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LGHL Thoughts on Stroud’s press conference at NFL Combine
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Thoughts on Stroud’s press conference at NFL Combine
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
There were definitely a couple of good sound bites.
It’s NFL Combine week, which is randomly one of my favorite events of the year. C.J. Stroud’s press conference was Friday, and there were definitely some quotes from him that stood out amongst others. Here are my thoughts on some of them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24478534/1453919135.jpg "Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Ohio State v Georgia")
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
I must say, this is a bold statement coming from a guy who didn’t win the Heisman either year he was a finalist. However, I certainly respect the confidence and I’m sure NFL GM’s will appreciate it as well.
Honestly, he’s not wrong. The only reason he didn’t win the 2021 Heisman was because of the Michigan game. The same could also be said for this year, however it still would’ve been tough to dethrone Caleb Williams after the season he had. Stroud and Bryce Young had nearly identical stats in 2021, both consistently averaging 300+ passing yards per game with multiple touchdowns.
Young and Alabama had one loss as well, to Texas A&M about halfway through the season. However, since Stroud’s came as the last game of the regular season against TTUN, Heisman voters were probably more focused on that game. Let’s not forget that he still threw for 394 yards and zero interceptions in that game, though.
Either way, Stroud finished fourth in Heisman voting that season behind Young, Aidan Hutchinson and Kenny Pickett. In the eyes of (most) Buckeye fans, yes, he was the best player in the nation. Clearly though, everyone else didn’t agree.
There has been a lot of heated discussion the past two years of how good he really is, but between the Rose Bowl game against Utah and the Peach Bowl against Georgia, he showed that, yeah, he is definitely capable of being the best player in college football.
2. “I look up to Michael Vick and Deshaun Watson [playing styles].”
Okay, everyone needs to settle down. I saw this quote getting a lot of traction on Twitter, and everyone is taking it the wrong way. Stroud was strictly talking about these two quarterback’s playing styles and why they inspired him as a QUARTERBACK. Not as a person!
He discussed Vick’s athleticism and ability to stay in the pocket, and also mentioned Watson. That’s it, so don’t get it twisted.
3. “I didn’t [run] a lot in college and I feel like I should have and that’s something I do regret.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24478594/1440115346.jpg "Ohio State v Northwestern")
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
It was a valid question to ask about his running, or lack thereof. It was interesting to hear him say how he wished he had run more, because I feel like he had always maintained the fact that he is not a dual-threat QB, and was confident in his arm and only had to run when absolutely necessary.
But, we did get glimpses of his ability to take off and run for a first down a lot more this season than last season. It was honestly frustrating because he showed that he is extremely capable of running the ball! In the Northwestern and Georgia games especially, he showed that this is a weapon he has which he keeps concealed 95% of the time. It seemed like as the season went on, he got more comfortable running, but it was a shame that he didn’t do it as much his entire career.
Yet, I think between the game film and the Combine and Ohio State’s Pro Day, he will get plenty of opportunities to show NFL GMs and coaches his athleticism and ability to move. The question isn’t “can he run,” it’s more of “why didn’t he.”
4. “I don’t wanna go there [to the Bears]. That’s [Justin Fields’] team.”
Love this. Stroud said him and Fields are “brothers for life.” Enough said!
5. “I was honestly going to come back to school.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24478613/1453544431.jpg "Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Ohio State v Georgia")
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
At the end of the day, pretty much everyone knew Stroud was going to the league. However, he did take his sweet time making his decision, so there was a bit of speculation that he would come back to school. It was really interesting to hear him say that this was a legitimate possibility for him.
He mentioned how he obviously didn’t meet his two goals of beating Michigan or winning a national championship, nor did he win a Heisman. However, he said he trusted in God’s plan and that those achievements weren’t a part of it. I don’t think enough people realize how tough of a decision that would be. He left his collegiate career not accomplishing what he set out to do, and is going to have to live with that. But, the opportunity of being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft is once in a lifetime, and he really can’t pass that up.
So, overall, some interesting insight into the mind of Stroud. Not anything groundbreaking, but some clarity on some topics that Buckeye nation has been curious about. We wish nothing but the best for Stroud as he prepares for the draft! May the best team win, whoever drafts him.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
There were definitely a couple of good sound bites.
It’s NFL Combine week, which is randomly one of my favorite events of the year. C.J. Stroud’s press conference was Friday, and there were definitely some quotes from him that stood out amongst others. Here are my thoughts on some of them.
- “I think I’ve been the best player in college football two years in a row.”
I must say, this is a bold statement coming from a guy who didn’t win the Heisman either year he was a finalist. However, I certainly respect the confidence and I’m sure NFL GM’s will appreciate it as well.
Honestly, he’s not wrong. The only reason he didn’t win the 2021 Heisman was because of the Michigan game. The same could also be said for this year, however it still would’ve been tough to dethrone Caleb Williams after the season he had. Stroud and Bryce Young had nearly identical stats in 2021, both consistently averaging 300+ passing yards per game with multiple touchdowns.
Young and Alabama had one loss as well, to Texas A&M about halfway through the season. However, since Stroud’s came as the last game of the regular season against TTUN, Heisman voters were probably more focused on that game. Let’s not forget that he still threw for 394 yards and zero interceptions in that game, though.
Either way, Stroud finished fourth in Heisman voting that season behind Young, Aidan Hutchinson and Kenny Pickett. In the eyes of (most) Buckeye fans, yes, he was the best player in the nation. Clearly though, everyone else didn’t agree.
There has been a lot of heated discussion the past two years of how good he really is, but between the Rose Bowl game against Utah and the Peach Bowl against Georgia, he showed that, yeah, he is definitely capable of being the best player in college football.
2. “I look up to Michael Vick and Deshaun Watson [playing styles].”
Okay, everyone needs to settle down. I saw this quote getting a lot of traction on Twitter, and everyone is taking it the wrong way. Stroud was strictly talking about these two quarterback’s playing styles and why they inspired him as a QUARTERBACK. Not as a person!
He discussed Vick’s athleticism and ability to stay in the pocket, and also mentioned Watson. That’s it, so don’t get it twisted.
3. “I didn’t [run] a lot in college and I feel like I should have and that’s something I do regret.”
It was a valid question to ask about his running, or lack thereof. It was interesting to hear him say how he wished he had run more, because I feel like he had always maintained the fact that he is not a dual-threat QB, and was confident in his arm and only had to run when absolutely necessary.
But, we did get glimpses of his ability to take off and run for a first down a lot more this season than last season. It was honestly frustrating because he showed that he is extremely capable of running the ball! In the Northwestern and Georgia games especially, he showed that this is a weapon he has which he keeps concealed 95% of the time. It seemed like as the season went on, he got more comfortable running, but it was a shame that he didn’t do it as much his entire career.
Yet, I think between the game film and the Combine and Ohio State’s Pro Day, he will get plenty of opportunities to show NFL GMs and coaches his athleticism and ability to move. The question isn’t “can he run,” it’s more of “why didn’t he.”
4. “I don’t wanna go there [to the Bears]. That’s [Justin Fields’] team.”
Love this. Stroud said him and Fields are “brothers for life.” Enough said!
5. “I was honestly going to come back to school.”
At the end of the day, pretty much everyone knew Stroud was going to the league. However, he did take his sweet time making his decision, so there was a bit of speculation that he would come back to school. It was really interesting to hear him say that this was a legitimate possibility for him.
He mentioned how he obviously didn’t meet his two goals of beating Michigan or winning a national championship, nor did he win a Heisman. However, he said he trusted in God’s plan and that those achievements weren’t a part of it. I don’t think enough people realize how tough of a decision that would be. He left his collegiate career not accomplishing what he set out to do, and is going to have to live with that. But, the opportunity of being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft is once in a lifetime, and he really can’t pass that up.
So, overall, some interesting insight into the mind of Stroud. Not anything groundbreaking, but some clarity on some topics that Buckeye nation has been curious about. We wish nothing but the best for Stroud as he prepares for the draft! May the best team win, whoever drafts him.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team falls in WCHA Final Faceoff title game
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Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team falls in WCHA Final Faceoff title game
Brett Ludwiczak 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
The Buckeyes will now wait to see who their quest for a second consecutive NCAA title will start against
Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team was able to make it to the WCHA Final Faceoff Championship Game, but the Buckeyes weren’t able to take down Minnesota, who came into the WCHA postseason tournament just behind Nadine Muzerall’s team in the conference’s regular season standings.
Even with the loss, there is still plenty of reasons to be excited about Ohio State’s chances of repeating as national champions.
Ohio State played in the first semifinal of the WCHA Final Faceoff on Friday, matching up against Minnesota-Duluth, who the Buckeyes faced in the championship game of last year’s NCAA Tournament. After a scoreless first period, Ohio State struck first, as Brooke Bink scored an unassisted goal at the 10:50 mark of the second period, registering her third goal of the season.
Less than a minute later the Buckeyes doubled their lead with another unassisted goal. This time Emma Maltais was credited with the goal, giving her 11 goals on the season. The tally would end up being the game-winning goal, as Minnesota-Duluth was able to pull a goal back with less than three minutes left in the game after they pulled their goalie and brought an extra attacker onto the ice. Maltais now has three game-winning goals this season, and 16 in her Ohio State career, which ties Natalie Spooner for most game-winning goals in program history.
The victory secured Ohio State’s fifth trip to the WCHA championship game, and fourth consecutive year they have made the final. The win was also a notable one for goaltender Amanada Thiele, who now has 18 wins this season, which tied her career-high. Thiele also was credited with 18 wins last season, but the junior hopes there are a few more wins that are still out there that she’ll be able to add to her season total this year.
Unfortunately, Ohio State couldn’t make it three WCHA tournament titles in the last four seasons. The Buckeyes fell behind in the latter half of the first period when Savannah Norcross scored an even-strength goal to give the Golden Gophers a 1-0 lead. Minnesota would double their lead just over seven minutes into the second period thanks to a power play goal from Abbey Murphy, which was her 28th goal of the season.
The Buckeyes would respond with four minutes left in the period when Gabby Rosenthal netted her 20th goal of the campaign. The Golden Gophers would restore their two-goal lead just over a minute later when Peyton Hemp lit the lamp at Ridder Arena. The goal from Hemp would be the last goal scored in the game.
Even though they didn’t win the conference tournament, Ohio State is still a lock to make the NCAA Tournament since they are not only one of the best teams in the country, they are also WCHA regular season champions. The Buckeyes will find out who the defense of their national title will start against this afternoon when the teams included in the NCAA Tournament are announced on the selection show at noon on ESPNews.
Sophie Jaques continues to add accolades to her time at Ohio State, as she was named WCHA Player of the Year on Thursday. Jaques is strong on both offense and defense. Not only does Jaques lead one of the stingiest defenses in the country, her 46 points were tops amongst defensemen nationally.
Jaques already holds Ohio State’s record for most points by a defenseman with 154 points, she is one goal from tying the WCHA record for most goals by a defenseman in a career, which currently stands at 60 goals. This marks the second time a Buckeye has been named WCHA Player of the Year, with Tessa Bonhomme being the first to win the award in 2006.
Along with Jaques, Ohio State head coach was named WCHA Co-Coach of the Year, sharing the award with St. Cloud State’s Brian Idalski. Muzerall has taken the women’s hockey program to new heights since arriving in Columbus in 2016, leading the team to their first national title last year, and their first WCHA regular season title this season.
Muzerall now has been named the WCHA Coach of the Year four times in seven seasons at Ohio State, with this year being the second consecutive year she has earned the honor. For the second straight season Ohio State has won at least 30 games. Prior to Muzerall taking over as head coach, Ohio State had just one 20-win season.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak 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
The Buckeyes will now wait to see who their quest for a second consecutive NCAA title will start against
Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team was able to make it to the WCHA Final Faceoff Championship Game, but the Buckeyes weren’t able to take down Minnesota, who came into the WCHA postseason tournament just behind Nadine Muzerall’s team in the conference’s regular season standings.
Even with the loss, there is still plenty of reasons to be excited about Ohio State’s chances of repeating as national champions.
Ohio State played in the first semifinal of the WCHA Final Faceoff on Friday, matching up against Minnesota-Duluth, who the Buckeyes faced in the championship game of last year’s NCAA Tournament. After a scoreless first period, Ohio State struck first, as Brooke Bink scored an unassisted goal at the 10:50 mark of the second period, registering her third goal of the season.
Less than a minute later the Buckeyes doubled their lead with another unassisted goal. This time Emma Maltais was credited with the goal, giving her 11 goals on the season. The tally would end up being the game-winning goal, as Minnesota-Duluth was able to pull a goal back with less than three minutes left in the game after they pulled their goalie and brought an extra attacker onto the ice. Maltais now has three game-winning goals this season, and 16 in her Ohio State career, which ties Natalie Spooner for most game-winning goals in program history.
The victory secured Ohio State’s fifth trip to the WCHA championship game, and fourth consecutive year they have made the final. The win was also a notable one for goaltender Amanada Thiele, who now has 18 wins this season, which tied her career-high. Thiele also was credited with 18 wins last season, but the junior hopes there are a few more wins that are still out there that she’ll be able to add to her season total this year.
Unfortunately, Ohio State couldn’t make it three WCHA tournament titles in the last four seasons. The Buckeyes fell behind in the latter half of the first period when Savannah Norcross scored an even-strength goal to give the Golden Gophers a 1-0 lead. Minnesota would double their lead just over seven minutes into the second period thanks to a power play goal from Abbey Murphy, which was her 28th goal of the season.
The Buckeyes would respond with four minutes left in the period when Gabby Rosenthal netted her 20th goal of the campaign. The Golden Gophers would restore their two-goal lead just over a minute later when Peyton Hemp lit the lamp at Ridder Arena. The goal from Hemp would be the last goal scored in the game.
Even though they didn’t win the conference tournament, Ohio State is still a lock to make the NCAA Tournament since they are not only one of the best teams in the country, they are also WCHA regular season champions. The Buckeyes will find out who the defense of their national title will start against this afternoon when the teams included in the NCAA Tournament are announced on the selection show at noon on ESPNews.
Sophie Jaques continues to add accolades to her time at Ohio State, as she was named WCHA Player of the Year on Thursday. Jaques is strong on both offense and defense. Not only does Jaques lead one of the stingiest defenses in the country, her 46 points were tops amongst defensemen nationally.
Jaques already holds Ohio State’s record for most points by a defenseman with 154 points, she is one goal from tying the WCHA record for most goals by a defenseman in a career, which currently stands at 60 goals. This marks the second time a Buckeye has been named WCHA Player of the Year, with Tessa Bonhomme being the first to win the award in 2006.
Along with Jaques, Ohio State head coach was named WCHA Co-Coach of the Year, sharing the award with St. Cloud State’s Brian Idalski. Muzerall has taken the women’s hockey program to new heights since arriving in Columbus in 2016, leading the team to their first national title last year, and their first WCHA regular season title this season.
Muzerall now has been named the WCHA Coach of the Year four times in seven seasons at Ohio State, with this year being the second consecutive year she has earned the honor. For the second straight season Ohio State has won at least 30 games. Prior to Muzerall taking over as head coach, Ohio State had just one 20-win season.
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LGHL Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship preview: Ohio State vs. Iowa
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Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship preview: Ohio State vs. Iowa
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes battle for a conference trophy for their trophy cabinets.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team did the unthinkable on Saturday when they beat the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers. A 24-point comeback against a top team in the nation doesn’t happen all the time, or in the case of the Big Ten — ever.
As great as the Buckeyes’ performance was in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, the job for Ohio State isn’t done. It continues Sunday night when the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 14 Ohio State face off in the tournament finale.
Before Saturday, it felt like there was a clear gap between the top three teams in the Big Ten, arguably the strongest conference in the nation with the most top 16 NCAA committee teams with five.
The Indiana Hoosiers, Maryland Terrapins, and Hawkeyes all showed the Buckeyes they were on another level, with the three sides going 5-0 against Ohio State in the regular season. After Saturday’s win, it looks like Buckeyes don’t care what those outside of the program think.
Using a strong inbounding press in the second half, Ohio State looked like the team they were in the first month of the season. The same team that beat the ranked Tennessee Volunteers and Louisville Cardinals with the help of inducing panic in opponents with their defensive tactics.
Against Iowa though, the Buckeyes have a lot going against them.
The most obvious is the Hawkeyes’ two offensive leaders: forward Monika Czinano and Naismith Player of the Year favorite, guard Caitlin Clark. Lately, though, that’s expanded.
“It’s just so tricky,” said head coach Kevin McGuff following Iowa’s win in the second semifinal on Saturday. “You’ve got to make some decisions because if you only focus on Clark and Czinano, then you can see what happened today and everyone can beat you.”
For Iowa, that means big games by guard/forward McKenna Warnock and guard Gabbie Marshall. On Saturday, against the Maryland Terrapins, Warnock and Marshall scored 21 apiece. Combined, the two went 10-for-21 from deep, with Marshall specifically hitting seven, her season high.
Marshall, who started the year slowly, has picked up the pace of late. In the guard’s last seven games, she averages 57.9% from beyond the three-point line. Ohio State can’t simply prepare for the only two powerhouses.
“We’ll mix it up and try a couple different things,” said McGuff. “I think the last time Iowa got into a great rhythm offensively, so I don’t think we can plan on doing the same thing all night.”
Sunday could look like Saturday. Against Indiana, the Buckeyes had freshman forward Cotie McMahon intercepting passes sent into Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Holmes. Also, in the second half when forward Rebeka Mikulášiková picked up four fouls, the Buckeyes went small, creating a quicker lineup that still had players like forward/guard Taylor Thierry and guard Emma Shumate who can make defensive plays under the basket by blocking away shots.
Even so, stopping or holding Clark back is one of the most difficult things to do in college basketball. Put single coverage on Clark and she finds the space to shoot, sometimes from over five feet away from the three-point arc. Double-team and she finds Czinano, Marshall, or a number of other Hawkeyes who can cause damage.
Also, Clark is the most confident player in the country.
“I think our confidence level of what we have right now is really good,” said Clark following their victory over Maryland on Saturday. “We’ll welcome any defense that any team wants to bring at us.”
Clark said that with a smile on her face, a confident smile from a person who regularly backs up what they say.
Even with Iowa sitting as the favorites entering Sunday, it by no means has to be a repeat of the 83-72 defeat Ohio State suffered in Columbus on Jan. 23. The Hawkeyes are a team the Buckeyes can beat.
This year, Ohio State was humbled by Iowa at home. The Buckeyes were 19-0 and regardless of what was said to the media, it’s hard to imagine that not getting into the heads of players. When Iowa beat Ohio State, the Buckeyes went on to lose four games overall in the two weeks that followed. That’s created a different Scarlet & Gray.
“I think we just regained some confidence that was probably eroded a little bit from some of those losses. That’s part of it,” said McGuff. “Your confidence, your psyche’s a big part of it and I think we’re in a much better place now.”
On top of the psyche, Ohio State’s beaten Iowa in recent history, Jan. 31, 2022. In the game, Mikulášiková and guards Taylor Mikesell and Jacy Sheldon led the Buckeyes in a 92-88 victory. It’s a game that’ll feel similar to Sunday too, based on the crowd watching.
Iowa University’s campus is four hours south of Minneapolis. All weekend, the Hawkeyes have had consistently the largest crowds. While that gives the team with the support a morale boost, it also motivates opponents to try and quiet them.
Speaking of Sheldon, the guard has come back and made an immediate impact. Sheldon’s played a +10 and +20 performance in her two return games. The last time Iowa and Ohio State competed, Sheldon was injured, taking away depth from the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will have its hands full but play a more consistent game than it did against Indiana on Saturday. Expect McMahon to attack the basket more, with the freshman working alongside Thierry to guard Clark, unless coach McGuff has a new tactic he’s unleashing in the tournament.
Clark will have a big game, but the Buckeyes will make it more difficult on Czinano. Marshall won’t have a 21-point game as she did against Maryland, playing a more down-to-Earth performance.
It’ll be another close game that will go down to the team who makes the fewest mistakes.
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
If there was any doubt that the Buckeyes were a top-16 team in the NCAA Tournament, it was erased on Saturday.
On March 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, the NCAA announces the tournament field for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. After defeating the No. 2 and No. 16 team in the NCAA’s latest top-16 release, no result on Sunday seems like it’ll be enough to klick the Buckeyes out of a spot that allows them to host the first two rounds of the tournament.
However, a win could push Ohio State to a higher seed. Currently, they are in as a No. 3 seed, currently No. 12 in the NCAA top-16 ranking.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes battle for a conference trophy for their trophy cabinets.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team did the unthinkable on Saturday when they beat the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers. A 24-point comeback against a top team in the nation doesn’t happen all the time, or in the case of the Big Ten — ever.
As great as the Buckeyes’ performance was in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, the job for Ohio State isn’t done. It continues Sunday night when the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 14 Ohio State face off in the tournament finale.
Preview
Before Saturday, it felt like there was a clear gap between the top three teams in the Big Ten, arguably the strongest conference in the nation with the most top 16 NCAA committee teams with five.
The Indiana Hoosiers, Maryland Terrapins, and Hawkeyes all showed the Buckeyes they were on another level, with the three sides going 5-0 against Ohio State in the regular season. After Saturday’s win, it looks like Buckeyes don’t care what those outside of the program think.
Using a strong inbounding press in the second half, Ohio State looked like the team they were in the first month of the season. The same team that beat the ranked Tennessee Volunteers and Louisville Cardinals with the help of inducing panic in opponents with their defensive tactics.
Against Iowa though, the Buckeyes have a lot going against them.
The most obvious is the Hawkeyes’ two offensive leaders: forward Monika Czinano and Naismith Player of the Year favorite, guard Caitlin Clark. Lately, though, that’s expanded.
“It’s just so tricky,” said head coach Kevin McGuff following Iowa’s win in the second semifinal on Saturday. “You’ve got to make some decisions because if you only focus on Clark and Czinano, then you can see what happened today and everyone can beat you.”
For Iowa, that means big games by guard/forward McKenna Warnock and guard Gabbie Marshall. On Saturday, against the Maryland Terrapins, Warnock and Marshall scored 21 apiece. Combined, the two went 10-for-21 from deep, with Marshall specifically hitting seven, her season high.
. Seven. 3-pointers for @GabbieMarshall #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/EBvdaJzT5d
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 5, 2023
Marshall, who started the year slowly, has picked up the pace of late. In the guard’s last seven games, she averages 57.9% from beyond the three-point line. Ohio State can’t simply prepare for the only two powerhouses.
“We’ll mix it up and try a couple different things,” said McGuff. “I think the last time Iowa got into a great rhythm offensively, so I don’t think we can plan on doing the same thing all night.”
Sunday could look like Saturday. Against Indiana, the Buckeyes had freshman forward Cotie McMahon intercepting passes sent into Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Holmes. Also, in the second half when forward Rebeka Mikulášiková picked up four fouls, the Buckeyes went small, creating a quicker lineup that still had players like forward/guard Taylor Thierry and guard Emma Shumate who can make defensive plays under the basket by blocking away shots.
Even so, stopping or holding Clark back is one of the most difficult things to do in college basketball. Put single coverage on Clark and she finds the space to shoot, sometimes from over five feet away from the three-point arc. Double-team and she finds Czinano, Marshall, or a number of other Hawkeyes who can cause damage.
Also, Clark is the most confident player in the country.
“I think our confidence level of what we have right now is really good,” said Clark following their victory over Maryland on Saturday. “We’ll welcome any defense that any team wants to bring at us.”
Clark said that with a smile on her face, a confident smile from a person who regularly backs up what they say.
Even with Iowa sitting as the favorites entering Sunday, it by no means has to be a repeat of the 83-72 defeat Ohio State suffered in Columbus on Jan. 23. The Hawkeyes are a team the Buckeyes can beat.
This year, Ohio State was humbled by Iowa at home. The Buckeyes were 19-0 and regardless of what was said to the media, it’s hard to imagine that not getting into the heads of players. When Iowa beat Ohio State, the Buckeyes went on to lose four games overall in the two weeks that followed. That’s created a different Scarlet & Gray.
“I think we just regained some confidence that was probably eroded a little bit from some of those losses. That’s part of it,” said McGuff. “Your confidence, your psyche’s a big part of it and I think we’re in a much better place now.”
On top of the psyche, Ohio State’s beaten Iowa in recent history, Jan. 31, 2022. In the game, Mikulášiková and guards Taylor Mikesell and Jacy Sheldon led the Buckeyes in a 92-88 victory. It’s a game that’ll feel similar to Sunday too, based on the crowd watching.
Iowa University’s campus is four hours south of Minneapolis. All weekend, the Hawkeyes have had consistently the largest crowds. While that gives the team with the support a morale boost, it also motivates opponents to try and quiet them.
Speaking of Sheldon, the guard has come back and made an immediate impact. Sheldon’s played a +10 and +20 performance in her two return games. The last time Iowa and Ohio State competed, Sheldon was injured, taking away depth from the Buckeyes.
Projected Lineups
Lineup Notes
- Against Indiana, both Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry had double-doubles, the first time both Buckeyes have accomplished the feat this season
- Guard Rikki Harris scored 13 points and had six assists versus Indiana, but most importantly she created key steals in the fourth quarter, not to mention the game-winning free throw
- Emma Shumate’s 20 minutes is nine more than her season average of minutes, with McGuff opting for the guard as the second guard off the bench after Sheldon
Lineup Notes
- The starting five is consistent for Iowa, playing through both this season and last season
- Freshman forward Hannah Stuelke won B1G Sixth Player of the Year this season, averaging 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game
- Clark had a triple-double the last time she faced Ohio State, scoring 28 points with 15 assists and 10 rebounds
Prediction
Ohio State will have its hands full but play a more consistent game than it did against Indiana on Saturday. Expect McMahon to attack the basket more, with the freshman working alongside Thierry to guard Clark, unless coach McGuff has a new tactic he’s unleashing in the tournament.
Clark will have a big game, but the Buckeyes will make it more difficult on Czinano. Marshall won’t have a 21-point game as she did against Maryland, playing a more down-to-Earth performance.
It’ll be another close game that will go down to the team who makes the fewest mistakes.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
LGHL Score Prediction: 88-87 Ohio State Buckeyes
One Week Out
If there was any doubt that the Buckeyes were a top-16 team in the NCAA Tournament, it was erased on Saturday.
On March 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, the NCAA announces the tournament field for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. After defeating the No. 2 and No. 16 team in the NCAA’s latest top-16 release, no result on Sunday seems like it’ll be enough to klick the Buckeyes out of a spot that allows them to host the first two rounds of the tournament.
However, a win could push Ohio State to a higher seed. Currently, they are in as a No. 3 seed, currently No. 12 in the NCAA top-16 ranking.
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LGHL Ohio State women’s half time talk that made history
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Ohio State women’s half time talk that made history
1ThomasCostello 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
The Buckeyes erased a 24-point deficit in Minneapolis to keep their Big Ten Tournament alive
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff is a family man. McGuff has six children with his wife Letitia. On Saturday at halftime, when the Buckeyes were down 20 points to the No. 1 tournament seeded Indiana Hoosiers, they came to his mind, but not in the way you might think.
“First thought in my head is it’s my son’s confirmation tomorrow, and should I talk to Beth about getting the plane ready so we can get back and I can make that?,” said McGuff. “But then I thought, I don’t want to do it.”
Ohio State didn’t plan any red eye flights, instead they broke a Big Ten record by coming back from 24 points in a 79-75 victory. Before the Buckeyes got there, they had a chat in the halftime locker room. Part of that message, oddly enough, was centered around continuing to do what the Buckeyes did to start the game.
In that first half, Ohio State scored 26 points on 28.6% shooting. In one stretch, the Scarlet & Gray missed 14 shots in a row from the run of play. When it began, the Buckeyes were tied 10-10, but when it ended after 7:41 of game clock, Ohio State was down 14 points to a side who twice this season beat them by double-digits.
“We talked about continuing to get good shots. I thought the shots that we got were fine in the first half,” said McGuff. “We just weren’t making them.”
In the third quarter, it got better. After shooting going 1-for-13 from three-point range in the first half, the Buckeyes went 3-for-8 in the third quarter. Also, their shooting percentage increased nearly 20 points to 42.9%.
Compare that to the Buckeyes’ regular season average of 47.3% and it doesn’t leap off the page. However, when Ohio State is hitting shots, the full court press joins the conversation, and it talks over everything.
“When we had intensity on our press, we got a lot of stops,” said guard/forward hybrid Taylor Thierry. “Obviously with Jacy (Sheldon) back, it helps us have a lot of energy and pressure in the press. So it shows that we can get stops, and that kind of helped us come back.”
Thierry’s teammate, guard Jacy Sheldon, played her second game in a row and was the defensive catalyst, grabbing a team high four steals, but she was hardly alone in the defensive category.
Point guard Rikki Harris had three steals on top of 13 points and six assists. Harris tied Sheldon in +/- on the night too with +20 point differential when they were on the court. On one steal by Harris, she ended up seated on the media table to dive for an interception and keep it in bounds as she hit the deck.
Thierry and forward Cotie McMahon, who each had double-doubles with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Thierry and 12 points and 14 rebounds for McMahon, each had three steals themselves. Ohio State was everywhere on the court making life extremely tough for the Hoosiers.
Ohio State had nine more attempts from the field in the second half and it wasn’t simply forcing turnovers. When Indiana did shoot, their second half efficiency was 27.6%. That means Buckeyes made it to the right spots to defend. Also, McMahon guarded forward Mackenzie Holmes exclusively all night, without any practice with that pairing before the game.
“She (Holmes) absolutely murdered us the first game and the second game. We had no answer,” said coach McGuff. “We knew we had to make some type of adjustment there, either double her, so we put Cotie on and fronted just to try to keep it out of her hands.”
McMahon grabbed two of her three steals in that position. Indiana is successful because they lob the ball into Holmes and let her use her size, speed and efficiency in the paint. Instead of trying to get between the rim and Holmes,
McGuff’s strategy of not letting her get the ball in the first place was a game-changer. How effective was it? Holmes had two points in the fourth quarter, going 1-for-3 from the floor.
On Jan. 26 and Feb. 13, Holmes scored a combined 59 points against the Buckeyes. Saturday, Holmes ended the night with 12 points. Holmes’ lowest point total in any Big Ten game this season, tying a total she had against Morehead State where the forward only played 18 minutes.
Doing the same thing wasn’t the only halftime adjustment. In the second half, McGuff went for a smaller set of players, bringing in guard Emma Shumate and sitting both forwards Eboni Walker and Rebeka Mikulášiková on the bench.
It worked well considering Shumate’s long arms and ability to defend and block in the paint. Also, it gave the Buckeyes more speed to close down shooters on the perimeter. While small adjustments, they overall paid dividends in the comeback victory.
There was more said by McGuff in that locker room. It explains a lot of what fans saw in the second half.
“The last thing I said, I said, ‘hey, guys, there’s nothing to save this for. We’re not playing until the NCAA Tournament, which is weeks away,’” said McGuff, recalling the halftime talk. “‘So everything we got, we’ve got to show some fight because, if we want to truly play our best basketball down the stretch of the season, we’ve got to fight.’”
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello 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
The Buckeyes erased a 24-point deficit in Minneapolis to keep their Big Ten Tournament alive
Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff is a family man. McGuff has six children with his wife Letitia. On Saturday at halftime, when the Buckeyes were down 20 points to the No. 1 tournament seeded Indiana Hoosiers, they came to his mind, but not in the way you might think.
“First thought in my head is it’s my son’s confirmation tomorrow, and should I talk to Beth about getting the plane ready so we can get back and I can make that?,” said McGuff. “But then I thought, I don’t want to do it.”
Ohio State didn’t plan any red eye flights, instead they broke a Big Ten record by coming back from 24 points in a 79-75 victory. Before the Buckeyes got there, they had a chat in the halftime locker room. Part of that message, oddly enough, was centered around continuing to do what the Buckeyes did to start the game.
In that first half, Ohio State scored 26 points on 28.6% shooting. In one stretch, the Scarlet & Gray missed 14 shots in a row from the run of play. When it began, the Buckeyes were tied 10-10, but when it ended after 7:41 of game clock, Ohio State was down 14 points to a side who twice this season beat them by double-digits.
“We talked about continuing to get good shots. I thought the shots that we got were fine in the first half,” said McGuff. “We just weren’t making them.”
In the third quarter, it got better. After shooting going 1-for-13 from three-point range in the first half, the Buckeyes went 3-for-8 in the third quarter. Also, their shooting percentage increased nearly 20 points to 42.9%.
Compare that to the Buckeyes’ regular season average of 47.3% and it doesn’t leap off the page. However, when Ohio State is hitting shots, the full court press joins the conversation, and it talks over everything.
“When we had intensity on our press, we got a lot of stops,” said guard/forward hybrid Taylor Thierry. “Obviously with Jacy (Sheldon) back, it helps us have a lot of energy and pressure in the press. So it shows that we can get stops, and that kind of helped us come back.”
Thierry’s teammate, guard Jacy Sheldon, played her second game in a row and was the defensive catalyst, grabbing a team high four steals, but she was hardly alone in the defensive category.
Point guard Rikki Harris had three steals on top of 13 points and six assists. Harris tied Sheldon in +/- on the night too with +20 point differential when they were on the court. On one steal by Harris, she ended up seated on the media table to dive for an interception and keep it in bounds as she hit the deck.
Q4 | Defenseoffense, courtesy of @rik_2019 and Taylor Thierry!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7r7NxUUSsH
— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) March 4, 2023
Thierry and forward Cotie McMahon, who each had double-doubles with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Thierry and 12 points and 14 rebounds for McMahon, each had three steals themselves. Ohio State was everywhere on the court making life extremely tough for the Hoosiers.
Ohio State had nine more attempts from the field in the second half and it wasn’t simply forcing turnovers. When Indiana did shoot, their second half efficiency was 27.6%. That means Buckeyes made it to the right spots to defend. Also, McMahon guarded forward Mackenzie Holmes exclusively all night, without any practice with that pairing before the game.
“She (Holmes) absolutely murdered us the first game and the second game. We had no answer,” said coach McGuff. “We knew we had to make some type of adjustment there, either double her, so we put Cotie on and fronted just to try to keep it out of her hands.”
McMahon grabbed two of her three steals in that position. Indiana is successful because they lob the ball into Holmes and let her use her size, speed and efficiency in the paint. Instead of trying to get between the rim and Holmes,
McGuff’s strategy of not letting her get the ball in the first place was a game-changer. How effective was it? Holmes had two points in the fourth quarter, going 1-for-3 from the floor.
On Jan. 26 and Feb. 13, Holmes scored a combined 59 points against the Buckeyes. Saturday, Holmes ended the night with 12 points. Holmes’ lowest point total in any Big Ten game this season, tying a total she had against Morehead State where the forward only played 18 minutes.
Doing the same thing wasn’t the only halftime adjustment. In the second half, McGuff went for a smaller set of players, bringing in guard Emma Shumate and sitting both forwards Eboni Walker and Rebeka Mikulášiková on the bench.
It worked well considering Shumate’s long arms and ability to defend and block in the paint. Also, it gave the Buckeyes more speed to close down shooters on the perimeter. While small adjustments, they overall paid dividends in the comeback victory.
There was more said by McGuff in that locker room. It explains a lot of what fans saw in the second half.
“The last thing I said, I said, ‘hey, guys, there’s nothing to save this for. We’re not playing until the NCAA Tournament, which is weeks away,’” said McGuff, recalling the halftime talk. “‘So everything we got, we’ve got to show some fight because, if we want to truly play our best basketball down the stretch of the season, we’ve got to fight.’”
Continue reading...