. All of Lemmilä’s came from the bench too.
How the bench five play is crucial for Ohio State’s success on Sunday, and on Saturday Walker gave the fans credit for one of the last times in her NCAA career. She also turned into an expert marketer.
“I think it’s almost unfair for us to be here; they give us a lot of added energy, and we definitely feed off of them. So if anyone is listening, come to the game tomorrow, 8:00, after church. You know, church is early, 8:00 is late. Perfect time for us,” said Walker. “It’s going to be special, thinking about how long we’ve been here and the kind of history that we’ve been able to build.”
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LGHL Ohio State, Wisconsin meet in the women’s hockey title game for a third straight year
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Ohio State, Wisconsin meet in the women’s hockey title game for a third straight year
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years.
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years when they battle Wisconsin in the final of the Frozen Four in Minneapolis.
Ohio State will face a familiar foe at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis in the NCAA Championship Game. The Buckeyes will battle the Wisconsin Badgers, who they have not only played four times this year, the two programs have also met in the last two title games, with each team earning a 1-0 win. Anyone tuning in this afternoon will be in for a treat since these are two of the top programs in the country, and when they get together on the ice the result usually comes right down to the wire.
The Buckeyes were able to make the championship game by defeating Cornell 4-2 in Friday’s first Frozen Four semifinal. Makenna Webster opened up the scoring 2:24 into the game to give Ohio State an early lead. Brooke Disher’s goal doubled the lead just over four minutes later. Cornell would tie the game up in the second period with two goals in just over a minute.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25923125/2205622232.jpg "2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship - Semi-Finals")
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
In the third period, Joy Dunne took over, scoring two goals in the first 7:22 to give Ohio State the lead for good. Dunne now has scored at least one goal in nine straight games. With her two goals, Dunne’s 28 goals this season now lead the team in scoring, passing the 27 goals Jocelyn Amos has scored. Amos did have an assist in the game, extending her streak to five straight games with at least one point.
The final opponent for the Buckeyes this year will be the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat Minnesota 6-2 in Friday’s second semifinal. The Golden Gophers actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead 14:14 into the first period, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Laila Edwards scored a shorthanded goal three minutes later. The Badgers would take the lead for good in the second period with goals from Casey O’Brien and Kristen Simms. Edwards would finish with a hat trick after scoring two goals in the third period, while O’Brien scored two goals in the victory.
It’s fitting these two teams are meeting in the championship game, not only because they have split the last two NCAA titles, they also split their four meetings this year. In the first series of the season in Columbus in mid-November, Wisconsin won the first game 4-2, followed by the Buckeyes winning the next night 3-2. The teams would play one game in Madison, with the Badgers hammering Ohio State 6-0 on January 2nd. Two days later they would meet in an outdoor game at Wrigley Field, ending with a thrilling Ohio State victory in a shootout after the teams couldn’t break a 3-3 deadlock in overtime. Jenna Buglioni secured the win for the Buckeyes when she scored in the seventh round of the shootout.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25923126/2205641566.jpg "2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship - Semi-Finals")
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
For as good as Ohio State’s offense has been this year, Wisconsin has been even better when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the next. The Badgers have scored 217 goals this year. Laila Edwards is one of five Wisconsin players to score at least 20 goals this year, leading the team with 34 goals. Casey O’Brien is the team’s overall point leader with 88 points, breaking Meghan Duggan’s school record of 87 points recorded during the 2010-11 season. At least when it comes to trying to slow down the Wisconsin attack, Amanda Thiele has made numerous starts at goalie for the Buckeyes over the last few years.
This is the championship game fans of women’s college hockey were hoping for since it’s obvious these are the best two teams in the country. Wisconsin has lost just one game in regulation this year, and that was to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Now the Badgers enter today’s game on a 12-game winning streak. The title game appearance is their 12th in school history, while Ohio State will be playing in their fourth consecutive title game.
Much like the Cornell game, Ohio State is going to have to try and solve one of the best goaltenders in the country. Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton posted a 35-1-2 record this year with eight shutouts, a 1.20 goals against average, and a .946 save percentage. At least the Buckeyes come into this game with some confidence since they have gotten to McNaughton in a couple of matchups this season. That’s only half the battle though, since the Badgers have the most prolific scoring attack in the country this year. To win, Ohio State is going to have to play nearly a perfect game, but if there is anyone who can get her players to reach that level, it is Buckeye head coach Nadine Muzerall.
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
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
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years.
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years when they battle Wisconsin in the final of the Frozen Four in Minneapolis.
Ohio State will face a familiar foe at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis in the NCAA Championship Game. The Buckeyes will battle the Wisconsin Badgers, who they have not only played four times this year, the two programs have also met in the last two title games, with each team earning a 1-0 win. Anyone tuning in this afternoon will be in for a treat since these are two of the top programs in the country, and when they get together on the ice the result usually comes right down to the wire.
The Buckeyes were able to make the championship game by defeating Cornell 4-2 in Friday’s first Frozen Four semifinal. Makenna Webster opened up the scoring 2:24 into the game to give Ohio State an early lead. Brooke Disher’s goal doubled the lead just over four minutes later. Cornell would tie the game up in the second period with two goals in just over a minute.
In the third period, Joy Dunne took over, scoring two goals in the first 7:22 to give Ohio State the lead for good. Dunne now has scored at least one goal in nine straight games. With her two goals, Dunne’s 28 goals this season now lead the team in scoring, passing the 27 goals Jocelyn Amos has scored. Amos did have an assist in the game, extending her streak to five straight games with at least one point.
The final opponent for the Buckeyes this year will be the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat Minnesota 6-2 in Friday’s second semifinal. The Golden Gophers actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead 14:14 into the first period, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Laila Edwards scored a shorthanded goal three minutes later. The Badgers would take the lead for good in the second period with goals from Casey O’Brien and Kristen Simms. Edwards would finish with a hat trick after scoring two goals in the third period, while O’Brien scored two goals in the victory.
It’s fitting these two teams are meeting in the championship game, not only because they have split the last two NCAA titles, they also split their four meetings this year. In the first series of the season in Columbus in mid-November, Wisconsin won the first game 4-2, followed by the Buckeyes winning the next night 3-2. The teams would play one game in Madison, with the Badgers hammering Ohio State 6-0 on January 2nd. Two days later they would meet in an outdoor game at Wrigley Field, ending with a thrilling Ohio State victory in a shootout after the teams couldn’t break a 3-3 deadlock in overtime. Jenna Buglioni secured the win for the Buckeyes when she scored in the seventh round of the shootout.
For as good as Ohio State’s offense has been this year, Wisconsin has been even better when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the next. The Badgers have scored 217 goals this year. Laila Edwards is one of five Wisconsin players to score at least 20 goals this year, leading the team with 34 goals. Casey O’Brien is the team’s overall point leader with 88 points, breaking Meghan Duggan’s school record of 87 points recorded during the 2010-11 season. At least when it comes to trying to slow down the Wisconsin attack, Amanda Thiele has made numerous starts at goalie for the Buckeyes over the last few years.
This is the championship game fans of women’s college hockey were hoping for since it’s obvious these are the best two teams in the country. Wisconsin has lost just one game in regulation this year, and that was to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Now the Badgers enter today’s game on a 12-game winning streak. The title game appearance is their 12th in school history, while Ohio State will be playing in their fourth consecutive title game.
Much like the Cornell game, Ohio State is going to have to try and solve one of the best goaltenders in the country. Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton posted a 35-1-2 record this year with eight shutouts, a 1.20 goals against average, and a .946 save percentage. At least the Buckeyes come into this game with some confidence since they have gotten to McNaughton in a couple of matchups this season. That’s only half the battle though, since the Badgers have the most prolific scoring attack in the country this year. To win, Ohio State is going to have to play nearly a perfect game, but if there is anyone who can get her players to reach that level, it is Buckeye head coach Nadine Muzerall.
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Continue reading...
LGHL NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Tennessee
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NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes and Volunteers meet for the third straight season, but the Vols could not be more different of a side
The NCAA Tournament continues in Columbus on Sunday night as No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 5 Tennessee. It renews a series between two powerhouse NCAA athletic departments, with the Volunteers having the edge in the world of women’s basketball.
While the Buckeyes defeated the Vols in two straight regular seasons, Tennessee enters the matchup with a more than convicting win in the First Round and a relentless style of play that has already pushed the best teams in the country to their breaking points.
Can Ohio State break through? Can Tennessee withstand their play while facing the Buckeyes’ full court press? Does the Scarlet and Gray have enough depth to compete for 40 minutes?
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s hockey faces Wisconsin for the National Championship. Four hours later, the Buckeyes face a Tennessee side that has similarities to a hockey team.
First year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell pushes her teams through each level of college basketball before landing in Knoxville in the offseason. So much so that Tennessee does not make a substitution here or there, they swap out entire lineups.
“You have to have 10 or 11 players that you trust,” said Caldwell. “That’s a big step for a coach is to have everyone accept their roles and lean into their roles and trust them and put them on the floor every night.”
So, a starting lineup is important for most teams, but not as much for the Vols because the players on the bench know they will be in the game within a couple of minutes. Tennessee plays a full court style of pressure defense for 40 minutes, usually with players taking one-on-one assignments.
Against the USF Bulls, Tennessee knew the AAC side had one consistently good ball handler on offense, so the Vols focused in on them directly. Defensively, Rocky Top attacks teams until they wear them down. That only motivates Tennessee players to add more pressure.
That happened quickly on Friday night against USF and in the second quarter the Vols held the Bulls to only nine points while Caldwell’s side racked up 29 points. It put the game away for good with half of the game remaining, but Tennessee did not let up.
“Even when we had a big lead, something we have done all year is just kind of stopped guarding just because we saw a 20-point win,” said Caldwell. “And we continue to sit down and guard to the final minute, and that was a really big improvement for us.”
Tennessee had the normal adjustment period at the start of the season with a new coach and system to implement, but hit their stride at the beginning of the 2025 calendar. After a string of close defeats to ranked teams, the Vols defeated the UConn Huskies on Feb. 6 and it gave the team a boost.
Then, in the final week of the season and into the SEC Tournament, things started to slip. It began with the Kentucky Wildcats and point guard Georgia Amoore. After head coach Kenny Brooks faced Caldwell and her previous team in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats knew the system well and handled it effectively in an 82-58 rout of the Vols. Tennessee then lost at home to the Georgia Bulldogs, a side that went 12-18 this season.
In the SEC Tournament, Tennessee got back to their winning ways in the first game but then fell the next day to Vanderbilt. Despite 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, the long season wore the Vols down.
So, when the team had two weeks off heading into the tournament, it showed in the 101-66 dismantling of the AAC Tournament champion Bulls.
Offensively, Tennessee is just as much of a buzzsaw as they are on defense. Caldwell’s side is known for taking shots early in the shot clock, with many coming from beyond the arc, 31.1 attempts from deep per game to be exact. That’s the third highest in the country a year after Caldwell broke the NCAA record with Marshall in the 23-24 season.
“We have to get back in transition and guard them and try to challenge them at the three-point line,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They made, what was it, 16 yesterday? That will be a huge part of the game.”
Heading into the matchup, the Volunteers are saying similar things to other teams who play press style defenses. Mainly that they will be ready because they practice against a press every day. Ohio State’s press is unique in that it is disciplined and features players who have history in the set.
While it is a 2-2-1 setup, the way McGuff’s sides are relentless in their pursuit of the ball is different than a normal press. Ohio State will throw multiple people at the Volunteers to see what they can do to disrupt the offense and force turnovers.
This season, the Vols have not given up more than 20 turnovers in a game, while Ohio State has 15 games out of 32 where the Buckeyes forced more than 20.
Where it will be more difficult for Ohio State is the size of the Volunteers. Of the 10 players who get most of the minutes for Caldwell, seven of them stand at least six feet tall, while the Buckeyes have five, total on their active roster, and one of which might not play due to injury.
Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä practiced on Saturday, but it’s still unsure if she will get any minutes after sitting out against the Montana State Bobcats on Friday. Lemmilä has a left foot injury that started to hurt the 6-foo-6 big in January.
In her place on Friday was graduate senior Eboni Walker, who does not bring the same size as Lemmilä or starting forward Ajae Petty, but has the kind of fight needed to pick up rebounds consistently. Walker had four offensive rebounds against Montana State and two assists. Ohio State will need play like Walker’s against a Tennessee team that will not let up on the boards.
Despite playing a large group of players consistently (no one averages more than 25 minutes per game this season), the standout on the roster is Talaysia Cooper. The redshirt sophomore leads the team with 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds. 3.2 assists and a conference high 3.0 steals per game.
There is not a guard that is a like-for-like defensive option for Cooper. Standing at six feet tall, it’s a likely matchup with Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry, who is a semifinalist for National Defensive Player of the Year. Do not be surprised if McGuff has Thierry on the court anytime Cooper’s line gets put in the game by Caldwell.
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G- Samara Spencer
G- Jewel Spear
G- Talaysia Cooper
G- Ruby Whitehorn
F- Lazaria Spearman
Ohio State will be aggressive off the jump and give the Volunteers a much different challenge than the USF Bulls did, a side that does not play the same pressure style of defense.
How the game goes for the Buckeyes will be based on how the defense is keeping the Volunteers from making easy baskets. If the Vols pass easily out of the press and find open looks, it could be a long night for McGuff’s side.
Cotie McMahon will get to the line often as she goes to the basket for Ohio State frequently. The size and defensive pressure of the Vols will put Tennessee in foul trouble, but the game will be close until the end. It could go either way but how the visitors shoot three-point shots will make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
Ohio State and Tennessee have three previous games in the NCAA Tournament, with all three going the way of the Volunteers. Legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt led the Vols in the first two wins in 1996 and 2011. In 1996, Summitt ended up winning the National Championship after defeating former assistant coach Nancy Darsch and the Buckeyes in the second round.
In 2011 and 2016, Ohio State and Tennessee met in the Sweet Sixteen, with the second coming under Summitt’s predecessor Holly Warlick.
All three defeats for the Scarlet and Gray were by double-digits.
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The Buckeyes and Volunteers meet for the third straight season, but the Vols could not be more different of a side
The NCAA Tournament continues in Columbus on Sunday night as No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 5 Tennessee. It renews a series between two powerhouse NCAA athletic departments, with the Volunteers having the edge in the world of women’s basketball.
While the Buckeyes defeated the Vols in two straight regular seasons, Tennessee enters the matchup with a more than convicting win in the First Round and a relentless style of play that has already pushed the best teams in the country to their breaking points.
Can Ohio State break through? Can Tennessee withstand their play while facing the Buckeyes’ full court press? Does the Scarlet and Gray have enough depth to compete for 40 minutes?
Preview
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s hockey faces Wisconsin for the National Championship. Four hours later, the Buckeyes face a Tennessee side that has similarities to a hockey team.
First year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell pushes her teams through each level of college basketball before landing in Knoxville in the offseason. So much so that Tennessee does not make a substitution here or there, they swap out entire lineups.
“You have to have 10 or 11 players that you trust,” said Caldwell. “That’s a big step for a coach is to have everyone accept their roles and lean into their roles and trust them and put them on the floor every night.”
So, a starting lineup is important for most teams, but not as much for the Vols because the players on the bench know they will be in the game within a couple of minutes. Tennessee plays a full court style of pressure defense for 40 minutes, usually with players taking one-on-one assignments.
Against the USF Bulls, Tennessee knew the AAC side had one consistently good ball handler on offense, so the Vols focused in on them directly. Defensively, Rocky Top attacks teams until they wear them down. That only motivates Tennessee players to add more pressure.
That happened quickly on Friday night against USF and in the second quarter the Vols held the Bulls to only nine points while Caldwell’s side racked up 29 points. It put the game away for good with half of the game remaining, but Tennessee did not let up.
“Even when we had a big lead, something we have done all year is just kind of stopped guarding just because we saw a 20-point win,” said Caldwell. “And we continue to sit down and guard to the final minute, and that was a really big improvement for us.”
Tennessee had the normal adjustment period at the start of the season with a new coach and system to implement, but hit their stride at the beginning of the 2025 calendar. After a string of close defeats to ranked teams, the Vols defeated the UConn Huskies on Feb. 6 and it gave the team a boost.
Then, in the final week of the season and into the SEC Tournament, things started to slip. It began with the Kentucky Wildcats and point guard Georgia Amoore. After head coach Kenny Brooks faced Caldwell and her previous team in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats knew the system well and handled it effectively in an 82-58 rout of the Vols. Tennessee then lost at home to the Georgia Bulldogs, a side that went 12-18 this season.
In the SEC Tournament, Tennessee got back to their winning ways in the first game but then fell the next day to Vanderbilt. Despite 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, the long season wore the Vols down.
So, when the team had two weeks off heading into the tournament, it showed in the 101-66 dismantling of the AAC Tournament champion Bulls.
Offensively, Tennessee is just as much of a buzzsaw as they are on defense. Caldwell’s side is known for taking shots early in the shot clock, with many coming from beyond the arc, 31.1 attempts from deep per game to be exact. That’s the third highest in the country a year after Caldwell broke the NCAA record with Marshall in the 23-24 season.
“We have to get back in transition and guard them and try to challenge them at the three-point line,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They made, what was it, 16 yesterday? That will be a huge part of the game.”
Heading into the matchup, the Volunteers are saying similar things to other teams who play press style defenses. Mainly that they will be ready because they practice against a press every day. Ohio State’s press is unique in that it is disciplined and features players who have history in the set.
While it is a 2-2-1 setup, the way McGuff’s sides are relentless in their pursuit of the ball is different than a normal press. Ohio State will throw multiple people at the Volunteers to see what they can do to disrupt the offense and force turnovers.
This season, the Vols have not given up more than 20 turnovers in a game, while Ohio State has 15 games out of 32 where the Buckeyes forced more than 20.
Where it will be more difficult for Ohio State is the size of the Volunteers. Of the 10 players who get most of the minutes for Caldwell, seven of them stand at least six feet tall, while the Buckeyes have five, total on their active roster, and one of which might not play due to injury.
Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä practiced on Saturday, but it’s still unsure if she will get any minutes after sitting out against the Montana State Bobcats on Friday. Lemmilä has a left foot injury that started to hurt the 6-foo-6 big in January.
In her place on Friday was graduate senior Eboni Walker, who does not bring the same size as Lemmilä or starting forward Ajae Petty, but has the kind of fight needed to pick up rebounds consistently. Walker had four offensive rebounds against Montana State and two assists. Ohio State will need play like Walker’s against a Tennessee team that will not let up on the boards.
Despite playing a large group of players consistently (no one averages more than 25 minutes per game this season), the standout on the roster is Talaysia Cooper. The redshirt sophomore leads the team with 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds. 3.2 assists and a conference high 3.0 steals per game.
There is not a guard that is a like-for-like defensive option for Cooper. Standing at six feet tall, it’s a likely matchup with Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry, who is a semifinalist for National Defensive Player of the Year. Do not be surprised if McGuff has Thierry on the court anytime Cooper’s line gets put in the game by Caldwell.
Projected Lineups
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Tennessee
G- Samara Spencer
G- Jewel Spear
G- Talaysia Cooper
G- Ruby Whitehorn
F- Lazaria Spearman
Prediction
Ohio State will be aggressive off the jump and give the Volunteers a much different challenge than the USF Bulls did, a side that does not play the same pressure style of defense.
How the game goes for the Buckeyes will be based on how the defense is keeping the Volunteers from making easy baskets. If the Vols pass easily out of the press and find open looks, it could be a long night for McGuff’s side.
Cotie McMahon will get to the line often as she goes to the basket for Ohio State frequently. The size and defensive pressure of the Vols will put Tennessee in foul trouble, but the game will be close until the end. It could go either way but how the visitors shoot three-point shots will make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
LGHL Score Prediction: 79-76, Tennessee Volunteers
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
Tournament History
Ohio State and Tennessee have three previous games in the NCAA Tournament, with all three going the way of the Volunteers. Legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt led the Vols in the first two wins in 1996 and 2011. In 1996, Summitt ended up winning the National Championship after defeating former assistant coach Nancy Darsch and the Buckeyes in the second round.
In 2011 and 2016, Ohio State and Tennessee met in the Sweet Sixteen, with the second coming under Summitt’s predecessor Holly Warlick.
All three defeats for the Scarlet and Gray were by double-digits.
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