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LGHL Softball: Buckeyes take series after Michigan threatens comeback
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Softball: Buckeyes take series after Michigan threatens comeback
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
ohiostatebuckeyes.com
It’s the first time the Bucks have won the series since 1990!
The Rivalry series ended with a win for the Buckeyes, but not without a fight from the Wolverines. This is a huge win for Ohio State, as it is the first time it has won this series in 33 years.
The game was all Ohio State for the first four innings. The duo of Allison Smith and Emily Ruck pitched once again, but Smith got the start. She only gave up one hit in the first before her offense took over in the bottom half of the inning.
With two runners on, Sam Hackenbracht hit a sac fly to score one, then a Meggie Otte single and Destinee Noury double scored two more runs to put the Buckeyes up 3-0. The second inning was almost identical as once again, only one runner reached on Smith. Then, on the flip side, Mariah Rodriguez hit a RBI triple before Melina Wilkison knocked her in with a two-run home run, now making it 6-0.
Smith cruised through a 1-2-3 third inning and her offense tacked on one more run as the result of a bases loaded walk. Each team scored one run in the fourth before the Wolverines started to come back in the fifth inning.
Smith gave up a walk and two singles to load the bases, then another walk to allow a run. Another run crossed the plate from a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, so Ruck came in for relief. She earned two quick outs, ending the inning with the Buckeyes up 8-4.
The sixth inning was rough for Ruck as she gave up three hits and three runs, now putting the Wolverines within one. Ohio State didn’t add any runs in the bottom of the inning, but it ended up not mattering as Ruck pulled it together in the top of the seventh. She only gave up one hit before striking out two and ended the inning with a groundout.
Overall, Smith had a strong start before faltering one inning and Ruck stayed strong in the seventh, now allowing the Wolverines to tie or go ahead. Clearly, the offense went off as well, as seven of the nine starters had at least one hit. Melina Wilkison continued her monstrous season, bumping up her average to .407 at the plate and knocking in three RBi.
Ohio State is now 20-8 on the season and 2-1 in conference play! Michigan has been one of the top dogs in the Big Ten for decades, as head coach Carol Hutchins coached there for 38 years before retiring at the end of last season. Now with a first-year head coach, the Buckeyes took advantage and were fully the better team this past weekend.
The Bucks are back in action against Dayton Wednesday for a 3 p.m. game against the Flyers. The contest will be streamed on BTN+.
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
ohiostatebuckeyes.com
It’s the first time the Bucks have won the series since 1990!
The Rivalry series ended with a win for the Buckeyes, but not without a fight from the Wolverines. This is a huge win for Ohio State, as it is the first time it has won this series in 33 years.
The game was all Ohio State for the first four innings. The duo of Allison Smith and Emily Ruck pitched once again, but Smith got the start. She only gave up one hit in the first before her offense took over in the bottom half of the inning.
With two runners on, Sam Hackenbracht hit a sac fly to score one, then a Meggie Otte single and Destinee Noury double scored two more runs to put the Buckeyes up 3-0. The second inning was almost identical as once again, only one runner reached on Smith. Then, on the flip side, Mariah Rodriguez hit a RBI triple before Melina Wilkison knocked her in with a two-run home run, now making it 6-0.
Smith cruised through a 1-2-3 third inning and her offense tacked on one more run as the result of a bases loaded walk. Each team scored one run in the fourth before the Wolverines started to come back in the fifth inning.
Smith gave up a walk and two singles to load the bases, then another walk to allow a run. Another run crossed the plate from a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, so Ruck came in for relief. She earned two quick outs, ending the inning with the Buckeyes up 8-4.
The sixth inning was rough for Ruck as she gave up three hits and three runs, now putting the Wolverines within one. Ohio State didn’t add any runs in the bottom of the inning, but it ended up not mattering as Ruck pulled it together in the top of the seventh. She only gave up one hit before striking out two and ended the inning with a groundout.
Overall, Smith had a strong start before faltering one inning and Ruck stayed strong in the seventh, now allowing the Wolverines to tie or go ahead. Clearly, the offense went off as well, as seven of the nine starters had at least one hit. Melina Wilkison continued her monstrous season, bumping up her average to .407 at the plate and knocking in three RBi.
Ohio State is now 20-8 on the season and 2-1 in conference play! Michigan has been one of the top dogs in the Big Ten for decades, as head coach Carol Hutchins coached there for 38 years before retiring at the end of last season. Now with a first-year head coach, the Buckeyes took advantage and were fully the better team this past weekend.
The Bucks are back in action against Dayton Wednesday for a 3 p.m. game against the Flyers. The contest will be streamed on BTN+.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which player has had the best NCAA Men’s or Women’s Tournament?
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You’re Nuts: Which player has had the best NCAA Men’s or Women’s Tournament?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It has been an incredible NCAA Tournament in both men’s and women’s college basketball. From all the new blood in the Final Four on the men’s side to Ohio State’s women’s team knocking off UConn in the Sweet Sixteen, as well as some incredible performances from Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
It feels like with as many players that are “one and done” in college basketball, as well as the introduction of the transfer portal, college basketball’s NCAA Tournament is more wide-open than it has ever been. Just look at who is in the Final Four on the men’s side. In past years we would have likely seen at least one “basketball school” like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, or Kentucky in the mix. This year we have three schools that are making the Final Four for the first time in school history.
There seem to be two different styles of teams that are making an impact in the tournament in both men’s and women’s college basketball. Either you’re a team like Iowa, who has a star like Clark that does what feels like everything. Or there are teams like San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and a couple of others that have a great mix of talent without a true superstar.
Today we are going to identify the player that we think has had the best NCAA Tournament, and the player can come from either men’s or women’s college basketball. There are players in both tournaments that weren’t well known three weeks ago but have become big names because of what they have done since the tournaments started.
Even though Kansas State saw their season end on Saturday night when they lost to Florida Atlantic, you can’t blame Markquis Nowell or why the Wildcats fell just short of the Final Four. Nowell had a ridiculous four games in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 94 points and dishing out 61 assists in four games. The only game in which Nowell didn’t record a double-double was in the second-round win over Kentucky where he only had nine assists.
Nowell was born in Harlem, so it was obvious he was excited when he learned he could possibly play the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in New York City at Madison Square Garden. All the 5’8” point guard did on Thursday night against Michigan State was set an NCAA Tournament record with 19 assists. Nowell even upped the drama a bit when he had to be helped off the court after injuring his ankle in the second half against the Spartans, only to return a few minutes later.
There’s no question that Nowell deserves to be on any All-Tournament Teams that are named, just because of how great he was in the four games Kansas State played. Not only did Nowell put up big numbers, but he also looked like he was out there having a ton of fun on the court. His creativity was off the charts, especially at Madison Square Garden. I’ll never forget when it looked like he was arguing with head coach Jerome Tang, only to throw a lob for a Keyontae Johnson dunk.
With his small stature, it’s hard to see Nowell playing in the NBA. At least the senior had a couple of games at Madison Square Garden that he’ll never forget. While Nowell and the Wildcats were hoping to cut down the nets this year, he got a nice consolation prize by setting an individual record that is going to be very top-to-top.
Nowell was great, and it’s really hard not to root for that K-State team, but come on. How can the answer be anybody other than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark? In the Elite Eight matchup against Louisville, she put up 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, becoming the first person to ever post a 40+-point triple-double in tournament history (after having become the first person to put up a 30+-point triple-double).
Ohio State fans know what an incredible scorer Clark is, she put up 28 and 30 points respectively in the Hawkeyes’ two games against the Buckeyes this season, and she is continuing that dominance in the Big Dance. Clark is averaging 30 points per game in the NCAA Tournament shooting 51.4% from the floor, but the reason that she is the star of the tournaments is more than just her scoring ability; it is how cold-blooded she is doing it.
During the Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight matchup against Louisville — a game in which Clark went for 41 frickin’ points — she could be seen telling her bench when coming off the floor, “She can’t guard me.”
That’s a “No shit” statement if I’ve ever seen one. I’m not sure if there is anyone in the country who can effectively guard Clark, but we will likely get the best chance of that happening in the Final Four when Iowa squares off against top overall seed, the undefeated, reigning national champion South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET. Dawn Staley’s squad is the best defensive unit in the country, so if anyone is going to slow down the Hawkeyes’ eagle-eyed assassin, it would be them.
But, that’s a discussion for another day. To me, Clark is an Aaron Craft type of player. Obviously very different skill sets, but they are the type of players that if they are on your favorite team you absolutely love, but you completely understand why they would be the ultimate villains if they were on another team.
I think what Staley has done at South Carolina is remarkable and I only want to see her succeed, but if I’m being honest, I want to see more Caitlin Clark being an absolutely unmitigated terror on the court.
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
Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
It has been an incredible NCAA Tournament in both men’s and women’s college basketball. From all the new blood in the Final Four on the men’s side to Ohio State’s women’s team knocking off UConn in the Sweet Sixteen, as well as some incredible performances from Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
It feels like with as many players that are “one and done” in college basketball, as well as the introduction of the transfer portal, college basketball’s NCAA Tournament is more wide-open than it has ever been. Just look at who is in the Final Four on the men’s side. In past years we would have likely seen at least one “basketball school” like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, or Kentucky in the mix. This year we have three schools that are making the Final Four for the first time in school history.
There seem to be two different styles of teams that are making an impact in the tournament in both men’s and women’s college basketball. Either you’re a team like Iowa, who has a star like Clark that does what feels like everything. Or there are teams like San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and a couple of others that have a great mix of talent without a true superstar.
Today we are going to identify the player that we think has had the best NCAA Tournament, and the player can come from either men’s or women’s college basketball. There are players in both tournaments that weren’t well known three weeks ago but have become big names because of what they have done since the tournaments started.
Today’s question: What player has had the best NCAA Tournament?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell
Even though Kansas State saw their season end on Saturday night when they lost to Florida Atlantic, you can’t blame Markquis Nowell or why the Wildcats fell just short of the Final Four. Nowell had a ridiculous four games in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 94 points and dishing out 61 assists in four games. The only game in which Nowell didn’t record a double-double was in the second-round win over Kentucky where he only had nine assists.
Nowell was born in Harlem, so it was obvious he was excited when he learned he could possibly play the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in New York City at Madison Square Garden. All the 5’8” point guard did on Thursday night against Michigan State was set an NCAA Tournament record with 19 assists. Nowell even upped the drama a bit when he had to be helped off the court after injuring his ankle in the second half against the Spartans, only to return a few minutes later.
There’s no question that Nowell deserves to be on any All-Tournament Teams that are named, just because of how great he was in the four games Kansas State played. Not only did Nowell put up big numbers, but he also looked like he was out there having a ton of fun on the court. His creativity was off the charts, especially at Madison Square Garden. I’ll never forget when it looked like he was arguing with head coach Jerome Tang, only to throw a lob for a Keyontae Johnson dunk.
With his small stature, it’s hard to see Nowell playing in the NBA. At least the senior had a couple of games at Madison Square Garden that he’ll never forget. While Nowell and the Wildcats were hoping to cut down the nets this year, he got a nice consolation prize by setting an individual record that is going to be very top-to-top.
Matt’s answer: Iowa’s Caitlin Clark
Nowell was great, and it’s really hard not to root for that K-State team, but come on. How can the answer be anybody other than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark? In the Elite Eight matchup against Louisville, she put up 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, becoming the first person to ever post a 40+-point triple-double in tournament history (after having become the first person to put up a 30+-point triple-double).
Ohio State fans know what an incredible scorer Clark is, she put up 28 and 30 points respectively in the Hawkeyes’ two games against the Buckeyes this season, and she is continuing that dominance in the Big Dance. Clark is averaging 30 points per game in the NCAA Tournament shooting 51.4% from the floor, but the reason that she is the star of the tournaments is more than just her scoring ability; it is how cold-blooded she is doing it.
During the Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight matchup against Louisville — a game in which Clark went for 41 frickin’ points — she could be seen telling her bench when coming off the floor, “She can’t guard me.”
That’s a “No shit” statement if I’ve ever seen one. I’m not sure if there is anyone in the country who can effectively guard Clark, but we will likely get the best chance of that happening in the Final Four when Iowa squares off against top overall seed, the undefeated, reigning national champion South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET. Dawn Staley’s squad is the best defensive unit in the country, so if anyone is going to slow down the Hawkeyes’ eagle-eyed assassin, it would be them.
But, that’s a discussion for another day. To me, Clark is an Aaron Craft type of player. Obviously very different skill sets, but they are the type of players that if they are on your favorite team you absolutely love, but you completely understand why they would be the ultimate villains if they were on another team.
I think what Staley has done at South Carolina is remarkable and I only want to see her succeed, but if I’m being honest, I want to see more Caitlin Clark being an absolutely unmitigated terror on the court.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Most important position group for Ohio State in the 2024 recruiting class
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You’re Nuts: Most important position group for Ohio State in the 2024 recruiting class
Josh Dooley 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 need to replenish a handful of key positions.
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.
This week’s topic: Most important position group for Ohio State in the 2024 recruiting class
Ohio State held its first spring scrimmage this past weekend, AKA the beginning of the Kyle McCord Heisman campaign. The intrasquad tussle gave coaches (and media) a live-action preview of what’s to come, a first look at fresh faces, and plenty of talking points RE: what needs to be worked on and emphasized in the coming weeks.
We as Buckeye fans will undoubtedly overreact and read way too much into comments and columns about the scrimmage, but ‘tis the season, right?
Of equal importance... well, at least equal interest... was a busy weekend for Mark Pantoni and company. OSU hosted 30+ high school studs during an extended recruiting weekend, as the program looks to build momentum for future classes. Most recruits who were in attendance belong to the 2024 class, but there were also visitors in Columbus from 2025 and beyond. And since Gene and I were oddly not invited to this scrimmage, recruiting is what he and I decided to cover in today’s edition of You’re Nuts.
With the 2024 push in full swing, we wanted to look at positions of need for the Scarlet and Gray. Granted, every position is essentially a position of need in every class, but a few in particular stand out. I am going to start with running back because, well, the Buckeyes have landed one (1, uno, ichi) in their last two classes combined!
When it comes down to it, Ohio State’s RB recruiting has fallen off in recent years; an absolute fact which cannot be ignored. The 2018 and 2019 classes combined to produce Master Teague and nothing else. Miyan Williams was basically on the clearance rack when OSU picked him up as part of their 2020 class. Dallan Hayden was a late(ish) add and the only RB signed in 2022.
And don’t even get me started on 2023! The Buckeyes whiffed on 100 backs and ended up taking a goose egg. If not for the 2021 class of TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor, we would be looking at six straight years of “meh” RB recruiting.
Fortunately, production at this position has remained consistent for the Scarlet and Gray. It is a testament to Tony Alford’s coaching, as well as the hard work put in by Williams, Hayden, and others. However, depth is approaching a tipping point in Columbus, which is why RB is the biggest position of need for not only this 2024 class, but also 2025 and beyond.
Ohio State must replenish its backfield. Because their current RB room is absolutely loaded with talent, but Henderson and Williams could be gone after this season. Pryor is coming off a major injury, and we barely have a clue what he looks like when healthy. And what if Hayden decides to explore his options? I certainly hope this is not the case, but could we as fans blame him if he is forced to sit and watch as a sophomore?
Even with said talent at the RB position, we saw last season that three or four backs is not always enough. The Buckeyes were trotting out Chip Trayanum and Xavier Johnson in a CFP, for crying out loud. And no offense to those guys, but wouldn’t you have preferred a guy with a bit more of a pedigree? Or more Hayden, but that is a different conversation for a different day.
While other positions might be lagging behind RB in terms of current talent, few if any have potential to bottom out, in my opinion. And while I do not think Ohio State will be starving for RB’s for long, I would argue that they are very much in need right now. Which is why I will be keeping an eye on the recruitment of James Peoples, Jordan Marshall (never say never), and other Buckeye targets. Because another 0-fer or light RB class could spell trouble for OSU.
I certainly agree with Josh’s take here that running back is up there among positions of need for Ohio State in 2024. As Josh touched on, the Buckeyes have gotten lucky with a few guys who came in as lesser recruits and have shined in Columbus, but you cannot count on every three-star prospect being a diamond in the rough. In just the last few years, Ohio State has whiffed on basically every top target at RB, including Mark Fletcher — who they had committed and then lost, Richard Young, Nick Singleton, Bijan Robinson, and a handful of others.
Sure, landing TreVeyon Henderson was a big win for Alford and Ohio State, and both Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden have out-performed their rankings, but one big win over several years at a position where the Buckeyes have had so much success historically is just not getting the job done.
However, since my counterpart already grabbed the RBs, I'll shift my focus to the offensive line.
Of all the bad position coaches Ohio State has let hang around for too long over the last decade or so, none of done arguably more damage to their specific unit that Greg Studrawa. Now, Justin Frye is tasked with cleaning up the mess, and he is off to a really good start with three in-state linemen already committed in 2024 in addition to Indiana native Ian Moore. This, in theory, should allow them to dream big and go after a top national target — hopefully at offensive tackle.
It’s pretty scary just how bad of shape the Ohio State offensive line is in, especially when it comes to depth. Both of last year’s starting tackles are off to the NFL, and you’re now expecting Josh Fryar — who was originally recruited as a three-star guard — to just step up and immediately be successful at one of the key positions in an offense that likes to pass the ball a lot. This is not a knock on Fryar by any means, as he could perform without issue at tackle, but this isn’t a spot a school like Ohio State should be in.
Outside of Fryar, who played a bit last year, the only returning starters with experience are guards Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones, the former of which has yet to live up to his recruiting ranking and the latter who was hurt most of last season. Along the rest of the line, you have to hope that guys like Tegra Tshabola, Ben Christman, Zen Michalski and transfer Victor Cutler can somehow combine to patch the rest of the starting front together.
By all accounts, Justin Frye is very good as his job, and his recruiting is already looking to be far better than that of his predecessor. However, Ohio State’s offensive line depth is in very dire straights right now, and an injury or two here and there could force some freshmen into action before they are ready. For the Buckeyes, the standard simply must be higher than that.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes need to replenish a handful of key positions.
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.
This week’s topic: Most important position group for Ohio State in the 2024 recruiting class
Josh’s Take
Ohio State held its first spring scrimmage this past weekend, AKA the beginning of the Kyle McCord Heisman campaign. The intrasquad tussle gave coaches (and media) a live-action preview of what’s to come, a first look at fresh faces, and plenty of talking points RE: what needs to be worked on and emphasized in the coming weeks.
We as Buckeye fans will undoubtedly overreact and read way too much into comments and columns about the scrimmage, but ‘tis the season, right?
Of equal importance... well, at least equal interest... was a busy weekend for Mark Pantoni and company. OSU hosted 30+ high school studs during an extended recruiting weekend, as the program looks to build momentum for future classes. Most recruits who were in attendance belong to the 2024 class, but there were also visitors in Columbus from 2025 and beyond. And since Gene and I were oddly not invited to this scrimmage, recruiting is what he and I decided to cover in today’s edition of You’re Nuts.
With the 2024 push in full swing, we wanted to look at positions of need for the Scarlet and Gray. Granted, every position is essentially a position of need in every class, but a few in particular stand out. I am going to start with running back because, well, the Buckeyes have landed one (1, uno, ichi) in their last two classes combined!
When it comes down to it, Ohio State’s RB recruiting has fallen off in recent years; an absolute fact which cannot be ignored. The 2018 and 2019 classes combined to produce Master Teague and nothing else. Miyan Williams was basically on the clearance rack when OSU picked him up as part of their 2020 class. Dallan Hayden was a late(ish) add and the only RB signed in 2022.
And don’t even get me started on 2023! The Buckeyes whiffed on 100 backs and ended up taking a goose egg. If not for the 2021 class of TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor, we would be looking at six straight years of “meh” RB recruiting.
Fortunately, production at this position has remained consistent for the Scarlet and Gray. It is a testament to Tony Alford’s coaching, as well as the hard work put in by Williams, Hayden, and others. However, depth is approaching a tipping point in Columbus, which is why RB is the biggest position of need for not only this 2024 class, but also 2025 and beyond.
Ohio State must replenish its backfield. Because their current RB room is absolutely loaded with talent, but Henderson and Williams could be gone after this season. Pryor is coming off a major injury, and we barely have a clue what he looks like when healthy. And what if Hayden decides to explore his options? I certainly hope this is not the case, but could we as fans blame him if he is forced to sit and watch as a sophomore?
Even with said talent at the RB position, we saw last season that three or four backs is not always enough. The Buckeyes were trotting out Chip Trayanum and Xavier Johnson in a CFP, for crying out loud. And no offense to those guys, but wouldn’t you have preferred a guy with a bit more of a pedigree? Or more Hayden, but that is a different conversation for a different day.
While other positions might be lagging behind RB in terms of current talent, few if any have potential to bottom out, in my opinion. And while I do not think Ohio State will be starving for RB’s for long, I would argue that they are very much in need right now. Which is why I will be keeping an eye on the recruitment of James Peoples, Jordan Marshall (never say never), and other Buckeye targets. Because another 0-fer or light RB class could spell trouble for OSU.
Gene’s Take
I certainly agree with Josh’s take here that running back is up there among positions of need for Ohio State in 2024. As Josh touched on, the Buckeyes have gotten lucky with a few guys who came in as lesser recruits and have shined in Columbus, but you cannot count on every three-star prospect being a diamond in the rough. In just the last few years, Ohio State has whiffed on basically every top target at RB, including Mark Fletcher — who they had committed and then lost, Richard Young, Nick Singleton, Bijan Robinson, and a handful of others.
Sure, landing TreVeyon Henderson was a big win for Alford and Ohio State, and both Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden have out-performed their rankings, but one big win over several years at a position where the Buckeyes have had so much success historically is just not getting the job done.
However, since my counterpart already grabbed the RBs, I'll shift my focus to the offensive line.
Of all the bad position coaches Ohio State has let hang around for too long over the last decade or so, none of done arguably more damage to their specific unit that Greg Studrawa. Now, Justin Frye is tasked with cleaning up the mess, and he is off to a really good start with three in-state linemen already committed in 2024 in addition to Indiana native Ian Moore. This, in theory, should allow them to dream big and go after a top national target — hopefully at offensive tackle.
It’s pretty scary just how bad of shape the Ohio State offensive line is in, especially when it comes to depth. Both of last year’s starting tackles are off to the NFL, and you’re now expecting Josh Fryar — who was originally recruited as a three-star guard — to just step up and immediately be successful at one of the key positions in an offense that likes to pass the ball a lot. This is not a knock on Fryar by any means, as he could perform without issue at tackle, but this isn’t a spot a school like Ohio State should be in.
Outside of Fryar, who played a bit last year, the only returning starters with experience are guards Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones, the former of which has yet to live up to his recruiting ranking and the latter who was hurt most of last season. Along the rest of the line, you have to hope that guys like Tegra Tshabola, Ben Christman, Zen Michalski and transfer Victor Cutler can somehow combine to patch the rest of the starting front together.
By all accounts, Justin Frye is very good as his job, and his recruiting is already looking to be far better than that of his predecessor. However, Ohio State’s offensive line depth is in very dire straights right now, and an injury or two here and there could force some freshmen into action before they are ready. For the Buckeyes, the standard simply must be higher than that.
Continue reading...
LGHL LGHL Asks: Does Michigan landing Ohio prospects bother you? Did you follow WBB, hockey tournament runs?
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LGHL Asks: Does Michigan landing Ohio prospects bother you? Did you follow WBB, hockey tournament runs?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country.
Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It’s been an exciting and controversial past few weeks in Buckeye Nation, not only did the women’s hockey team come up one goal short of a second-straight national title, but the men’s hockey team fell in the national quarterfinals, and the women’s basketball team lost last night in the Elite Eight (and let’s not forget the OSU synchronized swimming team winning its 34th national title).
But, over on the football side, while the team is back in the groove with spring practice, a couple of Ohio natives pledged to play for the Buckeyes’ rivals, causing some to voice their concern about Ryan Day’s in-state recruiting.
So, we wanted to check in with y’all to see what you think about what’s been going on across Ohio State athletics recently. Share your thoughts in the survey below.
In back-to-back days last week, four-star running back Jordan Marshall from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati committed to play football at the University of Michigan, then the very next day, three-star offensive lineman Ben Roebuck from St. Edward’s in Lakewood committed to the Wolverines as well.
Marshall was a high priority for OSU — arguably the highest priority at the running back possession — while Roebuck had not yet earned an offer from his home state’s flagship institution.
This has led some Ohio State fans to question whether head coach Ryan Day and his staff were really committed to getting commits from inside their own state and whether or not Jim Harbaugh is starting to make in-roads into Ohio.
In the article linked above, I broke down the stats for in-state recruiting in the Day era and honestly, it was better than I expected. But, TTUN has always recruited Ohio well, getting players like Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, and even Harbaugh himself.
So, how are you feeling about the Wolverines’ ability to pluck prospects out of Ohio?
Would I have loved for the Ohio State men’s basketball team to make a run in the Big Dance? Of course. But short of that, we’ve pretty much gotten the best possible alternative over the last couple of weeks as the men’s and women’s hockey teams have delivered exciting runs and the women’s basketball team fell just short of its first Final Four in 30 years.
While all of those postseason trips were on the ESPN family of networks, they all came with varying levels of promotion. So, did you catch some, all, or none of the action? Let us
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
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country.
Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
It’s been an exciting and controversial past few weeks in Buckeye Nation, not only did the women’s hockey team come up one goal short of a second-straight national title, but the men’s hockey team fell in the national quarterfinals, and the women’s basketball team lost last night in the Elite Eight (and let’s not forget the OSU synchronized swimming team winning its 34th national title).
But, over on the football side, while the team is back in the groove with spring practice, a couple of Ohio natives pledged to play for the Buckeyes’ rivals, causing some to voice their concern about Ryan Day’s in-state recruiting.
So, we wanted to check in with y’all to see what you think about what’s been going on across Ohio State athletics recently. Share your thoughts in the survey below.
Question 1: How do you feel about Michigan landing commits from Ohio?
In back-to-back days last week, four-star running back Jordan Marshall from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati committed to play football at the University of Michigan, then the very next day, three-star offensive lineman Ben Roebuck from St. Edward’s in Lakewood committed to the Wolverines as well.
Marshall was a high priority for OSU — arguably the highest priority at the running back possession — while Roebuck had not yet earned an offer from his home state’s flagship institution.
This has led some Ohio State fans to question whether head coach Ryan Day and his staff were really committed to getting commits from inside their own state and whether or not Jim Harbaugh is starting to make in-roads into Ohio.
In the article linked above, I broke down the stats for in-state recruiting in the Day era and honestly, it was better than I expected. But, TTUN has always recruited Ohio well, getting players like Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, and even Harbaugh himself.
So, how are you feeling about the Wolverines’ ability to pluck prospects out of Ohio?
Question 2: How have you followed the Ohio State women’s basketball, women’s hockey, men’s hockey runs in the NCAA Tournament?
Would I have loved for the Ohio State men’s basketball team to make a run in the Big Dance? Of course. But short of that, we’ve pretty much gotten the best possible alternative over the last couple of weeks as the men’s and women’s hockey teams have delivered exciting runs and the women’s basketball team fell just short of its first Final Four in 30 years.
While all of those postseason trips were on the ESPN family of networks, they all came with varying levels of promotion. So, did you catch some, all, or none of the action? Let us
Share your thoughts here:
Continue reading...
2024 CA WR Xavier Jordan (Southern Cal Verbal)
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2025 MD DL Trent Wilson (Oklahoma Signee)
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LGHL Ohio State women fall to Virginia Tech 84-74 in Elite Eight
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Ohio State women fall to Virginia Tech 84-74 in Elite Eight
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Despite blistering start, OSU’s offense sputtered in second half, leaving them one win away from the Final Four.
Monday night it was the Elite Eight. The first NCAA regional final for the Ohio State women’s basketball team in 30 years and the first for the Virginia Tech Hokies in the program’s history. Playing for a spot in the Final Four in Dallas, Texas, it was a story of the Buckeyes’ press versus the ACC Tournament champions, entering the game on a 14-game winning streak.
The Hokies pushed the streak to 15 wins, following its 84-74 defeat over the Buckeyes, ending the 22-23 season for the Scarlet and Gray.
To put it lightly, the start of the game was blistering. For all the talk of pressing and defense, it was the offenses that took center stage. Ohio State went 7-for-9 but Virginia Tech went 7-for-7, and in that stretch the Hokies were perfect from beyond the arc, going 3-for-3.
It put Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat, ahead 17-10 after just under four minutes of game time. That’s when Ohio State’s defense showed up but it wasn’t the press.
The defense started going into the media timeout with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter. Center Elizabeth Kitley for Tech had an open look in the paint, or so she thought. Flying in behind the 6-foot-6 star was forward Cotie McMahon. The freshman flew in and swatted the attempt away, sending the ball and herself to the court.
Virginia Tech hit only one of their remaining nine shots in the quarter and Ohio State responded by going 5-for-7. The Buckeyes erased the lead and then some, thanks to 3-for-3 shooting from guard Taylor Mikesell, all from beyond the arc. Mikesell matched her Saturday high in one quarter, looking more comfortable than in the win over UConn.
Ohio State took that renewed comfort and solid play on both sides of the court into the second quarter with a 25-22 lead.
Into the second quarter, the Buckeyes and Hokies continued to trade blows in scoring, but then it was a player receiving a scary blow on a foul. It was outstanding Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore fouled by Ohio State forward Eboni Walker. Amoore went to the ground hard and needed help to get off the court. It didn’t keep Amoore out long though, entering 44 game seconds later.
Back in the game, Amoore hit the three that put the Hokies back into the lead, but it didn’t last long. Off the make, the Buckeyes went into a six-point run, including a fourth made three-pointer by Mikesell in a row.
Off a timeout, the Hokies shrunk the five-point Scarlet and Gray lead with a pair of free throws. Then, guard Cayla King hit a three, tying the game at 36 with 4:10 remaining in the first half.
For the rest of the quarter, the game was tied three times and the lead changed three times too. It was evidence of two evenly matched sides battling for their spot in the Final Four.
With under three minutes remaining in the half, Ohio State got up to a five-point lead, their largest of the game to that point but struggled to score for the rest of the quarter. The Scarlet & Gray’s last four points of the half came off free throws, with Virginia Tech scoring six, going ahead 48-45 into halftime.
Also, Ohio State was in the game and competing on every play even without the use of its full-court press. The Buckeyes played half-court defense, sometimes well but sometimes allowing open looks that fell early for the Scarlet and Gray.
It was clear that missing shots regularly wasn’t going to keep head coach Kevin McGuff’s side competing with the strong offensive-minded Virginia Tech Hokies.
Coming out of the locker room, the game stayed close, but Virginia Tech took advantage of a Buckeyes side that initially struggled to hit their shots. Ohio State went 2-for-8 in the first half of the third quarter. Tech didn’t perform much better, but already having a lead, the extra points extended it.
That trend continued into the closing minutes of the third quarter. The Buckeyes faced a five-point deficit with coach McGuff opting for a timeout. In past games, the coach uses the press out of timeouts to provide a spark to the Scarlet & Gray.
Ohio State came out with their press and immediately caused a 10-second violation on Virginia Tech, but the scoring didn’t follow. As the Buckeyes got the Hokies into the bonus, Tech extended their to eight points, with Amoore putting an exclamation point on the end of the quarter with a three-point shot at the buzzer.
The Scarlet and Gray had 10 minutes to get out of a 63-55 deficit if it hoped to make it a game.
Back on the court for the fourth quarter, the shooting woes forged on for the Buckeyes. McMahon got Ohio State going with two fouls, but the press that was just getting going for the Scarlet & Gray led to two layups by Kitley, pushing the Tech lead to 10 points.
Again, coach McGuff called a timeout. It was a moment to slow the VT shooting down and gather the team for the final eight minutes and change left in the game and possibly the season.
The Buckeyes responded, specifically guard Jacy Sheldon did so. Ohio State’s point guard hit a layup and a free throw, getting the game back to within single digits, down seven points. However, VT kept having a response.
Back to a 10-point lead off a layup and FT by Kitley, the Buckeyes were then faced with a Tech side that slowed the game down substantially on offense. That forced Ohio State to go into the half-court exclusively with shots not going in on offense.
The end of Ohio State’s season ticked away off the clock. With five minutes left, it was still up to 10 points, making the likelihood of a comeback more and more unlikely.
Virginia Tech increased the lead more, going up 13 points with 3:44 remaining off another three by Amoore, her fourth of the night.
With only two minutes remaining, and the Buckeyes unable to chip away, it turned into a game of free throws for the Hokies and fervent attacks for Ohio State.
With 57.2 seconds remaining, McMahon was taken out on a run to the basket by VT’s D’Asia Gregg, leaving the freshman in bad shape on the court. With McMahon’s mom cheering her daughter on from the crowd, she hit both free throws to cut the deficit to seven points.
Unfortunately for McGuff’s side, it wasn’t enough to make it competitive in the closing minutes.
Credit goes to Hokies outstanding point guard Amoore who found a way to dribble through the press, going horizontal instead of left to right.
Virginia Tech ended up winning the game 84-74, going to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
For as hot as the shooting was to start the game, hitting 64.3% of shots in the first half, the third quarter saw Ohio State in the freezer. The Buckeyes went 4-for-15 out of halftime, good for 26.7% efficiency.
It was over three and a half minutes between baskets for Ohio State, while Virginia Tech increased their four-point lead up to eight points. It created another required comeback situation, but this time the Buckeyes couldn’t make it up.
Ohio State shot 27.6% in the second half.
Saturday, the Buckeyes’ graduate senior looked a little worse for the wear and scored nine points overall. On every timeout, Mikesell needed attention from the medical staff and at one point was visibly upset going to the bench to rest.
Whatever the training staff did between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night worked. Mikesell scored 19 points in the first half on 6-for-7 shooting. Those 19 points led all players on the court.
If the Buckeyes’ season was going to end, and then Mikesell’s NCAA career as a consequence, it wasn’t going to be the guard’s fault. Mikesell had 25 points on the night, hitting seven three-point shots. A fitting end to the sharpshooter’s NCAA career.
The Buckeyes’ season is now over, so the focus shifts to the offseason. There will be questions surrounding the team, including how it will deal with the hard-to-fill spot left by a departing Mikesell. Will OSU lose any players to the transfer portal? Will McGuff get anyone from the portal himself?
It’ll be a long eight months until the Scarlet and Gray start the 2023-24 regular season.
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
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Despite blistering start, OSU’s offense sputtered in second half, leaving them one win away from the Final Four.
Monday night it was the Elite Eight. The first NCAA regional final for the Ohio State women’s basketball team in 30 years and the first for the Virginia Tech Hokies in the program’s history. Playing for a spot in the Final Four in Dallas, Texas, it was a story of the Buckeyes’ press versus the ACC Tournament champions, entering the game on a 14-game winning streak.
The Hokies pushed the streak to 15 wins, following its 84-74 defeat over the Buckeyes, ending the 22-23 season for the Scarlet and Gray.
To put it lightly, the start of the game was blistering. For all the talk of pressing and defense, it was the offenses that took center stage. Ohio State went 7-for-9 but Virginia Tech went 7-for-7, and in that stretch the Hokies were perfect from beyond the arc, going 3-for-3.
It put Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat, ahead 17-10 after just under four minutes of game time. That’s when Ohio State’s defense showed up but it wasn’t the press.
The defense started going into the media timeout with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter. Center Elizabeth Kitley for Tech had an open look in the paint, or so she thought. Flying in behind the 6-foot-6 star was forward Cotie McMahon. The freshman flew in and swatted the attempt away, sending the ball and herself to the court.
Virginia Tech hit only one of their remaining nine shots in the quarter and Ohio State responded by going 5-for-7. The Buckeyes erased the lead and then some, thanks to 3-for-3 shooting from guard Taylor Mikesell, all from beyond the arc. Mikesell matched her Saturday high in one quarter, looking more comfortable than in the win over UConn.
Ohio State took that renewed comfort and solid play on both sides of the court into the second quarter with a 25-22 lead.
Into the second quarter, the Buckeyes and Hokies continued to trade blows in scoring, but then it was a player receiving a scary blow on a foul. It was outstanding Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore fouled by Ohio State forward Eboni Walker. Amoore went to the ground hard and needed help to get off the court. It didn’t keep Amoore out long though, entering 44 game seconds later.
Back in the game, Amoore hit the three that put the Hokies back into the lead, but it didn’t last long. Off the make, the Buckeyes went into a six-point run, including a fourth made three-pointer by Mikesell in a row.
Off a timeout, the Hokies shrunk the five-point Scarlet and Gray lead with a pair of free throws. Then, guard Cayla King hit a three, tying the game at 36 with 4:10 remaining in the first half.
For the rest of the quarter, the game was tied three times and the lead changed three times too. It was evidence of two evenly matched sides battling for their spot in the Final Four.
With under three minutes remaining in the half, Ohio State got up to a five-point lead, their largest of the game to that point but struggled to score for the rest of the quarter. The Scarlet & Gray’s last four points of the half came off free throws, with Virginia Tech scoring six, going ahead 48-45 into halftime.
Also, Ohio State was in the game and competing on every play even without the use of its full-court press. The Buckeyes played half-court defense, sometimes well but sometimes allowing open looks that fell early for the Scarlet and Gray.
It was clear that missing shots regularly wasn’t going to keep head coach Kevin McGuff’s side competing with the strong offensive-minded Virginia Tech Hokies.
Coming out of the locker room, the game stayed close, but Virginia Tech took advantage of a Buckeyes side that initially struggled to hit their shots. Ohio State went 2-for-8 in the first half of the third quarter. Tech didn’t perform much better, but already having a lead, the extra points extended it.
That trend continued into the closing minutes of the third quarter. The Buckeyes faced a five-point deficit with coach McGuff opting for a timeout. In past games, the coach uses the press out of timeouts to provide a spark to the Scarlet & Gray.
Ohio State came out with their press and immediately caused a 10-second violation on Virginia Tech, but the scoring didn’t follow. As the Buckeyes got the Hokies into the bonus, Tech extended their to eight points, with Amoore putting an exclamation point on the end of the quarter with a three-point shot at the buzzer.
The Scarlet and Gray had 10 minutes to get out of a 63-55 deficit if it hoped to make it a game.
Back on the court for the fourth quarter, the shooting woes forged on for the Buckeyes. McMahon got Ohio State going with two fouls, but the press that was just getting going for the Scarlet & Gray led to two layups by Kitley, pushing the Tech lead to 10 points.
Again, coach McGuff called a timeout. It was a moment to slow the VT shooting down and gather the team for the final eight minutes and change left in the game and possibly the season.
The Buckeyes responded, specifically guard Jacy Sheldon did so. Ohio State’s point guard hit a layup and a free throw, getting the game back to within single digits, down seven points. However, VT kept having a response.
Back to a 10-point lead off a layup and FT by Kitley, the Buckeyes were then faced with a Tech side that slowed the game down substantially on offense. That forced Ohio State to go into the half-court exclusively with shots not going in on offense.
The end of Ohio State’s season ticked away off the clock. With five minutes left, it was still up to 10 points, making the likelihood of a comeback more and more unlikely.
Virginia Tech increased the lead more, going up 13 points with 3:44 remaining off another three by Amoore, her fourth of the night.
With only two minutes remaining, and the Buckeyes unable to chip away, it turned into a game of free throws for the Hokies and fervent attacks for Ohio State.
With 57.2 seconds remaining, McMahon was taken out on a run to the basket by VT’s D’Asia Gregg, leaving the freshman in bad shape on the court. With McMahon’s mom cheering her daughter on from the crowd, she hit both free throws to cut the deficit to seven points.
Unfortunately for McGuff’s side, it wasn’t enough to make it competitive in the closing minutes.
Credit goes to Hokies outstanding point guard Amoore who found a way to dribble through the press, going horizontal instead of left to right.
Virginia Tech ended up winning the game 84-74, going to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Cold Shooting
For as hot as the shooting was to start the game, hitting 64.3% of shots in the first half, the third quarter saw Ohio State in the freezer. The Buckeyes went 4-for-15 out of halftime, good for 26.7% efficiency.
It was over three and a half minutes between baskets for Ohio State, while Virginia Tech increased their four-point lead up to eight points. It created another required comeback situation, but this time the Buckeyes couldn’t make it up.
Ohio State shot 27.6% in the second half.
Taylor Mikesell Bounces Back
Saturday, the Buckeyes’ graduate senior looked a little worse for the wear and scored nine points overall. On every timeout, Mikesell needed attention from the medical staff and at one point was visibly upset going to the bench to rest.
Whatever the training staff did between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night worked. Mikesell scored 19 points in the first half on 6-for-7 shooting. Those 19 points led all players on the court.
If the Buckeyes’ season was going to end, and then Mikesell’s NCAA career as a consequence, it wasn’t going to be the guard’s fault. Mikesell had 25 points on the night, hitting seven three-point shots. A fitting end to the sharpshooter’s NCAA career.
What’s Next
The Buckeyes’ season is now over, so the focus shifts to the offseason. There will be questions surrounding the team, including how it will deal with the hard-to-fill spot left by a departing Mikesell. Will OSU lose any players to the transfer portal? Will McGuff get anyone from the portal himself?
It’ll be a long eight months until the Scarlet and Gray start the 2023-24 regular season.
Continue reading...
