-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs. Michigan: Game preview and prediction
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs. Michigan: Game preview and prediction
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes look to snap a two-game losing streak on the road in Ann Arbor.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team needs a win, having dropped their last two games in rough fashion. After falling to a mediocre Penn State team, 83-80, early in December, the Buckeyes went on a four-game win streak, looking ready to go as they headed into the bulk of conference play. But they stumbled a bit last week, losing to Indiana, 71-65, at Assembly Hall and setting a season-low in points, before following it up with a loss to No. 15 Wisconsin at home, 71-60, and again setting a new season-low in points. Now, the Buckeyes (12-4, 2-3) look to turn things around against their rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, in Ann Arbor on Monday. With the Wolverines currently sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten conference, the Buckeyes need to take this opportunity to get their train back on the tracks as they head into the second half of the season.
The last two games for OSU were tough to watch. They marked two of the Buckeyes’ worst defensive performances of the season, and in both cases, OSU had a chance to win the game but struggled to make big defensive stops in the second half that could have brought them to victory. They’ve been plagued by turnovers and sloppy errors, and they’ll need to clean those things up before heading to Ann Arbor.
Still, it wasn’t all bad for the Buckeyes. Against Wisconsin, they looked good early in the game, hitting five of their first seven shots. At the first media timeout, OSU led, 11-8, and they extended that lead to 25-17 by the under-eight media timeout.
Jamison Battle and Bruce Thornton both played a great 20 minutes of basketball, with Battle shooting 5-of-6 for 14 points, including 4-of-5 three-pointers. Thornton, for his part, put up 11 first-half points.
Still, there were a few reasons to be concerned about the Buckeyes’ performance even while they were leading, including the aforementioned issues. Three early turnovers were just the beginning, in a game in which OSU turned the ball over eight times.
And while the Buckeyes did a good job of shutting down Wisconsin’s open lanes on defense in the first half, they could not find a solution for AJ Storr. Storr finished the first half 7-for-11 with 15 points, despite the Buckeyes putting multiple guys on him. It was the first sign of defensive trouble to come, despite the first half being evenly matched otherwise.
At halftime, the Badgers held a narrow two-point lead. But much like in the Indiana game, things fell apart defensively for the Buckeyes in the second half.
The Buckeyes were unable to cut into Wisconsin’s lead for much of the second half, still trailing by just one basket 14 minutes in. The teams went into the under-eight media timeout all tied up at 52-all. This is where things fell apart.
After the timeout, Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit, a junior guard averaging 7.2 points per game, went on an 8-0 run, finishing the game with 18 points in the second half, and scoring nine of the Badgers’ final 14 points.
The Buckeyes were unable to make the defensive stops they needed to close out the game, despite being neck-and-neck for almost all of it.
Similarly, Indiana’s sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, nine of which came on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 48-all with 12 minutes to play. A few more baskets helped boost the Hoosiers to a 10-point lead with under four minutes in the game.
The Buckeyes weren’t helped in either situation by sophomore guard Roddy Gayle’s struggles. While Gayle has been a steady leader on the team so far, the Wisconsin game marked the third game in a slump where he’s struggled to make baskets, shooting just 4-for-13 and going 0-4 for on three-pointers. Against the Badgers, his confidence looked noticeably shaken.
They’ll look to get Gayle and their defensive play back on track, as they’ll need to fire on all cylinders to get the win in Ann Arbor.
Michigan (6-10, 1-4 in the Big Ten), for its part, sits at No. 13 in the conference, having lost their last five games. Most recently, they lost on the road to Maryland, 64-57, despite holding a 33-21 lead at halftime. Michigan was without leading scorer, sophomore guard Dug McDaniel, for the game, as the Wolverines announced last week that he would not travel for road games until further notice as he works toward some academic goals.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25226103/usa_today_22241933.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Michigan at Penn State")
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
McDaniel will dress for the game Monday, however, as he is still slated to play in home games. He’s leading the team in points per game, averaging 17.8, and assists, averaging 5.1. Other playmakers for the Wolverines include their pair of senior forwards—Oliver Nkamhoua, who is putting up an average of 16.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.6, and Terrence Williams II, who averages 12.6 points per game.
Nkamhoua and Williams II put up 18 and 10 points, respectively, in their loss to the Terrapins.
However, for all of OSU’s defensive struggles in the last two games, they don’t compare to the defensive struggles the Wolverines have faced all season. Against one of the worst defenses in country in this Michigan team, Ohio State will need to seize this opportunity to right their ship.
The Wolverines will have some popular folks in the stands, with Jim Harbaugh and the newly crowned N*tional Ch*mpionship football team rumored to be in attendance to be honored on the court during the game. Their presence could serve as a boost for a team in dire need of a momentum shift.
But the Buckeyes are desperate too (though to a lesser degree). Their next two games, starting Monday in Ann Arbor, and followed by a rematch against Penn State at home, feel like must-wins if they want to keep their season on track and hold onto their NCAA Tournament hopes. Perhaps Harbaugh and Co.’s presence will motivate the Buckeyes too, as handing their rivals an L while the football darlings look on could add to the fun.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25226091/usa_today_22265183.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
While this should be a pretty evenly matched basketball game, Michigan’s defensive challenges far outweigh those of OSU’s. With the exception of the last two games, the Buckeye defense has been pretty solid this season, and the biggest issue defensively in the last two games was closing it out. They’ll need to finish strong against the Wolverines, but Michigan has a much higher hurdle to clear, given that they’re ranked in the bottom third in points allowed and three-point defense this season.
Michigan will have to find a way to keep the ball away from Thornton and Battle if they have any hope of winning this game. This also presents an opportunity for Gayle to return to form, and the Wolverines will need to keep an eye on him as well.
But defensively, the key for the Buckeyes will be Felix Okpara, whose toughness has been a challenge for opponents all season. His performance against the Hoosiers included career-high 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, and if he can continue to put up numbers in that ballpark, it could be enough pressure for the Wolverines to crack, particularly as a team who has been plagued by turnovers all season.
Look to Okpara to try to force some key errors that could keep the game moving in the Buckeyes’ favor.
Still, this should be a competitive matchup between the two teams. The Buckeyes cannot afford to be sloppy, and they will need to hold onto the ball themselves. But barring sloppy errors, the Buckeyes should be able to leave Ann Arbor with a win and leave behind the struggles of last week, but it won’t be handed to them without a fight.
ESPN BPI: Michigan 50.1%
Time: 12 p.m. (noon) ET
TV: FOX
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes look to snap a two-game losing streak on the road in Ann Arbor.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team needs a win, having dropped their last two games in rough fashion. After falling to a mediocre Penn State team, 83-80, early in December, the Buckeyes went on a four-game win streak, looking ready to go as they headed into the bulk of conference play. But they stumbled a bit last week, losing to Indiana, 71-65, at Assembly Hall and setting a season-low in points, before following it up with a loss to No. 15 Wisconsin at home, 71-60, and again setting a new season-low in points. Now, the Buckeyes (12-4, 2-3) look to turn things around against their rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, in Ann Arbor on Monday. With the Wolverines currently sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten conference, the Buckeyes need to take this opportunity to get their train back on the tracks as they head into the second half of the season.
Preview
The last two games for OSU were tough to watch. They marked two of the Buckeyes’ worst defensive performances of the season, and in both cases, OSU had a chance to win the game but struggled to make big defensive stops in the second half that could have brought them to victory. They’ve been plagued by turnovers and sloppy errors, and they’ll need to clean those things up before heading to Ann Arbor.
Still, it wasn’t all bad for the Buckeyes. Against Wisconsin, they looked good early in the game, hitting five of their first seven shots. At the first media timeout, OSU led, 11-8, and they extended that lead to 25-17 by the under-eight media timeout.
Jamison Battle and Bruce Thornton both played a great 20 minutes of basketball, with Battle shooting 5-of-6 for 14 points, including 4-of-5 three-pointers. Thornton, for his part, put up 11 first-half points.
Still, there were a few reasons to be concerned about the Buckeyes’ performance even while they were leading, including the aforementioned issues. Three early turnovers were just the beginning, in a game in which OSU turned the ball over eight times.
And while the Buckeyes did a good job of shutting down Wisconsin’s open lanes on defense in the first half, they could not find a solution for AJ Storr. Storr finished the first half 7-for-11 with 15 points, despite the Buckeyes putting multiple guys on him. It was the first sign of defensive trouble to come, despite the first half being evenly matched otherwise.
At halftime, the Badgers held a narrow two-point lead. But much like in the Indiana game, things fell apart defensively for the Buckeyes in the second half.
The Buckeyes were unable to cut into Wisconsin’s lead for much of the second half, still trailing by just one basket 14 minutes in. The teams went into the under-eight media timeout all tied up at 52-all. This is where things fell apart.
After the timeout, Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit, a junior guard averaging 7.2 points per game, went on an 8-0 run, finishing the game with 18 points in the second half, and scoring nine of the Badgers’ final 14 points.
The Buckeyes were unable to make the defensive stops they needed to close out the game, despite being neck-and-neck for almost all of it.
Similarly, Indiana’s sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, nine of which came on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 48-all with 12 minutes to play. A few more baskets helped boost the Hoosiers to a 10-point lead with under four minutes in the game.
The Buckeyes weren’t helped in either situation by sophomore guard Roddy Gayle’s struggles. While Gayle has been a steady leader on the team so far, the Wisconsin game marked the third game in a slump where he’s struggled to make baskets, shooting just 4-for-13 and going 0-4 for on three-pointers. Against the Badgers, his confidence looked noticeably shaken.
They’ll look to get Gayle and their defensive play back on track, as they’ll need to fire on all cylinders to get the win in Ann Arbor.
Michigan (6-10, 1-4 in the Big Ten), for its part, sits at No. 13 in the conference, having lost their last five games. Most recently, they lost on the road to Maryland, 64-57, despite holding a 33-21 lead at halftime. Michigan was without leading scorer, sophomore guard Dug McDaniel, for the game, as the Wolverines announced last week that he would not travel for road games until further notice as he works toward some academic goals.
McDaniel will dress for the game Monday, however, as he is still slated to play in home games. He’s leading the team in points per game, averaging 17.8, and assists, averaging 5.1. Other playmakers for the Wolverines include their pair of senior forwards—Oliver Nkamhoua, who is putting up an average of 16.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.6, and Terrence Williams II, who averages 12.6 points per game.
Nkamhoua and Williams II put up 18 and 10 points, respectively, in their loss to the Terrapins.
However, for all of OSU’s defensive struggles in the last two games, they don’t compare to the defensive struggles the Wolverines have faced all season. Against one of the worst defenses in country in this Michigan team, Ohio State will need to seize this opportunity to right their ship.
Prediction
The Wolverines will have some popular folks in the stands, with Jim Harbaugh and the newly crowned N*tional Ch*mpionship football team rumored to be in attendance to be honored on the court during the game. Their presence could serve as a boost for a team in dire need of a momentum shift.
But the Buckeyes are desperate too (though to a lesser degree). Their next two games, starting Monday in Ann Arbor, and followed by a rematch against Penn State at home, feel like must-wins if they want to keep their season on track and hold onto their NCAA Tournament hopes. Perhaps Harbaugh and Co.’s presence will motivate the Buckeyes too, as handing their rivals an L while the football darlings look on could add to the fun.
While this should be a pretty evenly matched basketball game, Michigan’s defensive challenges far outweigh those of OSU’s. With the exception of the last two games, the Buckeye defense has been pretty solid this season, and the biggest issue defensively in the last two games was closing it out. They’ll need to finish strong against the Wolverines, but Michigan has a much higher hurdle to clear, given that they’re ranked in the bottom third in points allowed and three-point defense this season.
Michigan will have to find a way to keep the ball away from Thornton and Battle if they have any hope of winning this game. This also presents an opportunity for Gayle to return to form, and the Wolverines will need to keep an eye on him as well.
But defensively, the key for the Buckeyes will be Felix Okpara, whose toughness has been a challenge for opponents all season. His performance against the Hoosiers included career-high 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, and if he can continue to put up numbers in that ballpark, it could be enough pressure for the Wolverines to crack, particularly as a team who has been plagued by turnovers all season.
Look to Okpara to try to force some key errors that could keep the game moving in the Buckeyes’ favor.
Still, this should be a competitive matchup between the two teams. The Buckeyes cannot afford to be sloppy, and they will need to hold onto the ball themselves. But barring sloppy errors, the Buckeyes should be able to leave Ann Arbor with a win and leave behind the struggles of last week, but it won’t be handed to them without a fight.
ESPN BPI: Michigan 50.1%
Time: 12 p.m. (noon) ET
TV: FOX
LGHL Score Prediction: Ohio State 72, Michigan 70
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State working towards big late addition in 2024 class
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State working towards big late addition in 2024 class
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 DL Dominic Kirks | Mick Walker, 247Sports
Plus, a five-star wide receiver is back on the market, and the Buckeyes appear to be trending for 2025 linebacker.
It has seemingly been nothing but good news for Ohio State on the recruiting front since the new year, and that positive momentum continued during the holiday weekend.
While the Buckeyes were thought to be virtually finished in the 2024 class, there were still one or two guys committed elsewhere that remained on the radar. On Friday night, Ohio State and position coach Larry Johnson got one step closer to flipping one of said prospects when defensive lineman Dominic Kirks de-committed from Washington following Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer taking over at Alabama.
OSU was already thought to be a strong presence in Kirks’ recruitment down the stretch, being the No. 33 DL and No. 251 player nationally hails from Painesville, Ohio. The 6-foot-4, 255 pounder’s decision to rescind his pledge from Washington came at a very opportune time for the Buckeyes, as Kirks already had plans to visit Columbus over the weekend. Seemingly the only thing stopping the Riverside High School product from committing to the in-state program was that elusive Ohio State offer, which finally came on Sunday afternoon.
Even before the offer was officially announced, Kirks saw a pair of Crystal Ball predictions in favor of Ohio State logged by both 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu as well as well as OSU insider Bill Kurelic. With only two other defensive line commits in the 2024 class in Eddrick Houston and Eric Mensah, Kirks would be a very welcomed late addition to the Buckeyes’ fourth-ranked class. Nothing is official just yet, but a decision sounds like it could be coming sooner than later.
Speaking of guys Ohio State is after that were previously committed elsewhere, the Buckeyes got more potentially good news over the weekend when five-star 2025 wide receiver Jaime Ffrench de-committed from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement.
The No. 3 WR and No. 11 overall player in the 2025 class, Ffrench is undoubtedly one of the more coveted prospects in the cycle, which is further evidenced by his over 30 offers. Even before the Saban news and his de-commitment from the Tide, it was made clear that Brian Hartline was still actively pursuing the star pass-catcher. Hartline is no stranger to landing five-star wideouts, and would love to add Ffrench to his treasure trove of blue-chippers in his room at Ohio State.
Despite being committed to Alabama since July, Ffrench was in Columbus in October for the Buckeyes’ win over Penn State.
“It was a great visit and experience. It was 10/10 for sure,” Ffrench told Eleven Warriors following his visit. “The Buckeyes still stand high in my recruitment.”
There will be no shortage of suitors now that the 6-foot-1 receiver out of Jacksonville, Florida is back on the market, but Ohio State has the added benefit of both a prior relationship and a proven track record of success at the position under Hartline. The Buckeyes were among his final candidates during his initial recruitment, alongside Florida State, Notre Dame and Penn State, and should be right back in the mix once again.
Finally, in what was a busy weekend of positive news for Ohio State, the Buckeyes appear to be trending for one of the country’s top linebackers in the 2025 class as well. Tarvos Alford, the No. 10 LB and No. 73 overall player on the 247Sports Composite, received a prediction via Matt Parker of On3 on Sunday night in favor of Ohio State.
The Vero Beach, Florida native turned heads at an Ohio State recruiting camp over the summer, getting an opportunity to work alongside both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis. Having been offered by Laurinatis in the first place back in April, the 6-foot-2 coverage linebacker seemed to have really hit it off with both coaches, and the Buckeyes have been the favorite on Rivals since that trip, per Jeremy Birmingham.
“An early offer and a very solid relationship formed with James Laurinaitis — cemented during a June 2023 camp visit to Ohio State — may be enough to hold off all comers when Alford inevitably blows up.” said Birm of his Forecast on June 12, 2023.
Both Alford’s 247Sports Crystal Ball and the On3 RPM previously favored Florida, but each of those predictions came in early 2023. It seems as though the Buckeyes have made a real push here, and could be the team to beat when all is said and done.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 DL Dominic Kirks | Mick Walker, 247Sports
Plus, a five-star wide receiver is back on the market, and the Buckeyes appear to be trending for 2025 linebacker.
It has seemingly been nothing but good news for Ohio State on the recruiting front since the new year, and that positive momentum continued during the holiday weekend.
While the Buckeyes were thought to be virtually finished in the 2024 class, there were still one or two guys committed elsewhere that remained on the radar. On Friday night, Ohio State and position coach Larry Johnson got one step closer to flipping one of said prospects when defensive lineman Dominic Kirks de-committed from Washington following Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer taking over at Alabama.
OSU was already thought to be a strong presence in Kirks’ recruitment down the stretch, being the No. 33 DL and No. 251 player nationally hails from Painesville, Ohio. The 6-foot-4, 255 pounder’s decision to rescind his pledge from Washington came at a very opportune time for the Buckeyes, as Kirks already had plans to visit Columbus over the weekend. Seemingly the only thing stopping the Riverside High School product from committing to the in-state program was that elusive Ohio State offer, which finally came on Sunday afternoon.
Even before the offer was officially announced, Kirks saw a pair of Crystal Ball predictions in favor of Ohio State logged by both 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu as well as well as OSU insider Bill Kurelic. With only two other defensive line commits in the 2024 class in Eddrick Houston and Eric Mensah, Kirks would be a very welcomed late addition to the Buckeyes’ fourth-ranked class. Nothing is official just yet, but a decision sounds like it could be coming sooner than later.
Speaking of guys Ohio State is after that were previously committed elsewhere, the Buckeyes got more potentially good news over the weekend when five-star 2025 wide receiver Jaime Ffrench de-committed from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement.
The No. 3 WR and No. 11 overall player in the 2025 class, Ffrench is undoubtedly one of the more coveted prospects in the cycle, which is further evidenced by his over 30 offers. Even before the Saban news and his de-commitment from the Tide, it was made clear that Brian Hartline was still actively pursuing the star pass-catcher. Hartline is no stranger to landing five-star wideouts, and would love to add Ffrench to his treasure trove of blue-chippers in his room at Ohio State.
Despite being committed to Alabama since July, Ffrench was in Columbus in October for the Buckeyes’ win over Penn State.
“It was a great visit and experience. It was 10/10 for sure,” Ffrench told Eleven Warriors following his visit. “The Buckeyes still stand high in my recruitment.”
There will be no shortage of suitors now that the 6-foot-1 receiver out of Jacksonville, Florida is back on the market, but Ohio State has the added benefit of both a prior relationship and a proven track record of success at the position under Hartline. The Buckeyes were among his final candidates during his initial recruitment, alongside Florida State, Notre Dame and Penn State, and should be right back in the mix once again.
Finally, in what was a busy weekend of positive news for Ohio State, the Buckeyes appear to be trending for one of the country’s top linebackers in the 2025 class as well. Tarvos Alford, the No. 10 LB and No. 73 overall player on the 247Sports Composite, received a prediction via Matt Parker of On3 on Sunday night in favor of Ohio State.
The Vero Beach, Florida native turned heads at an Ohio State recruiting camp over the summer, getting an opportunity to work alongside both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis. Having been offered by Laurinatis in the first place back in April, the 6-foot-2 coverage linebacker seemed to have really hit it off with both coaches, and the Buckeyes have been the favorite on Rivals since that trip, per Jeremy Birmingham.
“An early offer and a very solid relationship formed with James Laurinaitis — cemented during a June 2023 camp visit to Ohio State — may be enough to hold off all comers when Alford inevitably blows up.” said Birm of his Forecast on June 12, 2023.
Both Alford’s 247Sports Crystal Ball and the On3 RPM previously favored Florida, but each of those predictions came in early 2023. It seems as though the Buckeyes have made a real push here, and could be the team to beat when all is said and done.
Quick Hits
- The fallout of Saban’s retirement — and subsequent DaBoer move to Alabama and then Jedd Fisch’s move to Washington — will likely result in roster attrition for all three programs via the transfer portal. On Sunday, former Washington guard Nate Kalepo became one of the latest players to enter the portal, and with Ohio State looking to add more talent and experience up front, maybe Justin Frye can benefit from some outgoing linemen from this trio of schools, including a guy like Kalepo.
- With so much attention on guys like Ohio State commit Devin Sanchez and potential future commit Dorian Brew — and rightfully so — you can’t forget that the Buckeyes also have another stud defensive back committed in 2025 in Blake Woodby. The No. 10 CB and No. 76 overall player in the cycle, Woodby, a Maryland native, will be back on campus later this month.
Continue reading...
LGHL Game Preview: No. 17 Ohio State women's basketball vs. Michigan State
- News
- 0 Replies
Game Preview: No. 17 Ohio State women's basketball vs. Michigan State
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Spartans have a new head coach and are a surprise story of the 23-24 season
Sunday afternoon is cause night for Ohio State women’s basketball. Off the court, various causes that the Buckeyes support will be honored. Groups including LandOn A Cure, Ability Matters, Special Olympics, and Autism Awareness. On the court, the scarlet and gray will try to improve their own cause of improving in conference play, with 14 games remaining on the schedule.
The game features a bigger test than the Buckeyes have seen in the last two games. The Michigan State Spartans overcame a coaching change and updates to the roster in the offseason to perform better than a side from East Lansing’s played in years. How do the Spartans test head coach Kevin McGuff’s side?
In the offseason, 16-year Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant stepped down from her spot leading the Spartans program. Along with that decision, the Big Ten side lost its two best scorers in guard Kamaria McDaniel (graduation) and Matilda Ekh (transfer) and leading rebounder in now-Buckeye transfer forward Taiyier Parks.
All that and new program leadership didn't bring in a large batch of Power Five conference transfers to fill holes. All-in-all, a situation like this leads to an expected period of transition.
Don’t tell that to Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick.
The Spartans come to Columbus with a 12-3 record, and a real chance to come away with a win against the Buckeyes. So, how has coach Fralick done it? Scoring more points than their opponents.
Michigan State is a team that is not afraid to shoot the basketball. So far this season, the Spartans are at or near the top of the conference in most shooting categories, especially from beyond the arc.
From three-point range, Michigan State averages 10.1 makes per game, and when you combine that with the conference’s best team three-point average at 37.5%, you get a formidable offense. Overall, the offense is up for the Spartans, sitting behind only guard Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in team scoring offense. Leading the way are a trio of returning Spartans.
Leading Michigan State is graduate senior Moira Joiner. After a freshman season under coach Merchant where Joiner started 25 of 30 games, the guard lost a starting spot due to injury and in-team competition. That led to 19 starts in 65 appearances over the past three seasons. Under coach Fralick, Joiner is thriving.
The guard from Saginaw, Michigan averages 16.2 points per game and enters Sunday following a 20-point performance in a win over the Maryland Terrapins. Joiner hit four three-point shots in that game on seven attempts, putting her 2.8 makes per game in the top five of the conference.
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, like Joiner, is playing career-best basketball under coach Fralick. Shooting 46% from three-point range, Hagemann’s increased her scoring by four points per game, and the free shooting opportunities with the Spartans make her another player for the Buckeyes to give extra attention.
However, the most interesting roster jump comes from forward Julia Ayrault. As a junior, Ayrault mustered just over 10 minutes per game for coach Merchant, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds. As a starter under Fralick, Ayrault is a force inside the perimeter. Coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound, double-double against the Terrapins, Ayrault averages 14.9 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game.
While these three are the leading examples, a change to a more offensive-minded strategy is making many former deep bench players vie for the most improved on the roster.
This means the half-court defense of Ohio State is going to be busy on Sunday. If there’s a scent of an open shot for the Spartans, it’s likely going up. To combat it, the Buckeyes need to play the intensity that allows them to run to the right places to stop passing lanes and put hands in shooter’s faces.
Fortunately for the scarlet and gray, stopping the long shot is a strength this season. Through defensive play led by guards Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon, the Buckeyes are tied with the Indiana Hoosiers in three-point shots allowed with 74 over 15 games. The likely matchup of Taylor and Joiner is an especially intriguing game within the game.
Taylor leads Buckeyes regulars in defensive rating, allowing 78.7 points in every 100 possessions. The guard’s doing it through a blistering pace of play that never lets up until Taylor gets to the bench. That means sucking up space that great shooters use to get shots up in small open windows.
Should Michigan State use screens to its advantage, a normal starting five for the Buckeyes can mostly neutralize it, and do even more with the agility and speed of substitute forward Eboni Walker. When Walker is on, Ohio State is smaller but they’re more nimble and flexible. It’s a group that could get a lot of work against a Michigan team that’s smaller itself.
Sunday has the makings of another round of strong offense versus strong defense. Ohio State hopes the old adage of “defense wins championships” holds true.
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášiková
Michigan State
G- DeeDee Hagemann
G- Moira Joiner
G- Abbey Kimball
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Jocelyn Tate
Although the Spartans enter Sunday with a good deal of momentum, losing to the Hawkeyes thanks to a last-second shot by Clark and beating the Terrapins, Ohio State will come away with the victory.
The Buckeyes’ defense will push the Spartans past their Big Ten-leading turnover numbers, and make shooting difficult for Michigan State. There will be spells where the energy isn’t there for Ohio State and the visitors get off shots, but the runs won’t be enough to win.
For all of Michigan State’s improvements on offense, defensively they’ll give Ohio State enough room to score. Forward Cotie McMahon will lead the Buckeyes and continue her return to form.
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fox Sports App
Sunday’s battle on court is intriguing, but off the court there’s even more. The Buckeyes feature connections to the current iteration of the Spartans, and not simply from playing some of its players in the past.
The first and biggest is through forward Taiyier Parks. Following four seasons in East Lansing, the Ohioan returned to the Buckeye state to play for the scarlet and gray. Following Thursday’s game against Rutgers, Parks shared that she’s excited to see teammates who she played alongside at Michigan State, reflecting on a positive experience as a Spartan.
A lesser known connection between Sunday’s teams are the coaches. Coach McGuff knows coach Fralick well.
In the offseason, when Michigan State announced Fralick as the replacement for Merchant, it was a few short weeks following the commitment of McGuff’s second oldest daughter Keiryn McGuff. Despite the change of coaches, McGuff held her commitment to the Falcons and is in the middle of her freshman season in Bowling Green, Ohio.
“She did an excellent job, both at Ashland and Bowling Green. And I know her and her staff really well,” said McGuff of Fralick. “She created incredible culture at Bowling Green. And I think, you know, Michigan State has a lot of talent, and she’s really got them playing well together and playing extremely hard. And, you know, the results are reflective of that.”
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 Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Spartans have a new head coach and are a surprise story of the 23-24 season
Sunday afternoon is cause night for Ohio State women’s basketball. Off the court, various causes that the Buckeyes support will be honored. Groups including LandOn A Cure, Ability Matters, Special Olympics, and Autism Awareness. On the court, the scarlet and gray will try to improve their own cause of improving in conference play, with 14 games remaining on the schedule.
The game features a bigger test than the Buckeyes have seen in the last two games. The Michigan State Spartans overcame a coaching change and updates to the roster in the offseason to perform better than a side from East Lansing’s played in years. How do the Spartans test head coach Kevin McGuff’s side?
Preview
In the offseason, 16-year Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant stepped down from her spot leading the Spartans program. Along with that decision, the Big Ten side lost its two best scorers in guard Kamaria McDaniel (graduation) and Matilda Ekh (transfer) and leading rebounder in now-Buckeye transfer forward Taiyier Parks.
All that and new program leadership didn't bring in a large batch of Power Five conference transfers to fill holes. All-in-all, a situation like this leads to an expected period of transition.
Don’t tell that to Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick.
The Spartans come to Columbus with a 12-3 record, and a real chance to come away with a win against the Buckeyes. So, how has coach Fralick done it? Scoring more points than their opponents.
Michigan State is a team that is not afraid to shoot the basketball. So far this season, the Spartans are at or near the top of the conference in most shooting categories, especially from beyond the arc.
From three-point range, Michigan State averages 10.1 makes per game, and when you combine that with the conference’s best team three-point average at 37.5%, you get a formidable offense. Overall, the offense is up for the Spartans, sitting behind only guard Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in team scoring offense. Leading the way are a trio of returning Spartans.
Leading Michigan State is graduate senior Moira Joiner. After a freshman season under coach Merchant where Joiner started 25 of 30 games, the guard lost a starting spot due to injury and in-team competition. That led to 19 starts in 65 appearances over the past three seasons. Under coach Fralick, Joiner is thriving.
The guard from Saginaw, Michigan averages 16.2 points per game and enters Sunday following a 20-point performance in a win over the Maryland Terrapins. Joiner hit four three-point shots in that game on seven attempts, putting her 2.8 makes per game in the top five of the conference.
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, like Joiner, is playing career-best basketball under coach Fralick. Shooting 46% from three-point range, Hagemann’s increased her scoring by four points per game, and the free shooting opportunities with the Spartans make her another player for the Buckeyes to give extra attention.
However, the most interesting roster jump comes from forward Julia Ayrault. As a junior, Ayrault mustered just over 10 minutes per game for coach Merchant, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds. As a starter under Fralick, Ayrault is a force inside the perimeter. Coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound, double-double against the Terrapins, Ayrault averages 14.9 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game.
While these three are the leading examples, a change to a more offensive-minded strategy is making many former deep bench players vie for the most improved on the roster.
This means the half-court defense of Ohio State is going to be busy on Sunday. If there’s a scent of an open shot for the Spartans, it’s likely going up. To combat it, the Buckeyes need to play the intensity that allows them to run to the right places to stop passing lanes and put hands in shooter’s faces.
Fortunately for the scarlet and gray, stopping the long shot is a strength this season. Through defensive play led by guards Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon, the Buckeyes are tied with the Indiana Hoosiers in three-point shots allowed with 74 over 15 games. The likely matchup of Taylor and Joiner is an especially intriguing game within the game.
Taylor leads Buckeyes regulars in defensive rating, allowing 78.7 points in every 100 possessions. The guard’s doing it through a blistering pace of play that never lets up until Taylor gets to the bench. That means sucking up space that great shooters use to get shots up in small open windows.
Should Michigan State use screens to its advantage, a normal starting five for the Buckeyes can mostly neutralize it, and do even more with the agility and speed of substitute forward Eboni Walker. When Walker is on, Ohio State is smaller but they’re more nimble and flexible. It’s a group that could get a lot of work against a Michigan team that’s smaller itself.
Sunday has the makings of another round of strong offense versus strong defense. Ohio State hopes the old adage of “defense wins championships” holds true.
Ohio State
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášiková
Lineup Notes
- Guard Celeste Taylor led Buckeyes starters in scoring for the third game in a row, against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Thursday.
- Guard Jacy Sheldon had a season-high eight steals against Rutgers Thursday. It also tied the guard’s second-career-best steals performance against the Tennessee Volunteers to start the 22-23 season.
- Thursday’s 42.3% shooting from beyond the arc was the fourth-best for Ohio State this season. In games where the Buckeyes shoot at least 40% from three-point range, they’re undefeated.
Michigan State
G- DeeDee Hagemann
G- Moira Joiner
G- Abbey Kimball
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Jocelyn Tate
Lineup Notes
- Forward Jocelyn Tate is the lone Bowling Green Falcon to transfer to Michigan State with coach Fralick. Tate’s started every game for the Spartans, averaging 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
- 58.6% of minutes played this season for the Spartans come from last season’s roster.
- Michigan State leads the conference in turnovers per game, only giving the ball away 11.3 times per game.
Prediction
Although the Spartans enter Sunday with a good deal of momentum, losing to the Hawkeyes thanks to a last-second shot by Clark and beating the Terrapins, Ohio State will come away with the victory.
The Buckeyes’ defense will push the Spartans past their Big Ten-leading turnover numbers, and make shooting difficult for Michigan State. There will be spells where the energy isn’t there for Ohio State and the visitors get off shots, but the runs won’t be enough to win.
For all of Michigan State’s improvements on offense, defensively they’ll give Ohio State enough room to score. Forward Cotie McMahon will lead the Buckeyes and continue her return to form.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fox Sports App
LGHL Prediction: 81-76 Ohio State Buckeyes
Reunions
Sunday’s battle on court is intriguing, but off the court there’s even more. The Buckeyes feature connections to the current iteration of the Spartans, and not simply from playing some of its players in the past.
The first and biggest is through forward Taiyier Parks. Following four seasons in East Lansing, the Ohioan returned to the Buckeye state to play for the scarlet and gray. Following Thursday’s game against Rutgers, Parks shared that she’s excited to see teammates who she played alongside at Michigan State, reflecting on a positive experience as a Spartan.
A lesser known connection between Sunday’s teams are the coaches. Coach McGuff knows coach Fralick well.
In the offseason, when Michigan State announced Fralick as the replacement for Merchant, it was a few short weeks following the commitment of McGuff’s second oldest daughter Keiryn McGuff. Despite the change of coaches, McGuff held her commitment to the Falcons and is in the middle of her freshman season in Bowling Green, Ohio.
“She did an excellent job, both at Ashland and Bowling Green. And I know her and her staff really well,” said McGuff of Fralick. “She created incredible culture at Bowling Green. And I think, you know, Michigan State has a lot of talent, and she’s really got them playing well together and playing extremely hard. And, you know, the results are reflective of that.”
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 17 Ohio State women’s basketball blocks Michigan State upset 70-65
- News
- 0 Replies
No. 17 Ohio State women’s basketball blocks Michigan State upset 70-65
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
Michigan State and Ohio State battled for 40 minutes, but the Buckeyes’ fundamentals give the scarlet and gray the win
Ohio State women’s basketball entered Sunday in a two-game winning streak. On one hand, a winning streak is great but on the other hand, the opponents weren’t near the top of the Big Ten conference. The Michigan State Spartans brought a different level of competition to the Schottenstein Center to close out the weekend.
The Buckeyes showed that the lessons from the Dec. 30 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines carried over to stiffer competition, defeating the Spartans 70-65 in an entertaining, back-and-forth game.
From the jump, the difference between the Spartans and recent opponents was clear. After both sides hit their first shots of the game, a short cold spell hit both teams, matching the single digit temperature outside of the arena. Michigan State broke it the fastest, going up four points, combining an offensive style that doesn’t take up much of the shot clock with defense that made the Buckeyes shoot deep, and miss.
What broke it for the home team was finding a flaw in the Spartans defense. Like Ohio State, Michigan State used a press to try and disrupt the movement of the Buckeyes. What the Spartans didn’t do was have anyone behind the pressing front lines.
The scarlet and gray identified the weakness and broke the early four-point run by the visitors, finding forwards Cotie McMahon, Rebeka Mikulášiková and Taylor Thierry in the process.
It brought the game back to within a possession, which was the trend for the first 10 minutes with five lead changes between the teams. Ohio State took a two-point lead into the second quarter, thanks to Jacy Sheldon and McMahon.
The two combined for 12 of Ohio State’s 20 first quarter points, and for McMahon they were more difficult to find. Anytime the forward had the ball near the paint, any green jersey within arms reach was closing in, turning defense into more of a rugby scrum. The Spartans weren’t going to allow McMahon to hurt them so easily near the basket, so McMahon added a three-point shot with the lone layup she hit running past the Michigan full court defense.
In the second quarter though, the Spartans closed up the holes. With 3-for-12 shooting to start the quarter, the Spartans capitalized, creating their highest lead of the half with five points.
Coach McGuff’s side responded with a five-point run. Key to it was guard Celeste Taylor. Out of a timeout, with under four minutes remaining in the half, Taylor got things started with a quick three-point shot.
While shooting, Michigan State guard Moira Joiner made some contact with the guard, and Taylor looked at the referees upset with the no call. Seconds later, on the defensive end of the court, Taylor got even with the Spartans star. Going up for a layup, Taylor went stride for stride with Joiner, blocking the shot, winning possession and getting fouled in the process.
However, the green and white ended the quarter strong in the paint. Bench forward Tory Ozment hit the final two shots of the quarter, both layups under the basket. Ozment’s nine points in the half gave the Spartans a 34-37 lead going into the locker room.
That lead didn’t last long, as Thierry, who was quieter in the first half due to picking up early fouls, hit a three-point shot to pull the game even on the first possession of the half. From there, Ohio State earned a lead of its own from solid half court defense. Michigan State was 2-for-10 to start the quarter, with no open looks given. The forced shots clanged off the rim and gave the Buckeyes momentum.
Offensively, the paint benefited Ohio State in more ways than one. Outside of using it for high percentage shots that gave the Buckeyes the lead, Ohio State also excelled on the boards. Through three quarters, the scarlet and gray kept up in rebounding, something not a regular occurrence.
Individually, guard Rikki Harris was a difference maker. After missing the last game due to an undisclosed injury, the redshirt senior was back in a big way. Through three quarters, the guard scored 11 points in 11 minutes, and they always seemed to come in big moments.
In the third quarter it was a three-point shot, her only shot off the quarter, stopping a Michigan State run that tied the game. Harris’ three put the Buckeyes back up, but Ozment for the Spartans continued her great form on the day.
Like the second quarter, Ozment found space in the paint and hit layups. After scoring the last five points of the quarter, and Sheldon for the Buckeyes missing a chance to score at the buzzer, the two sides were tied at 50 points apiece with 10 minutes remaining.
Those 50 points were already an accomplishment for the Ohio State defense. Michigan State entered the day averaging 89.9 points per game. After three quarters, it was clear the average was going to take a hit.
The three top scorers for the Spartans entering Sunday, Joiner, guard DeeDee Hagemann and forward Julia Ayrault combined for 45 points per game. With five minutes left in the game, the three combined for 16 points.
To start the final quarter, Ohio State had an eight-point run that looked like it could take the wind out of the Spartans. It was capped off with a steal by Taylor to Thierry who maneuvered her way into a layup and foul, missing the free throw. However, Michigan State made it a single possession game quickly. Guard Abbey Kimball hit a three-pointer, only the fourth for the Spartans on the day on 16 attempts, to that point. Then a midrange by Joiner forced a timeout by Coach McGuff with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
With two minutes remaining, the Buckeyes had a four-point lead. Even though Thierry missed three free throws in the quarter up to that point, the athletic guard/forward hybrid was making plays in the run of play. Offensively and defensively, Thierry was making moves around the basket.
On offense, Thierry hit a layup on a second chance opportunity following a McMahon miss. Defensively, she was taking up space under the rim on layup attempts that turned into missed attempts and rebound opportunities for her teammates.
The hard work put Ohio State up seven points with a minute remaining, thanks to a five-point run that helped put the game away. That win would need to come from the free throw line, with the Spartans out of timeouts with 47.2 seconds remaining. To that point though, the Buckeyes were only 8-for-16 from the line.
Ohio State went only 5-for-10 from the free throw line, but the Spartans couldn’t muster enough to come away with the win. The Buckeye come away with the 70-65 conference victory.
Sheldon and Thierry led Ohio State on the day, scoring 18 and 13 points respectively. Thierry added 11 rebounds for a double-double and Taylor’s defense made Michigan State struggle all day. The graduate senior guard had five blocks in the victory.
What’s Next
Following Sunday’s home game, the Buckeyes are back on the road. This time, heading to the Mid Atlantic to face the Maryland Terrapins. The Terrapins are in a period of transition this season, following losses to Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers, who both left the NCAA for the WNBA.
Even so, the Terrapins still have head coach Brenda Freese. As the season’s progressed, so has Maryland. Also, the Buckeyes haven’t done well in Maryland of late. Ohio State hasn’t beaten the Terrapins away from home since Jan. 2, 2016.
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
Michigan State and Ohio State battled for 40 minutes, but the Buckeyes’ fundamentals give the scarlet and gray the win
Ohio State women’s basketball entered Sunday in a two-game winning streak. On one hand, a winning streak is great but on the other hand, the opponents weren’t near the top of the Big Ten conference. The Michigan State Spartans brought a different level of competition to the Schottenstein Center to close out the weekend.
The Buckeyes showed that the lessons from the Dec. 30 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines carried over to stiffer competition, defeating the Spartans 70-65 in an entertaining, back-and-forth game.
From the jump, the difference between the Spartans and recent opponents was clear. After both sides hit their first shots of the game, a short cold spell hit both teams, matching the single digit temperature outside of the arena. Michigan State broke it the fastest, going up four points, combining an offensive style that doesn’t take up much of the shot clock with defense that made the Buckeyes shoot deep, and miss.
What broke it for the home team was finding a flaw in the Spartans defense. Like Ohio State, Michigan State used a press to try and disrupt the movement of the Buckeyes. What the Spartans didn’t do was have anyone behind the pressing front lines.
The scarlet and gray identified the weakness and broke the early four-point run by the visitors, finding forwards Cotie McMahon, Rebeka Mikulášiková and Taylor Thierry in the process.
It brought the game back to within a possession, which was the trend for the first 10 minutes with five lead changes between the teams. Ohio State took a two-point lead into the second quarter, thanks to Jacy Sheldon and McMahon.
The two combined for 12 of Ohio State’s 20 first quarter points, and for McMahon they were more difficult to find. Anytime the forward had the ball near the paint, any green jersey within arms reach was closing in, turning defense into more of a rugby scrum. The Spartans weren’t going to allow McMahon to hurt them so easily near the basket, so McMahon added a three-point shot with the lone layup she hit running past the Michigan full court defense.
In the second quarter though, the Spartans closed up the holes. With 3-for-12 shooting to start the quarter, the Spartans capitalized, creating their highest lead of the half with five points.
Coach McGuff’s side responded with a five-point run. Key to it was guard Celeste Taylor. Out of a timeout, with under four minutes remaining in the half, Taylor got things started with a quick three-point shot.
While shooting, Michigan State guard Moira Joiner made some contact with the guard, and Taylor looked at the referees upset with the no call. Seconds later, on the defensive end of the court, Taylor got even with the Spartans star. Going up for a layup, Taylor went stride for stride with Joiner, blocking the shot, winning possession and getting fouled in the process.
However, the green and white ended the quarter strong in the paint. Bench forward Tory Ozment hit the final two shots of the quarter, both layups under the basket. Ozment’s nine points in the half gave the Spartans a 34-37 lead going into the locker room.
That lead didn’t last long, as Thierry, who was quieter in the first half due to picking up early fouls, hit a three-point shot to pull the game even on the first possession of the half. From there, Ohio State earned a lead of its own from solid half court defense. Michigan State was 2-for-10 to start the quarter, with no open looks given. The forced shots clanged off the rim and gave the Buckeyes momentum.
Offensively, the paint benefited Ohio State in more ways than one. Outside of using it for high percentage shots that gave the Buckeyes the lead, Ohio State also excelled on the boards. Through three quarters, the scarlet and gray kept up in rebounding, something not a regular occurrence.
Individually, guard Rikki Harris was a difference maker. After missing the last game due to an undisclosed injury, the redshirt senior was back in a big way. Through three quarters, the guard scored 11 points in 11 minutes, and they always seemed to come in big moments.
In the third quarter it was a three-point shot, her only shot off the quarter, stopping a Michigan State run that tied the game. Harris’ three put the Buckeyes back up, but Ozment for the Spartans continued her great form on the day.
Like the second quarter, Ozment found space in the paint and hit layups. After scoring the last five points of the quarter, and Sheldon for the Buckeyes missing a chance to score at the buzzer, the two sides were tied at 50 points apiece with 10 minutes remaining.
Those 50 points were already an accomplishment for the Ohio State defense. Michigan State entered the day averaging 89.9 points per game. After three quarters, it was clear the average was going to take a hit.
The three top scorers for the Spartans entering Sunday, Joiner, guard DeeDee Hagemann and forward Julia Ayrault combined for 45 points per game. With five minutes left in the game, the three combined for 16 points.
To start the final quarter, Ohio State had an eight-point run that looked like it could take the wind out of the Spartans. It was capped off with a steal by Taylor to Thierry who maneuvered her way into a layup and foul, missing the free throw. However, Michigan State made it a single possession game quickly. Guard Abbey Kimball hit a three-pointer, only the fourth for the Spartans on the day on 16 attempts, to that point. Then a midrange by Joiner forced a timeout by Coach McGuff with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
With two minutes remaining, the Buckeyes had a four-point lead. Even though Thierry missed three free throws in the quarter up to that point, the athletic guard/forward hybrid was making plays in the run of play. Offensively and defensively, Thierry was making moves around the basket.
On offense, Thierry hit a layup on a second chance opportunity following a McMahon miss. Defensively, she was taking up space under the rim on layup attempts that turned into missed attempts and rebound opportunities for her teammates.
The hard work put Ohio State up seven points with a minute remaining, thanks to a five-point run that helped put the game away. That win would need to come from the free throw line, with the Spartans out of timeouts with 47.2 seconds remaining. To that point though, the Buckeyes were only 8-for-16 from the line.
Ohio State went only 5-for-10 from the free throw line, but the Spartans couldn’t muster enough to come away with the win. The Buckeye come away with the 70-65 conference victory.
Sheldon and Thierry led Ohio State on the day, scoring 18 and 13 points respectively. Thierry added 11 rebounds for a double-double and Taylor’s defense made Michigan State struggle all day. The graduate senior guard had five blocks in the victory.
What’s Next
Following Sunday’s home game, the Buckeyes are back on the road. This time, heading to the Mid Atlantic to face the Maryland Terrapins. The Terrapins are in a period of transition this season, following losses to Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers, who both left the NCAA for the WNBA.
Even so, the Terrapins still have head coach Brenda Freese. As the season’s progressed, so has Maryland. Also, the Buckeyes haven’t done well in Maryland of late. Ohio State hasn’t beaten the Terrapins away from home since Jan. 2, 2016.
Continue reading...
