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LGHL Ohio State survives second-half scare, beats Minnesota 84-74 to extend winning streak to six gamees
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Ohio State survives second-half scare, beats Minnesota 84-74 to extend winning streak to six gamees
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 have now won six games in a row, and are 1-0 in the Big Ten.
After knocking off a maroon and gold team last week to extend its winning streak to five games (its longest such streak in nearly two years), the Ohio State men’s basketball team (7-1, 1-0) welcomed another maroon and gold team to the Schottenstein Center Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener.
Minnesota (5-3, 0-1) is coming off of a 97-64 blowout win over New Orleans Thursday night. The Golden Gophers had five different players score in double digits as the team nearly put up 100 points, but even with that performance, Minnesota was still just No. 127 in offensive efficiency in the nation coming into this game, according to KenPom. Conversely, Ohio State was No. 17. in the country entering this game.
Chris Holtmann went with the same starting lineup he’s used all season, with sophomores Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Evan Mahaffey joined by senior (and former Minnesota star) Jamison Battle.
Ben Johnson’s Gophers rolled out a starting lineup of Johua Ola-Joseph, Elijah Hawkins, Braeden Carrington, Isaiah Ihnen, and Dawson Garcia.
Ohio State sprinted out to an 11-2 lead over the Gophers by the first media timeout, thanks in large part to the heroics of a former Gopher sticking it to his former team. Battle took three shots, including two three-pointers, over the first 3:23, and knocked down all three of them, leading to a quick eight points.
The Buckeyes pushed their lead out to 30-15 by the under-eight media timeout, mostly in thanks to Battle and Thornton. The pair both scored in double digits in the first half, and were given lots of extra opportunities thanks to plenty of Minnesota turnovers. However, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run over the final 2:37 of the first half to go into the break down 42-28, when things certainly looked like they were about to get much, much uglier.
Thornton, Gayle, and Battle all scored in double digits in the first half for Ohio State, which shot 55.6% overall over the first 20 minutes. Garcia had eight points and five rebounds in the first half for Minnesota.
Ohio State’s 14-point lead held firm by the under-12 timeout, with the Buckeyes leading 58-44. It turned into Dawson Garcia against the world, with Minnesota’s junior big man taking nearly half of his team’s shots for the second-straight year against the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no answer for him, but fortunately Minnesota wasn’t able to string enough stops together on the other end to cut into the deficit.
After falling way behind over the first 10 minutes or so, the Golden Gophers hung with the Buckeyes for the remaining 30 but weren’t ever able to string enough stops together to make it a one-possession game again. What once looked like a Buckeye blowout wound up being a grind-it-out win, but a win nonetheless. By the time the buzzer sounded, Ohio State had locked up its sixth consecutive win, 84-74.
If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State open Big Ten play with a win and extend its winning streak to six, here are a few key moments and plays that had a hand in the big win:
As many times as he was asked about it this week, Battle would not bite on the idea that there was any exta motivation playing against his former home state school. Battle said multiple times this past week that the guys on Minnesota are “his brothers” and that there was nothing but love between him and his former Gopher teammates.
Maybe it wasn’t fueled by disdain for his “brothers”, but Battle came out scorching hot in the first few minutes of Sunday’s game, dropping eight points on his former team over the first 3:23 of the game. After knocking down a three from the far corner 1:46 into the game, he followed it with a step-back triple from the top of the key a moment later, and was converted a pair of free throws after being fouled at the 16:37 mark. Those free throws put Ohio State up 10-2 in the early going.
Thornton and Battle were about as close to perfect as could be in the first half of this one, combining for 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The two outscored Minnesota by themselves for most of the first half, finishing with six fewer points than the entire Minnesota team in the first half.
Amongst several other issues, the Gophers did not take care of the ball at all. Minnesota turned over the biscuit nine times in the first half of Sunday night’s game, which led to 11 Ohio State points for the Buckeyes. Minnesota did better in the second half, only turning it over four times, which turned into seven second-chance points.
It looked like Minnesota was on the brink of getting run off the floor at the end of the first half, with Ohio State up 22 with 2:37 remaining until the bell. However, the Buckeyes gave up multiple easy dunks plus two extra buckets down the stretch, allowing Minnesota to end the half on an 8-0 run. That gave the Gophers some confidence heading the locker room, but in reality Ohio State should’ve been up 25+ points, and the game should’ve been all but over before the halftime bell.
Garcia was the main reason the Gophers were able to upset Ohio State in Columbus last season — aside from that arroneus foul call at the very end of the game. In that game, Garica had 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, nine rebounds, and two assists.
Garcia wasn’t as efficient on Sunday, but he was still all over the box score. Minnesota’s leading scorer carries a heavy load for the Gophers — so much so, that he took nearly half of their shot attempts in this game.
Ohio State started the game with Mahaffey guarding him, but in the second half made a switch and put Okpara on him. At 6-foot-11, he’s a tough matchup since he can step several feet away from the basket and still knock down shots. Garcia finished with 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting in 38 minutes. He also had 11 rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
The second half had absolutely no rhythm to it, with both teams getting into the bonus with 11:02 remaining in the game. With 11 minutes still to play, 30 fouls had been called, with nine different players getting called for multiple fouls by that point.
By the time the final horn sounded, the two teams had combined for 40 personal fouls (22 for Minnesota, 18 for Ohio State).
Ohio State never figured out how to stop Dawson Garica. Even when he missed his shots, he was somehow scoring points. With 5:55 remaining in the game and Ohio State up 66-55, Garcia drove to the basket and missed a shot. The rebound went high in the air above the rim, and both he and Mahaffey got a hand on it, tipping it into the air yet again. Garcia was able to get a hand on it the third time over Mahaffey, tipping the ball into the basket for 27th and 28th points of the game. This pulled Minnesota back within nine points for the first time since the 10:46 mark of the first half — a stretch of 24:51.
Chris Holtmann’s infamous salmon suit jacket, which we have discussed numerous times over the years here at Land-Grant Holy Land, made an appearance for tonight’s game against the Gophers.
A favorite amongst fans and amongst his own players, Holtmann has typically only pulled out the salmon suit for one or two of the biggest home games each year. A few years ago, Holtmann wore it when the Buckeyes took on Cleveland State at historic St. John arena, and again when they faced Kent State over at that old barn across Lane Avenue.
Tonight did not seem like a big enough occasion to break out his first-string suit jacket, but in his defense, Holtmann did hype up this Minnesota team quite a bit this week, and the program gave out Deion Sanders-esque sunglasses to the first 500 students on Sunday ngiht.
Ohio State (7-1, 1-0) has a quick turnaround as in-state foe Miami (OH) travels to Columbus Wednesday night. The Redhawks (4-3) are the No. 249 team in the nation, and recently won on the road at Marshall. Miami was picked to finish sixth in the MAC this season.
Ohio State’s game against Miami tips off at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN+.
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 have now won six games in a row, and are 1-0 in the Big Ten.
After knocking off a maroon and gold team last week to extend its winning streak to five games (its longest such streak in nearly two years), the Ohio State men’s basketball team (7-1, 1-0) welcomed another maroon and gold team to the Schottenstein Center Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener.
Minnesota (5-3, 0-1) is coming off of a 97-64 blowout win over New Orleans Thursday night. The Golden Gophers had five different players score in double digits as the team nearly put up 100 points, but even with that performance, Minnesota was still just No. 127 in offensive efficiency in the nation coming into this game, according to KenPom. Conversely, Ohio State was No. 17. in the country entering this game.
Chris Holtmann went with the same starting lineup he’s used all season, with sophomores Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Evan Mahaffey joined by senior (and former Minnesota star) Jamison Battle.
Ben Johnson’s Gophers rolled out a starting lineup of Johua Ola-Joseph, Elijah Hawkins, Braeden Carrington, Isaiah Ihnen, and Dawson Garcia.
Ohio State sprinted out to an 11-2 lead over the Gophers by the first media timeout, thanks in large part to the heroics of a former Gopher sticking it to his former team. Battle took three shots, including two three-pointers, over the first 3:23, and knocked down all three of them, leading to a quick eight points.
The Buckeyes pushed their lead out to 30-15 by the under-eight media timeout, mostly in thanks to Battle and Thornton. The pair both scored in double digits in the first half, and were given lots of extra opportunities thanks to plenty of Minnesota turnovers. However, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run over the final 2:37 of the first half to go into the break down 42-28, when things certainly looked like they were about to get much, much uglier.
PAYNE WITH THE SLAM@GopherMBB pic.twitter.com/gl94DEqKB5
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) December 3, 2023
Thornton, Gayle, and Battle all scored in double digits in the first half for Ohio State, which shot 55.6% overall over the first 20 minutes. Garcia had eight points and five rebounds in the first half for Minnesota.
Ohio State’s 14-point lead held firm by the under-12 timeout, with the Buckeyes leading 58-44. It turned into Dawson Garcia against the world, with Minnesota’s junior big man taking nearly half of his team’s shots for the second-straight year against the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no answer for him, but fortunately Minnesota wasn’t able to string enough stops together on the other end to cut into the deficit.
You simply can't stop Bruce
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) December 4, 2023
After falling way behind over the first 10 minutes or so, the Golden Gophers hung with the Buckeyes for the remaining 30 but weren’t ever able to string enough stops together to make it a one-possession game again. What once looked like a Buckeye blowout wound up being a grind-it-out win, but a win nonetheless. By the time the buzzer sounded, Ohio State had locked up its sixth consecutive win, 84-74.
If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State open Big Ten play with a win and extend its winning streak to six, here are a few key moments and plays that had a hand in the big win:
Just a bit of a sibling rivalry
As many times as he was asked about it this week, Battle would not bite on the idea that there was any exta motivation playing against his former home state school. Battle said multiple times this past week that the guys on Minnesota are “his brothers” and that there was nothing but love between him and his former Gopher teammates.
Maybe it wasn’t fueled by disdain for his “brothers”, but Battle came out scorching hot in the first few minutes of Sunday’s game, dropping eight points on his former team over the first 3:23 of the game. After knocking down a three from the far corner 1:46 into the game, he followed it with a step-back triple from the top of the key a moment later, and was converted a pair of free throws after being fouled at the 16:37 mark. Those free throws put Ohio State up 10-2 in the early going.
Two-man wrecking crew
Thornton and Battle were about as close to perfect as could be in the first half of this one, combining for 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The two outscored Minnesota by themselves for most of the first half, finishing with six fewer points than the entire Minnesota team in the first half.
Taking advantage of turnovers
Amongst several other issues, the Gophers did not take care of the ball at all. Minnesota turned over the biscuit nine times in the first half of Sunday night’s game, which led to 11 Ohio State points for the Buckeyes. Minnesota did better in the second half, only turning it over four times, which turned into seven second-chance points.
Minnesota closes the first half strong
It looked like Minnesota was on the brink of getting run off the floor at the end of the first half, with Ohio State up 22 with 2:37 remaining until the bell. However, the Buckeyes gave up multiple easy dunks plus two extra buckets down the stretch, allowing Minnesota to end the half on an 8-0 run. That gave the Gophers some confidence heading the locker room, but in reality Ohio State should’ve been up 25+ points, and the game should’ve been all but over before the halftime bell.
Ohio State was still not sure what to do with Dawson Garcia
Garcia was the main reason the Gophers were able to upset Ohio State in Columbus last season — aside from that arroneus foul call at the very end of the game. In that game, Garica had 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, nine rebounds, and two assists.
Garcia wasn’t as efficient on Sunday, but he was still all over the box score. Minnesota’s leading scorer carries a heavy load for the Gophers — so much so, that he took nearly half of their shot attempts in this game.
Ohio State started the game with Mahaffey guarding him, but in the second half made a switch and put Okpara on him. At 6-foot-11, he’s a tough matchup since he can step several feet away from the basket and still knock down shots. Garcia finished with 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting in 38 minutes. He also had 11 rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
Ref show
The second half had absolutely no rhythm to it, with both teams getting into the bonus with 11:02 remaining in the game. With 11 minutes still to play, 30 fouls had been called, with nine different players getting called for multiple fouls by that point.
By the time the final horn sounded, the two teams had combined for 40 personal fouls (22 for Minnesota, 18 for Ohio State).
Garcia cuts it to single-digits
Ohio State never figured out how to stop Dawson Garica. Even when he missed his shots, he was somehow scoring points. With 5:55 remaining in the game and Ohio State up 66-55, Garcia drove to the basket and missed a shot. The rebound went high in the air above the rim, and both he and Mahaffey got a hand on it, tipping it into the air yet again. Garcia was able to get a hand on it the third time over Mahaffey, tipping the ball into the basket for 27th and 28th points of the game. This pulled Minnesota back within nine points for the first time since the 10:46 mark of the first half — a stretch of 24:51.
Return of the salmon suit
Chris Holtmann’s infamous salmon suit jacket, which we have discussed numerous times over the years here at Land-Grant Holy Land, made an appearance for tonight’s game against the Gophers.
A favorite amongst fans and amongst his own players, Holtmann has typically only pulled out the salmon suit for one or two of the biggest home games each year. A few years ago, Holtmann wore it when the Buckeyes took on Cleveland State at historic St. John arena, and again when they faced Kent State over at that old barn across Lane Avenue.
Tonight did not seem like a big enough occasion to break out his first-string suit jacket, but in his defense, Holtmann did hype up this Minnesota team quite a bit this week, and the program gave out Deion Sanders-esque sunglasses to the first 500 students on Sunday ngiht.
Up Next:
Ohio State (7-1, 1-0) has a quick turnaround as in-state foe Miami (OH) travels to Columbus Wednesday night. The Redhawks (4-3) are the No. 249 team in the nation, and recently won on the road at Marshall. Miami was picked to finish sixth in the MAC this season.
Ohio State’s game against Miami tips off at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN+.
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball dominant over No. 20 Tennessee 78-58
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No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball dominant over No. 20 Tennessee 78-58
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
The Buckeyes make program history with first Knoxville victory over the Tennessee Volunteers
Before the Ohio State women’s basketball team and Tennessee Volunteers could even make it to the tip off Sunday, there were already eyes firmly on the court. All looking for the status of Vols star forward Rickea Jackson. Missing five games in a row with a lower leg injury, Jackson didn’t warm up with Tennessee and sat for a sixth game in a row.
Questions linger on what difference Jackson would have made for the Vols, with the Buckeyes taking the away win, its first in program history against Tennessee on Rocky Top, in a 78-58 victory.
Ohio State was the fourth ranked opponent in a row for the Vols, and it looked like Tennessee went through the wringer early on. From the jump, the Buckeyes found success in the paint and perimeter. Guard Celeste Taylor and forward Cotie McMahon had duplicate drives to the paint to start the scoring, the second coming off the first turnover created by the Buckeyes on the day.
The Buckeyes hoped to go strong on defense like it did last year to start the 22-23 season, where Ohio State forced 29 turnovers against the Volunteers.
What didn’t work for the scarlet and gray was shooting deep. Tennessee’s been susceptible to the three-point shot so far this season, but halfway through the first quarter Ohio State was 1-for-3.
In the first, it was dueling scoring runs for each side. Ohio State went on an 11-point run, pushing an early 13-point lead. It didn't last however, with a Vol coming back from injury to make an immediate impact, and it wasn't Jackson.
Last season, center Tamari Key had the makings of an All-American season but went to the bench after only nine games. Blood clot concerns made Key a medical scratch for the Vols. Seeing Key back on the court Sunday was a feel-good story but didn’t make Ohio State feel so good.
Tennessee, with Key, went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter, with Ohio State leading 20-15. The Buckeyes were 8-for-11 shooting until the end of its run, but ended the quarter missing its final eight shots.
Quiet to start the game was forward/guard hybrid Taylor Thierry. It took 13 minutes for the forward to register a shot, that she didn’t make. It was a testament to the work getting done by the Tennessee defense. Thierry makes a lot of her points off her teammates finding her in the paint.
Key didn’t help. The size and physicality of the center gave the other four Tennessee Vols room to move and play more one-on-one against the Buckeyes’ shooters. In seven appearances off the bench though, Key hasn’t played more than seven minutes. Once Key went to the bench in the second quarter, Ohio State showed improvement.
Thankfully for the scarlet and gray, forward Rebeka Mikulášiková was also filling in the scoring for Thierry. The Slovakian hit Ohio State’s first two three-point shots, with the rest of the team missing the other six attempts. Mikulášiková’s shot fake was working because of those threes, but had to go to the bench early in the second quarter with two fouls.
It was a chess match between head coach Kevin McGuff and Tennessee coach Kellie Harper. After Mikulášiková went to the bench, Harper brought Key back in with two fouls to go up against the much smaller Eboni Walker. Key met her seven minutes game total for the year in the first half alone, scoring five points and three rebounds.
Shooting for Tennessee wasn’t helping though. The Vols only took 11 total shots in the second quarter, hitting 27.3% of its chances. On the other end, Ohio State played mistake free basketball.
The Buckeyes didn’t give up the ball once in the second quarter, and forced six for the Vols, extending its lead to 43-28, thanks to guard Jacy Sheldon.
With what Tennessee thought was the final offensive possession, guard Avery Strickland hit a three-point shot, cutting the deficit to 13. With 12 seconds remaining, Sheldon surged up the court, cut through two defenders and had the wherewithal to know the clock was coming to an end. Under the basket, Sheldon shot with a noticeably early release to beat the shot clock and put the Buckeyes up 15 points.
McMahon led the way for the Buckeyes in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her 18 first half points before halftime.
Expecting a first half adjustment from the Vols, Ohio State didn’t relent out of the locker room. The Buckeyes started it with a six-point run, featuring two turnovers in the Vols first two offensive possessions of the quarter. With only 1:44 ticking off the third quarter clock, coach Harper had to call a timeout, with the scarlet and gray going up 21 points.
The Vols weathered the pressure, and eventually found success from deep. After the early Buckeyes run, Tennessee scored 11 of the next 15 points, with two shots beyond the arc. Coach Harper brought Key back in to try and channel some of the second quarter play but success didn’t follow because of costly Tennessee turnovers; two in 20 seconds.
Ohio State used its renewed defensive pressure on the offensive side of the court. scoring seven of the next eight points, keeping its lead to 20 points.
In that run though, the Buckeyes lost McMahon to foul trouble. Sitting on 19 points, McMahon had three third quarter fouls, bringing her game total to four. That meant a seat on the bench, but Ohio State didn’t slow down in response.
Thierry did her own McMahon impression receiving a pass on the wing. With the shot clock winding down, Thierry didn’t opt for the deep shot. Instead, Thierry ran to the paint, hitting the layup plus a free throw from the line.
The Buckeyes took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter, and Taylor added to it quickly, hitting her first three-point shot of the game. Tennessee needed to go on a monumentally big run but the Vols and Buckeyes traded baskets. Plus, when the Vols had possession of the ball, it took too long for anything to come to fruition.
Ohio State grabbed the win thanks to 19 points from McMahon, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, 18 from Mikulášiková and a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds for Taylor. Big Ten takes the win over the SEC 78-58.
In Sunday’s game, Mikulášiková earned a personal milestone, hitting 1,000 points. The shot was appropriately a three-pointer.
Mikulášiková is the prototypical European big, the kind of player McGuff values for her ability to stretch the defense while posting up beyond the arc. Mikulášiková earned a single game record on the season in three-point shots made and points scored with three from deep, ending the game with 18 points.
Ohio State’s known for causing turnovers, but on Sunday the Buckeyes were huge in not giving the ball away. With careful passing and more room to move on offense, the scarlet and gray didn't suffer a turnover in the second quarter, on a run of almost 13 and a half minutes stretching from the end of the first into the third quarter.
While coach McGuff’s side didn’t run up 29 turnovers like it did last year (a still impressive 20 turnovers forced), the margin leaned heavily in the Buckeyes’ favor Sunday night.
The Buckeyes had quite the birthday gift for coach McGuff on Sunday. Entering the Big Ten/SEC matchup, Ohio State never beat the Vols in Knoxville, Tennessee and never twice in a row.
A ranked victory is a great gift for any coach, but the convincing nature of the Buckeyes’ win shows signs that Ohio State trajectory is moving in the right direction. That continued improvement will be crucial next Sunday against the 6-1 Penn State Nittany Lions and eight days after that against the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.
Ohio State heads straight back to Columbus following Sunday’s game in SEC country, because Tuesday the Buckeyes go again. This time, against Ohio University, of the MAC. Like the Vols, the scarlet and gray finish a home-and-home with the in-state rivals. This time, after defeating the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio last year 86-56.
The Bobcats enter the Schottenstein Center with a 2-3 record, coming off a 75-72 defeat to Longwood University on Nov. 29. The Buckeyes are 21-1 against Ohio University, but that lone loss came in 2019, with coach McGuff leading a freshman Sheldon and the scarlet and gray.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
The Buckeyes make program history with first Knoxville victory over the Tennessee Volunteers
Before the Ohio State women’s basketball team and Tennessee Volunteers could even make it to the tip off Sunday, there were already eyes firmly on the court. All looking for the status of Vols star forward Rickea Jackson. Missing five games in a row with a lower leg injury, Jackson didn’t warm up with Tennessee and sat for a sixth game in a row.
Questions linger on what difference Jackson would have made for the Vols, with the Buckeyes taking the away win, its first in program history against Tennessee on Rocky Top, in a 78-58 victory.
Ohio State was the fourth ranked opponent in a row for the Vols, and it looked like Tennessee went through the wringer early on. From the jump, the Buckeyes found success in the paint and perimeter. Guard Celeste Taylor and forward Cotie McMahon had duplicate drives to the paint to start the scoring, the second coming off the first turnover created by the Buckeyes on the day.
The Buckeyes hoped to go strong on defense like it did last year to start the 22-23 season, where Ohio State forced 29 turnovers against the Volunteers.
What didn’t work for the scarlet and gray was shooting deep. Tennessee’s been susceptible to the three-point shot so far this season, but halfway through the first quarter Ohio State was 1-for-3.
In the first, it was dueling scoring runs for each side. Ohio State went on an 11-point run, pushing an early 13-point lead. It didn't last however, with a Vol coming back from injury to make an immediate impact, and it wasn't Jackson.
Last season, center Tamari Key had the makings of an All-American season but went to the bench after only nine games. Blood clot concerns made Key a medical scratch for the Vols. Seeing Key back on the court Sunday was a feel-good story but didn’t make Ohio State feel so good.
Tennessee, with Key, went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter, with Ohio State leading 20-15. The Buckeyes were 8-for-11 shooting until the end of its run, but ended the quarter missing its final eight shots.
Quiet to start the game was forward/guard hybrid Taylor Thierry. It took 13 minutes for the forward to register a shot, that she didn’t make. It was a testament to the work getting done by the Tennessee defense. Thierry makes a lot of her points off her teammates finding her in the paint.
Key didn’t help. The size and physicality of the center gave the other four Tennessee Vols room to move and play more one-on-one against the Buckeyes’ shooters. In seven appearances off the bench though, Key hasn’t played more than seven minutes. Once Key went to the bench in the second quarter, Ohio State showed improvement.
Thankfully for the scarlet and gray, forward Rebeka Mikulášiková was also filling in the scoring for Thierry. The Slovakian hit Ohio State’s first two three-point shots, with the rest of the team missing the other six attempts. Mikulášiková’s shot fake was working because of those threes, but had to go to the bench early in the second quarter with two fouls.
It was a chess match between head coach Kevin McGuff and Tennessee coach Kellie Harper. After Mikulášiková went to the bench, Harper brought Key back in with two fouls to go up against the much smaller Eboni Walker. Key met her seven minutes game total for the year in the first half alone, scoring five points and three rebounds.
Shooting for Tennessee wasn’t helping though. The Vols only took 11 total shots in the second quarter, hitting 27.3% of its chances. On the other end, Ohio State played mistake free basketball.
The Buckeyes didn’t give up the ball once in the second quarter, and forced six for the Vols, extending its lead to 43-28, thanks to guard Jacy Sheldon.
With what Tennessee thought was the final offensive possession, guard Avery Strickland hit a three-point shot, cutting the deficit to 13. With 12 seconds remaining, Sheldon surged up the court, cut through two defenders and had the wherewithal to know the clock was coming to an end. Under the basket, Sheldon shot with a noticeably early release to beat the shot clock and put the Buckeyes up 15 points.
McMahon led the way for the Buckeyes in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her 18 first half points before halftime.
Expecting a first half adjustment from the Vols, Ohio State didn’t relent out of the locker room. The Buckeyes started it with a six-point run, featuring two turnovers in the Vols first two offensive possessions of the quarter. With only 1:44 ticking off the third quarter clock, coach Harper had to call a timeout, with the scarlet and gray going up 21 points.
The Vols weathered the pressure, and eventually found success from deep. After the early Buckeyes run, Tennessee scored 11 of the next 15 points, with two shots beyond the arc. Coach Harper brought Key back in to try and channel some of the second quarter play but success didn’t follow because of costly Tennessee turnovers; two in 20 seconds.
Ohio State used its renewed defensive pressure on the offensive side of the court. scoring seven of the next eight points, keeping its lead to 20 points.
In that run though, the Buckeyes lost McMahon to foul trouble. Sitting on 19 points, McMahon had three third quarter fouls, bringing her game total to four. That meant a seat on the bench, but Ohio State didn’t slow down in response.
Thierry did her own McMahon impression receiving a pass on the wing. With the shot clock winding down, Thierry didn’t opt for the deep shot. Instead, Thierry ran to the paint, hitting the layup plus a free throw from the line.
The Buckeyes took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter, and Taylor added to it quickly, hitting her first three-point shot of the game. Tennessee needed to go on a monumentally big run but the Vols and Buckeyes traded baskets. Plus, when the Vols had possession of the ball, it took too long for anything to come to fruition.
Ohio State grabbed the win thanks to 19 points from McMahon, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, 18 from Mikulášiková and a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds for Taylor. Big Ten takes the win over the SEC 78-58.
Mikulášiková Milestone
In Sunday’s game, Mikulášiková earned a personal milestone, hitting 1,000 points. The shot was appropriately a three-pointer.
Mikulášiková is the prototypical European big, the kind of player McGuff values for her ability to stretch the defense while posting up beyond the arc. Mikulášiková earned a single game record on the season in three-point shots made and points scored with three from deep, ending the game with 18 points.
Smart Basketball
Ohio State’s known for causing turnovers, but on Sunday the Buckeyes were huge in not giving the ball away. With careful passing and more room to move on offense, the scarlet and gray didn't suffer a turnover in the second quarter, on a run of almost 13 and a half minutes stretching from the end of the first into the third quarter.
While coach McGuff’s side didn’t run up 29 turnovers like it did last year (a still impressive 20 turnovers forced), the margin leaned heavily in the Buckeyes’ favor Sunday night.
Happy Birthday to Coach McGuff
The Buckeyes had quite the birthday gift for coach McGuff on Sunday. Entering the Big Ten/SEC matchup, Ohio State never beat the Vols in Knoxville, Tennessee and never twice in a row.
A ranked victory is a great gift for any coach, but the convincing nature of the Buckeyes’ win shows signs that Ohio State trajectory is moving in the right direction. That continued improvement will be crucial next Sunday against the 6-1 Penn State Nittany Lions and eight days after that against the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.
What’s Next
Ohio State heads straight back to Columbus following Sunday’s game in SEC country, because Tuesday the Buckeyes go again. This time, against Ohio University, of the MAC. Like the Vols, the scarlet and gray finish a home-and-home with the in-state rivals. This time, after defeating the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio last year 86-56.
The Bobcats enter the Schottenstein Center with a 2-3 record, coming off a 75-72 defeat to Longwood University on Nov. 29. The Buckeyes are 21-1 against Ohio University, but that lone loss came in 2019, with coach McGuff leading a freshman Sheldon and the scarlet and gray.
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LGHL Ohio State opens as 6.5-point favorites vs. Missouri in the Cotton Bowl
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Ohio State opens as 6.5-point favorites vs. Missouri in the Cotton Bowl
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will meet the Tigers in Dallas on Dec. 29
With Ohio State failing to make the College Football Playoff following a loss to Michigan in the regular season finale, the Buckeyes now know who and where they will be playing their final contest of the 2023 campaign.
The CFP Committee didn’t exactly get things right, as 13-0 ACC Champion Florida State was left out of the final field of four in favor of a 12-1 Alabama team that needed to convert a 4th-and-31 against Auburn to stay alive and won what was the worst version of the SEC in several years by knocking off Georgia in conference title game. Regardless, No. 1 seed Michigan will take on the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide, while No. 2 Washington will face off against No. 3 Texas.
Outside of the College Football Playoff, No. 7 Ohio State will be partaking in the Cotton Bowl, where they will meet No. 9 Missouri in Arlington, Texas. It will be interesting to see what version of the Buckeyes shows up on Dec. 29, as many of their top players — including wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — are likely to opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Still, Ryan Day’s squad will enter the game as nearly a touchdown favorite.
All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ohio State finished the regular season 11-1, losing 30-24 in the finale against Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes were led offensively this season by the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver in Harrison Jr., who racked up over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. On the ground, TreVeyon Henderson led the way with 854 yards and 11 touchdowns in his nine games played, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. Ohio State ranks second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11 points per game. The 30 points allowed in the loss to the Wolverines was the only time all year the Buckeyes let up more than 17 points in a game. Ohio State did not do much in terms of creating havoc plays, tallying only seven picks and 22 sacks as a team, but did a great job of keeping teams out of the end zone.
Missouri finished the regular season at 10-2, losing a 49-39 contest to LSU and battling with Georgia in a 30-21 loss. Senior quarterback Brady Cook put up strong numbers to the tune of nearly 3,200 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was aided by star receiver Luther Burden. Just a sophomore, Burden totaled 83 receptions for just under 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Cody Schrader was strong on the ground as well, compiling 1,500 yards and 13 TDs on 6.1 yards per attempt. The Tigers were middle of the road on defense, allowing 22.3 points per game, but defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine had a tremendous season with four picks and 12 PBUs, while defensive lineman Darius Robinson led the way in the sack department with 7.5.
As touched on earlier, what happens in this game could largely be determined by just how many opt-outs there are on the Ohio State side. While the Tigers don't have to worry about Burden leaving early, as he is not yet draft eligible, the Buckeyes could potentially be without three of their top offensive weapons if Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson all decide to opt out. Defensively, there is a good chance OSU is also without top corner Denzel Burke, in addition to defensive linemen J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyliek Williams, Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall as well as DBs Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom — all of whom have big decisions to make.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will meet the Tigers in Dallas on Dec. 29
With Ohio State failing to make the College Football Playoff following a loss to Michigan in the regular season finale, the Buckeyes now know who and where they will be playing their final contest of the 2023 campaign.
The CFP Committee didn’t exactly get things right, as 13-0 ACC Champion Florida State was left out of the final field of four in favor of a 12-1 Alabama team that needed to convert a 4th-and-31 against Auburn to stay alive and won what was the worst version of the SEC in several years by knocking off Georgia in conference title game. Regardless, No. 1 seed Michigan will take on the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide, while No. 2 Washington will face off against No. 3 Texas.
Outside of the College Football Playoff, No. 7 Ohio State will be partaking in the Cotton Bowl, where they will meet No. 9 Missouri in Arlington, Texas. It will be interesting to see what version of the Buckeyes shows up on Dec. 29, as many of their top players — including wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — are likely to opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Still, Ryan Day’s squad will enter the game as nearly a touchdown favorite.
All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Spread: Ohio State -6.5
Ohio State finished the regular season 11-1, losing 30-24 in the finale against Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes were led offensively this season by the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver in Harrison Jr., who racked up over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. On the ground, TreVeyon Henderson led the way with 854 yards and 11 touchdowns in his nine games played, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. Ohio State ranks second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11 points per game. The 30 points allowed in the loss to the Wolverines was the only time all year the Buckeyes let up more than 17 points in a game. Ohio State did not do much in terms of creating havoc plays, tallying only seven picks and 22 sacks as a team, but did a great job of keeping teams out of the end zone.
Missouri finished the regular season at 10-2, losing a 49-39 contest to LSU and battling with Georgia in a 30-21 loss. Senior quarterback Brady Cook put up strong numbers to the tune of nearly 3,200 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was aided by star receiver Luther Burden. Just a sophomore, Burden totaled 83 receptions for just under 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Cody Schrader was strong on the ground as well, compiling 1,500 yards and 13 TDs on 6.1 yards per attempt. The Tigers were middle of the road on defense, allowing 22.3 points per game, but defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine had a tremendous season with four picks and 12 PBUs, while defensive lineman Darius Robinson led the way in the sack department with 7.5.
As touched on earlier, what happens in this game could largely be determined by just how many opt-outs there are on the Ohio State side. While the Tigers don't have to worry about Burden leaving early, as he is not yet draft eligible, the Buckeyes could potentially be without three of their top offensive weapons if Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson all decide to opt out. Defensively, there is a good chance OSU is also without top corner Denzel Burke, in addition to defensive linemen J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyliek Williams, Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall as well as DBs Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom — all of whom have big decisions to make.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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LGHL Game Preview: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee
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Game Preview: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
While it might not have the star power of last year’s matchup, a win for the Buckeyes is crucial in a tough December
Following a long week off the for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the Buckeyes are back at it in a big way. The scarlet and gray travel south to face a loud crowd of orange, in Knoxville, Tennessee against the Tennessee Volunteers.
While injuries are hurting the Vols to start the season, it's a program that can’t be taken lightly.
Last year, Buckeyes fans were spoiled. Right off the bat, Ohio State faced a top 10 team and beat them convincingly. Compare that to this season, where head coach Kevin McGuff’s side had another top team in the nation on the first day, but fell short. What’s followed is game-after-game where the Buckeyes were heavy favorites, and they fulfilled expectations at the final buzzer.
Sunday’s Tennessee game marks the first ranked opponent in five games, even if the Vols potentially slip out of the top 25 come Monday. Either way, going into a passionate away environment will go a long way for an Ohio State team still adjusting in early season games, A win today, and it sets the Buckeyes up for a tough end of the 2023 calendar.
A week from today, Ohio State welcomes the Penn State Nittany Lions for the first conference game of the season. Usually that’s not cause for concern, but Penn State is different this year. The Nittany Lions have one loss all season, and it was a one-point defeat to the USC Trojans, the same side who dispatched the Buckeyes on Nov. 6.
Fast forward eight days later and the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins descend on the Schottenstein Center. A tall task for any team in the nation. The month ends with a potentially tough game against Belmont and a trip to Ann Arbor to tip off the full conference season on Dec. 30. So, Sunday’s game against the Volunteers is big.
The storyline heading into Sunday’s Big Ten/SEC battle is the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior averages 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, although Jackson’s missed the last five games due to an ankle injury. How the Buckeyes play hinges on that availability.
Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper isn’t giving any information away about Jackson’s injury status, except she’s waiting for the medical staff to clear the star.
Either way, it’s not like the Volunteers suddenly shrink to a mid major side without Jackson. Ohio State still has to deal with a talented Tennessee team, led by point guard Destinee Wells.
The former Belmont Bear guard transferred to Rocky Top with two seasons left in eligibility. Before coming to Tennessee, Wells led the way for Belmont with 19.9 points and 4.9 assists per game. When the guard gets in big moments, she has the tendency to respond in a big way.
Take the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The No. 12 tournament ranked Bears defeated the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in double overtime. Wells had 16 points and seven assists in the victory, played coincidentally in the location of Sunday’s game: Thompson-Boling Arena. So it’s no shock that when Wells went into the transfer portal, Harper came calling.
Wells started this season off slowly, but has since started the last four games for the Vols, improving in each contest. In Wednesday’s narrow defeat to No. 18 Notre Dame, Wells had 13 points and five assists. When Wells is dishing, there are players around her who can put away shots, like fellow guard Jasmine Powell.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25129283/1811524623.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NOV 29 Women’s - Notre Dame at Tennessee")
Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With Jackson out, Powell’s slid into the primary scorer role for the Vols. The graduate senior, who played her first three years with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, can hurt teams at multiple levels. Powell has a compact three-point shot that given any space will go up, but the Michigan native will also go for the rim, pull up for midrange shots or find an open teammate.
The Wells/Powell combination will give Ohio State a handful, but this year guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor have been up to the assignment. Will that continue with a higher quality Tennessee backcourt?
What will work best for the Buckeyes on Sunday is if three-point shooting is going in its favor — and it will. Ohio State will reach at least 10 three-point shots made in the game, something the side’s done only once in six games. Expect Sheldon to make the most but the length and shooting of guard Emma Shumate should have more chances off the bench following an impressive run in the past three games.
The Buckeyes will lose the rebounding margin, but the speed of the scarlet and gray’s defense will wear down a Tennessee side that’s still getting its bearing with injuries and inconsistent lineups. It’ll be a close game in the end.
Date: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
If the Buckeyes win in Tennessee on Sunday, it’ll be a program first. It’s the fifth time these two teams faced off in Knoxville, and the first since a 97-65 NCAA Tournament defeat in 1996.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25129291/usa_today_5235172.jpg "NCAA Womens Basketball: Division I Championship-Ohio State vs Tennessee")
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Legendary head coach Pat Summitt lost once against the Buckeyes, back in 1981. Overall she had a 9-1 record vs. OSU
Overall, the Buckeyes are 2-10 against the Vols, so not only would it be the first away win for Ohio State in the series, but the first time the scarlet and gray have won two in a row against the SEC giants. Although it isn’t the same caliber of Tennessee side, Rocky top isn’t an easy place for opponents to play.
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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
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
While it might not have the star power of last year’s matchup, a win for the Buckeyes is crucial in a tough December
Following a long week off the for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the Buckeyes are back at it in a big way. The scarlet and gray travel south to face a loud crowd of orange, in Knoxville, Tennessee against the Tennessee Volunteers.
While injuries are hurting the Vols to start the season, it's a program that can’t be taken lightly.
Preview
Last year, Buckeyes fans were spoiled. Right off the bat, Ohio State faced a top 10 team and beat them convincingly. Compare that to this season, where head coach Kevin McGuff’s side had another top team in the nation on the first day, but fell short. What’s followed is game-after-game where the Buckeyes were heavy favorites, and they fulfilled expectations at the final buzzer.
Sunday’s Tennessee game marks the first ranked opponent in five games, even if the Vols potentially slip out of the top 25 come Monday. Either way, going into a passionate away environment will go a long way for an Ohio State team still adjusting in early season games, A win today, and it sets the Buckeyes up for a tough end of the 2023 calendar.
A week from today, Ohio State welcomes the Penn State Nittany Lions for the first conference game of the season. Usually that’s not cause for concern, but Penn State is different this year. The Nittany Lions have one loss all season, and it was a one-point defeat to the USC Trojans, the same side who dispatched the Buckeyes on Nov. 6.
Fast forward eight days later and the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins descend on the Schottenstein Center. A tall task for any team in the nation. The month ends with a potentially tough game against Belmont and a trip to Ann Arbor to tip off the full conference season on Dec. 30. So, Sunday’s game against the Volunteers is big.
The storyline heading into Sunday’s Big Ten/SEC battle is the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior averages 22 points and 12 rebounds per game, although Jackson’s missed the last five games due to an ankle injury. How the Buckeyes play hinges on that availability.
Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper isn’t giving any information away about Jackson’s injury status, except she’s waiting for the medical staff to clear the star.
Either way, it’s not like the Volunteers suddenly shrink to a mid major side without Jackson. Ohio State still has to deal with a talented Tennessee team, led by point guard Destinee Wells.
The former Belmont Bear guard transferred to Rocky Top with two seasons left in eligibility. Before coming to Tennessee, Wells led the way for Belmont with 19.9 points and 4.9 assists per game. When the guard gets in big moments, she has the tendency to respond in a big way.
Take the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The No. 12 tournament ranked Bears defeated the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in double overtime. Wells had 16 points and seven assists in the victory, played coincidentally in the location of Sunday’s game: Thompson-Boling Arena. So it’s no shock that when Wells went into the transfer portal, Harper came calling.
Wells started this season off slowly, but has since started the last four games for the Vols, improving in each contest. In Wednesday’s narrow defeat to No. 18 Notre Dame, Wells had 13 points and five assists. When Wells is dishing, there are players around her who can put away shots, like fellow guard Jasmine Powell.
With Jackson out, Powell’s slid into the primary scorer role for the Vols. The graduate senior, who played her first three years with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, can hurt teams at multiple levels. Powell has a compact three-point shot that given any space will go up, but the Michigan native will also go for the rim, pull up for midrange shots or find an open teammate.
The Wells/Powell combination will give Ohio State a handful, but this year guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor have been up to the assignment. Will that continue with a higher quality Tennessee backcourt?
Lineup Notes
- Forward Taylor Thierry is having her best rebounding season of her three-year NCAA career, averaging 7.7 per game.
- Sheldon and Taylor are second and sixth respectively in the Big Ten in steals per game, with Sheldon averaging 2.4 and Taylor with 2.0.
- Through six games last year, the Buckeyes took 118 three point shots, compared to 99 this year in the same timeframe.
Lineup Notes
- Tennessee’s played with four different starting lineups in seven games this season, with the above matching Wednesday’s game against Notre Dame where the Vols looked more cohesive.
- Outside of Jackson’s team-leading rebounding, four players average at least five rebounds per game, compared to only one Buckeye averaging at least five on the entire roster.
- Powell played off the bench for three-straight games before coming back into the starting lineup Wednesday against the Fighting Irish, averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the past four games
Prediction
What will work best for the Buckeyes on Sunday is if three-point shooting is going in its favor — and it will. Ohio State will reach at least 10 three-point shots made in the game, something the side’s done only once in six games. Expect Sheldon to make the most but the length and shooting of guard Emma Shumate should have more chances off the bench following an impressive run in the past three games.
The Buckeyes will lose the rebounding margin, but the speed of the scarlet and gray’s defense will wear down a Tennessee side that’s still getting its bearing with injuries and inconsistent lineups. It’ll be a close game in the end.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
LGHL Prediction: 85-80 Ohio State Buckeyes
A Rare Feat
If the Buckeyes win in Tennessee on Sunday, it’ll be a program first. It’s the fifth time these two teams faced off in Knoxville, and the first since a 97-65 NCAA Tournament defeat in 1996.
Legendary head coach Pat Summitt lost once against the Buckeyes, back in 1981. Overall she had a 9-1 record vs. OSU
Overall, the Buckeyes are 2-10 against the Vols, so not only would it be the first away win for Ohio State in the series, but the first time the scarlet and gray have won two in a row against the SEC giants. Although it isn’t the same caliber of Tennessee side, Rocky top isn’t an easy place for opponents to play.
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LGHL Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Minnesota: Game Preview and Prediction
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Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs Minnesota: Game Preview and Prediction
Jami Jurich 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
The Buckeyes will look to bury the Golden Gophers to open conference play.
Hot on a five-game win streak, the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) at the Schott in Columbus Sunday.
Led by sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes (6-1) head into the matchup on the heels of an 88-61 routing of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Nov. 29.
Minnesota, for their part, is heading to Columbus on the heels of their 33-point victory over the New Orleans Privateers, a game in which Minnesota’s bench scored 62 points, with three reserve players scoring in the double digits.
The game kicks off Big Ten conference play for both teams this season.
PREVIEW
For one Buckeye in particular, this game is personal.
Fifth-year graduate forward Jamison Battle will be facing off against his former team, having transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota (his hometown university) after last season ended (funnily enough, he took part in the Golden Gophers’ upset over the Buckeyes, a low point for OSU last season).
Battle, who has been a tremendous asset for the Buckeyes, refers to his former teammates as his “brothers,” but as many of us well know, sibling rivalry can be a powerful motivator, and it could factor in.
Still, Battle says that in spite of the emotional element, for him and his current teammates, Sunday is business as usual.
“Business as usual” is pretty successful these days. While the Gophers’ two losses have come against their two quality opponents (losing 70-68 against Missouri and 76-58 against San Francisco), the Buckeyes have held their own against Alabama and Santa Clara.
Thornton in particular is having a spectacular start to the season, putting up 25 points against Central Michigan and averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Thornton is joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore Roddy Gayle, who is averaging 14.4 points per game with 4.1 assists. They are one of the top backcourt duos in the conference. Battle, for his part, is averaging 12.4 points and 2.4 3-pointers per game.
Minnesota is led by junior forward Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 18.3 points and 2.6 assists with 7.7 rebounds per game. In their Dec. 1 routing of New Orleans, the Gophers jumped to a 7-6 lead early, after a layup by sophomore forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (avg. 9 points per game), and never trailed again.
The Gophers come into this contest as the 127th-ranked offense in the nation, according to KenPom.
PREDICTION
Minnesota has outscored opponents by an average of 13.1 points per game so far this season (compared to the Buckeyes’ 15.4 ppg), but this is the Golden Gophers’ first true road game, and it looks to be a lopsided match in the Buckeyes’ favor.
Both of the Gophers’ two losses were against quality opponents, dropping a close 70-68 battle against Missouri and losing by 18 to San Francisco in a neutral-site game (though it was on the West Coast), so this game looks to be a good indicator of what we can expect from the Gophers this season.
The Buckeyes, on the other hand, bounced back from their early 73-66 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M and went on to defeat No. 17 Alabama, 92-81 and beat Santa Clara by 30 points in back-to-back games.
OSU is shooting well to start the season, and if Minnesota continues to struggle with perimeter defense, this could be a long day for the visitors.
I expect the Buckeyes to extend their win streak to six, particularly if the Buckeyes can force turnovers (something the Gophers have struggled with this season).
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 85.3%
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 83, Minnesota 70
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Jami Jurich 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
The Buckeyes will look to bury the Golden Gophers to open conference play.
Hot on a five-game win streak, the Ohio State Men’s Basketball team will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) at the Schott in Columbus Sunday.
Led by sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes (6-1) head into the matchup on the heels of an 88-61 routing of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Nov. 29.
Minnesota, for their part, is heading to Columbus on the heels of their 33-point victory over the New Orleans Privateers, a game in which Minnesota’s bench scored 62 points, with three reserve players scoring in the double digits.
The game kicks off Big Ten conference play for both teams this season.
PREVIEW
For one Buckeye in particular, this game is personal.
Fifth-year graduate forward Jamison Battle will be facing off against his former team, having transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota (his hometown university) after last season ended (funnily enough, he took part in the Golden Gophers’ upset over the Buckeyes, a low point for OSU last season).
Battle, who has been a tremendous asset for the Buckeyes, refers to his former teammates as his “brothers,” but as many of us well know, sibling rivalry can be a powerful motivator, and it could factor in.
Still, Battle says that in spite of the emotional element, for him and his current teammates, Sunday is business as usual.
“Business as usual” is pretty successful these days. While the Gophers’ two losses have come against their two quality opponents (losing 70-68 against Missouri and 76-58 against San Francisco), the Buckeyes have held their own against Alabama and Santa Clara.
Thornton in particular is having a spectacular start to the season, putting up 25 points against Central Michigan and averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Thornton is joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore Roddy Gayle, who is averaging 14.4 points per game with 4.1 assists. They are one of the top backcourt duos in the conference. Battle, for his part, is averaging 12.4 points and 2.4 3-pointers per game.
Minnesota is led by junior forward Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 18.3 points and 2.6 assists with 7.7 rebounds per game. In their Dec. 1 routing of New Orleans, the Gophers jumped to a 7-6 lead early, after a layup by sophomore forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (avg. 9 points per game), and never trailed again.
The Gophers come into this contest as the 127th-ranked offense in the nation, according to KenPom.
PREDICTION
Minnesota has outscored opponents by an average of 13.1 points per game so far this season (compared to the Buckeyes’ 15.4 ppg), but this is the Golden Gophers’ first true road game, and it looks to be a lopsided match in the Buckeyes’ favor.
Both of the Gophers’ two losses were against quality opponents, dropping a close 70-68 battle against Missouri and losing by 18 to San Francisco in a neutral-site game (though it was on the West Coast), so this game looks to be a good indicator of what we can expect from the Gophers this season.
The Buckeyes, on the other hand, bounced back from their early 73-66 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M and went on to defeat No. 17 Alabama, 92-81 and beat Santa Clara by 30 points in back-to-back games.
OSU is shooting well to start the season, and if Minnesota continues to struggle with perimeter defense, this could be a long day for the visitors.
I expect the Buckeyes to extend their win streak to six, particularly if the Buckeyes can force turnovers (something the Gophers have struggled with this season).
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 85.3%
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 83, Minnesota 70
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LGHL Five Storylines: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers
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Five Storylines: No. 16 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Rickea Jackson’s availability, containing Rocky Top, rebounding and more
The start of the 23-24 season for the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been mostly favorable. In six games, the Buckeyes are 5-1 with the lone defeat coming on Nov. 6 against its only ranked opponent to date in the USC Trojans. Now, as the calendar changes to December, the scarlet and gray face its first of two, and maybe three, ranked opponents to close out the year. First up are the Tennessee Volunteers.
Before Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. ET tipoff, here are four storylines to watch as coach Kevin McGuff’s side travels south to Knoxville.
Tennessee’s success against Ohio State hinges on the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior, playing her final season before likely going as a lottery pick in the WNBA Draft, hasn’t seen the court in the last five Volunteers matchups, recovering from an ankle injury.
Head coach Kellie Harper hasn’t put a timeline on Jackson’s return, saying it’ll happen when the training and medical staff say it can happen. The hole left by Jackson’s absence is large.
Jackson is a 6-foot-2 forward who hurts teams with scoring and rebounding, although the graduate senior was mostly neutralized in last year’s matchup between the Big Ten and SEC sides. That’s because Jackson was playing her first game on a new team, following three seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This year, the team is Jackson.
In two games for the Vols this year, Jackson averages 22 points and 12 rebounds, and it’s not coming from a game you’d expect. The forward didn’t pad stats early against a small non-conference side but against a ranked Florida State.
Against the Seminoles, Jackson went off for a personally historic performance. In the narrow 91-92 defeat for the Vols, Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed a career single-game high of 17 rebounds. Jackson outrebounded fellow starters 17-12 and led the game in scoring.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25127827/usa_today_21935725.jpg "Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel")
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
It isn’t clear if Jackson will still be out on Sunday, but it isn’t guaranteed. Even so, the Vols aren’t an easy win without Jackson. Although Tennessee is 3-2 with Jackson on the bench, on Wednesday, during the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, Tennessee held its own against the No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 74-69.
Ohio State’s had a wide variety of names leading the way game-in and game-out so far this season, but the one to watch Sunday is guard Jacy Sheldon. When the Buckeyes faced its toughest competitors this year, like the Trojans and defensive battles against the East Carolina Pirates and Oklahoma State Cowgirls, it’s been Sheldon consistently stepping up.
Sheldon’s led the Buckeyes with a 23.3 points per game average in those games, and scoring in different ways. Against USC and Oklahoma State, the guard turned steals into points. Against East Carolina, Sheldon scored 12 of her 20 points from beyond the arc. Sheldon is a chameleon, bringing different looks to each game.
Against Tennessee, it could be another strong game from deep. In two of the Vols' three losses, it’s been the three-point shot doing them in, allowing 13 and 10 in losses to the Seminoles and a lopsided defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Vols gave up 10 threes only twice in the entire 22-23 season, showing the impact of losing now WNBA rising star Jordan Horston. That favors Sheldon, who leads Ohio State in shooting from deep with 12 makes on the year, but that can benefit others in the offensive attack.
While Sheldon continues to show why WNBA general managers wanted her to leave the NCAA last season, Ohio State is going to win through team basketball.
The aforementioned shooting defensive woes for the Vols will benefit more than Sheldon. The Buckeyes are working towards a team where anyone in the starting five can hurt you from deep. All five have hit from beyond the arc this season, and when they’re on, they’ll make it difficult on defenses.
Watch to see if the Buckeyes test from deep early. The more Ohio State hits those shots, the more room it gives on the inside. That Vols' defeat against the Hoosiers shows the formula. While the Scarlet and Gray don’t have forward Mackenzie Holmes, coach McGuff’s side has players who can attack the basket better than most in the conference.
Indiana beat Tennessee hitting 10 three-pointers, five alone from guard Yarden Garzon, and outscoring the Vols in the paint 32-18. If threes go in for Ohio State, forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry will get more space to run from the perimeter to the post. It also allows forward Rebeka Mikulášiková more one-on-one chances to move in the paint, spinning towards the basket as she’s known to do.
Ohio State’s synonymous with a blistering full-court press, the kind of defense that forced 27 turnovers from the Vols last season, but that’s not the energy to look out for Sunday. It’s on the boards.
Look at the Buckeyes’ runs in games this year, alongside them is strong rebounding. Against Oklahoma State, the Buckeyes played their best in the first and fourth quarters. Ohio State outrebounded the Cowgirls a combined 30-13.
In the second quarter of that game, when the Buckeyes were held to 12 total points, Oklahoma State outrebounded Ohio State 20-7. After the game, McGuff cited a downtick in the team’s energy in the second quarter.
When Ohio State is up in games, and lets that intensity dip, it allows players to box out Buckeyes in the paint, or beat them to the spot altogether.
Thierry is key for the Buckeyes’ rebounding on Sunday. The guard/forward hybrid’s been everywhere this season, sitting seventh in the conference in rebounding per game with 7.7. Of those, 3.2 are on the offensive boards. The Vols don’t have center Tamari Key at the levels she was before the start of last season before a heart condition took the center out for the rest of the year. Key’s been back this year but in a much more limited role.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25127829/1771407896.jpg "USC v Ohio State")
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
If Jackson is out, Thierry has even more of an advantage in the department. Should Thierry and the Buckeyes’ energy allow for the rebounding margin to go in their favor, it gives Sheldon, McMahon, and other scarlet and gray players the chance to push overall team intensity higher, making life difficult for the Vols.
The marketing angle taken by the SEC is “it just means more.” While those sorts of things can be cliché, you can’t argue it by looking at a Tennessee basketball crowd.
Tennessee’s led the NCAA in scoring 11 straight seasons, back in the years of legendary head coach Pat Summit. While numbers have dipped due to the Vols backtracking from former NCAA Championship-filled glory, Tennessee is creeping back up into pre-COVID-19 attendance numbers.
Last season, the Vols averaged 8,150 people per game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Expect another large crowd in Knoxville on Sunday, and they’re going to be loud.
Rocky Top is known as one of the loudest fan bases in women’s basketball. Current championships or not, Tennessee fans are devoted and will let the Buckeyes know Sunday afternoon.
What can silence it for Ohio State is that full-court press and a strong shooting day. If anything, the loud environment might help the Buckeyes in the press, causing more havoc for Tennessee players as they try to move the ball up the court against the 10-second clock.
The Buckeyes have played in hostile basketball environments before. Last year, in Louisville, Kentucky, coach McGuff’s side came back from 14 points down to dominate 96-77. Even look at the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in Seattle, Washington. Ohio State played a nationwide favorite UConn Huskies and came away with the victory in front of a crowd leaning heavily towards head coach Geno Auriemma’s side.
If the game goes the Buckeyes’ way, as the crowd’s intensity dies down, so might the intensity from the Vols on the court.
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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
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Rickea Jackson’s availability, containing Rocky Top, rebounding and more
The start of the 23-24 season for the Ohio State women’s basketball team has been mostly favorable. In six games, the Buckeyes are 5-1 with the lone defeat coming on Nov. 6 against its only ranked opponent to date in the USC Trojans. Now, as the calendar changes to December, the scarlet and gray face its first of two, and maybe three, ranked opponents to close out the year. First up are the Tennessee Volunteers.
Before Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. ET tipoff, here are four storylines to watch as coach Kevin McGuff’s side travels south to Knoxville.
Rickea Jackson’s Availability
Tennessee’s success against Ohio State hinges on the availability of forward Rickea Jackson. The graduate senior, playing her final season before likely going as a lottery pick in the WNBA Draft, hasn’t seen the court in the last five Volunteers matchups, recovering from an ankle injury.
Head coach Kellie Harper hasn’t put a timeline on Jackson’s return, saying it’ll happen when the training and medical staff say it can happen. The hole left by Jackson’s absence is large.
Jackson is a 6-foot-2 forward who hurts teams with scoring and rebounding, although the graduate senior was mostly neutralized in last year’s matchup between the Big Ten and SEC sides. That’s because Jackson was playing her first game on a new team, following three seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This year, the team is Jackson.
In two games for the Vols this year, Jackson averages 22 points and 12 rebounds, and it’s not coming from a game you’d expect. The forward didn’t pad stats early against a small non-conference side but against a ranked Florida State.
Against the Seminoles, Jackson went off for a personally historic performance. In the narrow 91-92 defeat for the Vols, Jackson scored 31 points and grabbed a career single-game high of 17 rebounds. Jackson outrebounded fellow starters 17-12 and led the game in scoring.
It isn’t clear if Jackson will still be out on Sunday, but it isn’t guaranteed. Even so, the Vols aren’t an easy win without Jackson. Although Tennessee is 3-2 with Jackson on the bench, on Wednesday, during the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, Tennessee held its own against the No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 74-69.
Big Game Jacy Sheldon
Ohio State’s had a wide variety of names leading the way game-in and game-out so far this season, but the one to watch Sunday is guard Jacy Sheldon. When the Buckeyes faced its toughest competitors this year, like the Trojans and defensive battles against the East Carolina Pirates and Oklahoma State Cowgirls, it’s been Sheldon consistently stepping up.
Sheldon’s led the Buckeyes with a 23.3 points per game average in those games, and scoring in different ways. Against USC and Oklahoma State, the guard turned steals into points. Against East Carolina, Sheldon scored 12 of her 20 points from beyond the arc. Sheldon is a chameleon, bringing different looks to each game.
Against Tennessee, it could be another strong game from deep. In two of the Vols' three losses, it’s been the three-point shot doing them in, allowing 13 and 10 in losses to the Seminoles and a lopsided defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Vols gave up 10 threes only twice in the entire 22-23 season, showing the impact of losing now WNBA rising star Jordan Horston. That favors Sheldon, who leads Ohio State in shooting from deep with 12 makes on the year, but that can benefit others in the offensive attack.
Diverse Scoring
While Sheldon continues to show why WNBA general managers wanted her to leave the NCAA last season, Ohio State is going to win through team basketball.
The aforementioned shooting defensive woes for the Vols will benefit more than Sheldon. The Buckeyes are working towards a team where anyone in the starting five can hurt you from deep. All five have hit from beyond the arc this season, and when they’re on, they’ll make it difficult on defenses.
Watch to see if the Buckeyes test from deep early. The more Ohio State hits those shots, the more room it gives on the inside. That Vols' defeat against the Hoosiers shows the formula. While the Scarlet and Gray don’t have forward Mackenzie Holmes, coach McGuff’s side has players who can attack the basket better than most in the conference.
Indiana beat Tennessee hitting 10 three-pointers, five alone from guard Yarden Garzon, and outscoring the Vols in the paint 32-18. If threes go in for Ohio State, forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry will get more space to run from the perimeter to the post. It also allows forward Rebeka Mikulášiková more one-on-one chances to move in the paint, spinning towards the basket as she’s known to do.
Buckeyes Energy
Ohio State’s synonymous with a blistering full-court press, the kind of defense that forced 27 turnovers from the Vols last season, but that’s not the energy to look out for Sunday. It’s on the boards.
Look at the Buckeyes’ runs in games this year, alongside them is strong rebounding. Against Oklahoma State, the Buckeyes played their best in the first and fourth quarters. Ohio State outrebounded the Cowgirls a combined 30-13.
In the second quarter of that game, when the Buckeyes were held to 12 total points, Oklahoma State outrebounded Ohio State 20-7. After the game, McGuff cited a downtick in the team’s energy in the second quarter.
When Ohio State is up in games, and lets that intensity dip, it allows players to box out Buckeyes in the paint, or beat them to the spot altogether.
Thierry is key for the Buckeyes’ rebounding on Sunday. The guard/forward hybrid’s been everywhere this season, sitting seventh in the conference in rebounding per game with 7.7. Of those, 3.2 are on the offensive boards. The Vols don’t have center Tamari Key at the levels she was before the start of last season before a heart condition took the center out for the rest of the year. Key’s been back this year but in a much more limited role.
If Jackson is out, Thierry has even more of an advantage in the department. Should Thierry and the Buckeyes’ energy allow for the rebounding margin to go in their favor, it gives Sheldon, McMahon, and other scarlet and gray players the chance to push overall team intensity higher, making life difficult for the Vols.
Silencing Rocky Top
The marketing angle taken by the SEC is “it just means more.” While those sorts of things can be cliché, you can’t argue it by looking at a Tennessee basketball crowd.
Tennessee’s led the NCAA in scoring 11 straight seasons, back in the years of legendary head coach Pat Summit. While numbers have dipped due to the Vols backtracking from former NCAA Championship-filled glory, Tennessee is creeping back up into pre-COVID-19 attendance numbers.
Last season, the Vols averaged 8,150 people per game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Expect another large crowd in Knoxville on Sunday, and they’re going to be loud.
Rocky Top is known as one of the loudest fan bases in women’s basketball. Current championships or not, Tennessee fans are devoted and will let the Buckeyes know Sunday afternoon.
What can silence it for Ohio State is that full-court press and a strong shooting day. If anything, the loud environment might help the Buckeyes in the press, causing more havoc for Tennessee players as they try to move the ball up the court against the 10-second clock.
The Buckeyes have played in hostile basketball environments before. Last year, in Louisville, Kentucky, coach McGuff’s side came back from 14 points down to dominate 96-77. Even look at the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in Seattle, Washington. Ohio State played a nationwide favorite UConn Huskies and came away with the victory in front of a crowd leaning heavily towards head coach Geno Auriemma’s side.
If the game goes the Buckeyes’ way, as the crowd’s intensity dies down, so might the intensity from the Vols on the court.
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LGHL Ohio State fans think Ryan Day needs to pass the sticks, but want the Buckeyes in the CFP
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Ohio State fans think Ryan Day needs to pass the sticks, but want the Buckeyes in the CFP
Matt Tamanini 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 I agree with them wholeheartedly.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
sadasdasd
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Look, I have been beating this drum for just about two years now. I think Ryan Day is doing his players, his offense, his team, his program, his staff, and himself a disservice by continuing to call plays; and unfortunately, this has become an annual tradition to have to talk about it after disappointing losses late in the season (and after some ugly early-season wins as well).
And while I definitely think that Day’s habit of going conservative in many (but not all) big games hurt the Buckeyes in last week’s Michigan game, I don’t think that was the biggest issue this season; that would put as the quarterback position — which also is Day’s responsibility, but is a separate issue. However, I don’t know that QB would be my biggest concern moving forward.
I don’t think that Day will be especially active (or even active at all) in trying to land a big-name transfer quarterback, instead, I imagine that we will go into spring with all three returning QBs in a competition with the opportunity for Air Noland to get into the mix if he’s ready. I don’t think that the Buckeyes can go into 2024 with anything similar to this year’s version of Kyle McCord behind center. Presumably, the incumbent starter will improve, but if it is not substantially, I think you have to go in a different direction, and that has to be decided by the end of spring. I personally did not see enough from Devin Brown in his limited action to make me confident that he is capable of being the guy next year if McCord doesn’t take a major step. So, if push comes to shove — and Day doesn’t decide to go crazy and bring in a DJ Uiagalelei, Dante Moore, Cameron Ward, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard type — my completely uninsightful preference would be to go with the South Dakota Slinger Lincoln Kienholz. But, that’s a discussion for another day.
Ultimately, when discussing the question at hand, I do think that Day giving up playcalling is vital to the long-term health of the Ohio State football program. If the Buckeyes do not make the College Football Playoff, he absolutely needs to let Brian Hartline call the offense in whatever New Year’s Six bowl game they end up in.
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I wrote about this earlier in the week, but this is where I’m at. There have certainly been times when I was less keen on Buckeye teams sneaking into the College Football Playoff, but in a year in which I don’t think that there are any dominant teams in the sport — and OSU was one drive away from beating one of the best teams in the country — I don’t see any reason to not want the team to have a shot and hope against hope that Ryan Day will find that rare postseason surge of guts and creativity he sometimes stumbles upon.
With the Washington Huskies beating the Oregon Ducks last night, that’s one thing that has to go Ohio State’s way for them to make the playoff field. I think it is a bit of an uphill climb the rest of the way — especially in the Big 12 Championship Game — but, as fans, it is in our nature to get our hopes up. So, I am ready to sweat along with another OSU in hopes of it benefitting our beloved OSU.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And I agree with them wholeheartedly.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
sadasdasd
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
Question 1: What is the biggest thing that the Ohio State football program must do in the offseason?
Look, I have been beating this drum for just about two years now. I think Ryan Day is doing his players, his offense, his team, his program, his staff, and himself a disservice by continuing to call plays; and unfortunately, this has become an annual tradition to have to talk about it after disappointing losses late in the season (and after some ugly early-season wins as well).
And while I definitely think that Day’s habit of going conservative in many (but not all) big games hurt the Buckeyes in last week’s Michigan game, I don’t think that was the biggest issue this season; that would put as the quarterback position — which also is Day’s responsibility, but is a separate issue. However, I don’t know that QB would be my biggest concern moving forward.
I don’t think that Day will be especially active (or even active at all) in trying to land a big-name transfer quarterback, instead, I imagine that we will go into spring with all three returning QBs in a competition with the opportunity for Air Noland to get into the mix if he’s ready. I don’t think that the Buckeyes can go into 2024 with anything similar to this year’s version of Kyle McCord behind center. Presumably, the incumbent starter will improve, but if it is not substantially, I think you have to go in a different direction, and that has to be decided by the end of spring. I personally did not see enough from Devin Brown in his limited action to make me confident that he is capable of being the guy next year if McCord doesn’t take a major step. So, if push comes to shove — and Day doesn’t decide to go crazy and bring in a DJ Uiagalelei, Dante Moore, Cameron Ward, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard type — my completely uninsightful preference would be to go with the South Dakota Slinger Lincoln Kienholz. But, that’s a discussion for another day.
Ultimately, when discussing the question at hand, I do think that Day giving up playcalling is vital to the long-term health of the Ohio State football program. If the Buckeyes do not make the College Football Playoff, he absolutely needs to let Brian Hartline call the offense in whatever New Year’s Six bowl game they end up in.
Question 2: Do you want the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff if chaos happens this weekend?
I wrote about this earlier in the week, but this is where I’m at. There have certainly been times when I was less keen on Buckeye teams sneaking into the College Football Playoff, but in a year in which I don’t think that there are any dominant teams in the sport — and OSU was one drive away from beating one of the best teams in the country — I don’t see any reason to not want the team to have a shot and hope against hope that Ryan Day will find that rare postseason surge of guts and creativity he sometimes stumbles upon.
With the Washington Huskies beating the Oregon Ducks last night, that’s one thing that has to go Ohio State’s way for them to make the playoff field. I think it is a bit of an uphill climb the rest of the way — especially in the Big 12 Championship Game — but, as fans, it is in our nature to get our hopes up. So, I am ready to sweat along with another OSU in hopes of it benefitting our beloved OSU.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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LGHL You’re Nuts: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last?
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You’re Nuts: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last?
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 are currently riding a five-game winning streak, its longest such streak in two years.
Many people are asking the same question this week: Will the Ohio State Buckeyes ever lose again?
Yes, they will. But when?
Chris Holtmann’s squad is currently riding a five-game winning streak, which is the programs first five-game winning streak since the 2021-2022 season. After winning just 16 games a year ago, Ohio State has an opportunity to stack some wins up before the calendar flips to 2024. More on this later.
Last week, Connor and Justin took a peak at Ohio State’s three-point shooting thus far and asked if the numbers are problematic or not. 55% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that the shooting from distance had some worrisome trends. 45% sided with Justin, saying that it is nothing to be concerned about.
Connor- 60
Since losing to Texas A&M, Ohio State has rattled off five-straight wins, and will look to make it six in a row Sunday against Minnesota. As they continue to extend this streak, our eyes have begun to drift to the schedule to see which upcoming teams will pose the biggest threat to break the winning streak.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124323/usa_today_19880304.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Ohio State at Indiana")
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
After growing up with Ohio State basketball for many years, I am typically a jaded, “Let’s just wait and see,” type of person with this team. Especially after the past 10 years or so, I’m generally skeptical of Ohio State ending the season on a high note during any given year. I’m not sure if this year will be different or not — probably not.
But this team is playing very well right now, and is currently enjoying its first five-game winning streak in nearly two years. The last five-game winning streak took place from December 2021 to January 2022.
With several winnable games coming up, plus a few where Ohio State absolutely has a chance to win (even if they aren’t the favorite), this winning streak could actually stretch out for a few weeks or even a month longer. After looking at the schedule closely, I think Ohio State’s next loss will be Jan. 6, at Indiana.
That means seven more wins. That means a 13-1 record to start the year. It looks crazy on paper, but the Buckeyes should be favored to win each of their next seven games. Here’s why I think this streak could go on for a bit, based on the next several games:
Minnesota: Picked to finish last in the Big Ten. Minnesota beat Ohio State at home last year, and I don’t think the Buckeyes will let it happen again.
Miami: Not a bad MAC school. Still a MAC school.
Penn State: Might take some guts to win on the road, but it’s a completely new regime in Happy Valley. If Ohio State is a serious team, they have to win this one.
UCLA: Coin-flip game, but it feels like Ohio State has a better idea of what its identity is than UCLA does at this point of the season. The Bruins are very good defensively, but I couldn’t tell you who “the guy” is on that team. Seems like the Buckeyes match up well here on a netutral floor.
New Orleans: Just lost to Minnesota by 30.
West Virginia: Program is in a transition period. Really bad offensive team, and not a very deep bench.
Rutgers: Elite defensive team, will be a great test for Ohio State. Rutgers is No. 162 in the country in offensive efficiency, and the Buckeyes have shown big imrpovements on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Indiana: This is where I can’t see Ohio State winning. Indiana hasn’t been great this year, but Assembly Hall on a Saturday night is one of the wildest, loudest, and crudest environments to play in. Things tend to spiral out of control for visiting teams, and I’m just not sure if the Buckeyes will be able to control the game and pace playing at Assembly Hall.
If Ohio State was able to hypothetically rip off 12 consecutive wins, it would be the first time that’s happened since the Buckeyes opened the 2013-2014 season with 15 consecutive wins.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124403/usa_today_21957858.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Maui Invitational Fifth Place Gonzaga Bulldogs and UCLA Bruins")
Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports
Normally, I am the optimistic one of the group, but I do think the winning streak will end at eight games, and they will fall in the CBS Sports Classic against UCLA.
I think they will beat Minnesota and Penn State, even though I think both games will be semi-close. Minnesota is the first conference game, and Dawson Garcia is good enough to keep it competitive. Penn State is on the road, and that is never an easy game for the Buckeyes, and they will beat Miami of Ohio by 20 points in a game that is never close.
Then, they will head to the CBS Sports Classic and take on UCLA. It is hard to get a gauge on UCLA, as they lost a lot of production to the draft last season, but they are extremely well-coached and reloaded well.
Adem Bona is a problem matchup for any team, averaging 15 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The main breakout star for the Bruins so far this season has been Sebastian Mack, who is averaging 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest.
This will be a close game, but I think the UCLA offense is tough to stop, and Ohio State won’t get enough stops down the stretch of the game. It won’t be the end of the world, but I have UCLA 76-70.
Obviously, I would love to be wrong.
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 are currently riding a five-game winning streak, its longest such streak in two years.
Many people are asking the same question this week: Will the Ohio State Buckeyes ever lose again?
Yes, they will. But when?
Chris Holtmann’s squad is currently riding a five-game winning streak, which is the programs first five-game winning streak since the 2021-2022 season. After winning just 16 games a year ago, Ohio State has an opportunity to stack some wins up before the calendar flips to 2024. More on this later.
Last week, Connor and Justin took a peak at Ohio State’s three-point shooting thus far and asked if the numbers are problematic or not. 55% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that the shooting from distance had some worrisome trends. 45% sided with Justin, saying that it is nothing to be concerned about.
After 128 weeks:
Connor- 60
Justin- 50
Other- 14
(There have been four ties)
Since losing to Texas A&M, Ohio State has rattled off five-straight wins, and will look to make it six in a row Sunday against Minnesota. As they continue to extend this streak, our eyes have begun to drift to the schedule to see which upcoming teams will pose the biggest threat to break the winning streak.
Today’s Question: How long will the Ohio State men’s basketball winning streak last?
Connor: Lose to Indiana on Jan. 6 (7 more wins)
After growing up with Ohio State basketball for many years, I am typically a jaded, “Let’s just wait and see,” type of person with this team. Especially after the past 10 years or so, I’m generally skeptical of Ohio State ending the season on a high note during any given year. I’m not sure if this year will be different or not — probably not.
But this team is playing very well right now, and is currently enjoying its first five-game winning streak in nearly two years. The last five-game winning streak took place from December 2021 to January 2022.
With several winnable games coming up, plus a few where Ohio State absolutely has a chance to win (even if they aren’t the favorite), this winning streak could actually stretch out for a few weeks or even a month longer. After looking at the schedule closely, I think Ohio State’s next loss will be Jan. 6, at Indiana.
That means seven more wins. That means a 13-1 record to start the year. It looks crazy on paper, but the Buckeyes should be favored to win each of their next seven games. Here’s why I think this streak could go on for a bit, based on the next several games:
Minnesota: Picked to finish last in the Big Ten. Minnesota beat Ohio State at home last year, and I don’t think the Buckeyes will let it happen again.
Miami: Not a bad MAC school. Still a MAC school.
Penn State: Might take some guts to win on the road, but it’s a completely new regime in Happy Valley. If Ohio State is a serious team, they have to win this one.
UCLA: Coin-flip game, but it feels like Ohio State has a better idea of what its identity is than UCLA does at this point of the season. The Bruins are very good defensively, but I couldn’t tell you who “the guy” is on that team. Seems like the Buckeyes match up well here on a netutral floor.
New Orleans: Just lost to Minnesota by 30.
West Virginia: Program is in a transition period. Really bad offensive team, and not a very deep bench.
Rutgers: Elite defensive team, will be a great test for Ohio State. Rutgers is No. 162 in the country in offensive efficiency, and the Buckeyes have shown big imrpovements on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Indiana: This is where I can’t see Ohio State winning. Indiana hasn’t been great this year, but Assembly Hall on a Saturday night is one of the wildest, loudest, and crudest environments to play in. Things tend to spiral out of control for visiting teams, and I’m just not sure if the Buckeyes will be able to control the game and pace playing at Assembly Hall.
If Ohio State was able to hypothetically rip off 12 consecutive wins, it would be the first time that’s happened since the Buckeyes opened the 2013-2014 season with 15 consecutive wins.
Justin: Lose to UCLA on Dec. 16 (3 more wins)
Normally, I am the optimistic one of the group, but I do think the winning streak will end at eight games, and they will fall in the CBS Sports Classic against UCLA.
I think they will beat Minnesota and Penn State, even though I think both games will be semi-close. Minnesota is the first conference game, and Dawson Garcia is good enough to keep it competitive. Penn State is on the road, and that is never an easy game for the Buckeyes, and they will beat Miami of Ohio by 20 points in a game that is never close.
Then, they will head to the CBS Sports Classic and take on UCLA. It is hard to get a gauge on UCLA, as they lost a lot of production to the draft last season, but they are extremely well-coached and reloaded well.
Adem Bona is a problem matchup for any team, averaging 15 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The main breakout star for the Bruins so far this season has been Sebastian Mack, who is averaging 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest.
This will be a close game, but I think the UCLA offense is tough to stop, and Ohio State won’t get enough stops down the stretch of the game. It won’t be the end of the world, but I have UCLA 76-70.
Obviously, I would love to be wrong.
Continue reading...
Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 at 630PM, BTN
- By brodybuck21
- Buckeye Basketball
- 24 Replies
Conference opener....
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There’s little that changes for Jamison Battle going into Ohio State’s matchup with Minnesota on Sunday.
Yes, the Buckeyes’ top transfer portal acquisition is facing off against the team he transferred from in the contest. But his focus remains on delivering his new bunch to victory and a step forward in their progression.
“You obviously have thoughts about that, but it’s just the first Big Ten game of the season, that’s how we’re looking at it,” Battle said. “As a team, we’ve got some things we need to improve on from the Central Michigan game and from games prior. I think we’re looking forward to opening the Big Ten season at home and playing a pretty solid Minnesota team.”
Still, Ohio State’s coaching staff will be working with him to ensure that he stays locked into that mindset as the Buckeyes look to extend their five-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers.
“We know this is a part of college basketball,” Holtmann said. “We’re not the only one that has interconference transfers, all over college basketball (there are). There will be an emotional element for him that he’ll have to keep in mind.”
There’s no ill will harbored by Battle toward his former program.
“Jamison has great respect for those players, those coaches, that program,” Holtmann said. “I think it did so much for him, meant so much to him. Every conversation I’ve ever had with him, he speaks really highly of the program and the coaches and the players.”
Battle remains close with many of his former teammates. Senior forward Parker Fox, junior forward Isaiah Ihnen and junior forward Dawson Garcia were among those he named as close friends.
He holds a special respect for Fox and Ihnen, who have both dealt with season-ending ACL tears in back-to-back years.
“I still keep up with those guys, it’s the relationship I have being there for two years and spending every day with those guys,” Battle said. “You’re never going to lose those relationships, and in the end, you want to make sure that those guys are being successful and you’re helping them with whatever they need.”
That said, the Gophers will become the enemy once Battle takes the Value City Arena floor for Sunday evening’s game.
“I talked about it with those guys beforehand when I did transfer, ‘We’re brothers off the court, but then on the court, we’re rivals,’” Battle said. “I think that’s something that we’re all looking forward to and I just can’t wait to get out there and play the game. I’m feeling excited – it’ll be a little bit different when we head to the Barn (in Minnesota).”
“IT’S JUST THE FIRST BIG TEN GAME OF THE SEASON, THAT’S HOW WE’RE LOOKING AT IT. AS A TEAM, WE’VE GOT SOME THINGS WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON FROM THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME AND FROM GAMES PRIOR.”– JAMISON BATTLE ON FACING HIS FORMER TEAM
Battle transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota this offseason after two years in Minneapolis. He previously spent two seasons with George Washington of the Atlantic 10.
The Golden Gophers’ leading scorer in 2021-22 and second-leading scorer the following year, Battle averaged 17.5 points his first year with the team and 12.4 in his second. He’s matched the latter total exactly thus far in his first campaign in Columbus.
A career 35.2% shooter from 3, Battle has bounced back from a career-low 31.1% from distance in 2022-23 to make 38.6% of his attempts through seven games this year.
“We’re challenging him in some of these other areas that he’s got to grow in,” Holtmann said Tuesday. “But he’s a really good shooter and scorer, and I think he’s getting a better and better feel for what we expect.”
The top areas in his game available for growth are playmaking and rebounding, Battle said.
“I think the biggest improvement for me has been making sure I’m getting everyone involved in that aspect of seeing open guys, I’m not forcing shots and I’m making sure that I’m making the right plays,” Battle said. “I think that’s something that I’ve grown into. I feel like, at times, I’ve made the right plays but at times I haven’t made the right plays.”
A knowledge of Minnesota’s system will give Battle some extra input over the coming days in terms of game prep, he said. The Buckeyes are fresh off a dominant 88-61 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, which came after they won the Emerald Coast Classic last weekend.
“There’s a lot of things that I can help with and just give the feedback that I see and help my teammates as well with personnel, with different stuff,” Battle said. “We’ve talked a little bit but today will be a big scouting day for us so we’ll see what happens there.”
www.elevenwarriors.com
OHIO STATE’S JAMISON BATTLE TREATING MATCHUP WITH FORMER TEAM MINNESOTA THE SAME AS ANY OTHER BIG TEN GAME
By Andy Anders on December 1, 2023 at 1:40 pm @andyanders55
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There’s little that changes for Jamison Battle going into Ohio State’s matchup with Minnesota on Sunday.
Yes, the Buckeyes’ top transfer portal acquisition is facing off against the team he transferred from in the contest. But his focus remains on delivering his new bunch to victory and a step forward in their progression.
“You obviously have thoughts about that, but it’s just the first Big Ten game of the season, that’s how we’re looking at it,” Battle said. “As a team, we’ve got some things we need to improve on from the Central Michigan game and from games prior. I think we’re looking forward to opening the Big Ten season at home and playing a pretty solid Minnesota team.”
Still, Ohio State’s coaching staff will be working with him to ensure that he stays locked into that mindset as the Buckeyes look to extend their five-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers.
“We know this is a part of college basketball,” Holtmann said. “We’re not the only one that has interconference transfers, all over college basketball (there are). There will be an emotional element for him that he’ll have to keep in mind.”
There’s no ill will harbored by Battle toward his former program.
“Jamison has great respect for those players, those coaches, that program,” Holtmann said. “I think it did so much for him, meant so much to him. Every conversation I’ve ever had with him, he speaks really highly of the program and the coaches and the players.”
Battle remains close with many of his former teammates. Senior forward Parker Fox, junior forward Isaiah Ihnen and junior forward Dawson Garcia were among those he named as close friends.
He holds a special respect for Fox and Ihnen, who have both dealt with season-ending ACL tears in back-to-back years.
“I still keep up with those guys, it’s the relationship I have being there for two years and spending every day with those guys,” Battle said. “You’re never going to lose those relationships, and in the end, you want to make sure that those guys are being successful and you’re helping them with whatever they need.”
That said, the Gophers will become the enemy once Battle takes the Value City Arena floor for Sunday evening’s game.
“I talked about it with those guys beforehand when I did transfer, ‘We’re brothers off the court, but then on the court, we’re rivals,’” Battle said. “I think that’s something that we’re all looking forward to and I just can’t wait to get out there and play the game. I’m feeling excited – it’ll be a little bit different when we head to the Barn (in Minnesota).”
“IT’S JUST THE FIRST BIG TEN GAME OF THE SEASON, THAT’S HOW WE’RE LOOKING AT IT. AS A TEAM, WE’VE GOT SOME THINGS WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON FROM THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME AND FROM GAMES PRIOR.”– JAMISON BATTLE ON FACING HIS FORMER TEAM
Battle transferred to Ohio State from Minnesota this offseason after two years in Minneapolis. He previously spent two seasons with George Washington of the Atlantic 10.
The Golden Gophers’ leading scorer in 2021-22 and second-leading scorer the following year, Battle averaged 17.5 points his first year with the team and 12.4 in his second. He’s matched the latter total exactly thus far in his first campaign in Columbus.
A career 35.2% shooter from 3, Battle has bounced back from a career-low 31.1% from distance in 2022-23 to make 38.6% of his attempts through seven games this year.
“We’re challenging him in some of these other areas that he’s got to grow in,” Holtmann said Tuesday. “But he’s a really good shooter and scorer, and I think he’s getting a better and better feel for what we expect.”
The top areas in his game available for growth are playmaking and rebounding, Battle said.
“I think the biggest improvement for me has been making sure I’m getting everyone involved in that aspect of seeing open guys, I’m not forcing shots and I’m making sure that I’m making the right plays,” Battle said. “I think that’s something that I’ve grown into. I feel like, at times, I’ve made the right plays but at times I haven’t made the right plays.”
A knowledge of Minnesota’s system will give Battle some extra input over the coming days in terms of game prep, he said. The Buckeyes are fresh off a dominant 88-61 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, which came after they won the Emerald Coast Classic last weekend.
“There’s a lot of things that I can help with and just give the feedback that I see and help my teammates as well with personnel, with different stuff,” Battle said. “We’ve talked a little bit but today will be a big scouting day for us so we’ll see what happens there.”
Ohio State’s Jamison Battle Treating Matchup With Former Team Minnesota The Same As Any Other Big Ten Game
Jamison Battle respects his former teammates and coaches at Minnesota but is approaching Ohio State's matchup with the Gophers like he would any other Big Ten game.
LGHL Stock Market Report: Thank you Marvin Harrison Jr., and a lot of young players had great regular seasons
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Stock Market Report: Thank you Marvin Harrison Jr., and a lot of young players had great regular seasons
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 Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Even though the Buckeyes are losing top tier talent, the future is still bright with the younger players who played a role this season.
Unfortunately, for the third season in a row, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) are left wondering what went wrong after falling to No. 2 Michigan (12-0) 30-24 to likely end the Buckeyes playoff hopes and cancel their Big Ten Championship game trip.
With the regular season over, this stock market will take a look at some of the top performers this season and the young guys who shined.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124665/usa_today_21973023.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Marvin Harrison Jr.: His career is likely over in the Scarlet and Gray, as the Buckeyes have only a slim chance to make the College Football Playoff. If they do not, he will almost certainly sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Harrison finished his Buckeye career with 155 catches, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. Those numbers look much better when you realize he only had 11 catches in his freshman season and is only a junior.
He will finish his Ohio State career as one of the top players to ever come through the program, and has a legitimate chance to be the first receiver to go No. 1 in the draft since Keyshawn Johnson. Thanks for the memories, MHJ.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124669/usa_today_21971394.jpg "Syndication: Detroit Free Press")
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jermaine Matthews Jr.: Ohio State has had many elite cornerbacks come through the program in its history, and with Denzel Burke likely heading to the league as a first-round draft pick, it is now time for Jermaine Matthews Jr. to step into the starting role. He showed great flashes this season, particularly when he was thrust into the starting role against Penn State and played well, and also on special teams.
Matthews Jr. is next up at DBU (in my humble opinion).
Cade Stover: Cade Stover had one of the best seasons we have seen from an Ohio State tight end in a while. Stover was named as a finalist for the Mackey Award, the nation’s top tight end. Before the season started, most people assumed that Georgia’s Brock Bowers would run away with this award, but his midseason injury opened the door for someone like Stover.
He finished the season with 41 catches, 576 yards, and five touchdowns, similar to his stat line last season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124671/usa_today_21972699.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Special teams: We have said all year that the special teams would bite the Buckeyes in a big game, and it did. Between the missed field goal by Jayden Fielding and the punting unit failing to flip the field, it was another poor day for Parker Fleming’s group. Michigan’s kicker James Turner recorded 12 points to Fielding’s six. Also, Michigan’s punter Tommy Doman averaged 52 yards per punt, while Ohio State’s Jesse Mirco averaged 37 yards per punt. They punted the ball three times.
Not ideal in a game where starting field position is key. The game was not lost because of this, but it was a contributing factor.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25124675/usa_today_21934625.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buy: Jordan Hancock. Anytime you are a freshman who has to play heavy minutes on an improved defense, it can be difficult. However, Hancock looked great this season, and he will be one of the anchors of the defense heading into next season when a lot of the top captains and producers will be gone.
Buy: Carnell Tate. This one is pretty simple to me. His production might be affected depending on whether Emeka Egbuka heads to the NFL Draft and whatever Julian Fleming decides to do, but in a long line of elite Ohio State receivers, Tate showed flashes this season that he is next.
Sell: Losing to Michigan. I am 27 years old, and I have been fortunate enough not to see the Buckeyes loss to Michigan that often. And I took it for granted. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I would like you to get back on the other side of this — and soon.
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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 Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Even though the Buckeyes are losing top tier talent, the future is still bright with the younger players who played a role this season.
Unfortunately, for the third season in a row, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) are left wondering what went wrong after falling to No. 2 Michigan (12-0) 30-24 to likely end the Buckeyes playoff hopes and cancel their Big Ten Championship game trip.
With the regular season over, this stock market will take a look at some of the top performers this season and the young guys who shined.
Blue Chip
Marvin Harrison Jr.: His career is likely over in the Scarlet and Gray, as the Buckeyes have only a slim chance to make the College Football Playoff. If they do not, he will almost certainly sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Harrison finished his Buckeye career with 155 catches, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. Those numbers look much better when you realize he only had 11 catches in his freshman season and is only a junior.
He will finish his Ohio State career as one of the top players to ever come through the program, and has a legitimate chance to be the first receiver to go No. 1 in the draft since Keyshawn Johnson. Thanks for the memories, MHJ.
Solid Investments
Jermaine Matthews Jr.: Ohio State has had many elite cornerbacks come through the program in its history, and with Denzel Burke likely heading to the league as a first-round draft pick, it is now time for Jermaine Matthews Jr. to step into the starting role. He showed great flashes this season, particularly when he was thrust into the starting role against Penn State and played well, and also on special teams.
Matthews Jr. is next up at DBU (in my humble opinion).
Cade Stover: Cade Stover had one of the best seasons we have seen from an Ohio State tight end in a while. Stover was named as a finalist for the Mackey Award, the nation’s top tight end. Before the season started, most people assumed that Georgia’s Brock Bowers would run away with this award, but his midseason injury opened the door for someone like Stover.
He finished the season with 41 catches, 576 yards, and five touchdowns, similar to his stat line last season.
Junk Bond
Special teams: We have said all year that the special teams would bite the Buckeyes in a big game, and it did. Between the missed field goal by Jayden Fielding and the punting unit failing to flip the field, it was another poor day for Parker Fleming’s group. Michigan’s kicker James Turner recorded 12 points to Fielding’s six. Also, Michigan’s punter Tommy Doman averaged 52 yards per punt, while Ohio State’s Jesse Mirco averaged 37 yards per punt. They punted the ball three times.
Not ideal in a game where starting field position is key. The game was not lost because of this, but it was a contributing factor.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Jordan Hancock. Anytime you are a freshman who has to play heavy minutes on an improved defense, it can be difficult. However, Hancock looked great this season, and he will be one of the anchors of the defense heading into next season when a lot of the top captains and producers will be gone.
Buy: Carnell Tate. This one is pretty simple to me. His production might be affected depending on whether Emeka Egbuka heads to the NFL Draft and whatever Julian Fleming decides to do, but in a long line of elite Ohio State receivers, Tate showed flashes this season that he is next.
Sell: Losing to Michigan. I am 27 years old, and I have been fortunate enough not to see the Buckeyes loss to Michigan that often. And I took it for granted. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I would like you to get back on the other side of this — and soon.
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LGHL MC&J: Who takes home the crowns on Conference Championship Weekend?
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MC&J: Who takes home the crowns on Conference Championship Weekend?
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 Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
Picks for the Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten, and seven other conference championship games this weekend.
Despite missing on Ohio State, the rest of the final week of the regular season went really well when it comes to the picks. Now we hope to have another big week before diving into bowl season.
Conference USA: New Mexico State v. No. 24 Liberty (-10.5) - Friday 7:00 p.m. ET - CBS Sports Network
All the pressure is on Liberty in this game as the Flames look to stay undefeated in Jamey Chadwell’s first season as the team’s head coach. Kaidon Salter has been phenomenal at quarterback for Liberty this year, tossing 29 touchdowns. Along with Salter, running back Quinton Cooley has been a force, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns.
After a 2-3 start to the season, New Mexico State enters this game on an eight-game winning streak, with one of those wins being a 31-10 win at Auburn a couple weeks ago. Jerry Kill’s team might not be as flashy as Liberty, but they make up for it with toughness. So far this season quarterback Diego Pavia has accounted for 28 total touchdowns..
In the first meeting between the schools back in early September, New Mexico State had a 17-13 lead in the second quarter before Liberty ran off 20 unanswered points to earn a 33-17 victory. The Aggies have improved since then and are playing with a ton of confidence after knocking off Auburn. While I think Liberty beats New Mexico State again, the Aggies hang around in this one and make Chadwell and the Flames work hard to stay undefeated
Liberty 28, New Mexico State 24
Pac-12: No. 5 Oregon (-9.5) v. No. 3 Washington - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC
The Ducks and Huskies played a classic in mid-October, with Washington squeaking by Oregon 36-33 in Seattle. Since then, the Ducks have been rolling their opponents while the Huskies have won all of their six games following their win over Oregon by 10 points or less. Despite finishing the regular season undefeated, the Heisman Trophy buzz around quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has cooled since his numbers have dropped off following the win over Oregon.
On the other side, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has been outstanding all year long. The former Auburn quarterback is in the mix for the Heisman, as he enters this game completing over 78 percent of his passes and has 43 total touchdowns. Washington will have their hands full with receivers Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, and running back Bucky Irving.
Since their first meeting, Oregon looks like a team on the mission, while Washington has essentially been playing Tresselball. The Ducks aren’t like Oregon State or Washington State where Washington can mess around and still earn the victory. I’m not scared of this spread being nearly double digits since Dan Lanning has been a man possessed since blowing the game in Seattle with some of his coaching decisions.
Oregon 41, Washington 27
Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State v. No. 7 Texas (-14.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC
Oklahoma State feels like they peaked with their win over Oklahoma in the final installment of Bedlam. Since then, the Cowboys were obliterated by Central Florida, beat Houston, and need a couple overtimes to beat BYU. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the running backs in the country this year, rolling up 1,580 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.
Texas will be playing their final game in the Big 12 on Saturday. Since I’m a wrestling fan, I imagine Steve Sarkisian doing with the Big 12 trophy what Madusa did with the WWE Women’s Championship after she joined WCW: throwing it right in the trash. If there wasn’t so much money involved if Texas works their way into the playoff, it would be funny to see Big 12 commissioner Brent Yormark channeling Vince McMahon and having the refs pull off the Dallas Screwjob.
Even though Texas lost running back Jonathon Brooks a few weeks ago to a knee injury, the Longhorns enter this game with a ton of momentum after beating Texas Tech by 50 last week. Texas know they need a convincing win in this game if they want to have any shot at making the College Football Playoff.
Texas 45, Oklahoma State 21
MAC: Miami (OH) v. Toledo (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
This game will certainly be interesting since these two teams play different styles of football. Miami is all about defense, while Toledo has quarterback DeQuan Finn leading a potent offense. In their meeting earlier in the season, the Rockets beat the RedHawks 21-17 in October in Oxford.
In a game like this, I feel a lot more comfortable taking the points. Even if Miami falls behind early, they know they aren’t out of it, as Toledo opened up a 21-3 lead in their first meeting before the RedHawks closed the deficit to 21-17. I think Toledo wins this game, but we see a final score that is similar to what we saw in the first meeting. The RedHawks keep this game within a score.
Toledo 24, Miami (OH) 20
Mountain West: Boise State (-2.5) v. UNLV - 3:00 p.m. ET - FOX
This game feels so odd to me since Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos a couple weeks ago and now they are playing for a conference title. The Broncos are led by running back Ashton Jeanty, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. After losing to Fresno State early in November, Boise State has won three straight games.
UNLV is having one of their best seasons in school history under former Missouri head coach Barry Odom. Ricky White has been the favorite target of quarterback Jayden Maiava, with White hauling in 75 passes for 1,300 yards and seven scores so far this year. The Rebels will have to put last week’s loss to San Jose State behind them if they want to win the conference crown.
Even though Boise State has rallied around their interim head coach, I like UNLV in this game, especially since this contest is being played in Las Vegas. The Rebels secure just their second 10-win season in program history by taking the down the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
UNLV 31, Boise State 23
SEC: No. 1 Georgia (-5.5) v. No. 8 Alabama - 4:00 p.m. ET - CBS
Ohio State fans will certainly be rooting for Georgia on Saturday, since a loss to the Crimson Tide could see the SEC place two teams in this year’s playoff. The Bulldogs are riding a 29-game winning streak, and are looking to win their third straight national title, but they might have to win this game without Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey, who are both banged up heading into the weekend.
Alabama is looking to throw a curveball at the college football world by beating Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday. The Crimson Tide needed a miracle last week to beat Auburn last week, but that’s just what they got from Jalen Milroe on 4th & 31 to beat the Tigers 27-24. Milroe has been one of the most improved players from the start of the season, coming back from a benching against South Florida to become a contender for the Heisman.
While it’s tough to go against Nick Saban in a game like this, I still like Georgia even though they might not be at full healthy. Neither team is quite as dominant as they have been over the past few years, but I think Georgia is closer to being the more complete team. Give me the Bulldogs by at least a touchdown.
Georgia 34, Alabama 27
American: SMU v. No. 22 Tulane (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ABC
SMU enters this game with one of the most potent offenses in the country, while Tulane has used their defense to try and return to a New Year’s Six bowl game. What the Green Wave will try and do is lean on quarterback Michael Pratt’s experience and running back Makhi Hughes to keep the football out of the hands of the SMU offense.
Preston Stone is the leader of an SMU offense that hasn’t scored less than 30 points in a game since losing to TCU back in September. The Mustangs have had a couple close calls in conference play, which should help them if this game is close late. If there was gonna be a team to keep Tulane from repeating as conference champs, SMU feels like the squad that could do it.
SMU 38, Tulane 28
Sun Belt: Appalachian State v. Troy (-5.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
Over the years, Appalachian State have been kings of the big upset, and they added another feather to their cap this year when they beat undefeated James Madison a few weeks ago. Most of what the Mountaineers do on offense is through the air, with quarterback Joey Aguilar throwing for 3,271 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season.
Troy has really hit their stride after losing to Kansas State and James Madison early in the season, rolling off nine straight wins since the loss to the Dukes. The Trojans have a strong defense to compliment quarterback Gunnar Watson and running back Kimani Vidal. Troy will be a little too much on Saturday for Appalachian State, especially since they’ll have a home-field advantage in this one.
Troy 28, Appalachian State 20
ACC: No. 14 Louisville v. No. 4 Florida State (-2.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC
Neither team enters this game with a ton of confidence. Louisville is coming off a loss to in-state rival Kentucky last week, while the Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis a couple weeks ago to a gruesome injury. Florida State was able to beat Florida last week to stay undefeated, but they’ll face an even tougher challenge on Saturday night.
I’m not putting a ton of stock in Louisville’s loss last week since it doesn’t change much. The Cardinals weren’t going to the playoff anyway, so really all they lost was bragging rights. I just feel a lot more comfortable taking the team that didn’t have to break in a new quarterback so late in the year. Sorry Florida State, you don’t have a Cardale Jones walking through that door.
Louisville 27, Florida State 21
Big Ten: No. 2 Michigan (-21.5) v. No. 16 Iowa - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Remember a couple years ago when Michigan beat Iowa 41-3 in the Big Ten title game? This game is going to look a lot like that. The Hawkeyes have a great defense, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for Iowa, Michigan has too much talent on offense for them to handle, especially since they’ll be without star defender Cooper DeJean. The Wolverines pull away in the second half as they wear out the Iowa defense.
Michigan 38, Iowa 10
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
Picks for the Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten, and seven other conference championship games this weekend.
Last week ATS: 10-5 (5-3 National, 5-2 B1G)
Season ATS: 108-98-1 (50-57-1 National, 58-41 B1G)
Despite missing on Ohio State, the rest of the final week of the regular season went really well when it comes to the picks. Now we hope to have another big week before diving into bowl season.
Conference championship games
Conference USA: New Mexico State v. No. 24 Liberty (-10.5) - Friday 7:00 p.m. ET - CBS Sports Network
All the pressure is on Liberty in this game as the Flames look to stay undefeated in Jamey Chadwell’s first season as the team’s head coach. Kaidon Salter has been phenomenal at quarterback for Liberty this year, tossing 29 touchdowns. Along with Salter, running back Quinton Cooley has been a force, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns.
After a 2-3 start to the season, New Mexico State enters this game on an eight-game winning streak, with one of those wins being a 31-10 win at Auburn a couple weeks ago. Jerry Kill’s team might not be as flashy as Liberty, but they make up for it with toughness. So far this season quarterback Diego Pavia has accounted for 28 total touchdowns..
In the first meeting between the schools back in early September, New Mexico State had a 17-13 lead in the second quarter before Liberty ran off 20 unanswered points to earn a 33-17 victory. The Aggies have improved since then and are playing with a ton of confidence after knocking off Auburn. While I think Liberty beats New Mexico State again, the Aggies hang around in this one and make Chadwell and the Flames work hard to stay undefeated
Liberty 28, New Mexico State 24
Pac-12: No. 5 Oregon (-9.5) v. No. 3 Washington - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC
The Ducks and Huskies played a classic in mid-October, with Washington squeaking by Oregon 36-33 in Seattle. Since then, the Ducks have been rolling their opponents while the Huskies have won all of their six games following their win over Oregon by 10 points or less. Despite finishing the regular season undefeated, the Heisman Trophy buzz around quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has cooled since his numbers have dropped off following the win over Oregon.
On the other side, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has been outstanding all year long. The former Auburn quarterback is in the mix for the Heisman, as he enters this game completing over 78 percent of his passes and has 43 total touchdowns. Washington will have their hands full with receivers Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, and running back Bucky Irving.
Since their first meeting, Oregon looks like a team on the mission, while Washington has essentially been playing Tresselball. The Ducks aren’t like Oregon State or Washington State where Washington can mess around and still earn the victory. I’m not scared of this spread being nearly double digits since Dan Lanning has been a man possessed since blowing the game in Seattle with some of his coaching decisions.
Oregon 41, Washington 27
Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State v. No. 7 Texas (-14.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC
Oklahoma State feels like they peaked with their win over Oklahoma in the final installment of Bedlam. Since then, the Cowboys were obliterated by Central Florida, beat Houston, and need a couple overtimes to beat BYU. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the running backs in the country this year, rolling up 1,580 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.
Texas will be playing their final game in the Big 12 on Saturday. Since I’m a wrestling fan, I imagine Steve Sarkisian doing with the Big 12 trophy what Madusa did with the WWE Women’s Championship after she joined WCW: throwing it right in the trash. If there wasn’t so much money involved if Texas works their way into the playoff, it would be funny to see Big 12 commissioner Brent Yormark channeling Vince McMahon and having the refs pull off the Dallas Screwjob.
Even though Texas lost running back Jonathon Brooks a few weeks ago to a knee injury, the Longhorns enter this game with a ton of momentum after beating Texas Tech by 50 last week. Texas know they need a convincing win in this game if they want to have any shot at making the College Football Playoff.
Texas 45, Oklahoma State 21
MAC: Miami (OH) v. Toledo (-7.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
This game will certainly be interesting since these two teams play different styles of football. Miami is all about defense, while Toledo has quarterback DeQuan Finn leading a potent offense. In their meeting earlier in the season, the Rockets beat the RedHawks 21-17 in October in Oxford.
In a game like this, I feel a lot more comfortable taking the points. Even if Miami falls behind early, they know they aren’t out of it, as Toledo opened up a 21-3 lead in their first meeting before the RedHawks closed the deficit to 21-17. I think Toledo wins this game, but we see a final score that is similar to what we saw in the first meeting. The RedHawks keep this game within a score.
Toledo 24, Miami (OH) 20
Mountain West: Boise State (-2.5) v. UNLV - 3:00 p.m. ET - FOX
This game feels so odd to me since Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos a couple weeks ago and now they are playing for a conference title. The Broncos are led by running back Ashton Jeanty, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. After losing to Fresno State early in November, Boise State has won three straight games.
UNLV is having one of their best seasons in school history under former Missouri head coach Barry Odom. Ricky White has been the favorite target of quarterback Jayden Maiava, with White hauling in 75 passes for 1,300 yards and seven scores so far this year. The Rebels will have to put last week’s loss to San Jose State behind them if they want to win the conference crown.
Even though Boise State has rallied around their interim head coach, I like UNLV in this game, especially since this contest is being played in Las Vegas. The Rebels secure just their second 10-win season in program history by taking the down the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
UNLV 31, Boise State 23
SEC: No. 1 Georgia (-5.5) v. No. 8 Alabama - 4:00 p.m. ET - CBS
Ohio State fans will certainly be rooting for Georgia on Saturday, since a loss to the Crimson Tide could see the SEC place two teams in this year’s playoff. The Bulldogs are riding a 29-game winning streak, and are looking to win their third straight national title, but they might have to win this game without Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey, who are both banged up heading into the weekend.
Alabama is looking to throw a curveball at the college football world by beating Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday. The Crimson Tide needed a miracle last week to beat Auburn last week, but that’s just what they got from Jalen Milroe on 4th & 31 to beat the Tigers 27-24. Milroe has been one of the most improved players from the start of the season, coming back from a benching against South Florida to become a contender for the Heisman.
While it’s tough to go against Nick Saban in a game like this, I still like Georgia even though they might not be at full healthy. Neither team is quite as dominant as they have been over the past few years, but I think Georgia is closer to being the more complete team. Give me the Bulldogs by at least a touchdown.
Georgia 34, Alabama 27
American: SMU v. No. 22 Tulane (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ABC
SMU enters this game with one of the most potent offenses in the country, while Tulane has used their defense to try and return to a New Year’s Six bowl game. What the Green Wave will try and do is lean on quarterback Michael Pratt’s experience and running back Makhi Hughes to keep the football out of the hands of the SMU offense.
Preston Stone is the leader of an SMU offense that hasn’t scored less than 30 points in a game since losing to TCU back in September. The Mustangs have had a couple close calls in conference play, which should help them if this game is close late. If there was gonna be a team to keep Tulane from repeating as conference champs, SMU feels like the squad that could do it.
SMU 38, Tulane 28
Sun Belt: Appalachian State v. Troy (-5.5) - 4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
Over the years, Appalachian State have been kings of the big upset, and they added another feather to their cap this year when they beat undefeated James Madison a few weeks ago. Most of what the Mountaineers do on offense is through the air, with quarterback Joey Aguilar throwing for 3,271 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season.
Troy has really hit their stride after losing to Kansas State and James Madison early in the season, rolling off nine straight wins since the loss to the Dukes. The Trojans have a strong defense to compliment quarterback Gunnar Watson and running back Kimani Vidal. Troy will be a little too much on Saturday for Appalachian State, especially since they’ll have a home-field advantage in this one.
Troy 28, Appalachian State 20
ACC: No. 14 Louisville v. No. 4 Florida State (-2.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC
Neither team enters this game with a ton of confidence. Louisville is coming off a loss to in-state rival Kentucky last week, while the Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis a couple weeks ago to a gruesome injury. Florida State was able to beat Florida last week to stay undefeated, but they’ll face an even tougher challenge on Saturday night.
I’m not putting a ton of stock in Louisville’s loss last week since it doesn’t change much. The Cardinals weren’t going to the playoff anyway, so really all they lost was bragging rights. I just feel a lot more comfortable taking the team that didn’t have to break in a new quarterback so late in the year. Sorry Florida State, you don’t have a Cardale Jones walking through that door.
Louisville 27, Florida State 21
Big Ten: No. 2 Michigan (-21.5) v. No. 16 Iowa - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Remember a couple years ago when Michigan beat Iowa 41-3 in the Big Ten title game? This game is going to look a lot like that. The Hawkeyes have a great defense, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately for Iowa, Michigan has too much talent on offense for them to handle, especially since they’ll be without star defender Cooper DeJean. The Wolverines pull away in the second half as they wear out the Iowa defense.
Michigan 38, Iowa 10
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LGHL Three Games To Watch on Championship Weekend as an Ohio State fan
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Three Games To Watch on Championship Weekend as an Ohio State fan
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State no longer controls their playoff destiny and needs help.
“I don’t have to wait until the next morning to regret something I did that was kinda dumb.” ~ Bobby Knight
Absolutely, Coach Knight. For the players, coaches, and fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the painful 30-24 loss to That Team Up North is going to linger for the next year — the feelings of regret kicked in as soon as the clock hit zero in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 25.
The regret and remorse will be deeply felt by all associated with the program, and into the 2024 offseason of preparation. The reality is that Ohio State does have another bowl game to play, but has to play the waiting game to determine both their opponent and destination.
As Ohio State presently sits at No. 6 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes are truly beholden to the help of other teams for any shred of assistance that might squeeze them into the fourth and final playoff spot. Is it impossible for Ohio State to reach the playoffs? No, but certain teams must lose in their respective conference championship games that are going to be played this weekend.
Below are Three Games To Watch, with random thoughts on which teams Ohio State fans should be rooting for, as well as my predictions on what may transpire...
Washington defeated Oregon back on Oct. 14, 36-33. As soon as the game concluded, there were predictions that both teams were going to meet up in what appears to be the swan song performance for the Pac-12 conference championship game.
As to which team should Ohio State fans should root for, it is my belief that the winner is guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff, no matter what. Yes, there are thoughts that Ohio State fans should root for Washington, to ensure that Oregon gets a second loss and would be ranked below Ohio State, but the reality is that Oregon is one of the better teams in the nation, and will leapfrog the Buckeyes if they defeat Washington.
My prediction? Oregon has been looking especially formidable, while Washington has been having some very close calls down the stretch. It should be a good one to watch, and I believe Oregon defeats Washington to claim the Pac-12 conference championship, and is slotted third in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
2. The Big 12 Conference Championship Game: No. 18 Oklahoma State versus No. 7 Texas
ABC, Saturday @ 12pm ET
At first glance, it would be understandable for Ohio State fans to shrug this game off, as the Texas Longhorns are ranked seventh, one spot behind Ohio State. Why be concerned or pay attention to this game?
Think of it this way — Texas, like Ohio State, only has one loss. BUT the Longhorns are playing for their conference championship, unlike the Buckeyes. A Texas win, plus a Florida State loss (more on that below), could propel Texas past Ohio State into the fourth College Football Playoff spot.
Texas is heavily favored by the oddsmakers, but hope is not completely lost for Ohio State fans. Oklahoma State has won eight of the last 10 games against Texas, so here is to rooting for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.
3. The ACC Championship Game: No. 14 Louisville versus No. 4 Florida State
ABC, Saturday @ 8pm ET
The conference championship game that most Ohio State or Big Ten fans do not watch, simply because it is going up against the same time as The Big Ten Championship Game on Fox. My suspicion is that this viewership, especially in the great state of Ohio, will be far better than any other previous ACC Championship Game.
Plain and simple, Ohio State fans need Florida State to lose. The Seminoles are trying to make due with Tate Rodemaker at quarterback, who is playing due to the loss of Jordan Travis a few weeks ago. Florida State defeated Florida 24-15 last week, but did not look overly impressive doing so, as the Gators made numerous mistakes that contributed to the loss. The oddsmakers must agree, as the Seminoles are only a 2.5 point favorite.
Louisville is coming off a disappointing 38-31 home loss to Kentucky, so the Cardinals should be eager for a shot at redemption. With a win, Louisville would not only clinch the ACC conference championship, but earn their ticket to The Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
As for how I believe it will turn out, I believe Georgia will win the SEC Championship Game over Alabama, while Michigan will win The Big Ten Championship Game over Iowa, securing their respective spots in the College Football Playoff as the top two seeds. As I wrote up above, I believe Oregon will win on Friday night against Washington, landing them third.
Louisville does enough against Florida State to win the ACC Championship, while Texas wins against Oklahoma State, securing their last Big 12 Championship. By virtue of Texas’ conference championship, the College Football Playoff committee rewards the Longhorns with the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff, leaving Ohio State fifth and on the outside looking in.
It may not be what Ohio State fans want to read, and I certainly hope to be proven wrong, but these are the kind of things that happen when a team does not secure their own destiny. Should both Florida State and Texas lose, the Buckeyes have a shot at sneaking in with that fourth seed. Hope for the best, but Ohio State fans should prepare for a likely Orange Bowl game versus Louisville on Dec. 30.
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Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State no longer controls their playoff destiny and needs help.
“I don’t have to wait until the next morning to regret something I did that was kinda dumb.” ~ Bobby Knight
Absolutely, Coach Knight. For the players, coaches, and fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the painful 30-24 loss to That Team Up North is going to linger for the next year — the feelings of regret kicked in as soon as the clock hit zero in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 25.
The regret and remorse will be deeply felt by all associated with the program, and into the 2024 offseason of preparation. The reality is that Ohio State does have another bowl game to play, but has to play the waiting game to determine both their opponent and destination.
As Ohio State presently sits at No. 6 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes are truly beholden to the help of other teams for any shred of assistance that might squeeze them into the fourth and final playoff spot. Is it impossible for Ohio State to reach the playoffs? No, but certain teams must lose in their respective conference championship games that are going to be played this weekend.
Below are Three Games To Watch, with random thoughts on which teams Ohio State fans should be rooting for, as well as my predictions on what may transpire...
- The Pac-12 Championship Game: No. 5 Oregon versus No. 3 Washington
ABC, Friday @ 8pm ET
Washington defeated Oregon back on Oct. 14, 36-33. As soon as the game concluded, there were predictions that both teams were going to meet up in what appears to be the swan song performance for the Pac-12 conference championship game.
As to which team should Ohio State fans should root for, it is my belief that the winner is guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff, no matter what. Yes, there are thoughts that Ohio State fans should root for Washington, to ensure that Oregon gets a second loss and would be ranked below Ohio State, but the reality is that Oregon is one of the better teams in the nation, and will leapfrog the Buckeyes if they defeat Washington.
My prediction? Oregon has been looking especially formidable, while Washington has been having some very close calls down the stretch. It should be a good one to watch, and I believe Oregon defeats Washington to claim the Pac-12 conference championship, and is slotted third in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
2. The Big 12 Conference Championship Game: No. 18 Oklahoma State versus No. 7 Texas
ABC, Saturday @ 12pm ET
At first glance, it would be understandable for Ohio State fans to shrug this game off, as the Texas Longhorns are ranked seventh, one spot behind Ohio State. Why be concerned or pay attention to this game?
Think of it this way — Texas, like Ohio State, only has one loss. BUT the Longhorns are playing for their conference championship, unlike the Buckeyes. A Texas win, plus a Florida State loss (more on that below), could propel Texas past Ohio State into the fourth College Football Playoff spot.
Texas is heavily favored by the oddsmakers, but hope is not completely lost for Ohio State fans. Oklahoma State has won eight of the last 10 games against Texas, so here is to rooting for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State has won 8 of the last 10 meetings against Texas
The last 6 games were one-possession games, how close will this one be?pic.twitter.com/9g7twEtf4t
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2023
3. The ACC Championship Game: No. 14 Louisville versus No. 4 Florida State
ABC, Saturday @ 8pm ET
The conference championship game that most Ohio State or Big Ten fans do not watch, simply because it is going up against the same time as The Big Ten Championship Game on Fox. My suspicion is that this viewership, especially in the great state of Ohio, will be far better than any other previous ACC Championship Game.
Plain and simple, Ohio State fans need Florida State to lose. The Seminoles are trying to make due with Tate Rodemaker at quarterback, who is playing due to the loss of Jordan Travis a few weeks ago. Florida State defeated Florida 24-15 last week, but did not look overly impressive doing so, as the Gators made numerous mistakes that contributed to the loss. The oddsmakers must agree, as the Seminoles are only a 2.5 point favorite.
Louisville is coming off a disappointing 38-31 home loss to Kentucky, so the Cardinals should be eager for a shot at redemption. With a win, Louisville would not only clinch the ACC conference championship, but earn their ticket to The Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
As for how I believe it will turn out, I believe Georgia will win the SEC Championship Game over Alabama, while Michigan will win The Big Ten Championship Game over Iowa, securing their respective spots in the College Football Playoff as the top two seeds. As I wrote up above, I believe Oregon will win on Friday night against Washington, landing them third.
Louisville does enough against Florida State to win the ACC Championship, while Texas wins against Oklahoma State, securing their last Big 12 Championship. By virtue of Texas’ conference championship, the College Football Playoff committee rewards the Longhorns with the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff, leaving Ohio State fifth and on the outside looking in.
It may not be what Ohio State fans want to read, and I certainly hope to be proven wrong, but these are the kind of things that happen when a team does not secure their own destiny. Should both Florida State and Texas lose, the Buckeyes have a shot at sneaking in with that fourth seed. Hope for the best, but Ohio State fans should prepare for a likely Orange Bowl game versus Louisville on Dec. 30.
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LGHL Buckeyes dish out offer to transfer portal defensive line target
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Buckeyes dish out offer to transfer portal defensive line target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is set to host Marley Cook in the coming weeks after offering on Thursday.
Tonight starts championship weekend, and Ohio State needs multiple things to go in their favor to even have a shot at the College Football Playoff. Of course you’d want the Buckeyes to take care of business on their own, but this team has a small chance of getting in, and they’d take what they can get.
This weekend will basically seal Ohio State’s bowl game fate, and if that’s on the back burner in your mind, there’s at least some recruiting to pass the time.
Some of the attrition the Ohio State roster will have in the offseason is already being seen thanks to multiple players announcing they intend to enter the transfer portal this coming Monday when it officially opens. Though there will be some players leaving, there will also certainly be some additions as the staff will pay close attention to who decides to enter from other programs. Maybe not as reliant on the portal as you’d like them to be, the Buckeyes have a plan and will surely go after the guys in positions that have clear holes.
Of those positions, defensive line will be near the top, and on Thursday Ohio State wasted no time getting in the mix as they dished out an offer to Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle prospect, Marley Cook.
A 6-foot-2, 300 pound tackle, Cook is currently ranked as the No. 20 player in the transfer portal and the fifth best defensive lineman up for grabs per 247Sports. A Mississippi native, Cook entered the portal on the same day where his MTSU head coach was fired and immediately started to draw some interest from other suitors. Though Ohio State was one of the bigger programs to offer, they certainly aren’t alone, as Miami, Tennessee, Missouri, Baylor, Oregon State, Pitt, and others have also offered the tackle target. With this trend, more on the way wouldn’t be a surprise.
For the Buckeyes, this new relationship with Cook is off to a solid start, as visit plans were scheduled almost as quick as he was offered. Learning that he will visit Ohio State on the weekend of Dec. 15, the coaching staff will have their chance to show why he’d be a great fit in Columbus. Still, plans to see Miami and Tennessee are also in the works, so this won’t be an automatic addition by any means.
The Buckeyes are going to be active in this portal window, and while Cook is one of the real first names to surface, there’s sure to be others in the near future.
A taste to what he’s bring to Ohio State, VanSickle is a mauler that will fit in very well at the next level at guard. A player that will need some time to develop, Gabe’s physicality can be seen in his latest tape, and of the many positive attributes to his game that he shows, his footwork may stand out the most.
Not enrolling early, VanSickle also plays on his school’s varsity basketball team and has no trouble getting up and down the floor. At 6-foot-5 and right now at 300 pounds, Gabe’s athleticism for his size is impressive to say the least and this should prove it. At any rate, it’s easy to see what Ohio State’s staff liked about his game.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is set to host Marley Cook in the coming weeks after offering on Thursday.
Tonight starts championship weekend, and Ohio State needs multiple things to go in their favor to even have a shot at the College Football Playoff. Of course you’d want the Buckeyes to take care of business on their own, but this team has a small chance of getting in, and they’d take what they can get.
This weekend will basically seal Ohio State’s bowl game fate, and if that’s on the back burner in your mind, there’s at least some recruiting to pass the time.
Ohio State offers transfer portal defensive target
Some of the attrition the Ohio State roster will have in the offseason is already being seen thanks to multiple players announcing they intend to enter the transfer portal this coming Monday when it officially opens. Though there will be some players leaving, there will also certainly be some additions as the staff will pay close attention to who decides to enter from other programs. Maybe not as reliant on the portal as you’d like them to be, the Buckeyes have a plan and will surely go after the guys in positions that have clear holes.
Of those positions, defensive line will be near the top, and on Thursday Ohio State wasted no time getting in the mix as they dished out an offer to Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle prospect, Marley Cook.
A 6-foot-2, 300 pound tackle, Cook is currently ranked as the No. 20 player in the transfer portal and the fifth best defensive lineman up for grabs per 247Sports. A Mississippi native, Cook entered the portal on the same day where his MTSU head coach was fired and immediately started to draw some interest from other suitors. Though Ohio State was one of the bigger programs to offer, they certainly aren’t alone, as Miami, Tennessee, Missouri, Baylor, Oregon State, Pitt, and others have also offered the tackle target. With this trend, more on the way wouldn’t be a surprise.
For the Buckeyes, this new relationship with Cook is off to a solid start, as visit plans were scheduled almost as quick as he was offered. Learning that he will visit Ohio State on the weekend of Dec. 15, the coaching staff will have their chance to show why he’d be a great fit in Columbus. Still, plans to see Miami and Tennessee are also in the works, so this won’t be an automatic addition by any means.
The Buckeyes are going to be active in this portal window, and while Cook is one of the real first names to surface, there’s sure to be others in the near future.
Quick Hits
- The latest addition to Ohio State’s 2024 class is of course Michigan native, Gabe VanSickle. The one-time Northwestern commit made the flip to the Buckeyes just a week ago, and on Thursday released his updated senior football season film.
A taste to what he’s bring to Ohio State, VanSickle is a mauler that will fit in very well at the next level at guard. A player that will need some time to develop, Gabe’s physicality can be seen in his latest tape, and of the many positive attributes to his game that he shows, his footwork may stand out the most.
Not enrolling early, VanSickle also plays on his school’s varsity basketball team and has no trouble getting up and down the floor. At 6-foot-5 and right now at 300 pounds, Gabe’s athleticism for his size is impressive to say the least and this should prove it. At any rate, it’s easy to see what Ohio State’s staff liked about his game.
Senior Year Film https://t.co/JlcVL9nuoW @AllenTrieu @Rivals_Clint @OhioStateFB @Bill_Kurelic
— 4️ (@gabe_vansickle) November 30, 2023
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LGHL Buckeyes lose five-star 2024 defensive line commit to Miami
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Buckeyes lose five-star 2024 defensive line commit to Miami
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State’s second-ranked 2024 class takes a major hit with the loss of Justin Scott.
Still dealing with the emotions of losing a third-straight game to TTUN, the negative news for Ohio State unfortunately continued last night when the Buckeyes lost long-time five-star defensive line commit, Justin Scott to Miami. Simply put, it has not been a great week for Ohio State.
Committing to the Buckeyes this past July, The No. 12 player nationally and third best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Scott chose Ohio State over his two other top schools, Michigan and Notre Dame. A Chicago native, the desire to play closer to home fit his Ohio State decision, and Larry Johnson with his development proved to be the final piece in sealing the deal. Now committed to Miami, it’s pretty fair to question what in the world is going on in Columbus right now, because it seems like the saying “when it rains, it pours” couldn’t be any more true.
This is certainly a matter of NIL more than Scott not being content with the Buckeyes. When looking at the announcement graphic and seeing a literal pile of money edited into the photo, it’s safe to say money was the real motivation for this decision being made.
A true thorn in the side of Ohio State, Miami has done whatever they can with multiple Ohio State commits and targets to try and sway them south, and this time money won out in the end. As mentioned, for months Scott was solid to the Buckeyes, and that reasoning was for the development he was going to have under Johnson during his career in Columbus. With that now out of the cards, there’s a variety of ways you can feel about this latest development.
One one hand, you can simply chalk this one up as a loss thanks to NIL and a student-athlete being promised something Ohio State really doesn’t do with their targeted recruits. Sure, the coaching staff and several other key members of the administration have really ramped up their NIL efforts as of late, but they’re clearly not the ones with the highest bids. If they were, you wouldn’t see them losing out with Scott or on other names that are more NIL-geared recruitments.
Ohio State’s staff feels that if a recruiting battle comes down simply to NIL amounts, they would would rather look elsewhere, but I am done with that. Pay the kids if you have to! Something has to give, because this cannot continue. Looking at Ohio State recruiting classes, you see a mass of talent, but it’s really stockpiling at only certain positions. The offensive and defensive line are where games are won and lost, and the truth is that the level desired is not being achieved right now on either side in recruiting.
Specifically on the defensive line, that leads me to my next thought, and that’s pointing towards the position coach. Should Johnson be blamed entirely for this flip? No, but with how often this has happened, it can’t be dismissed either.
In 2023’s recruiting class, LJ wasn’t able to land any of his three top defensive end targets. In the 2024 class, he lost to South Carolina for Dylan Stewart, Miami for Marquise Lightfoot, and now Miami again with Scott. For how incredible he’s been in his tenure with the Buckeyes, he flat out hasn’t been great the last couple of years. Recruiting and development for years is what he’s been so good at, but when you think of all the talent he’s had at his disposal this season, it shouldn’t be a case where Ohio State is 12th in the Big Ten in sacks. That just cannot happen.
This probably should be looked at mainly from an unfortunate NIL situation, but there’s just so many frustrations that come with that. All in all, the Buckeyes need to figure it out and fast. Losing a player isn’t the end of the world, but when it’s a five-star talent at a position that is critical and has lacked over the last couple cycles, it hurts that much worse.
Whether it’s a change in philosophy, a come to Jesus moment for LJ, or backing up the Brinks truck, something just needs to be done — and done now. Ohio State fans have a reason to be sour right now, and Wednesday was no help.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State’s second-ranked 2024 class takes a major hit with the loss of Justin Scott.
Still dealing with the emotions of losing a third-straight game to TTUN, the negative news for Ohio State unfortunately continued last night when the Buckeyes lost long-time five-star defensive line commit, Justin Scott to Miami. Simply put, it has not been a great week for Ohio State.
The Decision
Committing to the Buckeyes this past July, The No. 12 player nationally and third best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Scott chose Ohio State over his two other top schools, Michigan and Notre Dame. A Chicago native, the desire to play closer to home fit his Ohio State decision, and Larry Johnson with his development proved to be the final piece in sealing the deal. Now committed to Miami, it’s pretty fair to question what in the world is going on in Columbus right now, because it seems like the saying “when it rains, it pours” couldn’t be any more true.
This is certainly a matter of NIL more than Scott not being content with the Buckeyes. When looking at the announcement graphic and seeing a literal pile of money edited into the photo, it’s safe to say money was the real motivation for this decision being made.
A true thorn in the side of Ohio State, Miami has done whatever they can with multiple Ohio State commits and targets to try and sway them south, and this time money won out in the end. As mentioned, for months Scott was solid to the Buckeyes, and that reasoning was for the development he was going to have under Johnson during his career in Columbus. With that now out of the cards, there’s a variety of ways you can feel about this latest development.
Where to go from here
One one hand, you can simply chalk this one up as a loss thanks to NIL and a student-athlete being promised something Ohio State really doesn’t do with their targeted recruits. Sure, the coaching staff and several other key members of the administration have really ramped up their NIL efforts as of late, but they’re clearly not the ones with the highest bids. If they were, you wouldn’t see them losing out with Scott or on other names that are more NIL-geared recruitments.
Ohio State’s staff feels that if a recruiting battle comes down simply to NIL amounts, they would would rather look elsewhere, but I am done with that. Pay the kids if you have to! Something has to give, because this cannot continue. Looking at Ohio State recruiting classes, you see a mass of talent, but it’s really stockpiling at only certain positions. The offensive and defensive line are where games are won and lost, and the truth is that the level desired is not being achieved right now on either side in recruiting.
Specifically on the defensive line, that leads me to my next thought, and that’s pointing towards the position coach. Should Johnson be blamed entirely for this flip? No, but with how often this has happened, it can’t be dismissed either.
In 2023’s recruiting class, LJ wasn’t able to land any of his three top defensive end targets. In the 2024 class, he lost to South Carolina for Dylan Stewart, Miami for Marquise Lightfoot, and now Miami again with Scott. For how incredible he’s been in his tenure with the Buckeyes, he flat out hasn’t been great the last couple of years. Recruiting and development for years is what he’s been so good at, but when you think of all the talent he’s had at his disposal this season, it shouldn’t be a case where Ohio State is 12th in the Big Ten in sacks. That just cannot happen.
This probably should be looked at mainly from an unfortunate NIL situation, but there’s just so many frustrations that come with that. All in all, the Buckeyes need to figure it out and fast. Losing a player isn’t the end of the world, but when it’s a five-star talent at a position that is critical and has lacked over the last couple cycles, it hurts that much worse.
Whether it’s a change in philosophy, a come to Jesus moment for LJ, or backing up the Brinks truck, something just needs to be done — and done now. Ohio State fans have a reason to be sour right now, and Wednesday was no help.
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LGHL Ryan Day, Ohio State missed a golden opportunity to bury Jim Harbaugh and TTUN
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Ryan Day, Ohio State missed a golden opportunity to bury Jim Harbaugh and TTUN
Josh Dooley 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
Between the sign stealing scandal, Harbaugh’s suspension, and the end of the Big Ten as we know it, OSU could have banished their rival to the shadow realm.
Let’s just get this part out of the way: Ohio State losing to Michigan really, really, really sucked. Selfishly, it ruined a late Thanksgiving gathering with my family. Because I am a fan, which is short for fanatic, and I become an insufferable prick when my team loses. Especially the one that I have rooted for since birth, which represents the school I attended, in the city where I was born and raised.
I can only imagine how it felt for most of the OSU players and coaches.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25119808/usa_today_21974694.jpg)
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Going into The Game, I firmly believed that the Buckeyes would win. I felt confident in their defense and thought that Kyle McCord would be able to get the ball to his playmakers and let them (Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson) cook. I certainly did not anticipate risk-averse coaching, interceptions, dropped balls, and missed tackles. Nor would I ever have imagined a visible lack of emotion and/or leadership when the chips were down.
Granted, we as fans are not privy to sideline interactions, but I sure as shit did not see McCord or any veteran defender(s) firing up the troops. If I missed that, then I own it. And I offer up a sincere apology. Each and every player who throws on the pads has my utmost respect regardless.
Unfortunately, what most of the current Ohio State roster does not have is a pair of coveted gold pants. The Buckeyes have not won this rivalry game since 2019, despite copious amounts of talent passing through Columbus. Seriously, we’re talking C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., and every single member of OSU’s 2021 recruiting class (the highest-rated class in program history). Not to mention all the others.
And the young Bucks on this roster, who probably grew up thinking it was damn-near impossible for the Scarlet and Gray to lose to the Maize and Blue... All without gold pants.
But guess what? I’ll get over it. I know that I will. Because I lived through the John Cooper era. Because I was somewhat surprised that Ohio State was in this position (11-0, chance to dance) to begin with — with a new QB, injuries, etc. Because TTUN was ranked No. 3 and playing at home. And above all else, because I am a realist, ok?
I know that my team is not entitled to anything. Knocking off a College Football Playoff contender at their place is never easy, I don’t care if the coach is Ryan Day, Nick Saban, or Vince freaking Lombardi. Last Saturday was never going to be a cakewalk. I mean, the Buckeyes were underdogs for a reason! That means they were not expected to win.
So I/you/we can all be mad at Day, McCord, whomever, but they lost to arguably the best CFB team in the country. The Game came down to turnovers, tackles, and a few fourth downs, as is the case with just about every football game ever played. And sometimes good-to-great teams just lose.
Now, all of that being said, the loss still sucks. Big time. And being a realist does not prohibit me from also being petty and vindictive. Those characterflaws traits are why this particular OSU loss cuts so painfully deep. It stings and it hurts because the Buckeyes had a chance to do something special. Nay, magical. Something that would have brought a tear to my eye(s)...
With a win in the last ‘Game’ of its kind, Ohio State could have driven a nail into their rival’s coffin. Day and Co. could have buried Jim Harbaugh and TTUN six feet deep (metaphorically, of course), dumped shame and embarrassment on said coffin, and earned bragging rights for all of eternity.
Think about it: Harbaugh was embarrassingly sidelined for the sixth time this season, meaning he coached in as many regular season games as he was suspended for. This most recent suspension was the result of an ongoing sign-stealing investigation, which is only like the 20th different act, action, exploit, thing, whatever, that has earned ol’ Khaki Jim the ire of the NCAA and/or Big Ten. TTUN even had an interim head coach at the helm this past Saturday, who just a few weeks ago gave a tearful interview as if THEY had been done a tragic injustice...
Like, dude, what world are you living in!?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25119843/usa_today_21875109.jpg)
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Beating a team and a program known the world over as your rival, while the latter is/was potentially on the ropes, would have been enjoyable enough for the Buckeyes, their fans, and perhaps most of all, their head coach. But that would not (even) have been the end or the extent of it. No, because this ‘Game’ was also the last of its kind.
With the B1G expanding and divisions going away – and the CFP expanding as well – OSU and TTUN will likely never play another regular season game with absolutely everything on the line. I’m talking conference title, CFP berth, AND bragging rights for at least a year.
Ohio State could have invalidated Harbaugh’s entire U of M coaching existence. His entire existence! Lost 100 straight bowl games... Cringey videos... Recruiting violations... Ducked the Buckeyes in 2020... Couldn’t beat them without stolen signs... Harbaugh would have become the laughingstock of the football world.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25119830/usa_today_21882420.jpg)
Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And his beloved program may have followed suit. For those TUN fans who thought the Brady Hoke era was bad, how does the Butch Davis/vacated wins/bowl ban/scholly reduction era sound?
Who knows what will ultimately come of this whole sign-stealing saga, but now that program up north holds an odd arrow in their quiver. They can argue rogue agent, oblivious coach(es), AND attempt to minimize any advantage gained: “Hey Tony Panini, we know we had a few shady characters in the building, but why would we knowingly cheat in order to pants Ryan Day? We don’t need to!”
Unfortunately, we will never find out what could or would have happened to the coach and the team up north with an Ohio State win. Because Day did not have (or at least show) a killer instinct. Afraid is probably the wrong word, but the Buckeyes’ coach was definitely risk averse. Day seemed to be coaching not to lose. And in his defense, there were also players who just didn’t play well. As opposed to the most recent Peach Bowl, when Day and most of his guys were hitting on all cylinders.
An opportunity wasted is how I will remember this past Saturday’s game. A golden opportunity wasted. Ryan Day and Ohio State could have buried Harbaugh and TTUN — and then prepared to dance on their rival’s grave. Instead, this moment got the best of Buckeyes and their coaching staff. And that sucks, too.
But I’ll get over it. For real, I will.
Go Bucks!
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley 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
Between the sign stealing scandal, Harbaugh’s suspension, and the end of the Big Ten as we know it, OSU could have banished their rival to the shadow realm.
Let’s just get this part out of the way: Ohio State losing to Michigan really, really, really sucked. Selfishly, it ruined a late Thanksgiving gathering with my family. Because I am a fan, which is short for fanatic, and I become an insufferable prick when my team loses. Especially the one that I have rooted for since birth, which represents the school I attended, in the city where I was born and raised.
I can only imagine how it felt for most of the OSU players and coaches.
Going into The Game, I firmly believed that the Buckeyes would win. I felt confident in their defense and thought that Kyle McCord would be able to get the ball to his playmakers and let them (Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson) cook. I certainly did not anticipate risk-averse coaching, interceptions, dropped balls, and missed tackles. Nor would I ever have imagined a visible lack of emotion and/or leadership when the chips were down.
Granted, we as fans are not privy to sideline interactions, but I sure as shit did not see McCord or any veteran defender(s) firing up the troops. If I missed that, then I own it. And I offer up a sincere apology. Each and every player who throws on the pads has my utmost respect regardless.
Unfortunately, what most of the current Ohio State roster does not have is a pair of coveted gold pants. The Buckeyes have not won this rivalry game since 2019, despite copious amounts of talent passing through Columbus. Seriously, we’re talking C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., and every single member of OSU’s 2021 recruiting class (the highest-rated class in program history). Not to mention all the others.
And the young Bucks on this roster, who probably grew up thinking it was damn-near impossible for the Scarlet and Gray to lose to the Maize and Blue... All without gold pants.
But guess what? I’ll get over it. I know that I will. Because I lived through the John Cooper era. Because I was somewhat surprised that Ohio State was in this position (11-0, chance to dance) to begin with — with a new QB, injuries, etc. Because TTUN was ranked No. 3 and playing at home. And above all else, because I am a realist, ok?
I know that my team is not entitled to anything. Knocking off a College Football Playoff contender at their place is never easy, I don’t care if the coach is Ryan Day, Nick Saban, or Vince freaking Lombardi. Last Saturday was never going to be a cakewalk. I mean, the Buckeyes were underdogs for a reason! That means they were not expected to win.
So I/you/we can all be mad at Day, McCord, whomever, but they lost to arguably the best CFB team in the country. The Game came down to turnovers, tackles, and a few fourth downs, as is the case with just about every football game ever played. And sometimes good-to-great teams just lose.
Now, all of that being said, the loss still sucks. Big time. And being a realist does not prohibit me from also being petty and vindictive. Those character
With a win in the last ‘Game’ of its kind, Ohio State could have driven a nail into their rival’s coffin. Day and Co. could have buried Jim Harbaugh and TTUN six feet deep (metaphorically, of course), dumped shame and embarrassment on said coffin, and earned bragging rights for all of eternity.
Think about it: Harbaugh was embarrassingly sidelined for the sixth time this season, meaning he coached in as many regular season games as he was suspended for. This most recent suspension was the result of an ongoing sign-stealing investigation, which is only like the 20th different act, action, exploit, thing, whatever, that has earned ol’ Khaki Jim the ire of the NCAA and/or Big Ten. TTUN even had an interim head coach at the helm this past Saturday, who just a few weeks ago gave a tearful interview as if THEY had been done a tragic injustice...
Like, dude, what world are you living in!?
Beating a team and a program known the world over as your rival, while the latter is/was potentially on the ropes, would have been enjoyable enough for the Buckeyes, their fans, and perhaps most of all, their head coach. But that would not (even) have been the end or the extent of it. No, because this ‘Game’ was also the last of its kind.
With the B1G expanding and divisions going away – and the CFP expanding as well – OSU and TTUN will likely never play another regular season game with absolutely everything on the line. I’m talking conference title, CFP berth, AND bragging rights for at least a year.
Ohio State could have invalidated Harbaugh’s entire U of M coaching existence. His entire existence! Lost 100 straight bowl games... Cringey videos... Recruiting violations... Ducked the Buckeyes in 2020... Couldn’t beat them without stolen signs... Harbaugh would have become the laughingstock of the football world.
And his beloved program may have followed suit. For those TUN fans who thought the Brady Hoke era was bad, how does the Butch Davis/vacated wins/bowl ban/scholly reduction era sound?
Who knows what will ultimately come of this whole sign-stealing saga, but now that program up north holds an odd arrow in their quiver. They can argue rogue agent, oblivious coach(es), AND attempt to minimize any advantage gained: “Hey Tony Panini, we know we had a few shady characters in the building, but why would we knowingly cheat in order to pants Ryan Day? We don’t need to!”
Unfortunately, we will never find out what could or would have happened to the coach and the team up north with an Ohio State win. Because Day did not have (or at least show) a killer instinct. Afraid is probably the wrong word, but the Buckeyes’ coach was definitely risk averse. Day seemed to be coaching not to lose. And in his defense, there were also players who just didn’t play well. As opposed to the most recent Peach Bowl, when Day and most of his guys were hitting on all cylinders.
An opportunity wasted is how I will remember this past Saturday’s game. A golden opportunity wasted. Ryan Day and Ohio State could have buried Harbaugh and TTUN — and then prepared to dance on their rival’s grave. Instead, this moment got the best of Buckeyes and their coaching staff. And that sucks, too.
But I’ll get over it. For real, I will.
Go Bucks!
Continue reading...
Marley Cook (DL Middle Tennessee St., transfer to Miami, FL)
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- College Football
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Class: 2019
School: Middle Tennessee St.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 298 lbs
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Class: 2019
School: Middle Tennessee St.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 298 lbs
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LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State men win the Emerald Coast Classic, currently at five wins in a row
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Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State men win the Emerald Coast Classic, currently at five wins in a row
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeye's next game is against Minnesota, and they will need to exercise some demons from last season.
“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 94 of “Bucketheads,” Connor and Justin have three games to discuss.
The Buckeyes won the Emerald Coast Classic and defeated Alabama and Santa Clara over the weekend to help lessen the blow of “The Game,” and then came home to Columbus and took down Central Michigan 88-61 to start the season 6-1.
How real is this team? What has been different from last season so far? And the Buckeyes lost to Minnesota last season as the season started to snowball, time for revenge?
Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review of your thoughts 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
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeye's next game is against Minnesota, and they will need to exercise some demons from last season.
“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 94 of “Bucketheads,” Connor and Justin have three games to discuss.
The Buckeyes won the Emerald Coast Classic and defeated Alabama and Santa Clara over the weekend to help lessen the blow of “The Game,” and then came home to Columbus and took down Central Michigan 88-61 to start the season 6-1.
How real is this team? What has been different from last season so far? And the Buckeyes lost to Minnesota last season as the season started to snowball, time for revenge?
Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review of your thoughts on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men blow past Central Michigan 88-61 led by Bruce Thornton’s 25-point night
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Ohio State men blow past Central Michigan 88-61 led by Bruce Thornton’s 25-point night
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 have gone streaking, winning their fifth game in a row Wednesday night.
Riding a four-game winning streak and suddenly the owner of a nice, tall trophy, the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) welcomed the Central Michigan Chippewas (2-5) to the Schott Wednesday night for another B1G-MAC showdown. Ohio State beat Western Michigan earlier this month to start their trio of MAC games in the non-conference and will face off with in-state foe Miami a week from Wednesday to close out the three-pack.
CMU entered this game as the No. 304 team in the nation according to KenPom — the worst team on Ohio State’s schedule, if you trust the scholarly mind of Ken Pomeroy. The ‘Chips were beaten up pretty good by Oklahoma and Florida State before facing Ohio State, but also have an upset win over South Florida this year. CMU was picked to finish last in the MAC in the preseason.
Third-year head coach Tony Barbee went with a starting five of Brian Taylor, Cayden Vasko, Derrick Butler, Anthony Pritchard, and Hunter Harding. Chris Holtmann went with the same five he’s used all season — Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara.
It was a lethargic start for both teams in this one, with the Chippewas scoring just two points over the first four-plus minutes of play. Ohio State jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but it had a hard time speeding things up against a CMU team that is ranked No. 299 in defensive efficiency. The Buckeyes were hitting at a reasonable clip, but only taking six shots in the first five or so minutes of play means they weren’t creating open looks as quickly as they’d like.
Central Michigan hung tight to the Buckeyes, trailing 22-20 at the under-eight media timeout. After looking so good in Florida, Ohio State looked sleepy and unaware on the defensive end for the first 14 minutes of the first half. But the switch was flipped around the six-minute mark, and the Buckeyes outscored CMU 19-8 over the final 6:18 of the first half to head to the locker room with a 41-29 lead. Thornton led Ohio State with 19 first-half points, whilst his teammates combined for the other 22. Davis, Pritchard, and Taylor each had seven points for CMU, which shot 38.7% overall in the first half.
The second half was all Buckeyes. The scarlet and gray outscored the maroon and gold 22-5 over the first eight-plus minutes of the second half, taking a 63-34 lead into the under-12 media timeout. Thornton and Gayle continued to stir the drink and set the tone with their ability to penetrate below the basket and then either dish it off in tight windows or score themselves. Chris Holtmann even went with the never-before-used lineup of Dale Bonner, Taison Chatman, Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey, and Zed Key for a stretch once the lead ballooned to 29.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Ohio State had wrapped up a 88-61 win over yet another directional Michigan school. Thornton led Ohio State with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting — his third 20-point game of the season. Okpara, Gayle, Battle, and Devin Royal all scored in double digits as well for the Buckeyes. Jemal Davis led CMU with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
If you weren’t around tonight to catch Ohio State extend its winning streak to five games, here are a few key moments and plays that helped carry the Buckeyes to victory:
Key hasn’t played enough minutes per game to qualify for statistical leaderboards this season, but if he did, his 71.4% shooting percentage would lead the Big Ten conference heading into Wednesday night’s game. The senior big has maximized the opportunities he’s been given and is knocking on the door for more minutes while Felix Okpara (4.8 PPG) has not been as much of an offensive factor.
Key checked in for the first time at the 15:50 mark tonight, and scored on his first touch two minutes later. After Battle missed a three-point attempt, Key was able to grab the board and score over the top for his first bucket of the evening.
Junior forward Jemal Davis capped off a 7-2 CMU run with a three-pointer, giving the Chippewas a 12-11 lead seven minutes into the game.
However, Thornton, who had one of his best halves of basketball of the season, got to the other end and knocked down a three of his own 12 seconds later, putting the Buckeyes back ahead, 14-12. Thornton then scored on each of Ohio State’s next two possessions, pushing the lead to 18-12 less than two minutes later.
Vasko’s hoop-and-the-harm got Central Michigan back within one point with 6:35 left in the first half, but that would be the last CMU bucket for quite some time. The Buckeyes responded with an assertive 15-0 run over 3:33 — highlighted by seven points from Thornton in a 60-second span — that put them up, 37-21. Thornton had one of his best all-around halves of basketball ever, scoring 19 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting
In a game that always has been and always will be determined by runs, the Buckeyes put a few together Wednesday night that were absolute back-breakers for their directional Michigan foes. After closing the first half on a 19-8 run, Ohio State opened the second half with a quick 9-0 run to take that 12-point lead and turn it into a 21-point lead. Gayle scored his second basket of the night, followed by consecutive buckets from Thornton, and then a Battle three-pointer from the deep corner in front of Ohio State’s bench 3:19 into the second half.
Gayle was impactful in the first half without scoring the ball, dishing out four assists, grabbing three rebounds, and recording one steal while scoring just two points on 1-of-2 shooting.
He opened it up a bit in the second half, scoring seven points over the first six minutes of the second half. In the blink of an eye, Gayle was knocking on the door of another double-digit game, as well as a handful of rebounds and assists.
Key has exceeded expectations in pretty much every way this season, and we’ve made sure to give him his flowers. But everyone has their “D’oh!” moments, and Zed had one in the second half of tonight’s contest.
With Ohio State leading 67-43 and 9:39 remaining in the game, Thornton swung the ball over to Key on the right wing, who hoisted his second three-point attempt of the season. It was too long, and CMU’s Paul McMillan grabbed the rebound.
Key raced down the floor, and eight seconds later lost his man and wound up fouling Jemal Davis on a three-point attempt from the far corner. Holtmann immediately had Okpara check in for Key, who had a brutal eight-second stretch on the floor.
With the win, Ohio State has now won five games in a row for the first time since the 2021-2022 season. The Buckeyes will have a chance to extend that streak over the next two weeks, with very winnable games against Minnesota, Miami, and Penn State.
During the 2021-2022 season, Ohio State beat Duke, Penn State, Towson, Wisconsin, and Nebraska from November 30 to January 2. The Buckeyes did not string together five wins in a row for the remainder of that season, or the entirety of the 2022-2023 season.
Ohio State (6-1) has three days off and then will welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) to Columbus on Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener. At No. 133, Minnesota is the lowest-rated Big Ten team in KenPom, and was picked to finish last in the Big Ten this season. Minnesota only won two conference games last season, but one of them was on the road at Ohio State on January 12.
Ohio State’s game against Minnesota will tip off at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN.
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 have gone streaking, winning their fifth game in a row Wednesday night.
Riding a four-game winning streak and suddenly the owner of a nice, tall trophy, the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) welcomed the Central Michigan Chippewas (2-5) to the Schott Wednesday night for another B1G-MAC showdown. Ohio State beat Western Michigan earlier this month to start their trio of MAC games in the non-conference and will face off with in-state foe Miami a week from Wednesday to close out the three-pack.
CMU entered this game as the No. 304 team in the nation according to KenPom — the worst team on Ohio State’s schedule, if you trust the scholarly mind of Ken Pomeroy. The ‘Chips were beaten up pretty good by Oklahoma and Florida State before facing Ohio State, but also have an upset win over South Florida this year. CMU was picked to finish last in the MAC in the preseason.
Third-year head coach Tony Barbee went with a starting five of Brian Taylor, Cayden Vasko, Derrick Butler, Anthony Pritchard, and Hunter Harding. Chris Holtmann went with the same five he’s used all season — Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara.
It was a lethargic start for both teams in this one, with the Chippewas scoring just two points over the first four-plus minutes of play. Ohio State jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but it had a hard time speeding things up against a CMU team that is ranked No. 299 in defensive efficiency. The Buckeyes were hitting at a reasonable clip, but only taking six shots in the first five or so minutes of play means they weren’t creating open looks as quickly as they’d like.
Central Michigan hung tight to the Buckeyes, trailing 22-20 at the under-eight media timeout. After looking so good in Florida, Ohio State looked sleepy and unaware on the defensive end for the first 14 minutes of the first half. But the switch was flipped around the six-minute mark, and the Buckeyes outscored CMU 19-8 over the final 6:18 of the first half to head to the locker room with a 41-29 lead. Thornton led Ohio State with 19 first-half points, whilst his teammates combined for the other 22. Davis, Pritchard, and Taylor each had seven points for CMU, which shot 38.7% overall in the first half.
Buckeyes on top through.@Bruce2T_ leads the way with
points so far tonight #Team125 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ExAnFMAqEA
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 30, 2023
The second half was all Buckeyes. The scarlet and gray outscored the maroon and gold 22-5 over the first eight-plus minutes of the second half, taking a 63-34 lead into the under-12 media timeout. Thornton and Gayle continued to stir the drink and set the tone with their ability to penetrate below the basket and then either dish it off in tight windows or score themselves. Chris Holtmann even went with the never-before-used lineup of Dale Bonner, Taison Chatman, Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey, and Zed Key for a stretch once the lead ballooned to 29.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Ohio State had wrapped up a 88-61 win over yet another directional Michigan school. Thornton led Ohio State with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting — his third 20-point game of the season. Okpara, Gayle, Battle, and Devin Royal all scored in double digits as well for the Buckeyes. Jemal Davis led CMU with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
If you weren’t around tonight to catch Ohio State extend its winning streak to five games, here are a few key moments and plays that helped carry the Buckeyes to victory:
Zed Key, always open
Key hasn’t played enough minutes per game to qualify for statistical leaderboards this season, but if he did, his 71.4% shooting percentage would lead the Big Ten conference heading into Wednesday night’s game. The senior big has maximized the opportunities he’s been given and is knocking on the door for more minutes while Felix Okpara (4.8 PPG) has not been as much of an offensive factor.
Key checked in for the first time at the 15:50 mark tonight, and scored on his first touch two minutes later. After Battle missed a three-point attempt, Key was able to grab the board and score over the top for his first bucket of the evening.
‘Chips take an early lead, but Thornton takes it right back
Junior forward Jemal Davis capped off a 7-2 CMU run with a three-pointer, giving the Chippewas a 12-11 lead seven minutes into the game.
However, Thornton, who had one of his best halves of basketball of the season, got to the other end and knocked down a three of his own 12 seconds later, putting the Buckeyes back ahead, 14-12. Thornton then scored on each of Ohio State’s next two possessions, pushing the lead to 18-12 less than two minutes later.
15-0 run puts Buckeyes back in control
Vasko’s hoop-and-the-harm got Central Michigan back within one point with 6:35 left in the first half, but that would be the last CMU bucket for quite some time. The Buckeyes responded with an assertive 15-0 run over 3:33 — highlighted by seven points from Thornton in a 60-second span — that put them up, 37-21. Thornton had one of his best all-around halves of basketball ever, scoring 19 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting
Gone streakin’
In a game that always has been and always will be determined by runs, the Buckeyes put a few together Wednesday night that were absolute back-breakers for their directional Michigan foes. After closing the first half on a 19-8 run, Ohio State opened the second half with a quick 9-0 run to take that 12-point lead and turn it into a 21-point lead. Gayle scored his second basket of the night, followed by consecutive buckets from Thornton, and then a Battle three-pointer from the deep corner in front of Ohio State’s bench 3:19 into the second half.
Another #HotRod sighting
Gayle was impactful in the first half without scoring the ball, dishing out four assists, grabbing three rebounds, and recording one steal while scoring just two points on 1-of-2 shooting.
He opened it up a bit in the second half, scoring seven points over the first six minutes of the second half. In the blink of an eye, Gayle was knocking on the door of another double-digit game, as well as a handful of rebounds and assists.
Zed Key, to the time-out chair
Key has exceeded expectations in pretty much every way this season, and we’ve made sure to give him his flowers. But everyone has their “D’oh!” moments, and Zed had one in the second half of tonight’s contest.
With Ohio State leading 67-43 and 9:39 remaining in the game, Thornton swung the ball over to Key on the right wing, who hoisted his second three-point attempt of the season. It was too long, and CMU’s Paul McMillan grabbed the rebound.
Key raced down the floor, and eight seconds later lost his man and wound up fouling Jemal Davis on a three-point attempt from the far corner. Holtmann immediately had Okpara check in for Key, who had a brutal eight-second stretch on the floor.
Five in a row
With the win, Ohio State has now won five games in a row for the first time since the 2021-2022 season. The Buckeyes will have a chance to extend that streak over the next two weeks, with very winnable games against Minnesota, Miami, and Penn State.
During the 2021-2022 season, Ohio State beat Duke, Penn State, Towson, Wisconsin, and Nebraska from November 30 to January 2. The Buckeyes did not string together five wins in a row for the remainder of that season, or the entirety of the 2022-2023 season.
Up Next:
Ohio State (6-1) has three days off and then will welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) to Columbus on Sunday evening in the Big Ten opener. At No. 133, Minnesota is the lowest-rated Big Ten team in KenPom, and was picked to finish last in the Big Ten this season. Minnesota only won two conference games last season, but one of them was on the road at Ohio State on January 12.
Ohio State’s game against Minnesota will tip off at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN.
Continue reading...
LGHL Visiting Locker Room: Talking Tennessee Volunteers with Lo Dreher
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Visiting Locker Room: Talking Tennessee Volunteers with Lo Dreher
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are tough times for the Volunteers heading into a clash with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State women’s basketball put its name back on the national college basketball map last season, in part because of a key win against the Tennessee Volunteers. This season, the home-and-home agreement ends, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
In that Buckeyes victory, Tennessee was a formidable powerhouse featuring top names like center Tamari Key, guard Jordan Horston, and forward Rickea Jackson. Now, Horston is in the WNBA, Key is recovering from almost a season off the court and Jackson is the linchpin in the Volunteers’ chances this season, but is currently away with an injury.
To talk about the state of Tennessee with a Big Ten/SEC battle coming up between the sides on Sunday, Land-Grant Holy Land reached out to SEC basketball expert Lo Dreher of The Committee. Dreher talks about Jackson’s impact, who — if anyone — can hurt the Buckeyes in the paint, and an outlook at the 2023-24 edition of a basketball staple.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Last season, the Buckeyes saw the Volunteers in the first game of the season. The first game as a Vol for Jackson. Now, after a year with Tennessee, the senior is playing the best basketball of her career, averaging a double-double with over 20 points per game. How crucial is Jackson to Tennessee’s success?
LGHL: Going into the first game of last year, Key had everything to make Ohio State’s life extremely difficult. Fouls held Key back in Columbus and then an unfortunate heart condition kept her out for the rest of the season. The center is back this year, but not starting anymore. So, who is the player who can exploit the Buckeyes defense in the paint like many have in the past few seasons?
LGHL: The start of last year was tumultuous for the Vols as they adjusted to transfers, injuries, and a tough non-conference schedule. Tennessee ended the season strong, but this year they’ve hit a couple of speed bumps to kick off the season. How is the team different this year and how can they hurt teams?
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
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are tough times for the Volunteers heading into a clash with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State women’s basketball put its name back on the national college basketball map last season, in part because of a key win against the Tennessee Volunteers. This season, the home-and-home agreement ends, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
In that Buckeyes victory, Tennessee was a formidable powerhouse featuring top names like center Tamari Key, guard Jordan Horston, and forward Rickea Jackson. Now, Horston is in the WNBA, Key is recovering from almost a season off the court and Jackson is the linchpin in the Volunteers’ chances this season, but is currently away with an injury.
To talk about the state of Tennessee with a Big Ten/SEC battle coming up between the sides on Sunday, Land-Grant Holy Land reached out to SEC basketball expert Lo Dreher of The Committee. Dreher talks about Jackson’s impact, who — if anyone — can hurt the Buckeyes in the paint, and an outlook at the 2023-24 edition of a basketball staple.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Last season, the Buckeyes saw the Volunteers in the first game of the season. The first game as a Vol for Jackson. Now, after a year with Tennessee, the senior is playing the best basketball of her career, averaging a double-double with over 20 points per game. How crucial is Jackson to Tennessee’s success?
LGHL: Going into the first game of last year, Key had everything to make Ohio State’s life extremely difficult. Fouls held Key back in Columbus and then an unfortunate heart condition kept her out for the rest of the season. The center is back this year, but not starting anymore. So, who is the player who can exploit the Buckeyes defense in the paint like many have in the past few seasons?
LGHL: The start of last year was tumultuous for the Vols as they adjusted to transfers, injuries, and a tough non-conference schedule. Tennessee ended the season strong, but this year they’ve hit a couple of speed bumps to kick off the season. How is the team different this year and how can they hurt teams?
Continue reading...