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LGHL You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to in this year’s Super Bowl?
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You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to in this year’s Super Bowl?
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 Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It sure felt quiet in the sports world over the weekend. This was the first weekend since August there wasn’t either college football or NFL action on the schedule, and no the NFL Pro Bowl flag football extravaganza doesn’t count as real football. The NHL also held their All-Star festivities, but if you’re a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets the season essentially ended a few months ago. At least the Ohio State women’s basketball team was able to earn a win over a tough Indiana team, taking some of the sting away from the men’s team losing to Iowa on Friday night.
This weekend will certainly be different when it comes to sportsball excitement since the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday night. While the matchup doesn’t have a ton of intrigue since it is one we have seen recently, sports fans are still going to tune into the Super Bowl. Even though viewers might not have a favorite team they are rooting for, there are plenty of other reasons why they’ll be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night.
Today we want to know what you are most looking forward to for this year’s Super Bowl. Maybe it’s all the delicious foods at Super Bowl parties. It could be the halftime show, which will be headlined by Usher. Or it could be another musician who will be in attendance to cheer on her love interest. If those reasons aren’t enough to allow you to enjoy the big game, there are countless ways to wager on the game and root for a team, both teams, certain players, or even certain parts of the game broadcast. Maybe you just want to see the Buckeyes in the game be great. In the end, there is entertainment for everybody when it comes to the game and everything that surrounds it.
To anyone who has followed LGHL for more than five minutes, I’m sure it is no surprise that I would choose gambling when it comes to the Super Bowl. Honestly, it’s something in my blood since my uncle out in Oregon had a Super Bowl party where some of his friends from where he used to live in California would go up for the weekend and it would be like a betting free-for-all since there was plenty of sporting events to wager on during the weekend of the Super Bowl. My uncle even has an annual playoff pool that is too complicated to explain here, which I have cashed in numerous times over the last decade. Unfortunately this year my shot at winning went up in flames since my Buffalo Bills lost once again to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If you asked me who I’m rooting for on Sunday, the obvious answer is going to be the San Francisco 49ers since I have a deep hatred for Kansas City since they have beat the Bills in the playoffs three times in the last four years. My rooting interests are definitely going to expand as we get closer to the game since I’ll not only be in a number of squares pools, I’m sure I’ll have some money on numerous prop bets. As much as I can’t stand the Chiefs, I do like Isiah Pacheco over 89.5 rushing and receiving yards, so you can’t say I have never given you anything!
When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl, what I’m most excited about is a friend’s prop pool. It is only $20 to enter so even though I haven’t cashed in the previous two years I’ve been a participant, I at least feel like I get my entry fee and then some when it comes to entertainment. This pool is fun because all the other participants come up with five props and you have to pick two from each participant. While you get to pick the side you want of the props for others you are choosing, you are automatically given the side those that have picked from your props didn’t pick, so in the end there is a lot to keep track of.
Even if you aren’t into gambling on the game, I hope you enjoy Sunday since it’s
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25278586/1970250659.jpg "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens")
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
a good excuse to gather with friends and family, eat a bunch of delicious food, and forget everything else for a few hours on a Sunday night in February.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25278585/1970250659.jpg "AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens")
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I will — at most — be watching half of the Super Bowl this year. I am going to be in New York for work, and I am going to a play at 7:30 p.m. ET, so I will catch the beginning probably on my phone, and then maybe the final quarter, if I’m lucky. Sure, I would prefer to watch the game, but I’m not all that upset about it. I have not really followed the NFL in years, most weeks, I just throw on RedZone in the afternoon while I am doing some work. The same was true this year, but the Niners-Chiefs matchup is one that is at least intriguing.
However, since I will only be catching the game in bits and pieces, and much of it on the go, for this article prompt, I am going to focus on something off-the-field. As much of my consumption of the game will be via social media, I am really looking forward to the weirdos who are going to be freaking out about any and all mentions of Taylor Swift, how she will have flown from Japan to be there, any strange numerical or astrological connections she has to the game, and anything else.
I am not what you would call a Swiftie, but neither am I a hater (who is gonna hate, hate, hate). In general, I have no strong opinion about her, and even less so about her music. She is an admitted cultural blindspot for me, despite the fact that many people in my life seem to count her as their personal poet laureate.
But the way that her presence in a suite at a football game makes people angry, makes me laugh. Whether it is the people on one end of the spectrum that get upset that they spend a combined 90 seconds of the three-plus hour broadcast talking about and showing her to the people on the other end who believe that her presence in some Illuminati, deep state conspiracy to brainwash the hearts and minds of unsuspecting, red-blooded, football-loving Americans, they are all off their damn rockers.
I have no idea how genuine her relationship with Travis Kelce is. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that two celebrities got together primarily for publicity (I’m looking at you, Tom Cruise), but I also have no reason to doubt their romantic sincerity. But more importantly, I don’t care enough to have an opinion about their relationship. Now, I also have no problem with fans of either Tay or Trav, being parasocially invested in the pair, that’s part of fandom. But for the people out there who get irrationally angry over the slightest mention or briefest sight of her during the game tomorrow night, please, take a deep breath and reexamine your priorities.
For me, I will just be sitting back and figuratively eating my popcorn as I watch the unhinged and often performative outrage over the audacity of a TV network airing the biggest piece of broadcast entertainment of the year daring to show arguably the most famous person on the planet cheering for her beau performing at the pinnacle of his profession. Oh, the horror!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It sure felt quiet in the sports world over the weekend. This was the first weekend since August there wasn’t either college football or NFL action on the schedule, and no the NFL Pro Bowl flag football extravaganza doesn’t count as real football. The NHL also held their All-Star festivities, but if you’re a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets the season essentially ended a few months ago. At least the Ohio State women’s basketball team was able to earn a win over a tough Indiana team, taking some of the sting away from the men’s team losing to Iowa on Friday night.
This weekend will certainly be different when it comes to sportsball excitement since the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday night. While the matchup doesn’t have a ton of intrigue since it is one we have seen recently, sports fans are still going to tune into the Super Bowl. Even though viewers might not have a favorite team they are rooting for, there are plenty of other reasons why they’ll be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night.
Today we want to know what you are most looking forward to for this year’s Super Bowl. Maybe it’s all the delicious foods at Super Bowl parties. It could be the halftime show, which will be headlined by Usher. Or it could be another musician who will be in attendance to cheer on her love interest. If those reasons aren’t enough to allow you to enjoy the big game, there are countless ways to wager on the game and root for a team, both teams, certain players, or even certain parts of the game broadcast. Maybe you just want to see the Buckeyes in the game be great. In the end, there is entertainment for everybody when it comes to the game and everything that surrounds it.
Today’s question: What are you most looking forward to in this year’s Super Bowl?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: The gambling
To anyone who has followed LGHL for more than five minutes, I’m sure it is no surprise that I would choose gambling when it comes to the Super Bowl. Honestly, it’s something in my blood since my uncle out in Oregon had a Super Bowl party where some of his friends from where he used to live in California would go up for the weekend and it would be like a betting free-for-all since there was plenty of sporting events to wager on during the weekend of the Super Bowl. My uncle even has an annual playoff pool that is too complicated to explain here, which I have cashed in numerous times over the last decade. Unfortunately this year my shot at winning went up in flames since my Buffalo Bills lost once again to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If you asked me who I’m rooting for on Sunday, the obvious answer is going to be the San Francisco 49ers since I have a deep hatred for Kansas City since they have beat the Bills in the playoffs three times in the last four years. My rooting interests are definitely going to expand as we get closer to the game since I’ll not only be in a number of squares pools, I’m sure I’ll have some money on numerous prop bets. As much as I can’t stand the Chiefs, I do like Isiah Pacheco over 89.5 rushing and receiving yards, so you can’t say I have never given you anything!
When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl, what I’m most excited about is a friend’s prop pool. It is only $20 to enter so even though I haven’t cashed in the previous two years I’ve been a participant, I at least feel like I get my entry fee and then some when it comes to entertainment. This pool is fun because all the other participants come up with five props and you have to pick two from each participant. While you get to pick the side you want of the props for others you are choosing, you are automatically given the side those that have picked from your props didn’t pick, so in the end there is a lot to keep track of.
Even if you aren’t into gambling on the game, I hope you enjoy Sunday since it’s
a good excuse to gather with friends and family, eat a bunch of delicious food, and forget everything else for a few hours on a Sunday night in February.
Matt’s answer: The idiotic outrage over Taylor Swifts’s presence at the game
Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I will — at most — be watching half of the Super Bowl this year. I am going to be in New York for work, and I am going to a play at 7:30 p.m. ET, so I will catch the beginning probably on my phone, and then maybe the final quarter, if I’m lucky. Sure, I would prefer to watch the game, but I’m not all that upset about it. I have not really followed the NFL in years, most weeks, I just throw on RedZone in the afternoon while I am doing some work. The same was true this year, but the Niners-Chiefs matchup is one that is at least intriguing.
However, since I will only be catching the game in bits and pieces, and much of it on the go, for this article prompt, I am going to focus on something off-the-field. As much of my consumption of the game will be via social media, I am really looking forward to the weirdos who are going to be freaking out about any and all mentions of Taylor Swift, how she will have flown from Japan to be there, any strange numerical or astrological connections she has to the game, and anything else.
I am not what you would call a Swiftie, but neither am I a hater (who is gonna hate, hate, hate). In general, I have no strong opinion about her, and even less so about her music. She is an admitted cultural blindspot for me, despite the fact that many people in my life seem to count her as their personal poet laureate.
But the way that her presence in a suite at a football game makes people angry, makes me laugh. Whether it is the people on one end of the spectrum that get upset that they spend a combined 90 seconds of the three-plus hour broadcast talking about and showing her to the people on the other end who believe that her presence in some Illuminati, deep state conspiracy to brainwash the hearts and minds of unsuspecting, red-blooded, football-loving Americans, they are all off their damn rockers.
I have no idea how genuine her relationship with Travis Kelce is. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that two celebrities got together primarily for publicity (I’m looking at you, Tom Cruise), but I also have no reason to doubt their romantic sincerity. But more importantly, I don’t care enough to have an opinion about their relationship. Now, I also have no problem with fans of either Tay or Trav, being parasocially invested in the pair, that’s part of fandom. But for the people out there who get irrationally angry over the slightest mention or briefest sight of her during the game tomorrow night, please, take a deep breath and reexamine your priorities.
For me, I will just be sitting back and figuratively eating my popcorn as I watch the unhinged and often performative outrage over the audacity of a TV network airing the biggest piece of broadcast entertainment of the year daring to show arguably the most famous person on the planet cheering for her beau performing at the pinnacle of his profession. Oh, the horror!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Maryland: Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Maryland: Game preview and prediction
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 G Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will try and bounce back from Tuesday’s second half collapse against Indiana.
Ohio State’s season reached a new low on Tuesday night when the Buckeyes (13-10, 3-9) blew an 18-point lead at home to Indiana in the second half, falling to the Hoosiers 76-73. With the loss, Ohio State has now lost five-straight games, and eight of their last nine games.
Entering Saturday’s game, the Buckeyes sit at the bottom of the Big Ten conference, in a two-way tie with Michigan for last place. However, since the Wolverines already beat the Buckeyes, Michigan would technically claim the 13-spot in the standings, with Ohio State bringing up the rear. Tuesday night’s loss to Indiana only added fuel to the notion that this will be head coach Chris Holtmann’s last season in charge in Columbus.
Although the Buckeyes took a 42-29 lead over the Hoosiers into halftime, it was difficult to have faith in Ohio State holding onto the lead because of the second half struggles they have had in numerous games over the last month. Roddy Gayle Jr. pushed the lead to 49-31 with a layup just a couple minutes into the second half.
Trailing by 12 points with just under eight minutes to go in the game, Indiana started to make their big move. The comeback was capped off by an Anthony Leal game-winning three-pointer with 22 seconds left that gave the Hoosiers a regular season sweep of the Buckeyes.
Ohio State had no answer for Malik Reneau and Trey Galloway of Indiana, who combined to score 51 points. No other Hoosier reached double figures in scoring in the game. Leading the Buckeyes in scoring in the loss were Gayle Jr. and Jamison Battle, with each scoring 19 points. Bruce Thornton added 11 points, and continues to lead the team with a 15.4 points per game.
The Buckeyes will close out their two-game homestand later today by hosting the Maryland Terrapins. Much like Ohio State, Maryland (13-10, 5-7) has struggled recently, losing four of their last six games. The most recent of those setbacks came on Tuesday night when the Terrapins fell 56-53 in College Park to Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights hit a three-pointer to take a 40-37 lead with 9:48 left in the game and wouldn’t trail again. Maryland was able to pull within a point after a couple Jahmir Young free throws with just over a minute to go, but the Terps ran out of steam and weren’t able to complete the comeback.
Had Julian Reese and Young been able to get some help from their teammates, Maryland might have had enough to beat Rutgers earlier this week. Reese scored a team-high 19 points in the loss, while Young netted 16 points. The duo were the only two Terrapins to reach double figures in scoring in the game. Both Maryland players also were strong on the glass, with each pulling down 12 rebounds.
With his scoring output on Tuesday, Young now has 2,428 career points, ranking second nationally amongst active players. Young will now try and continue his scintillating play on the road of late. Over his last six road games, Young is averaging 29.0 points per game.
Already this season, Young has scored 30 points in three road contests, tying him with Len Bias and Greivis Vazquez for second-most in a season in Maryland history, which only trails Walt Williams’ school single-season record of five road games in a season with at least 30 points. The Charlotte transfer is leading the Terrapins with 20.6 points per game, ranking second in the Big Ten behind Purdue big man Zach Edey.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25277778/1996344685.jpg "Rutgers v Maryland")
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Along with Young, Ohio State will have to keep close tabs on Julian Reese. The junior forward recorded a double-double in Tuesday night’s game, pushing his season double-double total to 11. Felix Okpara and Zed Key are going to have their hands full with Reese, as the Baltimore product has three games of at least 15 rebounds this season.
Reese also isn’t too far behind Okpara when it comes to blocks this season. Okpara has 54 blocks heading into today’s contest, five more swats than Reese has recorded. If Okpara is able to block a shot today it’ll be the 30th straight game the sophomore has blocked at least one shot.
This afternoon’s contest is going to be the only regular season matchup between the Buckeyes and Terrapins this season. Last year the teams met twice, with both teams winning on their home court. Maryland defeated Ohio State 80-73 in College Park in early January, while the Buckeyes were able to return the favor 73-62 in Columbus on the first day of March. Ohio State set a program record by hitting all 20 of the free throws they attempted in the victory. Overall, Maryland holds a slight edge in the series, posting a 11-10 record against the Buckeyes.
The Terrapins are going to need to do a lot of work if they have any hopes of making the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. In head coach Kevin Willard’s first season at Maryland, the Terrapins made the tournament, beating West Virginia 67-65 in the first round before falling to Alabama 73-51 in the second round. Willard is still searching for his first Sweet Sixteen appearance as a head coach. All six of his previous NCAA Tournament appearances as head coach have ended in either the first or second round.
Right now it’s impossible to have any confidence in Ohio State. On Tuesday it looked like the Buckeyes had a firm grasp on the game against Indiana before blowing an 18-point lead in the game. At this point Ohio State could be up 30 points with a minute to go in a game and fans still wouldn’t feel comfortable until time in the game completely expired.
For as little confidence as fans have in the team right now, it’s hard to imagine how damaged the men’s basketball team is. Also, the rumors this will likely be head coach Chris Holtmann’s last season at Ohio State can’t help morale around the program.
The struggles of the Buckeyes this year have to really be weighing on Bruce Thornton, who entered the season as one of the leaders of the team. You have to feel for the sophomore guard, who is giving his all every time he takes the court. If Ohio State wants to snap their five-game losing streak, they’d be wise to keep the basketball in Thornton’s hands since he is leading the country with a 4.22 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Expect Thornton to have a bounce-back game today after the contest against Indiana was the first time this year where he failed to record at least one assist.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25277783/1995774266.jpg "Indiana v Ohio State")
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
The good news for Ohio State is they are hosting a team that is dealing with confidence issues of their own of late. If the Buckeyes are able to slow down Reese and Young, they’ll have a great shot at winning since Maryland doesn’t see a ton of production outside of the duo and forward Donta Scott. Reese, Young, and Scott are all averaging at least 11 points per game this year. The scoring falls off considerably after Scott, as the fourth-highest scoring Terrapin this year is DeShawn Harris-Smith, who is averaging 6.6 points per game.
Even though the Maryland defense has been solid throughout the year, this feels a bit like a “get right” game for Ohio State. While a victory over Maryland isn’t going to turn the season around, it will at least allow the Buckeyes to feel good for a few days. It also will help that a couple Buckeyes have been really good from the foul line lately.
Jamison Battle has made his last 34 free throw attempts, and Gayle is just behind Battle with 30 straight makes at the free throw line. Ohio State is physical and smarter with the basketball today, not repeating the second half collapse that was seen from them on Tuesday night.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 63.9%
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will try and bounce back from Tuesday’s second half collapse against Indiana.
Ohio State’s season reached a new low on Tuesday night when the Buckeyes (13-10, 3-9) blew an 18-point lead at home to Indiana in the second half, falling to the Hoosiers 76-73. With the loss, Ohio State has now lost five-straight games, and eight of their last nine games.
Entering Saturday’s game, the Buckeyes sit at the bottom of the Big Ten conference, in a two-way tie with Michigan for last place. However, since the Wolverines already beat the Buckeyes, Michigan would technically claim the 13-spot in the standings, with Ohio State bringing up the rear. Tuesday night’s loss to Indiana only added fuel to the notion that this will be head coach Chris Holtmann’s last season in charge in Columbus.
Although the Buckeyes took a 42-29 lead over the Hoosiers into halftime, it was difficult to have faith in Ohio State holding onto the lead because of the second half struggles they have had in numerous games over the last month. Roddy Gayle Jr. pushed the lead to 49-31 with a layup just a couple minutes into the second half.
Trailing by 12 points with just under eight minutes to go in the game, Indiana started to make their big move. The comeback was capped off by an Anthony Leal game-winning three-pointer with 22 seconds left that gave the Hoosiers a regular season sweep of the Buckeyes.
Ohio State had no answer for Malik Reneau and Trey Galloway of Indiana, who combined to score 51 points. No other Hoosier reached double figures in scoring in the game. Leading the Buckeyes in scoring in the loss were Gayle Jr. and Jamison Battle, with each scoring 19 points. Bruce Thornton added 11 points, and continues to lead the team with a 15.4 points per game.
Preview
The Buckeyes will close out their two-game homestand later today by hosting the Maryland Terrapins. Much like Ohio State, Maryland (13-10, 5-7) has struggled recently, losing four of their last six games. The most recent of those setbacks came on Tuesday night when the Terrapins fell 56-53 in College Park to Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights hit a three-pointer to take a 40-37 lead with 9:48 left in the game and wouldn’t trail again. Maryland was able to pull within a point after a couple Jahmir Young free throws with just over a minute to go, but the Terps ran out of steam and weren’t able to complete the comeback.
Had Julian Reese and Young been able to get some help from their teammates, Maryland might have had enough to beat Rutgers earlier this week. Reese scored a team-high 19 points in the loss, while Young netted 16 points. The duo were the only two Terrapins to reach double figures in scoring in the game. Both Maryland players also were strong on the glass, with each pulling down 12 rebounds.
With his scoring output on Tuesday, Young now has 2,428 career points, ranking second nationally amongst active players. Young will now try and continue his scintillating play on the road of late. Over his last six road games, Young is averaging 29.0 points per game.
Already this season, Young has scored 30 points in three road contests, tying him with Len Bias and Greivis Vazquez for second-most in a season in Maryland history, which only trails Walt Williams’ school single-season record of five road games in a season with at least 30 points. The Charlotte transfer is leading the Terrapins with 20.6 points per game, ranking second in the Big Ten behind Purdue big man Zach Edey.
Along with Young, Ohio State will have to keep close tabs on Julian Reese. The junior forward recorded a double-double in Tuesday night’s game, pushing his season double-double total to 11. Felix Okpara and Zed Key are going to have their hands full with Reese, as the Baltimore product has three games of at least 15 rebounds this season.
Reese also isn’t too far behind Okpara when it comes to blocks this season. Okpara has 54 blocks heading into today’s contest, five more swats than Reese has recorded. If Okpara is able to block a shot today it’ll be the 30th straight game the sophomore has blocked at least one shot.
This afternoon’s contest is going to be the only regular season matchup between the Buckeyes and Terrapins this season. Last year the teams met twice, with both teams winning on their home court. Maryland defeated Ohio State 80-73 in College Park in early January, while the Buckeyes were able to return the favor 73-62 in Columbus on the first day of March. Ohio State set a program record by hitting all 20 of the free throws they attempted in the victory. Overall, Maryland holds a slight edge in the series, posting a 11-10 record against the Buckeyes.
The Terrapins are going to need to do a lot of work if they have any hopes of making the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. In head coach Kevin Willard’s first season at Maryland, the Terrapins made the tournament, beating West Virginia 67-65 in the first round before falling to Alabama 73-51 in the second round. Willard is still searching for his first Sweet Sixteen appearance as a head coach. All six of his previous NCAA Tournament appearances as head coach have ended in either the first or second round.
Prediction
Right now it’s impossible to have any confidence in Ohio State. On Tuesday it looked like the Buckeyes had a firm grasp on the game against Indiana before blowing an 18-point lead in the game. At this point Ohio State could be up 30 points with a minute to go in a game and fans still wouldn’t feel comfortable until time in the game completely expired.
For as little confidence as fans have in the team right now, it’s hard to imagine how damaged the men’s basketball team is. Also, the rumors this will likely be head coach Chris Holtmann’s last season at Ohio State can’t help morale around the program.
The struggles of the Buckeyes this year have to really be weighing on Bruce Thornton, who entered the season as one of the leaders of the team. You have to feel for the sophomore guard, who is giving his all every time he takes the court. If Ohio State wants to snap their five-game losing streak, they’d be wise to keep the basketball in Thornton’s hands since he is leading the country with a 4.22 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Expect Thornton to have a bounce-back game today after the contest against Indiana was the first time this year where he failed to record at least one assist.
The good news for Ohio State is they are hosting a team that is dealing with confidence issues of their own of late. If the Buckeyes are able to slow down Reese and Young, they’ll have a great shot at winning since Maryland doesn’t see a ton of production outside of the duo and forward Donta Scott. Reese, Young, and Scott are all averaging at least 11 points per game this year. The scoring falls off considerably after Scott, as the fourth-highest scoring Terrapin this year is DeShawn Harris-Smith, who is averaging 6.6 points per game.
Even though the Maryland defense has been solid throughout the year, this feels a bit like a “get right” game for Ohio State. While a victory over Maryland isn’t going to turn the season around, it will at least allow the Buckeyes to feel good for a few days. It also will help that a couple Buckeyes have been really good from the foul line lately.
Jamison Battle has made his last 34 free throw attempts, and Gayle is just behind Battle with 30 straight makes at the free throw line. Ohio State is physical and smarter with the basketball today, not repeating the second half collapse that was seen from them on Tuesday night.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 63.9%
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 71, Maryland 67
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Kevin Sweeney on where Ohio State men’s basketball goes from here?
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- 0 Replies
Bucketheads Podcast: Kevin Sweeney on where Ohio State men’s basketball goes from here?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated joined us to discuss the Buckeye's current options after losing nine of its last ten
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On Episode 104 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin were joined by Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated to talk about what is going on with the Ohio State men’s basketball team.
We talked about what kind of program Ohio State is, how attractive of a job it is, what we think of Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, and how much of this slide is a mental block. Also, is there any way this season gets turned around?
Before that, we discussed the last seven years and what has changed over the last two years. Plus, we recapped the Iowa and Indiana losses.
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Kevin:
Twitter: @CBB_Central
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated joined us to discuss the Buckeye's current options after losing nine of its last ten
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On Episode 104 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin were joined by Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated to talk about what is going on with the Ohio State men’s basketball team.
We talked about what kind of program Ohio State is, how attractive of a job it is, what we think of Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, and how much of this slide is a mental block. Also, is there any way this season gets turned around?
Before that, we discussed the last seven years and what has changed over the last two years. Plus, we recapped the Iowa and Indiana losses.
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Kevin:
Twitter: @CBB_Central
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Maryland at Ohio State, Saturday, February 10 @ 4 PM ET, FS1
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 75 Replies
Buckeyes Close The Week vs. Maryland Saturday Night
Ohio State completes its two-game home stand on Saturday evening by hosting Maryland in the teams’ lone meeting this season. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be televised on FS1. Chris Vosters and Nate Bahe will call the action.- This will be just the 22nd all-time meeting between the two teams. Maryland leads the series 11-10 and also holds a 9-6 advantage since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten Conference prior to the 2014-15 season.
- Last year, the teams met twice during the regular season, and each would hold serve on its home court. The Terrapins won 80-73 on Jan. 8 in College Park behind 30 points from Jahmir Young. Brice Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes with 22 points. In the meeting in Columbus on March 1, the Buckeye seniors celebrated Senior Day by combining to score 37 of the 73 points in a 73-62 victory. Justice Sueing led all Buckeye scorers with 16 points. The Buckeyes were also a program record 20-of-20 from the foul line in that win.
- Tuesday night’s loss to Indiana was another tough setback in a string of tough games for the Buckeyes. Ohio State surrendered an 18-point lead and fell to the Hoosiers 76-73. Jamison Battle and Roddy Gayle Jr. each had 19 points in the game while Evan Mahaffey finished with eight points, a team-high six rebounds and also had two assists and two steals.
- Despite recording his first game this season without an assist on Tuesday, Bruce Thornton continues to lead the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.22. He has 97 assists and just 23 turnovers.
- On top of leading the league in three-point shooting, Jamison Battle has also been sharp from the free throw line, having made his last 34 attempts. That is the best stretch of his career, and in fact, he attempted just 32 free throws in 29 games all of last season.
- Roddy Gayle Jr. is right there with Battle, having made his last 30 free throw attempts. The Niagara Falls native has had his struggles shooting this season but is 22-of-44 (.500) over his last four games, while averaging 16.5 ppg.
- Maryland enters Saturday’s game at 13-10 overall and 5-7 in the conference. Starting on January 2, the Terrapins have been on a little streak of two losses, followed by two wins, two losses, two wins and now two losses. The Buckeyes are hoping to buck that trend on Saturday. Jahmir Young leads the Terrapins and is second in the Big Ten at 20.6 ppg.
Ohio State vs. Maryland Predictions & Picks - February 10
Predictions for the Ohio State vs. Maryland game with odds and picks on the spread and total.
www.fox19.com
Ohio State vs. Maryland Predictions & Picks: Spread, Total - February 10
Saturday's game between the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-10, 3-9 Big Ten) and Maryland Terrapins (13-10, 5-7 Big Ten) going head-to-head at Value City Arena has a projected final score of 71-67 (based on our computer prediction) in favor of Ohio State, who is listed as a small favorite by our model. The game will start at 4:00 PM ET ET on February 10.Maryland Terrapins vs Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction, 2/10/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds
The Maryland Terrapins will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on 2/10/24. Doc's has NCAA basketball predictions, picks, and tips for this matchup.
www.docsports.com
Maryland Terrapins vs Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction, 2/10/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds
Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?Tony Sink's Pick: Take Ohio State
Winners and Whiners: Prediction, Preview, and Odds
You look at the talent that Ohio State possesses and it makes no sense that they are 3-9 in the Big 10. This is a team that beat Alabama in non-conference play on a neutral site and started the season out at 13-2. There is still time to turn things around and when you look at Maryland, they are not going to get much better. If you can slow down Jahmir Young and fatigue is hampering his game since he's playing over 35 minutes in every game. When you have no bench, there's only so much you can do on the road and the Buckeyes are the better team here. If they get a big lead this time, they will hold on.Prediction: Ohio State -2.5
Entire article: https://winnersandwhiners.com/games/ncaab/2-10-2024/maryland-vs-ohio-state-prediction-7650/
LGHL Stroud, Heyward earn NFL Honors; Ohio State women blowout Minnesota
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Stroud, Heyward earn NFL Honors; Ohio State women blowout Minnesota
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ryan Day aims to maximize reps for OSU quarterbacks in spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Will Peruse Its Options for Where to Play Sonny Styles, Josh Fryar This Spring
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State’s returning players set in motion the Buckeyes’ busy offseason: ‘That’s the real story’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ryan Day Knows Ohio State Must Have a Quarterback “Who at Least Needs to Be Accounted for in the Run Game” for Offense to Reach Its Full Potential
Josh Poloha, Eleven Warriors
Buckeyes feel like addition of Julian Sayin can ‘really enhance’ quarterback room (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State spring ball will feature hyper-focus on right side of OL (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Former Ohio State LB Randy Gradishar makes Pro Football Hall of Fame
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State recruiting class grades as Ryan Day signs another top-five class (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Cameron Heyward named NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Luke Fickell wants Mike Vrabel ‘around’ at Wisconsin in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball flies high in second half, defeat Minnesota 71-47
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Kevin McGuff’s increased work with Celeste Taylor is paying off for Ohio State women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State wrestling splits pair of Big Ten road duals, eyes strong finish to regular season
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Men’s Golf: Neal Shipley Named B1G Men’s Golfer of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
A criminally underrated show:
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ryan Day aims to maximize reps for OSU quarterbacks in spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Will Peruse Its Options for Where to Play Sonny Styles, Josh Fryar This Spring
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State’s returning players set in motion the Buckeyes’ busy offseason: ‘That’s the real story’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ryan Day Knows Ohio State Must Have a Quarterback “Who at Least Needs to Be Accounted for in the Run Game” for Offense to Reach Its Full Potential
Josh Poloha, Eleven Warriors
Buckeyes feel like addition of Julian Sayin can ‘really enhance’ quarterback room (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State spring ball will feature hyper-focus on right side of OL (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Former Ohio State LB Randy Gradishar makes Pro Football Hall of Fame
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State recruiting class grades as Ryan Day signs another top-five class (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Cameron Heyward named NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Luke Fickell wants Mike Vrabel ‘around’ at Wisconsin in 2024
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
On the Hardwood
No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball flies high in second half, defeat Minnesota 71-47
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Kevin McGuff’s increased work with Celeste Taylor is paying off for Ohio State women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Ohio State wrestling splits pair of Big Ten road duals, eyes strong finish to regular season
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Men’s Golf: Neal Shipley Named B1G Men’s Golfer of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
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A criminally underrated show:
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Will the Ohio State men’s basketball team play spoiler down the stretch?
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You’re Nuts: Will the Ohio State men’s basketball team play spoiler down the stretch?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes’ season is over. Will they win any games down the stretch that crush someone else’s tourney hopes?
As the season continues to spiral out of control, we have to continue adjusting our expectations for the Ohio State men’s basketball team. What began with hopes of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament quickly turned into optimism that this team would just make the tournament.
That optimism quickly turned into uneasiness about being on the NCAA bubble, and now we are just accepting that this season is over and Ohio State will have to play spoiler for other teams.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated whether there was any reason at all to think this team could still make the NCAA Tournament. Justin said yes, Connor said no.
A whopping 89% of the readers agreed with Connor, and two losses later, it looks like he was right — it’s over.
Connor- 66
We’ve come to grips with the fact that for the second consecutive year, the Buckeyes will be at home while the best event in all of sports — the NCAA Tournament — is going on. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop pulling for victories, however.
With at least nine games left in the season, the Buckeyes could throw a wrench into someone’s NCAA Tournament plans, or at the very least knock them down a rung or two.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25275830/usa_today_22407516.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Illinois at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
I think Ohio State has a few wins in them, but I don’t think those wins will be consequential in any way to the NCAA Tournament picture.
This isn’t a team that’s been blown out the last few games. In fact, Ohio State had the ball with a chance to win the game with the final possession each of the last two games. Unfortunately, they turned the ball over both times, and didn’t even get a shot off.
Still, this team has played pretty close games recently and has put itself in the position you want to be at the end of games — you just want to give yourself a chance to win.
Ohio State plays four likely tournament teams (Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska) and four teams that aren’t going to make the tournament (Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Rutgers) to end the season. I think the Buckeyes are going to lose all four games against the likely tournment teams, so the Badgers, Boilermakers, Spartans, and Cornhuskers avoid a big speed bump on their NCAA Tournament resumes.
I think Ohio State will beat Minnesota, Michigan, and Rutgers during the stretch run. That includes two road wins at Minnesota and Rutgers, so yes, I think the Buckeyes will soon snap this impressive road losing streak they currently have going for them. The Michigan program is in freefall just like Ohio State, therefore I think the Buckeyes find a way to get it done on senior day against their rivals.
I think Ohio State is going to lose to Maryland this weekend, because I believe in Maryland’s scoring trio of Donta Scott, Jahmir Young, and Julian Reese, and I think the Terrapins have mostly underperformed this year compared to the talent on the roster. Kevin Willard & Co. have not done a great job maximizing what they have on the roster, but there’s some juice that’s yet to be squeezed out of that team.
To summarize: the Buckeyes are going to end the eternal misery at some point, and will win a couple games before the season ends. However, those wins will be irrelevant to the NCAA Tournament field, just like this team.
I said last week I had one more optimistic bone in my body and predicted Ohio State to beat Iowa and Indiana. Since then, they lost to both in tragic fashion.
My optimism is getting beat with a bat, but I am ready for the 12th round. So, I have a bold prediction: Ohio State beats Michigan State on Feb. 25 in East Lansing and tries to play spoiler for the Spartans.
There is obviously nothing to back up this claim, and it probably won’t happen, but this Ohio State team has shot the ball horribly over the last month, and I think they are due for a good shooting run. The averages eventually average out, and it is hard to believe that the Buckeyes will continue to struggle this much from the three-point range.
The Buckeyes have two weeks before they play the Spartans, and they have struggled with consistency this season. They have some games they can win down the stretch, but beating Michigan and Rutgers is not playing spoiler to anyone, and honestly, I think they will lose to Minnesota in the barn, which is a very underrated place for home-court advantage.
Michigan State is good but inconsistent. I think Ohio State gets hot and wins. Like last season in the Big Ten Tournament. And that could really hurt the Spartan's NCAA Tournament chances since they are on the bubble.
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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes’ season is over. Will they win any games down the stretch that crush someone else’s tourney hopes?
As the season continues to spiral out of control, we have to continue adjusting our expectations for the Ohio State men’s basketball team. What began with hopes of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament quickly turned into optimism that this team would just make the tournament.
That optimism quickly turned into uneasiness about being on the NCAA bubble, and now we are just accepting that this season is over and Ohio State will have to play spoiler for other teams.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated whether there was any reason at all to think this team could still make the NCAA Tournament. Justin said yes, Connor said no.
A whopping 89% of the readers agreed with Connor, and two losses later, it looks like he was right — it’s over.
After 138 weeks:
Connor- 66
Justin- 53
Other- 15
(There have been four ties)
We’ve come to grips with the fact that for the second consecutive year, the Buckeyes will be at home while the best event in all of sports — the NCAA Tournament — is going on. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop pulling for victories, however.
With at least nine games left in the season, the Buckeyes could throw a wrench into someone’s NCAA Tournament plans, or at the very least knock them down a rung or two.
Today’s Question: Will the Ohio State men’s basketball team play spoiler down the stretch?
Connor: No
I think Ohio State has a few wins in them, but I don’t think those wins will be consequential in any way to the NCAA Tournament picture.
This isn’t a team that’s been blown out the last few games. In fact, Ohio State had the ball with a chance to win the game with the final possession each of the last two games. Unfortunately, they turned the ball over both times, and didn’t even get a shot off.
Still, this team has played pretty close games recently and has put itself in the position you want to be at the end of games — you just want to give yourself a chance to win.
Ohio State plays four likely tournament teams (Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska) and four teams that aren’t going to make the tournament (Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Rutgers) to end the season. I think the Buckeyes are going to lose all four games against the likely tournment teams, so the Badgers, Boilermakers, Spartans, and Cornhuskers avoid a big speed bump on their NCAA Tournament resumes.
I think Ohio State will beat Minnesota, Michigan, and Rutgers during the stretch run. That includes two road wins at Minnesota and Rutgers, so yes, I think the Buckeyes will soon snap this impressive road losing streak they currently have going for them. The Michigan program is in freefall just like Ohio State, therefore I think the Buckeyes find a way to get it done on senior day against their rivals.
I think Ohio State is going to lose to Maryland this weekend, because I believe in Maryland’s scoring trio of Donta Scott, Jahmir Young, and Julian Reese, and I think the Terrapins have mostly underperformed this year compared to the talent on the roster. Kevin Willard & Co. have not done a great job maximizing what they have on the roster, but there’s some juice that’s yet to be squeezed out of that team.
To summarize: the Buckeyes are going to end the eternal misery at some point, and will win a couple games before the season ends. However, those wins will be irrelevant to the NCAA Tournament field, just like this team.
Justin: Yes
I said last week I had one more optimistic bone in my body and predicted Ohio State to beat Iowa and Indiana. Since then, they lost to both in tragic fashion.
My optimism is getting beat with a bat, but I am ready for the 12th round. So, I have a bold prediction: Ohio State beats Michigan State on Feb. 25 in East Lansing and tries to play spoiler for the Spartans.
There is obviously nothing to back up this claim, and it probably won’t happen, but this Ohio State team has shot the ball horribly over the last month, and I think they are due for a good shooting run. The averages eventually average out, and it is hard to believe that the Buckeyes will continue to struggle this much from the three-point range.
The Buckeyes have two weeks before they play the Spartans, and they have struggled with consistency this season. They have some games they can win down the stretch, but beating Michigan and Rutgers is not playing spoiler to anyone, and honestly, I think they will lose to Minnesota in the barn, which is a very underrated place for home-court advantage.
Michigan State is good but inconsistent. I think Ohio State gets hot and wins. Like last season in the Big Ten Tournament. And that could really hurt the Spartan's NCAA Tournament chances since they are on the bubble.
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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball on track to earn 14-seed in Big Ten Tournament for the first time ever
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Ohio State men’s basketball on track to earn 14-seed in Big Ten Tournament for the first time ever
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buckeyes currently on pace to finish last in the Big Ten for the first time since 1998.
Ohio State’s disastrous, disappointing, but not-at-all-shocking-loss to Indiana on Tuesday night, paired with Michigan’s win over No. 11 Wisconsin on Wednesday night put the Buckeyes in a spot it has quite literally never been in before — 14th place in the Big Ten.
Since the Wolverines (8-15, 3-9) beat the Buckeyes last month (13-10, 3-9), they own the tiebreaker. That means that if the season ended today, Michigan would go into the Big Ten Tournament as the 13-seed, despite having won five fewer games this year overall to this point. Ohio State would be the 14th seed, which would be the first time it has ever finished in last place of the 14-team era.
Since the Big Ten Tournament’s inaugural year in 1998, Ohio State has only finished in last place once — 1998. That was the very first year for head coach Jim O’Brien, as the Buckeyes finished the year 8-22 overall and 1-15 in Big Ten play.
A lot has changed since 1998. The Big Ten expanded from 11 teams to 12 in 2011 with the addition of Nebraska, and then to 14 teams in 2014 with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers. Next year, the Big Ten will expand to 18 teams by adding four more modest midwestern institutions — UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon. The conference schedule changed, too, as it expanded from 16 games to 18 in 2008, and then from 18 to 20 in 2019.
That 1997-98 Ohio State men’s basketball team finished the year 1-15 in the Big Ten and endured a 17-game losing streak at one point. The team was led by Big Ten Rookie of the Year Michael Redd, who averaged 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
However, the circumstances surrounding the 1997-1998 team and the 2023-2024 team couldn’t be any more different. O’Brien took over an Ohio State program that had gone 54-85 over the previous five seasons, missed the NCAA Tournament each of those five years, and never finished better than seventh in the Big Ten. He was putting the pieces together from the ground up and had exactly one foundational piece to work with in Redd.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25275888/usa_today_22460436.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Indiana at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The 2023-24 Ohio State men’s basketball team had remarkably higher expectations. Chris Holtmann’s seventh team is buoyed by Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, two former top-60 recruits and guards who are averaging double-digit points per game as sophomores. It added Jamison Battle, a fifth-year senior who never averaged fewer than 11.8 points per game in five seasons, and is a 37% career three-point shooter. It also brought back one of the conference’s best interior defenders and shot blockers in Felix Okpara, and brought in the No. 8 recruiting class in the country.
At the very least, this was a team that should’ve found themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble by February, fighting for an opportunity to dance one year after losing 15 conference games. Instead, it has lost eight of its last nine and has once again played its way out of the NCAA Tournament picture.
For their efforts, these Buckeyes have currently put themselves in a position to do something no other Ohio State team has ever done — finish in 14th place in the Big Ten. Since the conference expanded to 14 teams in 2014, the lowest Ohio State has ever finished was 13th — which was last season. Before that, the lowest it had placed in the 14-team era was 11th, back in 2017, which was Thad Matta’s final season.
With eight games left on the schedule, Ohio State has time to win a few and try to climb above fellow Big Ten corpses Michigan and Rutgers. With sixth-place and 13th-place only separated by three games, there’s going to be some moving and shaking over the final four weeks of the season.
But this Ohio State team is armed with the worst defense of any OSU team since Chris Holtmann arrived in 2017. They’re not capable of getting consecutive stops and continue to find creative and innovative ways to beat themselves. Because of that, the Buckeyes have just as good a chance as anyone else at finishing last and earning that coveted 14-seed in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament for the first time in program history.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buckeyes currently on pace to finish last in the Big Ten for the first time since 1998.
Ohio State’s disastrous, disappointing, but not-at-all-shocking-loss to Indiana on Tuesday night, paired with Michigan’s win over No. 11 Wisconsin on Wednesday night put the Buckeyes in a spot it has quite literally never been in before — 14th place in the Big Ten.
Since the Wolverines (8-15, 3-9) beat the Buckeyes last month (13-10, 3-9), they own the tiebreaker. That means that if the season ended today, Michigan would go into the Big Ten Tournament as the 13-seed, despite having won five fewer games this year overall to this point. Ohio State would be the 14th seed, which would be the first time it has ever finished in last place of the 14-team era.
Since the Big Ten Tournament’s inaugural year in 1998, Ohio State has only finished in last place once — 1998. That was the very first year for head coach Jim O’Brien, as the Buckeyes finished the year 8-22 overall and 1-15 in Big Ten play.
A lot has changed since 1998. The Big Ten expanded from 11 teams to 12 in 2011 with the addition of Nebraska, and then to 14 teams in 2014 with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers. Next year, the Big Ten will expand to 18 teams by adding four more modest midwestern institutions — UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon. The conference schedule changed, too, as it expanded from 16 games to 18 in 2008, and then from 18 to 20 in 2019.
That 1997-98 Ohio State men’s basketball team finished the year 1-15 in the Big Ten and endured a 17-game losing streak at one point. The team was led by Big Ten Rookie of the Year Michael Redd, who averaged 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
However, the circumstances surrounding the 1997-1998 team and the 2023-2024 team couldn’t be any more different. O’Brien took over an Ohio State program that had gone 54-85 over the previous five seasons, missed the NCAA Tournament each of those five years, and never finished better than seventh in the Big Ten. He was putting the pieces together from the ground up and had exactly one foundational piece to work with in Redd.
The 2023-24 Ohio State men’s basketball team had remarkably higher expectations. Chris Holtmann’s seventh team is buoyed by Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, two former top-60 recruits and guards who are averaging double-digit points per game as sophomores. It added Jamison Battle, a fifth-year senior who never averaged fewer than 11.8 points per game in five seasons, and is a 37% career three-point shooter. It also brought back one of the conference’s best interior defenders and shot blockers in Felix Okpara, and brought in the No. 8 recruiting class in the country.
At the very least, this was a team that should’ve found themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble by February, fighting for an opportunity to dance one year after losing 15 conference games. Instead, it has lost eight of its last nine and has once again played its way out of the NCAA Tournament picture.
For their efforts, these Buckeyes have currently put themselves in a position to do something no other Ohio State team has ever done — finish in 14th place in the Big Ten. Since the conference expanded to 14 teams in 2014, the lowest Ohio State has ever finished was 13th — which was last season. Before that, the lowest it had placed in the 14-team era was 11th, back in 2017, which was Thad Matta’s final season.
With eight games left on the schedule, Ohio State has time to win a few and try to climb above fellow Big Ten corpses Michigan and Rutgers. With sixth-place and 13th-place only separated by three games, there’s going to be some moving and shaking over the final four weeks of the season.
But this Ohio State team is armed with the worst defense of any OSU team since Chris Holtmann arrived in 2017. They’re not capable of getting consecutive stops and continue to find creative and innovative ways to beat themselves. Because of that, the Buckeyes have just as good a chance as anyone else at finishing last and earning that coveted 14-seed in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament for the first time in program history.
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LGHL Uncut: McGuff talks second half surge, Taylor on out rebounding Golden Gophers
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Uncut: McGuff talks second half surge, Taylor on out rebounding Golden Gophers
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State rolled past Minnesota in the second half, thanks to rebounding and improved team basketball
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team entered Thursday night’s halftime locker room up five points. A good spot to be in, but less than expected going up against a Minnesota Golden Gophers team without its star guard and reeling on a four-game losing streak. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side responded in the second half, defeating Minnesota 71-47.
After the game, McGuff and guard Celeste Taylor sat down with the media to discuss the win. McGuff talks about new Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the team she’s building, how Minnesota kept up with the Buckeyes in the first half, and what helped Ohio State pull away in the second half.
Taylor discusses the on-court adjustments made against the Golden Gophers’ strong rebounding group and scoring points off turnovers being the key difference in the victory.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Threads: @1ThomasCostello
Bluesky: @thomascostello.bsky.social
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State rolled past Minnesota in the second half, thanks to rebounding and improved team basketball
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team entered Thursday night’s halftime locker room up five points. A good spot to be in, but less than expected going up against a Minnesota Golden Gophers team without its star guard and reeling on a four-game losing streak. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side responded in the second half, defeating Minnesota 71-47.
After the game, McGuff and guard Celeste Taylor sat down with the media to discuss the win. McGuff talks about new Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the team she’s building, how Minnesota kept up with the Buckeyes in the first half, and what helped Ohio State pull away in the second half.
Taylor discusses the on-court adjustments made against the Golden Gophers’ strong rebounding group and scoring points off turnovers being the key difference in the victory.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Threads: @1ThomasCostello
Bluesky: @thomascostello.bsky.social
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball surprises with rebounding against Minnesota
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Ohio State women’s basketball surprises with rebounding against Minnesota
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Recent history couldn’t predict the Buckeyes’ Thursday night performance on the boards.
In the last three seasons, Ohio State women’s basketball’s been known for many things, and rebounding isn’t one of them. Entering Thursday night, all the signs were there that the way the Buckeyes would win leveraging more experience and offensive firepower. Instead, the deciding factor was the work on the boards.
Strong rebounding forwards litter the history of the Ohio State program history books. Before recruiting violations by the Buckeyes’ hit the program and the start of the pandemic, Ohio State was a top-four rebounding team in the Big Ten.
However, with prominent forwards Dorka Juhász and Aaliyah Patty transferring following the 20/21 season, head coach Kevin McGuff changed how the Buckeyes played. Instead of the traditional bigs in the paint grabbing missed shots, Ohio State became the fast, pressing, team ranked No. 5 in the country.
Rebounding-wise, the Buckeyes moved to the bottom half of the conference over the last three seasons, falling as low as 12th last season. Despite a negative rebounding margin, Ohio State still succeeded, making it to the Elite Eight with dangerous shooting from deep and a full court press that gave some teams nightmares.
Looking at Ohio State’s matchup Thursday night against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the safe prediction wasn’t that the Buckeyes would have a successful day on the boards.
After all, Minnesota entered the game third in the conference, grabbing 40.3 rebounds per game. That’s thanks to forward Mallory Heyer and 6-foot-5 center Sophie Hart averaging 8.3 and 5.1 respectively. Not to mention two other starters with at least four per game.
Ohio State’s -.8 rebounding margin didn’t elicit much hope, neither did the Minnesota bigs and Golden Gophers +5 margin entering halftime of Thursday’s game at the Barn.
“We certainly made a point of emphasis because we were down at the half in terms of rebounding margin,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “We needed to be a little more physical, just have a little more pursuit to the ball.”
In the first half, Hart and Heyer didn’t only slow rebounding but any kind of offense inside the paint. The Golden Gophers outscored the Buckeyes 12 to 6 in the first half in points in the post. That left players like forward Cotie McMahon to pull up and take midrange jumpers. McMahon and company hit enough of those shots to take a five-point lead before Coach McGuff delivered his halftime speech.
The Buckeyes didn’t bounce back because of its own size. Forward Rebeka Mikulášiková played deeper in the game to help give space to her teammates inside the paint, drawing out Hart. Instead, Ohio State leveraged its strengths.
“They’re kind of packing the paint a little bit,” said guard Celeste Taylor. “But I think us cutting through and moving around the people that were boxing us out kind of helped us on the offensive end rebounding and defensively. They’re trying to get back because they know we push it in transition. So we knew we had to take advantage of that in that way.”
Minnesota broke in the third quarter. Another Buckeyes halftime adjustment turned into a bad 10 minutes for the Gophers.
Even with Hart and Heyer on the court for nine and 10 minutes of the quarter, Ohio State’s increased intensity, and a Minnesota team trying to make up a deficit, turned into a 10-to-3 rebounding performance in the visitor’s favor.
With the Buckeyes’ lead growing, the paint opened up further, allowing Ohio State 18 points in the paint in the 10 minutes, compared to 15 points total for the Buckeyes in the second quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, the scarlet and gray’s five-point lead at halftime ballooned into a 25-point advantage.
“We were really lethargic in the first half,” said McGuff. “But we did a really good job with that in the second half. I thought our pace was better. Our ball movement was better. We got to the rim. We got open threes, and our defense stayed pretty consistent.”
Although the Buckeyes out rebounded the Golden Gophers by only a single rebound (33 to 32), five players had at least three rebounds for Ohio State. Leading the way was McMahon with nine and Taylor and forward Eboni Walker each grabbing five apiece.
It’s another game in a line of performances showing how the 23/24 edition of the Buckeyes can win in numerous different ways. It’s a chameleon-like ability that’s won Ohio State 20 games in eight of its last 11 years under Coach McGuff.
“It’s been it’s been a great ride so far,” said McGuff. “And really, we’ve been really fortunate to have great players in our program. “And, you know, as they say, ‘there are coaches with great players and ex-coaches.’”
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Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Recent history couldn’t predict the Buckeyes’ Thursday night performance on the boards.
In the last three seasons, Ohio State women’s basketball’s been known for many things, and rebounding isn’t one of them. Entering Thursday night, all the signs were there that the way the Buckeyes would win leveraging more experience and offensive firepower. Instead, the deciding factor was the work on the boards.
Strong rebounding forwards litter the history of the Ohio State program history books. Before recruiting violations by the Buckeyes’ hit the program and the start of the pandemic, Ohio State was a top-four rebounding team in the Big Ten.
However, with prominent forwards Dorka Juhász and Aaliyah Patty transferring following the 20/21 season, head coach Kevin McGuff changed how the Buckeyes played. Instead of the traditional bigs in the paint grabbing missed shots, Ohio State became the fast, pressing, team ranked No. 5 in the country.
Rebounding-wise, the Buckeyes moved to the bottom half of the conference over the last three seasons, falling as low as 12th last season. Despite a negative rebounding margin, Ohio State still succeeded, making it to the Elite Eight with dangerous shooting from deep and a full court press that gave some teams nightmares.
Looking at Ohio State’s matchup Thursday night against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the safe prediction wasn’t that the Buckeyes would have a successful day on the boards.
After all, Minnesota entered the game third in the conference, grabbing 40.3 rebounds per game. That’s thanks to forward Mallory Heyer and 6-foot-5 center Sophie Hart averaging 8.3 and 5.1 respectively. Not to mention two other starters with at least four per game.
Ohio State’s -.8 rebounding margin didn’t elicit much hope, neither did the Minnesota bigs and Golden Gophers +5 margin entering halftime of Thursday’s game at the Barn.
“We certainly made a point of emphasis because we were down at the half in terms of rebounding margin,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “We needed to be a little more physical, just have a little more pursuit to the ball.”
In the first half, Hart and Heyer didn’t only slow rebounding but any kind of offense inside the paint. The Golden Gophers outscored the Buckeyes 12 to 6 in the first half in points in the post. That left players like forward Cotie McMahon to pull up and take midrange jumpers. McMahon and company hit enough of those shots to take a five-point lead before Coach McGuff delivered his halftime speech.
The Buckeyes didn’t bounce back because of its own size. Forward Rebeka Mikulášiková played deeper in the game to help give space to her teammates inside the paint, drawing out Hart. Instead, Ohio State leveraged its strengths.
“They’re kind of packing the paint a little bit,” said guard Celeste Taylor. “But I think us cutting through and moving around the people that were boxing us out kind of helped us on the offensive end rebounding and defensively. They’re trying to get back because they know we push it in transition. So we knew we had to take advantage of that in that way.”
Minnesota broke in the third quarter. Another Buckeyes halftime adjustment turned into a bad 10 minutes for the Gophers.
Even with Hart and Heyer on the court for nine and 10 minutes of the quarter, Ohio State’s increased intensity, and a Minnesota team trying to make up a deficit, turned into a 10-to-3 rebounding performance in the visitor’s favor.
With the Buckeyes’ lead growing, the paint opened up further, allowing Ohio State 18 points in the paint in the 10 minutes, compared to 15 points total for the Buckeyes in the second quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, the scarlet and gray’s five-point lead at halftime ballooned into a 25-point advantage.
“We were really lethargic in the first half,” said McGuff. “But we did a really good job with that in the second half. I thought our pace was better. Our ball movement was better. We got to the rim. We got open threes, and our defense stayed pretty consistent.”
Although the Buckeyes out rebounded the Golden Gophers by only a single rebound (33 to 32), five players had at least three rebounds for Ohio State. Leading the way was McMahon with nine and Taylor and forward Eboni Walker each grabbing five apiece.
It’s another game in a line of performances showing how the 23/24 edition of the Buckeyes can win in numerous different ways. It’s a chameleon-like ability that’s won Ohio State 20 games in eight of its last 11 years under Coach McGuff.
“It’s been it’s been a great ride so far,” said McGuff. “And really, we’ve been really fortunate to have great players in our program. “And, you know, as they say, ‘there are coaches with great players and ex-coaches.’”
Continue reading...
