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LGHL Game Preview: No. 8 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Wisconsin Badgers
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Game Preview: No. 8 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Wisconsin Badgers
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
A Dublin Coffman High School star comes home as the Buckeyes push for eight-straight wins.
Ohio State women’s basketball is at the midway point of the conference schedule, with nine Big Ten games in the rearview mirror and nine more approaching. Up first, starting a two-game streak of home games, are the Wisconsin Badgers. Sitting at 10-9, the Badgers under third year head coach Marisa Moseley are a team full of youth and potential.
Will that potential be enough to take advantage of the Buckeyes, who have a Sunday matchup against the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on the horizon?
Last week was a good one for the Badgers. First, Wisconsin won a rivalry game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers — its third in a row against Minnesota. This year was more of a surprise than the last two, with the Golden Gophers entering the game with a 12-4 record, compared to the then 8-9 Badgers.
Then, a home win against the Scarlet Knights, which is not exactly a monumental program moment with Rutgers winless in Big Ten play. However, following the two victories, two Badgers received honors for their work on the court.
For Wisconsin forward Serah Williams, it’s a reward she could win most weeks if not for the existence of Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark. The Badgers sophomore had two double-doubles in the victories, and enters Thursday’s game against the Buckeyes with six double-doubles in a row.
The member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team went from rising freshman to leading the Badgers. Williams is a terror in the post, scoring 17.9 points (third most in the Big Ten) and adding 10.4 rebounds (second in the Big Ten) per game. She is the type of player which Ohio State is known to struggle against.
A reason for the increased scoring for Williams, up from 12.7 points per game as a freshman, is that the Badgers need her to shoot more often. Williams had to fill the gap of Czech guard Julie Pospíšilová, who led Wisconsin in scoring two of her four years in the NCAA, and then-freshman Maty Wilke, who left the program after only one season to go west to Utah.
In 17 games this season, Williams is averaging 1.4 more shots per game, plus the occasional attempt from beyond the arc. Another reason is the overall youth of Coach Moseley’s side. Wisconsin has three seniors, and the remaining 11 rostered players are underclassmen (with five freshmen).
Williams also leads the conference in blocks, with 3.1 per game, meaning a potentially difficult game for shorter Buckeyes players going to the basket, like fellow sophomore Cotie McMahon and graduate senior Jacy Sheldon.
Wisconsin’s other individual accolade from the dual victory week is connected to Central Ohio. Freshman guard Tessa Grady went north to the Badgers following a standout amateur high school career at the same high school as Sheldon: Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio.
Grady followed her brother’s recruiting journey, joining Wisconsin after inside linebacker Griffin Grady played with the Badgers from 2016-2020. The shooting guard chose Wisconsin after securing the No. 1 prospect ranking for her position in Ohio.
In her first nine appearances of the season, Grady played five minutes per game and averaged 1.8 points. However, since the new year began, the freshman is earning meaningful minutes for Coach Moseley off the bench. In Grady’s last five appearances, the guard averages 15 minutes and 8.0 points per game.
Her most impressive outing came in the rivalry game against Minnesota. That’s when Grady was second in scoring to only Williams on the day, hitting 5-for-11 three-point shots and collecting 15 points on the night. Although Grady played at the same school as Sheldon, the Ohio State guard has been in the Buckeyes program since the 2019-20 season. The two will get more acquainted Thursday.
The advantage around the perimeter leans towards the guard trio of Sheldon, Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry, defensively, but the Buckeyes struggles of late come from the offensive side of the court.
Ohio State’s last two games featured 29.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Early in games, the Buckeyes try open threes, thanks to defensive zones, but have to abandon it and try to win inside the paint. While McMahon has been up to the task lately, the offense of the scarlet and gray loses a dimension when shots aren’t falling — an issue that needs improvement before the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers come to Columbus on Sunday.
Fortunately for Coach McGuff and the Buckeyes is that the fifth worst shooting efficiency from deep in the conference is facing a Badgers team last in three-point shooting. Wisconsin averages 28.9% shooting from three-point range and ranks 14th in overall shooting, hitting 40.8% of shots taken.
While that bodes well for Ohio State, any good momentum heading into Sunday will contribute to a game that will impact who wins the Big Ten regular season title.
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášikova
G- Ronnie Porter
G- Sania Copeland
G- Natalie Leuzinger
G- Brooke Schmarek
F- Serah Williams
With Wisconsin’s roster offering promise in future seasons, Ohio State shouldn’t have any problem dispatching the Badgers. Williams will get a double-double, but the supporting cast won’t thrive against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will have a better scoring day, going up against a more inexperienced guard group, with three-point shooting looking better than it has over the past two away games for Coach McGuff’s side.
The Buckeyes will push ahead in the third quarter and not look back.
Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: BTN
Stream: Fox Sports App
Now an annual tradition, the Buckeyes will don pink for Thursday’s game against the Badgers. At halftime, the crowd will honor those fighting cancer, those who beat it and the people who support or have lost those that’ve suffered.
In past iterations of the pink game, Ohio State and its opponents wear pink.
The Northeast and Northwest entrances of the Schottenstein Center will have pink pom-poms for the first 5,000 fans in attendance, plus the first 200 students. Also, the folks who help fans find seats and also protect players, the red coats, will be appreciated during the game as well.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
A Dublin Coffman High School star comes home as the Buckeyes push for eight-straight wins.
Ohio State women’s basketball is at the midway point of the conference schedule, with nine Big Ten games in the rearview mirror and nine more approaching. Up first, starting a two-game streak of home games, are the Wisconsin Badgers. Sitting at 10-9, the Badgers under third year head coach Marisa Moseley are a team full of youth and potential.
Will that potential be enough to take advantage of the Buckeyes, who have a Sunday matchup against the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on the horizon?
Preview
Last week was a good one for the Badgers. First, Wisconsin won a rivalry game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers — its third in a row against Minnesota. This year was more of a surprise than the last two, with the Golden Gophers entering the game with a 12-4 record, compared to the then 8-9 Badgers.
Then, a home win against the Scarlet Knights, which is not exactly a monumental program moment with Rutgers winless in Big Ten play. However, following the two victories, two Badgers received honors for their work on the court.
#B1GWBBall WEEKLY AWARDS
Player: @BadgerWBB's Serah Williams
Freshman: @BadgerWBB's Tessa Grady
https://t.co/PfOsgsqWa4 pic.twitter.com/hrBSss6DDg
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) January 29, 2024
For Wisconsin forward Serah Williams, it’s a reward she could win most weeks if not for the existence of Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark. The Badgers sophomore had two double-doubles in the victories, and enters Thursday’s game against the Buckeyes with six double-doubles in a row.
The member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team went from rising freshman to leading the Badgers. Williams is a terror in the post, scoring 17.9 points (third most in the Big Ten) and adding 10.4 rebounds (second in the Big Ten) per game. She is the type of player which Ohio State is known to struggle against.
A reason for the increased scoring for Williams, up from 12.7 points per game as a freshman, is that the Badgers need her to shoot more often. Williams had to fill the gap of Czech guard Julie Pospíšilová, who led Wisconsin in scoring two of her four years in the NCAA, and then-freshman Maty Wilke, who left the program after only one season to go west to Utah.
In 17 games this season, Williams is averaging 1.4 more shots per game, plus the occasional attempt from beyond the arc. Another reason is the overall youth of Coach Moseley’s side. Wisconsin has three seniors, and the remaining 11 rostered players are underclassmen (with five freshmen).
Williams also leads the conference in blocks, with 3.1 per game, meaning a potentially difficult game for shorter Buckeyes players going to the basket, like fellow sophomore Cotie McMahon and graduate senior Jacy Sheldon.
Wisconsin’s other individual accolade from the dual victory week is connected to Central Ohio. Freshman guard Tessa Grady went north to the Badgers following a standout amateur high school career at the same high school as Sheldon: Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio.
Grady followed her brother’s recruiting journey, joining Wisconsin after inside linebacker Griffin Grady played with the Badgers from 2016-2020. The shooting guard chose Wisconsin after securing the No. 1 prospect ranking for her position in Ohio.
In her first nine appearances of the season, Grady played five minutes per game and averaged 1.8 points. However, since the new year began, the freshman is earning meaningful minutes for Coach Moseley off the bench. In Grady’s last five appearances, the guard averages 15 minutes and 8.0 points per game.
Her most impressive outing came in the rivalry game against Minnesota. That’s when Grady was second in scoring to only Williams on the day, hitting 5-for-11 three-point shots and collecting 15 points on the night. Although Grady played at the same school as Sheldon, the Ohio State guard has been in the Buckeyes program since the 2019-20 season. The two will get more acquainted Thursday.
The advantage around the perimeter leans towards the guard trio of Sheldon, Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry, defensively, but the Buckeyes struggles of late come from the offensive side of the court.
Ohio State’s last two games featured 29.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Early in games, the Buckeyes try open threes, thanks to defensive zones, but have to abandon it and try to win inside the paint. While McMahon has been up to the task lately, the offense of the scarlet and gray loses a dimension when shots aren’t falling — an issue that needs improvement before the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers come to Columbus on Sunday.
Fortunately for Coach McGuff and the Buckeyes is that the fifth worst shooting efficiency from deep in the conference is facing a Badgers team last in three-point shooting. Wisconsin averages 28.9% shooting from three-point range and ranks 14th in overall shooting, hitting 40.8% of shots taken.
While that bodes well for Ohio State, any good momentum heading into Sunday will contribute to a game that will impact who wins the Big Ten regular season title.
Ohio State
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášikova
Lineup Notes
- There’s no signs of a change to the lineup for Ohio State. The lone instance where the five above didn’t start was when forward Rebeka Mikulášiková missed the Jan. 5 game against the Northwestern Wildcats due to injury.
- Sunday, against the Purdue Boilermakers, forward Cotie McMahon was two assists away from a triple-double, scoring 10 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and creating eight assists.
- After receiving a knock early in the first quarter against Purdue, guard/forward Taylor Thierry played only 24 minutes for Ohio State. Thierry added 14 points, but had no rebounds after averaging 6.5 per game in the first 19 games of the season.
Wisconsin
G- Ronnie Porter
G- Sania Copeland
G- Natalie Leuzinger
G- Brooke Schmarek
F- Serah Williams
Lineup Notes
- Forward Serah Williams led the Big Ten in blocks last season with 58. With nine games remaining in the regular season, Williams already has 54 blocks, averaging 3.1 per game.
- Sophomore guard Ronnie Porter, who averaging 6.8 minutes per game as a freshman, averages 34.7 per game this season, starting every game for head coach Marisa Moseley.
- Wisconsin sits at the bottom of the Big Ten in scoring this season, averaging 64.5 points per game.
Prediction
With Wisconsin’s roster offering promise in future seasons, Ohio State shouldn’t have any problem dispatching the Badgers. Williams will get a double-double, but the supporting cast won’t thrive against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will have a better scoring day, going up against a more inexperienced guard group, with three-point shooting looking better than it has over the past two away games for Coach McGuff’s side.
The Buckeyes will push ahead in the third quarter and not look back.
How to Watch
Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: BTN
Stream: Fox Sports App
LGHL Prediction: 85-63 Ohio State Buckeyes
Pink Game
Now an annual tradition, the Buckeyes will don pink for Thursday’s game against the Badgers. At halftime, the crowd will honor those fighting cancer, those who beat it and the people who support or have lost those that’ve suffered.
In past iterations of the pink game, Ohio State and its opponents wear pink.
The Northeast and Northwest entrances of the Schottenstein Center will have pink pom-poms for the first 5,000 fans in attendance, plus the first 200 students. Also, the folks who help fans find seats and also protect players, the red coats, will be appreciated during the game as well.
Continue reading...
LGHL Football Buckeyes back at work, men’s golf wins first tournament of 2024
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Football Buckeyes back at work, men’s golf wins first tournament of 2024
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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
You’re Nuts: Who should be the final addition to Ohio State football’s coaching staff?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ryan Day believes new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien fits ‘very well with what exactly we need’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Initial 2024 Ohio State Depth Chart Projection
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Time to get to work:
Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. attracting attention, making plays at Senior Bowl practice
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Big Ten Media Notes: Projecting the TV networks’ selection draft for 2024
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Quinshon Judkins focused on championships, not carries with Buckeyes
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Congrats to old friend Matt Brown and for whatever Laurinaitis is teasing!
OSU center Seth McLaughlin discusses snap issues from Alabama
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Breaking down biggest Ohio State recruiting needs after important January
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Packers hire former OSU assistant Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator
Tom Silverstein, Columbus Dispatch
This is a really good breakdown.
Visiting Locker Room: Talking Wisconsin Badgers, The Serah Williams Show with Drew Hamm
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Chris Holtmann was a little testy in this postgame presser.
Men’s Golf: Buckeyes, Shipley Win Southwestern Invitational
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Swimming and Diving: Clark Collects Weekly Conference Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Swimming and Diving: Fulmer Named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
This one is really good:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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
You’re Nuts: Who should be the final addition to Ohio State football’s coaching staff?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ryan Day believes new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien fits ‘very well with what exactly we need’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Initial 2024 Ohio State Depth Chart Projection
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Time to get to work:
Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. attracting attention, making plays at Senior Bowl practice
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Big Ten Media Notes: Projecting the TV networks’ selection draft for 2024
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Quinshon Judkins focused on championships, not carries with Buckeyes
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Congrats to old friend Matt Brown and for whatever Laurinaitis is teasing!
OSU center Seth McLaughlin discusses snap issues from Alabama
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Breaking down biggest Ohio State recruiting needs after important January
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Packers hire former OSU assistant Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator
Tom Silverstein, Columbus Dispatch
On the Hardwood
This is a really good breakdown.
Visiting Locker Room: Talking Wisconsin Badgers, The Serah Williams Show with Drew Hamm
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Chris Holtmann was a little testy in this postgame presser.
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Men’s Golf: Buckeyes, Shipley Win Southwestern Invitational
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Swimming and Diving: Clark Collects Weekly Conference Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Swimming and Diving: Fulmer Named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This one is really good:
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Is Bill O’Brien the right guy to be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Is Bill O’Brien the right guy to be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator?
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 Rich Barnes/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
When Ohio State announced last month, they were bringing in Bill O’Brien as their new offensive coordinator, and given O’Brien’s success at both the collegiate and professional levels, many fans were ecstatic.
I was not one of them.
Now before you jump down my throat, let me state that I would love nothing more than for O’Brien to prove me wrong. O’Brien’s success translates to the Buckeyes’ success, and we should all be actively rooting for him to excel. I’m rooting for him!
I also don’t think he’s by any means the worst hiring choice Ryan Day could have made. But that doesn’t make him the right choice, either, and to that end, all the celebrating feels a bit premature.
For starters, I’m not sure Bill O’Brien actually wants to coach at the collegiate level. Though he has bounced back and forth from college to the pros and back again, history tells us his end game is the NFL. It’s tough to imagine him bringing long-term value to a program we’re not even sure he’ll stick around with for more than a season or two.
Since 2007, O’Brien has alternated between NFL and NCAA jobs, spending only two seasons each in his NCAA roles. Most recently, he finished a one-season stint as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, marking a return to the team with which he started his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant back in 2007.
In 2011, he began a two-year stint at Penn State, taking over as head coach after Joe Paterno’s dismissal (and, credit where it’s due, he managed to lead the Nittany Lions to a winning record that far exceeded expectations despite the program being heavily sanctioned during his tenure, for which he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year). Still, it always felt a bit like he had one foot out the door, interviewing for NFL jobs after one season and ultimately jetting to Houston to become the Texans’ head coach after two seasons with the Nittany Lions.
From 2014-2020, O’Brien led the Texans to a 54-52 overall record (52-48 in the regular season, 2-4 in the playoffs), and he was fired mid-season in 2020 when the Texans got off to an 0-4 start, and he controversially traded DeAndre Hopkins.
So, back to college O’Brien went, this time to replace Steve Sarkisian as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama. And while this was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to him, it’s hard to imagine he would have chosen to return to college had things not gone south in Houston.
But let’s dive into his time at Alabama, which, on paper, was extremely successful. In fact, this is something many folks are citing as evidence for why he should excite Buckeye fans. After all, it was during this time that O’Brien himself played a pivotal role in developing quarterback Bryce Young into a Heisman Trophy winner, and as we all know, Ohio State needs, erm, some help developing a quarterback. Plus, at face value, the Crimson Tide’s 24-4 record over his two seasons with them would indicate the team excelled under his offensive leadership.
But when you dig in a little deeper, many of the challenges his Alabama offenses faced mirror Ohio State’s offensive shortcomings in many ways. It is this factor that concerns me. I have no doubt he is a talented offensive coordinator—he has a knack for developing players. But I don’t think he can fill in the critical gaps in Ohio State’s offense as those tend to be the critical gaps his offenses share.
His first season with the Tide was Young’s Heisman year, and in 2022, Bama players and fans alike seemed optimistic about the offense heading in. But throughout the 2022 season, the offense underperformed, particularly in the ground game. Young missed a game and a half with a shoulder injury, so the drop in his yardage is understandable, but not a single running back rushed for 1,000 yards on the season, nor did a single receiver net 1,000 receiving yards.
The Buckeyes’ rushing offense in particular dropped off last season. Though they rushed for an average of 138.8 yards per game, this was only about half of what they put up in Day’s first season as coach.
Additionally, Ohio State struggled with pass protection last year, with Kyle McCord being sacked 16 times, placing the Buckeyes at 46th in the country in sacks surrendered.
Oh, but 16 times feels like a dream compared to the 41 times Bryce Young was sacked in the 2021 season, the first time since 2010 that an Alabama team had surrendered more than 30 sacks. Though O’Brien’s Tide was able to cut that number about in half in 2022, pass protection could continue to be an issue for Ohio State, and without a veteran quarterback of Bryce Young caliber, I have my doubts.
None of this even gets into his disastrous 2023 season with the New England Patriots, a year in which the Patriots finished with a 4-13 record. They ended the season ranked 30th in total offense and 31st in scoring offense, out of 32 teams, all while boasting a top-10 defense. YIKES!
Matt and those who are fans of this hiring decision will point to the fact that the NFL and college games are different and Alabama still finished in the top 10 offensively during both seasons with O’Brien calling plays. But in a year in which OSU needs to turn its offense around fast, end the slump against Michigan, and hopefully bring home a title, I just don’t think O’Brien is going to do for our offense what Jim Knowles did for our defense, despite needing that caliber of overhaul.
I understand Jami’s concerns, I really do, but Bill O’Brien is almost exactly the kind of coach that I was lobbying for immediately after the embarrassing Cotton Bowl defeat. At the time, I was thinking of this as a new quarterbacks coach who might be able to take over playcalling as well. That is essentially what O’Brien is doing, with the added benefit of him being the offensive coordinator.
In December, I argued, “Day needs to find a veteran, experienced QB coach to come in and completely take over that room, and potentially one with play-calling experience.”
Veteran:
Experienced:
Capable of taking over QB room:
Play-Calling Experience:
Now, I’m not saying that Ryan Day read mydiatribe article and went through it piece by piece and enacted nearly every item on my list, but I’m also not not saying that.
To me, this hiring is about far more than just who coaches the quarterbacks and who calls plays. This is about how Ryan Day views his main responsibilities as the head coach of the Ohio State football program. In my opinion, over the last few years, Day has spent way too much time trying to hold on to the thing that made him a hot coaching commodity in the first place: His ability to coach QBs and call plays.
While I still believe that Day is excellent at both of those things, he now has the far more important duties of... you know, running a multi-million dollar organization with increasingly complicated rules and circumstances necessary to be successful.
Like all big-time head coaches, Ryan Day has an ego; that’s not an insult, it is practically required to even attempt to succeed at the level that he is. So if he was ever going to trust someone enough to give up responsibilities that he sees as being so core and fundamental to who he is as a coach, then it had to be someone who has proven that he can do those things at a very high level, which BOB clearly has.
I’ve written before about Day’s obvious trust issues, but if the OSU head coach has found someone to whom he is comfortable to turn over some of the most important aspects of the program, then I can do nothing but celebrate it. Will it work out? Maybe, maybe not. But I am encouraged by Day’s willingness to finally make this move nonetheless (also, I think it’s going to work out).
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: Is Bill O’Brien the right guy to be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator?
Jami’s Take:
When Ohio State announced last month, they were bringing in Bill O’Brien as their new offensive coordinator, and given O’Brien’s success at both the collegiate and professional levels, many fans were ecstatic.
I was not one of them.
Now before you jump down my throat, let me state that I would love nothing more than for O’Brien to prove me wrong. O’Brien’s success translates to the Buckeyes’ success, and we should all be actively rooting for him to excel. I’m rooting for him!
I also don’t think he’s by any means the worst hiring choice Ryan Day could have made. But that doesn’t make him the right choice, either, and to that end, all the celebrating feels a bit premature.
For starters, I’m not sure Bill O’Brien actually wants to coach at the collegiate level. Though he has bounced back and forth from college to the pros and back again, history tells us his end game is the NFL. It’s tough to imagine him bringing long-term value to a program we’re not even sure he’ll stick around with for more than a season or two.
Since 2007, O’Brien has alternated between NFL and NCAA jobs, spending only two seasons each in his NCAA roles. Most recently, he finished a one-season stint as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, marking a return to the team with which he started his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant back in 2007.
In 2011, he began a two-year stint at Penn State, taking over as head coach after Joe Paterno’s dismissal (and, credit where it’s due, he managed to lead the Nittany Lions to a winning record that far exceeded expectations despite the program being heavily sanctioned during his tenure, for which he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year). Still, it always felt a bit like he had one foot out the door, interviewing for NFL jobs after one season and ultimately jetting to Houston to become the Texans’ head coach after two seasons with the Nittany Lions.
From 2014-2020, O’Brien led the Texans to a 54-52 overall record (52-48 in the regular season, 2-4 in the playoffs), and he was fired mid-season in 2020 when the Texans got off to an 0-4 start, and he controversially traded DeAndre Hopkins.
So, back to college O’Brien went, this time to replace Steve Sarkisian as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama. And while this was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to him, it’s hard to imagine he would have chosen to return to college had things not gone south in Houston.
But let’s dive into his time at Alabama, which, on paper, was extremely successful. In fact, this is something many folks are citing as evidence for why he should excite Buckeye fans. After all, it was during this time that O’Brien himself played a pivotal role in developing quarterback Bryce Young into a Heisman Trophy winner, and as we all know, Ohio State needs, erm, some help developing a quarterback. Plus, at face value, the Crimson Tide’s 24-4 record over his two seasons with them would indicate the team excelled under his offensive leadership.
But when you dig in a little deeper, many of the challenges his Alabama offenses faced mirror Ohio State’s offensive shortcomings in many ways. It is this factor that concerns me. I have no doubt he is a talented offensive coordinator—he has a knack for developing players. But I don’t think he can fill in the critical gaps in Ohio State’s offense as those tend to be the critical gaps his offenses share.
His first season with the Tide was Young’s Heisman year, and in 2022, Bama players and fans alike seemed optimistic about the offense heading in. But throughout the 2022 season, the offense underperformed, particularly in the ground game. Young missed a game and a half with a shoulder injury, so the drop in his yardage is understandable, but not a single running back rushed for 1,000 yards on the season, nor did a single receiver net 1,000 receiving yards.
The Buckeyes’ rushing offense in particular dropped off last season. Though they rushed for an average of 138.8 yards per game, this was only about half of what they put up in Day’s first season as coach.
Additionally, Ohio State struggled with pass protection last year, with Kyle McCord being sacked 16 times, placing the Buckeyes at 46th in the country in sacks surrendered.
Oh, but 16 times feels like a dream compared to the 41 times Bryce Young was sacked in the 2021 season, the first time since 2010 that an Alabama team had surrendered more than 30 sacks. Though O’Brien’s Tide was able to cut that number about in half in 2022, pass protection could continue to be an issue for Ohio State, and without a veteran quarterback of Bryce Young caliber, I have my doubts.
None of this even gets into his disastrous 2023 season with the New England Patriots, a year in which the Patriots finished with a 4-13 record. They ended the season ranked 30th in total offense and 31st in scoring offense, out of 32 teams, all while boasting a top-10 defense. YIKES!
Matt and those who are fans of this hiring decision will point to the fact that the NFL and college games are different and Alabama still finished in the top 10 offensively during both seasons with O’Brien calling plays. But in a year in which OSU needs to turn its offense around fast, end the slump against Michigan, and hopefully bring home a title, I just don’t think O’Brien is going to do for our offense what Jim Knowles did for our defense, despite needing that caliber of overhaul.
Matt’s Take:
I understand Jami’s concerns, I really do, but Bill O’Brien is almost exactly the kind of coach that I was lobbying for immediately after the embarrassing Cotton Bowl defeat. At the time, I was thinking of this as a new quarterbacks coach who might be able to take over playcalling as well. That is essentially what O’Brien is doing, with the added benefit of him being the offensive coordinator.
In December, I argued, “Day needs to find a veteran, experienced QB coach to come in and completely take over that room, and potentially one with play-calling experience.”
Veteran:
Experienced:
Capable of taking over QB room:
Play-Calling Experience:
Now, I’m not saying that Ryan Day read my
To me, this hiring is about far more than just who coaches the quarterbacks and who calls plays. This is about how Ryan Day views his main responsibilities as the head coach of the Ohio State football program. In my opinion, over the last few years, Day has spent way too much time trying to hold on to the thing that made him a hot coaching commodity in the first place: His ability to coach QBs and call plays.
While I still believe that Day is excellent at both of those things, he now has the far more important duties of... you know, running a multi-million dollar organization with increasingly complicated rules and circumstances necessary to be successful.
Like all big-time head coaches, Ryan Day has an ego; that’s not an insult, it is practically required to even attempt to succeed at the level that he is. So if he was ever going to trust someone enough to give up responsibilities that he sees as being so core and fundamental to who he is as a coach, then it had to be someone who has proven that he can do those things at a very high level, which BOB clearly has.
I’ve written before about Day’s obvious trust issues, but if the OSU head coach has found someone to whom he is comfortable to turn over some of the most important aspects of the program, then I can do nothing but celebrate it. Will it work out? Maybe, maybe not. But I am encouraged by Day’s willingness to finally make this move nonetheless (also, I think it’s going to work out).
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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Ohio State at Iowa, Friday, 2 February 2024, 7 PM ET, FS1
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 59 Replies
The only good thing here is that it isn't on Peacock.....
www.live5news.com
Iowa vs. Ohio State Predictions & Picks - February 2
Predictions for the Iowa vs. Ohio State game with odds and picks on the spread and total.
www.live5news.com
Spread & Total Prediction for Ohio State vs. Iowa
- Computer Predicted Spread: Iowa (-4.6)
- Computer Predicted Total: 153.0
Iowa vs. Ohio State Score Prediction
- Prediction: Iowa 79, Ohio State 74
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Is there any way for Ohio State men’s basketball to finish the season strong?
- News
- 0 Replies
Bucketheads Podcast: Is there any way for Ohio State men’s basketball to finish the season strong?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And if they don’t, where do they go from here?
“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 103 of Bucketheads, things are bleak in Columbus for the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team. The Buckeyes have lost six of their last seven games, and finish January at 2-6 after going 2-7 in January last season.
Where do the Buckeyes go from here? Last season, it was easy just to say to wait for next season as the freshmen come along, but the conversation is not as easy this season.
Even though the future looks bad and optimism is hard to come by, is there anything the Buckeyes can do to turn it around? Would 10-10 in conference play get them to the tournament? And if they do fail to get to the tournament, what comes next?
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
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And if they don’t, where do they go from here?
“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 103 of Bucketheads, things are bleak in Columbus for the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team. The Buckeyes have lost six of their last seven games, and finish January at 2-6 after going 2-7 in January last season.
Where do the Buckeyes go from here? Last season, it was easy just to say to wait for next season as the freshmen come along, but the conversation is not as easy this season.
Even though the future looks bad and optimism is hard to come by, is there anything the Buckeyes can do to turn it around? Would 10-10 in conference play get them to the tournament? And if they do fail to get to the tournament, what comes next?
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
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes dish out latest 2026 offer to Florida safety target, check in to see a top-100 Texas linebacker
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Buckeyes dish out latest 2026 offer to Florida safety target, check in to see a top-100 Texas linebacker
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Simeon Caldwell | 247Sports
Ohio State had a busy Wednesday on the recruiting trail.
It’s still offer season as Ohio State’s coaching staff continues to be out on the road checking in on top targets from all over the country. Making numerous stops this week, new names are surfacing proving that the evaluation period is not yet over for the Buckeyes.
Though the 2025 cycle is certainly the priority right now, 2026 is still seeing plenty of attention. With new offers going out, it’s additional time the staff has to build meaningful relationships that help win out commitments in the end.
Making yet another trip to Florida on Wednesday, the Buckeyes sent out their latest offer in the 2026 cycle when safety prospect Simeon Caldwell took to Twitter to share the news. A 6-foot-3, 185 pound athlete, Caldwell is not yet ranked per his 247Sports profile, but at nearly 20 offers to his name, surely that’s to come. Until then, programs such as Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and others having offered should give a glimpse at the caliber of player he is.
Picking up multiple offers this week alone, Caldwell is seeing his stock increase rather quickly, and it’s just a matter of time before other top suitors throw their name into the mix as well. Position coach Matt Guerrieri can start laying the foundation for a strong relationship and the next step of course is to try and get Simeon to Columbus.
With how well the back end of Ohio State’s defense is developing, Caldwell among other targets at the spot have to like what they’re seeing out of the Buckeyes, and surely that’s cause for considering all that Ohio State has to offer. Other names will enter the 2026 cycle as well, but Caldwell is the latest worth getting to know as the Buckeyes look to reload in every recruiting class.
Ohio State’s got no shortage of elite options when it comes to linebacker targets in the 2025 class. In great shape for some of the top remaining guys on their board, the Buckeyes are hoping to add likely two more to join commit Eli Lee in the current cycle.
From the jump, a guy like Tarvos Alford is a popular candidate and certainly the type of player the staff would love to bring in. Doing their best to make these guys feel like a priority, yesterday the staff made a stop to see another big time target.
Making the way to Texas on Wednesday, the Buckeyes sent in the big guns to visit Dallas Skyline product, Elijah Barnes. A 6-foot-2, 215 pound athlete, Barnes is currently the No. 83 player nationally and the 12th best linebacker in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades.
With 30 offers to his name and from the top programs in college football, it’s easy to see why the Buckeyes are more than interested and pulled out all the stops while checking in at his high school campus. Not only did James Laurinaitis make the trek, but Ohio State also sent both Day and Knowles as well, showing how clear it is that this staff wants Barnes in the fold.
Sure, a lot of prospects the staff is after get in-school visits, but not many can say three different staffers including the head coach and defensive coordinator were also in attendance. It also doesn’t hurt that family was able to meet the coaches as well, as it looks like mom was around for the time well spent.
The race is on to see who the next linebacker to commit will be, and certainly Wednesday gives Elijah plenty to think about.
Nate Roberts looks to be far and away the one position coach Keenan Bailey wants to add for the 2025 haul, and things are trending in that direction. With multiple crystal ball predictions in favor of the Buckeyes, the staff has to be feeling pretty solid about where they are currently at, but know Oklahoma and Oregon also need to be beaten.
The No. 107 player nationally and the fourth best tight end per the 247Sports Composite, Roberts has seen all you can from Ohio State, and yet the staff still is making their way to his home. The efforts are definitely there, and if it continues, his commitment should eventually follow.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Simeon Caldwell | 247Sports
Ohio State had a busy Wednesday on the recruiting trail.
It’s still offer season as Ohio State’s coaching staff continues to be out on the road checking in on top targets from all over the country. Making numerous stops this week, new names are surfacing proving that the evaluation period is not yet over for the Buckeyes.
Though the 2025 cycle is certainly the priority right now, 2026 is still seeing plenty of attention. With new offers going out, it’s additional time the staff has to build meaningful relationships that help win out commitments in the end.
Making yet another trip to Florida on Wednesday, the Buckeyes sent out their latest offer in the 2026 cycle when safety prospect Simeon Caldwell took to Twitter to share the news. A 6-foot-3, 185 pound athlete, Caldwell is not yet ranked per his 247Sports profile, but at nearly 20 offers to his name, surely that’s to come. Until then, programs such as Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and others having offered should give a glimpse at the caliber of player he is.
Picking up multiple offers this week alone, Caldwell is seeing his stock increase rather quickly, and it’s just a matter of time before other top suitors throw their name into the mix as well. Position coach Matt Guerrieri can start laying the foundation for a strong relationship and the next step of course is to try and get Simeon to Columbus.
With how well the back end of Ohio State’s defense is developing, Caldwell among other targets at the spot have to like what they’re seeing out of the Buckeyes, and surely that’s cause for considering all that Ohio State has to offer. Other names will enter the 2026 cycle as well, but Caldwell is the latest worth getting to know as the Buckeyes look to reload in every recruiting class.
Checking in to see Texas 2025 linebacker
Ohio State’s got no shortage of elite options when it comes to linebacker targets in the 2025 class. In great shape for some of the top remaining guys on their board, the Buckeyes are hoping to add likely two more to join commit Eli Lee in the current cycle.
From the jump, a guy like Tarvos Alford is a popular candidate and certainly the type of player the staff would love to bring in. Doing their best to make these guys feel like a priority, yesterday the staff made a stop to see another big time target.
Making the way to Texas on Wednesday, the Buckeyes sent in the big guns to visit Dallas Skyline product, Elijah Barnes. A 6-foot-2, 215 pound athlete, Barnes is currently the No. 83 player nationally and the 12th best linebacker in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades.
With 30 offers to his name and from the top programs in college football, it’s easy to see why the Buckeyes are more than interested and pulled out all the stops while checking in at his high school campus. Not only did James Laurinaitis make the trek, but Ohio State also sent both Day and Knowles as well, showing how clear it is that this staff wants Barnes in the fold.
Sure, a lot of prospects the staff is after get in-school visits, but not many can say three different staffers including the head coach and defensive coordinator were also in attendance. It also doesn’t hurt that family was able to meet the coaches as well, as it looks like mom was around for the time well spent.
The race is on to see who the next linebacker to commit will be, and certainly Wednesday gives Elijah plenty to think about.
Quick Hits
- As mentioned, Ohio State made their way into Texas on Wednesday, but before stopping there, the staff was also able to make time in Oklahoma to see the top tight end target in the class.
Nate Roberts looks to be far and away the one position coach Keenan Bailey wants to add for the 2025 haul, and things are trending in that direction. With multiple crystal ball predictions in favor of the Buckeyes, the staff has to be feeling pretty solid about where they are currently at, but know Oklahoma and Oregon also need to be beaten.
The No. 107 player nationally and the fourth best tight end per the 247Sports Composite, Roberts has seen all you can from Ohio State, and yet the staff still is making their way to his home. The efforts are definitely there, and if it continues, his commitment should eventually follow.
Continue reading...