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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which remaining NCAA Tournament team are you rooting for?
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You’re Nuts: Which remaining NCAA Tournament team are you rooting for?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Which Sweet 16 team has your backing?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
March Madness has been... well, madness again this year. No big surprise, right? For my money, the NCAA Tournament – men’s or women’s, pick your poison – is the best, most exciting, multi-day sporting event there is. It’s just a vibe, really. Like the Olympics or the World Cup but significantly better. Because there’s no race-walking, sailing, synchronized swimming, or perpetual U.S. disappointment.
And speaking of disappointment: How about them Buckeyes!? Yeesh. Thanks to a shocking upset of the Lady Bucks at home, Ohio State no longer has a team in “the” tournament. I mean, sure, the men have advanced to the Elite 8 of the NIT, but c’mon... For all intents and purposes, the college basketball season is over for OSU fans.
But that doesn’t mean we should stop enjoying the tournament(s). Whether you have gambling interests or a “backup school” that you’ve always rooted for, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Or, in my case, money to be lost. I’m not dwelling on it, though. I promise. Let’s just get on with this edition You’re Nuts.
With both Ohio State squads out of major title contention, Gene and I have now hitched – or decided to hitch – our respective wagons to other teams. And for me, this was not a difficult choice or decision. It never was. It never has been. Because I have rooted for North Carolina since I was a kid. Probably more so than OSU, if I’m being completely honest. So I am riding with the Tar Heels, just like I have been for 30+ years.
My love of, or for, North Carolina goes back to my obsession with Michael Jordan. When I became obsessed with MJ, I became a fan of UNC by proxy. The program’s history, the legendary players, their powder blue jerseys, the whole deal. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Heels have historically won a ton of games.
Conversely, Ohio State was in the midst of a real rough patch when I was beginning to develop my fandom and learn about the game. Quite frankly, they (OSU) stunk in the mid-90s. The end of the Randy Ayers era was about as bad as it gets. And during that same rough patch for the Buckeyes, North Carolina brought in Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison. From then on, my allegiance was at least split.
Not only have I always sort of rooted for UNC, but the program has also never given me a reason not to... That seems like I just used a quadruple negative, I apologize... But the Heels win, they bring in players that are easy to root for, they play in a great environment, and they’ve maintained a special kind of continuity.
Since 1997, when the great Dean Smith retired, North Carolina has had four coaches — all with strong ties to Smith. Bill Guthridge was an assistant of Smith’s who took over upon the latter’s retirement, while Matt Doherty, Roy Williams, and Hubert Davis all played and/or worked for the legendary coach. I mean, how freaking cool is that!? And with the exception of Doherty, they’ve all had great success.
What I appreciate and/or enjoy about UNC’s recent teams is that they’ve been comprised of players who stick around and embrace being a Tar Heel. Not a lot of one-and-doners in Chapel Hill. And for some reason, I really like that. Call me old school or a traditionalist, but I will always cling to the pageantry of college sports, even if decision makers and people in power seem to be doing all they can to ruin them.
So I guess this has been a long explanation of why I am rooting for a 1-seed with a reasonable chance to win it all. But don’t call me a bandwagon fan. At least I can honestly say that I have rooted for North Carolina for decades. Go Heels!
Unlike Josh, I actually have enjoyed watching the Ohio State men play in the NIT. Truth be told, I didn’t watch a ton of the Buckeyes while Chris Holtmann was at the helm this season, as it was clear the team was following pretty much the same exact script from the past few years under Holtmann. I have, however, watched every game since Jake Diebler took over, and while it was disappointing that Ohio State ultimately did not make the NCAA Tournament, it is clear that the team is playing better and with more energy under its new head coach.
On that note, Ohio State actually has a really good chance to make the Final Four (I know it isn’t officially called that, but let me live) of the NIT. The Buckeyes will play host to Georgia on Tuesday night, a team that went just 6-12 in the SEC this season before pulling off an upset of Wake Forest on Sunday night — the No. 1 seed in the region. With the Demon Deacons now off the board and Diebler’s team getting to host another game in the tournament, a win for Ohio State would pit them up against the winner of Seton Hall and UNLV for a spot in the NIT Championship game.
While I will continue to root on the Buckeyes in the NIT, the NCAA Tournament has also been a lot of fun to watch. There have been a ton of great upsets and storylines, as well as breakout players and Cinderellas to root for. With no real dog in the fight for me for any of the teams remaining in the Sweet 16, I am always a fan of the underdog, and so I will hitch my wagon to the lowest remaining seed in the field: the No. 11 NC State Wolfpack.
NC State began its March Madness run with an upset of No. 6 Texas Tech. While many lower seeded programs generally rely on one star player putting up big numbers to win games in the Tournament, the Wolfpack defeated the Red Raiders 80-67 with a complete team effort. Four different players scored at least 16 points in the contest, led by Ben Middlebrooks’ career-high 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting and an impressive 9-of-10 at the free throw line. As a team, NC State shot over 50% from the floor.
The Wolfpack continued their run with a 79-73 win over Jack Gohlke and fellow double-digit seed Oakland on Saturday. While all five starters for NC State reached double-figures in scoring, it was forward DJ Burns Jr. leading the way this time around with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The 6-foot-9 Burns recorded a double-digit with 11 rebounds, as he and Mohamed Diarra (13 rebounds) helped beat the Golden Grizzlies 46-34 on the boards.
NC State will face its toughest test yet in the Sweet 16, as they will now take on No. 2 seed Marquette on Friday. The Golden Eagles are a tough squad, led by Kam Jones (17.1 PPG) and Tyler Kolek (15.3 PPG). Marquette narrowly avoided an upset in its previous game against Colorado, with the two teams tied at 74-74 with less than four minutes remaining. A three-point jumper with 2:54 to go put the Golden Eagles up for good, and the Wolf Pack will now enter Friday’s matchup as 6.5-point underdogs.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Which Sweet 16 team has your backing?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which remaining NCAA Tournament team are you rooting for?
Josh’s Take
March Madness has been... well, madness again this year. No big surprise, right? For my money, the NCAA Tournament – men’s or women’s, pick your poison – is the best, most exciting, multi-day sporting event there is. It’s just a vibe, really. Like the Olympics or the World Cup but significantly better. Because there’s no race-walking, sailing, synchronized swimming, or perpetual U.S. disappointment.
And speaking of disappointment: How about them Buckeyes!? Yeesh. Thanks to a shocking upset of the Lady Bucks at home, Ohio State no longer has a team in “the” tournament. I mean, sure, the men have advanced to the Elite 8 of the NIT, but c’mon... For all intents and purposes, the college basketball season is over for OSU fans.
But that doesn’t mean we should stop enjoying the tournament(s). Whether you have gambling interests or a “backup school” that you’ve always rooted for, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Or, in my case, money to be lost. I’m not dwelling on it, though. I promise. Let’s just get on with this edition You’re Nuts.
With both Ohio State squads out of major title contention, Gene and I have now hitched – or decided to hitch – our respective wagons to other teams. And for me, this was not a difficult choice or decision. It never was. It never has been. Because I have rooted for North Carolina since I was a kid. Probably more so than OSU, if I’m being completely honest. So I am riding with the Tar Heels, just like I have been for 30+ years.
My love of, or for, North Carolina goes back to my obsession with Michael Jordan. When I became obsessed with MJ, I became a fan of UNC by proxy. The program’s history, the legendary players, their powder blue jerseys, the whole deal. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Heels have historically won a ton of games.
Conversely, Ohio State was in the midst of a real rough patch when I was beginning to develop my fandom and learn about the game. Quite frankly, they (OSU) stunk in the mid-90s. The end of the Randy Ayers era was about as bad as it gets. And during that same rough patch for the Buckeyes, North Carolina brought in Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison. From then on, my allegiance was at least split.
Not only have I always sort of rooted for UNC, but the program has also never given me a reason not to... That seems like I just used a quadruple negative, I apologize... But the Heels win, they bring in players that are easy to root for, they play in a great environment, and they’ve maintained a special kind of continuity.
Since 1997, when the great Dean Smith retired, North Carolina has had four coaches — all with strong ties to Smith. Bill Guthridge was an assistant of Smith’s who took over upon the latter’s retirement, while Matt Doherty, Roy Williams, and Hubert Davis all played and/or worked for the legendary coach. I mean, how freaking cool is that!? And with the exception of Doherty, they’ve all had great success.
What I appreciate and/or enjoy about UNC’s recent teams is that they’ve been comprised of players who stick around and embrace being a Tar Heel. Not a lot of one-and-doners in Chapel Hill. And for some reason, I really like that. Call me old school or a traditionalist, but I will always cling to the pageantry of college sports, even if decision makers and people in power seem to be doing all they can to ruin them.
So I guess this has been a long explanation of why I am rooting for a 1-seed with a reasonable chance to win it all. But don’t call me a bandwagon fan. At least I can honestly say that I have rooted for North Carolina for decades. Go Heels!
Gene’s Take
Unlike Josh, I actually have enjoyed watching the Ohio State men play in the NIT. Truth be told, I didn’t watch a ton of the Buckeyes while Chris Holtmann was at the helm this season, as it was clear the team was following pretty much the same exact script from the past few years under Holtmann. I have, however, watched every game since Jake Diebler took over, and while it was disappointing that Ohio State ultimately did not make the NCAA Tournament, it is clear that the team is playing better and with more energy under its new head coach.
On that note, Ohio State actually has a really good chance to make the Final Four (I know it isn’t officially called that, but let me live) of the NIT. The Buckeyes will play host to Georgia on Tuesday night, a team that went just 6-12 in the SEC this season before pulling off an upset of Wake Forest on Sunday night — the No. 1 seed in the region. With the Demon Deacons now off the board and Diebler’s team getting to host another game in the tournament, a win for Ohio State would pit them up against the winner of Seton Hall and UNLV for a spot in the NIT Championship game.
While I will continue to root on the Buckeyes in the NIT, the NCAA Tournament has also been a lot of fun to watch. There have been a ton of great upsets and storylines, as well as breakout players and Cinderellas to root for. With no real dog in the fight for me for any of the teams remaining in the Sweet 16, I am always a fan of the underdog, and so I will hitch my wagon to the lowest remaining seed in the field: the No. 11 NC State Wolfpack.
NC State began its March Madness run with an upset of No. 6 Texas Tech. While many lower seeded programs generally rely on one star player putting up big numbers to win games in the Tournament, the Wolfpack defeated the Red Raiders 80-67 with a complete team effort. Four different players scored at least 16 points in the contest, led by Ben Middlebrooks’ career-high 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting and an impressive 9-of-10 at the free throw line. As a team, NC State shot over 50% from the floor.
The Wolfpack continued their run with a 79-73 win over Jack Gohlke and fellow double-digit seed Oakland on Saturday. While all five starters for NC State reached double-figures in scoring, it was forward DJ Burns Jr. leading the way this time around with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The 6-foot-9 Burns recorded a double-digit with 11 rebounds, as he and Mohamed Diarra (13 rebounds) helped beat the Golden Grizzlies 46-34 on the boards.
NC State will face its toughest test yet in the Sweet 16, as they will now take on No. 2 seed Marquette on Friday. The Golden Eagles are a tough squad, led by Kam Jones (17.1 PPG) and Tyler Kolek (15.3 PPG). Marquette narrowly avoided an upset in its previous game against Colorado, with the two teams tied at 74-74 with less than four minutes remaining. A three-point jumper with 2:54 to go put the Golden Eagles up for good, and the Wolf Pack will now enter Friday’s matchup as 6.5-point underdogs.
Continue reading...
LGHL Women’s hockey wins NCAA title, Mendez claims wrestling championship, men’s basketball advances
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Women’s hockey wins NCAA title, Mendez claims wrestling championship, men’s basketball advances
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The Buckeyes have the potential to have ‘the best offensive staff in the country’ with the right RB coach hire
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Jeremiah Smith fanning hype flames after just four Ohio State practices (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
That was fast:
5 things we learned from second week of OSU spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Seth McLaughlin putting snap concerns to rest, ‘doing great so far’ in spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State: Sonny Styles details spring move from safety to linebacker (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
New running backs coach?
Jim Tressel sends inspirational spring practice message to Buckeyes
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball falls to No. 7 Duke 75-63
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s rebounding struggles play prominent role loss vs Duke
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State to host Georgia on Tuesday for NIT semifinals berth
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Balanced scoring attack carries Ohio State past Virginia Tech in second-round NIT bout, 81-73
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Jamison Battle’s free throws lead Ohio State past Hokies: 5 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes top Wisconsin for 2nd NCAA women’s hockey title in 3 years
Nicole Haase, The Columbus Dispatch
Wrestling: Mendez Wins 2024 National Championship
Ohio State Athletics
Pistol: Champions Again! Ohio State Wins Fourth Consecutive National Title
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Gymnastics: Vetter Wins Beam Title, Buckeyes Take Fourth at B1Gs
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Swim & Dive: Ohio State Places Ninth at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
Fencing: Three Buckeyes Earn All-America Honors as Ohio State Finishes Sixth at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
The valley has become incredibly uncanny:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
The Buckeyes have the potential to have ‘the best offensive staff in the country’ with the right RB coach hire
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Jeremiah Smith fanning hype flames after just four Ohio State practices (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
That was fast:
5 things we learned from second week of OSU spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Seth McLaughlin putting snap concerns to rest, ‘doing great so far’ in spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State: Sonny Styles details spring move from safety to linebacker (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
New running backs coach?
Jim Tressel sends inspirational spring practice message to Buckeyes
Carter Bahns, 247Sports
On the Hardwood
No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball falls to No. 7 Duke 75-63
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s rebounding struggles play prominent role loss vs Duke
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State to host Georgia on Tuesday for NIT semifinals berth
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Balanced scoring attack carries Ohio State past Virginia Tech in second-round NIT bout, 81-73
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Jamison Battle’s free throws lead Ohio State past Hokies: 5 takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes top Wisconsin for 2nd NCAA women’s hockey title in 3 years
Nicole Haase, The Columbus Dispatch
Wrestling: Mendez Wins 2024 National Championship
Ohio State Athletics
Pistol: Champions Again! Ohio State Wins Fourth Consecutive National Title
Ohio State Athletics
The baddest man alive
Jesse Mendez is the first Ohio State Champion since Kyle Snyder in 2018pic.twitter.com/AjtdTZIdzJ
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 24, 2024
Women’s Gymnastics: Vetter Wins Beam Title, Buckeyes Take Fourth at B1Gs
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Swim & Dive: Ohio State Places Ninth at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
Fencing: Three Buckeyes Earn All-America Honors as Ohio State Finishes Sixth at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
The valley has become incredibly uncanny:
Continue reading...
Georgia at Ohio State (NIT QFs), Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024, 7 PM, ESPN
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 66 Replies
The Ohio State men's basketball team is still
in the NIT. They will play Georgia in a NIT quarterfinal game Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 7 PM in the Schott.
Ohio State Buckeyes to host Georgia Bulldogs for NIT semifinals berth
Ohio State will host Georgia in the third round of the NIT with a shot at the final four on the line.
The Buckeyes, by virtue of being the No. 2 seed in their quadrant, will host No. 4 seed Georgia on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.
Entire article: https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...tuesday-for-nit-semifinals-berth/73085493007/
Ohio State Buckeyes to host Georgia Bulldogs for NIT semifinals berth
Ohio State will host Georgia in the third round of the NIT with a shot at the final four on the line.
The Buckeyes, by virtue of being the No. 2 seed in their quadrant, will host No. 4 seed Georgia on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.
Entire article: https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...tuesday-for-nit-semifinals-berth/73085493007/
