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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...
LGHL 2023 Buckeye signee wins Ohio’s Mr. Basketball, new names added to spring visitor list
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2023 Buckeye signee wins Ohio’s Mr. Basketball, new names added to spring visitor list
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The beat goes on for both Ohio State football and basketball recruiting.
This basketball season for Ohio State has been a rollercoaster of emotions. From a solid start to a rather terrible finish, the Buckeyes weren’t up the their typical level of play this year. However, the Big Ten Tournament certainly gave some new life into this program and some excitement for the future.
It may not be what every fan wants to hear right now, but the truth is there’s still room for optimism in regards to what can happen as soon as next year for Ohio State on the hardwood. With Holtmann reaffirming to the Columbus Dispatch that he’s, “not going anywhere” in the midst of Notre Dame rumors, the continuity next year is important.
One of the strongest factors in why Holtmann would want to stay in Columbus is definitely what he has coming in with the 2023 recruiting cycle. Signing four guys in a top-10 nationally ranked class, the coaching staff is adding some stellar talent to a roster that will have plenty of youth to it in 2023-2024.
While the transfer portal will likely be used to their advantage as well, the Buckeyes are excited about their potential, and a big part of that will be from their own backyard thanks to Pickerington Ohio’s Devin Royal.
The No. 49 player nationally, Royal is the eighth-best power forward in the country and Ohio’s top player in 2023 per the 247Sports Composite. Arguably one of the more important signings for Ohio State this cycle, on Wednesday Royal continued to add to his already impressive list of accolades as he was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball.
A prestigious award for the most outstanding player in the state, Royal certainly fits that mold at 6-foot-7, 210 pounds. Not a finished product either, it’s fun to think of the potential he has when he gets on campus and what he can be for the Buckeyes during his career.
The last Buckeye to win the award was Malaki Branham in 2021, and that worked out pretty well for all involved. Royal is the 12th player all-time for Ohio State to win that award, and again is another reason as to why the future in this program is brighter than the last few months. This very well could get turned around sooner rather than later.
More names will be added in the coming weeks, but one new name has surfaced as Georgia native, Walter Matthews has been slotted to also be on campus that day. A 6-foot-7, 245 pound tight end, Matthews is currently the No. 122 player nationally, the seventh best at his position, and the 20th player in Georgia per the 247Sports Composite.
Keenan Bailey is no stranger to high-profile recruiting, and now at the helm of the tight end position, he’s getting a chance to show first hand why the Buckeyes need to be right atop of his list when it comes down to decision time.
Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are clearly still in on Sayin as a potential target, and though the No. 10 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite has been committed to the Tide since November of last year, Day has enough on his resume to at least keep Julian thinking.
A visit has not yet been scheduled and may not be, but Day and position coach Corey Dennis are very much at the top when it comes to quarterback recruiting, and can’t be counted out at least for now.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The beat goes on for both Ohio State football and basketball recruiting.
Buckeye signee wins Ohio’s Mr. Basketball
This basketball season for Ohio State has been a rollercoaster of emotions. From a solid start to a rather terrible finish, the Buckeyes weren’t up the their typical level of play this year. However, the Big Ten Tournament certainly gave some new life into this program and some excitement for the future.
It may not be what every fan wants to hear right now, but the truth is there’s still room for optimism in regards to what can happen as soon as next year for Ohio State on the hardwood. With Holtmann reaffirming to the Columbus Dispatch that he’s, “not going anywhere” in the midst of Notre Dame rumors, the continuity next year is important.
One of the strongest factors in why Holtmann would want to stay in Columbus is definitely what he has coming in with the 2023 recruiting cycle. Signing four guys in a top-10 nationally ranked class, the coaching staff is adding some stellar talent to a roster that will have plenty of youth to it in 2023-2024.
While the transfer portal will likely be used to their advantage as well, the Buckeyes are excited about their potential, and a big part of that will be from their own backyard thanks to Pickerington Ohio’s Devin Royal.
The No. 49 player nationally, Royal is the eighth-best power forward in the country and Ohio’s top player in 2023 per the 247Sports Composite. Arguably one of the more important signings for Ohio State this cycle, on Wednesday Royal continued to add to his already impressive list of accolades as he was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball.
A prestigious award for the most outstanding player in the state, Royal certainly fits that mold at 6-foot-7, 210 pounds. Not a finished product either, it’s fun to think of the potential he has when he gets on campus and what he can be for the Buckeyes during his career.
The last Buckeye to win the award was Malaki Branham in 2021, and that worked out pretty well for all involved. Royal is the 12th player all-time for Ohio State to win that award, and again is another reason as to why the future in this program is brighter than the last few months. This very well could get turned around sooner rather than later.
Quick Hits
- The Buckeyes have hit a hiatus for spring football practice thanks to spring break, but the rest of March and early April are shaping up to be rather significant in terms of recruiting efforts. The staff hasn’t hosted tons of national targets on campus yet, but those visit opportunities are coming in the near future, with April 1 being one of the bigger days planned.
More names will be added in the coming weeks, but one new name has surfaced as Georgia native, Walter Matthews has been slotted to also be on campus that day. A 6-foot-7, 245 pound tight end, Matthews is currently the No. 122 player nationally, the seventh best at his position, and the 20th player in Georgia per the 247Sports Composite.
Keenan Bailey is no stranger to high-profile recruiting, and now at the helm of the tight end position, he’s getting a chance to show first hand why the Buckeyes need to be right atop of his list when it comes down to decision time.
- Sticking with football recruiting, there was some Ohio State smoke in the air via Rivals when current Alabama quarterback commit, Julian Sayin, shared that Ohio State is still very much trying to get him on campus and recruiting him heavily.
Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are clearly still in on Sayin as a potential target, and though the No. 10 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite has been committed to the Tide since November of last year, Day has enough on his resume to at least keep Julian thinking.
A visit has not yet been scheduled and may not be, but Day and position coach Corey Dennis are very much at the top when it comes to quarterback recruiting, and can’t be counted out at least for now.
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LGHL LGHL Asks: Which position needs to show big improvement this spring?
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LGHL Asks: Which position needs to show big improvement this spring?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
The Ohio State football team has had two whole practices this spring, and they have now made like Ross and Rachel and are on a break. With the players taking their spring break, now seems like a perfect time to check in with the Ohio State fandom to see what they are hoping is achieved from this set of 15 football practices.
Last week, we asked Buckeye fans to participate in a survey to share their thoughts about their hopes and dreams for the team this spring, and we now have the results, so let’s dive in.
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To me, this is a no-brainer. The corners were without question the weakest link in the team’s chain last season and this spring needs to supply some answers. The issues last year at CB started with the fact that there was just not a lot of guys in the room, and even fewer who were healthy.
There were only six scholarship corners on the roster last season, and the top three all were injured — to varying degrees — during fall camp. So, that means that a thin, inexperienced group was thinner, banged up, and had to rely on guys who weren’t ready to play at this level.
With Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock back — and presumably healthy — and young guys like Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Ryan Turner in the mix, this is a time for growth at the position. Interestingly, Davison Igbinosun transferred to Columbus from Ole Miss where he was a Freshman All-American at corner, but the Buckeyes currently have him listed as a safety. Reports from camp seem to have him playing cornerback, so this could just be a clerical error, but it is interesting.
If Igbinosun does slot in with the corners, a trio of him, Hancock, and Burke has the potential to be a stellar unit, assuming they can put the horrors and health issues of last year behind them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24505511/OhioState_2_030923.png)
Man, I hope y’all are right, but I don’t know. I think Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks are still a little bit buried on the safety depth chart. Styles is likely still behind Lathan Ransom, Cam Martinez, Josh Proctor, and Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter.
Similarly, in the presumably two-linebacker set-up from defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Hicks is obviously behind returning starters Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg with Cody Simon next up.
Now, I think there is still plenty of opportunities for them to break out this spring or fall and be major contributors when the team officially takes the field, but — despite their insane talent — I think they still have a bit of an uphill battle.
I would have voted for either Igbinosun or Caden Curry, just because they seem to have a much clearer path to playing time.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24505513/OhioState_3_030923.png)
First off, nice. Secondly, if Ryan Day is able to get to the point where has stated that he would like to, then I think that this is the proper answer. The head coach has been open about wanting to be able to name a starting quarterback following the spring in order to let that player be the leader for the rest of the offseason and not worry too much about looking over his shoulder throughout summer and fall.
If that does end up happening, then the guy will almost certainly be Kyle McCord. He is the more veteran of the two guys in the mix, and has actually started a game for Ohio State, albeit during the 2021 season.
However, if McCord is unable to distance himself from Devin Brown, this will likely drag out into fall camp. I think it is rather unlikely that Brown will win the job next month, one because he has a long way to go, and two, that would likely mean that McCord would transfer, and that would certainly not be what Day would like to see.
I think McCord winning the job this spring is the most likely situation, especially following early reports about how good he has looked this spring.
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
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
The Ohio State football team has had two whole practices this spring, and they have now made like Ross and Rachel and are on a break. With the players taking their spring break, now seems like a perfect time to check in with the Ohio State fandom to see what they are hoping is achieved from this set of 15 football practices.
Last week, we asked Buckeye fans to participate in a survey to share their thoughts about their hopes and dreams for the team this spring, and we now have the results, so let’s dive in.
Question 1: Other than quarterback, which position group do you want to see the most improvement from this spring?
To me, this is a no-brainer. The corners were without question the weakest link in the team’s chain last season and this spring needs to supply some answers. The issues last year at CB started with the fact that there was just not a lot of guys in the room, and even fewer who were healthy.
There were only six scholarship corners on the roster last season, and the top three all were injured — to varying degrees — during fall camp. So, that means that a thin, inexperienced group was thinner, banged up, and had to rely on guys who weren’t ready to play at this level.
With Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock back — and presumably healthy — and young guys like Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Ryan Turner in the mix, this is a time for growth at the position. Interestingly, Davison Igbinosun transferred to Columbus from Ole Miss where he was a Freshman All-American at corner, but the Buckeyes currently have him listed as a safety. Reports from camp seem to have him playing cornerback, so this could just be a clerical error, but it is interesting.
If Igbinosun does slot in with the corners, a trio of him, Hancock, and Burke has the potential to be a stellar unit, assuming they can put the horrors and health issues of last year behind them.
Question 2: Who do you think will be the biggest breakout player of spring ball?
Man, I hope y’all are right, but I don’t know. I think Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks are still a little bit buried on the safety depth chart. Styles is likely still behind Lathan Ransom, Cam Martinez, Josh Proctor, and Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter.
Similarly, in the presumably two-linebacker set-up from defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Hicks is obviously behind returning starters Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg with Cody Simon next up.
Now, I think there is still plenty of opportunities for them to break out this spring or fall and be major contributors when the team officially takes the field, but — despite their insane talent — I think they still have a bit of an uphill battle.
I would have voted for either Igbinosun or Caden Curry, just because they seem to have a much clearer path to playing time.
Question 3: Who will be Ohio State’s starting quarterback at the end of the spring?
First off, nice. Secondly, if Ryan Day is able to get to the point where has stated that he would like to, then I think that this is the proper answer. The head coach has been open about wanting to be able to name a starting quarterback following the spring in order to let that player be the leader for the rest of the offseason and not worry too much about looking over his shoulder throughout summer and fall.
If that does end up happening, then the guy will almost certainly be Kyle McCord. He is the more veteran of the two guys in the mix, and has actually started a game for Ohio State, albeit during the 2021 season.
However, if McCord is unable to distance himself from Devin Brown, this will likely drag out into fall camp. I think it is rather unlikely that Brown will win the job next month, one because he has a long way to go, and two, that would likely mean that McCord would transfer, and that would certainly not be what Day would like to see.
I think McCord winning the job this spring is the most likely situation, especially following early reports about how good he has looked this spring.
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LGHL Column: Let’s hear it for the ladies; Ohio State women’s teams thrive this winter
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Column: Let’s hear it for the ladies; Ohio State women’s teams thrive this winter
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
It wasn’t a rough winter for the Buckeyes — if you were watching the women
Much has been written about Buckeye sports this winter. Men’s basketball, which is easily the most accessible winter sport in mainstream television coverage and news, didn’t really turn on until the Big Ten Tournament run.
Until then, there have been nearly daily calls to fire Coach. There has been endless griping on Twitter. People have turned off their TVs and called it a day.
The season was called “rough” or “unwatchable.” Even I am guilty of this – if you’ve listened to the Play Like a Girl podcast at all in recent months, you know I placed all my hope in the women, so when they had their mid-season losing streak, I did not handle it well despite it being relatively short-lived.
I still watched the men. I can’t stand people who give up on their team through one tough season, and even worse in my eyes are people who jump back on the bandwagon when things get good (like they did in the tournament). But I griped about it like the rest of you.
What we should have been doing was expanding our horizons. Because just below the surface of this long winter, the ladies of Ohio State sports were having the times of their lives.
While we griped about a tough winter for Ohio State sports, we should have been paying attention.
This is inclusive, of course, of the much-discussed and highly successful women’s basketball team who garnered a No. 3 seed in the tournament after a very impressive Big Ten Tournament run.
They accomplished this in spite of being plagued by injuries from the outset, and it seems like they are only now reaching their maximum potential, which included upending No. 1-seed Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament to reach the final.
But did you know the women’s ice hockey team is the best women’s ice hockey team in the country? I didn’t until their win last Saturday against No. 8 Quinnipiac secured them a spot in the Frozen Four and I finally saw some coverage about them.
From everything I’ve read, they were unfazed when they went down by a goal in the 19th minute of the first period. Rather, that was the wake-up call that kickstarted them for the rest of the game. They played with intense physicality, they capitalized on power plays to keep the pressure on, and not only did the Buckeyes secure a 5-2 win against a top-10 opponent, but they also outshot them 24-3.
The women of the ice are entering their third consecutive Frozen Four, this time with a No. 1 ranking. And I—a person who actively seeks out non-mainstream sports news—am still just now hearing about it.
Did you know Women’s Gymnastics is ranked No. 15 and finished their regular season with a program record home score, the second-highest score ever achieved in program history?
They head into the Big Ten Championships this weekend with top-20 rankings on three apparatuses (13th on floor, 14th on vault, and 17th on bars). Freshman all-around gymnast Payton Harris is ranked 10th in the league on the beam. You can watch their Big Ten Championship meet on the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, March 18.
I am religious about watching swimming at the Olympics, but I had no idea the women’s swimming and diving team is ranked No. 5 in the country heading into the NCAA Championships in Tennessee this week. The Championship meet will take place from March 15-18.
The Buckeyes have top-10-seeded swimmers in seven different events, with senior Amy Fulmer earning a top-10 seed in all three of her individual events (4-seed in the 200 free, 6-seed in 100 free, 10-seed in the 50 free).
Did you know the women’s indoor track and field team competed in the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend and broke records while doing so?
Adelaide Aquilla finished her Ohio State career with her fourth NCAA title in shot-put, breaking her own program record for an indoor personal best of 19.28m.
The 4x400 relay team, comprised of Alyssa Marsh, Bryannia Murphy, Chanler Robinson, and Jaydan Wood, finished 8th, breaking their own program record for a second time this season. Their previous program record had been set at the 2023 Big Ten Championships.
I suppose all this is to say, it actually hasn’t been a rough winter for Buckeye sports. If we were paying closer attention, or perhaps changing the channel instead of turning off the TV altogether, we might have found that the ladies were flying under the radar (and in some cases, literally through the air), giving us much to celebrate this winter and much to pay attention to for the future.
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
Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
It wasn’t a rough winter for the Buckeyes — if you were watching the women
Much has been written about Buckeye sports this winter. Men’s basketball, which is easily the most accessible winter sport in mainstream television coverage and news, didn’t really turn on until the Big Ten Tournament run.
Until then, there have been nearly daily calls to fire Coach. There has been endless griping on Twitter. People have turned off their TVs and called it a day.
The season was called “rough” or “unwatchable.” Even I am guilty of this – if you’ve listened to the Play Like a Girl podcast at all in recent months, you know I placed all my hope in the women, so when they had their mid-season losing streak, I did not handle it well despite it being relatively short-lived.
I still watched the men. I can’t stand people who give up on their team through one tough season, and even worse in my eyes are people who jump back on the bandwagon when things get good (like they did in the tournament). But I griped about it like the rest of you.
What we should have been doing was expanding our horizons. Because just below the surface of this long winter, the ladies of Ohio State sports were having the times of their lives.
While we griped about a tough winter for Ohio State sports, we should have been paying attention.
This is inclusive, of course, of the much-discussed and highly successful women’s basketball team who garnered a No. 3 seed in the tournament after a very impressive Big Ten Tournament run.
They accomplished this in spite of being plagued by injuries from the outset, and it seems like they are only now reaching their maximum potential, which included upending No. 1-seed Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament to reach the final.
But did you know the women’s ice hockey team is the best women’s ice hockey team in the country? I didn’t until their win last Saturday against No. 8 Quinnipiac secured them a spot in the Frozen Four and I finally saw some coverage about them.
From everything I’ve read, they were unfazed when they went down by a goal in the 19th minute of the first period. Rather, that was the wake-up call that kickstarted them for the rest of the game. They played with intense physicality, they capitalized on power plays to keep the pressure on, and not only did the Buckeyes secure a 5-2 win against a top-10 opponent, but they also outshot them 24-3.
The women of the ice are entering their third consecutive Frozen Four, this time with a No. 1 ranking. And I—a person who actively seeks out non-mainstream sports news—am still just now hearing about it.
Did you know Women’s Gymnastics is ranked No. 15 and finished their regular season with a program record home score, the second-highest score ever achieved in program history?
They head into the Big Ten Championships this weekend with top-20 rankings on three apparatuses (13th on floor, 14th on vault, and 17th on bars). Freshman all-around gymnast Payton Harris is ranked 10th in the league on the beam. You can watch their Big Ten Championship meet on the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, March 18.
I am religious about watching swimming at the Olympics, but I had no idea the women’s swimming and diving team is ranked No. 5 in the country heading into the NCAA Championships in Tennessee this week. The Championship meet will take place from March 15-18.
The Buckeyes have top-10-seeded swimmers in seven different events, with senior Amy Fulmer earning a top-10 seed in all three of her individual events (4-seed in the 200 free, 6-seed in 100 free, 10-seed in the 50 free).
Did you know the women’s indoor track and field team competed in the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend and broke records while doing so?
Adelaide Aquilla finished her Ohio State career with her fourth NCAA title in shot-put, breaking her own program record for an indoor personal best of 19.28m.
The 4x400 relay team, comprised of Alyssa Marsh, Bryannia Murphy, Chanler Robinson, and Jaydan Wood, finished 8th, breaking their own program record for a second time this season. Their previous program record had been set at the 2023 Big Ten Championships.
I suppose all this is to say, it actually hasn’t been a rough winter for Buckeye sports. If we were paying closer attention, or perhaps changing the channel instead of turning off the TV altogether, we might have found that the ladies were flying under the radar (and in some cases, literally through the air), giving us much to celebrate this winter and much to pay attention to for the future.
Continue reading...
LGHL B1G Thoughts: Five offseason questions for Michigan State
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B1G Thoughts: Five offseason questions for Michigan State
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
After a surprising 11-win season in 2021, Michigan State came back to earth in 2022. This spring, they must prove that 2022 was an outlier, and that they are closer to the 11-win team from 2021.
The 2022 season has come to an end. It was a great season that leaves many questions to be answered as we enter the 2023 offseason. Michigan won the Big Ten for the second year in a row, taking the crown from Ohio State.
Ohio State enters the new year a field goal away from a national championship appearance, but now has to replace C.J. Stroud. Will this be the first time in almost a decade that the best quarterback in the conference doesn’t wear scarlet and grey?
Nebraska, Purdue, and Wisconsin enter 2023 with new coaches while Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Indiana’s Tom Allen enter on the hot seat. Penn State has high expectations, Illinois will try to rebound from a late-season collapse, and Minnesota is trying to replace four of the best players in program history.
This is the final offseason before USC and UCLA enter the conference and the new TV deal starts. Teams must build a foundation that will last in the ever-changing landscape of college football. The 2023 offseason is essential for every team, so let’s dive in and see which five questions each team must answer before the 2023 season begins.
Can Mel Tucker develop a competent secondary?
Before becoming a head coach, Mel Tucker spent his career coaching defensive backs and as a defensive coordinator in college and the NFL. His experience as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator makes it all the more confusing that he has not been able to develop a competent secondary at Michigan State.
In 2021 they were the worst pass defense in the country. They got better in 2022, finishing the year ranked 87th in the country. In the Big Ten, they ranked 13th in passing yards per game and 14th in interceptions. Despite the improvement, that is not nearly good enough to reach their goals of winning the Big Ten and making the playoffs.
It’s Tucker’s fourth season in East Lansing. It’s time for him to figure out this secondary or make massive staff changes on the defensive side of the ball.
What position will Jacoby Windmon play, and can they restock the defensive line?
Michigan State lost five defensive linemen in the transfer portal and one left for the NFL Draft. To replace them they brought in three transfers, including former top 50 defensive end Tunmise Adeleye from Texas A&M. They also brought in three four-star defensive linemen in the 2023 class, headlined by Bai Jobe, the 54th-best player in the country.
Due to some injuries and depth concerns, Jacoby Windmon played many of his snaps from the defensive line position, but he is probably best as an off-ball linebacker. They know Windmon can play defensive end if need be, but that ultimately hurts their defense by weakening the linebacking corp. Outside of the secondary, this may be the biggest question that needs to be answered this spring.
They’ve recruited the position well in the last two classes. This spring, they must develop their young talent and find a way to work in their transfers, or it will be a long season against Big Ten competition which is loaded with elite running back talent.
Who is the starting quarterback?
Payton Thorne has been the starting quarterback for the Spartans for the past two seasons. In 2021, with a potent running game led by Kenneth Walker III, Thorne was an above-average starter throwing for 3,232 yards and 27 touchdowns. Without Walker, he took a step back in 2022 with 2,679 yards and 19 touchdowns.
At best, Thorne is a game manager, he can get this offense into the right plays and doesn’t make many mistakes, but he is not a difference maker. The 2022 season was not enough for Thorne to keep the starting job without any competition from the rest of the quarterback room. Entering spring ball, Noah Kim, a three-star quarterback from the 2020 class, and Katin Houser, a four-star quarterback from the 2022 class, will compete to be the quarterback in the fall.
The Spartans know what they have in Thorne. It’s time for them to see if either Kim or Houser can raise their ceiling. After 2022, every spot should be up for grabs this spring, including the quarterback position.
How do they replace Jayden Reed?
Jayden Reed has arguably been Michigan States’ best wide receiver for the past two seasons after joining the program in 2020. Reed finished his career with 2,866 yards and 26 touchdowns and has contributed since his true freshman season. Despite a down year in 2022, Reed is well-regarded in the NFL circle and had a great performance at the NFL Combine.
Reed not being in the program will be a tough loss to recover from, but his replacement may already be on the roster. Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman led the team in receiver with 798 yards and seven touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Coleman has the prototypical No. 1 wide receiver size and can be a match-up nightmare. Without Reed on the roster, Coleman will be the offensive player the opposing team’s defense pays the most attention to in their game prep.
Coleman will need to showcase the ability to win when he’s the defensive focus. Outside of Coleman, no one else on the roster has produced so far in their career. This spring will be pivotal for Coleman’s development, and finding at least two more wide receivers to help whoever plays quarterback.
Can they develop key contributors from their most recent recruiting classes?
Michigan State has lived or died for the past two seasons on the transfer portal. In 2021 they hit big in the portal with Kenneth Walker III. Walker instantly became one of the best running backs in the country, leading Michigan State to an 11-2 season. On the back of Walker, Mel Tucker got a market-setting 10-year contract.
In 2022 the portal was not a success. Without Walker, the offense struggled, and the defense got marginally better but did not lead to wins. Michigan State finished the 2022 season 5-7 and didn’t qualify for a bowl game.
Entering his fourth season, Tucker must develop his players via high school recruiting. He accepted the job in late 2020 and was recruiting through the pandemic. Due to this, his first true recruiting class was the 2022 class. That class ranked 23rd in 247Sports Composite rankings with six four-star commitments, including quarterback Katin Houser from St. John Bosco in California. The recently signed 2023 class also ranked 23rd according to 247Sports with eight four-star commitments.
It may be too early for the 2023 recruiting class to contribute, but this is an essential spring for the 2022 class. Quarterback Katin Houser will have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job, and defensive lineman Alex VanSumeran, the highest-rated recruit in the 2022 class, should factor in as the Spartans replace multiple defensive linemen.
Regardless of who sees the field, this spring is important for development. You can only live and die by the transfer portal for so long if you want to maintain success.
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JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
After a surprising 11-win season in 2021, Michigan State came back to earth in 2022. This spring, they must prove that 2022 was an outlier, and that they are closer to the 11-win team from 2021.
The 2022 season has come to an end. It was a great season that leaves many questions to be answered as we enter the 2023 offseason. Michigan won the Big Ten for the second year in a row, taking the crown from Ohio State.
Ohio State enters the new year a field goal away from a national championship appearance, but now has to replace C.J. Stroud. Will this be the first time in almost a decade that the best quarterback in the conference doesn’t wear scarlet and grey?
Nebraska, Purdue, and Wisconsin enter 2023 with new coaches while Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Indiana’s Tom Allen enter on the hot seat. Penn State has high expectations, Illinois will try to rebound from a late-season collapse, and Minnesota is trying to replace four of the best players in program history.
This is the final offseason before USC and UCLA enter the conference and the new TV deal starts. Teams must build a foundation that will last in the ever-changing landscape of college football. The 2023 offseason is essential for every team, so let’s dive in and see which five questions each team must answer before the 2023 season begins.
Can Mel Tucker develop a competent secondary?
Before becoming a head coach, Mel Tucker spent his career coaching defensive backs and as a defensive coordinator in college and the NFL. His experience as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator makes it all the more confusing that he has not been able to develop a competent secondary at Michigan State.
In 2021 they were the worst pass defense in the country. They got better in 2022, finishing the year ranked 87th in the country. In the Big Ten, they ranked 13th in passing yards per game and 14th in interceptions. Despite the improvement, that is not nearly good enough to reach their goals of winning the Big Ten and making the playoffs.
It’s Tucker’s fourth season in East Lansing. It’s time for him to figure out this secondary or make massive staff changes on the defensive side of the ball.
What position will Jacoby Windmon play, and can they restock the defensive line?
Michigan State lost five defensive linemen in the transfer portal and one left for the NFL Draft. To replace them they brought in three transfers, including former top 50 defensive end Tunmise Adeleye from Texas A&M. They also brought in three four-star defensive linemen in the 2023 class, headlined by Bai Jobe, the 54th-best player in the country.
Due to some injuries and depth concerns, Jacoby Windmon played many of his snaps from the defensive line position, but he is probably best as an off-ball linebacker. They know Windmon can play defensive end if need be, but that ultimately hurts their defense by weakening the linebacking corp. Outside of the secondary, this may be the biggest question that needs to be answered this spring.
They’ve recruited the position well in the last two classes. This spring, they must develop their young talent and find a way to work in their transfers, or it will be a long season against Big Ten competition which is loaded with elite running back talent.
Who is the starting quarterback?
Payton Thorne has been the starting quarterback for the Spartans for the past two seasons. In 2021, with a potent running game led by Kenneth Walker III, Thorne was an above-average starter throwing for 3,232 yards and 27 touchdowns. Without Walker, he took a step back in 2022 with 2,679 yards and 19 touchdowns.
At best, Thorne is a game manager, he can get this offense into the right plays and doesn’t make many mistakes, but he is not a difference maker. The 2022 season was not enough for Thorne to keep the starting job without any competition from the rest of the quarterback room. Entering spring ball, Noah Kim, a three-star quarterback from the 2020 class, and Katin Houser, a four-star quarterback from the 2022 class, will compete to be the quarterback in the fall.
The Spartans know what they have in Thorne. It’s time for them to see if either Kim or Houser can raise their ceiling. After 2022, every spot should be up for grabs this spring, including the quarterback position.
How do they replace Jayden Reed?
Jayden Reed has arguably been Michigan States’ best wide receiver for the past two seasons after joining the program in 2020. Reed finished his career with 2,866 yards and 26 touchdowns and has contributed since his true freshman season. Despite a down year in 2022, Reed is well-regarded in the NFL circle and had a great performance at the NFL Combine.
Reed not being in the program will be a tough loss to recover from, but his replacement may already be on the roster. Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman led the team in receiver with 798 yards and seven touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Coleman has the prototypical No. 1 wide receiver size and can be a match-up nightmare. Without Reed on the roster, Coleman will be the offensive player the opposing team’s defense pays the most attention to in their game prep.
Coleman will need to showcase the ability to win when he’s the defensive focus. Outside of Coleman, no one else on the roster has produced so far in their career. This spring will be pivotal for Coleman’s development, and finding at least two more wide receivers to help whoever plays quarterback.
Can they develop key contributors from their most recent recruiting classes?
Michigan State has lived or died for the past two seasons on the transfer portal. In 2021 they hit big in the portal with Kenneth Walker III. Walker instantly became one of the best running backs in the country, leading Michigan State to an 11-2 season. On the back of Walker, Mel Tucker got a market-setting 10-year contract.
In 2022 the portal was not a success. Without Walker, the offense struggled, and the defense got marginally better but did not lead to wins. Michigan State finished the 2022 season 5-7 and didn’t qualify for a bowl game.
Entering his fourth season, Tucker must develop his players via high school recruiting. He accepted the job in late 2020 and was recruiting through the pandemic. Due to this, his first true recruiting class was the 2022 class. That class ranked 23rd in 247Sports Composite rankings with six four-star commitments, including quarterback Katin Houser from St. John Bosco in California. The recently signed 2023 class also ranked 23rd according to 247Sports with eight four-star commitments.
It may be too early for the 2023 recruiting class to contribute, but this is an essential spring for the 2022 class. Quarterback Katin Houser will have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job, and defensive lineman Alex VanSumeran, the highest-rated recruit in the 2022 class, should factor in as the Spartans replace multiple defensive linemen.
Regardless of who sees the field, this spring is important for development. You can only live and die by the transfer portal for so long if you want to maintain success.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: It’s tournament time! Breaking down the men’s bracket
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Bucketheads Podcast: It’s tournament time! Breaking down the men’s bracket
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
We filled out our men’s tournament bracket, and then talked to Thomas Costello about the women’s bracket and the Buckeyes!
‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
This. Is. March. We have two brackets for the men’s and the women’s NCAA tournaments and this week we took a deep dive into each of them — with a special guest!
To start the episode, Justin and Connor talk about the Buckeyes' improbable conference tournament run (although Justin did predict it) and what it means for the Buckeyes heading into next season. Were the performances of Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara a sign of things to come?
Then, the guys go through the entire NCAA men’s tournament bracket and make their final four and championship predictions. At the end, Connor and Justin are joined by LGHL’s Ohio State women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello and they talk all things women’s tournament and Ohio State’s path to the Final Four — which will potentially match them up with a former Buckeye in the Sweet Sixteen.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
We filled out our men’s tournament bracket, and then talked to Thomas Costello about the women’s bracket and the Buckeyes!
‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
This. Is. March. We have two brackets for the men’s and the women’s NCAA tournaments and this week we took a deep dive into each of them — with a special guest!
To start the episode, Justin and Connor talk about the Buckeyes' improbable conference tournament run (although Justin did predict it) and what it means for the Buckeyes heading into next season. Were the performances of Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara a sign of things to come?
Then, the guys go through the entire NCAA men’s tournament bracket and make their final four and championship predictions. At the end, Connor and Justin are joined by LGHL’s Ohio State women’s basketball beat writer Thomas Costello and they talk all things women’s tournament and Ohio State’s path to the Final Four — which will potentially match them up with a former Buckeye in the Sweet Sixteen.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Continue reading...
LGHL Baseball: Ohio State defeats Marshall, wins fifth game in a row
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Baseball: Ohio State defeats Marshall, wins fifth game in a row
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State pitcher George Eisenhardt | via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes are riding high ahead of their home opener.
After Tuesday’s game was cancelled as a result of inclement weather, it was just a one-game series between Ohio State and Marshall on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a pitchers duel early on between the two sides, as the only run for either team over the first four innings was a solo home run by Matthew Graveline in the top of the 2nd to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. Ohio State doubled its lead in the 5th inning, bringing home a run on a Trey Lipsey groundout after Josh McAlister hit a one-out triple to make it 2-0.
OSU build on its lead yet again in the 6th, this time scoring two runs on a sac fly by Mitchell Okuley and an RBI single by Nick Erwin, the Buckeyes now leading 4-0. Marshall got one run back on a passed ball in the bottom half of the frame, but Ohio State regained its four-run lead with Henry Kaczmar’s RBI single in the top of the 8th. That score would hold on, as Bill Mosiello’s group secured its fifth-straight victory overall with a 5-1 win over the Herd.
Ohio State got an excellent effort on the mound from starting pitcher George Eisenhardt, who tossed five scoreless innings allowing only two hits while striking out three. Nolan Clegg pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Buckeyes, with just one hit allowed to go with three punch outs as he secured his first save of the year.
Offensively it was a strong afternoon for Graveline, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk and three runs scored. Erwin was the only other Ohio State player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. As a team, the Buckeyes drew six walks and also stole four bases, including two by Graveline.
Ohio State (9-6) now returns to Columbus for their home opener, where they will host Dayton in the first of three games this weekend at Nick Swisher Field beginning on Friday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State pitcher George Eisenhardt | via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes are riding high ahead of their home opener.
Wednesday, March 15: 5-1 Ohio State
After Tuesday’s game was cancelled as a result of inclement weather, it was just a one-game series between Ohio State and Marshall on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a pitchers duel early on between the two sides, as the only run for either team over the first four innings was a solo home run by Matthew Graveline in the top of the 2nd to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. Ohio State doubled its lead in the 5th inning, bringing home a run on a Trey Lipsey groundout after Josh McAlister hit a one-out triple to make it 2-0.
OSU build on its lead yet again in the 6th, this time scoring two runs on a sac fly by Mitchell Okuley and an RBI single by Nick Erwin, the Buckeyes now leading 4-0. Marshall got one run back on a passed ball in the bottom half of the frame, but Ohio State regained its four-run lead with Henry Kaczmar’s RBI single in the top of the 8th. That score would hold on, as Bill Mosiello’s group secured its fifth-straight victory overall with a 5-1 win over the Herd.
Ohio State got an excellent effort on the mound from starting pitcher George Eisenhardt, who tossed five scoreless innings allowing only two hits while striking out three. Nolan Clegg pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Buckeyes, with just one hit allowed to go with three punch outs as he secured his first save of the year.
Offensively it was a strong afternoon for Graveline, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk and three runs scored. Erwin was the only other Ohio State player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. As a team, the Buckeyes drew six walks and also stole four bases, including two by Graveline.
Ohio State (9-6) now returns to Columbus for their home opener, where they will host Dayton in the first of three games this weekend at Nick Swisher Field beginning on Friday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...