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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Big Ten senior will have the biggest impact this season?
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You’re Nuts: Which Big Ten senior will have the biggest impact this season?
Connor Lemons 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
This week it’s up to Justin to explain why there’s a senior more impactful than Zach Edey.
In high school or college, did you ever walk into the wrong classroom after class had already begun, so everyone turned around and stared at you until you left? That’s kind of how it feels writing about college basketball on the eve of Ohio State football returning.
Nevertheless, we press on.
This week, we’re wrapping up our four-week series looking at every class in the Big Ten and picking one player, freshman through senior, that we think will have the greatest impact. We’ve covered the first three classes, and now we’re onto the seniors.
Last week, Connor and Justin each picked a junior. Connor went with Maryland’s Julian Reese, while Justin went with Iowa’s Payton Sandfort. Connor got 50% of the vote, while Justin and the “other” option each picked up 25%.
Connor- 50
And that brings us to this week, where we’re discussing the old heads of the Big Ten. Which senior players do each of our basketball writers will be the biggest difference-maker?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24889269/usa_today_20201494.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Semifinals Purdue vs. Ohio State")
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
This feels like the cheap, easy answer... because it is. Zach Edey is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. We all watched the conception of his villain origin story in March when Purdue was upset by Fairleigh Dickinson in the NCAA Tournament, becoming just the second 1-seed to ever lose in the first round. However, their loss currently stands as the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history, because the Boilermakers had Edey — the National POY — on the roster. When Virginia lost to UMBC back in 2018, the Cavaliers did not have a player of Edey’s caliber.
Edey went through the NBA Draft process, but I had a feeling we’d be seeing Edey back in West Lafayette the minute the clock ran out in that 63-58 loss to FDU. Now that he’s back, he’ll be the favorite to repeat as both Big Ten Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. The 7-foot-4, 300-pound Canadian averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game last season while shooting 61% from the field and an impressive 73.4% from the free throw line (impressive for a big man, at least).
The Boilermakers return almost all of their roster from last season’s team that won the Big Ten outright, beat Ohio State three times, won the Big Ten Tournament, and earned a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. There’s no reason to believe that Edey will take a step back from his NPOY-level production. A worst-case scenario for Purdue could be that Edey doesn’t get better at all, which still means they have the best player in the country. More likely, however, is the chance that he continues to improve his touch and range around the basket.
It’s no secret that Edey’s entire skillset revolves around his ability to score below the basket, and everyone else’s inability to stop him. If Edey can expand his range a bit — maybe that five-foot hook shot becomes an eight-foot hook shot — it’ll make him that much harder to guard.
Purdue will be the heavy favorite to win the Big Ten and one of the favorites to win the national championship, and it’s almost solely because of Edey. I expect him to repeat as the Big Ten POY.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24889322/1472442185.jpg "Maryland v Minnesota")
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
For this group, this is a pretty easy one for me. Jamison Battle is the obvious answer here. If he comes to Columbus as the player he was two years ago for Minnesota, then I think he can truly be the difference between this Ohio State team being good and great.
The Buckeyes floor is high to me, with Bruce Thornton returning to run the point, the freshman class coming in, Zed Key and Felix Okpara holding down the center position, and the depth of talent on the team.
If Battle can come in and average 15 a game at the three or four, most likely the four,
Battle spent his first two seasons at George Washington, where he excelled on the offensive end and transferred to Minnesota. At Minnesota, he quickly turned into their top player and a top player in the conference at times. Battle is an elite shooter that will space the floor.
Battle averages 14.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game for his career. He took a slight step back last season, averaging just 12.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game. However, in his junior season, he averaged 17.5 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game, both are career highs.
Another great thing that Battle brings is durability. He dealt with some minor injuries last season, but he has played in 103 games in four seasons and has started in 101 of them. He missed some time in his sophomore season, but that is really it.
Also, he averages 35 minutes played per game for his career. So, he is almost always available, and when he is, he plays most of the game. He can get the hot hand, and when he does, you can let him go because he doesn’t need a break.
Battle is an experienced, three-level scorer who can play multiple positions and space the floor for the Buckeyes. He is the key to their success this season.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
This week it’s up to Justin to explain why there’s a senior more impactful than Zach Edey.
In high school or college, did you ever walk into the wrong classroom after class had already begun, so everyone turned around and stared at you until you left? That’s kind of how it feels writing about college basketball on the eve of Ohio State football returning.
Nevertheless, we press on.
This week, we’re wrapping up our four-week series looking at every class in the Big Ten and picking one player, freshman through senior, that we think will have the greatest impact. We’ve covered the first three classes, and now we’re onto the seniors.
Last week, Connor and Justin each picked a junior. Connor went with Maryland’s Julian Reese, while Justin went with Iowa’s Payton Sandfort. Connor got 50% of the vote, while Justin and the “other” option each picked up 25%.
After 115 weeks:
Connor- 50
Justin- 48
Other- 13
(There have been four ties)
And that brings us to this week, where we’re discussing the old heads of the Big Ten. Which senior players do each of our basketball writers will be the biggest difference-maker?
Today’s Question: Which Big Ten senior will have the biggest impact this season?
Connor: Zach Edey
This feels like the cheap, easy answer... because it is. Zach Edey is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. We all watched the conception of his villain origin story in March when Purdue was upset by Fairleigh Dickinson in the NCAA Tournament, becoming just the second 1-seed to ever lose in the first round. However, their loss currently stands as the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history, because the Boilermakers had Edey — the National POY — on the roster. When Virginia lost to UMBC back in 2018, the Cavaliers did not have a player of Edey’s caliber.
Edey went through the NBA Draft process, but I had a feeling we’d be seeing Edey back in West Lafayette the minute the clock ran out in that 63-58 loss to FDU. Now that he’s back, he’ll be the favorite to repeat as both Big Ten Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. The 7-foot-4, 300-pound Canadian averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game last season while shooting 61% from the field and an impressive 73.4% from the free throw line (impressive for a big man, at least).
The Boilermakers return almost all of their roster from last season’s team that won the Big Ten outright, beat Ohio State three times, won the Big Ten Tournament, and earned a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. There’s no reason to believe that Edey will take a step back from his NPOY-level production. A worst-case scenario for Purdue could be that Edey doesn’t get better at all, which still means they have the best player in the country. More likely, however, is the chance that he continues to improve his touch and range around the basket.
It’s no secret that Edey’s entire skillset revolves around his ability to score below the basket, and everyone else’s inability to stop him. If Edey can expand his range a bit — maybe that five-foot hook shot becomes an eight-foot hook shot — it’ll make him that much harder to guard.
Purdue will be the heavy favorite to win the Big Ten and one of the favorites to win the national championship, and it’s almost solely because of Edey. I expect him to repeat as the Big Ten POY.
Justin: Jamison Battle
For this group, this is a pretty easy one for me. Jamison Battle is the obvious answer here. If he comes to Columbus as the player he was two years ago for Minnesota, then I think he can truly be the difference between this Ohio State team being good and great.
The Buckeyes floor is high to me, with Bruce Thornton returning to run the point, the freshman class coming in, Zed Key and Felix Okpara holding down the center position, and the depth of talent on the team.
If Battle can come in and average 15 a game at the three or four, most likely the four,
Battle spent his first two seasons at George Washington, where he excelled on the offensive end and transferred to Minnesota. At Minnesota, he quickly turned into their top player and a top player in the conference at times. Battle is an elite shooter that will space the floor.
Battle averages 14.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game for his career. He took a slight step back last season, averaging just 12.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game. However, in his junior season, he averaged 17.5 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game, both are career highs.
Another great thing that Battle brings is durability. He dealt with some minor injuries last season, but he has played in 103 games in four seasons and has started in 101 of them. He missed some time in his sophomore season, but that is really it.
Also, he averages 35 minutes played per game for his career. So, he is almost always available, and when he is, he plays most of the game. He can get the hot hand, and when he does, you can let him go because he doesn’t need a break.
Battle is an experienced, three-level scorer who can play multiple positions and space the floor for the Buckeyes. He is the key to their success this season.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ranking Ohio State men’s basketball’s non-conference games from easiest to hardest
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Ranking Ohio State men’s basketball’s non-conference games from easiest to hardest
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes’ non-conference schedule has a heavy SEC and MAC flare to it this season.
College football is back (bless the heavens for that) but can you believe we’re only two months away from college basketball, too? That’s right, it’s been five whole months since we watched the Connecticut Huskies dominate San Diego State en route to winning their fifth national championship in program history.
A few weeks prior to that, the Ohio State Buckeyes saw their season end at the hands of the Purdue Boilermakers in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal. After a nasty season that saw the Buckeyes go 13-17 in the regular season and finish in 13th place in the Big Ten, they advanced to the second-to-last round of the conference tournament, where their run finally ended.
They became the first team in Big Ten history to play on Wednesday and make it all the way to Saturday — many people are saying that the “playing on Wednesday” part makes that accomplishment moot. That’s here nor there.
We’re on the doorstep of Buckeye men’s basketball returning, and the non-conference schedule is once again sprinkled with both daunting challenges and cupcake “buy” games. Below, I’ve ranked each of Ohio State’s 10 non-conference opponents, starting with the game I see as the easiest and working down to the most difficult.
I did not include Ohio State’s second-round matchup in the Emerald Coast Classic, as their opponent is determined based on how they fare against Alabama on the first day. The Buckeyes will take on one of Oregon or Santa Clara on day two.
This is a team that finished dead last in the MAC last season and then lost its top three scorers. Their top returning scorer is fifth-year senior Titus Wright, who averaged 8 points per game last season. They’ve added Texas A&M’s Javonte Brown via transfer as well, but the Buckeyes should have no problem with the Broncos come November.
Merrimack became the talk of the town in March, as they won the Northeast Conference title and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, they couldn’t go since the program was on probation still since they jumped up from Division II to Division I recently and were therefore ineligible for postseason play according to the NCAA.
This team was absolutely plundered by the transfer portal, with their top three scorers choosing to use their remaining eligibility elsewhere. Joe Gallo has proven to be a competent enough coach, but this roster is bare. They’ll be cashing a nice check for playing in Columbus.
Another team that saw most of its nucleus leave in the transfer portal, the Chippewas finished in a three-way tie for ninth in the MAC last season. They lost three of their top four scorers a season ago, including MAC Freshman of the Year Reggie Bass, who transferred to inter-conference rival Kent State.
However, CMU does return senior guard Brian Taylor and his 14.4 points per game. They’ve also added Tulsa transfer Anthony Pritchard, who should form at least a competent backcourt with Taylor. This is another game the Buckeyes should win big, but the Chippewas could have a moment or two during the game.
If you’re looking for the part of the list where teams actually have a nonzero chance to upset Ohio State, I would start here. The Privateers return all four of their top scorers from a season ago, which includes senior guard Jordan Johnson and his 18 PPG, as well as 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Tyson Jackson, who averaged 11.4 PPG and shot 61.9% overall from the floor.
New Orleans was No. 330 in adjusted defense last season, and eventually, Ohio State will outrun them and pull away in this game. But the Privateers have some shotmakers, and it wouldn’t shock me if this game was still competitive at halftime. Johnson in particular could be a problem. He shot 48% from three last season and scored 20+ points nine separate times.
This is a team that shot 38% from downtown last season. Ohio State will need to weather a potential barrage of deep shots, but eventually, the law of averages will prevail and I don’t think this one will be particularly close.
Trey Townsend is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound power forward who averaged 16.5/7.6/1.5 last year, shot 39% from beyond the arc, and averaged 36 minutes per game. He will probably give Ohio State some problems, and it won’t matter who gets stuck on him — Jamison Battle, Devin Royal, Zed Key, it won’t matter.
Oakland lost two of their top three scorers from a year ago to graduation, but return Townsend and senior guard Blake Lampman (10 PPG). They’ve also got former Michigan State guard Rocket Watts on the team, following stops in East Lansing and at Mississippi State.
Also, you don’t coach at this level for 39 years if you don’t know what you’re doing. Greg Kampe has amassed over 400 wins at the Division-I level with Oakland, and another 250+ when they were D-II. He is one of the great basketball minds we have in the sport right now, and I’d be a little surprised if he didn’t come in with a strong game plan to challenge the Buckeyes — at least in the first half.
I debated on flipping Miami and Oakland in this spot, but I like that the Redhawks returned three of their top four scorers from last season and are coached by Travis Steele, who has experience at the high major level from when he led the Xavier program (2018-2022).
The fourth-leading scorer in program history, Mekhi Lairy, is gone. But the Redhawks return senior guard/Columbus-native Morgan Safford (15. PPG, 5.4 REB), senior center Anderson Mirambeaux (14.3 PPG, 5.7 REB), and sophomore guard Ryan Mabrey (8.4 PPG). I like that core and feel that even small steps forward by Safford and Mirambeaux could turn them into one of the better 1-2 combos in the MAC.
Both Safford and Mirambeaux could give Ohio State problems, but ultimately it will take more than just those two guys going off for Miami to pull off a historic upset in Columbus.
From this point on, I wouldn’t bat an eye if the Buckeyes lost any of these games.
Last season’s UCLA team was historically great, winning 30 games and taking home the PAC-12 championship. But to say that roster was gutted would be an insult to guts everywhere. Last year’s UCLA team is gone — there are very few recognizable faces.
The Bruins lost each of their top five scorers from last year to the NBA Draft and/or pro contracts. 6-foot-10 Nigerian big man Adem Bona (7.7 PPG, 5.3 REB) will have to take a big step forward on the offensive end, as he’s already one of the best interior defenders in college basketball after just one year. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews averaged 3.3 points in roughly 11 minutes per game last season, and he’ll have a hefty load on his shoulders running the show.
Mick Cronin has proven himself as a wiley coach who’s been able to milk every bit of defensive talent out of his recent teams. I think Ohio State has the leg-up in this one, but I don’t think it’ll be easy.
What a wild off-season, huh? West Virginia lost its top six scorers from last season to graduation/transfer, and its head coach resigned in disgrace (or not?) after being charged with a DUI — not to mention what he said on the radio shortly before that.
But even after all of that, it seems like the Mountaineers' roster might be in a better spot than it was one year ago.
Bob Huggins and his staff killed it in the transfer portal, adding Kerr Kriisa (Arizona), Raequan Battle (Montana State), Jesse Edwards (Syracuse), and Noah Farrakhan (Eastern Michigan). Even after Huggins resigned, assistant coach Josh Eilert was able to hold it all together and was named the interim head coach.
Ohio State probably has the better collective unit, but West Virginia should be a strong early test for the Buckeyes.
Few high-major teams — if any — faced the kind of roster turnover that Nate Oats did this offseason. Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney are both off to the league after being drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. Mark Sears is back, but Jahvon Quinerly (transfer, Memphis), Jaden Bradley (transfer, Arizona) and Charles Bediako (Draft, undrafted) are gone as well.
Rising sophomore Rylan Griffen will be looked at as an integral piece, as will newcomers Aaron Estrada (Hofstra transfer), Grant Nelson (North Dakota State transfer), and four-star freshman Jarin Stevenson.
Oats might have an SEC-championship caliber team on his hands. He may also have a talented conglomerate of players that won’t click together. This game will be tough at the Emerald Coast Classic — I give the benefit of the doubt to Oats based on his recent track record of success.
Here’s the big one. The Buckeyes and Aggies have agreed to a home-and-home series that starts this season in Columbus and will return to College Station next year. Texas A&M fell in the SEC Championship game and finished second in the league overall last season. They bring back four of their five starters, including Wade Taylor (16.3 PPG, 3.9 AST) and Tyrece Radford (13.3 PPG, 5.3 REB). A top-40 offense and top-50 defense last season according to KenPom, the Aggies were one of the nastier and more physical teams in the country.
The matchup between Taylor and Bruce Thornton will be a fun one to watch, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Aggies walk into Columbus and made their way home with a huge non-conference victory. A&M is the basketball equivalent of a college football team that runs the ball with a strong offensive line, leaning on you all day long until you eventually fall. They will test the Buckeyes’ physicality like few other teams will, and they won’t have much time to prepare for it.
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
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes’ non-conference schedule has a heavy SEC and MAC flare to it this season.
College football is back (bless the heavens for that) but can you believe we’re only two months away from college basketball, too? That’s right, it’s been five whole months since we watched the Connecticut Huskies dominate San Diego State en route to winning their fifth national championship in program history.
A few weeks prior to that, the Ohio State Buckeyes saw their season end at the hands of the Purdue Boilermakers in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal. After a nasty season that saw the Buckeyes go 13-17 in the regular season and finish in 13th place in the Big Ten, they advanced to the second-to-last round of the conference tournament, where their run finally ended.
They became the first team in Big Ten history to play on Wednesday and make it all the way to Saturday — many people are saying that the “playing on Wednesday” part makes that accomplishment moot. That’s here nor there.
We’re on the doorstep of Buckeye men’s basketball returning, and the non-conference schedule is once again sprinkled with both daunting challenges and cupcake “buy” games. Below, I’ve ranked each of Ohio State’s 10 non-conference opponents, starting with the game I see as the easiest and working down to the most difficult.
I did not include Ohio State’s second-round matchup in the Emerald Coast Classic, as their opponent is determined based on how they fare against Alabama on the first day. The Buckeyes will take on one of Oregon or Santa Clara on day two.
10) Western Michigan
- Nov. 19 in Columbus
- Record last season: 8-23
- KenPom rank last season: 323
This is a team that finished dead last in the MAC last season and then lost its top three scorers. Their top returning scorer is fifth-year senior Titus Wright, who averaged 8 points per game last season. They’ve added Texas A&M’s Javonte Brown via transfer as well, but the Buckeyes should have no problem with the Broncos come November.
9) Merrimack
- Nov. 15 in Columbus
- Record last season: 18-16
- KenPom rank last season: 309
Merrimack became the talk of the town in March, as they won the Northeast Conference title and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, they couldn’t go since the program was on probation still since they jumped up from Division II to Division I recently and were therefore ineligible for postseason play according to the NCAA.
This team was absolutely plundered by the transfer portal, with their top three scorers choosing to use their remaining eligibility elsewhere. Joe Gallo has proven to be a competent enough coach, but this roster is bare. They’ll be cashing a nice check for playing in Columbus.
8) Central Michigan
- Nov. 29 in Columbus
- Record last season: 10-21
- KenPom rank last season: 334
Another team that saw most of its nucleus leave in the transfer portal, the Chippewas finished in a three-way tie for ninth in the MAC last season. They lost three of their top four scorers a season ago, including MAC Freshman of the Year Reggie Bass, who transferred to inter-conference rival Kent State.
However, CMU does return senior guard Brian Taylor and his 14.4 points per game. They’ve also added Tulsa transfer Anthony Pritchard, who should form at least a competent backcourt with Taylor. This is another game the Buckeyes should win big, but the Chippewas could have a moment or two during the game.
7) New Orleans
- Dec. 21 in Columbus
- Record last season: 12-20
- KenPom rank last season: 332
If you’re looking for the part of the list where teams actually have a nonzero chance to upset Ohio State, I would start here. The Privateers return all four of their top scorers from a season ago, which includes senior guard Jordan Johnson and his 18 PPG, as well as 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Tyson Jackson, who averaged 11.4 PPG and shot 61.9% overall from the floor.
New Orleans was No. 330 in adjusted defense last season, and eventually, Ohio State will outrun them and pull away in this game. But the Privateers have some shotmakers, and it wouldn’t shock me if this game was still competitive at halftime. Johnson in particular could be a problem. He shot 48% from three last season and scored 20+ points nine separate times.
This is a team that shot 38% from downtown last season. Ohio State will need to weather a potential barrage of deep shots, but eventually, the law of averages will prevail and I don’t think this one will be particularly close.
6) Oakland
- Nov. 6 in Columbus
- Record last season: 13-19
- KenPom rank last season: 272
Trey Townsend is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound power forward who averaged 16.5/7.6/1.5 last year, shot 39% from beyond the arc, and averaged 36 minutes per game. He will probably give Ohio State some problems, and it won’t matter who gets stuck on him — Jamison Battle, Devin Royal, Zed Key, it won’t matter.
Oakland lost two of their top three scorers from a year ago to graduation, but return Townsend and senior guard Blake Lampman (10 PPG). They’ve also got former Michigan State guard Rocket Watts on the team, following stops in East Lansing and at Mississippi State.
Also, you don’t coach at this level for 39 years if you don’t know what you’re doing. Greg Kampe has amassed over 400 wins at the Division-I level with Oakland, and another 250+ when they were D-II. He is one of the great basketball minds we have in the sport right now, and I’d be a little surprised if he didn’t come in with a strong game plan to challenge the Buckeyes — at least in the first half.
5) Miami (OH)
- Dec. 5/6 in Columbus
- Record last season: 12-20
- KenPom rank last season: 268
I debated on flipping Miami and Oakland in this spot, but I like that the Redhawks returned three of their top four scorers from last season and are coached by Travis Steele, who has experience at the high major level from when he led the Xavier program (2018-2022).
The fourth-leading scorer in program history, Mekhi Lairy, is gone. But the Redhawks return senior guard/Columbus-native Morgan Safford (15. PPG, 5.4 REB), senior center Anderson Mirambeaux (14.3 PPG, 5.7 REB), and sophomore guard Ryan Mabrey (8.4 PPG). I like that core and feel that even small steps forward by Safford and Mirambeaux could turn them into one of the better 1-2 combos in the MAC.
Both Safford and Mirambeaux could give Ohio State problems, but ultimately it will take more than just those two guys going off for Miami to pull off a historic upset in Columbus.
4) UCLA
- Dec. 16 at 3:00 p.m. in Atlanta (CBS Sports Classic)
- Record last season: 31-6
- KenPom rank last season: 3
From this point on, I wouldn’t bat an eye if the Buckeyes lost any of these games.
Last season’s UCLA team was historically great, winning 30 games and taking home the PAC-12 championship. But to say that roster was gutted would be an insult to guts everywhere. Last year’s UCLA team is gone — there are very few recognizable faces.
The Bruins lost each of their top five scorers from last year to the NBA Draft and/or pro contracts. 6-foot-10 Nigerian big man Adem Bona (7.7 PPG, 5.3 REB) will have to take a big step forward on the offensive end, as he’s already one of the best interior defenders in college basketball after just one year. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews averaged 3.3 points in roughly 11 minutes per game last season, and he’ll have a hefty load on his shoulders running the show.
Mick Cronin has proven himself as a wiley coach who’s been able to milk every bit of defensive talent out of his recent teams. I think Ohio State has the leg-up in this one, but I don’t think it’ll be easy.
3) West Virginia
- Dec. 30 in Cleveland
- Record last season: 19-15
- KenPom rank last season: 19
What a wild off-season, huh? West Virginia lost its top six scorers from last season to graduation/transfer, and its head coach resigned in disgrace (or not?) after being charged with a DUI — not to mention what he said on the radio shortly before that.
But even after all of that, it seems like the Mountaineers' roster might be in a better spot than it was one year ago.
Bob Huggins and his staff killed it in the transfer portal, adding Kerr Kriisa (Arizona), Raequan Battle (Montana State), Jesse Edwards (Syracuse), and Noah Farrakhan (Eastern Michigan). Even after Huggins resigned, assistant coach Josh Eilert was able to hold it all together and was named the interim head coach.
Ohio State probably has the better collective unit, but West Virginia should be a strong early test for the Buckeyes.
2) Alabama
- Nov. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Niceville, Florida (Emerald Coast Classic)
- Record last season: 31-6
- KenPom rank last season: 4
Few high-major teams — if any — faced the kind of roster turnover that Nate Oats did this offseason. Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney are both off to the league after being drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. Mark Sears is back, but Jahvon Quinerly (transfer, Memphis), Jaden Bradley (transfer, Arizona) and Charles Bediako (Draft, undrafted) are gone as well.
Rising sophomore Rylan Griffen will be looked at as an integral piece, as will newcomers Aaron Estrada (Hofstra transfer), Grant Nelson (North Dakota State transfer), and four-star freshman Jarin Stevenson.
Oats might have an SEC-championship caliber team on his hands. He may also have a talented conglomerate of players that won’t click together. This game will be tough at the Emerald Coast Classic — I give the benefit of the doubt to Oats based on his recent track record of success.
1) Texas A&M
- Nov. 10 in Columbus
- Record last season: 25-10
- KenPom rank last season: 33
Here’s the big one. The Buckeyes and Aggies have agreed to a home-and-home series that starts this season in Columbus and will return to College Station next year. Texas A&M fell in the SEC Championship game and finished second in the league overall last season. They bring back four of their five starters, including Wade Taylor (16.3 PPG, 3.9 AST) and Tyrece Radford (13.3 PPG, 5.3 REB). A top-40 offense and top-50 defense last season according to KenPom, the Aggies were one of the nastier and more physical teams in the country.
The matchup between Taylor and Bruce Thornton will be a fun one to watch, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Aggies walk into Columbus and made their way home with a huge non-conference victory. A&M is the basketball equivalent of a college football team that runs the ball with a strong offensive line, leaning on you all day long until you eventually fall. They will test the Buckeyes’ physicality like few other teams will, and they won’t have much time to prepare for it.
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LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 1
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 1
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There is 1 day remaining.
Ohio State kicks off its 2023 football season tomorrow, and what better way to celebrate one day remaining on our countdown than with an all-time highlight from the 1-yard line — and a guy who at one point wore No. 1! This touchdown by Braxton Miller is atop the heap of the many highlights from the illustrious collegiate career of the Ohio State quarterback/wide receiver. It showcases what made Miller so special during his time in Columbus, pulling off every move in the book to punch this ball into the end zone.
Hopefully you enjoyed our countdown to the start of the new campaign! Thanks for keeping track day by day with us, and we look forward to keeping you updated on all things Ohio State here at Land-Grant Holy Land as the season gets underway on Saturday.
Go Bucks!
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There is 1 day remaining.
Play of the Day: Braxton Miller’s 1-yard TD vs. Penn State (2012)
Ohio State kicks off its 2023 football season tomorrow, and what better way to celebrate one day remaining on our countdown than with an all-time highlight from the 1-yard line — and a guy who at one point wore No. 1! This touchdown by Braxton Miller is atop the heap of the many highlights from the illustrious collegiate career of the Ohio State quarterback/wide receiver. It showcases what made Miller so special during his time in Columbus, pulling off every move in the book to punch this ball into the end zone.
Players to Wear the #1 (since 2010):
- Devon Torrence (2010)
- Dan Herron (2011)
- Bradley Roby (2012-13)
- Dontre Wilson (2013)
- Johnnie Dixon (2014-18)
- Erick Smith (2014-15)
- Braxton Miller (2015)
- Jeffrey Okudah (2017-19)
- Justin Fields (2019-20)
- Demario McCall (2021)
- Davison Igbinosun (present)
Hopefully you enjoyed our countdown to the start of the new campaign! Thanks for keeping track day by day with us, and we look forward to keeping you updated on all things Ohio State here at Land-Grant Holy Land as the season gets underway on Saturday.
Go Bucks!
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LGHL MC&J: Week 1’s national college football action headlined by LSU-Florida State
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MC&J: Week 1’s national college football action headlined by LSU-Florida State
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The true college football season kicks off tonight with Florida-Utah and Nebraska-Minnesota.
It’s hard to find any fault with leaving Week 0 with a winning record. We covered the picks for the Notre Dame and USC games, while one of our losses was because Ohio had quarterback Kurtis Rourke suffer a lower-body injury late in the first half against San Diego State. Also, UMass-New Mexico State and Florida International-Louisiana Tech are games I’d never normally pick, so I’ll give myself a pass on those games.
Florida v. No. 14 Utah (-4.5) - Thursday 8/31 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Over the past few months I thought that Utah could be a sleeper to possibly make the College Football Playoff. The Utes have won the last two Pac-12 titles and played in the Rose Bowl in back-to-back years. While Cam Rising is returning for another season in Salt Lake City, it is unknown when Rising will actually be able to play after suffering a knee injury in the Rose Bowl. As if that wasn’t enough for head coach Kyle Whittingham to deal with, backup quarterback Brandon Rose was injured in preseason camp and his status for tonight’s game isn’t clear.
Unlike Utah, Florida doesn’t have any questions about who will be starting at quarterback in the season opener, as the Gators brought in Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz to replace Anthony Richardson. While Mertz definitely doesn’t have the athleticism or a cannon for an arm like Richardson, he does have experience playing in tough environments like Florida will face tonight at Utah.
This feels like it’s going to be a game like we saw last year in Gainesville that is going to come down to the wire. If Rising was going to start and there wasn’t any questions about his knee, I’d feel a little more confident in backing Utah tonight. While I still think the Utes will find a way to win, I don’t think they top the Gators by more than a field goal.
Utah 27, Florida 24
Colorado v. No. 17 TCU (-20.5) - Saturday 9/2 12:00 p.m. - FOX
After making the College Football Playoff and beating Michigan in the semifinal, TCU turned back into a pumpkin when the whistle blew at kickoff of the title game against Georgia. The Horned Frogs lost a ton from last year’s team, including quarterback Max Duggan. Stepping in for Duggan is Chandler Morris, who actually started last year’s game against Colorado before leaving in the third quarter because of a knee injury.
I have no idea if Colorado is going to be good or bad this year. What I do know is they are certainly going to be interesting after hiring Deion Sanders as their new head coach. Sanders not only is bringing his son to quarterback the Buffaloes, he also has five-star recruit Travis Hunter and a bunch of other transfers coming with him. What Sanders is doing at Colorado makes Mel Tucker’s transfer exploits at Michigan State a few years ago look like child’s play.
Both these teams might not come out all that sharp with so many new pieces on both sides of the football. I wasn’t all that impressed with TCU’s defense last year, and it doesn’t feel like the unit is going to be stronger this season. I don’t think Prime Time is going to start off his Colorado coaching career with a win, but I do think the Buffaloes hang around in Fort Worth.
TCU 35, Colorado 24
Boise State v. No. 10 Washington (-14.5) - Saturday 9/2 3:30 p.m. - ABC
Washington opens up their final season in the Pac-12 with a shot to put together one of the best seasons in school history. Not only will the Huskies be challenging for a conference title and a possible playoff spot, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy. To get to those places, Washington has to make the most of the games that aren’t on in the middle of the night on the East Coast. This is one of those games.
While Boise State isn’t quite as feared as they were about a decade ago, they are still a very strong team. Not only does quarterback Taylen Green returner, so does 1,100-yard rusher George Holani. It feels like what the Broncos will try and do is control the clock with their running game, which is what they did last year. Even though Boise State should have a stout defense, I just think the Huskies are too good on offense. Penix and company will jump out to a lead that will nullify Boise’s ground game and force Green to throw the football.
Washington 41, Boise State 21
No. 21 North Carolina (-2.5) v. South Carolina - Saturday 9/2 7:30 p.m. - ABC
This matchup might not be quite as sexy when it comes to rankings as we have seen recently on ABC on the Saturday night of Labor Day weekend, but this certainly could be a fun one. Not only do you have a battle between neighboring states, we also have a great quarterback matchup between North Carolina’s Drake Maye and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
I feel like the wrong team is ranked and favored here. Even though the Tar Heels have Maye, what else do they have? Their defense was awful last year, and it feels like Mack Brown’s teams at North Carolina have failed to live up to expectations during his second stint in Chapel Hill. I just think South Carolina is on the upswing with Rattler and head coach Shane Beamer, while North Carolina is trending in the other direction. The Gamecocks edge the Tar Heels in a tight game in Charlotte.
South Carolina 38, North Carolina 31
No. 18 Oregon State (-16.5) v. San Jose State - Sunday 9/3 3:30 p.m. - CBS
Oregon State is undoubtedly the better team in this matchup, especially after bringing in Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. The Beavers closed the 2022 season with seven wins in the last eight games, including a blowout of Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. If Uiagalelei is as good as some think he can be, Oregon State could end up making some noise in the Pac-12 since they get both Utah and Washington in Corvallis.
We have already seen San Jose State this year (well, maybe not “seen” since their loss to USC was on the Pac-12 Network). The Spartans were able to put some points up on the board against a terrible Trojans defense and cover the point spread. They’ll face a tougher test on Sunday against Oregon State’s defense, but at least they’ll be at home for this contest. I feel like Chevan Cordeiro will be sharp enough to keep the Spartans inside the number for the second straight week against a Pac-12 foe.
Oregon State 31, San Jose State 20
No. 5 LSU (-2.5) v. No. 8 Florida State - Sunday 9/3 7:30 p.m. - ABC
After last year’s thrilling 24-23 Florida State victory over LSU in New Orleans, the Seminoles and Tigers are going to run it back in Orlando. Unlike last year when there were questions about both teams heading into the opener, this year both teams are ranked in the top-10. LSU returns quarterback Jayden Daniels following a solid first year with the Tigers after transferring from Arizona State, while the Seminoles have Jordan Travis back at quarterback.
I’m still not totally sold on Florida State. Even though they bring back Travis, and have a number of exciting offensive transfers, I’m not quite ready to say the Seminoles are “back”. Aside from their win over LSU in Brian Kelly’s first game with the Tigers, what win by Florida State really impressed you last year? They had some alright close losses, but their wins were against a pretty soft schedule. With another offseason under his belt, Daniels outclasses Travis and helps the Tigers get a little revenge for last season.
LSU 28, Florida State 20
No. 9 Clemson (-12.5) v. Duke - Monday 9/4 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Just how far has Duke football come? The Blue Devils getting a home game on ESPN at night on Labor Day should tell you everything. Duke is no longer a laughing stock when it comes to football, especially with Riley Leonard at quarterback. While it feels like Leonard is trying to follow in Daniel Jones’ footsteps, it is going to tough for him find any traction on Monday night against a really tough Clemson defense.
Over the last few years, the Clemson offense has gotten stagnant. That is about to change since Dabo Swinney brought in TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to take the same position with the Tigers. Clemson fans had to be frustrated over the last few years to watch D.J. Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik struggle to put points on the board. Klubnik does have an excuse though since he was only a freshman last year, and we should see him grow after working with Riley during the offseason. This feels like a rebound year for Clemson and they start their 2023 season off on the right foot by overwhelming the Blue Devils.
Clemson 34, Duke 17
Normally I’d put all the Big Ten games together, but since this one falls on Thursday I’m including it with the national picks and I’ll post the rest of the Big Ten picks for this week tomorrow.
Nebraska v. Minnesota (-7) - Thursday 8/31 8:00 p.m. - FOX
Following a failed attempt at being an NFL head coach, Matt Rhule brings his art smock back to college football. After rebuilding Temple and Baylor, now Rhule will try and resurrect Nebraska, who have become a laughingstock in the Big Ten West. Rhule is off to a good start, bringing in Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims and a number of other transfers. Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers, one of those transfers was suspended recently, as former LSU and Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert was arrested for felony burglary.
After being at Minnesota for what felt like a decade, Mohamed Ibrahim has moved on to the professional level. Replacing Ibrahim will be Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler, but most of the time it feels like the Golden Gophers could put anyone in the backfield and they could put up big numbers.
Even though Minnesota has won the last four $5 Broken Bits of Chair trophies, the last three wins were only by a touchdown. While Nebraska has a new head coach and some new players, I feel like they are in a better place that they have been in at least the last five years. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Nebraska win straight up, but to be safe I’ll predict a close Minnesota win since the Cornhuskers will be on the road to open up the season.
Minnesota 21, Nebraska 17
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The true college football season kicks off tonight with Florida-Utah and Nebraska-Minnesota.
Week 0 ATS: 4-3
It’s hard to find any fault with leaving Week 0 with a winning record. We covered the picks for the Notre Dame and USC games, while one of our losses was because Ohio had quarterback Kurtis Rourke suffer a lower-body injury late in the first half against San Diego State. Also, UMass-New Mexico State and Florida International-Louisiana Tech are games I’d never normally pick, so I’ll give myself a pass on those games.
National games
Florida v. No. 14 Utah (-4.5) - Thursday 8/31 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Over the past few months I thought that Utah could be a sleeper to possibly make the College Football Playoff. The Utes have won the last two Pac-12 titles and played in the Rose Bowl in back-to-back years. While Cam Rising is returning for another season in Salt Lake City, it is unknown when Rising will actually be able to play after suffering a knee injury in the Rose Bowl. As if that wasn’t enough for head coach Kyle Whittingham to deal with, backup quarterback Brandon Rose was injured in preseason camp and his status for tonight’s game isn’t clear.
Unlike Utah, Florida doesn’t have any questions about who will be starting at quarterback in the season opener, as the Gators brought in Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz to replace Anthony Richardson. While Mertz definitely doesn’t have the athleticism or a cannon for an arm like Richardson, he does have experience playing in tough environments like Florida will face tonight at Utah.
This feels like it’s going to be a game like we saw last year in Gainesville that is going to come down to the wire. If Rising was going to start and there wasn’t any questions about his knee, I’d feel a little more confident in backing Utah tonight. While I still think the Utes will find a way to win, I don’t think they top the Gators by more than a field goal.
Utah 27, Florida 24
Colorado v. No. 17 TCU (-20.5) - Saturday 9/2 12:00 p.m. - FOX
After making the College Football Playoff and beating Michigan in the semifinal, TCU turned back into a pumpkin when the whistle blew at kickoff of the title game against Georgia. The Horned Frogs lost a ton from last year’s team, including quarterback Max Duggan. Stepping in for Duggan is Chandler Morris, who actually started last year’s game against Colorado before leaving in the third quarter because of a knee injury.
I have no idea if Colorado is going to be good or bad this year. What I do know is they are certainly going to be interesting after hiring Deion Sanders as their new head coach. Sanders not only is bringing his son to quarterback the Buffaloes, he also has five-star recruit Travis Hunter and a bunch of other transfers coming with him. What Sanders is doing at Colorado makes Mel Tucker’s transfer exploits at Michigan State a few years ago look like child’s play.
Both these teams might not come out all that sharp with so many new pieces on both sides of the football. I wasn’t all that impressed with TCU’s defense last year, and it doesn’t feel like the unit is going to be stronger this season. I don’t think Prime Time is going to start off his Colorado coaching career with a win, but I do think the Buffaloes hang around in Fort Worth.
TCU 35, Colorado 24
Boise State v. No. 10 Washington (-14.5) - Saturday 9/2 3:30 p.m. - ABC
Washington opens up their final season in the Pac-12 with a shot to put together one of the best seasons in school history. Not only will the Huskies be challenging for a conference title and a possible playoff spot, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy. To get to those places, Washington has to make the most of the games that aren’t on in the middle of the night on the East Coast. This is one of those games.
While Boise State isn’t quite as feared as they were about a decade ago, they are still a very strong team. Not only does quarterback Taylen Green returner, so does 1,100-yard rusher George Holani. It feels like what the Broncos will try and do is control the clock with their running game, which is what they did last year. Even though Boise State should have a stout defense, I just think the Huskies are too good on offense. Penix and company will jump out to a lead that will nullify Boise’s ground game and force Green to throw the football.
Washington 41, Boise State 21
No. 21 North Carolina (-2.5) v. South Carolina - Saturday 9/2 7:30 p.m. - ABC
This matchup might not be quite as sexy when it comes to rankings as we have seen recently on ABC on the Saturday night of Labor Day weekend, but this certainly could be a fun one. Not only do you have a battle between neighboring states, we also have a great quarterback matchup between North Carolina’s Drake Maye and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
I feel like the wrong team is ranked and favored here. Even though the Tar Heels have Maye, what else do they have? Their defense was awful last year, and it feels like Mack Brown’s teams at North Carolina have failed to live up to expectations during his second stint in Chapel Hill. I just think South Carolina is on the upswing with Rattler and head coach Shane Beamer, while North Carolina is trending in the other direction. The Gamecocks edge the Tar Heels in a tight game in Charlotte.
South Carolina 38, North Carolina 31
No. 18 Oregon State (-16.5) v. San Jose State - Sunday 9/3 3:30 p.m. - CBS
Oregon State is undoubtedly the better team in this matchup, especially after bringing in Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. The Beavers closed the 2022 season with seven wins in the last eight games, including a blowout of Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. If Uiagalelei is as good as some think he can be, Oregon State could end up making some noise in the Pac-12 since they get both Utah and Washington in Corvallis.
We have already seen San Jose State this year (well, maybe not “seen” since their loss to USC was on the Pac-12 Network). The Spartans were able to put some points up on the board against a terrible Trojans defense and cover the point spread. They’ll face a tougher test on Sunday against Oregon State’s defense, but at least they’ll be at home for this contest. I feel like Chevan Cordeiro will be sharp enough to keep the Spartans inside the number for the second straight week against a Pac-12 foe.
Oregon State 31, San Jose State 20
No. 5 LSU (-2.5) v. No. 8 Florida State - Sunday 9/3 7:30 p.m. - ABC
After last year’s thrilling 24-23 Florida State victory over LSU in New Orleans, the Seminoles and Tigers are going to run it back in Orlando. Unlike last year when there were questions about both teams heading into the opener, this year both teams are ranked in the top-10. LSU returns quarterback Jayden Daniels following a solid first year with the Tigers after transferring from Arizona State, while the Seminoles have Jordan Travis back at quarterback.
I’m still not totally sold on Florida State. Even though they bring back Travis, and have a number of exciting offensive transfers, I’m not quite ready to say the Seminoles are “back”. Aside from their win over LSU in Brian Kelly’s first game with the Tigers, what win by Florida State really impressed you last year? They had some alright close losses, but their wins were against a pretty soft schedule. With another offseason under his belt, Daniels outclasses Travis and helps the Tigers get a little revenge for last season.
LSU 28, Florida State 20
No. 9 Clemson (-12.5) v. Duke - Monday 9/4 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Just how far has Duke football come? The Blue Devils getting a home game on ESPN at night on Labor Day should tell you everything. Duke is no longer a laughing stock when it comes to football, especially with Riley Leonard at quarterback. While it feels like Leonard is trying to follow in Daniel Jones’ footsteps, it is going to tough for him find any traction on Monday night against a really tough Clemson defense.
Over the last few years, the Clemson offense has gotten stagnant. That is about to change since Dabo Swinney brought in TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to take the same position with the Tigers. Clemson fans had to be frustrated over the last few years to watch D.J. Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik struggle to put points on the board. Klubnik does have an excuse though since he was only a freshman last year, and we should see him grow after working with Riley during the offseason. This feels like a rebound year for Clemson and they start their 2023 season off on the right foot by overwhelming the Blue Devils.
Clemson 34, Duke 17
B1G game:
Normally I’d put all the Big Ten games together, but since this one falls on Thursday I’m including it with the national picks and I’ll post the rest of the Big Ten picks for this week tomorrow.
Nebraska v. Minnesota (-7) - Thursday 8/31 8:00 p.m. - FOX
Following a failed attempt at being an NFL head coach, Matt Rhule brings his art smock back to college football. After rebuilding Temple and Baylor, now Rhule will try and resurrect Nebraska, who have become a laughingstock in the Big Ten West. Rhule is off to a good start, bringing in Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims and a number of other transfers. Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers, one of those transfers was suspended recently, as former LSU and Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert was arrested for felony burglary.
After being at Minnesota for what felt like a decade, Mohamed Ibrahim has moved on to the professional level. Replacing Ibrahim will be Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler, but most of the time it feels like the Golden Gophers could put anyone in the backfield and they could put up big numbers.
Even though Minnesota has won the last four $5 Broken Bits of Chair trophies, the last three wins were only by a touchdown. While Nebraska has a new head coach and some new players, I feel like they are in a better place that they have been in at least the last five years. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Nebraska win straight up, but to be safe I’ll predict a close Minnesota win since the Cornhuskers will be on the road to open up the season.
Minnesota 21, Nebraska 17
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