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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which former Ohio State player had the best Super Bowl performance?
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You’re Nuts: Which former Ohio State player had the best Super Bowl performance?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
When we look at historic Buckeye Super Bowl performances, the obvious choice here is Santonio Holmes. He’s the only Buckeye in history to win the Super Bowl MVP award, a title he earned in 2009 after he helped the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals with 9 catches for 131 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the final minute in Super Bowl XLIII.
Alternatively, we did say “Best Performance,” so I did toy with naming my kings Shaun Gayle (former Buckeye safety) and Mike Tomczak (former Buckeye quarterback). Because has there ever been a better football “performance” than the 1985 Chicago Bears’ “The Super Bowl Shuffle”? Methinks not (I’m a Bears fan. I’m biased on the subject. You already know this, so let’s move on).
The problem is, I don’t feel great about selecting my guys in the Shufflin’ Crew for “Best Performance,” given that they didn’t match that legendary dance with on-the-field greatness in the Super Bowl game itself. Tomczak was in his rookie season, and while he did play in the game on the kickoff unit, he was penalized for a face mask. Gayle, for his part, didn’t record a single tackle in Super Bowl XX (though he is pretty well-known and loved in Chicago in spite of it).
So instead of taking the easy out or the kind of lame left-field out, I present for your consideration: Eddie George.
You might have heard of him.
George – Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy-winning running back – was drafted in the first round by the Houston Oilers in 1996. He was the starting tailback from 1996-2003, never missing a start and moving with the team to Nashville when the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans.
This is where our story begins. It is now the year 2000. A month ago, we were worried the human race would be wiped off the planet because of Y2K (a concern I still don’t fully understand), and now we’re ready to celebrate our survival by watching the Tennessee Titans take on the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome in Super Bowl XXXIV.
The Titans and the Rams had both gone 13-3 in the regular season, though the Titans needed a wild card berth to make the playoffs and the Rams were favored.
For both franchises, the playoffs were a welcome change of pace: The Rams hadn’t made the playoffs since 1989 – their first playoff berth since moving from Los Angeles to St. Louis, and the Titans were making their first since 1993, and their first since moving from Houston.
Here’s where George comes in. The game was a largely defensive battle for the first half, with both teams coming up empty on drives deep into their opponent’s territory. George took on his usual role as a steady force though, with some major plays for the Titans' offense. Over the course of the game, he ran for 95 yards in 28 plays.
In the second half, things really got going for George. Playing small ball, George was able to help the team drive down the field. His touchdowns on back-to-back drives cut the Rams’ lead to 16-13. They followed that with a field goal to tie the game, 16-16.
The Rams did ultimately tack on another touchdown, which brings us to one of the greatest ends of an NFL game in history.
In the final seconds of the game, the Titans ran an unbelievable play that used tight end Frank Wychek as a decoy to free up receiver Kevin Dyson. And it almost worked.
Except Rams linebacker Mike Jones caught on just in time, making the tackle with two seconds on the clock. The Titans had no timeouts and were unable to get another play off, falling just short of a last-second comeback. How short? Mere inches.
Final score: 23-16, Rams.
But while the end of this game went down in infamy, it needs to be noted that George brought his team back from what was previously considered an insurmountable deficit. The Rams’ 16-point lead was the largest deficit to be erased in a Super Bowl. It was the first time a deficit larger than 10 points was erased. It was the first time in Super Bowl history a team tied the game after being down double digits in the fourth quarter.
And that was thanks to George.
It’s easy to dole out recognition to players on the winning team. But George broke records, fought back, and held his team in the game until the final seconds, and though the Titans didn’t walk away with the victory, he also made it a helluva game to watch. And that, my friends, is a performance worth talking about.
I love Eddie George. He won the Heisman my freshman year of high school; I was at his Senior Tackle in The Horseshoe; I’ve interviewed him here at Land-Grant Holy Land; I proudly wear my Tennessee State hat as often as possible.
But, there’s no way to argue that any Buckeye had a better Super Bowl performance than Santonio Holmes. Fourteen years ago, the Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver caught the game-winning touchdown with just 35 seconds remaining to win the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl. That catch capped a nine-reception, 131-yard performance, earning him the honor of being the Super Bowl XLIII MVP. The Steelers took home the title in a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
While I am not a passionate NFL fan, it does still pain me a little bit to pick a Steeler even if he does have very strong Columbus roots. If I’m being honest, I would have preferred to go further back in history to pick my Super Bowl Buckeye hero, especially considering Holmes’ spotty legal history. I wish I could have picked Orlando Pace, Tom Matte, Matt Snell, or even Mike Vrabel, but how can I argue with Holmes? He’s the only Buckeye with a Super Bowl MVP trophy, he caught the game-winning score in dramatic fashion, and he put up some really impressive numbers.
So, my heart will always side with Eddie (Eddie, Eddie), but I’ve got to go with Santonio on this one.
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
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: Which former Ohio State player had the best Super Bowl performance?
Jami’s Take: Eddie George in Super Bowl XLIII, 1997
When we look at historic Buckeye Super Bowl performances, the obvious choice here is Santonio Holmes. He’s the only Buckeye in history to win the Super Bowl MVP award, a title he earned in 2009 after he helped the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals with 9 catches for 131 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the final minute in Super Bowl XLIII.
Alternatively, we did say “Best Performance,” so I did toy with naming my kings Shaun Gayle (former Buckeye safety) and Mike Tomczak (former Buckeye quarterback). Because has there ever been a better football “performance” than the 1985 Chicago Bears’ “The Super Bowl Shuffle”? Methinks not (I’m a Bears fan. I’m biased on the subject. You already know this, so let’s move on).
The problem is, I don’t feel great about selecting my guys in the Shufflin’ Crew for “Best Performance,” given that they didn’t match that legendary dance with on-the-field greatness in the Super Bowl game itself. Tomczak was in his rookie season, and while he did play in the game on the kickoff unit, he was penalized for a face mask. Gayle, for his part, didn’t record a single tackle in Super Bowl XX (though he is pretty well-known and loved in Chicago in spite of it).
So instead of taking the easy out or the kind of lame left-field out, I present for your consideration: Eddie George.
You might have heard of him.
George – Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy-winning running back – was drafted in the first round by the Houston Oilers in 1996. He was the starting tailback from 1996-2003, never missing a start and moving with the team to Nashville when the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans.
This is where our story begins. It is now the year 2000. A month ago, we were worried the human race would be wiped off the planet because of Y2K (a concern I still don’t fully understand), and now we’re ready to celebrate our survival by watching the Tennessee Titans take on the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome in Super Bowl XXXIV.
The Titans and the Rams had both gone 13-3 in the regular season, though the Titans needed a wild card berth to make the playoffs and the Rams were favored.
For both franchises, the playoffs were a welcome change of pace: The Rams hadn’t made the playoffs since 1989 – their first playoff berth since moving from Los Angeles to St. Louis, and the Titans were making their first since 1993, and their first since moving from Houston.
Here’s where George comes in. The game was a largely defensive battle for the first half, with both teams coming up empty on drives deep into their opponent’s territory. George took on his usual role as a steady force though, with some major plays for the Titans' offense. Over the course of the game, he ran for 95 yards in 28 plays.
In the second half, things really got going for George. Playing small ball, George was able to help the team drive down the field. His touchdowns on back-to-back drives cut the Rams’ lead to 16-13. They followed that with a field goal to tie the game, 16-16.
The Rams did ultimately tack on another touchdown, which brings us to one of the greatest ends of an NFL game in history.
In the final seconds of the game, the Titans ran an unbelievable play that used tight end Frank Wychek as a decoy to free up receiver Kevin Dyson. And it almost worked.
Except Rams linebacker Mike Jones caught on just in time, making the tackle with two seconds on the clock. The Titans had no timeouts and were unable to get another play off, falling just short of a last-second comeback. How short? Mere inches.
Final score: 23-16, Rams.
But while the end of this game went down in infamy, it needs to be noted that George brought his team back from what was previously considered an insurmountable deficit. The Rams’ 16-point lead was the largest deficit to be erased in a Super Bowl. It was the first time a deficit larger than 10 points was erased. It was the first time in Super Bowl history a team tied the game after being down double digits in the fourth quarter.
And that was thanks to George.
It’s easy to dole out recognition to players on the winning team. But George broke records, fought back, and held his team in the game until the final seconds, and though the Titans didn’t walk away with the victory, he also made it a helluva game to watch. And that, my friends, is a performance worth talking about.
Matt’s Take: Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII, 2009
I love Eddie George. He won the Heisman my freshman year of high school; I was at his Senior Tackle in The Horseshoe; I’ve interviewed him here at Land-Grant Holy Land; I proudly wear my Tennessee State hat as often as possible.
But, there’s no way to argue that any Buckeye had a better Super Bowl performance than Santonio Holmes. Fourteen years ago, the Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver caught the game-winning touchdown with just 35 seconds remaining to win the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl. That catch capped a nine-reception, 131-yard performance, earning him the honor of being the Super Bowl XLIII MVP. The Steelers took home the title in a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
While I am not a passionate NFL fan, it does still pain me a little bit to pick a Steeler even if he does have very strong Columbus roots. If I’m being honest, I would have preferred to go further back in history to pick my Super Bowl Buckeye hero, especially considering Holmes’ spotty legal history. I wish I could have picked Orlando Pace, Tom Matte, Matt Snell, or even Mike Vrabel, but how can I argue with Holmes? He’s the only Buckeye with a Super Bowl MVP trophy, he caught the game-winning score in dramatic fashion, and he put up some really impressive numbers.
So, my heart will always side with Eddie (Eddie, Eddie), but I’ve got to go with Santonio on this one.
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LGHL Ohio State run off the court in comical, lopsided loss to Michigan State, 62-41
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Ohio State run off the court in comical, lopsided loss to Michigan State, 62-41
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Can we just sim to the end of the season, please?
Barring a four or five-day run in the Big Ten Tournament or an unbelievably hot finish, Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament hopes are dead in the water. The Buckeyes (11-14, 3-11) will need to finish 9-11 in the Big Ten to get an at-large bid, and with their current record, that’s looking...…. not great.
With that said, the Buckeyes are now trying to simply end their regular season on a high note and attempt to gain some momentum going into the Big Ten Tournament, while also increasing the minutes for younger players to help their development heading into next season.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the losing skid continued on Super Bowl Sunday, falling to the Spartans (16-9, 8-6), 62-41. Michigan State was paced by Joey Hauser’s 22 points on 6-11 shooting, including six three-pointers.
On that note, Chris Holtmann made a noteworthy lineup change Sunday afternoon, giving freshman guard Roddy Gayle his second start of the season. He was inserted into the lineup over Sean McNeil, who had started all but one game this season. Alongside Gayle were Bruce Thornton, Justice Sueing, Brice Sensabaugh, and Zed Key. Tom Izzo rolled with a starting five of Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard, Jaden Akins, Joey Hauser, and Mady Sissoko.
The two teams combined to hit four of their first 12 shots en route to a 6-4 Buckeye lead by the first media timeout 5:18 into the game. Sueing knocked down just his second three-pointer over the last five games to put Ohio State up early. The offense didn’t exactly pick up over the next few minutes, with Michigan State scoring five straight to take a 9-6 lead by the 10:46 mark a few minutes later.
After a Sean McNeil layup tied the game at nine apiece, Michigan State went on a 9-2 run over the next 2:01 to take an 18-11 lead by the under-eight media timeout with 5:58 remaining. After Key picked up two early fouls and turned the ball over three times, Felix Okpara was forced into the action and the Spartans targeted him as much as possible.
Ohio State refused to score the rest of the first half and went to the locker room trailing the Spartans 27-14 at the break. MSU held Ohio State to 19.2% shooting in the first half, including 3-15 (20%) from three-point range. Michigan State wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire either, shooting 12-30 (40%) overall and hitting 3 of their 11 threes, good for 27.3%. But they a) weren’t turning the ball over nearly as much and b) simply needed to be half-competent to outscore Ohio State on a day when the Buckeyes seemingly made the wrong decision every chance they got.
Sueing had five points and six rebounds during the opening stanza for Ohio State. Hauser had nine points and five rebounds, with all nine points coming by three-pointers.
Ohio State showed a little life in the opening minutes of the second half, cutting the deficit from 13 to eight quickly before falling back to a 10-point hole by the first media timeout. Thornton was being more aggressive getting to the basket and overall the team seemed more energized on defense, but a double-digit deficit is still a hell of an assignment for one of the worst defensive teams in the B1G.
The Buckeyes cut the deficit to five points momentarily, but Michigan State, led by Walker, knocked down some tough, contested shots to push the lead back to 49-35 with 6:54 remaining in the game. After cutting the deficit to 38-33 with 11:24 remaining, the Buckeyes hit one of their next eight shots and fell behind by double-digits once again.
Ultimately, that strong push that got Ohio State back within five was not enough, as the Spartans regrouped and knocked down enough tough shots to bury the Buckeyes on their home court. It is the 11th loss for Ohio State over their last 12, and they travel to Iowa and Purdue this upcoming week.
If you decided to dive into those wings and buffalo chicken dip early today and forgot to watch Ohio State’s sixth-straight loss and 11th in their last 12, here are a few key moments and runs that helped carry Michigan State to victory in Columbus:
After turning the ball over 15 times Thursday night in their loss to Northwestern, the Buckeyes came out on Sunday afternoon and turned it over seven times over the first 9:14 against the Spartans. Key had three early turnovers, but Thornton, Sensabaugh, and Sueing each had a hand in the turnovers as well.
This is despite the fact that Michigan State is one of the worst teams in the nation forcing turnovers, having forced just under 10 turnovers per 40 minutes this season. The Buckeyes nearly matched that number in the first 10 minutes alone.
McNeil tied the game at nine points apiece momentarily with 8:40 remaining in the first half, but Hauser knocked down his second three-pointer of the game to make it 12-9 14 seconds later. Michigan State went on a little run after this to take an 18-11 lead, courtesy of back-to-back buckets from freshman big man Jaxon Kohler. Kohler, like Okpara, did not start, but the former caused some serious problems for the latter below the basket in the early going.
The Spartans threw a mix of man-to-man and zone at the Buckeyes in the first half, confusing their ballhandlers and making things look extremely difficult in the first half. Ohio State was turning the ball over at a high rate, but most of the time it wasn’t MSU forcing a turnover, it was just the Buckeyes being lackadaisical with the ball or forcing a pass that didn’t need to be forced.
After McNeil tied the game with 8:40 remaining in the first half, Ohio State got one made basket over the next 6:08, and that one basket was a turnaround prayer by Sueing as the shot clock expired. During that 6:08 where Ohio State could not score to save their lives, Michigan State turned that tie game into a 22-11 lead.
After scoring two points on a layup in the first half, McNeil knocked down consecutive three-pointers early in the second half to get the Buckeyes back within nine points, 38-29. The home team came out with a ton of energy on the defensive end and started hitting shots finally, but still trailed by a considerable margin with 12-plus minutes remaining.
With roughly 11 minutes remaining, Sensabaugh hit a tough, contested two-point jumper to cut MSU’s lead to 38-33. But after that, the Spartans outscored Ohio State 11-2 over the next four-plus minutes to go ahead 49-35 with 6:54 remaining. The Buckeyes’ defense was stout on most possessions during the run, but Walker and Akins especially were knocking down some contested looks that were not dropping earlier. The crowd really got into it and was roaring for a moment, but that Spartan run quieted things down considerably.
Ohio State (11-14, 3-11) has three days off before flying to Iowa Thursday night to face off with the Hawkeyes (16-9, 8-6). The Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes back on January 21, 93-77, and now look for the season sweep. Ohio State’s game with Iowa will tipoff on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Can we just sim to the end of the season, please?
Barring a four or five-day run in the Big Ten Tournament or an unbelievably hot finish, Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament hopes are dead in the water. The Buckeyes (11-14, 3-11) will need to finish 9-11 in the Big Ten to get an at-large bid, and with their current record, that’s looking...…. not great.
With that said, the Buckeyes are now trying to simply end their regular season on a high note and attempt to gain some momentum going into the Big Ten Tournament, while also increasing the minutes for younger players to help their development heading into next season.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the losing skid continued on Super Bowl Sunday, falling to the Spartans (16-9, 8-6), 62-41. Michigan State was paced by Joey Hauser’s 22 points on 6-11 shooting, including six three-pointers.
On that note, Chris Holtmann made a noteworthy lineup change Sunday afternoon, giving freshman guard Roddy Gayle his second start of the season. He was inserted into the lineup over Sean McNeil, who had started all but one game this season. Alongside Gayle were Bruce Thornton, Justice Sueing, Brice Sensabaugh, and Zed Key. Tom Izzo rolled with a starting five of Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard, Jaden Akins, Joey Hauser, and Mady Sissoko.
The two teams combined to hit four of their first 12 shots en route to a 6-4 Buckeye lead by the first media timeout 5:18 into the game. Sueing knocked down just his second three-pointer over the last five games to put Ohio State up early. The offense didn’t exactly pick up over the next few minutes, with Michigan State scoring five straight to take a 9-6 lead by the 10:46 mark a few minutes later.
After a Sean McNeil layup tied the game at nine apiece, Michigan State went on a 9-2 run over the next 2:01 to take an 18-11 lead by the under-eight media timeout with 5:58 remaining. After Key picked up two early fouls and turned the ball over three times, Felix Okpara was forced into the action and the Spartans targeted him as much as possible.
Ohio State refused to score the rest of the first half and went to the locker room trailing the Spartans 27-14 at the break. MSU held Ohio State to 19.2% shooting in the first half, including 3-15 (20%) from three-point range. Michigan State wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire either, shooting 12-30 (40%) overall and hitting 3 of their 11 threes, good for 27.3%. But they a) weren’t turning the ball over nearly as much and b) simply needed to be half-competent to outscore Ohio State on a day when the Buckeyes seemingly made the wrong decision every chance they got.
Sueing had five points and six rebounds during the opening stanza for Ohio State. Hauser had nine points and five rebounds, with all nine points coming by three-pointers.
Ohio State showed a little life in the opening minutes of the second half, cutting the deficit from 13 to eight quickly before falling back to a 10-point hole by the first media timeout. Thornton was being more aggressive getting to the basket and overall the team seemed more energized on defense, but a double-digit deficit is still a hell of an assignment for one of the worst defensive teams in the B1G.
The Buckeyes cut the deficit to five points momentarily, but Michigan State, led by Walker, knocked down some tough, contested shots to push the lead back to 49-35 with 6:54 remaining in the game. After cutting the deficit to 38-33 with 11:24 remaining, the Buckeyes hit one of their next eight shots and fell behind by double-digits once again.
Ultimately, that strong push that got Ohio State back within five was not enough, as the Spartans regrouped and knocked down enough tough shots to bury the Buckeyes on their home court. It is the 11th loss for Ohio State over their last 12, and they travel to Iowa and Purdue this upcoming week.
If you decided to dive into those wings and buffalo chicken dip early today and forgot to watch Ohio State’s sixth-straight loss and 11th in their last 12, here are a few key moments and runs that helped carry Michigan State to victory in Columbus:
Ohio State did not take care of the rock early
After turning the ball over 15 times Thursday night in their loss to Northwestern, the Buckeyes came out on Sunday afternoon and turned it over seven times over the first 9:14 against the Spartans. Key had three early turnovers, but Thornton, Sensabaugh, and Sueing each had a hand in the turnovers as well.
This is despite the fact that Michigan State is one of the worst teams in the nation forcing turnovers, having forced just under 10 turnovers per 40 minutes this season. The Buckeyes nearly matched that number in the first 10 minutes alone.
Spartans take their biggest lead of the game, 18-11
McNeil tied the game at nine points apiece momentarily with 8:40 remaining in the first half, but Hauser knocked down his second three-pointer of the game to make it 12-9 14 seconds later. Michigan State went on a little run after this to take an 18-11 lead, courtesy of back-to-back buckets from freshman big man Jaxon Kohler. Kohler, like Okpara, did not start, but the former caused some serious problems for the latter below the basket in the early going.
Buckeyes look befuddled, fall behind big early
The Spartans threw a mix of man-to-man and zone at the Buckeyes in the first half, confusing their ballhandlers and making things look extremely difficult in the first half. Ohio State was turning the ball over at a high rate, but most of the time it wasn’t MSU forcing a turnover, it was just the Buckeyes being lackadaisical with the ball or forcing a pass that didn’t need to be forced.
After McNeil tied the game with 8:40 remaining in the first half, Ohio State got one made basket over the next 6:08, and that one basket was a turnaround prayer by Sueing as the shot clock expired. During that 6:08 where Ohio State could not score to save their lives, Michigan State turned that tie game into a 22-11 lead.
McNeil gets moving, Ohio State cuts it to single-digits
After scoring two points on a layup in the first half, McNeil knocked down consecutive three-pointers early in the second half to get the Buckeyes back within nine points, 38-29. The home team came out with a ton of energy on the defensive end and started hitting shots finally, but still trailed by a considerable margin with 12-plus minutes remaining.
Spartans go on 11-2 run to pop the Buckeye bubble
With roughly 11 minutes remaining, Sensabaugh hit a tough, contested two-point jumper to cut MSU’s lead to 38-33. But after that, the Spartans outscored Ohio State 11-2 over the next four-plus minutes to go ahead 49-35 with 6:54 remaining. The Buckeyes’ defense was stout on most possessions during the run, but Walker and Akins especially were knocking down some contested looks that were not dropping earlier. The crowd really got into it and was roaring for a moment, but that Spartan run quieted things down considerably.
Up Next:
Ohio State (11-14, 3-11) has three days off before flying to Iowa Thursday night to face off with the Hawkeyes (16-9, 8-6). The Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes back on January 21, 93-77, and now look for the season sweep. Ohio State’s game with Iowa will tipoff on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 16.
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LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: Checking in with The Only Colors ahead of today’s men’s basketball game
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Behind Enemy Lines: Checking in with The Only Colors ahead of today’s men’s basketball game
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
Believe it or not, the Buckeyes are actually favored over Sparty... no really.
Today’s the day, friends. The biggest day on the sports calendar. The game that we all have been counting down to for months on end. There will be parties around the country and millions upon millions will be tuned in. Even those who normally have little to no interest in sports will be watching because today is Michigan State vs. Ohio State men’s basketball day...
What? Were you thinking I was talking about something else? Well, despite the fact that the Buckeye men’s basketball team has lost 10 of their last 11 games, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are still... excited? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So, we talked to our friend Oren Basse from The Only Colors our SB Nation sibling site that covers Spartan athletics in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at today’s opponent.
If you want more of the Sparty perspective on the game, make sure that you check out all of TOC’s coverage on their website or on Twitter @theonlycolors. In return, I also discussed the Buckeyes over on their site, so if you want to read some of my unfiltered impressions of the Buckeyes, head over here.
As they were Thursday against Northwestern, despite the fact that the Buckeyes are mired in the worst stretch the program has seen in over two decades, OSU is favored by 3.5 points this afternoon according to DraftKings SportsBook. So, take that for what it’s worth, but I guess the Schottenstein Center advantage still counts for something.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Since this is the first time that the Buckeyes have seen the Spartans this season, why don’t we start with a little crash course on the season? MSU is 15-9 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten. As briefly as you can, give us the need-to-know basics for the Michigan State season thus far.
The Only Colors: This team is absolutely baffling to the Spartan faithful. Admittedly, there was a lot of pessimism coming into the season, primarily due to the center position and the “failure” of Coach Izzo to bring someone in from the transfer portal. But early on, those worries were annihilated after MSU lost to Gonzaga by just 1 point and then beat Kentucky. Both those games featured some great play from starting center Mady Sissoko. Suddenly the sky was the limit for this team.
Unfortunately for us, those two November games were the peak of our season and now we are a middling Big Ten team who shape-shifts from game to game. I think at this point, most Spartan fans would tell you the team is just as likely to get bounced in the first round of the tournament (or even not make it) as they are to make a Final Four run. We have no idea what to expect from any of our players in any given game.
LGHL: The Spartans are led by a trio of veterans, Tyson Walker, Joey Hauser, and A.J. Hoggard; all essentially averaging 12-14 points per game. Then there are two players (Malik Hall and Jaden Akins) who are around nine points per game. What does this team do that allows them to be so balanced on the offensive end?
TOC: I think I would hesitate to use the word “balanced” and I say that because we aren’t getting all five of those players performing around their average in every game. Walker and Hauser could each score in the 20s or they could each score less than ten. Hoggard, Akins, and Hall could each score in the teens, or they could have a game where they only make one shot.
We have not seen a game for a while where all of them, or even four of them, play at least at their scoring average. So, to answer your question, what allows this team to be so balanced is its inability for the whole squad to play well together. It seems like if one player goes off, then another player must have an off night to keep it “balanced”.
LGHL: While the Buckeyes tend to roll with a fairly deep bench, because of their specific roster construction, MSU only had one bench player (Hall) who had over 10 minutes of playing time in Tuesday’s win over Maryland. Is that more because the core group has just risen to the top of the rotation, or is there a precipitous drop between the top six and the rest of the roster?
TOC: Aside from Malik Hall, who has been a starter for a good portion of his upperclassman seasons and who is most certainly among the very best non-starters in the nation, MSU has four other players who make up the bench, not including the garbage-time guys. Of those four, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The sophomore, Pierre Brooks, was supposed to be one of our best three-point shooters but his shot has abandoned him of late, and his defense has been mostly unreliable.
Two of the freshmen play the same position, backing up Mady Sissoko at the center, and at this point neither has any positional versatility (though we did have a couple of times earlier in the season where Izzo did have them on the floor together), meaning they are competing with one another for minutes, a battle being won by Jaxon Kohler. And the last bench guy, Tre Holloman, just is not contributing enough to the box score to earn more playing time.
The one other thing I want to say to answer this is that “top six” doesn’t really describe the current rotation in anything other than minutes played. I say that as our starting center, Sissoko has very much fallen off since his early season performances. He is always the first starter pulled, often before the first commercial timeout, and he has been unable to reliably secure rebounds and catch entry passes in the lane. The ball commonly goes right through his mitts.
LGHL: I assume the win over Maryland helped to calm down some of the more disappointed voices in the Sparty fandom, but is this game a must-win for Michigan State, both in terms of postseason hopes and (perhaps more importantly) keeping the fans satisfied with the team’s progress?
TOC: Simply, this is a must-win. Ohio State seems like a team in a tailspin and MSU needs to be picking off the teams at the bottom of the conference standings. I don’t think the Maryland win has settled anyone down; there is still a lot of displeasure with the team’s overall performance. But we have seen the potential, and we are just waiting for Izzo to figure out how to untap it regularly.
If I knew how to do that, I’d be sitting on the sideline tomorrow. Even a win tomorrow won’t make any of us happy, but a loss would make us all go absolutely berserk.
LGHL: If Ohio State has a chance to pull off the upset at home, what is the one thing that they absolutely must, and what is one sneaky important thing that could turn the tide of the game in their favor?
TOC: MSU has a few very good shooters, including from deep. What they lack, mostly, is a reliable inside game. If you want to beat MSU, stop the three-point shot. Play tough defense on the perimeter, watch our screens, and stay on your man. You are better off letting us pump-fake and then step in for a long two, or even throw it down inside (where, as I said before, Mady may or may not catch the pass. But if MSU can consistently get open 3s, then it can play with anyone.
LGHL: What is your prediction (either score, storylines, or how it pays out) for this game?
TOC: I agreed with your prediction that the winner would score 71. Of course, I am picking my team to come out on top, and I don’t think it will be as close as you predicted. I say MSU 71-59.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Believe it or not, the Buckeyes are actually favored over Sparty... no really.
Today’s the day, friends. The biggest day on the sports calendar. The game that we all have been counting down to for months on end. There will be parties around the country and millions upon millions will be tuned in. Even those who normally have little to no interest in sports will be watching because today is Michigan State vs. Ohio State men’s basketball day...
What? Were you thinking I was talking about something else? Well, despite the fact that the Buckeye men’s basketball team has lost 10 of their last 11 games, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are still... excited? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So, we talked to our friend Oren Basse from The Only Colors our SB Nation sibling site that covers Spartan athletics in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at today’s opponent.
If you want more of the Sparty perspective on the game, make sure that you check out all of TOC’s coverage on their website or on Twitter @theonlycolors. In return, I also discussed the Buckeyes over on their site, so if you want to read some of my unfiltered impressions of the Buckeyes, head over here.
As they were Thursday against Northwestern, despite the fact that the Buckeyes are mired in the worst stretch the program has seen in over two decades, OSU is favored by 3.5 points this afternoon according to DraftKings SportsBook. So, take that for what it’s worth, but I guess the Schottenstein Center advantage still counts for something.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Since this is the first time that the Buckeyes have seen the Spartans this season, why don’t we start with a little crash course on the season? MSU is 15-9 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten. As briefly as you can, give us the need-to-know basics for the Michigan State season thus far.
The Only Colors: This team is absolutely baffling to the Spartan faithful. Admittedly, there was a lot of pessimism coming into the season, primarily due to the center position and the “failure” of Coach Izzo to bring someone in from the transfer portal. But early on, those worries were annihilated after MSU lost to Gonzaga by just 1 point and then beat Kentucky. Both those games featured some great play from starting center Mady Sissoko. Suddenly the sky was the limit for this team.
Unfortunately for us, those two November games were the peak of our season and now we are a middling Big Ten team who shape-shifts from game to game. I think at this point, most Spartan fans would tell you the team is just as likely to get bounced in the first round of the tournament (or even not make it) as they are to make a Final Four run. We have no idea what to expect from any of our players in any given game.
LGHL: The Spartans are led by a trio of veterans, Tyson Walker, Joey Hauser, and A.J. Hoggard; all essentially averaging 12-14 points per game. Then there are two players (Malik Hall and Jaden Akins) who are around nine points per game. What does this team do that allows them to be so balanced on the offensive end?
TOC: I think I would hesitate to use the word “balanced” and I say that because we aren’t getting all five of those players performing around their average in every game. Walker and Hauser could each score in the 20s or they could each score less than ten. Hoggard, Akins, and Hall could each score in the teens, or they could have a game where they only make one shot.
We have not seen a game for a while where all of them, or even four of them, play at least at their scoring average. So, to answer your question, what allows this team to be so balanced is its inability for the whole squad to play well together. It seems like if one player goes off, then another player must have an off night to keep it “balanced”.
LGHL: While the Buckeyes tend to roll with a fairly deep bench, because of their specific roster construction, MSU only had one bench player (Hall) who had over 10 minutes of playing time in Tuesday’s win over Maryland. Is that more because the core group has just risen to the top of the rotation, or is there a precipitous drop between the top six and the rest of the roster?
TOC: Aside from Malik Hall, who has been a starter for a good portion of his upperclassman seasons and who is most certainly among the very best non-starters in the nation, MSU has four other players who make up the bench, not including the garbage-time guys. Of those four, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The sophomore, Pierre Brooks, was supposed to be one of our best three-point shooters but his shot has abandoned him of late, and his defense has been mostly unreliable.
Two of the freshmen play the same position, backing up Mady Sissoko at the center, and at this point neither has any positional versatility (though we did have a couple of times earlier in the season where Izzo did have them on the floor together), meaning they are competing with one another for minutes, a battle being won by Jaxon Kohler. And the last bench guy, Tre Holloman, just is not contributing enough to the box score to earn more playing time.
The one other thing I want to say to answer this is that “top six” doesn’t really describe the current rotation in anything other than minutes played. I say that as our starting center, Sissoko has very much fallen off since his early season performances. He is always the first starter pulled, often before the first commercial timeout, and he has been unable to reliably secure rebounds and catch entry passes in the lane. The ball commonly goes right through his mitts.
LGHL: I assume the win over Maryland helped to calm down some of the more disappointed voices in the Sparty fandom, but is this game a must-win for Michigan State, both in terms of postseason hopes and (perhaps more importantly) keeping the fans satisfied with the team’s progress?
TOC: Simply, this is a must-win. Ohio State seems like a team in a tailspin and MSU needs to be picking off the teams at the bottom of the conference standings. I don’t think the Maryland win has settled anyone down; there is still a lot of displeasure with the team’s overall performance. But we have seen the potential, and we are just waiting for Izzo to figure out how to untap it regularly.
If I knew how to do that, I’d be sitting on the sideline tomorrow. Even a win tomorrow won’t make any of us happy, but a loss would make us all go absolutely berserk.
LGHL: If Ohio State has a chance to pull off the upset at home, what is the one thing that they absolutely must, and what is one sneaky important thing that could turn the tide of the game in their favor?
TOC: MSU has a few very good shooters, including from deep. What they lack, mostly, is a reliable inside game. If you want to beat MSU, stop the three-point shot. Play tough defense on the perimeter, watch our screens, and stay on your man. You are better off letting us pump-fake and then step in for a long two, or even throw it down inside (where, as I said before, Mady may or may not catch the pass. But if MSU can consistently get open 3s, then it can play with anyone.
LGHL: What is your prediction (either score, storylines, or how it pays out) for this game?
TOC: I agreed with your prediction that the winner would score 71. Of course, I am picking my team to come out on top, and I don’t think it will be as close as you predicted. I say MSU 71-59.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Michigan State: Game preview and prediction
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Down bad and sinking deeper into the abyss, can Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes finally play a complete game against Tom Izzo’s veteran-laden Spartans?
It’s time to preview Ohio State men’s basketball, folks — whether you like it or not.
2023 has been the opposite of kind to Buckeye Nation, especially fans of the floundering men’s basketball team. Chris Holtmann’s squad is 0-for-February and just 2-10 since the calendar flipped. But the Buckeyes’ lost season continues Sunday, when they play host to Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans.
Fresh off their 10th loss in 11 games, the latest to Northwestern on Thursday, the Scarlet and Gray should simply be looking for development and steady progress at this point. A win or two (or five) would be nice, but the 2022-23 season is all but over if/when measured by “traditional” success metrics: win-loss record, tournament hopes, etc.
I wish I could say there is still a chance to rattle off four or five straight wins, given this team’s on-paper talent, but they have not proven able to handle the rigors of their Big Ten schedule. And three months into the season, the players actually seem to be regressing rather than progressing. The same could be said for coaching.
So again, the remainder of this season should be geared toward player development, consistently moving forward (steady progress), and attempting to establish momentum the program and its players can carry into next season.
Disclaimer: I am fully aware that OSU could, in theory, go dancing with a Big Ten Tournament run, but that seems about as likely as my seven-leg anytime touchdown scorer parlay hitting during tonight’s Super Bowl... If both happen, all LGHL readers get drinks on me.
What does development and/or steady progress look like? To me, it looks an awful lot like players such as Sean McNeil and Ice Likekele spending more time on the bench. I have nothing against these guys. As a matter of fact, I think both play with consistent give-a-damn and effort. But they are not part of Ohio State’s future. And if they are not playing well and/or contributing to wins, then what are we even doin’ here!?
If the Buckeyes are going to lose, I would rather see them do so with Roddy Gayle Jr., Tanner Holden, and Felix Okpara on the floor (more). Of course, this is only one fan’s opinion. Far be it for me to tell a coach with a 6-1 record in the Round of 64 how to do his job.
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Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Holden is arguably the last Buckeye to hit a clutch shot, so why is he buried on Chris Holtmann’s bench?
All of this being said, I do not want to see this team wave the white towel. I really don’t. I love the Buckeyes, so please do not confuse my frustration with apathy. But playing inefficient veterans over younger players with potential is not going to salvage this season. It is too far gone. Put the young guys out there and let them cook! Start doing so this Sunday, because what’s the worst that could happen?
With that out of my system, let’s look ahead to this Super Bowl appetizer:
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Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Statistically speaking and all things considered, Ohio State and Michigan State match up pretty evenly. The Buckeyes do hold a noticeable edge in points scored per game (75.0 to 68.1), and the Spartans are a better defensive team (65.6 PPG allowed to OSU’s 68.0). But other than the offensive scoring disparity, there is not a great statistical divide between these two teams.
OSU is shooting 46.3% on the season, while MSU sits a bit lower at 44.1. Both teams splash threes at right around 37%, on nearly the same number of attempts. And they are separated by a miniscule 0.19% when it comes to free throw efficiency. So if number of shots and/or possessions is close to even, we should expect a tight game throughout.
Oddly enough, Ohio State’s biggest advantage is probably the one they have in overall field goal efficiency: No. 82 in the country compared to No. 212 for Michigan State (as of Friday night). I’m no Dr. Naismith, but I am pretty sure that getting easy buckets is important. However, a higher percentage of made baskets has not led to a better record for Sunday’s home team.
The Buckeyes have also outscored their opponents (in totality) by almost 200 points, while the Spartans have done so by a much smaller margin. This stat can be misleading, because OSU thoroughly destroyed early-season opponents while MSU played the likes of Gonzaga, Kentucky, Villanova, Alabama, and Oregon in November, but it is an interesting stat nonetheless.
While there is no distinct statistical advantage to be found between these two teams – if anything, you might expect Ohio State to possess the better record – Izzo’s squad has found a way to win more than half of its Big Ten games. Michigan State is 7-6 in the conference and coming off a 63-58 victory over Maryland on Tuesday night. The Spartans should be well-rested, but as a team that lost three out of four prior to Maryland, they are far from bulletproof.
For the Buckeyes, Brice Sensabaugh provides their star power, but he is also looking to shake off a dismal performance against Northwestern. Oddly glued to the bench until Holtmann’s team needed points on Thursday (one made FG in just 16 minutes), Sensabaugh has clearly drawn the ire of his head coach (Holtmann denied this following the loss to Northwestern, but he would not admit this even if it was true). But still, OSU needs his scoring to win. Their offense grows stagnant when he is out for long stretches, and he is one of the few players on this year’s roster who is even remotely capable of shouldering an offensive load with consistency.
Even after a slow start to February, Sensabaugh is still averaging 16.7 PPG and doing so with efficiency. Buckeye Nation might take umbrage with his shot selection and awareness of others, but the four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week is hitting 49% of his field goals and 45% of his threes. Only two other players of note note – featured in this game – can match his same level of overall efficiency, and they are both low-post players.
Those two big men (Zed Key and Mady Sissoko) also combine to average the same scoring output as OSU’s freshman phenom. In addition to looking for a bounce-back game from Sensabaugh, Buckeye fans are hopeful that both Justice Sueing and Bruce Thornton will continue their much-improved play in February.
On the other side, MSU is led by a solid core of veterans. Five players average at least 8.9 PPG, four of them being juniors and/or seniors. Tyson Walker is the team’s leading scorer at 13.9 PPG, followed closely by Joey Hauser (13.3) and A.J. Hoggard (12.3). Hauser is also their leading rebounder and a willing three-point shooter, making him a priority for Holtmann’s defense. And at 6-foot-9, he may present a bit of a matchup issue for the Scarlet and Gray.
The same could be said for Sissoko, who is built like an edge rusher. However, he is not much of a scoring threat. Hoggard is Izzo’s floor general, but also a poor shooter. He will look to drive and dish with regularity.
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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State has to win one or two of these remaining games, right? Sensabaugh will be the most talented player on the floor Sunday, and his team is beyond due. The Buckeyes have dropped a number of close contests, often shooting themselves in the foot down the stretch. But they have more offensive firepower than the Spartans, as well as a significant offensive rebounding edge. So if the defense shows up and OSU takes care of the ball, I honestly like their chances.
But Michigan State team is not going to roll over and play dead. The Spartans find themselves in the bottom half of the Big Ten standings, and would very much like to strengthen their case for NCAA Tournament appearance No. 25 under Izzo. His teams have not advanced past the Round of 32 since 2018-19, and although most doubt their ability to do so this season, an MSU run under the legendary coach is always right around the corner.
If Ohio State comes out shooting well, and limits their turnovers, I could see them winning somewhat comfortably. That might sound ridiculous for an 11-13 team, but I am going my my gut here. Michigan State lacks elite offensive playmakers and their defense, while statistically above average, should not instill fear in the Buckeyes. MSU only forces 9.7 turnovers per game, which ranks near the absolute bottom of college basketball.
Expect the Buckeyes to come out playing fast and free, with nothing to lose. Because, well... they have nothing to lose. The Spartans do not want to get into a shootout, so if OSU avoids the early hole(s) they tend to dig themselves into, it should allow them to play a better brand of basketball and not become so concerned with making mistakes.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 73.6%
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
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
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Down bad and sinking deeper into the abyss, can Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes finally play a complete game against Tom Izzo’s veteran-laden Spartans?
It’s time to preview Ohio State men’s basketball, folks — whether you like it or not.
2023 has been the opposite of kind to Buckeye Nation, especially fans of the floundering men’s basketball team. Chris Holtmann’s squad is 0-for-February and just 2-10 since the calendar flipped. But the Buckeyes’ lost season continues Sunday, when they play host to Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans.
Fresh off their 10th loss in 11 games, the latest to Northwestern on Thursday, the Scarlet and Gray should simply be looking for development and steady progress at this point. A win or two (or five) would be nice, but the 2022-23 season is all but over if/when measured by “traditional” success metrics: win-loss record, tournament hopes, etc.
I wish I could say there is still a chance to rattle off four or five straight wins, given this team’s on-paper talent, but they have not proven able to handle the rigors of their Big Ten schedule. And three months into the season, the players actually seem to be regressing rather than progressing. The same could be said for coaching.
So again, the remainder of this season should be geared toward player development, consistently moving forward (steady progress), and attempting to establish momentum the program and its players can carry into next season.
Disclaimer: I am fully aware that OSU could, in theory, go dancing with a Big Ten Tournament run, but that seems about as likely as my seven-leg anytime touchdown scorer parlay hitting during tonight’s Super Bowl... If both happen, all LGHL readers get drinks on me.
What does development and/or steady progress look like? To me, it looks an awful lot like players such as Sean McNeil and Ice Likekele spending more time on the bench. I have nothing against these guys. As a matter of fact, I think both play with consistent give-a-damn and effort. But they are not part of Ohio State’s future. And if they are not playing well and/or contributing to wins, then what are we even doin’ here!?
If the Buckeyes are going to lose, I would rather see them do so with Roddy Gayle Jr., Tanner Holden, and Felix Okpara on the floor (more). Of course, this is only one fan’s opinion. Far be it for me to tell a coach with a 6-1 record in the Round of 64 how to do his job.
Holden is arguably the last Buckeye to hit a clutch shot, so why is he buried on Chris Holtmann’s bench?
All of this being said, I do not want to see this team wave the white towel. I really don’t. I love the Buckeyes, so please do not confuse my frustration with apathy. But playing inefficient veterans over younger players with potential is not going to salvage this season. It is too far gone. Put the young guys out there and let them cook! Start doing so this Sunday, because what’s the worst that could happen?
With that out of my system, let’s look ahead to this Super Bowl appetizer:
Preview
Statistically speaking and all things considered, Ohio State and Michigan State match up pretty evenly. The Buckeyes do hold a noticeable edge in points scored per game (75.0 to 68.1), and the Spartans are a better defensive team (65.6 PPG allowed to OSU’s 68.0). But other than the offensive scoring disparity, there is not a great statistical divide between these two teams.
OSU is shooting 46.3% on the season, while MSU sits a bit lower at 44.1. Both teams splash threes at right around 37%, on nearly the same number of attempts. And they are separated by a miniscule 0.19% when it comes to free throw efficiency. So if number of shots and/or possessions is close to even, we should expect a tight game throughout.
Oddly enough, Ohio State’s biggest advantage is probably the one they have in overall field goal efficiency: No. 82 in the country compared to No. 212 for Michigan State (as of Friday night). I’m no Dr. Naismith, but I am pretty sure that getting easy buckets is important. However, a higher percentage of made baskets has not led to a better record for Sunday’s home team.
The Buckeyes have also outscored their opponents (in totality) by almost 200 points, while the Spartans have done so by a much smaller margin. This stat can be misleading, because OSU thoroughly destroyed early-season opponents while MSU played the likes of Gonzaga, Kentucky, Villanova, Alabama, and Oregon in November, but it is an interesting stat nonetheless.
While there is no distinct statistical advantage to be found between these two teams – if anything, you might expect Ohio State to possess the better record – Izzo’s squad has found a way to win more than half of its Big Ten games. Michigan State is 7-6 in the conference and coming off a 63-58 victory over Maryland on Tuesday night. The Spartans should be well-rested, but as a team that lost three out of four prior to Maryland, they are far from bulletproof.
For the Buckeyes, Brice Sensabaugh provides their star power, but he is also looking to shake off a dismal performance against Northwestern. Oddly glued to the bench until Holtmann’s team needed points on Thursday (one made FG in just 16 minutes), Sensabaugh has clearly drawn the ire of his head coach (Holtmann denied this following the loss to Northwestern, but he would not admit this even if it was true). But still, OSU needs his scoring to win. Their offense grows stagnant when he is out for long stretches, and he is one of the few players on this year’s roster who is even remotely capable of shouldering an offensive load with consistency.
Even after a slow start to February, Sensabaugh is still averaging 16.7 PPG and doing so with efficiency. Buckeye Nation might take umbrage with his shot selection and awareness of others, but the four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week is hitting 49% of his field goals and 45% of his threes. Only two other players of note note – featured in this game – can match his same level of overall efficiency, and they are both low-post players.
Those two big men (Zed Key and Mady Sissoko) also combine to average the same scoring output as OSU’s freshman phenom. In addition to looking for a bounce-back game from Sensabaugh, Buckeye fans are hopeful that both Justice Sueing and Bruce Thornton will continue their much-improved play in February.
On the other side, MSU is led by a solid core of veterans. Five players average at least 8.9 PPG, four of them being juniors and/or seniors. Tyson Walker is the team’s leading scorer at 13.9 PPG, followed closely by Joey Hauser (13.3) and A.J. Hoggard (12.3). Hauser is also their leading rebounder and a willing three-point shooter, making him a priority for Holtmann’s defense. And at 6-foot-9, he may present a bit of a matchup issue for the Scarlet and Gray.
The same could be said for Sissoko, who is built like an edge rusher. However, he is not much of a scoring threat. Hoggard is Izzo’s floor general, but also a poor shooter. He will look to drive and dish with regularity.
Prediction
Ohio State has to win one or two of these remaining games, right? Sensabaugh will be the most talented player on the floor Sunday, and his team is beyond due. The Buckeyes have dropped a number of close contests, often shooting themselves in the foot down the stretch. But they have more offensive firepower than the Spartans, as well as a significant offensive rebounding edge. So if the defense shows up and OSU takes care of the ball, I honestly like their chances.
But Michigan State team is not going to roll over and play dead. The Spartans find themselves in the bottom half of the Big Ten standings, and would very much like to strengthen their case for NCAA Tournament appearance No. 25 under Izzo. His teams have not advanced past the Round of 32 since 2018-19, and although most doubt their ability to do so this season, an MSU run under the legendary coach is always right around the corner.
If Ohio State comes out shooting well, and limits their turnovers, I could see them winning somewhat comfortably. That might sound ridiculous for an 11-13 team, but I am going my my gut here. Michigan State lacks elite offensive playmakers and their defense, while statistically above average, should not instill fear in the Buckeyes. MSU only forces 9.7 turnovers per game, which ranks near the absolute bottom of college basketball.
Expect the Buckeyes to come out playing fast and free, with nothing to lose. Because, well... they have nothing to lose. The Spartans do not want to get into a shootout, so if OSU avoids the early hole(s) they tend to dig themselves into, it should allow them to play a better brand of basketball and not become so concerned with making mistakes.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 73.6%
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 75, Michigan State 69
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