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LGHL Column: A guide on who to cheer for in March with Ohio State not in the Men’s NCAA Tournament
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Column: A guide on who to cheer for in March with Ohio State not in the Men’s NCAA Tournament
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes failed to make the NCAA Tournament, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t watch — or wager money (responsibly) — on the games.
The madness is here, and if you are not one of the millions of people who will attend or watch the games because Ohio State is not involved, you will be missing out. March Madness brings wall-to-wall, all day college sports that are entertaining. Fill out a bracket, both men’s and women’s, and you will see just how fun the commitment to the first weekend is.
Unfortunately, Ohio State is not in the men’s tournament, and I’d be incredibly off-base writing about who we should cheer for given the circumstances without mentioning the women’s basketball team. Despite battling injuries all season long, the Buckeyes landed themselves a spot in the tournament as a No. 3 seed.
With one true juggernaut in UConn in the way, there is a real possibility Coach McGuff’s squad goes on a deep run. Rooting for Taylor Mikesell, Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon, and company is the best place to turn your Scarlet-and-Gray rooting interest.
Now back to the men’s tournament. There will be plenty of storylines and numbers thrown at you during the first four days of the tournament. During the first 34 basketball games on Thursday and Friday, upsets and rooting on the spectacle is where it starts. There are not many sporting events that give you close to 48 hours of pure chaos, but that is the college basketball tournament.
Once that spectacle is over, and the teeth are sunk in, there is a bunch of different ways to find fandom through the tournament and here is the ultimate fan guide to finding a team to root for.
via GIPHY
Year in and year out the Big Ten is one of the most represented conferences at the NCAA Tournament, and that is the case once again this year with eight out of 14 teams making the field. Now, conference pride doesn’t run as deep in these parts, but there is something to see about the conference succeeding at the highest level. The goal should be to get at least one team to the Final Four and not have any teams bounced in the Round of 64.
Looking at the teams remaining from the conference, Purdue is off the rooting list for beating the Buckeyes, as are the Hawkeyes due to Fran McCaffrey, and any other teams with an old unlikable coach. That leaves this list:
Penn State (10-Seed in Midwest Region): Led by Micah Shrewsbury, the Penn State Nittany Lions went on a similarly magical run in the Big Ten Tournament until they fell short in the finals. Led by experienced guards Jalen Pickett, Andrew Funk, and been there forever forward Seth Lundy, this teams wins games ugly which is a skill come tournament time.
Indiana (4-Seed in Midwest Region): Trayce Jackson-Davis could catch a lob if you threw the ball out of the concourse area of any arena. As a team, the Hoosiers disappointed down the stretch. They will be looking to bounce back with a strong tournament from Jalen Hood-Schifino and known Buckeye irritant Miller Kopp. The talent is there, but if the defense doesn’t improve the tournament may end quick if shots aren’t falling.
Northwestern (7-Seed in West Region): The nerds made it. That is not something that is common, but they are arguably the most likable team to root for from the Big Ten given their roster turnover coming into the year and the consistency they played with on the season in spite of the turnover. Hearing the large number of journalists put their fan hats on is never fun, but I’m still going to be thinking purple this March.
UCLA (4-Seed in West Region): They are not officially members of the Big Ten yet, but the idea of UCLA joining the Big Ten was strange until the basketball history was brought to the conversation. Losing a versatile defensive stopper in Jaylen Clark won’t help, but having PAc-12 player of the Jaime Jacquez Jr. should give the Bruins the fire power to make some noise in the West Region.
Every year there is a group of bracket busters. Last year’s was St. Peter’s, and looking back in the tournament over the last decade there is always one plucky underdog who goes even further than anyone believes. This year the group has some names that are a little more familiar to the area, and this tends to be where America leans in their interest as the tournament progresses.
Kent State (13-Seed Midwest Region): That is MAC Champion Kent State Golden Flashes to you, and to any doubters of the team hailing from northeast Ohio. Led by All-Tournament Name team guard Sincere Carry, the Golden Flashes have averaged 76 points per game on the year. They play a fun brand of basketball and guard play matters in March, this group has a tough first round matchup against Indiana. If they are able to advance, then the Flashes could make some serious noise.
Iona (13-Seed West Region): Now “root for” is a loose term here, but the Rick Pitino redemption tour is on its final stop before he gets a major college basketball coaching job again. Iona is a fun basketball team, they are a high-seed, and they will win a game in this tournament. Wager responsibly.
11-Seeds (Every Region): According to the NCAA website, 11-seeds are 54 out of 144 in opening matchups at the tournament. That means one-in-three games involves an 11 over six upset. Five 11-seeds have made the Final Four, with the most recent being UCLA, and 24 have gone to at least the Sweet 16. If you want to sound smart, and put the cart in front of an 11-seed horse, make sure you pick any of Pitt, Providence, NC State, or Arizona State/Nevada to make a run.
This is an incredibly subjective category, but the idea behind it is there is always “Blue Blood” that finds their rhythm in March. Being a bandwagon fan is problematic behavior — looking at you Ohio State football/Duke basketball fans. But when it comes tournament time occasionally there is a story or two that can get a person to cheer for even the biggest programs.
Kentucky (6-Seed East): There is probably little possibility to convert any non-casual college basketball fans into rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats, I know. With that being said, Oscar Tshiebwe is a workhorse that deserves respect. He’s an old school big who gets boards and dunks. Leading this team that has some talented guards coming on late has me feeling a deep Wildcats run, especially with John Calipari on the hot seat.
Kansas (1-Seed West): Bill Self has taken on the NCAA over the past few years and is the driving force behind the “what are you going to do” attitude many coaches have taken with the organization. This team is not as good as last year’s, but they are playing for their coach who recently went through a serious health issue. Jalen Wilson is one of the best all-around players in the tournament, and if you’re into villains look no further than Gradey Dick.
This one is easy. If your bracket is doing well you will have the teams you need to root for preplanned for you. There is not a better feeling than seeing the bracket that was meticulously put together having success.
There are just teams that unlikable for a long list of reasons. They either have front runners, an annoying way to win basketball games, or have been in the news a lot of a truly tragic story that was handled poorly by a university. These teams are very clearly not all in the same category of “not able to root for,” but for reasons no one should support these teams in March.
Alabama: I am definitely not a lawyer, and will not pretend to understand the complexities of what goes in a courtroom. That being said, the way head coach Nate Oats handled the Darius Miles-Brandon Miller situation was appalling. Wrong place wrong time is not an excuse, and this team does not deserve a happy ending.
Purdue: Still bitter, maybe. But having a 7-foot-4 behemoth is not fun to watch. Zach Edey is playing basketball on a toy basket, at least a few years ago their guard play was fun. Now the games involving Purdue include up to 40 possessions of throwing a ball down on the low block. It is insufferable and there is a reason they have only been to five Elite Eights. It’s because they’re not winners, they’re just taller.
Duke: It does not matter that Coach K has retired, they’re still Duke and are an insufferable fanbase at all times. The worst part about Duke is hearing how some guy in Southern California fell in love with Kyle Singler’s run in the tournament. Just say you’re a front runner, it’s more commendable.
Virginia: Boring, boring, boring Tony Elliott’s teams have been described as. No one watches snail racing unironically, so why would anyone want to watch Virginia basketball without being a fan of the Cavaliers. The only fun anyone has had watching Virginia play basketball is when they got beat by a 16-seed.
Now that the guide is complete, there is plenty of reasons to not agree with any of these choices. The tournament will bring us together, and tear us apart all the same. This is always the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans, there is games on from morning until late at night.
Underdogs always find a way in March to have a little fun, and America always finds a team to get behind. Even if your bracket is busted early, don’t give up on watching the NCAA tournament. There are still so many ways to get engaged with these incredible basketball games. March is about the madness and aligning yourself with the chaos will make the coming weeks that much more invigorating.
There is nothing else to do, but put the PTO you banked, find a local watering hole, and take in the wonderful madness of March.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes failed to make the NCAA Tournament, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t watch — or wager money (responsibly) — on the games.
The madness is here, and if you are not one of the millions of people who will attend or watch the games because Ohio State is not involved, you will be missing out. March Madness brings wall-to-wall, all day college sports that are entertaining. Fill out a bracket, both men’s and women’s, and you will see just how fun the commitment to the first weekend is.
Unfortunately, Ohio State is not in the men’s tournament, and I’d be incredibly off-base writing about who we should cheer for given the circumstances without mentioning the women’s basketball team. Despite battling injuries all season long, the Buckeyes landed themselves a spot in the tournament as a No. 3 seed.
With one true juggernaut in UConn in the way, there is a real possibility Coach McGuff’s squad goes on a deep run. Rooting for Taylor Mikesell, Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon, and company is the best place to turn your Scarlet-and-Gray rooting interest.
Now back to the men’s tournament. There will be plenty of storylines and numbers thrown at you during the first four days of the tournament. During the first 34 basketball games on Thursday and Friday, upsets and rooting on the spectacle is where it starts. There are not many sporting events that give you close to 48 hours of pure chaos, but that is the college basketball tournament.
Once that spectacle is over, and the teeth are sunk in, there is a bunch of different ways to find fandom through the tournament and here is the ultimate fan guide to finding a team to root for.
via GIPHY
Conference Allies, but for how long?
Year in and year out the Big Ten is one of the most represented conferences at the NCAA Tournament, and that is the case once again this year with eight out of 14 teams making the field. Now, conference pride doesn’t run as deep in these parts, but there is something to see about the conference succeeding at the highest level. The goal should be to get at least one team to the Final Four and not have any teams bounced in the Round of 64.
Looking at the teams remaining from the conference, Purdue is off the rooting list for beating the Buckeyes, as are the Hawkeyes due to Fran McCaffrey, and any other teams with an old unlikable coach. That leaves this list:
Penn State (10-Seed in Midwest Region): Led by Micah Shrewsbury, the Penn State Nittany Lions went on a similarly magical run in the Big Ten Tournament until they fell short in the finals. Led by experienced guards Jalen Pickett, Andrew Funk, and been there forever forward Seth Lundy, this teams wins games ugly which is a skill come tournament time.
Indiana (4-Seed in Midwest Region): Trayce Jackson-Davis could catch a lob if you threw the ball out of the concourse area of any arena. As a team, the Hoosiers disappointed down the stretch. They will be looking to bounce back with a strong tournament from Jalen Hood-Schifino and known Buckeye irritant Miller Kopp. The talent is there, but if the defense doesn’t improve the tournament may end quick if shots aren’t falling.
Northwestern (7-Seed in West Region): The nerds made it. That is not something that is common, but they are arguably the most likable team to root for from the Big Ten given their roster turnover coming into the year and the consistency they played with on the season in spite of the turnover. Hearing the large number of journalists put their fan hats on is never fun, but I’m still going to be thinking purple this March.
UCLA (4-Seed in West Region): They are not officially members of the Big Ten yet, but the idea of UCLA joining the Big Ten was strange until the basketball history was brought to the conversation. Losing a versatile defensive stopper in Jaylen Clark won’t help, but having PAc-12 player of the Jaime Jacquez Jr. should give the Bruins the fire power to make some noise in the West Region.
Wiley Underdogs to watch for
Every year there is a group of bracket busters. Last year’s was St. Peter’s, and looking back in the tournament over the last decade there is always one plucky underdog who goes even further than anyone believes. This year the group has some names that are a little more familiar to the area, and this tends to be where America leans in their interest as the tournament progresses.
Kent State (13-Seed Midwest Region): That is MAC Champion Kent State Golden Flashes to you, and to any doubters of the team hailing from northeast Ohio. Led by All-Tournament Name team guard Sincere Carry, the Golden Flashes have averaged 76 points per game on the year. They play a fun brand of basketball and guard play matters in March, this group has a tough first round matchup against Indiana. If they are able to advance, then the Flashes could make some serious noise.
Iona (13-Seed West Region): Now “root for” is a loose term here, but the Rick Pitino redemption tour is on its final stop before he gets a major college basketball coaching job again. Iona is a fun basketball team, they are a high-seed, and they will win a game in this tournament. Wager responsibly.
11-Seeds (Every Region): According to the NCAA website, 11-seeds are 54 out of 144 in opening matchups at the tournament. That means one-in-three games involves an 11 over six upset. Five 11-seeds have made the Final Four, with the most recent being UCLA, and 24 have gone to at least the Sweet 16. If you want to sound smart, and put the cart in front of an 11-seed horse, make sure you pick any of Pitt, Providence, NC State, or Arizona State/Nevada to make a run.
The least unlikable “Blue Bloods”
This is an incredibly subjective category, but the idea behind it is there is always “Blue Blood” that finds their rhythm in March. Being a bandwagon fan is problematic behavior — looking at you Ohio State football/Duke basketball fans. But when it comes tournament time occasionally there is a story or two that can get a person to cheer for even the biggest programs.
Kentucky (6-Seed East): There is probably little possibility to convert any non-casual college basketball fans into rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats, I know. With that being said, Oscar Tshiebwe is a workhorse that deserves respect. He’s an old school big who gets boards and dunks. Leading this team that has some talented guards coming on late has me feeling a deep Wildcats run, especially with John Calipari on the hot seat.
Kansas (1-Seed West): Bill Self has taken on the NCAA over the past few years and is the driving force behind the “what are you going to do” attitude many coaches have taken with the organization. This team is not as good as last year’s, but they are playing for their coach who recently went through a serious health issue. Jalen Wilson is one of the best all-around players in the tournament, and if you’re into villains look no further than Gradey Dick.
Your Bracket
This one is easy. If your bracket is doing well you will have the teams you need to root for preplanned for you. There is not a better feeling than seeing the bracket that was meticulously put together having success.
And definitely not any of these teams...
There are just teams that unlikable for a long list of reasons. They either have front runners, an annoying way to win basketball games, or have been in the news a lot of a truly tragic story that was handled poorly by a university. These teams are very clearly not all in the same category of “not able to root for,” but for reasons no one should support these teams in March.
Alabama: I am definitely not a lawyer, and will not pretend to understand the complexities of what goes in a courtroom. That being said, the way head coach Nate Oats handled the Darius Miles-Brandon Miller situation was appalling. Wrong place wrong time is not an excuse, and this team does not deserve a happy ending.
Purdue: Still bitter, maybe. But having a 7-foot-4 behemoth is not fun to watch. Zach Edey is playing basketball on a toy basket, at least a few years ago their guard play was fun. Now the games involving Purdue include up to 40 possessions of throwing a ball down on the low block. It is insufferable and there is a reason they have only been to five Elite Eights. It’s because they’re not winners, they’re just taller.
Duke: It does not matter that Coach K has retired, they’re still Duke and are an insufferable fanbase at all times. The worst part about Duke is hearing how some guy in Southern California fell in love with Kyle Singler’s run in the tournament. Just say you’re a front runner, it’s more commendable.
Virginia: Boring, boring, boring Tony Elliott’s teams have been described as. No one watches snail racing unironically, so why would anyone want to watch Virginia basketball without being a fan of the Cavaliers. The only fun anyone has had watching Virginia play basketball is when they got beat by a 16-seed.
Now that the guide is complete, there is plenty of reasons to not agree with any of these choices. The tournament will bring us together, and tear us apart all the same. This is always the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans, there is games on from morning until late at night.
Underdogs always find a way in March to have a little fun, and America always finds a team to get behind. Even if your bracket is busted early, don’t give up on watching the NCAA tournament. There are still so many ways to get engaged with these incredible basketball games. March is about the madness and aligning yourself with the chaos will make the coming weeks that much more invigorating.
There is nothing else to do, but put the PTO you banked, find a local watering hole, and take in the wonderful madness of March.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the key gap you think Ohio State needs to fill during spring practice?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What is the key gap you think Ohio State needs to fill during spring practice?
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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Spring football is a time for hope. The slate is washed clean. Possibility is in the air. As fans, it can feel like we’re always on the cusp of the perfect season.
But in order for the season to go the way fans hope it will, spring football is also a time for fixing issues and filling gaps — before our opponents can exploit them in games.
This season (and not for the first time in recent memory), it is absolutely crucial for the Buckeyes to figure out their starting safeties and make the position group airtight. The safety dance might famously be for Men Without Hats, but it’s also for men with helmets, my friends.
There’s a gap at safety for several reasons, the obvious one being that only one starting safety is returning this year. Barring insane unforeseen circumstances, Lathan Ransom will start for the second year in a row. Ransom, a fourth year, filled the Bandit safety position last season — and he returns with something to prove.
Because the second gap is performance. After a series of high-profile failures in high stakes games last season, including a notable one by Ransom (OK, I know I said the slate is washed clean. But we don’t forget, even if we forgive), both defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano need to use spring football to ensure the safeties aren’t a weak link.
If you’ll recall, TTUN scored a huge 75-yard touchdown when Michigan wideout Cameron Johnson was able to get OSU safety Cameron Martinez tangled up.
Now, the safeties were certainly not the only issue in the Michigan game last season (see also: a defensive breakdown much larger than the safeties), but this play in particular was one that should have been executed better, and it essentially gift-wrapped that touchdown for our archrivals.
But perhaps the more memorable of the high-profile slipups was Ransom himself, quite literally slipping on a game-changing play in the Peach Bowl against Georgia. Ransom’s missed play came on a 76-yard touchdown pass to Bulldogs’ wide receiver Arian Smith in a game the Buckeyes lost by a mere one point. And let’s be honest, had we won that game, we would probably have a National Championship trophy to show for last season. So this was costly. It was also disappointing from a player who had a strong regular season and came to be a steady force for the defense.
These high-stakes errors can’t happen again, certainly not if the Buckeyes want to be title contenders. Heck, they can’t happen if we want to beat Michigan (please God, I can’t handle a three-peat). Spring football is the time to fill this gap. It will require some puzzling — which pieces are the right pieces, and how do they fit in the most effective way?
With Ransom seemingly a lock in the starting position and hopefully ready for redemption, that leaves OSU with three more starters to decide on.
It remains to be seen whether Ransom will remain in the Bandit position or whether he will move to free safety, where some have said he’s a more natural fit. This could pave the way for Josh Proctor or Sonny Styles to fill the Bandit role.
Proctor, returning for his sixth season of eligibility (taking advantage of the additional year provided to any college athlete in 2020), began 2022 as the starting strong safety but was replaced by Ransom after a major mistake led to a 54-yard touchdown on OSU’s opening defensive play of the Notre Dame game.
Styles, for his part, was part of the 2022 recruiting class. The son of former Buckeye linebacker Lorenzo Styles, is very much in the mix for the starting job, and spring could be his time to step up.
Meanwhile, Martinez, a senior, still has something to prove from the Michigan game, along with Kye Stokes, a sophomore who could be ready to shine. It also remains to be seen how newcomers Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter factor in, with Carter, a transfer from Syracuse, being discussed as a possible starter in the Nickel slot, where he played with success on his previous team.
It’s not just the players who we’re keeping an eye on though. Eliano and Knowles need to make sure that wherever they land on the starting lineup, each of the positions is well-equipped to be playmakers even in the highest stakes’ situations. All eyes are on Knowles this year, and the safeties’ collapse in the big games is one of the key reasons.
The safeties cannot (and frankly, with this talent, should not) be the weak link, and it is in everyone’s best interest to make this gap a focal point for spring football so as not to be caught sleeping come fall.
Jami’s on the right path, the correct answer is in the secondary, but it’s clearly the cornerbacks, not the safeties; and if you don’t want to take my word for it, in our most recent LGHL Asks poll, Buckeye fans agreed by an overwhelming margin.
I feel fairly comfortable in saying that the cornerbacks were the worst position group last season for the Buckeyes and that they really need to improve in order for OSU to get back to where they need to be. The team entered the 2022 season with only six scholarship players in the room, and then the top three of them all sustained injuries of varying severity during fall camp. So, that meant that a position that was already markedly undermanned would be even more inexperienced and untested. The injuries to the CBs ebbed and flowed last year, but the group never seemed to gel. However, I do think that there is talent there.
Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock are both back, and if they are healthy, that is a good pair of guys to have at the top of the rotation. Ohio State brought in former Freshman All-American Davison Igbinosun from Ole Miss — even though the Buckeyes currently have him listed as a safety — but he should be an important addition to the cornerback room. He is a big guy with experience facing off with some of the best wide receivers in the country.
When you mix in talented young guys like Jyaire Brown, Jermaine Mathews Jr., and Ryan Turner you might just have the makings of a decent room. I still think they are a quality guy or two short of being in an ideal situation, but I understand the difficulties of roster management might not allow them to add another CB to the room.
So, over the course of the next 13 practices, I am anxious to hear how Burke and Hancock rebound from disappointing 2022 seasons, how Igbinosun fits in with the Buckeye scheme and plans, and if the younger, less experienced CBs can push for playing time. There are obviously other areas of the team that need attention and improvement, but if the corners can take a major step forward in 2023, that is a huge bonus for the Buckeyes.
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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What is the key gap you think Ohio State needs to fill during spring practice?
Jami’s Take: Safeties
Spring football is a time for hope. The slate is washed clean. Possibility is in the air. As fans, it can feel like we’re always on the cusp of the perfect season.
But in order for the season to go the way fans hope it will, spring football is also a time for fixing issues and filling gaps — before our opponents can exploit them in games.
This season (and not for the first time in recent memory), it is absolutely crucial for the Buckeyes to figure out their starting safeties and make the position group airtight. The safety dance might famously be for Men Without Hats, but it’s also for men with helmets, my friends.
There’s a gap at safety for several reasons, the obvious one being that only one starting safety is returning this year. Barring insane unforeseen circumstances, Lathan Ransom will start for the second year in a row. Ransom, a fourth year, filled the Bandit safety position last season — and he returns with something to prove.
Because the second gap is performance. After a series of high-profile failures in high stakes games last season, including a notable one by Ransom (OK, I know I said the slate is washed clean. But we don’t forget, even if we forgive), both defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano need to use spring football to ensure the safeties aren’t a weak link.
If you’ll recall, TTUN scored a huge 75-yard touchdown when Michigan wideout Cameron Johnson was able to get OSU safety Cameron Martinez tangled up.
Now, the safeties were certainly not the only issue in the Michigan game last season (see also: a defensive breakdown much larger than the safeties), but this play in particular was one that should have been executed better, and it essentially gift-wrapped that touchdown for our archrivals.
But perhaps the more memorable of the high-profile slipups was Ransom himself, quite literally slipping on a game-changing play in the Peach Bowl against Georgia. Ransom’s missed play came on a 76-yard touchdown pass to Bulldogs’ wide receiver Arian Smith in a game the Buckeyes lost by a mere one point. And let’s be honest, had we won that game, we would probably have a National Championship trophy to show for last season. So this was costly. It was also disappointing from a player who had a strong regular season and came to be a steady force for the defense.
These high-stakes errors can’t happen again, certainly not if the Buckeyes want to be title contenders. Heck, they can’t happen if we want to beat Michigan (please God, I can’t handle a three-peat). Spring football is the time to fill this gap. It will require some puzzling — which pieces are the right pieces, and how do they fit in the most effective way?
With Ransom seemingly a lock in the starting position and hopefully ready for redemption, that leaves OSU with three more starters to decide on.
It remains to be seen whether Ransom will remain in the Bandit position or whether he will move to free safety, where some have said he’s a more natural fit. This could pave the way for Josh Proctor or Sonny Styles to fill the Bandit role.
Proctor, returning for his sixth season of eligibility (taking advantage of the additional year provided to any college athlete in 2020), began 2022 as the starting strong safety but was replaced by Ransom after a major mistake led to a 54-yard touchdown on OSU’s opening defensive play of the Notre Dame game.
Styles, for his part, was part of the 2022 recruiting class. The son of former Buckeye linebacker Lorenzo Styles, is very much in the mix for the starting job, and spring could be his time to step up.
Meanwhile, Martinez, a senior, still has something to prove from the Michigan game, along with Kye Stokes, a sophomore who could be ready to shine. It also remains to be seen how newcomers Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter factor in, with Carter, a transfer from Syracuse, being discussed as a possible starter in the Nickel slot, where he played with success on his previous team.
It’s not just the players who we’re keeping an eye on though. Eliano and Knowles need to make sure that wherever they land on the starting lineup, each of the positions is well-equipped to be playmakers even in the highest stakes’ situations. All eyes are on Knowles this year, and the safeties’ collapse in the big games is one of the key reasons.
The safeties cannot (and frankly, with this talent, should not) be the weak link, and it is in everyone’s best interest to make this gap a focal point for spring football so as not to be caught sleeping come fall.
Matt’s Take: Cornerbacks
Jami’s on the right path, the correct answer is in the secondary, but it’s clearly the cornerbacks, not the safeties; and if you don’t want to take my word for it, in our most recent LGHL Asks poll, Buckeye fans agreed by an overwhelming margin.
I feel fairly comfortable in saying that the cornerbacks were the worst position group last season for the Buckeyes and that they really need to improve in order for OSU to get back to where they need to be. The team entered the 2022 season with only six scholarship players in the room, and then the top three of them all sustained injuries of varying severity during fall camp. So, that meant that a position that was already markedly undermanned would be even more inexperienced and untested. The injuries to the CBs ebbed and flowed last year, but the group never seemed to gel. However, I do think that there is talent there.
Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock are both back, and if they are healthy, that is a good pair of guys to have at the top of the rotation. Ohio State brought in former Freshman All-American Davison Igbinosun from Ole Miss — even though the Buckeyes currently have him listed as a safety — but he should be an important addition to the cornerback room. He is a big guy with experience facing off with some of the best wide receivers in the country.
When you mix in talented young guys like Jyaire Brown, Jermaine Mathews Jr., and Ryan Turner you might just have the makings of a decent room. I still think they are a quality guy or two short of being in an ideal situation, but I understand the difficulties of roster management might not allow them to add another CB to the room.
So, over the course of the next 13 practices, I am anxious to hear how Burke and Hancock rebound from disappointing 2022 seasons, how Igbinosun fits in with the Buckeye scheme and plans, and if the younger, less experienced CBs can push for playing time. There are obviously other areas of the team that need attention and improvement, but if the corners can take a major step forward in 2023, that is a huge bonus for the Buckeyes.
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LGHL Play Like a Girl Podcast: Breaking down the men’s and women’s NCAA brackets
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Play Like a Girl Podcast: Breaking down the men’s and women’s NCAA brackets
JamiJurich 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
From the Big Ten Tournament to March Madness, we’re talking all things men’s and women’s basketball.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Megan and Jami talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Welcome back to the Play Like a Girl podcast, where March Madness is finally upon us! This week, Megan and Jami break down the men’s and women’s basketball Big Ten Tournaments, including the men’s miraculous run and the women’s upset victory over No. 1-seed Indiana.
Then it’s time to break down those brackets! From Selection Sunday surprises to exciting matchups and the possibility for mayhem, our hosts are here with their spiciest basketball takes and predictions for the Tournament on both the men’s and women’s side.
Check out the full pod for more.
Contact Megan Husslein:
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
JamiJurich 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
From the Big Ten Tournament to March Madness, we’re talking all things men’s and women’s basketball.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Megan and Jami talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Welcome back to the Play Like a Girl podcast, where March Madness is finally upon us! This week, Megan and Jami break down the men’s and women’s basketball Big Ten Tournaments, including the men’s miraculous run and the women’s upset victory over No. 1-seed Indiana.
Then it’s time to break down those brackets! From Selection Sunday surprises to exciting matchups and the possibility for mayhem, our hosts are here with their spiciest basketball takes and predictions for the Tournament on both the men’s and women’s side.
Check out the full pod for more.
Contact Megan Husslein:
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich:
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
