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LGHL Three things to watch when Ohio State women’s basketball takes on Stanford
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Three things to watch when Ohio State women’s basketball takes on Stanford
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
Keep an eye out for these things when the Buckeyes face the Cardinal.
No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball is back for their last non-conference game of the season, and it’s a big one. The Buckeyes take on the Stanford Cardinal, and although the California side is unranked, and going through a myriad of changes, it’s a game where the Big Ten faces the ACC and two young sides continue growing on the court.
Here are three things to watch as the two sides take to San Francisco in the Bay Area Women’s Classic.
For the past three games, Ohio State’s mostly been without freshman star Jaloni Cambridge. After taking a rough fall against the Ball State Cardinals on Dec. 10, the No. 1 overall point guard recruit hasn’t played, and may not against the Cardinal.
“We’re still kind of evaluating her to see how she’s gonna be on Friday, I guess,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “She has a huge impact on our team, and as we kinda go through the season, the more experience she can get in a game like that, the better off we’ll be.”
Cambridge leads Ohio State with 4,4 assists per game and the entire Big Ten with 2.6 steals per game, obviously living up to the hype. However, it’s not all lost without Cambridge playing for the Buckeyes.
Graduate senior Madison Greene’s been in these situations before and although she’s missed most of the last three seasons with ACL injuries, Greene’s defense this season is at a career-best.
Greene has averaged 2.4 steals in the last six games, the last two in the starting lineup. In terms of defensive plus/minus, or the stat that shows how a player stacks up defensively against the average, Greene is at a career-high 7.4. If the Pickerington, Ohio native played the minimum amount of minutes needed for in-conference statistical ranking, it’d be good for sixth best and first on the Buckeyes.
While the graduate senior doesn’t have the same speed as Cambridge, a hard thing to find on any team in the country, Greene’s experience shines. The guard chooses her moments wisely and times them well, so the Buckeyes won’t lose the amount of steals per se with Greene in over Cambridge. They’ll just come in different ways.
Turnovers and defensive pressure will be key against a young Stanford side that includes only one starter who was on their roster as a regular starter last season.
Offensively, Greene’s had a quieter year but Ohio State doesn’t need the graduate senior to take over games on that side of the court. Greene patrols the floor, runs plays effectively, and finds the right outlets. Then, Greene finds time to attack when the opponent least expects it.
Another Chance at Stanford
In two seasons with the Oregon Ducks, shooting guard Chance Gray played four times against the Cardinal, each one ending with a Ducks defeat.
This season, Gray switched Oregon green for scarlet and gray, and with the change of uniform has come a change in how the guard contributes offensively. At Oregon, Gray wasn’t the primary offensive weapon, which is a completely different story with the Buckeyes.
Coach McGuff gives Gray the greenlight to shoot. Normally camped beyond the arc in the five-out system, Gray gets open looks with Cotie McMahon, Ajae Petty, and Taylor Thierry grabbing attention on the court. Leave Gray with any sort of space and a teammate will find her, with a three normally following.
Gray is making 1.3 more threes this season than any year in the Pacific Northwest. Plus, the attempts are more accurate with a career-high 44.9% efficiency rating from beyond the arc, putting her second in the Big Ten early this season.
Coming from a family of basketball, Gray is a student of the game, always has a grasp of what’s happening on the court, and stays calm. That composure is crucial for an Ohio State team with three new starters this season, herself included.
Now, Gray has the opportunity to beat the Cardinal for the first time, leading the Buckeyes scoring this year and adding needed experience to the program roster. Those previous four outings don’t mean that Gray gives Ohio State a tactical advantage on the court.
“I played against a different Stanford team,” said Gray. “I jelled well playing against them, and I found different ways to score so I can help the team in that way but obviously, we’ll have to look at film. We’ll have to see how they’ve changed.”
A positive for Gray and the Buckeyes is that Stanford no longer has forwards Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen on the court. With the former going to the WNBA, and the latter facing Ohio State in February after moving to USC, the Cardinal are vastly different personnel-wise.
The head coach is different too with Tara VanDerveer leaving the program after nearly 40 years at the helm. Kate Paye is the new head of the program, a former player and assistant coach for VanDerveer on the Cardinal. That means the style of play is still mostly the same, but who’s playing it is different.
Of the new batch of Stanford starters, forward Nunu Agara is the player to watch.
Agara is a physical 6-foot-2 big who can shoot from anywhere on the court, but most of the damage gets done inside. The forward from Minnesota can back her way to the rim, wait for an eager defender, and take contact for shots at the line, averaging 4.3 free throws per game. Agara also hits baskets with frequency in the paint and leads the Cardinal with a career-high 17.4 points per game.
Last season, Agara was behind the two All-Pac-12 players Brink and Iraifen on the depth chart, playing 13.9 minutes per game. Now, starting every game, she’s showing fans that Stanford can still retain top talent and help them grow.
Outside of the paint, Agara is still effective. Although she averages just under a three made per game, Agara hits them at a 40% clip and can drag out defenders to give more space inside. If left open, Agara will shoot and has lately with five makes in the last three games from beyond the arc.
The likely matchup for Agara on the Buckeyes is forward Ajae Petty, who’s done well so far this season defending near the rim. Against the then-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, the interior defense, including Petty, held forward Kendall Bostic to 46.7% from the floor. In four previous games against Ohio State, without Petty, the forward averaged 80%. Bostic scored 17 points but that’s because she gave up going to the basket and opted for midrange jumpers.
Petty is third on the Buckeyes in defensive rating (68.8), with fellow big Elsa Lemmilä leading the team (59.9). Between the two, they have their hands full against Agara, like they did with Bostic. That also means trying to stay out of foul trouble.
In Ohio State’s win over Illinois, Petty played only 21 minutes because of whistles going against the forward. Friday’s game against the best non-conference opponent on the schedule will mean some nerves. How Petty and Lemmilä handle it will be key.
Should they hold Agara back, it allows the other four players on the court to focus on the outside shooters of Stanford.
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
Keep an eye out for these things when the Buckeyes face the Cardinal.
No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball is back for their last non-conference game of the season, and it’s a big one. The Buckeyes take on the Stanford Cardinal, and although the California side is unranked, and going through a myriad of changes, it’s a game where the Big Ten faces the ACC and two young sides continue growing on the court.
Here are three things to watch as the two sides take to San Francisco in the Bay Area Women’s Classic.
Who’s in at point guard?
For the past three games, Ohio State’s mostly been without freshman star Jaloni Cambridge. After taking a rough fall against the Ball State Cardinals on Dec. 10, the No. 1 overall point guard recruit hasn’t played, and may not against the Cardinal.
“We’re still kind of evaluating her to see how she’s gonna be on Friday, I guess,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “She has a huge impact on our team, and as we kinda go through the season, the more experience she can get in a game like that, the better off we’ll be.”
Cambridge leads Ohio State with 4,4 assists per game and the entire Big Ten with 2.6 steals per game, obviously living up to the hype. However, it’s not all lost without Cambridge playing for the Buckeyes.
Graduate senior Madison Greene’s been in these situations before and although she’s missed most of the last three seasons with ACL injuries, Greene’s defense this season is at a career-best.
Greene has averaged 2.4 steals in the last six games, the last two in the starting lineup. In terms of defensive plus/minus, or the stat that shows how a player stacks up defensively against the average, Greene is at a career-high 7.4. If the Pickerington, Ohio native played the minimum amount of minutes needed for in-conference statistical ranking, it’d be good for sixth best and first on the Buckeyes.
While the graduate senior doesn’t have the same speed as Cambridge, a hard thing to find on any team in the country, Greene’s experience shines. The guard chooses her moments wisely and times them well, so the Buckeyes won’t lose the amount of steals per se with Greene in over Cambridge. They’ll just come in different ways.
Turnovers and defensive pressure will be key against a young Stanford side that includes only one starter who was on their roster as a regular starter last season.
Offensively, Greene’s had a quieter year but Ohio State doesn’t need the graduate senior to take over games on that side of the court. Greene patrols the floor, runs plays effectively, and finds the right outlets. Then, Greene finds time to attack when the opponent least expects it.
Madison getting our second half scoring started#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hjsEaAKyvU
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) December 14, 2024
Another Chance at Stanford
In two seasons with the Oregon Ducks, shooting guard Chance Gray played four times against the Cardinal, each one ending with a Ducks defeat.
This season, Gray switched Oregon green for scarlet and gray, and with the change of uniform has come a change in how the guard contributes offensively. At Oregon, Gray wasn’t the primary offensive weapon, which is a completely different story with the Buckeyes.
Coach McGuff gives Gray the greenlight to shoot. Normally camped beyond the arc in the five-out system, Gray gets open looks with Cotie McMahon, Ajae Petty, and Taylor Thierry grabbing attention on the court. Leave Gray with any sort of space and a teammate will find her, with a three normally following.
Gray is making 1.3 more threes this season than any year in the Pacific Northwest. Plus, the attempts are more accurate with a career-high 44.9% efficiency rating from beyond the arc, putting her second in the Big Ten early this season.
Coming from a family of basketball, Gray is a student of the game, always has a grasp of what’s happening on the court, and stays calm. That composure is crucial for an Ohio State team with three new starters this season, herself included.
Now, Gray has the opportunity to beat the Cardinal for the first time, leading the Buckeyes scoring this year and adding needed experience to the program roster. Those previous four outings don’t mean that Gray gives Ohio State a tactical advantage on the court.
“I played against a different Stanford team,” said Gray. “I jelled well playing against them, and I found different ways to score so I can help the team in that way but obviously, we’ll have to look at film. We’ll have to see how they’ve changed.”
A positive for Gray and the Buckeyes is that Stanford no longer has forwards Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen on the court. With the former going to the WNBA, and the latter facing Ohio State in February after moving to USC, the Cardinal are vastly different personnel-wise.
The head coach is different too with Tara VanDerveer leaving the program after nearly 40 years at the helm. Kate Paye is the new head of the program, a former player and assistant coach for VanDerveer on the Cardinal. That means the style of play is still mostly the same, but who’s playing it is different.
Post play
Of the new batch of Stanford starters, forward Nunu Agara is the player to watch.
Agara is a physical 6-foot-2 big who can shoot from anywhere on the court, but most of the damage gets done inside. The forward from Minnesota can back her way to the rim, wait for an eager defender, and take contact for shots at the line, averaging 4.3 free throws per game. Agara also hits baskets with frequency in the paint and leads the Cardinal with a career-high 17.4 points per game.
Last season, Agara was behind the two All-Pac-12 players Brink and Iraifen on the depth chart, playing 13.9 minutes per game. Now, starting every game, she’s showing fans that Stanford can still retain top talent and help them grow.
Outside of the paint, Agara is still effective. Although she averages just under a three made per game, Agara hits them at a 40% clip and can drag out defenders to give more space inside. If left open, Agara will shoot and has lately with five makes in the last three games from beyond the arc.
The likely matchup for Agara on the Buckeyes is forward Ajae Petty, who’s done well so far this season defending near the rim. Against the then-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, the interior defense, including Petty, held forward Kendall Bostic to 46.7% from the floor. In four previous games against Ohio State, without Petty, the forward averaged 80%. Bostic scored 17 points but that’s because she gave up going to the basket and opted for midrange jumpers.
Petty is third on the Buckeyes in defensive rating (68.8), with fellow big Elsa Lemmilä leading the team (59.9). Between the two, they have their hands full against Agara, like they did with Bostic. That also means trying to stay out of foul trouble.
In Ohio State’s win over Illinois, Petty played only 21 minutes because of whistles going against the forward. Friday’s game against the best non-conference opponent on the schedule will mean some nerves. How Petty and Lemmilä handle it will be key.
Should they hold Agara back, it allows the other four players on the court to focus on the outside shooters of Stanford.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ryan Day believes Will Howard’s leadership will be critical in game vs. Tennessee
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Ryan Day believes Will Howard’s leadership will be critical in game vs. Tennessee
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 Ben Jackson/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 to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Caleb Downs, Seth McLaughlin Consensus All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Will Howard’s Leadership, the Offensive Line’s Effort and a Game Plan That “Puts the Players in the Best Position to Be Successful” Will Be Crucial vs. Vols
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Will Howard not backing down for Buckeyes as playoff pressure mounts
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Ohio State’s tempo, offensively and defensively, will be key against Tennessee
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Why in the hell would the Ohio State coaches text a former Buckeye turned media member to congratulate him for his zero-star son committing to Michigan?
College football experts, talking heads, reporters predictions for Ohio State vs. Tennessee
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
MC&J: Picks for Tennessee-Ohio State and the rest of the CFP first round
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Three Keys for Buckeyes in CFP first-round game against Tennessee
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Visiting Locker Room: Rivals talks Stanford Cardinal women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Game by game, Devin Royal emerging as go-to player for Ohio State
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Jake Diebler Updates Availability of Ohio State’s Players, Previews Matchup With No. 4 Kentucky
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Men’s Gymnastics: Nelson and Pakele Named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Volleyball: Nicole Fawcett Steps Away From Coaching
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio lawmakers OK NIL changes to allow universities to pay athletes
Jessie Balmert, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ok, thoughts on the trailer?
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 Ben Jackson/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 to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Caleb Downs, Seth McLaughlin Consensus All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says Will Howard’s Leadership, the Offensive Line’s Effort and a Game Plan That “Puts the Players in the Best Position to Be Successful” Will Be Crucial vs. Vols
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Will Howard not backing down for Buckeyes as playoff pressure mounts
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
Ohio State’s tempo, offensively and defensively, will be key against Tennessee
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Why in the hell would the Ohio State coaches text a former Buckeye turned media member to congratulate him for his zero-star son committing to Michigan?
College football experts, talking heads, reporters predictions for Ohio State vs. Tennessee
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
MC&J: Picks for Tennessee-Ohio State and the rest of the CFP first round
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Three Keys for Buckeyes in CFP first-round game against Tennessee
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
On the Hardwood
Visiting Locker Room: Rivals talks Stanford Cardinal women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Game by game, Devin Royal emerging as go-to player for Ohio State
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Jake Diebler Updates Availability of Ohio State’s Players, Previews Matchup With No. 4 Kentucky
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Men’s Gymnastics: Nelson and Pakele Named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Volleyball: Nicole Fawcett Steps Away From Coaching
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio lawmakers OK NIL changes to allow universities to pay athletes
Jessie Balmert, The Cincinnati Enquirer
And now for something completely different...
Ok, thoughts on the trailer?
Continue reading...
LGHL In Conversation: Vegas insider Adam Burke hopes Ryan Day lets his players do their thing
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In Conversation: Vegas insider Adam Burke hopes Ryan Day lets his players do their thing
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
That, the Vols’ d-line, weather concerns, and more on the podcast.
On Land-Grant’s “In Conversation” podcast, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode, Land-Grant’s Matt Tamanini is in conversation with the managing editor of the Vegas Sports Information Network (VSIN) and lifelong Ohio State fan Adam Burke. The pair discuss all aspects of Saturday’s Ohio State and Tennessee College Football Playoff game which will kick off at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
They get into the Vols’ advantage against Ohio State’s beat-up offensive line, whether or not Will Howard will run the ball more in the postseason, how the weather will impact the game, and whether or not Ryan Day will get out of his own way and let his players do what they do best.
Visit the Vegas Sports Information Network
https://vsin.com
Follow Adam Burke’s work
https://vsin.com/author/adam-burke
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
That, the Vols’ d-line, weather concerns, and more on the podcast.
On Land-Grant’s “In Conversation” podcast, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode, Land-Grant’s Matt Tamanini is in conversation with the managing editor of the Vegas Sports Information Network (VSIN) and lifelong Ohio State fan Adam Burke. The pair discuss all aspects of Saturday’s Ohio State and Tennessee College Football Playoff game which will kick off at 8 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
They get into the Vols’ advantage against Ohio State’s beat-up offensive line, whether or not Will Howard will run the ball more in the postseason, how the weather will impact the game, and whether or not Ryan Day will get out of his own way and let his players do what they do best.
Visit the Vegas Sports Information Network
https://vsin.com
Follow Adam Burke’s work
https://vsin.com/author/adam-burke
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Online Portfolio: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Stanford
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Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Stanford
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The two power conference schools face-off in San Francisco.
Before No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball takes a break for the Christmas holiday, they travel to San Francisco to face the Stanford Cardinal in the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. It is the first game of a Friday night doubleheader, with the No. 1 UCLA Bruins taking on the Creighton Blue Jays following the Buckeyes.
It’s also the first time in five years that the two programs will face each other, and first time ever that legendary coach Tara VanDerveer isn’t coaching the matchup on the sidelines.
From looking at records and ranking, it’s a game in the Buckeyes’ favor, but it's also the first power conference game for head coach Kevin McGuff’s team. Are the scarlet and gray ready to take on a true test from an ACC opponent?
Ohio State faces a team with Stanford on the front of the jersey, but it’s not the same Cardinal side many are used to watching.
Last season, former Ohio State and Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer announced her transition out of coaching. After three national championships, four Big Ten championships and 42 conference trophies between the regular season and Pac-12 tournament, VanDerveer stepped aside with one of her former players Kate Paye taking the helm.
It was the first of many big scale transitions for the Cardinal this offseason. On the court, Pac-12 Player of the Year Cameron Brink left for the WNBA and senior Kiki Iriafen surprised many when she made the in-state transfer to the USC Trojans. Then, to make it even more interesting, the Cardinal switched conference to the anything-but-appropriately named Atlantic Coast Conference.
Now, the 2021 National Champions are regrouping, and trying to transition back into a conference regularly atop the conversation of the best teams in college basketball.
This season, Stanford if 8-3, with each loss coming against power conference schools. First it was the Indiana Hoosiers. The Big Ten side that is trying to reestablish its own identity shocked Paye’s side the first week after they returned to the top 25, in the first season since 1999 that Stanford wasn’t on the preseason rankings.
During the SEC - ACC Challenge, Stanford traveled to Baton Rouge and nearly shocked the then No. 5 LSU Tigers before head coach Kim Mulkey’s side forced overtime and carried the momentum to a six-point win. Stanford’s next game wasn’t that close and then unranked California Golden Bears humbled the Cardinal 83-63.
Despite the bumps along the way, Stanford is undefeated at home and Friday night might as well be a home game, traveling one hour north to take on the Scarlet and Gray.
There are similarities between Stanford and Ohio State. For one, they’re both newly formed rosters. For the Cardinal, their starting lineup features only one player who started for VanDerveer last season, the remaining four likely starters are three players who made frequent appearances off the Stanford bench and transfer Tess Heal from Santa Clara.
The catalyst for the Cardinal is forward Nunu Agara. Stepping into a big role left by Brink and Iriafen, Agara leads Stanford with 17.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds. How Agara goes, the Cardinal usually follow.
Against Cal, the forward had 13 points and six rebounds, playing under her average. Before playing the Buckeyes, the Minnesotan had eight points and seven rebounds in a game against University of Texas San Antonio in a 72-67 win where the visiting Roadrunners shocked Stanford on their home court, but not enough to come away with the upset.
Agara will face off against forward Ajae Petty, who is coming on strong for the Buckeyes after transferring from Kentucky in the offseason. Petty averages 8.4 rebounds in the last six games, with two double-doubles.
Stanford’s forward will get the ball on the elbow and try to either move to the basket or take a shot, forcing the Buckeyes defense to try and anticipate her movement. Guess wrong and it opens up opportunities around the court, especially from deep.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798399/2189969635.jpg "Stanford v California")
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Against LSU, Stanford took 30 threes in the game, hitting 30 percent. Should Ohio State not get back quickly on defense, or close down shooters, it could make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
However, the reason Stanford fell in Baton Rouge after leading late in the second half was LSU increasing the defensive pressure. Playing with a relatively new and young group means they’re susceptible to making mistakes. Stanford averages 15 turnovers per game over the last six games and the press of Ohio State could exploit it.
How the press operates will depend on the availability of freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge. After taking a hit and landing hard against Ball State on Dec. 10, Cambridge has missed two games for Ohio State. While graduate senior Madison Greene operates the havoc-inducing full court press well, Cambridge’s extra speed over her experienced teammate gives the Buckeye press another level of intensity.
Following Ohio State’s win Tuesday over Grand Valley State, McGuff didn’t sound too hopeful that Cambridge would return against the Cardinal.
Offensively for the Buckeyes, junior guard Chance Gray is excelling from deep, with a career high 3.2 made three-point shots per game and 16.5 points per game. Making Gray even more of a commodity after playing against Stanford for two years with the Oregon Ducks. Gray shared Tuesday that Stanford is a whole new team and the experience doesn’t carry over, but Paye hasn’t veered too far from VanDerveer’s system.
Friday is the lone chance for the Buckeyes to show their ability against power schools this non-conference season. All of Ohio State’s previous 10 non-conference games came against mid-major programs. Aside from a close win against the Belmont Bruins, there hasn’t been much of a challenge for the Scarlet and Gray, outside of maybe keeping intensity up against teams when they’re leading by 20 to 30 points.
That opportunity isn’t as likely against Stanford, regardless of the speed bumps the team is going over in their rebuilding mode.
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G - Tess Heal
G - Jzaniya Harriel
G - Elana Bosgana
F - Brooke Demetre
F - Nunu Agara
This game will be back and forth, but once Ohio State’s offense hits its stride, the press will cause issues for Stanford. If Cambridge returns, the freshman will have a double-double in points and assists, finding Gray, Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry.
Stanford will make it a game late, but the Buckeyes will hold off the Cardinal in the final minutes.
Date: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
Television: FS1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
The Buckeyes have 17 games remaining after Friday, and they’re all Big Ten games. It starts Sunday, Dec. 29 in New Jersey against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, with freshman Kiyomi McMiller and senior Destiny Adams making Rutgers more dangerous than in past seasons.
After Rutgers, the Buckeyes welcome the Northwestern Wildcats and then the competition hits another level when Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to face the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines on Jan. 8.
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
The two power conference schools face-off in San Francisco.
Before No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball takes a break for the Christmas holiday, they travel to San Francisco to face the Stanford Cardinal in the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. It is the first game of a Friday night doubleheader, with the No. 1 UCLA Bruins taking on the Creighton Blue Jays following the Buckeyes.
It’s also the first time in five years that the two programs will face each other, and first time ever that legendary coach Tara VanDerveer isn’t coaching the matchup on the sidelines.
From looking at records and ranking, it’s a game in the Buckeyes’ favor, but it's also the first power conference game for head coach Kevin McGuff’s team. Are the scarlet and gray ready to take on a true test from an ACC opponent?
Preview
Ohio State faces a team with Stanford on the front of the jersey, but it’s not the same Cardinal side many are used to watching.
Last season, former Ohio State and Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer announced her transition out of coaching. After three national championships, four Big Ten championships and 42 conference trophies between the regular season and Pac-12 tournament, VanDerveer stepped aside with one of her former players Kate Paye taking the helm.
It was the first of many big scale transitions for the Cardinal this offseason. On the court, Pac-12 Player of the Year Cameron Brink left for the WNBA and senior Kiki Iriafen surprised many when she made the in-state transfer to the USC Trojans. Then, to make it even more interesting, the Cardinal switched conference to the anything-but-appropriately named Atlantic Coast Conference.
Now, the 2021 National Champions are regrouping, and trying to transition back into a conference regularly atop the conversation of the best teams in college basketball.
This season, Stanford if 8-3, with each loss coming against power conference schools. First it was the Indiana Hoosiers. The Big Ten side that is trying to reestablish its own identity shocked Paye’s side the first week after they returned to the top 25, in the first season since 1999 that Stanford wasn’t on the preseason rankings.
During the SEC - ACC Challenge, Stanford traveled to Baton Rouge and nearly shocked the then No. 5 LSU Tigers before head coach Kim Mulkey’s side forced overtime and carried the momentum to a six-point win. Stanford’s next game wasn’t that close and then unranked California Golden Bears humbled the Cardinal 83-63.
Despite the bumps along the way, Stanford is undefeated at home and Friday night might as well be a home game, traveling one hour north to take on the Scarlet and Gray.
There are similarities between Stanford and Ohio State. For one, they’re both newly formed rosters. For the Cardinal, their starting lineup features only one player who started for VanDerveer last season, the remaining four likely starters are three players who made frequent appearances off the Stanford bench and transfer Tess Heal from Santa Clara.
The catalyst for the Cardinal is forward Nunu Agara. Stepping into a big role left by Brink and Iriafen, Agara leads Stanford with 17.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds. How Agara goes, the Cardinal usually follow.
Against Cal, the forward had 13 points and six rebounds, playing under her average. Before playing the Buckeyes, the Minnesotan had eight points and seven rebounds in a game against University of Texas San Antonio in a 72-67 win where the visiting Roadrunners shocked Stanford on their home court, but not enough to come away with the upset.
Agara will face off against forward Ajae Petty, who is coming on strong for the Buckeyes after transferring from Kentucky in the offseason. Petty averages 8.4 rebounds in the last six games, with two double-doubles.
Stanford’s forward will get the ball on the elbow and try to either move to the basket or take a shot, forcing the Buckeyes defense to try and anticipate her movement. Guess wrong and it opens up opportunities around the court, especially from deep.
Against LSU, Stanford took 30 threes in the game, hitting 30 percent. Should Ohio State not get back quickly on defense, or close down shooters, it could make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
However, the reason Stanford fell in Baton Rouge after leading late in the second half was LSU increasing the defensive pressure. Playing with a relatively new and young group means they’re susceptible to making mistakes. Stanford averages 15 turnovers per game over the last six games and the press of Ohio State could exploit it.
How the press operates will depend on the availability of freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge. After taking a hit and landing hard against Ball State on Dec. 10, Cambridge has missed two games for Ohio State. While graduate senior Madison Greene operates the havoc-inducing full court press well, Cambridge’s extra speed over her experienced teammate gives the Buckeye press another level of intensity.
Following Ohio State’s win Tuesday over Grand Valley State, McGuff didn’t sound too hopeful that Cambridge would return against the Cardinal.
Offensively for the Buckeyes, junior guard Chance Gray is excelling from deep, with a career high 3.2 made three-point shots per game and 16.5 points per game. Making Gray even more of a commodity after playing against Stanford for two years with the Oregon Ducks. Gray shared Tuesday that Stanford is a whole new team and the experience doesn’t carry over, but Paye hasn’t veered too far from VanDerveer’s system.
Friday is the lone chance for the Buckeyes to show their ability against power schools this non-conference season. All of Ohio State’s previous 10 non-conference games came against mid-major programs. Aside from a close win against the Belmont Bruins, there hasn’t been much of a challenge for the Scarlet and Gray, outside of maybe keeping intensity up against teams when they’re leading by 20 to 30 points.
That opportunity isn’t as likely against Stanford, regardless of the speed bumps the team is going over in their rebuilding mode.
Projected Starters
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Lineup Notes
- Madison Greene scored a season high eight points against Grand Valley State on Tuesday, and will start if Cambridge is unable to play.
- Of Chance Gray’s 11 games scoring at least 20 points in her career, four came this year with the Buckeyes.
- Chance Gray is 38 points away from scoring her 1,000th NCAA point.
Stanford
G - Tess Heal
G - Jzaniya Harriel
G - Elana Bosgana
F - Brooke Demetre
F - Nunu Agara
Lineup Notes
- Tess Heal was a two-time All-WCC Selection and WCC Rookie of the Year with the Santa Clara Broncos.
- Former Purdue Boilermaker and B1G Freshman of the Year (media) transferred to Stanford in the offseason and 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds with the Cardinal.
- Elana Bosgana started all 36 games for Stanford last season and is averaging 6.5 more points per game this season (13.2 ppg).
Prediction
This game will be back and forth, but once Ohio State’s offense hits its stride, the press will cause issues for Stanford. If Cambridge returns, the freshman will have a double-double in points and assists, finding Gray, Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry.
Stanford will make it a game late, but the Buckeyes will hold off the Cardinal in the final minutes.
How to Watch
Date: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
Television: FS1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
LGHL Score Prediction: Ohio State 76, Stanford 70
Big Ten on the Other Side
The Buckeyes have 17 games remaining after Friday, and they’re all Big Ten games. It starts Sunday, Dec. 29 in New Jersey against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, with freshman Kiyomi McMiller and senior Destiny Adams making Rutgers more dangerous than in past seasons.
After Rutgers, the Buckeyes welcome the Northwestern Wildcats and then the competition hits another level when Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to face the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines on Jan. 8.
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LGHL Ohio State interested in transfer portal tight end; Running back target transfers elsewhere
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Ohio State interested in transfer portal tight end; Running back target transfers elsewhere
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes look to be targeting another Ohio native in the portal.
Though the big game is only a day away, Ohio State has plenty of efforts being paid towards transfer portal recruiting, and Thursday was no different than the rest of the week. New names and new positions popping up, the Buckeyes are looking all over for talent to bring in for the 2025 roster, and that won’t stop any time soon.
Ohio State was able to add to their offensive line with the addition of transfer portal offensive tackle Phillip Daniels. A major win for the program towards the 2025 campaign, what makes the commitment of Daniels make so much sense is knowing his Ohio background — being from Cincinnati and having a recruitment process with the Buckeyes coming out of high school, even if an offer was never extended.
Like Daniels, the Buckeyes look to be interested in a recent portal entry by way of Purdue: Tight end Max Klare, who of course is another Cincinnati, Ohio native. A St. Xavier graduate, Klare is currently the No. 29 player in the portal and the top tight end per the 247Sports rankings, and it makes perfect sense for Ohio State to zero in on him now that he’s on the market.
Not a guarantee by any means, you have to like the chance the Buckeyes have with Klare given his ties to Ohio, but also the situation with the current tight end room, which does have talent, but is inexperienced to say the least.
Jelani Thurman being more of a receiving tight end than an in-line blocker is one example as to why this fit would be beneficial for both sides, but add in Ohio State’s pursuit last season of Ohio’s Will Kacmarek and this looks to be the same goal of making a push to bring in a player with not only plenty of starts under their belt, but someone who upgrades the room.
The main objective now would be getting Klare on campus following this weekend’s playoff game, and if that’s the case, this could be a real potential addition in the near future. The Buckeyes need to add more talent at this position, and Klare fits the billing.
Likely losing both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to the NFL after this season, Ohio State has made it clear they want to look in the transfer portal to add depth to their running back room. Needing to add at least one body to take important carries in 2025, the Buckeyes immediately were linked to both USC transfer target Quinten Joyner and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes.
The chance to land one of the two is now slimmer after seeing Joyner choose Texas Tech on Thursday. The No. 71 player overall in the portal and the fifth ranked running back per 247Sports, Joyner did visit the Buckeyes, but losing out on his commitment means the staff is back to the drawing board.
Yet to land a visit with Haynes, Ohio State may be playing catch up to the likes of Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Michigan, but the coaching staff will continue to try and change that after being very involved in his original recruitment out of high school.
For now, Haynes is likely the top priority, but other backs such as Army transfer Kanye Udoh have also been contacted. Additional names may surface if Haynes does head elsewhere.
One of the best FCS players in the portal, Larry Johnson has interest here and that seems to be mutual. Certainly the priority is along the offensive line this offseason and first portal window, but defensive line is also an area that could use significant depth with all four starters up front gone after this season.
George may be the perfect depth piece, and if a visit goes well, the Buckeyes will have a real shot at making that happen.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes look to be targeting another Ohio native in the portal.
Though the big game is only a day away, Ohio State has plenty of efforts being paid towards transfer portal recruiting, and Thursday was no different than the rest of the week. New names and new positions popping up, the Buckeyes are looking all over for talent to bring in for the 2025 roster, and that won’t stop any time soon.
Ohio State looks to be honing in on transfer tight end
Ohio State was able to add to their offensive line with the addition of transfer portal offensive tackle Phillip Daniels. A major win for the program towards the 2025 campaign, what makes the commitment of Daniels make so much sense is knowing his Ohio background — being from Cincinnati and having a recruitment process with the Buckeyes coming out of high school, even if an offer was never extended.
Like Daniels, the Buckeyes look to be interested in a recent portal entry by way of Purdue: Tight end Max Klare, who of course is another Cincinnati, Ohio native. A St. Xavier graduate, Klare is currently the No. 29 player in the portal and the top tight end per the 247Sports rankings, and it makes perfect sense for Ohio State to zero in on him now that he’s on the market.
Not a guarantee by any means, you have to like the chance the Buckeyes have with Klare given his ties to Ohio, but also the situation with the current tight end room, which does have talent, but is inexperienced to say the least.
Jelani Thurman being more of a receiving tight end than an in-line blocker is one example as to why this fit would be beneficial for both sides, but add in Ohio State’s pursuit last season of Ohio’s Will Kacmarek and this looks to be the same goal of making a push to bring in a player with not only plenty of starts under their belt, but someone who upgrades the room.
The main objective now would be getting Klare on campus following this weekend’s playoff game, and if that’s the case, this could be a real potential addition in the near future. The Buckeyes need to add more talent at this position, and Klare fits the billing.
Running back options starting to slim down
Likely losing both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to the NFL after this season, Ohio State has made it clear they want to look in the transfer portal to add depth to their running back room. Needing to add at least one body to take important carries in 2025, the Buckeyes immediately were linked to both USC transfer target Quinten Joyner and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes.
The chance to land one of the two is now slimmer after seeing Joyner choose Texas Tech on Thursday. The No. 71 player overall in the portal and the fifth ranked running back per 247Sports, Joyner did visit the Buckeyes, but losing out on his commitment means the staff is back to the drawing board.
Yet to land a visit with Haynes, Ohio State may be playing catch up to the likes of Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Michigan, but the coaching staff will continue to try and change that after being very involved in his original recruitment out of high school.
For now, Haynes is likely the top priority, but other backs such as Army transfer Kanye Udoh have also been contacted. Additional names may surface if Haynes does head elsewhere.
Quick Hits
- The Buckeyes also look to be setting up visit plans with Idaho State transfer, Logan George. A 6-foot-5, 260 pound defensive lineman, George comes from a smaller program, but has put up impressive numbers in his time with the Bengals, including 53 tackles and 5.5 sacks this past season.
One of the best FCS players in the portal, Larry Johnson has interest here and that seems to be mutual. Certainly the priority is along the offensive line this offseason and first portal window, but defensive line is also an area that could use significant depth with all four starters up front gone after this season.
George may be the perfect depth piece, and if a visit goes well, the Buckeyes will have a real shot at making that happen.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State v. Tennessee: 2024 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State v. Tennessee: 2024 game preview and prediction
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 James Gilbert/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and the Volunteers meet in Columbus on Saturday night with a spot in the Rose Bowl on the line.
Ohio State will host their first-ever game at Ohio Stadium in December when they welcome the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday night. The winner of this game will move on to face the Oregon Ducks, who are the only undefeated team left in the FBS, in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. This marks the sixth CFP appearance for the Buckeyes, who won the initial four-team playoff and reached the title game at the end of the shortened 2020 season. Ohio State is the eight-seed in the first 12-team playoff, while the Volunteers are seeded ninth.
Saturday’s game marks just the second-ever meeting with Tennessee. The Volunteers won the first meeting back 20-14 in the 1996 Citrus Bowl. Both teams entered the bowl game with just one loss on the season. The Buckeyes fell to Michigan 31-23 in their final game of the regular season after Tim Biakabutuka ran for 313 yards in the upset, while Tennessee was gashed 62-37 by Florida earlier in the season. The bowl featured a number of future NFL stars, highlighted by Eddie George, Terry Glenn, and Peyton Manning. Ohio State tied the game 14-14 early in the fourth quarter after a Rickey Dudley touchdown before Tennessee earned the victory with two field goals in the final quarter.
The last time the Buckeyes were in action they suffered an embarrassing 13-10 loss to Michigan, their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines. The defeat not only denied Ohio State a berth in their first Big Ten Championship Game since 2020, as well as a shot at a first-round bye if they could have defeated Oregon in Indianapolis. After heading into halftime with the score tied at 10, the only points in the second half came from a Dominic Zvada 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds to go to give Michigan the lead. The victory by the Wolverines snapped a 47-game winning streak by Ohio State in games where they forced at least two turnovers.
The loss to Michigan was especially frustrating since the Buckeyes played right into the hands of the Wolverines. Instead of working on a depleted Michigan secondary, Ryan Day and Chip Kelly kept trying to run the football right at the middle of the defense of the Wolverines. Along with their struggles running the football, Ohio State squandered a number of red zone opportunities, scoring on just one of their five trips inside the 20-yard line.
On Saturday night running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson will be looking to rebound from their disappointing performance against Michigan. Judkins ran for just 46 yards on 12 carries, while Henderson rushed for a season-low 21 yards. The 46 rushing yards by Judkins was just the third time since the Oregon game that he has rushed for at least 30 yards in a game. This season, Judkins and Henderson have combined to rush for 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns. The duo will have to fight hard to find holes against a stout Tennessee rush defense behind an offensive line that has lost two starters to injury.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798007/2187064810.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Will Howard is going to have to put his worst game in scarlet and gray behind him if the Buckeyes want to make a run in the playoffs. Howard was rocked by a hit with Ohio State driving in the first half that forced him to leave the field for a play. Howard would throw a touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith just before halftime but he was wildly inaccurate in the limited throwing opportunities he had in the second half. The Kansas State transfer finished with 19 completions on his 33 passing attempts, throwing for 175, a touchdown, and two interceptions inside the Michigan red zone. The two picks make up a quarter of the eight interceptions Howard has thrown this year.
The only Buckeye to find the end zone against Michigan was Jeremiah Smith. The freshman hauled in his 10th receiving touchdown of the year, putting him one score ahead of Emeka Egbuka for the team lead among receivers. Smith has already set school freshman records for receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns.
Egbuka will be hoping this isn’t his final game in the scarlet and gray. A win over the Volunteers would give the senior a chance to work on a couple school school-receiving records. Currently, Egbuka’s 184 receptions are eight away from passing David Boston for second in school history, and 18 catches from taking the top spot from K.J. Hill. With 14 more yards, Egbuka would pass Marvin Harrison Jr. for sixth-most at Ohio State. 112 yards would allow Egbuka to pass Chris Olave and move into the top five in receiving yards.
The most trusted target for Howard against Michigan was Carnell Tate, who caught six passes for 58 yards. Over the last four games of the regular season, the sophomore from Chicago has caught 20 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. While Smith and Egbuka get all the headlines at receiver, Tate does the dirty work, often making tough catches over the middle.
While the Ohio State defense kept the Buckeyes in the game against Michigan, it was obvious late in the fourth quarter that they were tired from having to try and pick up the slack for an ineffective offense. The Wolverines finished with 172 yards rushing in the game, which was the most the Buckeyes have allowed this season. Just to reach that number, Michigan had to run the football 42 times in the game. Ohio State enters this game first in the country in total defense, scoring defense, and pass defense, as well as seventh in rush defense. Since the Oregon game, the defense of the Buckeyes has allowed just five touchdowns, with all of those scores coming on the ground.
The downfall for Ohio State against Michigan came with their inability to create pressure and get into the backfield. Jim Knowles’ defense didn’t record a sack, and registered just three tackles for loss, against the Wolverines. The only other game this season where the Buckeye defense failed to put the opposing quarterback on the ground came in the loss at Oregon.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798008/2188110392.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Despite a lack of a pass rush, defensive end Jack Sawyer tried to find other ways to impact the game as he searched for his first win over Michigan. Sawyer made a brilliant play at the goal line in the fourth quarter, intercepting a pass to keep the game tied at 10. Along with his interception, Sawyer now has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 4.5 sacks this season. Sawyer trails fellow senior defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau for the team lead in sacks. Tuimoloau has six sacks this year, as well as a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss. With Tuimoloau and Sawyer on the outside of the defensive line, look for Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton to try and eat up space in the middle, making it difficult for running back Dylan Sampson to find running lanes.
In the middle of the Ohio State defense will be linebackers Sonny Styles and Cody Simon, the two top tacklers on the team. Styles leads the Buckeyes with 76 tackles, while Simon has 74 tackles despite missing the season opener. Both Styles and Simon have also done a great job at getting into the backfield, combining for 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks this year. Arvell Reese will also see some playing time on Saturday night. Reese is coming off a seven-tackle performance against That Team Up North.
One player who has experience playing against Tennessee is Caleb Downs, who took the field with Alabama last year against the Volunteers, making nine tackles in the 34-20 win. The sensational safety has gotten stronger as the year has gone on in his first season with the Buckeyes. In the loss to Michigan, Downs was a bright spot, registering 11 tackles and an interception. The sophomore has been recognized for his outstanding play this season, being named a finalist for the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards, a unanimous All-American, and the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.
Along with Downs, Lathan Ransom will be lining up at safety. The senior had nine tackles against Michigan, raising his total for the season to 57 stops. Ransom also has been an expert at creating turnovers this season, forcing three fumbles and intercepting a pass. Rounding out the secondary are cornerbacks Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Jordan Hancock. Both Burke and Igbinosun have two interceptions on the season. While Burke had a horrific game at Oregon, Igbinosun has had issues with pass-interference penalties this season.
Tennessee will be making its first College Football Playoff appearance on Saturday night when they take the field in Columbus. Head coach Josh Heupel has cleaned up the mess Jeremy Pruitt created in Knoxville, leading the Volunteers to two 10-win campaigns in the last three years. Prior to recording 10 wins in 2022, the last time Tennessee hit double-digits in wins in a season was back in 2007 under Phillip Fulmer. The Volunteers have won 14 straight non-conference games, with their last loss to a team outside the SEC coming in 2021 against Purdue in the Music City Bowl.
In their final game of the regular season, Tennessee rebounded from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat in-state foe Vanderbilt 36-23 in Nashville, Nico Iamaleava three four touchdowns in the game, finding Dont’e Thornton Jr. twice in the end zone. Dylan Sampson ran for a season-high 178 yards in the victory. The only losses of the season for Tennessee have come at Arkansas and Georgia.
Taking the snaps for the Volunteers will be first-year starter Nico Iamaleava. Despite entering the season not having started a game, Iamaleava has been solid throughout the year, throwing for 2,512 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Iamaleava also can pull the football down when necessary, as evidenced by the 311 yards he has rushed for this season. Iamaleava is the first true or redshirt freshman to lead the Volunteers to 10 regular season wins.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798009/2184730587.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 16 Tennessee at Georgia")
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The focal point of the Tennessee offense is running back Dylan Sampson, who has run for a school-record 1,485 yards this season, topping the mark Travis Stephens set in 2001. Sampson also set a school record with 22 rushing touchdowns, becoming the 10th SEC player to rush for at least 20 touchdowns in a season. Of Tennessee’s 12 games this year, Sampson has rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 contests. The conference recognized Sampson’s phenomenal season by naming him the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Joining Sampson in the backfield is DeSean Bishop, who added 433 yards rushing and three scores this year.
In the victory over Vanderbilt, Dont’e Thornton Jr. was Tennessee’s top receiver, hauling in three passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Not only does Thornton lead the team with six receiving touchdowns, his 647 yards receiving are more than 200 more than Bru McCoy, who is second on the team with 432 yards receiving. McCoy does lead the team with 35 catches this season, two more than Squirrel White. McCoy, White, and Chris Brazzell II each have two receiving touchdowns this season, while tight end Miles Kitselman has caught four touchdowns.
Much like Ohio State, Tennessee has one of the top defenses in the country this season. With Tim Banks in charge as defensive coordinator, the Volunteers are fourth in scoring defense and total defense, while their rush defense ranks eighth in the FBS. Of the 12 teams Tennessee has faced this season, they held 10 to less than 20 points. One reason they were able to keep opponents off the scoreboard is their ability to defend the big play. The Volunteers allowed just three plays of more than 40 or more yards this year.
The star of the Tennessee defense is edge rusher James Pearce Jr.. who has been voted First Team All-SEC by the coaches in each of the last two seasons by the coaches. The last Tennessee defensive lineman to earn that honor in back-to-back years was John Henderson in 2000 and 2001. After recording 9.5 sacks last year, Pearce enters Saturday’s game with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Pearce is one of the top defensive ends in the country and will be a first-round pick when he enters the NFL Draft.
On the opposite end of the defensive line, Dominic Bailey has started all but three games this year. Joshua Josephs will also rotate in at times during the game. Josephs started five games this year and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week earlier in the season after forcing two fumbles and recovering a fumble at Oklahoma. The starting defensive tackles should be Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason.
Tennessee’s leading tackler this year is Arion Carter, who has 65 tackles. The sophomore has had a breakout season after missing the final five games of the 2023 season following shoulder surgery. Carter has had to step up in the second half of the season following the loss of Keenan Pili, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Florida. Jeremiah Telander took over at middle linebacker following the injury to Pili and forced three fumbles this year.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798015/2172693653.jpg "Tennessee v NC State")
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
One name Ohio State fans will immediately notice is Andre Turrentine, and not just for his comments recently about the lack of noise there is from fans at Ohio Stadium. Turrentine started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Tennessee following the 2021 season. This season has been the first year that Turrentine has been a full-time starter for the Volunteers. The other safety position for Tennessee is occupied by Will Brooks, who has 54 tackles and three interceptions this season.
Leading the Volunteers in interceptions is cornerback Jermond McCoy. The Oregon State transfer has four picks and nine passes defended, with the 13 pass interventions ranking second in the country among underclassmen. Joining McCoy at cornerback will be Boo Carter and Rickey Gibson III. McCoy, Carter, and Gibson look like the future of the Tennessee secondary, as McCoy and Gibson are sophomores and Carter is a freshman.
Saturday’s game is going to be gut-wrenching for both sides. Two of the best defenses in the country trying to slow down offenses that have very capable skill position players. In the end, this is going to come down to coaching. It’ll be up to Josh Heupel and Ryan Day to put their teams in a better position to win. Obviously, right now Buckeye Nation doesn’t have a lot of faith in Day’s coaching ability, but if he can channel what he was able to do against Georgia in 2022 Ohio State could be very tough to beat.
One area where the Buckeyes are going to have an edge is at quarterback. Will Howard has played a lot of football against some very tough opponents. Even though James Pearce Jr. is one of the best defensive ends in the country, Howard has plenty of experience against some top talent. Not only did Howard take Ohio State into State College and beat Abdul Carter and Penn State, he nearly led the Buckeyes to victory in Oregon in October. Even Nico Iamaleava has excelled in some tough spots this year, Saturday night in Columbus is going to be a whole different animal.
Look for the Buckeyes to put more on Iamaleava’s shoulders by bottling up Dylan Sampson. While Michigan ran for over 170 yards against Ohio State, the Wolverines needed over 40 carries to get there. If Sampson can’t crack 100 yards, the Buckeyes should be in good shape since the Volunteers don’t have the game-changing receivers Ohio State has.
As tough as it is to have faith in the Buckeyes after the Michigan game, this team still has a lot to prove and the seniors don’t want their college careers to end with nothing of consequence to show for it. Maybe Ohio State loses in the Rose Bowl, but at least they advance to a rematch with Oregon by grinding out a win on Saturday night.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and the Volunteers meet in Columbus on Saturday night with a spot in the Rose Bowl on the line.
Ohio State will host their first-ever game at Ohio Stadium in December when they welcome the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday night. The winner of this game will move on to face the Oregon Ducks, who are the only undefeated team left in the FBS, in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. This marks the sixth CFP appearance for the Buckeyes, who won the initial four-team playoff and reached the title game at the end of the shortened 2020 season. Ohio State is the eight-seed in the first 12-team playoff, while the Volunteers are seeded ninth.
Brief history against the Volunteers
Saturday’s game marks just the second-ever meeting with Tennessee. The Volunteers won the first meeting back 20-14 in the 1996 Citrus Bowl. Both teams entered the bowl game with just one loss on the season. The Buckeyes fell to Michigan 31-23 in their final game of the regular season after Tim Biakabutuka ran for 313 yards in the upset, while Tennessee was gashed 62-37 by Florida earlier in the season. The bowl featured a number of future NFL stars, highlighted by Eddie George, Terry Glenn, and Peyton Manning. Ohio State tied the game 14-14 early in the fourth quarter after a Rickey Dudley touchdown before Tennessee earned the victory with two field goals in the final quarter.
A tough loss to swallow
The last time the Buckeyes were in action they suffered an embarrassing 13-10 loss to Michigan, their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines. The defeat not only denied Ohio State a berth in their first Big Ten Championship Game since 2020, as well as a shot at a first-round bye if they could have defeated Oregon in Indianapolis. After heading into halftime with the score tied at 10, the only points in the second half came from a Dominic Zvada 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds to go to give Michigan the lead. The victory by the Wolverines snapped a 47-game winning streak by Ohio State in games where they forced at least two turnovers.
The loss to Michigan was especially frustrating since the Buckeyes played right into the hands of the Wolverines. Instead of working on a depleted Michigan secondary, Ryan Day and Chip Kelly kept trying to run the football right at the middle of the defense of the Wolverines. Along with their struggles running the football, Ohio State squandered a number of red zone opportunities, scoring on just one of their five trips inside the 20-yard line.
The Buckeye offense will look to rebound on Saturday night
On Saturday night running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson will be looking to rebound from their disappointing performance against Michigan. Judkins ran for just 46 yards on 12 carries, while Henderson rushed for a season-low 21 yards. The 46 rushing yards by Judkins was just the third time since the Oregon game that he has rushed for at least 30 yards in a game. This season, Judkins and Henderson have combined to rush for 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns. The duo will have to fight hard to find holes against a stout Tennessee rush defense behind an offensive line that has lost two starters to injury.
Will Howard is going to have to put his worst game in scarlet and gray behind him if the Buckeyes want to make a run in the playoffs. Howard was rocked by a hit with Ohio State driving in the first half that forced him to leave the field for a play. Howard would throw a touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith just before halftime but he was wildly inaccurate in the limited throwing opportunities he had in the second half. The Kansas State transfer finished with 19 completions on his 33 passing attempts, throwing for 175, a touchdown, and two interceptions inside the Michigan red zone. The two picks make up a quarter of the eight interceptions Howard has thrown this year.
The only Buckeye to find the end zone against Michigan was Jeremiah Smith. The freshman hauled in his 10th receiving touchdown of the year, putting him one score ahead of Emeka Egbuka for the team lead among receivers. Smith has already set school freshman records for receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns.
Egbuka will be hoping this isn’t his final game in the scarlet and gray. A win over the Volunteers would give the senior a chance to work on a couple school school-receiving records. Currently, Egbuka’s 184 receptions are eight away from passing David Boston for second in school history, and 18 catches from taking the top spot from K.J. Hill. With 14 more yards, Egbuka would pass Marvin Harrison Jr. for sixth-most at Ohio State. 112 yards would allow Egbuka to pass Chris Olave and move into the top five in receiving yards.
The most trusted target for Howard against Michigan was Carnell Tate, who caught six passes for 58 yards. Over the last four games of the regular season, the sophomore from Chicago has caught 20 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. While Smith and Egbuka get all the headlines at receiver, Tate does the dirty work, often making tough catches over the middle.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s defense is still one of the best in the country
While the Ohio State defense kept the Buckeyes in the game against Michigan, it was obvious late in the fourth quarter that they were tired from having to try and pick up the slack for an ineffective offense. The Wolverines finished with 172 yards rushing in the game, which was the most the Buckeyes have allowed this season. Just to reach that number, Michigan had to run the football 42 times in the game. Ohio State enters this game first in the country in total defense, scoring defense, and pass defense, as well as seventh in rush defense. Since the Oregon game, the defense of the Buckeyes has allowed just five touchdowns, with all of those scores coming on the ground.
The downfall for Ohio State against Michigan came with their inability to create pressure and get into the backfield. Jim Knowles’ defense didn’t record a sack, and registered just three tackles for loss, against the Wolverines. The only other game this season where the Buckeye defense failed to put the opposing quarterback on the ground came in the loss at Oregon.
Despite a lack of a pass rush, defensive end Jack Sawyer tried to find other ways to impact the game as he searched for his first win over Michigan. Sawyer made a brilliant play at the goal line in the fourth quarter, intercepting a pass to keep the game tied at 10. Along with his interception, Sawyer now has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 4.5 sacks this season. Sawyer trails fellow senior defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau for the team lead in sacks. Tuimoloau has six sacks this year, as well as a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss. With Tuimoloau and Sawyer on the outside of the defensive line, look for Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton to try and eat up space in the middle, making it difficult for running back Dylan Sampson to find running lanes.
In the middle of the Ohio State defense will be linebackers Sonny Styles and Cody Simon, the two top tacklers on the team. Styles leads the Buckeyes with 76 tackles, while Simon has 74 tackles despite missing the season opener. Both Styles and Simon have also done a great job at getting into the backfield, combining for 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks this year. Arvell Reese will also see some playing time on Saturday night. Reese is coming off a seven-tackle performance against That Team Up North.
One player who has experience playing against Tennessee is Caleb Downs, who took the field with Alabama last year against the Volunteers, making nine tackles in the 34-20 win. The sensational safety has gotten stronger as the year has gone on in his first season with the Buckeyes. In the loss to Michigan, Downs was a bright spot, registering 11 tackles and an interception. The sophomore has been recognized for his outstanding play this season, being named a finalist for the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards, a unanimous All-American, and the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.
Along with Downs, Lathan Ransom will be lining up at safety. The senior had nine tackles against Michigan, raising his total for the season to 57 stops. Ransom also has been an expert at creating turnovers this season, forcing three fumbles and intercepting a pass. Rounding out the secondary are cornerbacks Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Jordan Hancock. Both Burke and Igbinosun have two interceptions on the season. While Burke had a horrific game at Oregon, Igbinosun has had issues with pass-interference penalties this season.
Josh Heupel has rebuilt the culture in Knoxville
Tennessee will be making its first College Football Playoff appearance on Saturday night when they take the field in Columbus. Head coach Josh Heupel has cleaned up the mess Jeremy Pruitt created in Knoxville, leading the Volunteers to two 10-win campaigns in the last three years. Prior to recording 10 wins in 2022, the last time Tennessee hit double-digits in wins in a season was back in 2007 under Phillip Fulmer. The Volunteers have won 14 straight non-conference games, with their last loss to a team outside the SEC coming in 2021 against Purdue in the Music City Bowl.
How Tennessee closed out their regular season
In their final game of the regular season, Tennessee rebounded from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat in-state foe Vanderbilt 36-23 in Nashville, Nico Iamaleava three four touchdowns in the game, finding Dont’e Thornton Jr. twice in the end zone. Dylan Sampson ran for a season-high 178 yards in the victory. The only losses of the season for Tennessee have come at Arkansas and Georgia.
Iamaleava and Sampson lead the Tennessee attack
Taking the snaps for the Volunteers will be first-year starter Nico Iamaleava. Despite entering the season not having started a game, Iamaleava has been solid throughout the year, throwing for 2,512 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Iamaleava also can pull the football down when necessary, as evidenced by the 311 yards he has rushed for this season. Iamaleava is the first true or redshirt freshman to lead the Volunteers to 10 regular season wins.
The focal point of the Tennessee offense is running back Dylan Sampson, who has run for a school-record 1,485 yards this season, topping the mark Travis Stephens set in 2001. Sampson also set a school record with 22 rushing touchdowns, becoming the 10th SEC player to rush for at least 20 touchdowns in a season. Of Tennessee’s 12 games this year, Sampson has rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 contests. The conference recognized Sampson’s phenomenal season by naming him the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Joining Sampson in the backfield is DeSean Bishop, who added 433 yards rushing and three scores this year.
In the victory over Vanderbilt, Dont’e Thornton Jr. was Tennessee’s top receiver, hauling in three passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Not only does Thornton lead the team with six receiving touchdowns, his 647 yards receiving are more than 200 more than Bru McCoy, who is second on the team with 432 yards receiving. McCoy does lead the team with 35 catches this season, two more than Squirrel White. McCoy, White, and Chris Brazzell II each have two receiving touchdowns this season, while tight end Miles Kitselman has caught four touchdowns.
How the defense of the Volunteers lines up
Much like Ohio State, Tennessee has one of the top defenses in the country this season. With Tim Banks in charge as defensive coordinator, the Volunteers are fourth in scoring defense and total defense, while their rush defense ranks eighth in the FBS. Of the 12 teams Tennessee has faced this season, they held 10 to less than 20 points. One reason they were able to keep opponents off the scoreboard is their ability to defend the big play. The Volunteers allowed just three plays of more than 40 or more yards this year.
The star of the Tennessee defense is edge rusher James Pearce Jr.. who has been voted First Team All-SEC by the coaches in each of the last two seasons by the coaches. The last Tennessee defensive lineman to earn that honor in back-to-back years was John Henderson in 2000 and 2001. After recording 9.5 sacks last year, Pearce enters Saturday’s game with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Pearce is one of the top defensive ends in the country and will be a first-round pick when he enters the NFL Draft.
On the opposite end of the defensive line, Dominic Bailey has started all but three games this year. Joshua Josephs will also rotate in at times during the game. Josephs started five games this year and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week earlier in the season after forcing two fumbles and recovering a fumble at Oklahoma. The starting defensive tackles should be Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason.
Tennessee’s leading tackler this year is Arion Carter, who has 65 tackles. The sophomore has had a breakout season after missing the final five games of the 2023 season following shoulder surgery. Carter has had to step up in the second half of the season following the loss of Keenan Pili, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Florida. Jeremiah Telander took over at middle linebacker following the injury to Pili and forced three fumbles this year.
One name Ohio State fans will immediately notice is Andre Turrentine, and not just for his comments recently about the lack of noise there is from fans at Ohio Stadium. Turrentine started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Tennessee following the 2021 season. This season has been the first year that Turrentine has been a full-time starter for the Volunteers. The other safety position for Tennessee is occupied by Will Brooks, who has 54 tackles and three interceptions this season.
Leading the Volunteers in interceptions is cornerback Jermond McCoy. The Oregon State transfer has four picks and nine passes defended, with the 13 pass interventions ranking second in the country among underclassmen. Joining McCoy at cornerback will be Boo Carter and Rickey Gibson III. McCoy, Carter, and Gibson look like the future of the Tennessee secondary, as McCoy and Gibson are sophomores and Carter is a freshman.
Prediction
Saturday’s game is going to be gut-wrenching for both sides. Two of the best defenses in the country trying to slow down offenses that have very capable skill position players. In the end, this is going to come down to coaching. It’ll be up to Josh Heupel and Ryan Day to put their teams in a better position to win. Obviously, right now Buckeye Nation doesn’t have a lot of faith in Day’s coaching ability, but if he can channel what he was able to do against Georgia in 2022 Ohio State could be very tough to beat.
One area where the Buckeyes are going to have an edge is at quarterback. Will Howard has played a lot of football against some very tough opponents. Even though James Pearce Jr. is one of the best defensive ends in the country, Howard has plenty of experience against some top talent. Not only did Howard take Ohio State into State College and beat Abdul Carter and Penn State, he nearly led the Buckeyes to victory in Oregon in October. Even Nico Iamaleava has excelled in some tough spots this year, Saturday night in Columbus is going to be a whole different animal.
Look for the Buckeyes to put more on Iamaleava’s shoulders by bottling up Dylan Sampson. While Michigan ran for over 170 yards against Ohio State, the Wolverines needed over 40 carries to get there. If Sampson can’t crack 100 yards, the Buckeyes should be in good shape since the Volunteers don’t have the game-changing receivers Ohio State has.
As tough as it is to have faith in the Buckeyes after the Michigan game, this team still has a lot to prove and the seniors don’t want their college careers to end with nothing of consequence to show for it. Maybe Ohio State loses in the Rose Bowl, but at least they advance to a rematch with Oregon by grinding out a win on Saturday night.
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 24, Tennessee 20
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