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LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Karla Vreš
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Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Karla Vreš
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 Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
How the Croatian forward can have an impact for the Buckeyes in her graduate season.
Before the 22-23 season, the Ohio State women’s basketball team brought in two forwards from the transfer portal. The first was highlighted in the last player preview, with Las Vegas, Nevada native Eboni Walker. The other hails from a bit further away in the nation of Croatia.
Karla Vreš didn’t make an impact on the court last year and may not see much more time this year, but still plays an important role for the Buckeyes.
Name: Karla Vreš
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate senior
High School: Jensen Gymnasium Sodra (Zagreb, Croatia)
2022-23 Stats: 9 appearances with 18 minutes played
Vreš transferred to the Buckeyes from American University where the Patriot League side used Vreš as a bench role-player. After earning the most minutes in the forward’s NCAA career (238), Vreš joined Ohio State.
It was a jump for the multi-lingual European in competition, game speed and more. Vreš didn’t make it into too many contests playing behind Walker and fellow European Rebeka Mikulášiková.
Of Vreš’ nine appearances, none of them featured the forward for more than three minutes and all but one of her nine appearances were when the Buckeyes were ahead cruising to victories. The lone time Ohio State lost was a one-sided affair in Columbus with the Indiana Hoosiers defeating the Buckeyes 83-59.
Before coming to the scarlet and gray, Vreš showed an ability to play inside and make mid-to-long range shots. Vreš hit 29 threes in two seasons before the transfer, good for 39.7% efficiency. Defensively, Vreš was also third on the 21-22 American squad in blocks in 21 games and two starts.
On the court, there isn’t going to be many minutes for Vreš. Ohio State’s gotten better in the paint this offseason, adding Michigan State transfer forward Taiyier Parks. That, and Walker returning for a final season, put Vreš further down the depth chart. However, the student athlete can make an impact off the court.
While its likely that Mikulášiková, Parks and Walker rotate their minutes on the court, there’s a center on the bench who will benefit from having Vreš next to her: Freshman Faith Carson.
Vreš hasn’t played much, but she’s practiced a full season and offseason with the Buckeyes. The Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar Athlete can help Carson understand the system from watching on the sideline, with Carson also likely taking the first year to observe her fellow players in the post.
If Carson has a question, there’s someone who understands the system next to her in Vreš.
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
Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
How the Croatian forward can have an impact for the Buckeyes in her graduate season.
Before the 22-23 season, the Ohio State women’s basketball team brought in two forwards from the transfer portal. The first was highlighted in the last player preview, with Las Vegas, Nevada native Eboni Walker. The other hails from a bit further away in the nation of Croatia.
Karla Vreš didn’t make an impact on the court last year and may not see much more time this year, but still plays an important role for the Buckeyes.
Name: Karla Vreš
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate senior
High School: Jensen Gymnasium Sodra (Zagreb, Croatia)
2022-23 Stats: 9 appearances with 18 minutes played
Last Season
Vreš transferred to the Buckeyes from American University where the Patriot League side used Vreš as a bench role-player. After earning the most minutes in the forward’s NCAA career (238), Vreš joined Ohio State.
It was a jump for the multi-lingual European in competition, game speed and more. Vreš didn’t make it into too many contests playing behind Walker and fellow European Rebeka Mikulášiková.
Of Vreš’ nine appearances, none of them featured the forward for more than three minutes and all but one of her nine appearances were when the Buckeyes were ahead cruising to victories. The lone time Ohio State lost was a one-sided affair in Columbus with the Indiana Hoosiers defeating the Buckeyes 83-59.
What to Expect
Before coming to the scarlet and gray, Vreš showed an ability to play inside and make mid-to-long range shots. Vreš hit 29 threes in two seasons before the transfer, good for 39.7% efficiency. Defensively, Vreš was also third on the 21-22 American squad in blocks in 21 games and two starts.
Prediction
On the court, there isn’t going to be many minutes for Vreš. Ohio State’s gotten better in the paint this offseason, adding Michigan State transfer forward Taiyier Parks. That, and Walker returning for a final season, put Vreš further down the depth chart. However, the student athlete can make an impact off the court.
While its likely that Mikulášiková, Parks and Walker rotate their minutes on the court, there’s a center on the bench who will benefit from having Vreš next to her: Freshman Faith Carson.
Vreš hasn’t played much, but she’s practiced a full season and offseason with the Buckeyes. The Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar Athlete can help Carson understand the system from watching on the sideline, with Carson also likely taking the first year to observe her fellow players in the post.
If Carson has a question, there’s someone who understands the system next to her in Vreš.
Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:
- Jacy Sheldon
- Rebeka Mikulášiková
- Diana Collins
- Taiyier Parks
- Rikki Harris
- Taylor Thierry
- Kennedy Cambridge
- Faith Carson
- Madison Greene
- Celeste Taylor
- Emma Shumate
- Kaia Henderson
- Eboni Walker
Continue reading...
LGHL MC&J: Week 11’s national schedule will feature a showdown between Ole Miss and Georgia
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MC&J: Week 11’s national schedule will feature a showdown between Ole Miss and Georgia
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
The Rebels will be looking to ruin Georgia’s dreams of another undefeated season. Plus, picks for six other interesting national games.
Last week we moved back over the .500 mark, using a solid set of national picks to get back into positive territory. Things looked ugly early after Kansas State fell behind Texas, but thankfully the Wildcats kept plugging away to get back inside the number. Now if only Ole Miss hadn’t let Texas A&M back in the game, we could have had a win instead of a tie on the record for the week.
No. 8 Alabama (-10.5) v. Kentucky - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
<Insert Undertaker raising from the dead GIF here> Don’t look now, Alabama is back in the top-10. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 42-28 win over LSU last week, and control their own destiny in the SEC West. If Alabama is able to win this week against Kentucky, as well as in a couple weeks against Auburn, they’ll be heading to the SEC Championship Game to take on Georgia, and if they beat the Bulldogs Nick Saban will be back in the College Football Playoff.
Kentucky snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-3 win over Mississippi State last week. The victory over the Bulldogs secured bowl eligibility for the Wildcats for the eighth straight season. It feels like Kentucky is not quite good enough to be a top team in the conference, but they also are good enough to be in that second tier of teams in the SEC.
Alabama has figured out how to correctly use quarterback Jalen Milroe, which is big trouble for everyone left on the schedule of the Crimson Tide. Do you see Devin Leary out-dueling Milroe and Alabama? I know I certainly don’t. Running back Ray Davis isn’t going to be able to run wild on the defense of the Crimson Tide like he was able to against Florida earlier in the year. Alabama wins this game by at least two touchdowns.
Alabama 31, Kentucky 14
No. 18 Utah v. No. 5 Washington (-9.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Utah rebounded from their blowout loss to Oregon by beating up on Arizona State last week in Salt Lake City. Bryson Barnes tossed a career-high four touchdowns in the 55-3 win over the Sun Devils, doubling his total for the season. The Utes are going to likely need another outstanding game from Barnes this week, as they’ll travel to Seattle to take on a Washington team that currently sits just outside the College Football Playoff.
Following lackluster performances against Arizona State and Stanford, Washington looked great last week in their 52-42 win at USC. While quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Dillon Johnson was the star of last week’s victory, rushing for 256 yards and four touchdowns against the Trojans. The Huskies still have some work to do to make the playoff, with each win the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter.
I know Utah is going to play really hard for Kyle Whittingham in this game. The effort is only going to get them so far, though. The Utes aren’t as good on the road when they aren’t facing an Alex Grinch defense. Utah probably should have lost at Baylor early in the year, and they weren’t able to get anything going at Oregon State at the end of September. Washington has too much firepower for the Utes to keep pace with.
Washington 38, Utah 21
Miami (FL) v. No. 4 Florida State (-13.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Florida State has to be pushed to the limit at least once more this season, right? The ACC has been a joke this season, which is why I don’t think all that much about Florida State. Don’t get me wrong, the Seminoles have some talented players, I just wouldn’t pick them to beat some of the top teams in the country.
Not that Miami is one of the best teams in the country, but they do have some talent that could keep up with Florida State. Plus, the Hurricanes likely still have last year’s 45-3 loss to their rival still in their heads. What better way for Mario Cristobal to ease some of the pressure from a failed season than by handing the Seminoles their first loss of the year?
If Tyler Van Dyke plays smart football, Miami does have a chance to pull the upset on Saturday. Van Dyke can’t do what he did last week against NC State, where he threw three interceptions. While I don’t see the Hurricanes handing the Seminoles their first loss of the season, I do think Miami will be competitive in this contest.
Florida State 35, Miami (FL) 27
No. 13 Tennessee (-1.5) v. No. 14 Missouri - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
There are a number of entertaining games on the schedule for Saturday, but this could be one of those sneaky good games. Currently both teams are tied for second in the SEC East. While Missouri lost last week to Georgia, Tennessee knows it has an outside shot at heading to Atlanta if the Bulldogs slip up against Ole Miss this week. If Georgia loses and Tennessee beats Missouri on Saturday, then next week’s game against the Bulldogs in Knoxville will be for the SEC East crown.
Missouri has had a great season this year. Unfortunately, I think the Tigers have peaked. Much like when teams play Ohio State, a game against Georgia takes a lot out of teams. Plus, star wide receiver Luther Burden is banged up heading into this game, which will make moving the football against a stout Tennessee defense even tougher. Even though Brady Cook will do everything he can, the Volunteers are just a little too much for the Tigers.
Tennessee 31, Missouri 21
No. 9 Ole Miss v. No. 2 Georgia (-10.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
It feels like every week we are wondering just how good Georgia really is. The Bulldogs are still undefeated, they just aren’t nearly as dominant as they have been over the last two years. Kirby Smart has had to replace a lot of talent that is now playing in the NFL, and the injury to Brock Bowers has left quarterback Carson Beck without a true top threat in the passing game.
If only Ole Miss hadn’t fallen apart in the second half against Alabama, this would be the top game in the SEC this year. The Rebels can hurt through the air with Jaxson Dart, as well as on the ground with running back Quinshon Judkins. The only cause for concern for Ole Miss heading into this game is they might have gotten used to some home cooking, with four of their last five games being played in Oxford.
At some point Georgia is going to lose a game. This week’s game against Ole Miss is the toughest contest on the schedule so far this year for the Bulldogs. The Rebels are catching Georgia at the right time, since the Bulldogs are without their top offensive threat. If there ever was a time for Lane Kiffin to truly make some waves in the SEC, this would be the week. Even if Ole Miss doesn’t win this game, I think it comes down to the last possession.
Ole Miss 30, Georgia 27
No. 7 Texas (-10.5) v. TCU - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Regression was expected for TCU after last year’s run to the national title game. Even though another playoff run didn’t seem likely heading into the season, not many people expected the Horned Frogs to be struggling to reach .500. With their 35-28 loss to Texas Tech last week, TCU heads into this game with a 4-5 record. The biggest issue for the Horned Frogs is scoring the football, since they have scored 28 points or less in four of the last five games, losing all four of those contests.
After losing to Oklahoma last month, Texas knows they have no room for error if they want to make the College Football Playoff this season. The task got even tougher when quarterback Quinn Ewers was sidelined. Maalik Murphy has done a solid job stepping in for Ewers, but the Longhorns were playing with fire last week when they were nearly upset by Kansas State in Austin.
With games against Texas and Oklahoma still on the schedule, it’s going to be really tough for TCU to become bowl eligible this season. Even with the injury to Ewers, the Longhorns are still too good on both sides of the football for the Horned Frogs in this one. Texas extracts some revenge for TCU winning last year’s meeting between the schools in Austin.
Texas 34, TCU 17
USC v. No. 6 Oregon (-14.5) - 10:30 p.m. ET - FOX
I’ll never understand why it took Lincoln Riley this long to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Following last week’s 52-42 loss to Washington, Riley finally put on his big boy pants and dismissed the worst defensive coordinator in college football.
Now there really is only two games left in the college career of quarterback Caleb Williams. While Williams could come back next year, it wouldn’t make any sense for the probable top pick in April’s NFL Draft to not declare for the draft following USC’s regular season finale in a couple weeks against UCLA.
Unlike USC, Oregon has plenty left to play for. As long as they don’t drop another game, the Ducks are on a path to a rematch with Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Last week Oregon put 63 points up against Cal, and they could near that total this week against one of the worst defenses in the country. With a few more big games, Bo Nix could earn a spot in New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Heading into this week’s game, Nix has 30 total touchdowns this year.
At first glance this feels like a lot of points for Oregon to be laying against a high-powered offense. Just remember that USC doesn’t have much left to play for. Maybe the Trojans get up for this game and try to play spoiler, I just don’t see it happening. The Ducks are way too tough in Eugene for a soft team like USC to hang with them.
Oregon 52, USC 28
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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
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
The Rebels will be looking to ruin Georgia’s dreams of another undefeated season. Plus, picks for six other interesting national games.
Last week ATS: 8-6-1 (5-2-1 National, 3-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 82-80-1 (38-46-1 National, 44-34 B1G)
Last week we moved back over the .500 mark, using a solid set of national picks to get back into positive territory. Things looked ugly early after Kansas State fell behind Texas, but thankfully the Wildcats kept plugging away to get back inside the number. Now if only Ole Miss hadn’t let Texas A&M back in the game, we could have had a win instead of a tie on the record for the week.
National games
No. 8 Alabama (-10.5) v. Kentucky - 12:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
<Insert Undertaker raising from the dead GIF here> Don’t look now, Alabama is back in the top-10. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 42-28 win over LSU last week, and control their own destiny in the SEC West. If Alabama is able to win this week against Kentucky, as well as in a couple weeks against Auburn, they’ll be heading to the SEC Championship Game to take on Georgia, and if they beat the Bulldogs Nick Saban will be back in the College Football Playoff.
Kentucky snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-3 win over Mississippi State last week. The victory over the Bulldogs secured bowl eligibility for the Wildcats for the eighth straight season. It feels like Kentucky is not quite good enough to be a top team in the conference, but they also are good enough to be in that second tier of teams in the SEC.
Alabama has figured out how to correctly use quarterback Jalen Milroe, which is big trouble for everyone left on the schedule of the Crimson Tide. Do you see Devin Leary out-dueling Milroe and Alabama? I know I certainly don’t. Running back Ray Davis isn’t going to be able to run wild on the defense of the Crimson Tide like he was able to against Florida earlier in the year. Alabama wins this game by at least two touchdowns.
Alabama 31, Kentucky 14
No. 18 Utah v. No. 5 Washington (-9.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FOX
Utah rebounded from their blowout loss to Oregon by beating up on Arizona State last week in Salt Lake City. Bryson Barnes tossed a career-high four touchdowns in the 55-3 win over the Sun Devils, doubling his total for the season. The Utes are going to likely need another outstanding game from Barnes this week, as they’ll travel to Seattle to take on a Washington team that currently sits just outside the College Football Playoff.
Following lackluster performances against Arizona State and Stanford, Washington looked great last week in their 52-42 win at USC. While quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Dillon Johnson was the star of last week’s victory, rushing for 256 yards and four touchdowns against the Trojans. The Huskies still have some work to do to make the playoff, with each win the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter.
I know Utah is going to play really hard for Kyle Whittingham in this game. The effort is only going to get them so far, though. The Utes aren’t as good on the road when they aren’t facing an Alex Grinch defense. Utah probably should have lost at Baylor early in the year, and they weren’t able to get anything going at Oregon State at the end of September. Washington has too much firepower for the Utes to keep pace with.
Washington 38, Utah 21
Miami (FL) v. No. 4 Florida State (-13.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Florida State has to be pushed to the limit at least once more this season, right? The ACC has been a joke this season, which is why I don’t think all that much about Florida State. Don’t get me wrong, the Seminoles have some talented players, I just wouldn’t pick them to beat some of the top teams in the country.
Not that Miami is one of the best teams in the country, but they do have some talent that could keep up with Florida State. Plus, the Hurricanes likely still have last year’s 45-3 loss to their rival still in their heads. What better way for Mario Cristobal to ease some of the pressure from a failed season than by handing the Seminoles their first loss of the year?
If Tyler Van Dyke plays smart football, Miami does have a chance to pull the upset on Saturday. Van Dyke can’t do what he did last week against NC State, where he threw three interceptions. While I don’t see the Hurricanes handing the Seminoles their first loss of the season, I do think Miami will be competitive in this contest.
Florida State 35, Miami (FL) 27
No. 13 Tennessee (-1.5) v. No. 14 Missouri - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
There are a number of entertaining games on the schedule for Saturday, but this could be one of those sneaky good games. Currently both teams are tied for second in the SEC East. While Missouri lost last week to Georgia, Tennessee knows it has an outside shot at heading to Atlanta if the Bulldogs slip up against Ole Miss this week. If Georgia loses and Tennessee beats Missouri on Saturday, then next week’s game against the Bulldogs in Knoxville will be for the SEC East crown.
Missouri has had a great season this year. Unfortunately, I think the Tigers have peaked. Much like when teams play Ohio State, a game against Georgia takes a lot out of teams. Plus, star wide receiver Luther Burden is banged up heading into this game, which will make moving the football against a stout Tennessee defense even tougher. Even though Brady Cook will do everything he can, the Volunteers are just a little too much for the Tigers.
Tennessee 31, Missouri 21
No. 9 Ole Miss v. No. 2 Georgia (-10.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
It feels like every week we are wondering just how good Georgia really is. The Bulldogs are still undefeated, they just aren’t nearly as dominant as they have been over the last two years. Kirby Smart has had to replace a lot of talent that is now playing in the NFL, and the injury to Brock Bowers has left quarterback Carson Beck without a true top threat in the passing game.
If only Ole Miss hadn’t fallen apart in the second half against Alabama, this would be the top game in the SEC this year. The Rebels can hurt through the air with Jaxson Dart, as well as on the ground with running back Quinshon Judkins. The only cause for concern for Ole Miss heading into this game is they might have gotten used to some home cooking, with four of their last five games being played in Oxford.
At some point Georgia is going to lose a game. This week’s game against Ole Miss is the toughest contest on the schedule so far this year for the Bulldogs. The Rebels are catching Georgia at the right time, since the Bulldogs are without their top offensive threat. If there ever was a time for Lane Kiffin to truly make some waves in the SEC, this would be the week. Even if Ole Miss doesn’t win this game, I think it comes down to the last possession.
Ole Miss 30, Georgia 27
No. 7 Texas (-10.5) v. TCU - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Regression was expected for TCU after last year’s run to the national title game. Even though another playoff run didn’t seem likely heading into the season, not many people expected the Horned Frogs to be struggling to reach .500. With their 35-28 loss to Texas Tech last week, TCU heads into this game with a 4-5 record. The biggest issue for the Horned Frogs is scoring the football, since they have scored 28 points or less in four of the last five games, losing all four of those contests.
After losing to Oklahoma last month, Texas knows they have no room for error if they want to make the College Football Playoff this season. The task got even tougher when quarterback Quinn Ewers was sidelined. Maalik Murphy has done a solid job stepping in for Ewers, but the Longhorns were playing with fire last week when they were nearly upset by Kansas State in Austin.
With games against Texas and Oklahoma still on the schedule, it’s going to be really tough for TCU to become bowl eligible this season. Even with the injury to Ewers, the Longhorns are still too good on both sides of the football for the Horned Frogs in this one. Texas extracts some revenge for TCU winning last year’s meeting between the schools in Austin.
Texas 34, TCU 17
USC v. No. 6 Oregon (-14.5) - 10:30 p.m. ET - FOX
I’ll never understand why it took Lincoln Riley this long to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Following last week’s 52-42 loss to Washington, Riley finally put on his big boy pants and dismissed the worst defensive coordinator in college football.
Now there really is only two games left in the college career of quarterback Caleb Williams. While Williams could come back next year, it wouldn’t make any sense for the probable top pick in April’s NFL Draft to not declare for the draft following USC’s regular season finale in a couple weeks against UCLA.
Unlike USC, Oregon has plenty left to play for. As long as they don’t drop another game, the Ducks are on a path to a rematch with Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Last week Oregon put 63 points up against Cal, and they could near that total this week against one of the worst defenses in the country. With a few more big games, Bo Nix could earn a spot in New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Heading into this week’s game, Nix has 30 total touchdowns this year.
At first glance this feels like a lot of points for Oregon to be laying against a high-powered offense. Just remember that USC doesn’t have much left to play for. Maybe the Trojans get up for this game and try to play spoiler, I just don’t see it happening. The Ducks are way too tough in Eugene for a soft team like USC to hang with them.
Oregon 52, USC 28
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LGHL Stock Market Report: The Buckeyes move to 9-0 on the season and 10-0 all-time against Rutgers
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Stock Market Report: The Buckeyes move to 9-0 on the season and 10-0 all-time against Rutgers
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
November means it’s winning season, no matter how it looks.
It was not as pretty as some people wanted it to be — let’s face it, that’s a high bar normally — but the No. 1 team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0), defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-3, 3-3) 35-16 to keep the undefeated season alive.
Now, the Buckeyes will turn their attention to the Michigan State Spartans (3-6, 1-5) as they head back to Columbus after a two game road stretch. Before that, let’s take a look at who helped and who/what hurt their stock this past weekend.
November football
There is nothing better than College Football in November. All the games matter, the leaves are off the trees, and the 3:30 games are half sunny and half under the lights, depending on where you live. The weather is perfect, the games matter more than ever, and it is just an awesome feeling.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25070340/usa_today_21817595.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Freshmen
Whether it was Jermaine Matthews Jr., Jordan Hancock, or Carnell Tate, the freshman class has had plenty of chances to prove themselves this season. Hancock was in the right place at the right time and possibly saved the Buckeyes season with his pick-six to start the second half after a Josh Proctor pass breakup. The freshmen on this team have had some chances to prove themselves, and it seems every time they get the chance, more often than not, they capitalize. And the best part is, they will be here for a while.
Playing Rutgers
You can’t beat perfect. Ohio State is now 10-0 against Rutgers in the all-time series history, and 35-16 is the closest game they have played. The Buckeyes have split it home and away, winning five of the games at home and five on the road. They average 51 points per game against the Scarlet Knights. The numbers don’t lie, and this has been as one-sided as one-sided gets.
Slow starts
This is something that has been a theme this season, and it is two-fold. On one hand, it is frustrating to see a team take a quarter or even a half at times to find a rhythm this late in the season. However, it is a good feeling to know that halftime adjustments are being made and working, and the Buckeyes can turn it on late in games and win going away.
However, you can do that against Maryland, Rutgers, and Wisconsin, and even Notre Dame or Penn State. That won’t work against Michigan, Georgia, or anyone else they may see in the postseason. The next two weeks are against inferior opponents, and they need to work on getting ahead early and closing the door shut.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25070342/usa_today_21817633.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buy: The running game
It feels weird to say with Miyan Williams out for the year and the coaching staff looking to maintain the redshirt status for Dallan Hayden (which makes sense when there are four running backs this season and you could be losing three of them), but the running game is improving each week.
Any great team is a two-dimensional offense, being able to move the ball down the field through the air and on the ground. Since TreVeyon Henderson returned from injury, the running game has been fantastic, plus he is a capable receiver out of the backfield. Henderson simply provides something that can take this offense and team to the next level.
Buy: Josh Proctor
Josh Proctor has had an up-and-down career at Ohio State, but for the most part, he has been an awesome piece to the ascension of the defense this season. He has made big play after big play, but was injured in the game. He looked to be active and cheering on the defense at the end of the afternoon, so let’s hope he is ready to go for the rest of the season.
Sell: Fake Punts
I don’t feel like I have to get too deep into this one. Let’s just not do it.
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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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
November means it’s winning season, no matter how it looks.
It was not as pretty as some people wanted it to be — let’s face it, that’s a high bar normally — but the No. 1 team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0), defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-3, 3-3) 35-16 to keep the undefeated season alive.
Now, the Buckeyes will turn their attention to the Michigan State Spartans (3-6, 1-5) as they head back to Columbus after a two game road stretch. Before that, let’s take a look at who helped and who/what hurt their stock this past weekend.
Blue Chip
November football
There is nothing better than College Football in November. All the games matter, the leaves are off the trees, and the 3:30 games are half sunny and half under the lights, depending on where you live. The weather is perfect, the games matter more than ever, and it is just an awesome feeling.
Solid Investments
Freshmen
Whether it was Jermaine Matthews Jr., Jordan Hancock, or Carnell Tate, the freshman class has had plenty of chances to prove themselves this season. Hancock was in the right place at the right time and possibly saved the Buckeyes season with his pick-six to start the second half after a Josh Proctor pass breakup. The freshmen on this team have had some chances to prove themselves, and it seems every time they get the chance, more often than not, they capitalize. And the best part is, they will be here for a while.
Playing Rutgers
You can’t beat perfect. Ohio State is now 10-0 against Rutgers in the all-time series history, and 35-16 is the closest game they have played. The Buckeyes have split it home and away, winning five of the games at home and five on the road. They average 51 points per game against the Scarlet Knights. The numbers don’t lie, and this has been as one-sided as one-sided gets.
Junk Bonds
Slow starts
This is something that has been a theme this season, and it is two-fold. On one hand, it is frustrating to see a team take a quarter or even a half at times to find a rhythm this late in the season. However, it is a good feeling to know that halftime adjustments are being made and working, and the Buckeyes can turn it on late in games and win going away.
However, you can do that against Maryland, Rutgers, and Wisconsin, and even Notre Dame or Penn State. That won’t work against Michigan, Georgia, or anyone else they may see in the postseason. The next two weeks are against inferior opponents, and they need to work on getting ahead early and closing the door shut.
Buy/Sell
Buy: The running game
It feels weird to say with Miyan Williams out for the year and the coaching staff looking to maintain the redshirt status for Dallan Hayden (which makes sense when there are four running backs this season and you could be losing three of them), but the running game is improving each week.
Any great team is a two-dimensional offense, being able to move the ball down the field through the air and on the ground. Since TreVeyon Henderson returned from injury, the running game has been fantastic, plus he is a capable receiver out of the backfield. Henderson simply provides something that can take this offense and team to the next level.
Buy: Josh Proctor
Josh Proctor has had an up-and-down career at Ohio State, but for the most part, he has been an awesome piece to the ascension of the defense this season. He has made big play after big play, but was injured in the game. He looked to be active and cheering on the defense at the end of the afternoon, so let’s hope he is ready to go for the rest of the season.
Sell: Fake Punts
I don’t feel like I have to get too deep into this one. Let’s just not do it.
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LGHL Five-star corner sets commitment date, Ohio State gearing up for impressive guest list for Saturday
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Five-star corner sets commitment date, Ohio State gearing up for impressive guest list for Saturday
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
A five-star DB trending towards the Buckeyes is set to announce his commitment in January.
One of the keys to Ohio State’s success on defense this season has been the play of the secondary, and specifically the cornerback position. Having some elite players has certainly helped, but the depth has also been critical to the defense as injuries can tally up in a grueling season. In the last two recruiting cycles, the staff has been able to land some major targets, and the amount of guys to join Ohio State’s roster has this position group heading back towards BIA status. The only thing left to do is keep that success going both on and off the field.
Fortunately, this 2025 cycle is looking like it’s going to be just like the last class and maybe even better when it comes to landing elite cornerbacks. After a visit to the Penn State game by the No. 6 player nationally and top cornerback in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Houston, Texas native Devin Sanchez has been linked to Ohio State. Whether it be by multiple Crystal Ball projections or his comments towards the Buckeyes, Sanchez is looking like a real possibility here for the Buckeyes to land, and his latest update shed light on when that could be coming.
Releasing a commitment date, Sanchez is set to announce his college decision on Jan. 6. Doing so live during the All-American Bowl, Devin is down to just Alabama, Texas A&M, and Ohio State. Though the other schools are definitely not out of it yet, the Buckeyes are in prime position here and just need to close this one out. With the momentum they have, this is a commitment that does seem to be coming. Tim Walton is doing a great job on the trail right now, and this looks like biggest focus.
The biggest recruiting weekend of the 2023 season was obviously Penn State, but every Saturday the Buckeyes are home it’s a chance for the staff to host several of their top targets both in-state and nationally. Like any other weekend, Ohio State is seeing their visitor list really take shape. When Michigan State comes to Columbus this Saturday, there will be plenty of top recruits on hand to see the Buckeyes continue their quest for a perfect regular season.
Starting with 2025 tight end target Emaree Winston, the 6-foot-2, 235 pound Georgia native will be making the trek north to see Ohio State. The No. 241 player nationally, Winston is the 11th best tight-end in the class per the 247Sports Composite A four-star talent with nearly 40 offers to his name, Winston is no stranger to Ohio State recruiting as he remains one of the more heavily recruited players at the position. Though he has that long list of offers in the fold, both the Buckeyes and Texas are the lone predictions on the Crystal Ball.
Getting him back on campus this weekend is another chance for position coach Keenan Bailey to build the relationship. Though his tenure as the position coach is newer, Coach Kee is crushing it when it comes to recruiting high-profile tight ends for this room. This Saturday should be no different.
Moving on to another big name, the Buckeyes will also be hosting Tennessee native and 2026 quarterback target Jared Curtis for this weekend’s contest. The No. 20 player nationally and the second ranked player at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Curtis is already seeing some major attention for his services. With nearly 30 offers to his name thus far, it’s easy to see why he’s so highly thought of when you turn on the film.
Just a high school sophomore, Curtis boasts offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, Ohio State, and plenty of others so his five-star status really isn’t a surprise. Being fortunate to lock up their 2025 signal caller already thanks to in-state native Tavien St. Clair, the Buckeyes can really hone in on 2026 quarterback recruiting efforts and Curtis will be a major part of that.
Getting him on campus this early into his career is a major win for Ohio State’s staff. When Ryan Day has his way of things, he tends to get who he wants at the position.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
A five-star DB trending towards the Buckeyes is set to announce his commitment in January.
One of the keys to Ohio State’s success on defense this season has been the play of the secondary, and specifically the cornerback position. Having some elite players has certainly helped, but the depth has also been critical to the defense as injuries can tally up in a grueling season. In the last two recruiting cycles, the staff has been able to land some major targets, and the amount of guys to join Ohio State’s roster has this position group heading back towards BIA status. The only thing left to do is keep that success going both on and off the field.
Fortunately, this 2025 cycle is looking like it’s going to be just like the last class and maybe even better when it comes to landing elite cornerbacks. After a visit to the Penn State game by the No. 6 player nationally and top cornerback in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Houston, Texas native Devin Sanchez has been linked to Ohio State. Whether it be by multiple Crystal Ball projections or his comments towards the Buckeyes, Sanchez is looking like a real possibility here for the Buckeyes to land, and his latest update shed light on when that could be coming.
Releasing a commitment date, Sanchez is set to announce his college decision on Jan. 6. Doing so live during the All-American Bowl, Devin is down to just Alabama, Texas A&M, and Ohio State. Though the other schools are definitely not out of it yet, the Buckeyes are in prime position here and just need to close this one out. With the momentum they have, this is a commitment that does seem to be coming. Tim Walton is doing a great job on the trail right now, and this looks like biggest focus.
Whole Nation Will Be Watching
️
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) November 9, 2023
Home game = big recruiting weekend
The biggest recruiting weekend of the 2023 season was obviously Penn State, but every Saturday the Buckeyes are home it’s a chance for the staff to host several of their top targets both in-state and nationally. Like any other weekend, Ohio State is seeing their visitor list really take shape. When Michigan State comes to Columbus this Saturday, there will be plenty of top recruits on hand to see the Buckeyes continue their quest for a perfect regular season.
Starting with 2025 tight end target Emaree Winston, the 6-foot-2, 235 pound Georgia native will be making the trek north to see Ohio State. The No. 241 player nationally, Winston is the 11th best tight-end in the class per the 247Sports Composite A four-star talent with nearly 40 offers to his name, Winston is no stranger to Ohio State recruiting as he remains one of the more heavily recruited players at the position. Though he has that long list of offers in the fold, both the Buckeyes and Texas are the lone predictions on the Crystal Ball.
Getting him back on campus this weekend is another chance for position coach Keenan Bailey to build the relationship. Though his tenure as the position coach is newer, Coach Kee is crushing it when it comes to recruiting high-profile tight ends for this room. This Saturday should be no different.
Moving on to another big name, the Buckeyes will also be hosting Tennessee native and 2026 quarterback target Jared Curtis for this weekend’s contest. The No. 20 player nationally and the second ranked player at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Curtis is already seeing some major attention for his services. With nearly 30 offers to his name thus far, it’s easy to see why he’s so highly thought of when you turn on the film.
Just a high school sophomore, Curtis boasts offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, Ohio State, and plenty of others so his five-star status really isn’t a surprise. Being fortunate to lock up their 2025 signal caller already thanks to in-state native Tavien St. Clair, the Buckeyes can really hone in on 2026 quarterback recruiting efforts and Curtis will be a major part of that.
Getting him on campus this early into his career is a major win for Ohio State’s staff. When Ryan Day has his way of things, he tends to get who he wants at the position.
Quick Hits
- A few more names that are visiting this weekend for good measure, Ohio State will play host to in-state lineman Adam Guthrie (Washington Court House, OH/Miami Trace). A 6-foot-7, 270 pound class of 2026 athlete, Guthrie currently holds two major offers from Kentucky and Purdue, but with the size he has and being an in-state kid, the Buckeyes are well within the know here and will continue to look after this recruitment.
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Ohio State vs. #15 Texas A&M, Nov 10, 2023, 7PM EST, Peacock
- By brodybuck21
- Buckeye Basketball
- 40 Replies
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas A&M Aggies: Preview, How to Watch
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies on Friday in a marquee non-conference matchup.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
The Ohio State Buckeyes will play one of their toughest non-conference games of the season on Friday night when they host the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies at Value City Arena.
Ohio State (1-0) is coming off a 79-73 win over Oakland on Monday in the season opener. The Buckeyes took the lead midway through the second half and didn't look back despite things being tight throughout. Neither team led by more than seven for the entire game.
Three players scored 17 points for the Buckeyes in the win. Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Zed Key will all be looking for similar performances against a Texas A&M (1-0) team that's coming off a route of Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday in a 78-46 win.
Despite getting bounced out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round last season, the Aggies finished 25-10 and arguably one of the worst-seeded teams in the tournament at No. 7. A&M made its second straight SEC title game before losing to Alabama.
The Aggies return a talented core that has proven to be productive since the end of their impressive run to the SEC Championship at the end of the 2021-22 season.
A key matchup to watch will be Ohio State's starting backcourt of Gayle Jr. and Thornton against Aggies star Wade Taylor IV and guards Tyrece Radford and Hayden Hefner. Taylor (16 points, six assists) and Hefner (19 points) were A&M's two leading scorers in Monday's win, and could be getting a bounce-back game from Radford, who was the team's second-leading scorer last season,
WHAT: Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
WHERE: Value City Arena - Columbus, Ohio (19,049)
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, 7 p.m. ET
HOW TO WATCH: Peacock
HOW TO LISTEN: WBNS-AM 1460 / WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan
LGHL Ohio State wrestling: A quick ‘23-24 season preview, plus highlights from the Buckeyes’ dominant performance(s) at the Clarion Open
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State wrestling: A quick ‘23-24 season preview, plus highlights from the Buckeyes’ dominant performance(s) at the Clarion Open
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Tom Ryan’s OSU squad will look much different on the mat this season, but expectations remain high.
After a bounceback season which saw Ohio State wrestling finish fourth at the NCAA Championships in March, Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes began their 2023-24 campaign in the Keystone State (PA) this past Sunday. But rather than heading east to take on one of Lehigh, Pitt, or Penn State – three of the best and most accomplished college wrestling programs in existence – OSU instead made the trip to participate in this year’s Clarion Open.
The Clarion is open to both collegiate and high school wrestlers, and serves as an exhibition of sorts for some of the country’s top up-and-comers. Ohio State did not compete for team accolades at the Clarion, but rather individual titles. Because unlike the more team-driven Cliff Keen Invitational and/or conference tourneys, these early November tournaments are often used to help determine lineups and evaluate younger wrestlers, of which the Scarlet and Gray have many... I’m talking like, a lot, a lot.
Though the Buckeyes are still expected to perform well in ’23-24, they might be the youngest team in or around the top-10 of most preseason rankings and/or polls. Intermat has OSU 12th in their tournament rankings, while the NCWA coaches’ poll has them 8th. But Ryan’s squad is or will be unproven at multiple weight classes, putting into question both floor and ceiling.
Gone (eligibility) are the likes of Malik Heinselman, Ethan Smith, Kaleb Romero, and Tate Orndorff, all of whom won at least 85 matches during their collegiate career(s). Also out of action, at least for the time being, is Sammy Sasso, a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up. The latter was the victim of a senseless and violent crime in August, but is now, thankfully, on the mend. Sasso seems determined to wrestle for Ohio State again in the future, and all of Buckeye Nation is certainly behind him.
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Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Replacing years of experience and guys who combined to wrestle hundreds (!) of Big Ten matches will be no easy task. However, Ryan and his impressive staff have plenty of young guns chomping at the bit to prove themselves and hopefully compete with Penn State for B1G and national supremacy. And they will not be going it alone.
Because not only is Sasso still in the picture to lend his voice and experience from afar, but OSU also returns a few veteran grapplers looking to take the next step. Dylan D’Emilio, Carson Kharchla, and Gavin Hoffman are the ‘old dogs’ this season, all of whom have qualified for the NCAAs but are still seeking their first top-5 finish.
As for those young guns previously mentioned, keep an eye on Nic Bouzakis (133 pounds), Nick Feldman (heavyweight), and Rocco Welsh (174), among others. Bouzakis and Feldman were both part of Ohio State’s historic 2022 recruiting class – along with Jesse Mendez who took 6th at the NCAAs last season – but took redshirts as true freshmen. They were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 overall in that ‘22 class, own incredibly impressive junior resumes, and are expected to be roster mainstays (if not stars) moving forward.
Welsh also earned several junior accolades and was the top-ranked recruit in this year’s Scarlet and Gray recruiting class. He started his first season off with a real bang, which is news I should probably just get to...
Welsh was one of four OSU competitors to go undefeated (5-0) and earn an individual title at the Clarion, joining D’Emilio, Feldman, and redshirt sophomore Paddy Gallagher (157) as champions. The true freshman wrestled a trio of close(ish) matches, including his defeat of Navy’s Sammy Starr in the 174 finals. D’Emilio, Feldman, and Gallagher, on the other hand, combined to earn several major decisions and/or tech falls, winning their respective titles in slightly more dominant fashion. But a title is a title, and Welsh certainly impressed in his first official collegiate event.
It should be noted that Mendez and Kharchla also went undefeated, technically speaking. However, the former agreed to a no contest outcome in the 141 final, in lieu of facing teammate and fellow Buckeye Brandon Cannon, who Mendez previously defeated in a wrestle-off. The latter bowed out due to medical forfeit after three wins, hopefully for precautionary reasons.
Elsewhere, Isaac Wilcox impressed at 165 (2nd place, 4-1 record) and Bouzakis finished 4th at 133, starting hot but fading late. He (Bouzakis) racked up two falls in his first two matches but cooled off against Pitt’s Vincent Santaniello and Columbia’s Angelo Rini. True freshman Ryder Rogotzke also impressed at 184, wrestling seven times (!) to earn 5th place.
It is shaping up to be an entertaining/interesting/who the heck knows sort of 2023-24 season for Ohio State wrestling, and it begins in earnest this weekend. The Buckeyes hit the road on Friday, to grapple with a top-5 or borderline top-5 Virginia Tech squad, before welcoming Edinboro to Covelli Center on Sunday... A nice little double dip to get things started.
So fire up those ACCN+ and BTN+ streaming apps and make sure to catch Scarlet and Gray singlets in action.
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
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Tom Ryan’s OSU squad will look much different on the mat this season, but expectations remain high.
After a bounceback season which saw Ohio State wrestling finish fourth at the NCAA Championships in March, Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes began their 2023-24 campaign in the Keystone State (PA) this past Sunday. But rather than heading east to take on one of Lehigh, Pitt, or Penn State – three of the best and most accomplished college wrestling programs in existence – OSU instead made the trip to participate in this year’s Clarion Open.
The Clarion is open to both collegiate and high school wrestlers, and serves as an exhibition of sorts for some of the country’s top up-and-comers. Ohio State did not compete for team accolades at the Clarion, but rather individual titles. Because unlike the more team-driven Cliff Keen Invitational and/or conference tourneys, these early November tournaments are often used to help determine lineups and evaluate younger wrestlers, of which the Scarlet and Gray have many... I’m talking like, a lot, a lot.
Heading back to Columbus with some hardware Full recap of the Clarion Open
https://t.co/TOZnAoBlLF#GoBucks
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) November 6, 2023
Though the Buckeyes are still expected to perform well in ’23-24, they might be the youngest team in or around the top-10 of most preseason rankings and/or polls. Intermat has OSU 12th in their tournament rankings, while the NCWA coaches’ poll has them 8th. But Ryan’s squad is or will be unproven at multiple weight classes, putting into question both floor and ceiling.
Gone (eligibility) are the likes of Malik Heinselman, Ethan Smith, Kaleb Romero, and Tate Orndorff, all of whom won at least 85 matches during their collegiate career(s). Also out of action, at least for the time being, is Sammy Sasso, a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up. The latter was the victim of a senseless and violent crime in August, but is now, thankfully, on the mend. Sasso seems determined to wrestle for Ohio State again in the future, and all of Buckeye Nation is certainly behind him.
Replacing years of experience and guys who combined to wrestle hundreds (!) of Big Ten matches will be no easy task. However, Ryan and his impressive staff have plenty of young guns chomping at the bit to prove themselves and hopefully compete with Penn State for B1G and national supremacy. And they will not be going it alone.
Because not only is Sasso still in the picture to lend his voice and experience from afar, but OSU also returns a few veteran grapplers looking to take the next step. Dylan D’Emilio, Carson Kharchla, and Gavin Hoffman are the ‘old dogs’ this season, all of whom have qualified for the NCAAs but are still seeking their first top-5 finish.
As for those young guns previously mentioned, keep an eye on Nic Bouzakis (133 pounds), Nick Feldman (heavyweight), and Rocco Welsh (174), among others. Bouzakis and Feldman were both part of Ohio State’s historic 2022 recruiting class – along with Jesse Mendez who took 6th at the NCAAs last season – but took redshirts as true freshmen. They were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 overall in that ‘22 class, own incredibly impressive junior resumes, and are expected to be roster mainstays (if not stars) moving forward.
Welsh also earned several junior accolades and was the top-ranked recruit in this year’s Scarlet and Gray recruiting class. He started his first season off with a real bang, which is news I should probably just get to...
Welsh was one of four OSU competitors to go undefeated (5-0) and earn an individual title at the Clarion, joining D’Emilio, Feldman, and redshirt sophomore Paddy Gallagher (157) as champions. The true freshman wrestled a trio of close(ish) matches, including his defeat of Navy’s Sammy Starr in the 174 finals. D’Emilio, Feldman, and Gallagher, on the other hand, combined to earn several major decisions and/or tech falls, winning their respective titles in slightly more dominant fashion. But a title is a title, and Welsh certainly impressed in his first official collegiate event.
It should be noted that Mendez and Kharchla also went undefeated, technically speaking. However, the former agreed to a no contest outcome in the 141 final, in lieu of facing teammate and fellow Buckeye Brandon Cannon, who Mendez previously defeated in a wrestle-off. The latter bowed out due to medical forfeit after three wins, hopefully for precautionary reasons.
Elsewhere, Isaac Wilcox impressed at 165 (2nd place, 4-1 record) and Bouzakis finished 4th at 133, starting hot but fading late. He (Bouzakis) racked up two falls in his first two matches but cooled off against Pitt’s Vincent Santaniello and Columbia’s Angelo Rini. True freshman Ryder Rogotzke also impressed at 184, wrestling seven times (!) to earn 5th place.
It is shaping up to be an entertaining/interesting/who the heck knows sort of 2023-24 season for Ohio State wrestling, and it begins in earnest this weekend. The Buckeyes hit the road on Friday, to grapple with a top-5 or borderline top-5 Virginia Tech squad, before welcoming Edinboro to Covelli Center on Sunday... A nice little double dip to get things started.
So fire up those ACCN+ and BTN+ streaming apps and make sure to catch Scarlet and Gray singlets in action.
Continue reading...