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Oct 24, 2023

If you want to see Caitlin Clark face Ohio State women’s basketball, it will cost you
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fans hoping to buy reasonably priced tickets to the Jan. 21 Buckeyes and Hawkeyes game are out of luck

On Oct. 18, the Ohio State women’s basketball team tickets went live for all to purchase. The slate of conference and non-conference games brings in the likes of the UCLA Bruins and Indiana Hoosiers, all for criminally low prices. Before most could even get online to secure their tickets, one game was already out of university-released tickets. To get into the Jan. 21 game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, fans will have to pay at least $144.

Normally, the Buckeyes’ ticket prices make a night of family entertainment less expensive than most other events in the city. Ohio State sells women’s basketball tickets to the public for $11 on non-conference games, $15 for in-conference, and $19 for premier matchups against teams like the Hoosiers, Bruins, Maryland Terrapins, and Michigan Wolverines.

The slimiest of internet trolls will make fun of the draw of women’s basketball as the reason prices are so low, but there’s ample proof to the contrary. Ohio State broke multiple records in attendance and viewership during the 22/23 season.

At the Sweet Sixteen in Seattle, Washington, a shocking Buckeyes win over the UConn Huskies drew 2.5 million viewers on ABC. Closer to home, home games for Ohio State averaged the largest increase in attendance in the nation, increasing by 2,674 per game. Part of that is increased emphasis on promotions like meeting the team and giveaways but increased notoriety of opponents and the outstanding play of the Buckeyes made games a can’t-miss.

Now, many will miss the 2024 edition of the Buckeyes going up against superstar guard Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes. Iowa is part of that premier group, but already the tickets for the game were gone, with only resale tickets available. Those tickets range from $144 to $2,000, that’s a 657% to over 10,426% increase in price over the $19 per ticket premier level general sale amount.

There’s no breakdown of who sells that high from the team’s ticket office, likely a combination of season ticketholders and scalpers capitalizing on Clark’s visit.

Last season, Ohio State hosted Clark and it was the lone sellout of the season. The Buckeyes only sell tickets in the lower bowl, a decision made prior to the season due to the logistics and additional requirements to host a game in the entire arena like paying employees and having enough security.

Overall, the lack of affordable tickets is a good and bad thing. The obvious negative is the price. Nobody truly had a chance to purchase a ticket to the Iowa game at the $19 advertised price, which isn’t a problem for the remaining premier contests.

On the positive end, it shows the growth of women’s basketball, even if fueled by the stardom of one person in this case. With the growth in popularity comes the annoyances that come along with it, like dealing with people who make Ticketmaster a frustrating place to lose hundreds of dollars.

However, a positive about the $144 lowest ticket price is that it's less than what you’d pay to see the same game in Iowa City, Iowa on March 3. The final regular season game of the season, pitting the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes against each other for potentially a conference championship, has tickets available starting at $277.

Iowa’s already sold out their supply of season tickets and set a record for highest attended NCAA women’s basketball game in history, a cool event if you were one of the few thousand who could see the game up close.

And there it is! The #Hawkeyes celebrate @IowaWBB and women's sports and set a new NCAA women's basketball game attendance record. pic.twitter.com/xZQFV2UWvh

— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) October 15, 2023

The good thing about all of this is the extra eyes watching the Buckeyes this season, and women’s basketball overall. There are plenty of tickets available to see the No. 4 preseason-ranked UCLA Bruins or in-conference rivals from Indiana.

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Oct 24, 2023

Stock Market Report: Marvin Harrison Jr. makes the difference and the defense is elite
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

And do the Buckeyes have the best resume in football?

It was just another Saturday in Columbus as the Buckeyes did what they do best and moved to 7-0 on the season. The Buckeyes defeated Penn State (6-1) 20-12 and now have one of the best resumes in football.

Here are some of the players and things that I am higher and lower on after Saturday.

Blue Chip

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Marvin Harrison Jr.: I am going to take the easy one here. And it’s because I think it is very simple. Ohio State beat Penn State because one team has Marvin Harrison Jr., and one doesn’t. The best players have to step up in the biggest moments, and that is all Marvin Harrison does. Over the last two seasons against Penn State, Harrison has 21 catches, 347 yards, and a touchdown. And all of those stats have been against guys playing on Sunday.

If the Heisman were truly the best player in the sport (it’s not), MHJ would have a great argument to win it. Harrison continues to impress, and he is going to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL draft and make a team very lucky.

Solid Investments

Jim Knowles: You could just argue the defense, but I think it’s time Knowles gets his flowers. He came in last season to a unit that was really struggling to find an identity, and even though last year didn’t end great, they looked good most of last year and now all of this season thus far. This team is now winning games on the defensive end of the ball, and when you still have weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the other side, good things will happen.

Jesse Mirco: As Ohio State fans, we love criticizing the special teams. And a lot of it is deserved, but I think Jesse Mirco made a huge difference in this game. He had six punts for an average of just over 42 yards per punt, downed two inside the 20-yard line, and had a 72-yard punt that completely flipped the field on the Nittany Lions. That is so important in a close game where points are at a premium. Also, Jayden Felding missed his first field goal, but on the season, he is 9-for-10 on field goals and 29-for-30 on extra points.

Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cade Stover: Don’t look now, but it is possible Farmer Gronk will win the Mackey Award. That’s the award given to the top tight end every season, and Stover has been right up there with the best of them. With Brock Bowers injured, that award could be up for grabs. Stover has stepped into a huge role now and was a great second option Saturday, with Egbuka still out. Stover will continue to be a weapon for the Buckeyes.

Junk Bonds

Divisions: This is obviously more of a general statement, but it just doesn’t seem right that only one of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan will play in the conference championship. With Iowa losing to Minnesota, it is very murky who will win the Big Ten West. It could be Nebraska. No one wants that. Just get rid of divisions tomorrow so we can all get the conference championship we want as fans.

Buy/Sell

NCAA Football: Youngstown State at Ohio State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Buy: Third down defense. This season, the offense has had some struggles on third down. It was nice watching that shoe on the other foot in this one. Penn State was abysmal on third down, only going 1-for-16 and 1-for-3 on fourth down. Against other good offenses, the Buckeyes have fared well too. They held Notre Dame to 5-for-10 and 0-for-3 on fourth down and held Maryland to 8-for-19 on third down. If the defense can keep up this trend, they will fare well against Michigan and other top teams they may see.

Buy: Mistake-free football. Kyle McCord has one interception this season. The Buckeyes have only lost four fumbles this season. McCord isn't Justin Fields or CJ Stroud yet, but what he lacks in experience and consistency he has made up for in decision-making. And so far, in every close game the Buckeyes have had, they have not turned the ball over, and that is as important as anything. If they can continue to not turn the ball over, they can compete with anyone.

Sell: “Maserati Marv.” This is only in reference to that particular nickname. Because I like nicknames in general, and obviously, the player is not the issue. But I don’t love it. I like Magnificent Marvin a little better. I think maybe Gus Johnson just said it too many times on Saturday, and I will give it another shot. But on first review, I think I am selling it for now.

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Oct 24, 2023

Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Rikki Harris
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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images

A staple of the Buckeyes for the past two seasons has at least one season left to make an impact in scarlet and gray

The Ohio State women’s basketball team is a roster full of upperclassmen. Of that group, one joined the Buckeyes back in 2019 and is now a leader. In the past two seasons, the Indianapolis area five-star recruit went from an early career injury to a consistent name for the program.

Now, with at least one season remaining, redshirt senior guard Rikki Harris is back with Ohio State for potentially one last season in scarlet and gray.

Name: Rikki Harris
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt Senior
High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2022-23 Stats: 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, .430 FG%, .236 3FG%, .590 FT%

Last Season

After ending the 21-22 season in the No. 3 role for the Buckeyes, head coach Kevin McGuff had Harris back on the bench through the end of December. Playing only 27 minutes in the first two games of the year, it looked like Harris was going to come off the bench behind Madison Greene, who returned from injury at the start of the year.

Harris made her big introduction on Nov. 30 in Louisville. McGuff brought the Indiana native into the game after freshman Cotie McMahon had a tough first quarter and sat after six minutes.

McGuff used Harris in a smaller lineup, with the only forward on the court in sophomore Taylor Thierry. Harris played a key role in the Buckeyes’ 96-77 win, leading the team with 10 rebounds in the 14-point comeback. After the game, Harris wasn’t expecting to play that night, fighting a nasty cold.

The battling didn’t stop there for Harris. Less than a month later, Harris was back in a position she hadn’t played since high school. With injuries to guards Jacy Sheldon and Madison Greene, Harris stepped into the starting lineup as point guard.

Staying in the role for all but one game through the end of the Big Ten Tournament, Harris scored 8.0 points, grabbed 4.5 rebounds and added 4.3 assists per game, all above her NCAA career averages.

Before the regular season was done, Harris’ best scoring outing of the year came against the Michigan Wolverines. Not known as a consistent three-point shooter in her time as a Buckeye, Harris went off. The guard hit 4-for-5 from deep, showing the extra practice put in on long-range shooting paying off for a career high 23 points.

For the NCAA Tournament, Harris’ minutes and production on the court lessened with the return of Sheldon. The guard didn’t start any of the four March Madness contests, scoring nine points across 65 total minutes.

What to Expect

Ohio State prides itself on defense and the environment in and around the team. Harris personifies all of that.

Harris is a player who says they’ll do whatever to help the team win, and it isn’t a meritless sports cliché. From grabbing rebounds and hitting a clutch shot with a horrible cold, jumping in as point guard and grabbing seven steals and 23 points against bitter rivals or diving onto a table to get the ball back to her team.

The guard will hustle, find open teammates and put herself into every play.

In terms of scoring, Harris isn’t a lights out shooter like a Taylor Mikesell or the best player at dishing assists like Sheldon or Greene, but there won’t be a game where Harris doesn’t make a crucial shot or find someone to do the same.

Defensively, watch for Harris to grab steals and force bad passes from opponents in the press. It’ll be interesting to see how Harris is used by McGuff this season, but with experience at almost every position, don’t expect a big minutes drop.

That also means anytime there’s someone out with injury, Harris’ name is the first to slide into the starting lineup to take their place.

Prediction

With guard Celeste Taylor joining the Buckeyes, and forward Taylor Thierry’s play demanding a starting position, Harris is the likeliest candidate for the Buckeyes’ sixth player. Harris will be the first to come off the bench, most of the time.

Harris’ main role will be that third guard position, but as she’s shown over the past two seasons, there’s no one place she has to fit. Until guard Madison Greene comes back from injury, Harris could come in for small spurts as point guard. Harris’ defensive ability puts her as someone who can give Taylor a break too.

There’s also the forward position. The likelihood of McMahon and Thierry being off the court at the same time is minimal, but if it does happen Harris can slide into the No. 4 role for coach McGuff.

As the sixth player, Harris will have less of a chance for an offensive impact, but the guard showed shooting improvement at times over last season. Harris hitting career highs in shooting wouldn’t be a surprise.

Highlights

Early in the fourth quarter in Ohio State’s 24-point comeback against the Indiana Hoosiers, Harris showed what she’s willing to do on a play. Harris’ jump to stop an Indiana pass led to the guard falling onto the media table and smashing a laptop. The guard even apologized while getting back on the court.

This Rikki Harris play
pic.twitter.com/7GVWFzB1DX

— Wyatt (@hooplawyatt) March 4, 2023

Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:

Oct 24, 2023

Great teams do not always make for great football, which is why this season is so fun
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

In a season with no clear favorite, the fans are the ultimate winners.

In recent memory, there have been college football seasons where the ultimate National Champion looked unbeatable. Teams such as the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2019 LSU Tigers have looked almost professional, steamrolling over even the ranked opponents in their wake.

Not so, this season.

Look at the top three teams.

Georgia (still holding that No. 1 spot after back-to-back titles) lost 13 players to the NFL Draft last year and though they remain undefeated and top-ranked, their cracks have started to show. Their margins of victory over unranked opponents like South Carolina and Auburn have been much narrower than they would have been in years past.

With three games against ranked opponents remaining (plus Florida on the road), Georgia could very well end the season with more than one loss.

Michigan very well might be the best team in the country at the moment, but we can’t say that for sure because they haven’t played anyone of note. To their credit, they have blown out their opponent in pretty much every single game. In their last three games, they’ve won 52-10 against Minnesota, beat Indiana 52-7, and shut out their in-state rivals Michigan State 49-0.

But would those results ring true against a Georgia or a powerhouse team? We probably won’t know until they play Ohio State in the final week of the season.

Ohio State, for its part, is currently ranked No. 3, and while the Buckeyes have two marquee wins under their belts (a 17-14 victory over Notre Dame and this past weekend’s 20-12 win over Penn State), both of those wins have looked shaky at best.

The Buckeye offense continues to struggle to run the football, desperately needing to come up with a solution before they play Michigan, while Kyle McCord goes hot and cold. When he’s on, he’s really on, but when he’s off, it’s hard to watch.

In addition to the top three teams in the country, Florida State, Washington, and Oklahoma remain undefeated.

And of the six remaining unbeaten teams, it’s anyone’s guess who will make the playoffs.

I’d argue this is a good thing.

The best seasons of football are the ones that come full of surprises. Why watch the game if the outcome is clear or feels predetermined? On any given day, all six of these teams have the ability to beat the other five, which adds a little element of chaos into the mix each Saturday.

In years where Georgia, Alabama, or even Clemson feel unbeatable, watching your team excel in a top-4 spot feels a little like prolonging your own funeral: It’s just a matter of time until they’re matched up with the professionals and get curb-stomped. And when the time comes, it’s absolutely miserable to watch.

This year? Nothing about the rest of this season is clear. We can make predictions all we want, but at the end of the day, it’s really anyone’s guess. It feels fresh.

Two of the top four will play each other on the last weekend of the regular season. The No. 1 seed has three tough games toward the end of conference play. A week ago, Michael Penix Jr. winning the Heisman Trophy seemed like maybe the only predictable thing left in this season.

Then he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble against an unranked Arizona State team, barely eking out a win this past Saturday.

Penix, Jr.’s two interceptions came just a week after Caleb Williams’ downfall. The reigning Heisman Winner had been favored to repeat through the first few weeks of the season until USC lost to Notre Dame in a performance that saw Williams throw three interceptions.

It’s a season where even the best teams, even the best players, have had moments of mediocrity.

And it’s been an absolute blast to watch.

As an analyst, we spend so much time trying to guess who will win based on Xs and Os, tangible statistics, and patterns. Sometimes, something intangible takes over though, for better or worse. It defies predicting.

So we tune into the game with no real answers, no clear picture of how things will shake out. Games surprise us. We get frustrated. We get excited. Sometimes we get to say, “I told you so” (me predicting Colorado’s Week 1 win over TCU) before putting our foot in our mouth a few weeks later (me when Colorado ultimately got blown out by Oregon in Week 4).

Ultimately, in a season like this, your team might not win every game. The teams are more evenly matched. There are holes to exploit. There’s more room for an upset.

There’s also more room for fun.

I hope you’re all enjoying this chaotic ride as much as I am.

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brodybuck21 · Oct 24, 2023

247
Rivals
HUDL
ON3

Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Defensive Back/Linebacker
School: Galveston (TX) Ball
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 lbs

One kid who’s quietly been a very big priority for Perry Eliano is Jonah Williams out of Houston. Made his first visit to Ohio State this weekend and loved it.

The Ohio State win was incredible. Great defensive game through all four quarters. The crowd and atmosphere was crazy, fans on their feet all game just going at it cheering for the home team. Overall great experience.”

Williams was initially being recruited as a Safety which is why Eliano was his recruiter, along with Eliano being the Houston area recruiter, but he’s now on our LB board. If you’re looking for a kid who could be another Sonny Styles, this is him.

Oct 24, 2023

Silver Bullets Podcast: Penn State rewind and Wisconsin preview
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Ohio State outlasted one physical opponent and will immediately face another.

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The Buckeyes passed their second huge test of the 2023 college football season, outlasting the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-12 in a rock fight of a game. The Buckeye defense played lights out, but it probably helped that James Franklin decided not to try to persistently run, because Drew Allar did not look much like a five-star recruit on Saturday. That could be due to the pressure of the OSU front, the hostile atmosphere, or some other factor, but despite a couple of decent early runs, Penn State curiously strayed from it a bit and became both predictable and ineffective.

We broke down Saturday’s scarlet-out win, and checked back on our score predictions and our picks to click to see how close our pregame imaginations came to the real thing. After that, we took our weekly stroll through the Big Ten scoreboard to see which B1G West team threw away its turn in the division’s driver’s seat on Saturday (it was Iowa). Wisconsin appears to have moved to the top of the pile out west after a complete collapse by Illinois in the fourth quarter. We also have to tell our children about a bowl-eligible Rutgers team.

Finally, we looked ahead to the Buckeyes’ trip to Madison for a Saturday night game at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin figures to be every bit as physical and tough as Penn State. The Badgers may not have the Nittany Lions’ talent across the board, but they’ve got the intimidating home crowd in a night game, and this will be a good test to see if Ohio State can keep from resting on its laurels after a hard-fought win against a fellow Top 10 opponent.

We’ll be here with you every week from now until the end of the 2023 Ohio State football season. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Oct 24, 2023

Ohio State trending for four-star OT, earn prediction for five-star corner
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

2025 four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe via @big_carter72 on X

Following Ohio State’s victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes are trending for a 2025 in-state four-star offensive tackle.

Ohio State is now 7-0 following a 20-12 win over Penn State. With another top-10 win under their belt, the Buckeyes will travel to Camp Randell to take on former Ohio State coach Luke Fickell and Wisconsin. Because of this, the majority of the headlines surrounding the Ohio State football team will focus on the upcoming game, and rightfully so. However, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes will continue to make recruiting a priority and will continue to make the recruiting headlines.

Ohio four-star OT trending towards Buckeyes

Ohio State had a boatload of recruits on campus for last weekend’s game against Penn State. The majority of the 2024 recruiting class was on hand, but so were plenty of targets in both the 2025 and 2026 classes. The matchup was the first in-game experience for many of the Ohio State targets in future classes, and the atmosphere in ‘The Shoe’ Saturday has proven to be a powerful recruiting tool once again.

Following a visit for the Penn State game, the Buckeyes have been rumored to be the leaders in multiple recruitments, including 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe (Toledo, OH / Whitmer).

Ryan Day has made it known that recruiting Ohio is a priority of his. Day believes that keeping the state’s best recruits at home is a recipe for success. As a result, Ohio State got a head start in Lowe’s recruitment, offering him back in January. He then took his first visit with Ohio State back in March for a spring recruiting camp. Shortly after, he attended another recruiting camp in June, and was named the camp’s MVP.

Saturday’s visit was his first in Columbus for a game day experience and it seems like the visit has already paid dividends for the Buckeyes. Shortly after the game Saturday 247Sports Director of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, submitted a Crystal Ball prediction for Lowe in favor of the Buckeyes. The selection is now the second favoring Ohio State, as Ohio State Insider Bill Kurelic submitted a prediction for the Buckeyes earlier this month.

These predictions are far from guarantees, but Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye and Ryan Day have to like where they sit following the visit. However, the Buckeyes are not completely out of the woods and they have some stiff competition for Lowe. The blue-chip prospect holds scholarship offers from programs like Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, etc.

Ohio State is in a great position for Lowe, but this doesn’t seem like a recruitment that will be ending soon. Lowe will likely take multiple visits with other schools that have offered him, especially Michigan, West Virginia and Georgia who also seem to be gaining in his recruitment.

Lowe is the No. 13 OT in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 149 overall prospect. He is also the No. 6 recruit from the state of Ohio.

Quick Hits

Land-Grant Holy Land’s own Gene Ross wrote yesterday about how the Buckeyes are trending for five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. The Buckeyes gained even more steam in his recruitment on Monday, as On3’s recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman logged an expert prediction for Sanchez in favor of the Buckeyes. Again, these predictions are not guarantees, but they do offer an insight into how a recruit is currently feeling in their recruitment.

On3 national recruiting analyst @samspiegs has logged an expert prediction for Ohio State to land 2025 5-star CB Devin Sanchez

Sanchez is a top-10 overall prospect in the junior class

Intel: https://t.co/hO4U2yYPEk pic.twitter.com/n0sEtoJ031

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) October 23, 2023

Oct 23, 2023

Uncut Podcast: Chris Holtmann, players discuss Ohio State’s pre-season win over Dayton
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The final score was far less significant than the money that was raised, but getting a win in Dayton was a long time coming.

Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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Following Ohio State’s 78-70 win over Dayton on Sunday night during a charity exhibition match, Chris Holtmann, Jamison Battle, Bruce Thornton, and Devin Royal spoke to the media about the game, their thoughts about the team moving forward, and mental health.

Holtmann spoke first and repeated over and over that the result of today’s game was the least important aspect of the event. He told his team that, “everything coming out of today would be positive, regardless of how this ends.” It took him a while to get through some questions on mental health, taking some time to hold his composure before speaking on something that’s important to him and the Ohio State program.

Afterward, Battle, Royal, and Thornton spoke to the media about the results of the game, what can be improved on, and their thoughts on mental health, and what they do to keep everything right in their mind during a grueling basketball season.

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Oct 23, 2023

You’re Nuts: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Ohio State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Which lesser-talked-about Buckeye deserves more credit for the big win on Saturday.

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.

This week’s topic: Who was the unsung hero of the Penn State game?

Josh’s Take

While not pretty at all points throughout the game, Ohio State secured its second top-10 victory of the 2023 season on Saturday, this one coming at the expense of James Franklin and his previously No. 7 Penn State squad. The Buckeyes did just enough on offense, smothered the Nittany Lions on defense, and despite a final score that read 20-12, pretty much imposed their will for four quarters. As a result, Ryan Day ran his record to 18-6 against ranked opponents and a perfect 5-0 against PSU.

That last sentence has no bearing on what Gene and I are about to discuss, but I gotta defend my guy when I can.

Unlike most games that Day has won in Columbus and at Ohio State, it was his team’s defense that turned in a dominating performance against Penn State. The Buckeyes’ offense was once again stagnant for long stretches and unable to establish any semblance of a ground game, leaving most of the heavy lifting to Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson, Tim Walton, Perry Eliano, and several standout players on the defensive side of the ball.

Saturday’s performance against the Nittany Lions was, in my opinion, the best by an OSU defense under Day and hopefully a sign of things to come for that particular unit. At the very least, it was proof that Knowles and Co. are heading in the right direction.

So who gets or deserves the most credit for Saturday’s defensive destruction of Penn State? That was something my writing partner and I pondered before realizing the error of our ways... Because it’s a trick question, you see.

In reality, all defensive players and coaches deserve a tremendous amount of credit for limiting the Nittany Lions to two field goals and a meaningless late touchdown. Glory does not go to just one person, although Knowles is likely to receive the lion’s share (see what I did there?) of praise.

Regardless, what Gene and I decided to do for this edition of You’re Nuts is/was look at a few ‘unsung heroes’ from the PSU game. Players who don’t typically get their name(s) added to the marquee but turned in a baller performance against the Nittany Lions. Who did the dirty work, stepped up in place of others, and/or just made things happen when called upon?

And to kick things off, I just want to let you (all) know that I plan on cheating. Blatantly. Because if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’. Plus, Gene pretty much laid claim to the player I would have picked, forcing me to call an audible. Which is no big deal. Because we adjust, adapt, and dominate, just like Larry Johnson has done with his ‘Rushmen’. So he gets my nod as an unsung hero — for not only the Penn State game, but also the entire month of October.

Dating back to last season (and possibly even further), OSU fans, including myself, have expressed frustration with the Buckeyes’ pass rush. Or lack thereof. Where are the sacks? Why can’t Tuimoloau and Sawyer get any pressure? Who let Jean-Baptiste on the field? And for the most part, I believe this frustration was warranted. Ohio State finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in sacks in 2022 and was unable to generate pressure against the Michigans and Georgias of the world, when it was needed most.

The same pass rush issues appeared to be carrying over into this season, as OSU was credited with just five sacks in the team’s first four games. But at the same time, explosive plays (for the opponent) were down, guys were at least getting their hands on passes, and the Buckeyes were generally stout against the run. So I started to accept the fact that this group was not destined to be the ‘84 Bears... And that they could still be effective without a killer pass rush.

Then something clicked. The boys started getting home. Ohio State racked up five combined sacks against Maryland and Purdue, and Tuimoloau in particular started to resemble the monster we saw against Penn State last year. And what did he do against the Nittany Lions this past Saturday? Another sack to go with several impact plays.

However, Tuimoloau was not the only defensive lineman to make an impact. Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry were also credited with sacks, and Sawyer and Ty Hamilton led the DL group with three tackles each. Tyleik Williams was pushing Nittany Lions around, and Mike Hall Jr. was just sort of waiting for a big play that never came his way.

The entire DL group made life very uncomfortable for Penn State QB Drew Allar, as well as the Nittany Lions’ running backs. And this has been my long way of saying that Larry Johnson deserves a ton of credit for their improved play. The GOAT has been on the receiving end of much recent criticism, some of it deserved. But he continued to put his faith in Tuimoloau, Sawyer, and others – while coaching them up and teaching technique – resulting in a big-time performance in a big-time game.

So here’s to LJ. An unsung hero for many years and again against his former employer. Maybe the Buckeyes should keep him around just a little bit longer.

Gene’s Take

I do have to give credit where credit is due. I was very critical of Larry Johnson’s unit earlier this season. The defensive line was not getting the job done, with little to no pressure on opposing quarterbacks through the first several weeks despite a massive talent advantage for the Buckeyes. While it is still crazy to me to have a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach that are openly feuding, with Johnson still not allowing Jim Knowles to employ his signature ‘Jack’ position, the defensive line has rounded into form, and really put it all together against Penn State.

In our various postgame recaps here at Land-Grant Holy Land, we have given a ton of credit to many of the deserving players that helped Ohio State win that game on Saturday. Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau are two of the obvious names that led their respective units, but guys like Cody Simon, Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and for the most part the offensive line also deserve a ton of praise for their performances against the Nittany Lions, among others.

However, the guy that I really wanted to highlight here is Jordan Hancock.

To the average non-Ohio State fan watching the game, they may not have even noticed that the Buckeyes were without their top cover corner in Denzel Burke, who was sidelined with a non-specified injury sustained in the second half against Purdue. To hold Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to 18-of-42 passing — a 42.9% completion rate good, the worst of Allar’s career as a starter — without Burke on the field is an incredibly impressive feat. A large part of that lockdown effort was because of the exceptional play of Hancock.

It has been a long and winding road for the Georgia native to get to this point. The No. 5 cornerback and No. 73 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, Hancock was originally committed to Clemson before flipping to Ohio State in the summer of 2020. His career in Columbus got off to a rocky start, with his 2022 season being cut short as a result of a nagging hamstring injury. It led to Hancock’s breakout campaign arriving a year later than expected, but now healthy, the talented DB is finally able to put his full skillset on display, and he has become one of the Buckeyes’ most versatile players in the secondary.

When Burke is healthy, Hancock has spent the majority of the season as Ohio State’s nickel/slot corner, with Burke and Davison Igbinosun patrolling the outside. Without Burke, Hancock spent time both outside and in the slot, showcasing that versatility and a willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help the team win. In just his second official start of his Buckeye career, Hancock registered five total tackles — four of them solo — and a pass breakup on a 3rd-and-1 play in the fourth quarter. Burke’s absence could have really hindered Ohio State’s defense, but Hancock’s strong performance kept it at an elite level.

The freshman Mathews deserves a ton of credit as well, stepping into a larger role with no prior starting experience to draw on. Having already registered a pick-six this season, it is looking more and more like the former No. 1 player in Ohio in the 2023 class has a chance to be one of the next great Silver Bullets. But for now, when Burke is healthy — and there is a chance that he returns this weekend against Wisconsin — Hancock will continue to see the majority of the reps alongside Burke and Igbinosun.

Either way, Tim Walton has to feel good having at least four really good players in his room he can have the utmost confidence in day in and day out. Hancock did not fill up the stat sheet against Penn State, but stepping in for one of Ohio State’s best defensive players without the unit missing a beat is certainly impressive and worthy of a shoutout.

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Oct 23, 2023

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team Previews: Purdue Boilermakers
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Can the Boilermakers veteran-laden team make a deep tournament run this season?

As we enter the fall season and college football gets underway, college basketball is right around the corner. As always, to prepare you for the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be publishing Big Ten Team Previews and Ohio State Basketball Player Previews, starting now with the Team Previews.

Team: Purdue Boilermakers
Head coach: Matt Painter
2022-23 record: 29-6 (15-5)
All-time record against Ohio State: 60-70

Returners: Zach Edey, Caleb Furst, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, Mason Gillis, Ethan Morton, Brian Waddell, Camden Heide, William Berg

Departures: Brandon Newman, David Jenkins

Newcomers: Myles Colvin, Lance Jones

Outlook

Purdue is returning most of its roster that went 29-6 last season and won the Big Ten, so the expectations are high. The Boilermakers will start the season as the No. 3 team in the AP poll, only behind Kansas and Duke.

Last season, Purdue snuck up on people with some big non-conference wins and started the season 14-1. The emergence of freshman guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer as solid starters for Purdue immediately was something no one really saw coming, and it helped Zach Edey to have one of the best seasons of any player over the last couple of seasons.

Edey averaged a double-double with 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game to win the 2022 National Player of the Year. Smith and Loyer were second and third on the team in scoring at 11.0 and 9.7 points per game, respectively.

Another key piece to this team will be top-75 freshman Myles Colvin. The 6-foot-5 wing is a versatile two-way player who can provide a spark with Smith and Loyer. If he can make an immediate impact, which he is expected to, that will be another playmaker that the Boilermakers have outside of Edey.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, Mason Gillis, and Ethan Morton are all role players who can give Matt Painter 20-30 minutes per night and help complement the starting guards and Edey.

Prediction

There might not be a team in college basketball with more expectations than Purdue this season. They were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten Champions, and are returning almost all of its production from last season.

However, with their loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, all eyes are on West Lafayette to see how they will respond to the disappointing end to the season. Only one other No. 1 seed has lost to a No. 16 seed in the first round, and that team won a national championship the next season. No pressure, Purdue.

Edey is back, and there is no reason to believe he won’t be the most dominant player in college basketball again this season. The main thing that will decide whether or not Purdue is a great regular season team that loses in the Elite Eight or is a legitimate national title contender will be the development of the two guards in Smith and Loyer.

Painter is one of the best coaches in the country, and the Boilermakers have the best player in the country. If Smith and Loyer are able to take a solid sophomore jump, the Boilermakers can compete with anyone in the country and could easily be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament again.

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Oct 23, 2023

Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Taiyier Parks
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

A look at the Buckeyes’ new big who gives options in the paint.

Ohio State women’s basketball became a transfer hotspot in the 2023 offseason. The Buckeyes added names from the ACC, SEC and one from a rival Big Ten school. Up next in a series previewing everyone on the 15-player roster is the Big Ten defector: Forward Taiyier Parks.

The graduate senior has one last season to make an impact, and the former head coach Kevin McGuff recruiting target has a lot to bring to Ohio State before running out of NCAA eligibility.

Name: Taiyier Parks
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: North Royalton High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
2022-23 Stats: 8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.5 apg, .575 FG%, .000 3FG%, .560FT%