• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

College Basketball Crown

TEAM COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT, COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN, THAT WILL INCLUDE BIG TEN TEAMS​


146509_h.jpg


FOX Sports will soon provide an extra postseason destination for teams that don’t make the NCAA Tournament.

This week, the network and its partner, AEG, announced their creation of the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team postseason tournament that will start in 2025.

Login to view embedded media
According to FOX Sports’ press release, the 16-team, single-elimination bracket will feature teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East and include other at-large bids. Two teams from each of the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East will receive automatic bids into the tournament, which is positioned to be a competitor to the NIT.
.
.
continued
.
.
MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the tournament. As of now, it is unclear if the new tournament will affect the selection process for the NIT.

“The Big Ten Conference looks forward to competing in the inaugural College Basketball Crown,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said in a statement. “It is sure to be an exciting post-season opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and fans across the country.”

LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: March Madness delivers, Jeremiah Smith balls out, and Ryan Day poaches a Duck

Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: March Madness delivers, Jeremiah Smith balls out, and Ryan Day poaches a Duck
Josh Dooley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_22714898.0.jpg

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The new Hangout crew discusses the unquestioned awesomeness of the NCAA basketball tournament(s), as well as the potential of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Day’s most recent coaching hire.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.



Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio



On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Justin discuss the respective NCAA Tournaments and what makes them both great. Are we headed for inevitable UConn and South Carolina titles, or can someone step up and take down the favorites?

Then, we moved on to the Buckeyes men’s basketball team, talked about the transfer portal, and reacted to breaking news as we were recording.

To close, we discuss the Buckeyes football team and the recent praise of Jeremiah Smith, CJ Hicks, and Sonny Styles.

NOTE: This was recorded before Roddy Gayle entered the transfer portal, and does not consist of our thoughts on that.

Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!



Connect with the pod
Twitter:
@HolyLandPod

Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter:
@jdooleybuckeye

Connect with Justin Golba
Twitter:
@justin_golba

Continue reading...

LGHL Ohio State makes top schools for trio of four-stars, sends out more new offers

Ohio State makes top schools for trio of four-stars, sends out more new offers
Gene Ross
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


12157879.0.jpg

2025 RB Shekai Mills-Knight | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel, USA Today

The Buckeyes also received a pair of predictions for two big 2025 prospects.

It was another super busy day for Ohio State on the recruiting trail on Wednesday. The Buckeyes, as they have done so often this offseason, seemed to dominate the headlines, with a trio of four-star prospects listing the program among their top schools, two new offers in both the 2025 and 2026 classes, and two more predictions in their favor for guys near the top of the staff’s big board.

Kicking things off with the top schools lists, the first prospect on Wednesday to include Ohio State among his final potential suitors was in-state running back Marquise Davis.


NEWS: Four-Star RB Marquise Davis is down to Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 210 RB from Cleveland, OH is ranked as the No. 7 RB in the ‘25 Class (per On3)

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/YmpadBNIUT pic.twitter.com/2cuztqYRLM

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2024

Davis, a four-star prospect as the No. 13 RB and No. 172 player overall in the 2025 class, has been an interesting recruitment to follow. Cutting his list down from over 30 offers to 10 final programs, Ohio State did make the cut. However, with Davis’ strong relationship with Tony Alford and not much to speak of with new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn (Davis does not have an offer from Oregon) the Buckeyes are likely not in the driver’s seat right now.

While the Wolverines seem to be the frontrunner for the Cleveland native now that Alford is in Ann Arbor, there is still a ton of time left before signing day for Locklyn to start building that relationship and sway things back in Ohio State’s favor. Elsewhere at the position, the Buckeyes remain heavily involved with both Jordan Davison and Bo Jackson, the No. 7 and No. 5 RB in the country, respectively — both of whom have a strong prior relationship with Locklyn.

On the defensive side of the ball, two 2025 talents including Ohio State among their top schools, starting with four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon.


NEWS: Four-Star LB Jaedon Harmon is down to Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 215 LB from Rome, GA is ranked as a Top 25 LB in the ‘25 Class (per On3)

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/9iudumdjsX pic.twitter.com/w9u7QUPkK2

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2024

Ohio State was a late entrant in the recruitment for the No. 26 LB and No. 194 player overall in the cycle, having only offered Harmon in late February, but James Laurinaitis and the staff have clearly made enough of an impact to be included among his top 10 schools. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker was the first official offer for Laurinaitis since his promotion to a full-time position coach, and the Georgia native was in Columbus visiting the Buckeyes the weekend before last.

The other defensive player with Ohio State listed in his top group is four-star cornerback Dorian Barney.


NEWS: Four-Star CB Dorian Barney is down to 1️⃣2️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 170 CB from Suwanee, GA is ranked as the No. 3 CB in the 2026 Class (per On3)

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/VLUMciAnYb pic.twitter.com/hzsoQu3BlG

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2024

Still just a high school sophomore, Barney ranks as the No. 3 CB and No. 32 overall player in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-1 defensive back out of Georgia has put together an impressive offer sheet of over 35 programs, and cutting his list down to only a dozen this early on shows he is getting serious about his recruitment. With four unofficial visits scheduled this month, coming off a trip to Florida State with a visit to South Carolina on the docket for Thursday, Barney will be at Ohio State on April 13.

Tim Walton is obviously on one hell of a run right now, with commitments from both the No. 1 and No. 2 corners in the country in the 2025 class in Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord, respectively. The Buckeyes’ position coach would love to get a head start on another big haul in 2026 by adding a borderline five-star and top-five player positionally in Barney, and the staff will look to continue building that relationship with the talented DB moving forward.

In addition to all the top schools lists, Ohio State also sent out a pair of new offers on Wednesday. One of the two went to 2025 running back Shekai Mills-Knight.


AGTG after a great conversation with @Locklyn33 I’m extremely blessed to have received an offer from THE Ohio State University ‼️ #GoBucks @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @ErikKimrey @cbrownrun11 @ECWagnac @adamgorney @SWiltfong_ @ChadSimmons_ @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/K4c2omKb32

— Shekai Mills-Knight ⭐️ (@sk_begreat) April 3, 2024

The first official offer for Locklyn as the Buckeyes’ position coach, Mills-Knight ranks as the No. 29 RB in the country and the No. 14 player out of Tennessee in the cycle. Hailing from the same high school as current Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Max LeBlanc, the 6-foot-2 ball-carrier already held a strong relationship with OSU’s new RB coach, and the duo appear to be keeping that going now that Locklyn is in Columbus.

The other official offer on Wednesday went out to 2026 athlete Jordan Thomas.


all glory to God!!! blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! #BIA ❤️@ryandaytime @OGWalt_ @CoachDuHart @OhioStateFB @bccoachvito @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney @BrianDohn247 @SWiltfong_ @MohrRecruiting @Bucknuts247 @KinslerLatish pic.twitter.com/W3ineLBFGV

— Jordan Thomas ✞²¹ (@jordanthomas_21) April 3, 2024

A top-100 player as just a high school sophomore, Thomas currently ranks as the No. 15 ATH and No. 99 player overall per the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 2 player out of New Jersey in the cycle. Playing both wide receiver and defensive back at Bergen Catholic, Ohio State is recruiting Thomas on the defensive side of the ball. The offer from the Buckeyes is his 16th early in the process, with schools like Florida, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and others also getting in the mix.

Quick Hits

  • Four-star 2025 DL Trent Wilson is set to announce his commitment next week on April 10. Choosing between Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M and Ohio State, the Sooners look to have the inside track on landing the Maryland native. Wilson checks in as the No. 18 DL and No. 141 player overall per the 247Sports Composite.

NEWS: Four-Star DL Trent Wilson will announce his Commitment on April 10th, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’3 280 DL from PG County, MD is ranked as a Top 95 Recruit in the ‘25 Class (per On3)

Where Should He Go? @iamtrentwilson https://t.co/H6J0XD8czF pic.twitter.com/XQaa714uIc

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2024
  • In addition to everything else on Wednesday, Ohio State also received a pair of predictions via On3 to land two of the very best prospects at their respective positions in the 2025 class. Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for the Buckeyes to land Jaime Ffrench, the No. 3 WR and No. 16 overall on the 247Sports Composite, and Alex Gleitman cast his prediction in favor of Ohio State for the aforementioned Davison, the No. 7 RB and No. 83 player overall.


Continue reading...

LGHL Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. to enter transfer portal after two seasons

Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. to enter transfer portal after two seasons
Connor Lemons
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Basketball: Michigan at Ohio State

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Gayle was one of the most improved players in the Big Ten this season, but will now move on from Ohio State.

After a season that saw him double nearly every counting statistic from his freshman season to his sophomore season and led Ohio State in scoring six times, Roddy Gayle Jr. announced Wednesday that he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and play his junior season elsewhere. Gayle played in every game in his first two seasons, appearing in all 71 and starting 46 of them.

Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. has gone portaling, source told @thefieldof68.

Gayle averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 3, 2024

In two seasons, Gayle averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 44.7% overall and 33.1% from three-point range. Expectations were sky-high for the 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore from New York this season after he ended his freshman year by averaging 14.7 points per game in the Big Ten Tournament and hitting 9 of his 10 three-point tries.

He lived up to those expectations, nearly tripling his points per game (from 4.6 to 13.5) and rebounds per game (from 1.6 to 4.6). He more than tripled his assists per game, jumping from 0.9 to 3.1 per game. His free throw percentage stayed steady in the low 80’s (81% to 83.2%), and the only counting stat that noticeably fell off was his three-point percentage, which fell from 42.9% to 28.4%.

Gayle took twice as many attempts from three as a sophomore, which means the 42.9% was likely a bit above his real ability, but he also dealt with a nagging wrist injury all season that made it difficult to grip the ball and shoot at times.

“Rod,” as Bruce Thornton calls him, became an all-around contributor for the Buckeyes in his second year, leading Ohio State in points six times, rebounds four times, and assists eight times. He did struggle with turnovers in some games, but by the end of the season was able to get that number down to 2.4 per game. Gayle was also one of Ohio State’s best — if not the best — defenders, guarding multiple positions and sticking on the ball at a high level.

Gayle was a four-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to 247Sports. He was the No. 49 player in the class, the No. 2 shooting guard in the class, and the No. 2 player in the state of Utah. Gayle was the highest-ranked player in Ohio State’s 2022 cycle, which also included Thornton, Felix Okpara, Brice Sensabaugh, and Bowen Hardman.

His main recruiter was Jake Diebler, and the two have perhaps the closest relationship of any player on the team, going back to even before Diebler was head coach. Diebler being named head coach made many people think Gayle was a lock to return to Columbus until today. Replacing his contributions on both ends will be no easy task.

After Ohio State’s win over Cornell in the NIT, an emotional Gayle said, “I’m not ready for this group to be over with, for this family to be over with.” His obvious affection for Ohio State, paired with his relationship with Diebler, make this decision the most surprising outgoing transfer we can remember.

Gayle is originally from New York and was highly recruited by Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and Pittsburgh as well as Ohio State.

Good luck to Roddy, wherever he winds up!

Continue reading...

Easter Sunday Cash Heist in Los Angeles ($30 million stolen)

Thought of posting in the unusual headlines thread but this is like a real life Ocean’s Eleven, and it’s the off season, so figured it might warrant its own thread…


An Easter Sunday burglary at a San Fernando Valley money storage facility netted thieves as much as $30 million in cash in an operation that has, at least for now, left authorities baffled, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The March 31 heist, which is among the biggest in L.A.’s history, occurred at an undisclosed Sylmar facility that handles cash from businesses across Southern California, L.A. police shared with The Times.

While it’s unclear how thieves knew about the massive amount of money held in the facility’s safe, the break-in was considered complex, suggesting a highly experienced burglary crew that managed to breach the building through the roof and gain access to the vault without activating the alarm system.

There were no signs of the break-in outside of the vault itself, and officials at the facility weren’t even aware of the heist until the safe was opened Monday.

Officials at the Sylmar facility alerted LAPD and detectives from the department’s Mission Division arrived to search for and gather evidence.

Law enforcement sources told The Times that the burglary is one of the largest cash heists in the city’s history and that the $30 million theft beats any armored-car robberies in Southern California.

In a July 2022 heist, jewelry exhibitors who hired Brinks Security Company to transport their merchandise from Northern to Southern California were robbed of what they claimed was $150 million in jewels.

While parked at a rest stop in Lebec, one of the security guards on duty was sleeping as the second guard was eating a meal inside the truck stop.

That’s when thieves seized the opportunity to grab nearly two dozen bags of vintage jewelry, gems and luxury watches from the tractor-trailer.

After the victims took legal action against the security company, Brinks retaliated with a suit of its own, disputing the value of the stolen merchandise.
No arrests have been made in that case.
As for the record-setting burglary in Sylmar, police told KTLA that they are not currently providing any information on the case. An official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation would only confirm that they are working with LAPD on the matter but would not comment further.

Filter

Latest winning wagers

Back
Top