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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Kentucky Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Kentucky Game preview and prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
The shorthanded Buckeyes will look to keep their winning record in the CBS Sports Classic against the Wildcats.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-4, 1-1) will look to keep its one-game winning streak going as they head to Madison Square Garden to take on the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (10-1, 0-0) in the CBS Sports Classic. The Buckeyes have lost two of their last four games by 25 or more points to Maryland and Auburn, losing to Auburn 91-53 last Saturday before a 22-point win over Valparaiso on Tuesday.
Now they get a Kentucky team that has not lost a step under Mark Pope. The Wildcats’ only loss is to Clemson by four points, and have wins over Duke, Gonzaga, and Louisville already on the ledger this season.
The CBS Sports Classic is an annual American men’s college basketball event that began in 2014. This year’s participants include Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, and UCLA. Each team has played one game each year (except for 2021 due to Covid cancellations), with the four teams completing a doubleheader. Both games are annually broadcast on U.S. television on CBS, the Classic’s namesake.
On July 21, 2022, the CBS Sports Classic was renewed through 2026. It is uncertain what will happen with UCLA & Ohio State, as UCLA has since moved to the Big Ten, and neutral events generally avoid including multiple teams from one conference.
For the 2024-25 season, CBS Sports launched the CBS Sports Classic: HBCU Showcase featuring North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Hampton, and Howard.
Ohio State is 5-4 all-time in the CBS Sports Classic, with the 2021 matchup getting canceled due to COVID-19. The Buckeyes are 2-0 against Kentucky, 3-1 against UCLA, and 0-3 against North Carolina. North Carolina is 6-4 all-time, Kentucky is 5-5 all-time, and UCLA is 3-6 all-time.
Ohio State defeated No. 4 Kentucky 74-67 in 2015 at the Barclays Center, and No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 6 Kentucky in 2019 71-65 at T-Mobile Arena.
The Buckeyes are coming into this one shorthanded, as they were down four rotation players against Valparaiso. Meechie Johnson Jr. is currently not with the team as he handles personal matters, and Aaron Bradshaw, Ques Glover, and Colin White were all out but with the team. Bradshaw is a Kentucky transfer, so he would love to return to the lineup for this contest.
Head coach Jake Diebler was hopeful they may have one or two of those players back for Saturday, but as of right now they are all questionable. Bradshaw is back with the team after missing time for a university investigation, but according to Diebler, he is back and going through a, “ready to play” process.
With these players all missing the Valpo game, Micah Parrish played 37 minutes, John Mobley Jr. played 34 minutes, and Devin Royal played 33 minutes. Bruce Thornton would have played more, but he was in foul trouble.
Ohio State is not deep right now and will need these guys back sooner rather than later as they enter conference play shortly.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798699/usa_today_25012584.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State is led into this contest by sophomore forward Devin Royal, who is averaging a team-high 15.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. Royal is coming off his best game as a Buckeye, recording 31 points and 15 rebounds against Valparaiso. Royal is shooting 61.1 percent from the field.
According to Ohio State men’s basketball Sports Information Director Gary Petit, the last Buckeye with a 30-point and 15-rebound game was Jared Sullinger, with 30 points and 19 rebounds against South Carolina on Dec. 18, 2010.
Junior point guard Bruce Thornton is averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 48.7 percent from the three-point line. Thornton is No. 9 in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.14 with 58 assists to only 14 turnovers. Thornton is the only player averaging over 30 minutes played per game for Ohio State.
Freshman standout John Mobley Jr. is averaging 12.1 points on 53.6 percent shooting from three-point range. He has struggled to finish from inside the three-point line and at the rim, shooting only 46.2 percent from the field overall.
Micah Parrish is averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Meechie Johnson is averaging 9.1 points per game, but he will not be available for this contest.
Ohio State is still shooting the ball from deep at an elite level. It ranks No. 12 in the country at 40.57 percent from three-point range, and has made 99 threes on 244 attempts this season.
Kentucky enters this game with the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, averaging 91.3 points per game, and is the only team nationally averaging over 90 points per game. For context, Auburn and Maryland are No. 6 and No. 9 in scoring offense, and both of those teams blew out Ohio State.
Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats with 15.7 points per game, while San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler is averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson and Dayton transfer Kobe Brea are averaging 12.5 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Brea is shooting 53.1 percent from three-point range.
Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr is averaging 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Drexel transfer Amari Williams is averaging 10.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Oklahoma State transfer Brandon Garrison is averaging 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Arizona and West Virginia transfer guard Kerr Kriisa will miss this contest with an injury he sustained two games ago.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798698/usa_today_25002293.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Louisville at Kentucky")
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
It is hard to imagine the Buckeyes can win this one. They beat Texas to open the season, but other than that, they have been beaten by double digits in all of their games against great opponents — and Kentucky is great.
Hopefully the Buckeyes will get Bradshaw back for this game, and he can help slow down the dynamic front court that Kentucky has. Ohio State just doesn’t have the depth right now to keep up with this Wildcat offense.
The Buckeyes need to show they can keep the game close and not be down by 30 at the half against a quality opponent. Then maybe — just maybe — shock the world in the Big Apple.
ESPN BPI: Kentucky 66.0%
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
The shorthanded Buckeyes will look to keep their winning record in the CBS Sports Classic against the Wildcats.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-4, 1-1) will look to keep its one-game winning streak going as they head to Madison Square Garden to take on the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (10-1, 0-0) in the CBS Sports Classic. The Buckeyes have lost two of their last four games by 25 or more points to Maryland and Auburn, losing to Auburn 91-53 last Saturday before a 22-point win over Valparaiso on Tuesday.
Now they get a Kentucky team that has not lost a step under Mark Pope. The Wildcats’ only loss is to Clemson by four points, and have wins over Duke, Gonzaga, and Louisville already on the ledger this season.
The CBS Sports Classic is an annual American men’s college basketball event that began in 2014. This year’s participants include Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, and UCLA. Each team has played one game each year (except for 2021 due to Covid cancellations), with the four teams completing a doubleheader. Both games are annually broadcast on U.S. television on CBS, the Classic’s namesake.
On July 21, 2022, the CBS Sports Classic was renewed through 2026. It is uncertain what will happen with UCLA & Ohio State, as UCLA has since moved to the Big Ten, and neutral events generally avoid including multiple teams from one conference.
For the 2024-25 season, CBS Sports launched the CBS Sports Classic: HBCU Showcase featuring North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Hampton, and Howard.
Ohio State is 5-4 all-time in the CBS Sports Classic, with the 2021 matchup getting canceled due to COVID-19. The Buckeyes are 2-0 against Kentucky, 3-1 against UCLA, and 0-3 against North Carolina. North Carolina is 6-4 all-time, Kentucky is 5-5 all-time, and UCLA is 3-6 all-time.
Ohio State defeated No. 4 Kentucky 74-67 in 2015 at the Barclays Center, and No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 6 Kentucky in 2019 71-65 at T-Mobile Arena.
The Buckeyes are coming into this one shorthanded, as they were down four rotation players against Valparaiso. Meechie Johnson Jr. is currently not with the team as he handles personal matters, and Aaron Bradshaw, Ques Glover, and Colin White were all out but with the team. Bradshaw is a Kentucky transfer, so he would love to return to the lineup for this contest.
Head coach Jake Diebler was hopeful they may have one or two of those players back for Saturday, but as of right now they are all questionable. Bradshaw is back with the team after missing time for a university investigation, but according to Diebler, he is back and going through a, “ready to play” process.
With these players all missing the Valpo game, Micah Parrish played 37 minutes, John Mobley Jr. played 34 minutes, and Devin Royal played 33 minutes. Bruce Thornton would have played more, but he was in foul trouble.
Ohio State is not deep right now and will need these guys back sooner rather than later as they enter conference play shortly.
Preview
Ohio State is led into this contest by sophomore forward Devin Royal, who is averaging a team-high 15.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. Royal is coming off his best game as a Buckeye, recording 31 points and 15 rebounds against Valparaiso. Royal is shooting 61.1 percent from the field.
According to Ohio State men’s basketball Sports Information Director Gary Petit, the last Buckeye with a 30-point and 15-rebound game was Jared Sullinger, with 30 points and 19 rebounds against South Carolina on Dec. 18, 2010.
Junior point guard Bruce Thornton is averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 48.7 percent from the three-point line. Thornton is No. 9 in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.14 with 58 assists to only 14 turnovers. Thornton is the only player averaging over 30 minutes played per game for Ohio State.
Freshman standout John Mobley Jr. is averaging 12.1 points on 53.6 percent shooting from three-point range. He has struggled to finish from inside the three-point line and at the rim, shooting only 46.2 percent from the field overall.
Micah Parrish is averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Meechie Johnson is averaging 9.1 points per game, but he will not be available for this contest.
Ohio State is still shooting the ball from deep at an elite level. It ranks No. 12 in the country at 40.57 percent from three-point range, and has made 99 threes on 244 attempts this season.
Kentucky enters this game with the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, averaging 91.3 points per game, and is the only team nationally averaging over 90 points per game. For context, Auburn and Maryland are No. 6 and No. 9 in scoring offense, and both of those teams blew out Ohio State.
Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats with 15.7 points per game, while San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler is averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson and Dayton transfer Kobe Brea are averaging 12.5 and 12.2 points per game, respectively. Brea is shooting 53.1 percent from three-point range.
Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr is averaging 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Drexel transfer Amari Williams is averaging 10.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Oklahoma State transfer Brandon Garrison is averaging 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Arizona and West Virginia transfer guard Kerr Kriisa will miss this contest with an injury he sustained two games ago.
Prediction
It is hard to imagine the Buckeyes can win this one. They beat Texas to open the season, but other than that, they have been beaten by double digits in all of their games against great opponents — and Kentucky is great.
Hopefully the Buckeyes will get Bradshaw back for this game, and he can help slow down the dynamic front court that Kentucky has. Ohio State just doesn’t have the depth right now to keep up with this Wildcat offense.
The Buckeyes need to show they can keep the game close and not be down by 30 at the half against a quality opponent. Then maybe — just maybe — shock the world in the Big Apple.
ESPN BPI: Kentucky 66.0%
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
LGHL score prediction: Kentucky 80, Ohio State 66
Continue reading...
LGHL Streaming expert on best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Tennessee playoff game for free
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Streaming expert on best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Tennessee playoff game for free
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Made with Google AI
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
The College Football Playoff has finally arrived. Following the horrific showing in the regular season finale, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes will be back on the field vs. the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers in the Horseshoe tonight at 8 p.m. ET in a game airing on ESPN. It will be a cold night in Columbus with temperatures feeling like they are in the single digits. Despite what Buckeye turncoat Kirk Herbstreit says, I have a feeling that the Scarlet and Gray fans in attendance will have more than enough energy built up by the time the ball is kicked off to have a positive impact on the game.
With the College Football Playoff underway, the remainder of Ohio State’s season will be played on ESPN. With so many different streamer services carry the most popular cable network on the market, it can be tough to keep up with what the best ways are to stream the action.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert—no, really. I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best—and cheapest—ways for you to stream today’s game.
If you are looking for the best way to stream the entirety of the CFP, I would recommend Sling TV, but if you are just hoping to stream tonight’s game, I’d go with Hulu + Live TV.
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Broadcasters: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe
Betting Line: Ohio State -7.5 | 46 o/u
Best Streaming Option for Ohio State vs. Tennessee:
If you’re either looking for a streaming service just for this weekend of football, then Hulu + Live TV very well might be the perfect option. Everyone who signs up gets a three-day free trial, so you can watch the entire college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, and “Monday Night Football” without having to pay a single penny.
But, if you are looking for something for the whole season, then Hulu is great because it comes with ESPN+ (more on that below), so in addition to all of the channels available on the live streaming service, you also get all of the streaming-exclusive games via the worldwide leader’s platform.
Hulu + Live TV has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market. The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $82.99 per month after your three-day free trial. It is a little more expensive than some of the other options, but if you are just looking to watch this game, Hulu + Live TV is your best option.
Over the next month and a half, there will be tons of college football and NFL postseason games coming to you and sports fans will not want to miss a single second of the action. If you fall into that category, then Sling is the way to go for you. It is the cheapest way to get national broadcast channels and the biggest cable networks as well, which will be especially important as the College Football Playoff will air a significant portion of its games on cable.
Normally, Sling costs $46 per month, but you can currently get 50% off your first month of service, meaning that you can watch a month of the college postseason and the stretch run of the NFL for as little as $23. Sling has two different base packages, Orange and Blue. You can subscribe to one or both. If you do opt to combine Orange and Blue it will run you $61 monthly — still substantially cheaper than the comparable [live TV streaming] services — but with the first-month deal, you can stream everything on both packages for just $30.50.
The College Football will air all of its games on either ESPN or TNT, so every single snap of the entire 11-game bracket will be available on Sling. That means that there is no cheaper option in streaming to watch all of the CFP action over the next month.
DIRECTV STREAM: $87.99 per month five-day free trial
Fubo: $79.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial | $30 off first month
YouTube TV: $82.99 per month
Below is your Ohio State vs. Tennessee 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
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
Made with Google AI
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
The College Football Playoff has finally arrived. Following the horrific showing in the regular season finale, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes will be back on the field vs. the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers in the Horseshoe tonight at 8 p.m. ET in a game airing on ESPN. It will be a cold night in Columbus with temperatures feeling like they are in the single digits. Despite what Buckeye turncoat Kirk Herbstreit says, I have a feeling that the Scarlet and Gray fans in attendance will have more than enough energy built up by the time the ball is kicked off to have a positive impact on the game.
With the College Football Playoff underway, the remainder of Ohio State’s season will be played on ESPN. With so many different streamer services carry the most popular cable network on the market, it can be tough to keep up with what the best ways are to stream the action.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert—no, really. I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best—and cheapest—ways for you to stream today’s game.
If you are looking for the best way to stream the entirety of the CFP, I would recommend Sling TV, but if you are just hoping to stream tonight’s game, I’d go with Hulu + Live TV.
How can I watch the No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Tennessee College Football Playoff game?
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Broadcasters: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe
Betting Line: Ohio State -7.5 | 46 o/u
Best Streaming Option for Ohio State vs. Tennessee:
Hulu + Live TV | 3-Day Free Trial
If you’re either looking for a streaming service just for this weekend of football, then Hulu + Live TV very well might be the perfect option. Everyone who signs up gets a three-day free trial, so you can watch the entire college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, and “Monday Night Football” without having to pay a single penny.
But, if you are looking for something for the whole season, then Hulu is great because it comes with ESPN+ (more on that below), so in addition to all of the channels available on the live streaming service, you also get all of the streaming-exclusive games via the worldwide leader’s platform.
Hulu + Live TV has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market. The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $82.99 per month after your three-day free trial. It is a little more expensive than some of the other options, but if you are just looking to watch this game, Hulu + Live TV is your best option.
Best Streaming Option for All of College Football Playoff: Sling TV | $23 for one month
Over the next month and a half, there will be tons of college football and NFL postseason games coming to you and sports fans will not want to miss a single second of the action. If you fall into that category, then Sling is the way to go for you. It is the cheapest way to get national broadcast channels and the biggest cable networks as well, which will be especially important as the College Football Playoff will air a significant portion of its games on cable.
Normally, Sling costs $46 per month, but you can currently get 50% off your first month of service, meaning that you can watch a month of the college postseason and the stretch run of the NFL for as little as $23. Sling has two different base packages, Orange and Blue. You can subscribe to one or both. If you do opt to combine Orange and Blue it will run you $61 monthly — still substantially cheaper than the comparable [live TV streaming] services — but with the first-month deal, you can stream everything on both packages for just $30.50.
The College Football will air all of its games on either ESPN or TNT, so every single snap of the entire 11-game bracket will be available on Sling. That means that there is no cheaper option in streaming to watch all of the CFP action over the next month.
Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and Tennessee Game:
DIRECTV STREAM: $87.99 per month five-day free trial
Fubo: $79.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial | $30 off first month
YouTube TV: $82.99 per month
Join the conversation
Below is your Ohio State vs. Tennessee 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
Continue reading...
LGHL Three things to watch when Ohio State women’s basketball takes on Stanford
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- 0 Replies
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.
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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?
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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
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
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
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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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