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LGHL Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
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Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475362/Screenshot_2024_06_02_at_10.55.23_PM.png)
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475368/2031357555.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 25 Ohio State at Michigan State")
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
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
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
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You’re Nuts: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Not only is the temperature rising outside as we are heading towards summer, here at LGHL we figured we would turn up the heat with some of our most unpopular opinions that might make people blow a gasket. Besides, since there isn’t much going on with Ohio State sports right now, we have to find some way to have a little fun as we pass the time before preseason practices for the Buckeyes begin in August.
Today we are going to tackle college athletics as a whole. Maybe there is something in a certain sport that you have a take about that gets others in a tizzy. Whether it be the football field, hardwood, the diamond, or it could encompass all collegiate sports, we want to hear your spiciest opinion. The one thing we ask is that you don’t attack anybody personally in a hugely negative way. While it’s ok to agree with some of the decisions of someone like Ryan Day or how much you might hate players from That Team Up North, we are hoping that Buckeye Nation can keep things civil when revealing their unpopular opinions.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love March Madness, it just doesn’t feel the same these days. The transfer portal and players either leaving for the NBA Draft after one season or finding other avenues so they can avoid college basketball altogether are just a couple of reasons why the tournament has been lacking in intrigue lately. Also, it doesn’t help that Ohio State has not only struggled to make the tournament, they haven’t made the second weekend of the dance in more than a decade.
Then there is also the talk of expanding the tournament field. There is absolutely no reason to do so since the tournament is already a tough watch to begin with. Not that there aren’t some fun games along the way and upsets that captivate the college basketball world. For some reason, it doesn’t feel nearly as magical as it used to. Then again, maybe I’m just becoming even more of a curmudgeon than I used to be.
When you look at the numbers, it’s not just me. The ratings for the NCAA Tournament are down and there isn’t nearly the talk about it as there felt like there was 10-15 years ago. Back then everybody filled out a bracket, while these days it feels like more and more people aren’t. Some of it can be blamed on the transfer portal, which sometimes makes it hard to know who is playing for what schools. In a way, I miss the days when you had college basketball teams with a core of players that stayed in school for three to four years. Maybe NIL fixes some of that, but I’m not holding my breath since the best players are going to head to the NBA as soon as they can.
The same can’t be said for the women’s tournament, which has captivated the nation over the last few years. Even though Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and a number of other high-profile players are now playing in the WNBA, the rise in viewership and intrigue for the women’s tournament doesn’t feel like it is going to slow down any time soon because now viewers are familiar with other star players that will be returning to college next season. As hot as the women’s tournament has been in terms of ratings and just overall excitement, the men’s tournament is trending in the opposite direction.
I know that this is almost certainly a product of my age, but I get the excitement around the return of the EA Sports college football video game — I played the game for years in my teens and early twenties — but I just can’t get myself hyped up for its return in 2024. Admittedly, I have never been much of a gamer, so I am not exactly the target audience for this game, but the amount of ink (and perhaps some other fluids) spilled about every single little morsel of news is mind-boggling to me.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yums; if you are geeked for this, I am happy for you, and I want you to enjoy every single nuance of the game and its rollout... it’s just not for me. The last legit gaming system I had was a PS2, and while I have “Galaga” and “Pac-Man” cabinets and some cheap old knock-off vintage systems that I almost never play, video games have never been a major part of my life.
And now that I watch my nephew play EA’s “FIFA” game and “NBA 2K,” it has become clear to me that the college football game that I played is a relic of the past. With microtransactions and opening cards and franchise development, that is not the same game that I once enjoyed (but wasn’t very good at). In all honesty, I might be more interested in the roster management portion of this new version than I am in the actual gameplay. But, truth be told, I will probably never find out, because not only do not have a compatible gaming system, the chances of me getting one are next to zero.
Of course, I am excited about what this means for the players and the younger fans who have never had the opportunity to play a college football game at all, let alone one that actually is able to take advantage of the players’ names, images, and likenesses. But, for me, a middle-aged dude in his early 40s, I have been honestly surprised by the fervor that people in my general demographic have displayed for the release of a video game... even one that millions have been waiting for over a decade.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Not only is the temperature rising outside as we are heading towards summer, here at LGHL we figured we would turn up the heat with some of our most unpopular opinions that might make people blow a gasket. Besides, since there isn’t much going on with Ohio State sports right now, we have to find some way to have a little fun as we pass the time before preseason practices for the Buckeyes begin in August.
Today we are going to tackle college athletics as a whole. Maybe there is something in a certain sport that you have a take about that gets others in a tizzy. Whether it be the football field, hardwood, the diamond, or it could encompass all collegiate sports, we want to hear your spiciest opinion. The one thing we ask is that you don’t attack anybody personally in a hugely negative way. While it’s ok to agree with some of the decisions of someone like Ryan Day or how much you might hate players from That Team Up North, we are hoping that Buckeye Nation can keep things civil when revealing their unpopular opinions.
Today’s question: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: The men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament is losing its juice
Don’t get me wrong, I still love March Madness, it just doesn’t feel the same these days. The transfer portal and players either leaving for the NBA Draft after one season or finding other avenues so they can avoid college basketball altogether are just a couple of reasons why the tournament has been lacking in intrigue lately. Also, it doesn’t help that Ohio State has not only struggled to make the tournament, they haven’t made the second weekend of the dance in more than a decade.
Then there is also the talk of expanding the tournament field. There is absolutely no reason to do so since the tournament is already a tough watch to begin with. Not that there aren’t some fun games along the way and upsets that captivate the college basketball world. For some reason, it doesn’t feel nearly as magical as it used to. Then again, maybe I’m just becoming even more of a curmudgeon than I used to be.
When you look at the numbers, it’s not just me. The ratings for the NCAA Tournament are down and there isn’t nearly the talk about it as there felt like there was 10-15 years ago. Back then everybody filled out a bracket, while these days it feels like more and more people aren’t. Some of it can be blamed on the transfer portal, which sometimes makes it hard to know who is playing for what schools. In a way, I miss the days when you had college basketball teams with a core of players that stayed in school for three to four years. Maybe NIL fixes some of that, but I’m not holding my breath since the best players are going to head to the NBA as soon as they can.
The same can’t be said for the women’s tournament, which has captivated the nation over the last few years. Even though Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and a number of other high-profile players are now playing in the WNBA, the rise in viewership and intrigue for the women’s tournament doesn’t feel like it is going to slow down any time soon because now viewers are familiar with other star players that will be returning to college next season. As hot as the women’s tournament has been in terms of ratings and just overall excitement, the men’s tournament is trending in the opposite direction.
Matt’s answer: I do not care about the new EA Sports College Football Game
I know that this is almost certainly a product of my age, but I get the excitement around the return of the EA Sports college football video game — I played the game for years in my teens and early twenties — but I just can’t get myself hyped up for its return in 2024. Admittedly, I have never been much of a gamer, so I am not exactly the target audience for this game, but the amount of ink (and perhaps some other fluids) spilled about every single little morsel of news is mind-boggling to me.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yums; if you are geeked for this, I am happy for you, and I want you to enjoy every single nuance of the game and its rollout... it’s just not for me. The last legit gaming system I had was a PS2, and while I have “Galaga” and “Pac-Man” cabinets and some cheap old knock-off vintage systems that I almost never play, video games have never been a major part of my life.
And now that I watch my nephew play EA’s “FIFA” game and “NBA 2K,” it has become clear to me that the college football game that I played is a relic of the past. With microtransactions and opening cards and franchise development, that is not the same game that I once enjoyed (but wasn’t very good at). In all honesty, I might be more interested in the roster management portion of this new version than I am in the actual gameplay. But, truth be told, I will probably never find out, because not only do not have a compatible gaming system, the chances of me getting one are next to zero.
Of course, I am excited about what this means for the players and the younger fans who have never had the opportunity to play a college football game at all, let alone one that actually is able to take advantage of the players’ names, images, and likenesses. But, for me, a middle-aged dude in his early 40s, I have been honestly surprised by the fervor that people in my general demographic have displayed for the release of a video game... even one that millions have been waiting for over a decade.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts Unpopular Opinion: What non-Ohio State B1G team would you want to win a CFP title?
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You’re Nuts Unpopular Opinion: What non-Ohio State B1G team would you want to win a CFP title?
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 Bernstein Associates/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.
And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.
This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.
“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”
Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.
“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.
To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.
If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.
Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.
I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?
So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.
Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.
From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.
But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?
I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.
I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.
So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.
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 Bernstein Associates/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What B1G team would you want to win the national title other than Ohio State?
Jami’s Take: Washington Huskies
I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.
And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.
This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.
“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”
Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.
“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.
To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.
If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.
Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.
Matt’s Take: Iowa Hawkeyes
I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?
So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.
Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.
From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.
But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?
I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.
I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.
So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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LGHL Braxton Miller announces he is entering the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
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Braxton Miller announces he is entering the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The legendary Ohio State QB/WR is the first member of the 2024 class.
Late on Thursday night, former Buckeye quarterback and wide receiver Braxton Miller posted on X that he would be an inductee of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. Miller is the first known inductee of the class, with the rest of the new members being announced in July. The Springfield native was one of the most electric players to ever don the scarlet and gray.
Prior to committing to Ohio State as a five-star recruit, Miller was a four-year starter at quarterback for Wayne High School in Huber Heights. Miller was not only a finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football Award. he was chosen to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game. Despite the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel, who recruited Miller, just a few months prior to the 2011 season, Miller stuck with his commitment to Ohio State.
Once on campus, it was only a matter of time before Miller was given the keys to the Buckeye offense. The freshman was a backup to Joe Bauserman for the first three games of the 2011 season before he was named the starting quarterback against Colorado. Despite dealing with some inconsistent play, as well as some injuries, it became obvious during the season that Miller was the future of the Ohio State offense with his dual-threat ability. The highlight of the season for Miller was leading the Buckeyes to an upset 33-29 win over Russell Wilson and Wisconsin. Miller became the seventh Ohio State player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Not only was there excitement surrounding Miller’s future at Ohio State, just a few days following the loss to Michigan in the regular season finale, the Buckeyes named Urban Meyer as their next head coach. Ohio State would go on to finish the regular season 12-0, but were ineligible to play in a bowl game after self-imposing a bowl ban as punishment for the “Tatgate” scandal. Miller amassed over 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns on his way to being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Ohio State entered the 2013 season as one of the favorites to make the BCS National Championship Game. The season for Miller hit a bit of a snag in non-conference play when he was injured against San Diego State, which resulted in the junior sitting out a few games before returning for the 31-24 win over Wisconsin. The Buckeyes would again finish the regular season undefeated, but they suffered their first loss under Urban Meyer in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan State. Ohio State would also lose in the Orange Bowl to Clemson in a game where Miller was battered by the pass rush of the Tigers. Despite missing a few games due to injury, Miller was again named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, Miller underwent shoulder surgery in February, with the expectation he would be ready for his senior season. Buckeye Nation was rocked when it was announced Miller had tore his labrum in the same shoulder in preseason practice, leading to the quarterback being ruled out for the season and using his medical redshirt. With Miller on the sidelines, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett put Ohio State in position to make the first College Football Playoff. Barrett was injured against Michigan, resulting in third-string quarterback Cardale Jones to start the final three games of the season, which ended with the Buckeyes winning the national championship.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25474050/487251848.jpg "Ohio State v Virginia Tech")
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Not only was Miller returning to Columbus for the 2015 season, Cardale Jones announced he would also be back for the Buckeyes, joining Barrett in a crowded quarterback room. After months of debate on who would start for the Buckeyes, Miller removed himself from the competition when he announced he would be moving to H-back. Miller made an immediate impact in the season opener at Virginia Tech when he used an iconic spin move to find the end zone in the 42-24 win over the Hokies. In his final season at Ohio State, Miller finished with 26 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite missing a season due to injury and switching to wide receiver for his senior season, Miller put up some amazing statistics at Ohio State. Miller would finish with 5,295 yards passing, 3,314 yards rushing, 52 passing touchdowns, 33 rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns. The 88 total touchdowns are a school record, and Miller ranks second in school history in total yards.
In the 2016 NFL Draft, Miller was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round. In two years with the Texans, Miller caught 34 passes for 261 yards and three scores across 21 games. After being waived by Houston prior to the 2018 season, Miller agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers over the next two seasons but wouldn’t appear in another NFL game.
While no date for the induction ceremony for the 2024 class has been announced, last year’s ceremony took place in early October at the Covelli Center. 14 Ohio State greats were inducted, including football greats Malcolm Jenkins, Nick Mangold, and Rick Middleton. The criteria to be eligible to be inducted to the hall are an athlete has to be at least five years past graduation and earned at least one varsity “O” during their time at Ohio State. LGHL will keep you updated as more inductees are added to this year’s class.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The legendary Ohio State QB/WR is the first member of the 2024 class.
Late on Thursday night, former Buckeye quarterback and wide receiver Braxton Miller posted on X that he would be an inductee of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. Miller is the first known inductee of the class, with the rest of the new members being announced in July. The Springfield native was one of the most electric players to ever don the scarlet and gray.
Prior to committing to Ohio State as a five-star recruit, Miller was a four-year starter at quarterback for Wayne High School in Huber Heights. Miller was not only a finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football Award. he was chosen to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game. Despite the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel, who recruited Miller, just a few months prior to the 2011 season, Miller stuck with his commitment to Ohio State.
Once on campus, it was only a matter of time before Miller was given the keys to the Buckeye offense. The freshman was a backup to Joe Bauserman for the first three games of the 2011 season before he was named the starting quarterback against Colorado. Despite dealing with some inconsistent play, as well as some injuries, it became obvious during the season that Miller was the future of the Ohio State offense with his dual-threat ability. The highlight of the season for Miller was leading the Buckeyes to an upset 33-29 win over Russell Wilson and Wisconsin. Miller became the seventh Ohio State player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Not only was there excitement surrounding Miller’s future at Ohio State, just a few days following the loss to Michigan in the regular season finale, the Buckeyes named Urban Meyer as their next head coach. Ohio State would go on to finish the regular season 12-0, but were ineligible to play in a bowl game after self-imposing a bowl ban as punishment for the “Tatgate” scandal. Miller amassed over 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns on his way to being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Ohio State entered the 2013 season as one of the favorites to make the BCS National Championship Game. The season for Miller hit a bit of a snag in non-conference play when he was injured against San Diego State, which resulted in the junior sitting out a few games before returning for the 31-24 win over Wisconsin. The Buckeyes would again finish the regular season undefeated, but they suffered their first loss under Urban Meyer in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan State. Ohio State would also lose in the Orange Bowl to Clemson in a game where Miller was battered by the pass rush of the Tigers. Despite missing a few games due to injury, Miller was again named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, Miller underwent shoulder surgery in February, with the expectation he would be ready for his senior season. Buckeye Nation was rocked when it was announced Miller had tore his labrum in the same shoulder in preseason practice, leading to the quarterback being ruled out for the season and using his medical redshirt. With Miller on the sidelines, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett put Ohio State in position to make the first College Football Playoff. Barrett was injured against Michigan, resulting in third-string quarterback Cardale Jones to start the final three games of the season, which ended with the Buckeyes winning the national championship.
Not only was Miller returning to Columbus for the 2015 season, Cardale Jones announced he would also be back for the Buckeyes, joining Barrett in a crowded quarterback room. After months of debate on who would start for the Buckeyes, Miller removed himself from the competition when he announced he would be moving to H-back. Miller made an immediate impact in the season opener at Virginia Tech when he used an iconic spin move to find the end zone in the 42-24 win over the Hokies. In his final season at Ohio State, Miller finished with 26 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite missing a season due to injury and switching to wide receiver for his senior season, Miller put up some amazing statistics at Ohio State. Miller would finish with 5,295 yards passing, 3,314 yards rushing, 52 passing touchdowns, 33 rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns. The 88 total touchdowns are a school record, and Miller ranks second in school history in total yards.
In the 2016 NFL Draft, Miller was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round. In two years with the Texans, Miller caught 34 passes for 261 yards and three scores across 21 games. After being waived by Houston prior to the 2018 season, Miller agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers over the next two seasons but wouldn’t appear in another NFL game.
While no date for the induction ceremony for the 2024 class has been announced, last year’s ceremony took place in early October at the Covelli Center. 14 Ohio State greats were inducted, including football greats Malcolm Jenkins, Nick Mangold, and Rick Middleton. The criteria to be eligible to be inducted to the hall are an athlete has to be at least five years past graduation and earned at least one varsity “O” during their time at Ohio State. LGHL will keep you updated as more inductees are added to this year’s class.
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LGHL Unpopular Opinion: The Schottenstein Center is great for women’s basketball, if fans show up
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Unpopular Opinion: The Schottenstein Center is great for women’s basketball, if fans show up
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
It’s time to accept the Schott and appreciate it
I can admit when I’ve made a mistake. In August of 2022, I wrote an article about how the Covelli Center would be a great home for Ohio State women’s basketball. The 2023-24 season showed that the Schottenstein Center provides a fantastic atmosphere for a basketball game. However, the big problem with the venue is that fans don’t show up nearly often enough.
On Jan. 21, 2024, Ohio State won what ended up being its most impressive victory of the season. Down 12 points, the Buckeyes rallied. After guard Celeste Taylor hit a shot to put Ohio State back into the game with seconds remaining, the Scarlet & Gray dominated in overtime to pick up a victory that ultimately led to winning an outright Big Ten Regular Season title.
In four seasons covering Ohio State, I’ve heard the yelling and complaining of opposing fans as the Buckeyes mounted comebacks in away arenas, saw the shock of UConn fans in the 2023 Sweet Sixteen, and stood within a few feet of players cutting down the nets after beating rivals from up north.
The win over Iowa was different. It was an experience that tops the list of games covered live. At the end of regulation, something happened that I hadn’t felt before at a game, and likely won’t be repeated. As I took a second to breathe, my arms were shaking. A feeling felt by peers next to me.
It wasn’t only because of an exciting game featuring the biggest name in the sport, a gift for someone writing about sports. No, it was mostly because of the sound that reverberated throughout the Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State’s win wasn’t its largest comeback in the arena. It wasn’t a game that featured the most exciting plays in the past four seasons. However, having a program record 18,860 people in attendance — 1,300 more than the previous mark — put the experience of that matchup into another stratosphere.
An arena that’s often ridiculed, mainly by St. John’s Arena loyalists (it’s not hosting games anymore, I’m sorry), was loud. It sounded more like the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Finals game seven than a regular season Big Ten college basketball game. Why can’t that happen more often?
A logical argument is that not every game features superstar guard Caitlin Clark. I have a counterpoint:
Scarlet and gray heavily outnumbered Iowa’s black and gold in the crowd.
As much as Hawkeye fans cheered when Clark hit one of her token deep three-pointers, and the few Clark-curious Buckeye supporters, the game was the loudest when Ohio State made a fourth-quarter run.
Ohio State fans are out there. They’re the same people who pack nearly 100,000 people into Ohio Stadium. Their names are scrolled on degrees just like their football peers. Even the football players themselves come out to women’s basketball games, so why can’t the uninitiated?
Following that win, the Buckeyes did get a bump in attendance. After keeping the upper bowl closed for years, certain games gave fans the opportunity to pack the lower bowl and open up parts of the upper deck. The final two regular season home games each eclipsed 10,000 in attendance, with wins over the Maryland Terrapins and Michigan Wolverines.
The bump in attendance falls in line with the overall increase in excitement for women’s basketball. Across college and the pros, records in attendance, sell-outs, and television ratings are common. Each week, a new record seems to be broken.
It’s the perfect time to make the Schottenstein Center what it can be. It’s got the potential to be a fortress for Ohio State on the women’s side. While fan favorites like guards Jacy Sheldon and the aforementioned Taylor are gone, there’s more than enough to make up for it in new roster additions.
Head coach Kevin McGuff added the No. 2 overall recruit in the country, the highest-rated recruit landing at Ohio State in his tenure. Guard Jaloni Cambridge enters the team with high expectations. Something the incoming freshman embraces and easily clears with a highlight reel of moments leading to another National Championship as a senior with Montverde Academy.
Plus, Chance Gray, a dynamic shooting guard out of Cincinnati, went to the University of Oregon for two seasons before coming back to her home state. There’s also Ajae Petty, a double-double averaging forward who joins the Buckeyes after her best collegiate season with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Those are only the new players. Coach McGuff returns senior experience and dynamic playmakers. Guard Madison Greene played her first nearly full season in three years this past season, following two ACL tears keeping her out most of the 21-22 and 22-23 seasons. Greene stands alongside guard/forward Taylor Thierry whose ceiling might be higher than any in the conference with sheer athleticism and knowledge of the game.
Last, but not least in the slightest, is forward Cotie McMahon. Debuting as a freshman two seasons ago, McMahon showed her future as a staple of the conference. In that win over Iowa, the sophomore scored 33 points and added 12 rebounds, with two blocks. Putting McMahon alongside Cambridge creates a duo that Ohio State fans will need to see to believe.
This isn’t a knock to the loyal fans of Buckeyes women’s basketball. There’s a dedicated group, even some who travel to see the team consistently away from Columbus, who are loud, excited, and show support for Ohio State. However, now that the arena’s potential is realized, it’s time for more.
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
It’s time to accept the Schott and appreciate it
I can admit when I’ve made a mistake. In August of 2022, I wrote an article about how the Covelli Center would be a great home for Ohio State women’s basketball. The 2023-24 season showed that the Schottenstein Center provides a fantastic atmosphere for a basketball game. However, the big problem with the venue is that fans don’t show up nearly often enough.
On Jan. 21, 2024, Ohio State won what ended up being its most impressive victory of the season. Down 12 points, the Buckeyes rallied. After guard Celeste Taylor hit a shot to put Ohio State back into the game with seconds remaining, the Scarlet & Gray dominated in overtime to pick up a victory that ultimately led to winning an outright Big Ten Regular Season title.
In four seasons covering Ohio State, I’ve heard the yelling and complaining of opposing fans as the Buckeyes mounted comebacks in away arenas, saw the shock of UConn fans in the 2023 Sweet Sixteen, and stood within a few feet of players cutting down the nets after beating rivals from up north.
The win over Iowa was different. It was an experience that tops the list of games covered live. At the end of regulation, something happened that I hadn’t felt before at a game, and likely won’t be repeated. As I took a second to breathe, my arms were shaking. A feeling felt by peers next to me.
It wasn’t only because of an exciting game featuring the biggest name in the sport, a gift for someone writing about sports. No, it was mostly because of the sound that reverberated throughout the Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State’s win wasn’t its largest comeback in the arena. It wasn’t a game that featured the most exciting plays in the past four seasons. However, having a program record 18,860 people in attendance — 1,300 more than the previous mark — put the experience of that matchup into another stratosphere.
An arena that’s often ridiculed, mainly by St. John’s Arena loyalists (it’s not hosting games anymore, I’m sorry), was loud. It sounded more like the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Finals game seven than a regular season Big Ten college basketball game. Why can’t that happen more often?
A logical argument is that not every game features superstar guard Caitlin Clark. I have a counterpoint:
Scarlet and gray heavily outnumbered Iowa’s black and gold in the crowd.
As much as Hawkeye fans cheered when Clark hit one of her token deep three-pointers, and the few Clark-curious Buckeye supporters, the game was the loudest when Ohio State made a fourth-quarter run.
Ohio State fans are out there. They’re the same people who pack nearly 100,000 people into Ohio Stadium. Their names are scrolled on degrees just like their football peers. Even the football players themselves come out to women’s basketball games, so why can’t the uninitiated?
Following that win, the Buckeyes did get a bump in attendance. After keeping the upper bowl closed for years, certain games gave fans the opportunity to pack the lower bowl and open up parts of the upper deck. The final two regular season home games each eclipsed 10,000 in attendance, with wins over the Maryland Terrapins and Michigan Wolverines.
The bump in attendance falls in line with the overall increase in excitement for women’s basketball. Across college and the pros, records in attendance, sell-outs, and television ratings are common. Each week, a new record seems to be broken.
It’s the perfect time to make the Schottenstein Center what it can be. It’s got the potential to be a fortress for Ohio State on the women’s side. While fan favorites like guards Jacy Sheldon and the aforementioned Taylor are gone, there’s more than enough to make up for it in new roster additions.
Head coach Kevin McGuff added the No. 2 overall recruit in the country, the highest-rated recruit landing at Ohio State in his tenure. Guard Jaloni Cambridge enters the team with high expectations. Something the incoming freshman embraces and easily clears with a highlight reel of moments leading to another National Championship as a senior with Montverde Academy.
Plus, Chance Gray, a dynamic shooting guard out of Cincinnati, went to the University of Oregon for two seasons before coming back to her home state. There’s also Ajae Petty, a double-double averaging forward who joins the Buckeyes after her best collegiate season with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Those are only the new players. Coach McGuff returns senior experience and dynamic playmakers. Guard Madison Greene played her first nearly full season in three years this past season, following two ACL tears keeping her out most of the 21-22 and 22-23 seasons. Greene stands alongside guard/forward Taylor Thierry whose ceiling might be higher than any in the conference with sheer athleticism and knowledge of the game.
Last, but not least in the slightest, is forward Cotie McMahon. Debuting as a freshman two seasons ago, McMahon showed her future as a staple of the conference. In that win over Iowa, the sophomore scored 33 points and added 12 rebounds, with two blocks. Putting McMahon alongside Cambridge creates a duo that Ohio State fans will need to see to believe.
This isn’t a knock to the loyal fans of Buckeyes women’s basketball. There’s a dedicated group, even some who travel to see the team consistently away from Columbus, who are loud, excited, and show support for Ohio State. However, now that the arena’s potential is realized, it’s time for more.
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