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LGHL What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game at Wrigley Field?
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What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game at Wrigley Field?
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will go on the road to play the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday inEvanston Chicago, Illinois. The two Big Ten teams will be playing in Wrigley Field as Northwestern’s Jack Ryan Stadium is undergoing renovations and the water-front Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is little more than a high school stadium at a capacity of 12,023; not exactly where you want to play Ohio State when trying to maximize your gate revenue.
So, for this week’s LGHL fan survey, we want to see how you are feeling about the Buckeyes playing in a cramped baseball stadium, especially with arguably the two most important games of the regular season still to come. Then, we want to know what you think the margin of victory will be in the friendly confines on Saturday.
So, check out the questions and then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. If you have more to add to a question, or none of our options line up with what you are thinking about a topic, feel free to write in your responses in the comments at the bottom of the page.
True story, after I graduated from Ohio State, my first job was working for the Big Ten Conference in the suburbs outside of Chicago. But, my apartment in the Windy City was in Wrigleyville, just about three or four blocks from Wrigley Field. I went to games there often, especially when my beloved Cincinnati Reds were in town. I loved the vibe in the neighborhood; I loved the old-school aesthetic of the park; I loved the unique, Midwestern grandeur of the ivy-covered brick; I loved going to Wrigley Field.
You know what I never thought in my year of living within five minutes of that glorious cathedral of America’s Pastime? I never once thought, “Wow, they should play football games in here.”
I understand the logistical reasonings for why Northwestern is not playing this game on campus, but it still does not explain why in the hell they are forcing a 120-yard field into those friendly confines. With brink walls butted up against endzone lines, what could be more unfriendly than that for elite athletes running at full speed?
I am sure that it will make for very pretty pictures, but this is dumb, imo.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend after blanking Purdue 45-0 last Saturday. With the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers coming to Columbus next week and the rival Michigan Wolverines to cap the regular season, Ryan Day and company undoubtedly want to eliminate any doubt against overmatched opponents.
The FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Ohio State as a 31.5-point favorite and the gold standard college football analytics model SP+ projects the Buckeyes to win by a score of 37-6.
I don’t know about you, but I think that if Day, his team, and staff want to win by 60, they could. However, the only question in terms of margin of victory for me is whether or not they want to put their players out there with seven incredibly important games left to play.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will go on the road to play the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday in
So, for this week’s LGHL fan survey, we want to see how you are feeling about the Buckeyes playing in a cramped baseball stadium, especially with arguably the two most important games of the regular season still to come. Then, we want to know what you think the margin of victory will be in the friendly confines on Saturday.
So, check out the questions and then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. If you have more to add to a question, or none of our options line up with what you are thinking about a topic, feel free to write in your responses in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game in Wrigley Field this weekend?
True story, after I graduated from Ohio State, my first job was working for the Big Ten Conference in the suburbs outside of Chicago. But, my apartment in the Windy City was in Wrigleyville, just about three or four blocks from Wrigley Field. I went to games there often, especially when my beloved Cincinnati Reds were in town. I loved the vibe in the neighborhood; I loved the old-school aesthetic of the park; I loved the unique, Midwestern grandeur of the ivy-covered brick; I loved going to Wrigley Field.
You know what I never thought in my year of living within five minutes of that glorious cathedral of America’s Pastime? I never once thought, “Wow, they should play football games in here.”
I understand the logistical reasonings for why Northwestern is not playing this game on campus, but it still does not explain why in the hell they are forcing a 120-yard field into those friendly confines. With brink walls butted up against endzone lines, what could be more unfriendly than that for elite athletes running at full speed?
I am sure that it will make for very pretty pictures, but this is dumb, imo.
Question 2: What will the margin of victory be in Saturday’s game against Northwestern?
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend after blanking Purdue 45-0 last Saturday. With the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers coming to Columbus next week and the rival Michigan Wolverines to cap the regular season, Ryan Day and company undoubtedly want to eliminate any doubt against overmatched opponents.
The FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Ohio State as a 31.5-point favorite and the gold standard college football analytics model SP+ projects the Buckeyes to win by a score of 37-6.
I don’t know about you, but I think that if Day, his team, and staff want to win by 60, they could. However, the only question in terms of margin of victory for me is whether or not they want to put their players out there with seven incredibly important games left to play.
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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LGHL B1G Thoughts: After playing Michigan close, should Indiana be concerned?
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B1G Thoughts: After playing Michigan close, should Indiana be concerned?
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 Hoosiers are 10-0, but did the Wolverines expose some of their flaws?
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 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.
Indiana is 10-0 for the first time in school history. I think it’s important to remind everyone of this, because they could lose their next two games and the bowl game and this would still be a successful season.
There is no raining on the Hoosier parade, but after playing Michigan there may be cracks in the foundation. Much has been made about Indiana’s schedule and how easy it has been, but when you’re winning every game but 30-plus points, there isn’t much to critique.
On Saturday, Indiana played their toughest opponent yet, a talented but struggling Michigan team. Michigan held IU’s offense to 246 total yards and only 18 yards in the second half. The Wolverines lost this game because their offense is inept and their coach is bad situationally, otherwise this easily could’ve been a major upset for Michigan despite a down season.
What is more concerning is how much pressure Michigan got on Kurtis Rourke. The Wolverines had four sacks, three QB hits, and seven pressures on 32 dropbacks. Rourke was under pressure the whole night, and a team like Ohio State and most likely anyone they play in the playoffs is going to get pressure on Rourke. Throughout the game, but especially in the second half, Indiana failed the protect the passer, couldn’t run the ball and their wide receivers weren’t able to get any separation.
The positive spin is they found a way to win, which is a good sign for their culture. Regardless of how this season ends, this is a banner year for the Hoosiers. Still, their ability to compete against Ohio State and the top of the sport just became a question again.
For the first eight weeks of the season, UCLA looked like one of the worst teams in power conference football. Their season started with a three-point win over Hawaii, a game they should’ve lost honestly, followed by five-straight losses where they never scored more than 17 total points.
They’ve turned it around the last three weeks with wins over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. The win at Rutgers felt like a fluke, but after beating the Hawkeyes, DeShaun Foster seems to be hitting the right buttons and his team is improving each week. With Washington, USC, and Fresno State left on the schedule, UCLA has an outside chance of making a bowl game, and that would be massive after Foster took over mid-spring when Chip Kelly left to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Many of us laughed at the Foster hiring, but he may be on to something. UCLA has a lot to fight for in the last three weeks of the season. I, for one, will be rooting for them.
We’re 10 games into the college football season, and with the new playoff structure, the transfer portal, and national signing day being moved up, coaching changes are going to happen earlier and earlier. In the Big Ten, I think most coaches are safe, as we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of movement in the last three seasons.
11 of the 18 programs in the conference have coaches in their third year or less. Of the seven remaining, it’s unlikely that Ohio State, Penn State, USC or Iowa fire their coach, whether due to a lack of winning or large buyouts. That leaves Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland as the only teams who would even consider making a change at the top.
Minnesota most likely isn’t making a change unless they decide to go the Wisconsin route and fire a coach with a clear ceiling in hopes of better, but that isn’t going well for Wisconsin. Schiano is the best coach in Rutgers history, so he’s probably safe. The only coach potentially on the chopping block is Mike Locksley.
Maryland is having a disappointing year at 4-5, with a 1-5 mark in conference. With Rutgers, Iowa, and Penn State on the schedule, it’s unlikely that Maryland will make a bowl game and a 4-8 record isn’t out of the picture. Firing Locksley depends on where Maryland believes it should be in the new Big Ten, but it has to be hard to see Indiana’s success and not want more.
Outside of head coaches, expect a lot of movement from coordinators, which is going to be a national trend. Purdue has already fired their offensive coordinator, and it’s a good bet that Wisconsin will fire theirs. Lincoln Riley may once again be making changes, and Sherrone Moore really should reconsider his staff as well. There may not be much shakeup at the top, but with the coordinators I expect a lot of movement.
The SEC conference standings are officially in a log jam, and may go three or four steps deep into their tiebreaker scenarios just to figure out who will make the SEC championship game. After Week 11 and a massive Ole Miss victory making Georgia 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, the SEC has three one-loss teams and five two-loss teams.
Tennesse, Texas and Texas A&M all have one conference loss, while Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri and LSU all have two. For both the SEC and the Big Ten, it would’ve been better if Georgia had beat Ole Miss, as it would take another team out of conference title and playoff contention.
There is one way for this to shake out that benefits both conferences. If Tennessee beats Georgia this Saturday, it would make the Bulldogs a three-loss team. In this scenario, Tennessee is almost guaranteed to make the conference championship and play the winner of Texas-Texas A&M. If Georgia beats Tennesee, with Texas and TAMU still needing to play, there is a chance that the SEC ends up with a singular one-loss team and seven two-loss teams.
This is a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, particularly the Big Ten. The B1G is one of the two best conferences in college football, but the SEC still garners the most respect. If there are seven two-loss teams in the SEC and they have mainly played and beat each other, there may be a question of whose resume is better — a 10-2 Ole Miss with a win over Georgia or an 11-1 Indiana or Penn State without a signature win. The same could be said for Georgia with the win over Texas and Tennessee, or Alabama with their wins over Georgia and LSU.
In reality, any 11-1 team from the Big Ten should get into the playoffs, and that may be how it shakes out in the end. But the Big Ten should at least be a little uncomfortable if there are a bunch of two-loss SEC teams with all of their losses coming to each other in top 25 matchups.
Lastly, this exact scenario is why the SEC needs to move to nine conference games. An extra conference game would have made a lot of this figure itself out. Instead, we will all be glued to the TV for the next few weeks until all the games are played and the final College Football Playoff rankings are released.
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330.
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...
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 Hoosiers are 10-0, but did the Wolverines expose some of their flaws?
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 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.
Should Indiana be concerned after playing Michigan?
Indiana is 10-0 for the first time in school history. I think it’s important to remind everyone of this, because they could lose their next two games and the bowl game and this would still be a successful season.
There is no raining on the Hoosier parade, but after playing Michigan there may be cracks in the foundation. Much has been made about Indiana’s schedule and how easy it has been, but when you’re winning every game but 30-plus points, there isn’t much to critique.
On Saturday, Indiana played their toughest opponent yet, a talented but struggling Michigan team. Michigan held IU’s offense to 246 total yards and only 18 yards in the second half. The Wolverines lost this game because their offense is inept and their coach is bad situationally, otherwise this easily could’ve been a major upset for Michigan despite a down season.
What is more concerning is how much pressure Michigan got on Kurtis Rourke. The Wolverines had four sacks, three QB hits, and seven pressures on 32 dropbacks. Rourke was under pressure the whole night, and a team like Ohio State and most likely anyone they play in the playoffs is going to get pressure on Rourke. Throughout the game, but especially in the second half, Indiana failed the protect the passer, couldn’t run the ball and their wide receivers weren’t able to get any separation.
The positive spin is they found a way to win, which is a good sign for their culture. Regardless of how this season ends, this is a banner year for the Hoosiers. Still, their ability to compete against Ohio State and the top of the sport just became a question again.
UCLA is on a three-game winning streak?
For the first eight weeks of the season, UCLA looked like one of the worst teams in power conference football. Their season started with a three-point win over Hawaii, a game they should’ve lost honestly, followed by five-straight losses where they never scored more than 17 total points.
They’ve turned it around the last three weeks with wins over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. The win at Rutgers felt like a fluke, but after beating the Hawkeyes, DeShaun Foster seems to be hitting the right buttons and his team is improving each week. With Washington, USC, and Fresno State left on the schedule, UCLA has an outside chance of making a bowl game, and that would be massive after Foster took over mid-spring when Chip Kelly left to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Many of us laughed at the Foster hiring, but he may be on to something. UCLA has a lot to fight for in the last three weeks of the season. I, for one, will be rooting for them.
So… who is getting fired in the next few weeks?
We’re 10 games into the college football season, and with the new playoff structure, the transfer portal, and national signing day being moved up, coaching changes are going to happen earlier and earlier. In the Big Ten, I think most coaches are safe, as we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of movement in the last three seasons.
11 of the 18 programs in the conference have coaches in their third year or less. Of the seven remaining, it’s unlikely that Ohio State, Penn State, USC or Iowa fire their coach, whether due to a lack of winning or large buyouts. That leaves Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland as the only teams who would even consider making a change at the top.
Minnesota most likely isn’t making a change unless they decide to go the Wisconsin route and fire a coach with a clear ceiling in hopes of better, but that isn’t going well for Wisconsin. Schiano is the best coach in Rutgers history, so he’s probably safe. The only coach potentially on the chopping block is Mike Locksley.
Maryland is having a disappointing year at 4-5, with a 1-5 mark in conference. With Rutgers, Iowa, and Penn State on the schedule, it’s unlikely that Maryland will make a bowl game and a 4-8 record isn’t out of the picture. Firing Locksley depends on where Maryland believes it should be in the new Big Ten, but it has to be hard to see Indiana’s success and not want more.
Outside of head coaches, expect a lot of movement from coordinators, which is going to be a national trend. Purdue has already fired their offensive coordinator, and it’s a good bet that Wisconsin will fire theirs. Lincoln Riley may once again be making changes, and Sherrone Moore really should reconsider his staff as well. There may not be much shakeup at the top, but with the coordinators I expect a lot of movement.
Does the SEC logjam help or hurt the Big Ten?
The SEC conference standings are officially in a log jam, and may go three or four steps deep into their tiebreaker scenarios just to figure out who will make the SEC championship game. After Week 11 and a massive Ole Miss victory making Georgia 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, the SEC has three one-loss teams and five two-loss teams.
Tennesse, Texas and Texas A&M all have one conference loss, while Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri and LSU all have two. For both the SEC and the Big Ten, it would’ve been better if Georgia had beat Ole Miss, as it would take another team out of conference title and playoff contention.
There is one way for this to shake out that benefits both conferences. If Tennessee beats Georgia this Saturday, it would make the Bulldogs a three-loss team. In this scenario, Tennessee is almost guaranteed to make the conference championship and play the winner of Texas-Texas A&M. If Georgia beats Tennesee, with Texas and TAMU still needing to play, there is a chance that the SEC ends up with a singular one-loss team and seven two-loss teams.
This is a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, particularly the Big Ten. The B1G is one of the two best conferences in college football, but the SEC still garners the most respect. If there are seven two-loss teams in the SEC and they have mainly played and beat each other, there may be a question of whose resume is better — a 10-2 Ole Miss with a win over Georgia or an 11-1 Indiana or Penn State without a signature win. The same could be said for Georgia with the win over Texas and Tennessee, or Alabama with their wins over Georgia and LSU.
In reality, any 11-1 team from the Big Ten should get into the playoffs, and that may be how it shakes out in the end. But the Big Ten should at least be a little uncomfortable if there are a bunch of two-loss SEC teams with all of their losses coming to each other in top 25 matchups.
Lastly, this exact scenario is why the SEC needs to move to nine conference games. An extra conference game would have made a lot of this figure itself out. Instead, we will all be glued to the TV for the next few weeks until all the games are played and the final College Football Playoff rankings are released.
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330.
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...
LGHL By the numbers: Buckeyes freeze out the Penguins, 81-47
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By the numbers: Buckeyes freeze out the Penguins, 81-47
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Ohio State got big contributions from Aaron Bradshaw and John Mobley Jr. in the rout.
Here’s a sentence that you would not have believed if I’d told you back in January: The 21st-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) — led by head coach Jake Diebler — returned home on Monday evening for their home opener after knocking off a ranked Texas team last week to start the year.
Less than one calendar year after it felt like the program was going into a tailspin that could have yearslong consequences, the Buckeyes, led by a head coach that wasn’t even considered a candidate to be the head coach in February, appear to be back on track. The program has a long way to go to get back to the heights of Thad Matta’s Ohio State heyday, but in the very least, the energy surrounding the program has picked back up in a major way.
In front of several thousands students — who all got in for free — Diebler kept with the same starting lineup he used in last week’s win over Texas: Bruce Thornton, Meechie Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, and Aaron Bradshaw.
The Penguins who are also led by a first-year head coach in Ethan Faulkner — went with a starting five of Jason Nelson, Ty Harper, Nico Galette, EJ Farmer, and Gabe Dynes.
After Youngstown State scored the first basket of the game, Ohio State responded with an impressive 12-0 run to go ahead 12-2 by the 14:10 mark of the first half. Bradshaw and Johnson both erased the memory of their tough performances against Texas, scoring five apiece and helping the Buckeyes establish a big lead early on. John Mobley also knocked down two three-pointers early on, which made him 6-for-6 in his college career. His second three made it 18-8 Ohio State with 12:07 remaining in the first half.
Ohio State was sleepwalking through the final 12 minutes or so of the first half — playing even with the Penguins, but not letting them get much closer, either. After going up 12-2, Ohio State only outscored Youngstown State 25-20 for the final 14 minutes of the first half, going into the halftime break up, 37-22.
Turnovers were an issue in the first half for Ohio State. The Buckeyes gave up the biscuit nine times, including four turnovers by Johnson. Ohio State also committed 11 first-half fouls, with Royal picking up three and Thornton two. They did slightly better in the second half, only turning it over six times but still finishing with 15 for the game.
The Buckeyes put their foot on the gas to start the second half, extending their lead from 15 to 26 by the under-12 media timeout. Ohio State was spreading it around too, with six different guys scoring in the first seven minutes of the second half. Mobley extended his three-point streak to seven consecutive makes to put Ohio state up 28, and Bradshaw was chasing his career-high of 17 points that he set at Kentucky last season.
By the under-four media timeout Diebler began emptying the bench, giving Colin White, Ques Glover, and Austin Parks a chance to finish the game with Ohio State up 72-41. By the time all was said and done, the Buckeyes had wrapped up a 81-47 win over their in-state for from Mahoning County.
Bradshaw and Mobley each had 16 points for the Buckeyes, with Mobley setting a career-high and Bradshaw coming one point short of tying his. Harper, Dynes, and Cris Carroll each had nine points for YSU.
If you weren’t able to catch Ohio State’s second win of the season tonight, here are a few key stats and figures that you should know about the Buckeyes 33rd win against in-state foes in their last 34 tries.
After a forgettable performance against the Longhorns last week, sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw set a new *Buckeye* career high within the first two minutes of Monday night’s game.
Bradshaw got the scoring started with a running, one-handed slam 34 seconds into the game that tied the game, 2-2. On the next Ohio State possession, Parrish missed a short jumper but Stewart was able to grab the miss and kick the ball out to Bradshaw at the top of the key. The 7-foot-1 center splashed his first three-pointer of the season, making it 5-2 Ohio State.
He only scored two points in 21 minutes against Texas last week, but outpaced that pretty much immediately Monday night.
Predictably, the Penguins force fed the ball to Gabe Dynes on their first possession, and the 7-foot-3 center was promptly stuffed at the rim by Stewart. However, nobody was there to grab the miss, so Dynes made the heads-up play himself to grab the ball and slam it home.
However, after the first YSU basket, they would not score for the next 6:14 of game time. During that stretch, Ohio State went on a 12-0 run, getting five points each from Bradshaw and Johnson in the process. That gave Ohio State its first double-digit lead of the season.
Ohio State picked up 11 personal fouls in the first half, including three by Devin Royal and two by Thornton. Thornton sat for a few minutes, but Diebler put him back in the game at the under-four media timeout with two fouls, and he immediately hit a baseline jumper to put Ohio State up 35-20.
Most of Ohio State’s fouls came from players being too aggressive below the basket. Evan Mahaffey fell for a pretty easy shot fake and the shooter jumped into him to draw contact. Royal tried to rip the ball out of Dynes’ hands on the baseline, but it got too physical and he was whistled for a foul. Generally, these first-half fouls weren’t brain farts — they were just the product of being too aggressive.
After going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc against Texas, Mobley knocked down a pair of them against Youngstown State in the first half of Monday night’s game. Then in the second half he got a pass in the corner from Colin White and knocked that down as well, making it 57-29 Buckeyes with 13:02 remaining in the game. That also made Mobley a perfect 7-for-7 from downtown in his college career.
With 10:28 left in the game, Mobley airballed a three-point try from the same spot he hit his last one, which stopped the streak at seven.
Ohio State held the Penguins below 30% shooting on Monday night, including a ridiculously bad 13.6% (3-for-22) from three-point range.
Ohio State (2-0) has three days off before flying to College Station to face the 23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (1-1) on Friday night. This game is the second leg of a home-and-home series that began last year, when A&M beat the Buckeyes in Columbus, 73-66.
The Buckeyes’ game against the Aggies will tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday night. It will be broadcast on SEC Network, which means you can also catch it on the Watch ESPN app or at ESPN.com/watch.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Ohio State got big contributions from Aaron Bradshaw and John Mobley Jr. in the rout.
Here’s a sentence that you would not have believed if I’d told you back in January: The 21st-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) — led by head coach Jake Diebler — returned home on Monday evening for their home opener after knocking off a ranked Texas team last week to start the year.
Less than one calendar year after it felt like the program was going into a tailspin that could have yearslong consequences, the Buckeyes, led by a head coach that wasn’t even considered a candidate to be the head coach in February, appear to be back on track. The program has a long way to go to get back to the heights of Thad Matta’s Ohio State heyday, but in the very least, the energy surrounding the program has picked back up in a major way.
In front of several thousands students — who all got in for free — Diebler kept with the same starting lineup he used in last week’s win over Texas: Bruce Thornton, Meechie Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, and Aaron Bradshaw.
The Penguins who are also led by a first-year head coach in Ethan Faulkner — went with a starting five of Jason Nelson, Ty Harper, Nico Galette, EJ Farmer, and Gabe Dynes.
After Youngstown State scored the first basket of the game, Ohio State responded with an impressive 12-0 run to go ahead 12-2 by the 14:10 mark of the first half. Bradshaw and Johnson both erased the memory of their tough performances against Texas, scoring five apiece and helping the Buckeyes establish a big lead early on. John Mobley also knocked down two three-pointers early on, which made him 6-for-6 in his college career. His second three made it 18-8 Ohio State with 12:07 remaining in the first half.
Ohio State was sleepwalking through the final 12 minutes or so of the first half — playing even with the Penguins, but not letting them get much closer, either. After going up 12-2, Ohio State only outscored Youngstown State 25-20 for the final 14 minutes of the first half, going into the halftime break up, 37-22.
Turnovers were an issue in the first half for Ohio State. The Buckeyes gave up the biscuit nine times, including four turnovers by Johnson. Ohio State also committed 11 first-half fouls, with Royal picking up three and Thornton two. They did slightly better in the second half, only turning it over six times but still finishing with 15 for the game.
The Buckeyes put their foot on the gas to start the second half, extending their lead from 15 to 26 by the under-12 media timeout. Ohio State was spreading it around too, with six different guys scoring in the first seven minutes of the second half. Mobley extended his three-point streak to seven consecutive makes to put Ohio state up 28, and Bradshaw was chasing his career-high of 17 points that he set at Kentucky last season.
By the under-four media timeout Diebler began emptying the bench, giving Colin White, Ques Glover, and Austin Parks a chance to finish the game with Ohio State up 72-41. By the time all was said and done, the Buckeyes had wrapped up a 81-47 win over their in-state for from Mahoning County.
Bradshaw and Mobley each had 16 points for the Buckeyes, with Mobley setting a career-high and Bradshaw coming one point short of tying his. Harper, Dynes, and Cris Carroll each had nine points for YSU.
If you weren’t able to catch Ohio State’s second win of the season tonight, here are a few key stats and figures that you should know about the Buckeyes 33rd win against in-state foes in their last 34 tries.
Five
Consecutive points by Bradshaw to begin the game
After a forgettable performance against the Longhorns last week, sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw set a new *Buckeye* career high within the first two minutes of Monday night’s game.
Bradshaw got the scoring started with a running, one-handed slam 34 seconds into the game that tied the game, 2-2. On the next Ohio State possession, Parrish missed a short jumper but Stewart was able to grab the miss and kick the ball out to Bradshaw at the top of the key. The 7-foot-1 center splashed his first three-pointer of the season, making it 5-2 Ohio State.
He only scored two points in 21 minutes against Texas last week, but outpaced that pretty much immediately Monday night.
10
Consecutive points by Ohio State after falling behind 2-0 to start the game
Predictably, the Penguins force fed the ball to Gabe Dynes on their first possession, and the 7-foot-3 center was promptly stuffed at the rim by Stewart. However, nobody was there to grab the miss, so Dynes made the heads-up play himself to grab the ball and slam it home.
However, after the first YSU basket, they would not score for the next 6:14 of game time. During that stretch, Ohio State went on a 12-0 run, getting five points each from Bradshaw and Johnson in the process. That gave Ohio State its first double-digit lead of the season.
11
First-half fouls by Ohio State
Ohio State picked up 11 personal fouls in the first half, including three by Devin Royal and two by Thornton. Thornton sat for a few minutes, but Diebler put him back in the game at the under-four media timeout with two fouls, and he immediately hit a baseline jumper to put Ohio State up 35-20.
Most of Ohio State’s fouls came from players being too aggressive below the basket. Evan Mahaffey fell for a pretty easy shot fake and the shooter jumped into him to draw contact. Royal tried to rip the ball out of Dynes’ hands on the baseline, but it got too physical and he was whistled for a foul. Generally, these first-half fouls weren’t brain farts — they were just the product of being too aggressive.
Seven
Consecutive three-pointers made to start John Mobley’s college career
After going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc against Texas, Mobley knocked down a pair of them against Youngstown State in the first half of Monday night’s game. Then in the second half he got a pass in the corner from Colin White and knocked that down as well, making it 57-29 Buckeyes with 13:02 remaining in the game. That also made Mobley a perfect 7-for-7 from downtown in his college career.
With 10:28 left in the game, Mobley airballed a three-point try from the same spot he hit his last one, which stopped the streak at seven.
23.7
Youngstown State’s shooting percentage
Ohio State held the Penguins below 30% shooting on Monday night, including a ridiculously bad 13.6% (3-for-22) from three-point range.
What’s next?
Ohio State (2-0) has three days off before flying to College Station to face the 23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (1-1) on Friday night. This game is the second leg of a home-and-home series that began last year, when A&M beat the Buckeyes in Columbus, 73-66.
The Buckeyes’ game against the Aggies will tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday night. It will be broadcast on SEC Network, which means you can also catch it on the Watch ESPN app or at ESPN.com/watch.
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LGHL LGHL WBB Podcast: Katie Smith, Jacy Sheldon talk new roles, Jaloni Cambridge, more
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LGHL WBB Podcast: Katie Smith, Jacy Sheldon talk new roles, Jaloni Cambridge, more
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Look back at the first win of the Buckeyes season and a look ahead to a two-game week
The Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Podcast is a show dedicated to coverage of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. Each Monday during the basketball season, LGHL recaps recent games, previews upcoming contests, and talks with those in and around the Ohio State women’s basketball universe. Hear directly from players and coaches and receive additional context behind what they say to the media.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
It was an exciting Monday in Ohio State women’s basketball land, to say the least. Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes announced the hiring of not one but two former star guards in different roles on the coaching staff.
In the latest “Land-Grant WBB Podcast”, the Buckeyes played a real game of basketball with Jaloni Cambridge featuring, alongside strong performances by Cotie McMahon and the full-court press. That win is broken down, along with a preview of a two-game week for the Buckeyes.
Before that, new assistant coach Katie Smith and head of player development Jacy Sheldon spoke with the media. Smith talked about why she stepped away from the WNBA for the college ranks and how the decision wasn’t tough. Plus, Sheldon talks about watching Cambridge last week and what advice she’d give the new point guard in the press.
That and more in the newest episode of the “Land-Grant WBB Podcast.”
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
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
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Look back at the first win of the Buckeyes season and a look ahead to a two-game week
The Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Podcast is a show dedicated to coverage of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. Each Monday during the basketball season, LGHL recaps recent games, previews upcoming contests, and talks with those in and around the Ohio State women’s basketball universe. Hear directly from players and coaches and receive additional context behind what they say to the media.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
It was an exciting Monday in Ohio State women’s basketball land, to say the least. Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes announced the hiring of not one but two former star guards in different roles on the coaching staff.
In the latest “Land-Grant WBB Podcast”, the Buckeyes played a real game of basketball with Jaloni Cambridge featuring, alongside strong performances by Cotie McMahon and the full-court press. That win is broken down, along with a preview of a two-game week for the Buckeyes.
Before that, new assistant coach Katie Smith and head of player development Jacy Sheldon spoke with the media. Smith talked about why she stepped away from the WNBA for the college ranks and how the decision wasn’t tough. Plus, Sheldon talks about watching Cambridge last week and what advice she’d give the new point guard in the press.
That and more in the newest episode of the “Land-Grant WBB Podcast.”
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music: “HOLY MOLY” by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com
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LGHL Big Ten Top 10: Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana impress in latest SBN B1G Writers Poll
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Big Ten Top 10: Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana impress in latest SBN B1G Writers Poll
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 Ali Gradischer/Getty Images
The Ducks and Buckeyes were the unanimous No. 1 and No. 2 team in the country.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and O Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.
I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers and a Heisman Trophy leaderboard. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 11 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
New episodes generally come out on Wednesday afternoons, but sometimes on Friday mornings. “No Fall Weddings” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world.
To me, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Heisman Trophy debate is going to come down to a debate around Boise State’s schedule vs. the field. Whether or not voters believe that the defenders that Ashton Jeanty has run through during his historic season are enough to justify giving the running back the sport’s most prestigious individual award is all that there really is to discuss at this point, because there’s no doubt in my mind that Jeanty is the best, most reliable player in college football.
In the Broncos’ 28-21 win over Nevada, Jeanty went for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns on 34 carries. If Boise makes the College Football Playoff like they appear to be on track to do, it will be fascinating to see how he fairs against a top-flight defense in the postseason.
Others receiving votes:
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, QB
Quinn Ewers, Texas, QB
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 Ali Gradischer/Getty Images
The Ducks and Buckeyes were the unanimous No. 1 and No. 2 team in the country.
AP Poll? Shmay Pee Poll! Coaches Poll? We all know that coaches don’t have time to fill out a weekly survey, let alone watch enough games to make informed choices! That’s why your friendly neighborhood Big Ten writers from across the SB Nation universe have banded together to come up with the only fair, accurate, non-biased poll in all of college football.
Every week, a writer from the 16 sites covering specific B1G schools (lowly UCLA and USC don’t have SBN sites) will submit their picks, and O Basse from Michigan State site The Only Colors will compile them into the official SBN Big Ten Writers Poll
.I will keep you updated on our selections here on Land-Grant Holy Land, and I will let you know how I vote every week because we believe in truth, justice, and transparency in journalism here in Buckeye Country.
There will also be a Player of the Week selected by the Big Ten writers and a Heisman Trophy leaderboard. So, without further ado, here is the post-Week 11 SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll.
SB Nation Big Ten Writers Poll | Week 11
My Personal Top-10 Rankings | Week 11
These rankings coincide with my Top-12 picks every week on the “No Fall Weddings” podcast in the Land-Grant Podcast Network feed, which you can subscribe to anywhere you get your favorite audio entertainment.
New episodes generally come out on Wednesday afternoons, but sometimes on Friday mornings. “No Fall Weddings” is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world.
Player of the Week | Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB
To me, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Heisman Trophy debate is going to come down to a debate around Boise State’s schedule vs. the field. Whether or not voters believe that the defenders that Ashton Jeanty has run through during his historic season are enough to justify giving the running back the sport’s most prestigious individual award is all that there really is to discuss at this point, because there’s no doubt in my mind that Jeanty is the best, most reliable player in college football.
In the Broncos’ 28-21 win over Nevada, Jeanty went for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns on 34 carries. If Boise makes the College Football Playoff like they appear to be on track to do, it will be fascinating to see how he fairs against a top-flight defense in the postseason.
Others receiving votes:
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, QB
Quinn Ewers, Texas, QB
Heisman Trophy Leaderboard
Continue reading...
LGHL For the first time in two seasons, Ohio State men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Top-25 Poll
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For the first time in two seasons, Ohio State men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Top-25 Poll
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are ranked for the first time since January 2023.
The second Associated Press poll of the season was released Monday afternoon, and the Ohio State Buckeyes, led by new head coach Jake Diebler, entered the ranks at No. 21.
Ohio State earned votes in the initial AP Poll last month, but not enough to place in the top 25. After beating then-No. 19 Texas 80-72 last week, the Buckeyes picked up more votes and are now ranked heading into tonight’s bout with the Youngstown State Penguins.
This is the first time Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Poll since January 2, 2023. The Buckeyes were No. 24 in that week nine poll. Since showing up in that poll, Ohio State played to a 28-30 record — until last week’s win over Texas.
The Buckeyes’ lackluster play over the past two seasons kept them far away from the top 25, but a rebuilt roster with veteran guards, paired with last week’s big win over Texas, has vaulted Diebler’s team back into the AP Poll.
Ohio State’s appearance in the top-25 poll is partially a nod to the media’s confidence in Diebler, who took over a dysfunctional situation in February and ended the season on a high note. Not only did Ohio State’s offense improve under Diebler last year down the stretch, but they also finished the season as the 23rd-best defensive team in the country for the final 11 games, per KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings.
Despite missing the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons, it took the Buckeyes just one singular regular season win to get them back into the top 25.
Junior guard Bruce Thornton — a preseason All-Big Ten honoree — led Ohio State with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists against Texas. 14 of Thornton’s 20 points came in the second half, and he also scored the Buckeyes’ final nine points of the game.
Sophomore Devin Royal and freshman John Mobley Jr. combined for 30 points off the bench against the Longhorns, as the Buckeyes’ reserves outscored Texas’ 33-10. Micah Parrish scored 17 points and also had six rebounds and five assists.
Three other Big Ten teams were listed in the AP Poll this week. They are Purdue (13), Indiana (16), and Rutgers (24).
Kansas retained its top spot at No. 1, followed by Alabama, UConn, Gonzaga, and Auburn.
Ohio State faces Youngstown State tonight at 6 p.m. ET.
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
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes are ranked for the first time since January 2023.
The second Associated Press poll of the season was released Monday afternoon, and the Ohio State Buckeyes, led by new head coach Jake Diebler, entered the ranks at No. 21.
Ohio State earned votes in the initial AP Poll last month, but not enough to place in the top 25. After beating then-No. 19 Texas 80-72 last week, the Buckeyes picked up more votes and are now ranked heading into tonight’s bout with the Youngstown State Penguins.
This is the first time Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Poll since January 2, 2023. The Buckeyes were No. 24 in that week nine poll. Since showing up in that poll, Ohio State played to a 28-30 record — until last week’s win over Texas.
The Buckeyes’ lackluster play over the past two seasons kept them far away from the top 25, but a rebuilt roster with veteran guards, paired with last week’s big win over Texas, has vaulted Diebler’s team back into the AP Poll.
Ohio State’s appearance in the top-25 poll is partially a nod to the media’s confidence in Diebler, who took over a dysfunctional situation in February and ended the season on a high note. Not only did Ohio State’s offense improve under Diebler last year down the stretch, but they also finished the season as the 23rd-best defensive team in the country for the final 11 games, per KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings.
Despite missing the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons, it took the Buckeyes just one singular regular season win to get them back into the top 25.
Junior guard Bruce Thornton — a preseason All-Big Ten honoree — led Ohio State with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists against Texas. 14 of Thornton’s 20 points came in the second half, and he also scored the Buckeyes’ final nine points of the game.
Sophomore Devin Royal and freshman John Mobley Jr. combined for 30 points off the bench against the Longhorns, as the Buckeyes’ reserves outscored Texas’ 33-10. Micah Parrish scored 17 points and also had six rebounds and five assists.
Three other Big Ten teams were listed in the AP Poll this week. They are Purdue (13), Indiana (16), and Rutgers (24).
Kansas retained its top spot at No. 1, followed by Alabama, UConn, Gonzaga, and Auburn.
Ohio State faces Youngstown State tonight at 6 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Cambridge or Mobley? Which Ohio State basketball freshman had more impressive debut?
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You’re Nuts: Cambridge or Mobley? Which Ohio State basketball freshman had more impressive debut?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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.
The good news is that Buckeye basketball fans already have so much to be excited about from both men and women. The bad news is I can only hype one performance in this column.
But since I can only choose one, I have to go with Juni Mobley Jr., who had a spectacular performance in the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s upset of No. 19 Texas on Monday.
In his first collegiate appearance, the four-star freshman guard announced himself in style—with a three-pointer from the half-court logo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the first minute of his playing time. And that was just the beginning.
Over the course of the next 13 minutes, Mobley shot 100 percent from the free throw line (2-for-2) and nailed 100 percent of the threes he shot (four of them, to be exact) to add 14 points off the bench. It was the highest number of 3-pointers made by a Buckeye in a season opener since 2016 when Kam Williams made five, and the most by a freshman in a season opener in school history.
Now, math isn’t my subject, but I’m no idiot: I know Jaloni Cambridge put up objectively even more impressive numbers in her freshman debut (and we all know Cambridge is just getting started. She was a wonder to watch).
And truthfully, I’m not trying to compare their performances: Men’s and women’s basketball are different. Comparing her objectively stellar numbers and finesse to Mobley’s thirteen-minute cooking show is comparing apples to oranges, and I won’t try to do it.
So focusing only on Mobley’s performance, part of what was so striking was his confidence. There seemed to be no sign of freshman jitters; he was calm and in his element throughout his time on the court, something that becomes even more impressive when you consider the fact that he did so against a ranked team that, prior to its loss to the Buckeyes, had won 21 of its last 22 season openers.
You can teach people to shoot a basketball, play defense, set a pick, and execute on the fundamentals. You can’t teach composure. No matter, because Mobley has it implicitly. However, he also has the work ethic and determination to make sure he’s executing the fundamentals flawlessly.
In fact, Mobley was the top-ranked shooter in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. His teammates and head coach Jake Diebler have spoken at length about his consistency and ability to be aggressive on the court.
And he said he had practiced that shot from center court, over and over and over again, taking consistent reps with shots of that distance on a daily basis.
Which is how he found himself nailing it on Monday. With patience and precision, Mobley found his moment to create an opening and take his shot. It was his announcement to the college basketball world that he was here, and it was time for us to see the fruits of his labor.
No doubt, the OSU men’s season opener against Texas was an incredibly thrilling way to start the season and Mobley’s career as a Buckeye, but what women’s basketball’s true freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge did against Cleveland State was sensational.
In her first collegiate game, she logged 26 minutes, shooting 12-for-14 from the floor — including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc; she was also a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. In total, the Nashville native put up 31 points against the Vikings, but that wasn’t all. She also chipped in 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks.
As our women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello noted, it was like Cambridge had a different plan for each quarter as she looked to focus on a unique aspect of her game every 10 minutes.
She ended up leading the team in points, rebounds (tied with two others), assists, and steals, proving why she was the No. 3 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Her impact on this Buckeye team was immediate and needed. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s team lost a lot of production in the backcourt with Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor departing for the professional ranks (although, Sheldon is back in a new role with the team).
So, while I admit that playing Cleveland State in your first collegiate game is not the same as playing a ranked Texas team in your first collegiate game, what Cambridge was able to accomplish in her first time out portends not only an incredible season, but an incredible career for the new Buckeye.
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
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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: Which freshman Ohio State basketball performance was most impressive?
Jami’s Take: Juni Mobley Jr.
The good news is that Buckeye basketball fans already have so much to be excited about from both men and women. The bad news is I can only hype one performance in this column.
But since I can only choose one, I have to go with Juni Mobley Jr., who had a spectacular performance in the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s upset of No. 19 Texas on Monday.
In his first collegiate appearance, the four-star freshman guard announced himself in style—with a three-pointer from the half-court logo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the first minute of his playing time. And that was just the beginning.
Over the course of the next 13 minutes, Mobley shot 100 percent from the free throw line (2-for-2) and nailed 100 percent of the threes he shot (four of them, to be exact) to add 14 points off the bench. It was the highest number of 3-pointers made by a Buckeye in a season opener since 2016 when Kam Williams made five, and the most by a freshman in a season opener in school history.
Now, math isn’t my subject, but I’m no idiot: I know Jaloni Cambridge put up objectively even more impressive numbers in her freshman debut (and we all know Cambridge is just getting started. She was a wonder to watch).
And truthfully, I’m not trying to compare their performances: Men’s and women’s basketball are different. Comparing her objectively stellar numbers and finesse to Mobley’s thirteen-minute cooking show is comparing apples to oranges, and I won’t try to do it.
So focusing only on Mobley’s performance, part of what was so striking was his confidence. There seemed to be no sign of freshman jitters; he was calm and in his element throughout his time on the court, something that becomes even more impressive when you consider the fact that he did so against a ranked team that, prior to its loss to the Buckeyes, had won 21 of its last 22 season openers.
You can teach people to shoot a basketball, play defense, set a pick, and execute on the fundamentals. You can’t teach composure. No matter, because Mobley has it implicitly. However, he also has the work ethic and determination to make sure he’s executing the fundamentals flawlessly.
In fact, Mobley was the top-ranked shooter in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. His teammates and head coach Jake Diebler have spoken at length about his consistency and ability to be aggressive on the court.
And he said he had practiced that shot from center court, over and over and over again, taking consistent reps with shots of that distance on a daily basis.
Which is how he found himself nailing it on Monday. With patience and precision, Mobley found his moment to create an opening and take his shot. It was his announcement to the college basketball world that he was here, and it was time for us to see the fruits of his labor.
Matt’s Take: Jaloni Cambridge
No doubt, the OSU men’s season opener against Texas was an incredibly thrilling way to start the season and Mobley’s career as a Buckeye, but what women’s basketball’s true freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge did against Cleveland State was sensational.
In her first collegiate game, she logged 26 minutes, shooting 12-for-14 from the floor — including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc; she was also a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. In total, the Nashville native put up 31 points against the Vikings, but that wasn’t all. She also chipped in 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks.
As our women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello noted, it was like Cambridge had a different plan for each quarter as she looked to focus on a unique aspect of her game every 10 minutes.
She ended up leading the team in points, rebounds (tied with two others), assists, and steals, proving why she was the No. 3 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Her impact on this Buckeye team was immediate and needed. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s team lost a lot of production in the backcourt with Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor departing for the professional ranks (although, Sheldon is back in a new role with the team).
So, while I admit that playing Cleveland State in your first collegiate game is not the same as playing a ranked Texas team in your first collegiate game, what Cambridge was able to accomplish in her first time out portends not only an incredible season, but an incredible career for the new Buckeye.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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