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LGHL Buckeyes make top four for 2025 five-star basketball talent with Ohio roots
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Buckeyes make top four for 2025 five-star basketball talent with Ohio roots
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Niko Bundalo | 247Sports
Niko Bundalo keeps the Buckeyes in the mix down the stretch.
Thanks to the huge matchup on Saturday, Ohio State football recruiting has been fairly quiet this week. With all of the Buckeyes’ focus being kept on Oregon and the trek to the Pacific Northwest, it makes sense to see less activity from the football staff on the recruiting trail.
However, with a road contest of this magnitude, Oregon will be welcoming in many high-profile prospects, many of whom Ohio State is also after, so the Buckeyes seem to be treating this weekend’s road game as another opportunity to impress some recruits that they would like to land, even if they are spending Saturday night on Oregon’s sideline.
Despite the football team’s attention on Eugene, the men’s basketball program is still making news on the recruiting trail.
Under new head coach Jake Diebler, Ohio State has continued to see its name in the mix for the nation’s top-ranked basketball prospects, but the Buckeyes are hoping that they can close the deal on more of those players than the previous staff did. While OSU may not land all — or even most — of these targets, when you see the program consistently making the cut, it obviously shows Diebler and his staff’s recruiting efforts are connecting with the best players. And truthfully, being in the mix more often simply increases the odds of landing even a couple of these top national players.
Yesterday, the Buckeyes continued their good fortunes in the recruiting realm as 2025 five-star, Niko Bundalo cut his recruitment down to just four schools as he makes his way to a final decision. The No. 26 player nationally and seventh-best power forward in the class per the 247Sports Composite rankings, Bundalo has nearly 40 offers to his name, so seeing him get down to just a handful shows the timing is getting closer for him to make the call.
Schools such as Alabama, Cincinnati, Creighton, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Syracuse, Texas, and several others are just some of his offers, but after the latest recruiting update, just Connecticut, Michigan State, North Carolina, and Ohio State remain.
The 6-foot-10, 215-pound athlete may play his prep basketball in California, but before heading to the West Coast, Bundalo called Ohio home. A Uniontown, Ohio native, most people would see his California status and believe Ohio State has little chance here, but having USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington now in the Big Ten would help him get back to see family thanks to road conference games.
All aspects to consider, what the Buckeyes will need down the stretch is to continue their relentless effort. Getting him back on campus would certainly bode well for the staff, but even though UConn and North Carolina have had more post-season success than Ohio State recently, the Buckeyes still have a real shot here and will keep swinging until they land these top national players they’re consistently in the fold for.
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
Niko Bundalo | 247Sports
Niko Bundalo keeps the Buckeyes in the mix down the stretch.
Thanks to the huge matchup on Saturday, Ohio State football recruiting has been fairly quiet this week. With all of the Buckeyes’ focus being kept on Oregon and the trek to the Pacific Northwest, it makes sense to see less activity from the football staff on the recruiting trail.
However, with a road contest of this magnitude, Oregon will be welcoming in many high-profile prospects, many of whom Ohio State is also after, so the Buckeyes seem to be treating this weekend’s road game as another opportunity to impress some recruits that they would like to land, even if they are spending Saturday night on Oregon’s sideline.
Despite the football team’s attention on Eugene, the men’s basketball program is still making news on the recruiting trail.
Ohio State in the mix for five-star talent
Under new head coach Jake Diebler, Ohio State has continued to see its name in the mix for the nation’s top-ranked basketball prospects, but the Buckeyes are hoping that they can close the deal on more of those players than the previous staff did. While OSU may not land all — or even most — of these targets, when you see the program consistently making the cut, it obviously shows Diebler and his staff’s recruiting efforts are connecting with the best players. And truthfully, being in the mix more often simply increases the odds of landing even a couple of these top national players.
Yesterday, the Buckeyes continued their good fortunes in the recruiting realm as 2025 five-star, Niko Bundalo cut his recruitment down to just four schools as he makes his way to a final decision. The No. 26 player nationally and seventh-best power forward in the class per the 247Sports Composite rankings, Bundalo has nearly 40 offers to his name, so seeing him get down to just a handful shows the timing is getting closer for him to make the call.
Schools such as Alabama, Cincinnati, Creighton, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Syracuse, Texas, and several others are just some of his offers, but after the latest recruiting update, just Connecticut, Michigan State, North Carolina, and Ohio State remain.
The 6-foot-10, 215-pound athlete may play his prep basketball in California, but before heading to the West Coast, Bundalo called Ohio home. A Uniontown, Ohio native, most people would see his California status and believe Ohio State has little chance here, but having USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington now in the Big Ten would help him get back to see family thanks to road conference games.
All aspects to consider, what the Buckeyes will need down the stretch is to continue their relentless effort. Getting him back on campus would certainly bode well for the staff, but even though UConn and North Carolina have had more post-season success than Ohio State recently, the Buckeyes still have a real shot here and will keep swinging until they land these top national players they’re consistently in the fold for.
Continue reading...
LGHL Things you need to know about the Oregon Ducks — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
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Things you need to know about the Oregon Ducks — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Ducks host the Bucks this weekend in a matchup of Big Ten favorites and CFP hopefuls.
The Ohio State Buckeyes head out (far) west this weekend to battle the Oregon Ducks in a matchup of top-5 teams, Big Ten favorites and CFP hopefuls. Dan Lanning’s squad will presumably provide the toughest test to date for OSU, as the Ducks boast high-end talent and vast experience on both sides of the ball.
After a less-than-impressive Week 1 victory against Idaho, Oregon has reeled off four consecutive wins over Group of Five favorite Boise State and in-state rival Oregon State, as well as Big Ten foes UCLA and Michigan State. To the surprise of very few, Lanning’s Ducks have looked much, much better in recent weeks and appear to be finding their best form as they gear up for the likes of Ohio State, Illinois, and Michigan.
Oregon’s offense is led by well-traveled and historically productive quarterback Dillon Gabriel, while the defense boasts a disruptive defensive line and sticky secondary. And as if that were not enough, Autzen Stadium will play the role of 12th man for the Ducks by creating a raucous and potentially intimidating environment.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Oregon Ducks:
The University of Oregon was OSU before tOSU. The University of Oregon was originally founded in 1876, as Oregon State University. The Ohio State University was founded a few years earlier in 1870, but as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. OSU did not become “THE OSU” until 1879. Now you know.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight pretty much owns the joint now. Knight was born in Oregon and graduated from U of O, thus his strong ties and affinity for the university. For years, the legendary business mogul has donated tens and possibly even hundreds of millions of dollars to his alma mater, leading many to refer to the school as the “University of Nike”.
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Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images
The Oregon Duck does not have a name. And I find that shameful! However, due to former Oregon athletic director Leo Harris’ friendship with a Disney cartoonist, the latter’s employer gave Oregon its blessing to use Donald Duck as the school’s mascot beginning in the 1940s. That deal (or some version of it) was in place until 2010, when the name Donald was dropped.
Oregon’s football team/program has never won a national title. The Ducks came close in both 2010 and 2014 but were ultimately unable to seal the deal.
Oregon’s most successful head coach is Ohio State’s current offensive coordinator. Yeah, yeah, I’m likely not breaking any news. But for those (few) who don’t know, OSU OC Chip Kelly was the Ducks’ head coach from 2009-2012, compiling a 46-7 record. His Oregon teams played in a BCS bowl game each season and won three consecutive Pac-12 titles.
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Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images
Dan Lanning and his Ducks have their eyes set on Big Ten supremacy. Lanning doesn’t lack confidence, and he has Oregon looking to win the B1G in its first year as a member of the conference.
Dillon Gabriel is the real deal. And has been for nearly a decade. Whatever, I’m not apologizing for the cheap shot. This guy started 13 games in 2019, before anybody knew about Covid-19, X (the social media app) or Moo Deng.
Jokes aside, Gabriel can sling it. He’s got over 16,000 career passing yards and boasts an impressive 136:29 (career) touchdown to interception ratio. This season, he has 11 TD against three INT, while completing 78%(!) of his passes.
Gabriel also has weapons galore. Oregon running back Jordan James is heck of a player, and the Ducks have five pass catchers with at least 100 receiving yards this season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25664278/2175899665.jpg)
Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images
Oregon’s defense is deep and talented but lightly tested in 2024. To be fair and honest, one could say the same about Ohio State’s defense. But as far as common opponents go, OSU and Oregon have had just one this season: Michigan State. The Buckeyes held MSU to seven points, while the Ducks surrendered 10.
The latter also gave up 192 yards and 3 TD to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, whereas Ohio State held Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson very much in-check.... Not an apples-to-apples comparison, but Jeanty and Johnson are the top two leading rushers in CFB.
While certain talking heads were crying about Ohio State’s offseason “spending spree”, Oregon was busy bringing transfers in by the busload. Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, Nishad Strother, Derrick Harmon, Jamaree Caldwell, Jabbar Muhammad, and Kobe Savage are just some of the names you are likely to hear on Saturday night. All began their careers elsewhere, as did several other Ducks.
And guess what? No one should care or make a big deal out of it because we live in age when/where college athletes have seemingly unlimited freedom of movement.
But when Ohio State adds just a handful of players – including three from one team whose coach retired! – it becomes a major talking point. All I have to say to that is: Worry about your own team(s), Dez and Joey Freshwater.
The Ducks are really good, and no one should be surprised if they knock off the Buckeyes. Oregon has all the makings of a playoff team, with talent, experience, and depth on both sides of the ball. Sure, they struggled a bit with Idaho and Boise State, but that was early in the season. Since that BSU game, Lanning’s squad has been firing on all cylinders.
Oh, and this game is being played at Autzen Stadium, one of the best environments in CFB. Despite seating “only” 55-60,000 fans, Autzen morphs into a madhouse on game day/night – in stark contrast to Spartan Stadium, where OSU played its one and only road game of the season thus far. Finally, the Ducks are 43-3 at Autzen since the start of the 2017 season, proving that they are almost always ready, willing, and able to defend their home field.
But I’m still picking Ohio State. Go Bucks!
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Ducks host the Bucks this weekend in a matchup of Big Ten favorites and CFP hopefuls.
The Ohio State Buckeyes head out (far) west this weekend to battle the Oregon Ducks in a matchup of top-5 teams, Big Ten favorites and CFP hopefuls. Dan Lanning’s squad will presumably provide the toughest test to date for OSU, as the Ducks boast high-end talent and vast experience on both sides of the ball.
After a less-than-impressive Week 1 victory against Idaho, Oregon has reeled off four consecutive wins over Group of Five favorite Boise State and in-state rival Oregon State, as well as Big Ten foes UCLA and Michigan State. To the surprise of very few, Lanning’s Ducks have looked much, much better in recent weeks and appear to be finding their best form as they gear up for the likes of Ohio State, Illinois, and Michigan.
Oregon’s offense is led by well-traveled and historically productive quarterback Dillon Gabriel, while the defense boasts a disruptive defensive line and sticky secondary. And as if that were not enough, Autzen Stadium will play the role of 12th man for the Ducks by creating a raucous and potentially intimidating environment.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Oregon Ducks:
The University of Oregon was OSU before tOSU. The University of Oregon was originally founded in 1876, as Oregon State University. The Ohio State University was founded a few years earlier in 1870, but as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. OSU did not become “THE OSU” until 1879. Now you know.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight pretty much owns the joint now. Knight was born in Oregon and graduated from U of O, thus his strong ties and affinity for the university. For years, the legendary business mogul has donated tens and possibly even hundreds of millions of dollars to his alma mater, leading many to refer to the school as the “University of Nike”.
The Oregon Duck does not have a name. And I find that shameful! However, due to former Oregon athletic director Leo Harris’ friendship with a Disney cartoonist, the latter’s employer gave Oregon its blessing to use Donald Duck as the school’s mascot beginning in the 1940s. That deal (or some version of it) was in place until 2010, when the name Donald was dropped.
Oregon’s football team/program has never won a national title. The Ducks came close in both 2010 and 2014 but were ultimately unable to seal the deal.
Oregon’s most successful head coach is Ohio State’s current offensive coordinator. Yeah, yeah, I’m likely not breaking any news. But for those (few) who don’t know, OSU OC Chip Kelly was the Ducks’ head coach from 2009-2012, compiling a 46-7 record. His Oregon teams played in a BCS bowl game each season and won three consecutive Pac-12 titles.
Dan Lanning and his Ducks have their eyes set on Big Ten supremacy. Lanning doesn’t lack confidence, and he has Oregon looking to win the B1G in its first year as a member of the conference.
Dillon Gabriel is the real deal. And has been for nearly a decade. Whatever, I’m not apologizing for the cheap shot. This guy started 13 games in 2019, before anybody knew about Covid-19, X (the social media app) or Moo Deng.
Jokes aside, Gabriel can sling it. He’s got over 16,000 career passing yards and boasts an impressive 136:29 (career) touchdown to interception ratio. This season, he has 11 TD against three INT, while completing 78%(!) of his passes.
Gabriel also has weapons galore. Oregon running back Jordan James is heck of a player, and the Ducks have five pass catchers with at least 100 receiving yards this season.
Oregon’s defense is deep and talented but lightly tested in 2024. To be fair and honest, one could say the same about Ohio State’s defense. But as far as common opponents go, OSU and Oregon have had just one this season: Michigan State. The Buckeyes held MSU to seven points, while the Ducks surrendered 10.
The latter also gave up 192 yards and 3 TD to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, whereas Ohio State held Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson very much in-check.... Not an apples-to-apples comparison, but Jeanty and Johnson are the top two leading rushers in CFB.
While certain talking heads were crying about Ohio State’s offseason “spending spree”, Oregon was busy bringing transfers in by the busload. Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, Nishad Strother, Derrick Harmon, Jamaree Caldwell, Jabbar Muhammad, and Kobe Savage are just some of the names you are likely to hear on Saturday night. All began their careers elsewhere, as did several other Ducks.
And guess what? No one should care or make a big deal out of it because we live in age when/where college athletes have seemingly unlimited freedom of movement.
But when Ohio State adds just a handful of players – including three from one team whose coach retired! – it becomes a major talking point. All I have to say to that is: Worry about your own team(s), Dez and Joey Freshwater.
The Ducks are really good, and no one should be surprised if they knock off the Buckeyes. Oregon has all the makings of a playoff team, with talent, experience, and depth on both sides of the ball. Sure, they struggled a bit with Idaho and Boise State, but that was early in the season. Since that BSU game, Lanning’s squad has been firing on all cylinders.
Oh, and this game is being played at Autzen Stadium, one of the best environments in CFB. Despite seating “only” 55-60,000 fans, Autzen morphs into a madhouse on game day/night – in stark contrast to Spartan Stadium, where OSU played its one and only road game of the season thus far. Finally, the Ducks are 43-3 at Autzen since the start of the 2017 season, proving that they are almost always ready, willing, and able to defend their home field.
But I’m still picking Ohio State. Go Bucks!
Continue reading...
