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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball is in crisis at the center position
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Ohio State men’s basketball is in crisis at the center position
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have no reliable options at the position right now, with no clear fixes.
There’s a song written by Maren Morris in 2019 called “The Bones” that speaks broadly to the importance of a strong foundation – whether that’s a relationship, a home, or anything else. If the “bones” of that thing are strong, the other stuff doesn’t matter too much. A strong foundation is everything.
“If the bones are good, the rest don’t matter.”
And right now, the bones of this Ohio state men’s basketball team are quivering and ready to shatter. Ohio State is in crisis right now at the center position, and it needs to be addressed by, well, two nights ago, really.
Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team entered the season with several options at center, but none of them were known commodities.
Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart were both elite high school talents but didn’t blossom as freshmen playing at prime-time programs Kentucky and Duke. Ivan Njegovan was a late addition to the team this summer, and his experience playing professionally and ability to stretch the floor was enticing to the coaching staff. Austin Parks has the size to hang in the Big Ten and was recruited by most Big Ten programs, but barely got any opportunity last season to prove he’s able to contribute at this level.
The 5-3 Buckeyes are only four weeks into the season, and the bottom has completely fallen out at that position. The bones are not good right now, and it’s got the team scrambling to prevent an early season free fall.
Bradshaw, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game through the first four games of the season before becoming the focus of a university investigation in late November. The team has only said that he is going through a “university process” and is not participating in any team activities.
A week later, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Bradshaw is being investigated for a potential “domestic incident” at his off-campus residence the prior week. As of Thursday night, no charges had been filed against Bradshaw.
However, the university’s “internal process” is still ongoing, and according to Diebler, there is no timetable for him to return. Even if Bradshaw were to return, he has not practiced in over two weeks now. His return would be massive, but it’s hard to see him stepping back in and not having to shake off some rust – if he returns at all.
Stewart, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been forced to slide over and become the starting center in Bradshaw’s absence. While he’s had moments of defensive brilliance that drew effusive praise from Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb last month, his offensive game is undeveloped, and he’s been shackled with foul trouble in five of the seven games he’s played in.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25775824/usa_today_24873845.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Through seven games, Stewart is averaging one foul every 5.3 minutes played. He’s picked up four fouls four different times this year, and because of that has only averaged 16.4 minutes per game and has played more than 20 minutes one time.
So, what does Diebler have left in reserve with Bradshaw out indefinitely and Stewart on the bench in foul trouble more often than not?
Austin Parks set a career-high with 18 minutes played in Ohio State’s blowout loss to Maryland on Wednesday. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound sophomore grabbed three rebounds and recorded two assists, but did not score.
In his defense, it was only the second time in his career he played more than 10 minutes in a game. He’ll continue to learn, but right now Ohio State doesn’t have time on their side. At this moment in time, Parks does not look ready to assume a substantial role for Ohio State.
And, despite some summer rumblings that he could be ready to contribute right away, 7-foot-1 Croatian center Ivan Njegovan doesn’t look ready for Big Ten basketball yet. He’s appeared in five games so far, totaling 20 minutes.
Even despite Meechie Johnson’s slow start, Ohio State has the talent on this team to make the NCAA Tournament, and dare I say win a game or two? Bruce Thornton has elevated his game to a new level and looks like a leading candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, if he keeps it up. The upstart combination of Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. have combined for 27.2 points per game.
But Ohio State has nothing happening on the interior — offensively or defensively. Aside from Royal, they don’t have anyone who can throw their weight around in the paint from time to time and score those high-percentage baskets. Defensively, Stewart is the only capable post defender they’ve got left, and he cannot stay on the floor for more than five minutes without picking up a foul.
If Ohio State opts to double the post, it leaves opponents open for easy three-pointers. If they leave their guys on an island against elite centers like Derik Queen, they’ll give up easy baskets that way. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
When Diebler brought in the combo of Stewart and Bradshaw, fans applauded the staff for going after blue-chip, five-star talent. Zed Key and Felix Okpara were fan favorites, but Stewart and Bradshaw undoubtedly have higher long-term ceilings.
There was no way to know what would happen with Bradshaw this season, and certainly nobody expected him to be away from the team indefinitely at any point. It’s unfortunate. Ohio State is in a bind, and there’s no way to patch it together with external options like it’s the NBA — Diebler and his staff have to figure it out in-house.
Maybe Bradshaw will come back at some point, and air traffic control can turn off the mayday signal that’s being sent from Columbus. But until we’re told otherwise, the Ohio State coaching staff has no choice but to move around the pieces they have and cover the paint in Bradshaw’s absence.
Right now, the bones aren’t good, so everything else does matter. With Rutgers coming to town on Saturday afternoon, we’ll see how the Buckeyes choose to piece it together, and who — if anyone — steps up.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have no reliable options at the position right now, with no clear fixes.
There’s a song written by Maren Morris in 2019 called “The Bones” that speaks broadly to the importance of a strong foundation – whether that’s a relationship, a home, or anything else. If the “bones” of that thing are strong, the other stuff doesn’t matter too much. A strong foundation is everything.
“If the bones are good, the rest don’t matter.”
And right now, the bones of this Ohio state men’s basketball team are quivering and ready to shatter. Ohio State is in crisis right now at the center position, and it needs to be addressed by, well, two nights ago, really.
Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team entered the season with several options at center, but none of them were known commodities.
Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart were both elite high school talents but didn’t blossom as freshmen playing at prime-time programs Kentucky and Duke. Ivan Njegovan was a late addition to the team this summer, and his experience playing professionally and ability to stretch the floor was enticing to the coaching staff. Austin Parks has the size to hang in the Big Ten and was recruited by most Big Ten programs, but barely got any opportunity last season to prove he’s able to contribute at this level.
The 5-3 Buckeyes are only four weeks into the season, and the bottom has completely fallen out at that position. The bones are not good right now, and it’s got the team scrambling to prevent an early season free fall.
Bradshaw, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game through the first four games of the season before becoming the focus of a university investigation in late November. The team has only said that he is going through a “university process” and is not participating in any team activities.
A week later, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Bradshaw is being investigated for a potential “domestic incident” at his off-campus residence the prior week. As of Thursday night, no charges had been filed against Bradshaw.
However, the university’s “internal process” is still ongoing, and according to Diebler, there is no timetable for him to return. Even if Bradshaw were to return, he has not practiced in over two weeks now. His return would be massive, but it’s hard to see him stepping back in and not having to shake off some rust – if he returns at all.
Stewart, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been forced to slide over and become the starting center in Bradshaw’s absence. While he’s had moments of defensive brilliance that drew effusive praise from Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb last month, his offensive game is undeveloped, and he’s been shackled with foul trouble in five of the seven games he’s played in.
Through seven games, Stewart is averaging one foul every 5.3 minutes played. He’s picked up four fouls four different times this year, and because of that has only averaged 16.4 minutes per game and has played more than 20 minutes one time.
So, what does Diebler have left in reserve with Bradshaw out indefinitely and Stewart on the bench in foul trouble more often than not?
Austin Parks set a career-high with 18 minutes played in Ohio State’s blowout loss to Maryland on Wednesday. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound sophomore grabbed three rebounds and recorded two assists, but did not score.
In his defense, it was only the second time in his career he played more than 10 minutes in a game. He’ll continue to learn, but right now Ohio State doesn’t have time on their side. At this moment in time, Parks does not look ready to assume a substantial role for Ohio State.
And, despite some summer rumblings that he could be ready to contribute right away, 7-foot-1 Croatian center Ivan Njegovan doesn’t look ready for Big Ten basketball yet. He’s appeared in five games so far, totaling 20 minutes.
Even despite Meechie Johnson’s slow start, Ohio State has the talent on this team to make the NCAA Tournament, and dare I say win a game or two? Bruce Thornton has elevated his game to a new level and looks like a leading candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, if he keeps it up. The upstart combination of Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. have combined for 27.2 points per game.
But Ohio State has nothing happening on the interior — offensively or defensively. Aside from Royal, they don’t have anyone who can throw their weight around in the paint from time to time and score those high-percentage baskets. Defensively, Stewart is the only capable post defender they’ve got left, and he cannot stay on the floor for more than five minutes without picking up a foul.
If Ohio State opts to double the post, it leaves opponents open for easy three-pointers. If they leave their guys on an island against elite centers like Derik Queen, they’ll give up easy baskets that way. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
When Diebler brought in the combo of Stewart and Bradshaw, fans applauded the staff for going after blue-chip, five-star talent. Zed Key and Felix Okpara were fan favorites, but Stewart and Bradshaw undoubtedly have higher long-term ceilings.
There was no way to know what would happen with Bradshaw this season, and certainly nobody expected him to be away from the team indefinitely at any point. It’s unfortunate. Ohio State is in a bind, and there’s no way to patch it together with external options like it’s the NBA — Diebler and his staff have to figure it out in-house.
Maybe Bradshaw will come back at some point, and air traffic control can turn off the mayday signal that’s being sent from Columbus. But until we’re told otherwise, the Ohio State coaching staff has no choice but to move around the pieces they have and cover the paint in Bradshaw’s absence.
Right now, the bones aren’t good, so everything else does matter. With Rutgers coming to town on Saturday afternoon, we’ll see how the Buckeyes choose to piece it together, and who — if anyone — steps up.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State inks 26th member of 2025 class, but fails to flip two top tackle targets
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Ohio State inks 26th member of 2025 class, but fails to flip two top tackle targets
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Doug Engle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes hang tough and sign defensive line commit Jarquez Carter.
Signing 25 guys on Wednesday, the Buckeyes saw their fair share of news as they added two players to the fold, but also lost one of major importance. For the most part though, Wednesday went as planned and that makes for some easier planning moving forward.
Thursday helping cement the class with the one commit left making it official, and now the 2025 class is basically in the rearview mirror. The College Football Playoff and the transfer portal being the next areas to focus heavily on, Ohio State has zero downtime in the coming weeks as they’ll not only look to right their regular season ending wrongs, but also take care of roster management that is crucial if this team wants to be successful next fall.
Without further hesitation, here’s what Thursday had to bring on the recruiting front both good and bad.
As mentioned, basically all of the work the Buckeyes needed to complete for this 2025 class was taken care of on Wednesday thanks to 25 members signing with Ohio State. Waiting for the 26th commit to join the fold, the staff didn’t receive the signature of Florida native defensive line commit, Jarquez Carter on Wednesday like the others.
The No. 277 player nationally and 28th best defensive lineman in the class per the 247Sports Composite, making sure Carter remained in the fold was a huge priority for the Buckeyes knowing their crucial need for depth in his position group. Maybe not a major threat to leave the class, the reasoning for Carter’s delay was due to his signing ceremony being on Thursday rather than Wednesday. That said, seeing the four other hats on the table during his presentation and knowing other programs were trying to flip him late still caused plenty of reason for concern.
Fortunately, Ohio State avoided disaster when Carter stuck with his Buckeye commitment and made it official with his signature. The final commit for this class, it does look as if the Buckeyes are done with high school recruits and will now shift their focus solely to the transfer portal. With plenty of needs to be met, the attrition already being seen has to be taken care of. Sure, the playoff game(s) are top priority, but if this staff knows what’s good for them they will attack the portal harder than they ever have, and especially when it comes to the trenches on both sides of the ball.
When Ohio State had the surprise visit of David Sanders Jr. for the Indiana game, it was not only a shock, but also a chance for the Buckeyes to potentially get back into the mix for the No. 5 player nationally and top tackle in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. The claim all along was that this wasn’t a money grab from the Sanders camp and that there really was a reason to visit Columbus this late in the process, but of course that remained to be seen considering he was still very much committed to Tennessee.
On Wednesday, the hope was there for some slight chance at flipping Sanders away from the Vols when news broke that he would not be signing that day, but Thursday’s update felt par for the course this recruiting cycle as once again the hope was gone thanks to Sanders Jr. officially signing with Tennessee and keeping his commitment with the Vols.
Regardless of reason, this feels like it was his family’s chance at increasing the NIL potential, and if that’s the case that’s just the college football landscape currently. Losing out as the runner-up earlier this fall for the top offensive tackle in the country was hard enough, and seeing him stick with his commitment is just as tough to go through.
As if the Sanders Jr. signing wasnt enough, the recruitment of Josh Petty reared it’s head again as he too had some late antics that saw him not sign with Georgia Tech on Wednesday.
The No. 52 player nationally and eighth best offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Petty was reportedly hearing from multiple programs up until the final minutes, and Thursday he chose to like Sanders Jr. stick with his original decision and sign with Georgia Tech.
Two misses for the Buckeyes this cycle, it goes back to the theme that has become apparent the last couple of cycles. Ohio State does have good players that they’ve landed on the offensive line, but the top national targets seem to always go elsewhere regardless of who the position coach is.
Further proof to the transfer portal needing to be watched closer than ever, these next few weeks will be very telling as to where this program is headed from a trenches stance.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Doug Engle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes hang tough and sign defensive line commit Jarquez Carter.
Signing 25 guys on Wednesday, the Buckeyes saw their fair share of news as they added two players to the fold, but also lost one of major importance. For the most part though, Wednesday went as planned and that makes for some easier planning moving forward.
Thursday helping cement the class with the one commit left making it official, and now the 2025 class is basically in the rearview mirror. The College Football Playoff and the transfer portal being the next areas to focus heavily on, Ohio State has zero downtime in the coming weeks as they’ll not only look to right their regular season ending wrongs, but also take care of roster management that is crucial if this team wants to be successful next fall.
Without further hesitation, here’s what Thursday had to bring on the recruiting front both good and bad.
26th member makes it official for Ohio State
As mentioned, basically all of the work the Buckeyes needed to complete for this 2025 class was taken care of on Wednesday thanks to 25 members signing with Ohio State. Waiting for the 26th commit to join the fold, the staff didn’t receive the signature of Florida native defensive line commit, Jarquez Carter on Wednesday like the others.
The No. 277 player nationally and 28th best defensive lineman in the class per the 247Sports Composite, making sure Carter remained in the fold was a huge priority for the Buckeyes knowing their crucial need for depth in his position group. Maybe not a major threat to leave the class, the reasoning for Carter’s delay was due to his signing ceremony being on Thursday rather than Wednesday. That said, seeing the four other hats on the table during his presentation and knowing other programs were trying to flip him late still caused plenty of reason for concern.
Fortunately, Ohio State avoided disaster when Carter stuck with his Buckeye commitment and made it official with his signature. The final commit for this class, it does look as if the Buckeyes are done with high school recruits and will now shift their focus solely to the transfer portal. With plenty of needs to be met, the attrition already being seen has to be taken care of. Sure, the playoff game(s) are top priority, but if this staff knows what’s good for them they will attack the portal harder than they ever have, and especially when it comes to the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Strike one and two for late heroics on the offensive line
When Ohio State had the surprise visit of David Sanders Jr. for the Indiana game, it was not only a shock, but also a chance for the Buckeyes to potentially get back into the mix for the No. 5 player nationally and top tackle in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. The claim all along was that this wasn’t a money grab from the Sanders camp and that there really was a reason to visit Columbus this late in the process, but of course that remained to be seen considering he was still very much committed to Tennessee.
On Wednesday, the hope was there for some slight chance at flipping Sanders away from the Vols when news broke that he would not be signing that day, but Thursday’s update felt par for the course this recruiting cycle as once again the hope was gone thanks to Sanders Jr. officially signing with Tennessee and keeping his commitment with the Vols.
Regardless of reason, this feels like it was his family’s chance at increasing the NIL potential, and if that’s the case that’s just the college football landscape currently. Losing out as the runner-up earlier this fall for the top offensive tackle in the country was hard enough, and seeing him stick with his commitment is just as tough to go through.
As if the Sanders Jr. signing wasnt enough, the recruitment of Josh Petty reared it’s head again as he too had some late antics that saw him not sign with Georgia Tech on Wednesday.
The No. 52 player nationally and eighth best offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Petty was reportedly hearing from multiple programs up until the final minutes, and Thursday he chose to like Sanders Jr. stick with his original decision and sign with Georgia Tech.
Two misses for the Buckeyes this cycle, it goes back to the theme that has become apparent the last couple of cycles. Ohio State does have good players that they’ve landed on the offensive line, but the top national targets seem to always go elsewhere regardless of who the position coach is.
Further proof to the transfer portal needing to be watched closer than ever, these next few weeks will be very telling as to where this program is headed from a trenches stance.
Continue reading...
LGHL Five Storylines: No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 21 Illinois
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Five Storylines: No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 21 Illinois
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 Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have the Illini’s number in recent years, but how does a new look Ohio State match up, and will Cotie McMahon play?
It’s been a long non-conference slate for Ohio State women’s basketball without a power conference opponent. After seven games, the Buckeyes are a perfect 7-0, with minor scrapes to show for it from a trip to Belmont. Aside from that narrow victory, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for the Scarlet and Gray. That changes Sunday when the No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini come to town.
While the game only teases the Big Ten calendar, with non-conference games returning on the other side of the afternoon matchup, it gives a glimpse into who this Ohio State team will be once the competition increases.
Here are five things to watch this weekend.
The last four games of the season have been without star forward Cotie McMahon. Picking up a lower leg injury on her right leg in practice, McMahon’s been in a boot and supporting the Buckeyes from the sidelines.
On Wednesday, Ohio State showed a first glimpse of McMahon’s possible return.
While the visuals elicit excitement for Ohio State fans, it’s a sign of progress, not a sign of an imminent return.
“She’s in practice and still kind of day-to-day but she’s made significant progress so I think we’ll be in a good position with her,” said head coach Kevin McGuff.
Should McMahon continue to be out on Sunday, which won’t be released by the conference until Sunday afternoon, Ohio State will continue with guard Kennedy Cambridge playing in the third guard role, with Taylor Thierry playing forward.
Just because McMahon isn’t on the court, doesn’t mean the players on the Buckeyes don’t benefit from having the forward around. In McMahon’s junior season, she’s grown into a leader on the team and brings the same desire and passion off the bench.
“When we coming out the game, even on timeouts when she feels that we’re not living up to the standard or playing as hard as we can,” said forward Ajae Petty. “She’s always talking and being encouraging and different things like that.”
Ohio State would rather have the upperclassmen on the court, especially against an Illinois group that’s full of seniority of their own. The Fighting Illini regularly start five seniors, and three are in their fifth years.
An element of playing the teams on Ohio State’s schedule is running into the occasional lull.
After the tip, teams bring intensity and their game plan to the Buckeyes, and Ohio State matches it. In most games this year, they’ve exceeded it, creating large deficits in the first half that ultimately end in victories.
Coming out of the halftime locker room, opponents bring a renewed intensity and have run into Buckeye teams who are sitting on sometimes leads over 20 points, which turns into opponents battling back. Maybe not in terms of erasing deficits, but going on sustained runs that take Ohio State time to break through.
In six of seven games this season, opponents have their best scoring quarters in the third quarter.
Against Utah State on Friday, Ohio State allowed 18 first-half points, and then 17 in the third quarter. Against Old Dominion on Thanksgiving day, it was a staunch defensive performance allowing 14 first-half points with the Monarchs scoring 18 in the third.
This stretches back through the non-conference schedule, with four opponents either matching or outscoring their entire first-half productivity in the 10 minutes following halftime.
I think we’ve shown that we can be really good but I still don’t think we’re anywhere close to what we’re capable of being and I think a lot of it has to do with consistency,” said McGuff. “It’s just we have a lot of new people where what we do is new to them and so we look good at times but we don’t sustain it for as long as we have in years past with older more mature teams.”
Ohio State’s eventually knocked off the cobwebs and hit their stride to recover from any sort of letdown, but the game against the Belmont Bruins shows it takes longer with a group who’s only played together for a few months.
The Buckeyes couldn’t string together an effective offense and when that third-quarter slump hit, there was only a four-point lead that the Bruins turned into a nine-point fourth-quarter lead.
Guard Jaloni Cambridge and the Scarlet and Gray showed that high level of talent to erase it and come away with the victory, but they won’t have the same luxury against Big Ten teams.
Now, the history between Ohio State and Illinois shows that even mature teams can go down to this side. In the 22-23 season, the Buckeyes needed a 17-point comeback in the second half to come away with the victory. Can this new iteration afford to allow the same kind of deficit to build and expect to win?
The Buckeyes have mostly had their way with Illinois over the past four seasons, but regardless of the final score, forward Kendall Bostic has a great game.
Here are Bostic’s stat lines against Ohio State over the past three seasons:
Jan. 6, 2022: 11 points/16 rebounds
Feb. 14, 2022: 12 points/16 rebounds
Jan. 8, 2023: 27 points/15 rebounds
Jan. 25, 2024: 13 points/18 rebounds
To put it lightly — no one’s stopped Bostic on the Buckeyes.
Bostic averages more rebounds per game against Ohio State than any of the other 16 teams in the Big Ten but the Buckeyes might finally have the personnel to slow her down.
Combining graduate forward Ajae Petty and freshman Elsa Lemmilä has given Ohio State a presence inside that they haven’t seen since the days of Aaliyah Patty and Dorka Juhász. Petty and Lemmilä average 7.7 rebounds and 7.4 rebounds collectively, with no Ohio State player averaging more than seven in the past three seasons.
Offensively, Petty’s come into her own over the past week of Buckeye games, scoring a season-high in points against Old Dominion (24) with her first double-double in scarlet and gray. Petty followed it up with a 19-point, nine-rebound game against the Utah State Aggies.
For Lemmilä, the 6-foot-6 center is still working on consistently offensively but defensively uses her size to her advantage, sitting seventh in the Big Ten with 16 blocks, all coming from a bench role.
Between the two, the Buckeyes rarely lack size on the court but how will they respond in a big game situation like facing their first conference opponent of the season?
The stage shouldn’t be too big for Petty, who spent last year starting every game of a tough SEC slate of games.
“Knowing that I’ve played against other talented players and knowing what I can do. I think that’s the biggest thing, just knowing that I’m capable of playing against those top players,” said Petty. “The SEC is a tough conference, but the Big Ten’s a really tough conference as well.”
Last season, the biggest matchup in the post was against the LSU Tigers and their now-WNBA forward Angel Reese. Kentucky lost, but Petty had 10 first-half rebounds playing against Reese, and outrebounded the star 15-14.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25774927/usa_today_22684675.jpg "NCAA Womens Basketball: Kentucky at Louisiana State")
Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
That was on a Wildcats team that struggled all season, and not an Ohio State side that has others that can get involved in defending the paint like Taylor Thierry and the older Cambridge sister.
While the size and strength of the Illini interior are formidable, the play on the perimeter makes Illinois a team to be reckoned with.
“Got great guard play they really really experienced on the perimeter,” said McGuff. “Makira Cook is incredible I really really love her game and in Genesis [Bryant] also really really talented, so I like their talent level I love their guard play. They play really hard, they’re well organized and so we’re certainly gonna have our hands full.”
The effectiveness of the Cook, Bryant, and Adalia McKenzie trio has varied against Ohio State in the last two seasons, but it’s a different group of guards going up against this experienced side.
In the past two seasons, the trio started 180 games for the Illini. Ohio State’s likely starting duo, if McMahon is out, has 67 NCAA starts, and 66 of them come from shooting guard Chance Gray.
McGuff has No. 1 point guard Jaloni Cambridge, Gray, and the older Cambridge. The younger Cambridge is 12th in the nation in defensive rating (62.6) and leads the Big Ten with 6.4 percent of her defensive possessions ending in a steal for the freshman.
Since starting four games ago, Kennedy Cambridge averages 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, showing the NCAA the formidable defensive duo the Cambridge sisters bring to the game.
The idea that it would take time for the Buckeyes full-court press to adjust to the absence of Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor may have been exaggerated when comparing the two sides.
Looking only at games against non-power conference schools, the perimeter defense of the 24-25 Buckeyes averages 25.7 turnovers forced, compared to 24.7 from last year’s group. Ohio State is fourth in the country in forcing turnovers, and first in the Big Ten.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25775001/2183536009.jpg "Cleveland State v Ohio State")
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
How will that translate to the conference schedule? The trio in Illinois are slow to start their scoring clip this year, all shooting below their averages from last season, but that’s from a small sample size, including a tough shooting day against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Illinois combined to shoot 26.7 percent from the field, with Bryant especially struggling, going 0-of-8 from the floor and scoring one point. McKenzie picked up some of the scoring, leading the Illini with 18 points, but the defensive prowess shown by Ohio State early means the three need to be on their game.
Will their experience playing together, and years in the NCAA, give them what they need to rebound from that game against the Wildcats? All three are playing in their final seasons of eligibility, with none of them beating Ohio State. Barring a matchup in the postseason, Sunday is the last time for Illinois to stop a 12-game losing streak to the Scarlet and Gray, meaning an even more motivated side is expected.
The ultimate question entering Sunday surrounds the Buckeyes' ability to beat a ranked Big Ten team. Thierry’s been in this position of playing through mid-major after mid-major before facing a team that truly challenges Ohio State over the past three seasons.
“I think we’re pretty prepared. We’ve been coming in practice with a mindset to get better and improve our mistakes from previous games,” said Thierry. “So, I think we’re just excited to get started and get ready with this Big Ten play.”
It’s not only the players. It might sound crazy, but beating teams by 30 to 40 points loses its excitement after a while. Belmont gave some heart palpitations for Buckeye fans, but no other game this season will carry with it the heavy weight of expectations like Sunday’s matchup will.
Within the walls of the program, the expectations are always high, but from the outside looking in, it’s hard to know what will happen when the two teams meet up at the Schottenstein Center.
Illinois has the experience, played two power conference schools already this year, splitting with a win against the Florida State Seminoles and then the aforementioned fall to the Wildcats. Ohio State hasn’t been close to that level.
When the final buzzer sounds Sunday, will the storyline be that the Buckeyes are ready for conference play or that progress is further along than previously thought?
Either way, the games matter a little more starting this weekend.
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 Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have the Illini’s number in recent years, but how does a new look Ohio State match up, and will Cotie McMahon play?
It’s been a long non-conference slate for Ohio State women’s basketball without a power conference opponent. After seven games, the Buckeyes are a perfect 7-0, with minor scrapes to show for it from a trip to Belmont. Aside from that narrow victory, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for the Scarlet and Gray. That changes Sunday when the No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini come to town.
While the game only teases the Big Ten calendar, with non-conference games returning on the other side of the afternoon matchup, it gives a glimpse into who this Ohio State team will be once the competition increases.
Here are five things to watch this weekend.
Cotie McMahon: In or Out?
The last four games of the season have been without star forward Cotie McMahon. Picking up a lower leg injury on her right leg in practice, McMahon’s been in a boot and supporting the Buckeyes from the sidelines.
On Wednesday, Ohio State showed a first glimpse of McMahon’s possible return.
While the visuals elicit excitement for Ohio State fans, it’s a sign of progress, not a sign of an imminent return.
“She’s in practice and still kind of day-to-day but she’s made significant progress so I think we’ll be in a good position with her,” said head coach Kevin McGuff.
Should McMahon continue to be out on Sunday, which won’t be released by the conference until Sunday afternoon, Ohio State will continue with guard Kennedy Cambridge playing in the third guard role, with Taylor Thierry playing forward.
Just because McMahon isn’t on the court, doesn’t mean the players on the Buckeyes don’t benefit from having the forward around. In McMahon’s junior season, she’s grown into a leader on the team and brings the same desire and passion off the bench.
“When we coming out the game, even on timeouts when she feels that we’re not living up to the standard or playing as hard as we can,” said forward Ajae Petty. “She’s always talking and being encouraging and different things like that.”
Ohio State would rather have the upperclassmen on the court, especially against an Illinois group that’s full of seniority of their own. The Fighting Illini regularly start five seniors, and three are in their fifth years.
Consistency Needed
An element of playing the teams on Ohio State’s schedule is running into the occasional lull.
After the tip, teams bring intensity and their game plan to the Buckeyes, and Ohio State matches it. In most games this year, they’ve exceeded it, creating large deficits in the first half that ultimately end in victories.
Coming out of the halftime locker room, opponents bring a renewed intensity and have run into Buckeye teams who are sitting on sometimes leads over 20 points, which turns into opponents battling back. Maybe not in terms of erasing deficits, but going on sustained runs that take Ohio State time to break through.
In six of seven games this season, opponents have their best scoring quarters in the third quarter.
Against Utah State on Friday, Ohio State allowed 18 first-half points, and then 17 in the third quarter. Against Old Dominion on Thanksgiving day, it was a staunch defensive performance allowing 14 first-half points with the Monarchs scoring 18 in the third.
This stretches back through the non-conference schedule, with four opponents either matching or outscoring their entire first-half productivity in the 10 minutes following halftime.
I think we’ve shown that we can be really good but I still don’t think we’re anywhere close to what we’re capable of being and I think a lot of it has to do with consistency,” said McGuff. “It’s just we have a lot of new people where what we do is new to them and so we look good at times but we don’t sustain it for as long as we have in years past with older more mature teams.”
Ohio State’s eventually knocked off the cobwebs and hit their stride to recover from any sort of letdown, but the game against the Belmont Bruins shows it takes longer with a group who’s only played together for a few months.
The Buckeyes couldn’t string together an effective offense and when that third-quarter slump hit, there was only a four-point lead that the Bruins turned into a nine-point fourth-quarter lead.
Guard Jaloni Cambridge and the Scarlet and Gray showed that high level of talent to erase it and come away with the victory, but they won’t have the same luxury against Big Ten teams.
Now, the history between Ohio State and Illinois shows that even mature teams can go down to this side. In the 22-23 season, the Buckeyes needed a 17-point comeback in the second half to come away with the victory. Can this new iteration afford to allow the same kind of deficit to build and expect to win?
Containing Kendall Bostic
The Buckeyes have mostly had their way with Illinois over the past four seasons, but regardless of the final score, forward Kendall Bostic has a great game.
Here are Bostic’s stat lines against Ohio State over the past three seasons:
Jan. 6, 2022: 11 points/16 rebounds
Feb. 14, 2022: 12 points/16 rebounds
Jan. 8, 2023: 27 points/15 rebounds
Jan. 25, 2024: 13 points/18 rebounds
To put it lightly — no one’s stopped Bostic on the Buckeyes.
Bostic averages more rebounds per game against Ohio State than any of the other 16 teams in the Big Ten but the Buckeyes might finally have the personnel to slow her down.
Combining graduate forward Ajae Petty and freshman Elsa Lemmilä has given Ohio State a presence inside that they haven’t seen since the days of Aaliyah Patty and Dorka Juhász. Petty and Lemmilä average 7.7 rebounds and 7.4 rebounds collectively, with no Ohio State player averaging more than seven in the past three seasons.
Offensively, Petty’s come into her own over the past week of Buckeye games, scoring a season-high in points against Old Dominion (24) with her first double-double in scarlet and gray. Petty followed it up with a 19-point, nine-rebound game against the Utah State Aggies.
For Lemmilä, the 6-foot-6 center is still working on consistently offensively but defensively uses her size to her advantage, sitting seventh in the Big Ten with 16 blocks, all coming from a bench role.
Between the two, the Buckeyes rarely lack size on the court but how will they respond in a big game situation like facing their first conference opponent of the season?
The stage shouldn’t be too big for Petty, who spent last year starting every game of a tough SEC slate of games.
“Knowing that I’ve played against other talented players and knowing what I can do. I think that’s the biggest thing, just knowing that I’m capable of playing against those top players,” said Petty. “The SEC is a tough conference, but the Big Ten’s a really tough conference as well.”
Last season, the biggest matchup in the post was against the LSU Tigers and their now-WNBA forward Angel Reese. Kentucky lost, but Petty had 10 first-half rebounds playing against Reese, and outrebounded the star 15-14.
That was on a Wildcats team that struggled all season, and not an Ohio State side that has others that can get involved in defending the paint like Taylor Thierry and the older Cambridge sister.
Guard Battle
While the size and strength of the Illini interior are formidable, the play on the perimeter makes Illinois a team to be reckoned with.
“Got great guard play they really really experienced on the perimeter,” said McGuff. “Makira Cook is incredible I really really love her game and in Genesis [Bryant] also really really talented, so I like their talent level I love their guard play. They play really hard, they’re well organized and so we’re certainly gonna have our hands full.”
The effectiveness of the Cook, Bryant, and Adalia McKenzie trio has varied against Ohio State in the last two seasons, but it’s a different group of guards going up against this experienced side.
In the past two seasons, the trio started 180 games for the Illini. Ohio State’s likely starting duo, if McMahon is out, has 67 NCAA starts, and 66 of them come from shooting guard Chance Gray.
McGuff has No. 1 point guard Jaloni Cambridge, Gray, and the older Cambridge. The younger Cambridge is 12th in the nation in defensive rating (62.6) and leads the Big Ten with 6.4 percent of her defensive possessions ending in a steal for the freshman.
Since starting four games ago, Kennedy Cambridge averages 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, showing the NCAA the formidable defensive duo the Cambridge sisters bring to the game.
The idea that it would take time for the Buckeyes full-court press to adjust to the absence of Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor may have been exaggerated when comparing the two sides.
Looking only at games against non-power conference schools, the perimeter defense of the 24-25 Buckeyes averages 25.7 turnovers forced, compared to 24.7 from last year’s group. Ohio State is fourth in the country in forcing turnovers, and first in the Big Ten.
How will that translate to the conference schedule? The trio in Illinois are slow to start their scoring clip this year, all shooting below their averages from last season, but that’s from a small sample size, including a tough shooting day against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Illinois combined to shoot 26.7 percent from the field, with Bryant especially struggling, going 0-of-8 from the floor and scoring one point. McKenzie picked up some of the scoring, leading the Illini with 18 points, but the defensive prowess shown by Ohio State early means the three need to be on their game.
Will their experience playing together, and years in the NCAA, give them what they need to rebound from that game against the Wildcats? All three are playing in their final seasons of eligibility, with none of them beating Ohio State. Barring a matchup in the postseason, Sunday is the last time for Illinois to stop a 12-game losing streak to the Scarlet and Gray, meaning an even more motivated side is expected.
Big Ten Begins
The ultimate question entering Sunday surrounds the Buckeyes' ability to beat a ranked Big Ten team. Thierry’s been in this position of playing through mid-major after mid-major before facing a team that truly challenges Ohio State over the past three seasons.
“I think we’re pretty prepared. We’ve been coming in practice with a mindset to get better and improve our mistakes from previous games,” said Thierry. “So, I think we’re just excited to get started and get ready with this Big Ten play.”
It’s not only the players. It might sound crazy, but beating teams by 30 to 40 points loses its excitement after a while. Belmont gave some heart palpitations for Buckeye fans, but no other game this season will carry with it the heavy weight of expectations like Sunday’s matchup will.
Within the walls of the program, the expectations are always high, but from the outside looking in, it’s hard to know what will happen when the two teams meet up at the Schottenstein Center.
Illinois has the experience, played two power conference schools already this year, splitting with a win against the Florida State Seminoles and then the aforementioned fall to the Wildcats. Ohio State hasn’t been close to that level.
When the final buzzer sounds Sunday, will the storyline be that the Buckeyes are ready for conference play or that progress is further along than previously thought?
Either way, the games matter a little more starting this weekend.
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LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Is it time to panic after last night’s beatdown in College Park?
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Bucketheads Podcast: Is it time to panic after last night’s beatdown in College Park?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes lost to Pittsburgh in overtime and then got boat-raced by Maryland on the road, but how bad was it?
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We are back for episode 139 of the Bucketheads Podcast, and we are here to talk Ohio State men’s basketball fans off the ledge...maybe.
After losses to Pittsburgh and Maryland and falling to 5-3 on the season, is it time to push the panic button yet? And what went wrong in the Buckeyes 83-59 loss to Maryland in the DMV?
Also, how can the Buckeyes move forward without Aaron Bradshaw? The frontcourt seems to be a weakness moving forward, so how can Jake Diebler and the coaching staff help fix that as we move into the heart of the season?
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
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
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes lost to Pittsburgh in overtime and then got boat-raced by Maryland on the road, but how bad was it?
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We are back for episode 139 of the Bucketheads Podcast, and we are here to talk Ohio State men’s basketball fans off the ledge...maybe.
After losses to Pittsburgh and Maryland and falling to 5-3 on the season, is it time to push the panic button yet? And what went wrong in the Buckeyes 83-59 loss to Maryland in the DMV?
Also, how can the Buckeyes move forward without Aaron Bradshaw? The frontcourt seems to be a weakness moving forward, so how can Jake Diebler and the coaching staff help fix that as we move into the heart of the season?
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Catching up with Ohio State Wrestling
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Catching up with Ohio State Wrestling
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The OSU grapplers have completed three duals thus far and witnessed the triumphant return of All-American Sammy Sasso.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad kicked off dual action in mid-November, reeling off three consecutive (and dominant) wins of 30+ team points. The grappling Bucks also claimed seven individual titles at the season-opening Clarion Open and saw reigning 141-pound national champion Jesse Mendez defeat his stiffest competition and NCAA co-finalist at the NWCA All-Star Classic in State College, PA — Penn State’s backyard/home venue and the mecca of modern wrestling.
As impressive as OSU’s start to the season has been, it pales in comparison to the individual triumph(s) of both Tom Ryan and Sammy Sasso.
Ryan was involved in a serious automobile accident in April, which resulted in the Buckeyes’ coach being pulled from his car by the jaws of life. He then underwent 20+ hours of anesthesia and surgery to repair fractures in his femur and tibia, a shattered kneecap, and a torn rotator cuff. He also underwent a skin graft and received stitches for a head injury.
Ryan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but has since recovered well enough to join his team and be available for early season action. He even signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
As for Sasso, well, his story is (also) nothing short of remarkable. Ohio State’s unquestioned leader, 4x All-American, and 2x Big Ten Champion was shot in the stomach during a carjacking attempt in August of 2023. He survived but was told – after multiple surgeries and 41 days in the hospital – that he may never walk again, let alone wrestle.
But there’s a reason (multiple, really) that Sasso is referred to by many as “The Savage”. He was determined and undeterred.
For more than a year, Sasso endured intense rehab while also spending as much time as possible with coaches and teammates, eventually reaching the point where he was mentally and physically ready to compete again. But Ryan and his staff don’t just hand out spots in the lineup. Even to an individual as accomplished, admired, and respected/revered as Sasso... “The Savage” was required to earn a spot, which he did. And I think it’s safe to assume that he wouldn’t have preferred the recent situation to play out any other way.
Now, not only is Sasso back in OSU’s lineup, but he is also wrestling at 165 pounds — two weight classes above the one at which he previously competed (149). He is 3-0, with one major decision and a boatload of respect and admiration from everyone familiar with his story.
Several other Buckeye grapplers have impressed during and throughout the first month of the season, including but not limited to Brendan McCrone (125 lbs., 8-0), Nic Bouzakis (133, 7-1 with 3 wins via pinfall), Dylan D’Emilio (149, 8-0 with 4 major decisions), and Luke Geog (197, 7-1 with 4 tech falls). 2023-24 All-Americans Mendez and Nick Feldman are also doing just fine – and performing as expected – with 13 combined wins, 11 of which have come via MD, TF, or pin.
Ohio State is currently ranked 5th in the NWCA Coaches Poll (team), with several individuals ranked inside the top-10 at/of their respective weight classes. Mendez leads the way as an NCAA favorite, but it’s really worth keeping an eye on the entire OSU lineup. Because Ryan and Co. once again have a squad that is loaded with talent and poised to compete for B1G and NCAA glory.
Next up for the Buckeyes is this weekend’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, an event in which Ohio State has consistently performed well. Ryan’s squad has won the event five times since 2011 and took third place last year.
The 2024 edition of the Keen Invitational will feature several of the NCAA’s best teams, providing a solid litmus test for OSU prior to Big Ten competition, which is slated to begin shortly after the first of the year. The Big Ten race is shaping up to be a dogfight again this season, with five teams currently ranked inside the top-10 (NCWA poll).
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The OSU grapplers have completed three duals thus far and witnessed the triumphant return of All-American Sammy Sasso.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad kicked off dual action in mid-November, reeling off three consecutive (and dominant) wins of 30+ team points. The grappling Bucks also claimed seven individual titles at the season-opening Clarion Open and saw reigning 141-pound national champion Jesse Mendez defeat his stiffest competition and NCAA co-finalist at the NWCA All-Star Classic in State College, PA — Penn State’s backyard/home venue and the mecca of modern wrestling.
the call stands … @PhenoMendez is still#GoBucks
@SJanickiPhoto pic.twitter.com/ytC6zId8YP
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) November 17, 2024
As impressive as OSU’s start to the season has been, it pales in comparison to the individual triumph(s) of both Tom Ryan and Sammy Sasso.
Ryan was involved in a serious automobile accident in April, which resulted in the Buckeyes’ coach being pulled from his car by the jaws of life. He then underwent 20+ hours of anesthesia and surgery to repair fractures in his femur and tibia, a shattered kneecap, and a torn rotator cuff. He also underwent a skin graft and received stitches for a head injury.
Ryan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but has since recovered well enough to join his team and be available for early season action. He even signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
As for Sasso, well, his story is (also) nothing short of remarkable. Ohio State’s unquestioned leader, 4x All-American, and 2x Big Ten Champion was shot in the stomach during a carjacking attempt in August of 2023. He survived but was told – after multiple surgeries and 41 days in the hospital – that he may never walk again, let alone wrestle.
But there’s a reason (multiple, really) that Sasso is referred to by many as “The Savage”. He was determined and undeterred.
For more than a year, Sasso endured intense rehab while also spending as much time as possible with coaches and teammates, eventually reaching the point where he was mentally and physically ready to compete again. But Ryan and his staff don’t just hand out spots in the lineup. Even to an individual as accomplished, admired, and respected/revered as Sasso... “The Savage” was required to earn a spot, which he did. And I think it’s safe to assume that he wouldn’t have preferred the recent situation to play out any other way.
Now, not only is Sasso back in OSU’s lineup, but he is also wrestling at 165 pounds — two weight classes above the one at which he previously competed (149). He is 3-0, with one major decision and a boatload of respect and admiration from everyone familiar with his story.
Several other Buckeye grapplers have impressed during and throughout the first month of the season, including but not limited to Brendan McCrone (125 lbs., 8-0), Nic Bouzakis (133, 7-1 with 3 wins via pinfall), Dylan D’Emilio (149, 8-0 with 4 major decisions), and Luke Geog (197, 7-1 with 4 tech falls). 2023-24 All-Americans Mendez and Nick Feldman are also doing just fine – and performing as expected – with 13 combined wins, 11 of which have come via MD, TF, or pin.
Ohio State is currently ranked 5th in the NWCA Coaches Poll (team), with several individuals ranked inside the top-10 at/of their respective weight classes. Mendez leads the way as an NCAA favorite, but it’s really worth keeping an eye on the entire OSU lineup. Because Ryan and Co. once again have a squad that is loaded with talent and poised to compete for B1G and NCAA glory.
Next up for the Buckeyes is this weekend’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, an event in which Ohio State has consistently performed well. Ryan’s squad has won the event five times since 2011 and took third place last year.
The 2024 edition of the Keen Invitational will feature several of the NCAA’s best teams, providing a solid litmus test for OSU prior to Big Ten competition, which is slated to begin shortly after the first of the year. The Big Ten race is shaping up to be a dogfight again this season, with five teams currently ranked inside the top-10 (NCWA poll).
Continue reading...
LGHL I-80 Football Show: Penn State and Oregon had how many sacks this season?
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I-80 Football Show: Penn State and Oregon had how many sacks this season?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After Ohio State’s shocking loss to Michigan, it is Penn State and Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. This is the only Big Ten Podcast that’ll cover all 18 teams. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
The Big Ten regular season has come to an end with Penn State and Oregon heading to Indianapolis to fight for the Big Ten title. Despite his best effort, Jordan gets drawn into a conversation about the Ohio State-Michigan game. Jordan has been well aware for a few years but it is so clear now that Ryan Day has a mental block when it comes to coaching against Michigan.
Ohio State had an advantage in all aspects of the game but Ryan Day can not handle the pressure and coached his worst game all season. After four straight losses to Michigan and four years without winning the Big Ten, it’s time to move on from Day but we have no faith that Ohio State’s leadership makes the right decision.
The coaching carousel is starting to heat up as non-playoff teams are starting to make moves. USC linebacker coach Matt Entz accepted the Fresno State head coaching job while Rutger’s defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is now officially the head coach at UMass. Purdue has moved on from head coach Ryan Walters while Michigan moved on from offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell.
Nebraska lost defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State for the same role but they secured Dana Holgerson as their offensive coordinator after a brief stint to end the season. With bowl games and the 12-team playoff, it will be another few months before all the moves are final but the lights are on and the carousel music is playing.
The Big Ten dropped their all-conference teams and the end-of-season award winners headlined by Dillion Gabriel and Abdul Carter as offensive and defensive players of the year. Ohio State’s superstar freshman Jeremiah Smith became the first player to win the Freshman of the Year and Wide Receiver of the Year awards.
As expected, Curt Cignetti swept the coach of the year awards after going 11-1 in his first season as Indiana’s head coach. The guys also discuss early signing day which says Oregon dethrone Ohio State for the top class in the conference. Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan all have top-ten classes nationally led by five-star quarterbacks. The future of the conference is in good hands.
In their weekly pitstop, Dante proves himself right about the Lakers. It was too early to celebrate as the Lakers just lost to the Miami Heat by 40 points. Jordan loves that Paige Bueckers is the first college athlete to design a platers exclusive shoe with Nike.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday. You can also find Jordan’s article, including B1G Thoughts, on the Land-Grant Holy Land website.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After Ohio State’s shocking loss to Michigan, it is Penn State and Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. This is the only Big Ten Podcast that’ll cover all 18 teams. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
The Big Ten regular season has come to an end with Penn State and Oregon heading to Indianapolis to fight for the Big Ten title. Despite his best effort, Jordan gets drawn into a conversation about the Ohio State-Michigan game. Jordan has been well aware for a few years but it is so clear now that Ryan Day has a mental block when it comes to coaching against Michigan.
Ohio State had an advantage in all aspects of the game but Ryan Day can not handle the pressure and coached his worst game all season. After four straight losses to Michigan and four years without winning the Big Ten, it’s time to move on from Day but we have no faith that Ohio State’s leadership makes the right decision.
The coaching carousel is starting to heat up as non-playoff teams are starting to make moves. USC linebacker coach Matt Entz accepted the Fresno State head coaching job while Rutger’s defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is now officially the head coach at UMass. Purdue has moved on from head coach Ryan Walters while Michigan moved on from offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell.
Nebraska lost defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State for the same role but they secured Dana Holgerson as their offensive coordinator after a brief stint to end the season. With bowl games and the 12-team playoff, it will be another few months before all the moves are final but the lights are on and the carousel music is playing.
The Big Ten dropped their all-conference teams and the end-of-season award winners headlined by Dillion Gabriel and Abdul Carter as offensive and defensive players of the year. Ohio State’s superstar freshman Jeremiah Smith became the first player to win the Freshman of the Year and Wide Receiver of the Year awards.
As expected, Curt Cignetti swept the coach of the year awards after going 11-1 in his first season as Indiana’s head coach. The guys also discuss early signing day which says Oregon dethrone Ohio State for the top class in the conference. Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan all have top-ten classes nationally led by five-star quarterbacks. The future of the conference is in good hands.
In their weekly pitstop, Dante proves himself right about the Lakers. It was too early to celebrate as the Lakers just lost to the Miami Heat by 40 points. Jordan loves that Paige Bueckers is the first college athlete to design a platers exclusive shoe with Nike.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. To keep up with the show, you can subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed, where new episodes drop every Thursday. You can also find Jordan’s article, including B1G Thoughts, on the Land-Grant Holy Land website.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL B1G Thoughts: The penultimate CFP rankings have the Big Ten in a good spot!
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B1G Thoughts: The penultimate CFP rankings have the Big Ten in a good spot!
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
The regular season has come to an end, and with only conference championship games left the Big Ten is looking at four playoff teams.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format?
We will track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
The Penultimate Playoff Ranking!
The regular season has come to an end, and with it we’ve received the penultimate rankings from the College Football Playoff committee.
With only the conference championship games left, it’s safe to assume that four Big Ten teams — Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana — will all make the 12-team playoff field.
After much debate, Indiana secured a spot due to the chaos of the last couple of weeks, and Ohio State, with two top-five wins, was never going to fall out of the top 12 even with a shocking loss to Michigan. While there may be some changes to the seeding in the official bracket that releases on Sunday, Dec. 8, let’s take a look at some of the potential matchups.
If Oregon, which is currently favored, beats Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game and Texas beats Georiga, Penn State will most likely end up with the No. 5 seed, leading to a matchup against Arizona State in a game they would probably be favored by at least 10 points. Until the playoff seeding is adjusted, the No. 5 seed is the best, as Penn State would have a clear path to the semi-finals if they were to defeat Boise State in the second round.
Many Penn State fans were unhappy with their season outlook after losing to Ohio State, but now they seem to be in the driver’s seat. If they win on Saturday they could end up with the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye, and if they lose they most likely end up with the most coveted seed in the bracket.
After much debate on social media, the College Football Playoff committee respects Ohio State’s resume over that of Tennessee, which I believe is the right decision. They are both 10-2 teams with disappointing losses, but Ohio State has two wins over eventual playoff teams and a one-point loss to Oregon, the current No. 1 seed and favorite to win the national championship.
If Texas beats Georgia causing the Bulldogs to end up with three losses, Ohio State could move up to the No. 7 seed and a potential rematch against Indiana, but as currently projected Ohio State would get to host Tennessee in the first round.
Ohio State was a complete no-show against Michigan offensively, but their defense has been the best in the country since the Nebraska game and should be able to stop Tennessee’s limited offense. A win over Tennesse would lead to a rematch against Oregon, a game that we expected to see in the Big Ten championship game. That Ohio State-Oregon rematch could be the eventual winner of the national championship, but I’m sure Ohio State is hoping to end up opposite of Oregon in the bracket. I would imagine the Buckeye would rather face Indiana and Texas over Tennessee and Oregon to reach the playoff semi-finals.
Indiana is in the playoff, but would probably appreciate a better draw than Georgia or Ohio State. The system is setting up for Indiana to go home after a first round loss on the road, but we shouldn’t count out the Hoosiers. If Indiana gets a chance to play the Georgia team that showed up against Georgia Tech they could easily win that game.
Indiana is in a win/win situation, they went 11-1 in the first season under Cignetti and made the 12-team playoff. They are officially playing with house money with a chance to play spoiler on the road. Who has it better than the Hoosiers right now?
I’m sure Oregon wants to win the Big Ten in their first season, but you have to wonder how upset they would be if they landed the No. 5 seed. Despite the first-round bye, Oregon is in line to play Ohio State, Tennesse, or Georiga in the second round and all of those teams would have a real chance to upset them in the playoffs. Oregon is a good team that won’t run from a challenge, but playing Penn State followed by an Ohio State rematch or a game against Tennessee or Georgia isn’t the ideal playoff run.
With one weekend left the Big Ten is in a great position entering the playoffs with a strong chance to repeat as national champions. When the Big Ten voted to expand to 18 teams, this is the scenario they hoped for! We’ll have the final bracket soon enough, but the conference should feel good about the penultimate rankings.
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The regular season has come to an end, and with only conference championship games left the Big Ten is looking at four playoff teams.
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024 we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format?
We will track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
The Penultimate Playoff Ranking!
The regular season has come to an end, and with it we’ve received the penultimate rankings from the College Football Playoff committee.
With only the conference championship games left, it’s safe to assume that four Big Ten teams — Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana — will all make the 12-team playoff field.
After much debate, Indiana secured a spot due to the chaos of the last couple of weeks, and Ohio State, with two top-five wins, was never going to fall out of the top 12 even with a shocking loss to Michigan. While there may be some changes to the seeding in the official bracket that releases on Sunday, Dec. 8, let’s take a look at some of the potential matchups.
If Oregon, which is currently favored, beats Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game and Texas beats Georiga, Penn State will most likely end up with the No. 5 seed, leading to a matchup against Arizona State in a game they would probably be favored by at least 10 points. Until the playoff seeding is adjusted, the No. 5 seed is the best, as Penn State would have a clear path to the semi-finals if they were to defeat Boise State in the second round.
Many Penn State fans were unhappy with their season outlook after losing to Ohio State, but now they seem to be in the driver’s seat. If they win on Saturday they could end up with the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye, and if they lose they most likely end up with the most coveted seed in the bracket.
After much debate on social media, the College Football Playoff committee respects Ohio State’s resume over that of Tennessee, which I believe is the right decision. They are both 10-2 teams with disappointing losses, but Ohio State has two wins over eventual playoff teams and a one-point loss to Oregon, the current No. 1 seed and favorite to win the national championship.
If Texas beats Georgia causing the Bulldogs to end up with three losses, Ohio State could move up to the No. 7 seed and a potential rematch against Indiana, but as currently projected Ohio State would get to host Tennessee in the first round.
Ohio State was a complete no-show against Michigan offensively, but their defense has been the best in the country since the Nebraska game and should be able to stop Tennessee’s limited offense. A win over Tennesse would lead to a rematch against Oregon, a game that we expected to see in the Big Ten championship game. That Ohio State-Oregon rematch could be the eventual winner of the national championship, but I’m sure Ohio State is hoping to end up opposite of Oregon in the bracket. I would imagine the Buckeye would rather face Indiana and Texas over Tennessee and Oregon to reach the playoff semi-finals.
Indiana is in the playoff, but would probably appreciate a better draw than Georgia or Ohio State. The system is setting up for Indiana to go home after a first round loss on the road, but we shouldn’t count out the Hoosiers. If Indiana gets a chance to play the Georgia team that showed up against Georgia Tech they could easily win that game.
Indiana is in a win/win situation, they went 11-1 in the first season under Cignetti and made the 12-team playoff. They are officially playing with house money with a chance to play spoiler on the road. Who has it better than the Hoosiers right now?
I’m sure Oregon wants to win the Big Ten in their first season, but you have to wonder how upset they would be if they landed the No. 5 seed. Despite the first-round bye, Oregon is in line to play Ohio State, Tennesse, or Georiga in the second round and all of those teams would have a real chance to upset them in the playoffs. Oregon is a good team that won’t run from a challenge, but playing Penn State followed by an Ohio State rematch or a game against Tennessee or Georgia isn’t the ideal playoff run.
With one weekend left the Big Ten is in a great position entering the playoffs with a strong chance to repeat as national champions. When the Big Ten voted to expand to 18 teams, this is the scenario they hoped for! We’ll have the final bracket soon enough, but the conference should feel good about the penultimate rankings.
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork.
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Continue reading...