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LGHL You’re Nuts: What 2023 Ohio State football game are you most excited for this season?
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You’re Nuts: What 2023 Ohio State football game are you most excited for this season?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Doral Chenoweth / USA TODAY NETWORK
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
The Buckeyes have a tough schedule in the back half of their season, with Penn State, Wisconsin on the road, Minnesota, and a trip to Ann Arbor to hopefully keep those pesky Wolverines from three consecutive wins.
Now, I’m not going to choose the Michigan game as the one I’m most looking forward to, partially because it feels like low-hanging fruit, and partially because I can’t say I’m looking forward to it so much as I’m losing sleep over it.
Instead, I’m excited to see the Buckeyes head to Camp Randall to face off against the Badgers.
The Badgers will be midway through their first season under new head coach Luke Fickell, a man who is no stranger to Buckeye Nation. After his six-season run at the University of Cincinnati, he’s returned to the Big Ten at the helm of a team with brand new staff and offseason momentum that included picking up a number of quality transfers from the portal.
Both teams could very realistically be undefeated when they meet at Camp Randall in late October, and Fickell knows how to prepare the Badgers for the Buckeye team. Add to that the fact that Camp Randall is a notoriously tough place to play, and we’ve got ourselves a football game.
I do not take kindly to losing, and I know that this game could very realistically swing in Wisconsin’s favor. But I’m looking forward to it because the Fickell matchup is a great story, the football is sure to be top-notch, the energy at Camp Randall will be nothing short of electric, and this is exactly the kind of challenge the Buckeyes need before heading to Ann Arbor.
This is the game where they see what they’re made of. Have they been able to fill absolutely critical holes in their secondary? How has our starting quarterback settled in, and how will they handle the pressure of a big game like this? Can the team stay composed during a tough road matchup?
This battle against Wisconsin will be tough, and it brings with it opportunities for a critical analysis of this team’s postseason potential.
Am I concerned at all about this game’s potential to be the Alabama-Tennessee matchup of 2023? Yes, absolutely. After struggling with inconsistency on offense for years, this Wisconsin team is fresh.
Tanner Mordecai, the former SMU quarterback who the Badgers nabbed via the portal, is projected to be QB1 (though they have depth at this position, with former Oklahoma QB Nick Evers as the likely backup). Mordecai will be using up his final year of eligibility, and that experience could potentially work against the Buckeyes, whose starter will be a little greener. Fickell has discussed his plan to bring this offense up to date, and Mordecai could certainly be the man for the job.
The Badgers also have an experienced room of running backs, which brings the potential for a monster of a rush game for the Buckeyes to handle (a test for their defense if I ever saw one).
And then there is the question of how our Buckeye offense will hold up to Wisconsin’s defense?
All of this remains to be seen on the playing field, but I’m excited by the possibility of the Buckeyes getting a real test—and hopefully a real, hard-fought victory in Madison. Is it a perfect predictor of how the rest of the season will go? Certainly not. But at the very least, we’ll get exciting football, and at best, we’ll build on momentum heading into Ann Arbor a few weeks later.
Will the Ohio State matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers be the game I am most excited about throughout the course of the 2023 football season? Almost assuredly not, but as we sit here on Wednesday, March 22 in the Year of Our Lord (Woody Hayes) 2023, the season opener against Tom Allen’s squad set for 164 days from now in Bloomington, Ind. is absolutely the thing that I am most amped for.
With all of the hype surrounding spring football, pro days, and the upcoming NFL Draft, it is getting my football juices flowing now that the disappointing men’s basketball season has concluded. While the dream of a Nine-Windiana seems difficult to imagine this season, just seeing what the new version of the Buckeyes looks like is enough to get me pumped up.
Not only will Ryan Day have to settle on a new starting quarterback, but the game against the Hoosiers will also be the first time that we see the reconfigured offensive line, Jack Sawyer finally playing a true defensive end, and hopefully a markedly improved cornerback room.
There is just something so special about the season opener, it’s the culmination of eight months of anticipation, concern, excitement, anguish, and hype, and at a place like Ohio State, every year, it could be the beginning of a historic run. Is Indiana going to be good this year? Honestly, I have no idea, but they probably won’t be the best team that the Buckeyes face this season. But who cares? It’s the first game of the year, and I am already counting down the days.
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
Doral Chenoweth / USA TODAY NETWORK
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What 2023 Ohio State football game are you most excited for this season?
Jami’s Take: Wisconsin
The Buckeyes have a tough schedule in the back half of their season, with Penn State, Wisconsin on the road, Minnesota, and a trip to Ann Arbor to hopefully keep those pesky Wolverines from three consecutive wins.
Now, I’m not going to choose the Michigan game as the one I’m most looking forward to, partially because it feels like low-hanging fruit, and partially because I can’t say I’m looking forward to it so much as I’m losing sleep over it.
Instead, I’m excited to see the Buckeyes head to Camp Randall to face off against the Badgers.
The Badgers will be midway through their first season under new head coach Luke Fickell, a man who is no stranger to Buckeye Nation. After his six-season run at the University of Cincinnati, he’s returned to the Big Ten at the helm of a team with brand new staff and offseason momentum that included picking up a number of quality transfers from the portal.
Both teams could very realistically be undefeated when they meet at Camp Randall in late October, and Fickell knows how to prepare the Badgers for the Buckeye team. Add to that the fact that Camp Randall is a notoriously tough place to play, and we’ve got ourselves a football game.
I do not take kindly to losing, and I know that this game could very realistically swing in Wisconsin’s favor. But I’m looking forward to it because the Fickell matchup is a great story, the football is sure to be top-notch, the energy at Camp Randall will be nothing short of electric, and this is exactly the kind of challenge the Buckeyes need before heading to Ann Arbor.
This is the game where they see what they’re made of. Have they been able to fill absolutely critical holes in their secondary? How has our starting quarterback settled in, and how will they handle the pressure of a big game like this? Can the team stay composed during a tough road matchup?
This battle against Wisconsin will be tough, and it brings with it opportunities for a critical analysis of this team’s postseason potential.
Am I concerned at all about this game’s potential to be the Alabama-Tennessee matchup of 2023? Yes, absolutely. After struggling with inconsistency on offense for years, this Wisconsin team is fresh.
Tanner Mordecai, the former SMU quarterback who the Badgers nabbed via the portal, is projected to be QB1 (though they have depth at this position, with former Oklahoma QB Nick Evers as the likely backup). Mordecai will be using up his final year of eligibility, and that experience could potentially work against the Buckeyes, whose starter will be a little greener. Fickell has discussed his plan to bring this offense up to date, and Mordecai could certainly be the man for the job.
The Badgers also have an experienced room of running backs, which brings the potential for a monster of a rush game for the Buckeyes to handle (a test for their defense if I ever saw one).
And then there is the question of how our Buckeye offense will hold up to Wisconsin’s defense?
All of this remains to be seen on the playing field, but I’m excited by the possibility of the Buckeyes getting a real test—and hopefully a real, hard-fought victory in Madison. Is it a perfect predictor of how the rest of the season will go? Certainly not. But at the very least, we’ll get exciting football, and at best, we’ll build on momentum heading into Ann Arbor a few weeks later.
Matt’s Take: Indiana
Will the Ohio State matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers be the game I am most excited about throughout the course of the 2023 football season? Almost assuredly not, but as we sit here on Wednesday, March 22 in the Year of Our Lord (Woody Hayes) 2023, the season opener against Tom Allen’s squad set for 164 days from now in Bloomington, Ind. is absolutely the thing that I am most amped for.
With all of the hype surrounding spring football, pro days, and the upcoming NFL Draft, it is getting my football juices flowing now that the disappointing men’s basketball season has concluded. While the dream of a Nine-Windiana seems difficult to imagine this season, just seeing what the new version of the Buckeyes looks like is enough to get me pumped up.
Not only will Ryan Day have to settle on a new starting quarterback, but the game against the Hoosiers will also be the first time that we see the reconfigured offensive line, Jack Sawyer finally playing a true defensive end, and hopefully a markedly improved cornerback room.
There is just something so special about the season opener, it’s the culmination of eight months of anticipation, concern, excitement, anguish, and hype, and at a place like Ohio State, every year, it could be the beginning of a historic run. Is Indiana going to be good this year? Honestly, I have no idea, but they probably won’t be the best team that the Buckeyes face this season. But who cares? It’s the first game of the year, and I am already counting down the days.
Continue reading...
LGHL Baseball: Buckeyes sweep Dayton, extend win streak to seven games
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Baseball: Buckeyes sweep Dayton, extend win streak to seven games
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
Ohio State goes 2-0 in its first two home games of the season.
Ohio State hosted its first home game of the season on Friday, and what better way to do it than going into an in-state matchup riding a five-game win streak with ace Isaiah Coupet on the mound?
The Buckeyes didn’t miss a beat back at the friendly confines, with Kade Kern launching a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning to make it 2-0 early. Dayton would match it, however, with a two-run homer of their own in the top of the 3rd inning, and the two sides would remain knotted up through the first six innings.
Ohio State would take over in the bottom of the 7th, pushing five runs across in the frame on the strength of a pair of two-run doubles by Kern and Cole Andrews and a run-scoring wild pitch. The 7-2 lead would hold up for the Buckeyes, as Landon Beidelschies came in to toss two scoreless innings to close out another OSU victory.
The lone blemish on Coupet’s resume was the early home run, as he would finish with an impressive stat line featuring 11 strikeouts, one walk and just four total hits allowed over his seven innings of work.
The Flyers were supposed to be in Columbus for three games, but Saturday’s contest was cancelled as a result of cold weather, and so the series lasted just two games with the action resuming on Sunday afternoon.
This time around it was Dayton taking an early lead, with an RBI double in the 1st giving the road team a quick 1-0 advantage. The Flyers tacked on two more runs in the top of the 4th to go up 3-0, but Ohio State got it all back in one swing in their half of the frame with a bases-clearing double by Trey Lipsey to tie it up. Kern drove Lipsey home not too long after that with a triple as the Buckeyes were now on top, 4-3.
Dayton fought right back, and after a solo home run in the 5th tied things up yet again, a two-run home run by Carlos Castillo put the Flyers back ahead 6-4. That lead would not last for long, as again the Buckeyes had a powerful answer. Marcus Ernst rocketed a three-run home run in the bottom of the 6th, and just like that Ohio State led once again, 7-6.
The home team continued to pile it on from there with a big five-run 7th inning, highlighted by Lipsey’s three-run home run — his fourth, fifth and sixth (!!) RBIs of the game. Dayton tried to mount a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the 9th to make it 12-8, but it would be too little too late as Ohio State won its seventh-straight game and secured its second-straight series sweep (three if you count the one-off game against Marshall as a ‘series’).
The Buckeyes used six different pitchers in the game, with five of the six allowing one run or less, led by a scoreless inning from Nolan Clegg. Justin Eckhardt got the start, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings while striking out three. Jonah Jenkins was credited with the win, allowing one run over two innings out of the bullpen.
Isaiah Coupet continues to be every bit the ace he was projected to be, with his season ERA now at 1.08 with 38 strikeouts over 25 innings (four starts). Jonah Jenkins and Landon Beidelschies have been two of the key relievers for Ohio State thus far, with Jenkins sitting at 3-0 while sporting a 2.51 ERA over six appearances (14.1 innings) and Beidelschies with a pair of saves to go along with his 3.09 ERA over eight appearances.
After his scorching hot weekend against Cal State Bakersfield, catcher Cole Andrews continues to lead the Buckeyes in batting average at .436 with his team-high 18 RBIs. Kade Kern and Marcus Ernst remain Ohio State’s two biggest power threats, with three and five home runs, respectively. Kern’s 16 walks also still lead the team.
The freshman Matthew Graveline has gotten off to quite a nice start to his collegiate career, with his .404 average good for second on the team to go along with his two home runs and 13 RBIs. Trey Lipsey went into Sunday’s game with just an .071 average over 14 at-bats, but his impressive performance bumped that all the way up to .211 with a home run and seven RBIs to this point.
Ohio State now sits at 11-6 overall, and they will look to continue the win streak this week with a pair of home games — one each against Wright State on Tuesday and Toledo on Wednesday. The Buckeyes will then open up Big Ten play with a three-game series against Indiana beginning on March 24.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
Ohio State goes 2-0 in its first two home games of the season.
Friday, March 17: 7-2 Ohio State
Ohio State hosted its first home game of the season on Friday, and what better way to do it than going into an in-state matchup riding a five-game win streak with ace Isaiah Coupet on the mound?
The Buckeyes didn’t miss a beat back at the friendly confines, with Kade Kern launching a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning to make it 2-0 early. Dayton would match it, however, with a two-run homer of their own in the top of the 3rd inning, and the two sides would remain knotted up through the first six innings.
Ohio State would take over in the bottom of the 7th, pushing five runs across in the frame on the strength of a pair of two-run doubles by Kern and Cole Andrews and a run-scoring wild pitch. The 7-2 lead would hold up for the Buckeyes, as Landon Beidelschies came in to toss two scoreless innings to close out another OSU victory.
The lone blemish on Coupet’s resume was the early home run, as he would finish with an impressive stat line featuring 11 strikeouts, one walk and just four total hits allowed over his seven innings of work.
Sunday, March 19: 12-8 Ohio State
The Flyers were supposed to be in Columbus for three games, but Saturday’s contest was cancelled as a result of cold weather, and so the series lasted just two games with the action resuming on Sunday afternoon.
This time around it was Dayton taking an early lead, with an RBI double in the 1st giving the road team a quick 1-0 advantage. The Flyers tacked on two more runs in the top of the 4th to go up 3-0, but Ohio State got it all back in one swing in their half of the frame with a bases-clearing double by Trey Lipsey to tie it up. Kern drove Lipsey home not too long after that with a triple as the Buckeyes were now on top, 4-3.
Dayton fought right back, and after a solo home run in the 5th tied things up yet again, a two-run home run by Carlos Castillo put the Flyers back ahead 6-4. That lead would not last for long, as again the Buckeyes had a powerful answer. Marcus Ernst rocketed a three-run home run in the bottom of the 6th, and just like that Ohio State led once again, 7-6.
The home team continued to pile it on from there with a big five-run 7th inning, highlighted by Lipsey’s three-run home run — his fourth, fifth and sixth (!!) RBIs of the game. Dayton tried to mount a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the 9th to make it 12-8, but it would be too little too late as Ohio State won its seventh-straight game and secured its second-straight series sweep (three if you count the one-off game against Marshall as a ‘series’).
The Buckeyes used six different pitchers in the game, with five of the six allowing one run or less, led by a scoreless inning from Nolan Clegg. Justin Eckhardt got the start, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings while striking out three. Jonah Jenkins was credited with the win, allowing one run over two innings out of the bullpen.
Isaiah Coupet continues to be every bit the ace he was projected to be, with his season ERA now at 1.08 with 38 strikeouts over 25 innings (four starts). Jonah Jenkins and Landon Beidelschies have been two of the key relievers for Ohio State thus far, with Jenkins sitting at 3-0 while sporting a 2.51 ERA over six appearances (14.1 innings) and Beidelschies with a pair of saves to go along with his 3.09 ERA over eight appearances.
After his scorching hot weekend against Cal State Bakersfield, catcher Cole Andrews continues to lead the Buckeyes in batting average at .436 with his team-high 18 RBIs. Kade Kern and Marcus Ernst remain Ohio State’s two biggest power threats, with three and five home runs, respectively. Kern’s 16 walks also still lead the team.
The freshman Matthew Graveline has gotten off to quite a nice start to his collegiate career, with his .404 average good for second on the team to go along with his two home runs and 13 RBIs. Trey Lipsey went into Sunday’s game with just an .071 average over 14 at-bats, but his impressive performance bumped that all the way up to .211 with a home run and seven RBIs to this point.
Ohio State now sits at 11-6 overall, and they will look to continue the win streak this week with a pair of home games — one each against Wright State on Tuesday and Toledo on Wednesday. The Buckeyes will then open up Big Ten play with a three-game series against Indiana beginning on March 24.
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LGHL Top Ohio running back commits to Michigan; five-star defensive lineman sets visit
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Top Ohio running back commits to Michigan; five-star defensive lineman sets visit
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And OSU welcomed a Tank to campus on Tuesday.
It’s never a good feeling to lose to your rival, and unfortunately, it’s a feeling that Ohio State has had to get used to quite a bit recently, both on and off the field. In addition to the two most recent iterations of The Game, the Buckeyes lost another battle with the Wolverines on Tuesday as the top running back in the state of Ohio committed to play his college football in Ann Arbor.
Archbishop Moeller’s four-star running back Jordan Marshall chose the Maize and Blue over the Scarlet and Gray yesterday. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back is the No. 91 player in the country, seventh-rated running back, and third-ranked player in the state of Ohio according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Along with TTUN, the reigning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year had narrowed down his list of possible schools to Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. With Marshall’s commitment to Michigan, he becomes the third Ohio native in the team’s 2024 class, joining No. 338 offensive lineman from Avon, Ohio Luke Hamilton and No. 390 defensive lineman Ted Hammond from St. Xavier.
While this is a blow to the Buckeyes’ class, it is not necessarily a debilitating one as they are the perceived leader for an even more well-regarded back. The very nice No. 69 player in the country James Peoples now becomes even more of an important piece in the recruiting puzzle for Tony Alford and the Buckeyes.
The four-star back from San Antonio does not currently hold any crystal balls from 247 experts, but does have an 89.2% prediction machine rating according to On3. Oklahoma and Texas are the other teams considered in the running for the back, but according to On3, they are considerably behind in the race currently.
Peoples will be in Columbus next week on March 30 and will make his official visit Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25. Monday, the 26th is my birthday, so it would be very nice if he gave me the present of a BOOM!
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
And OSU welcomed a Tank to campus on Tuesday.
Ohio State loses to Michigan again, but better things are on the horizon
It’s never a good feeling to lose to your rival, and unfortunately, it’s a feeling that Ohio State has had to get used to quite a bit recently, both on and off the field. In addition to the two most recent iterations of The Game, the Buckeyes lost another battle with the Wolverines on Tuesday as the top running back in the state of Ohio committed to play his college football in Ann Arbor.
Archbishop Moeller’s four-star running back Jordan Marshall chose the Maize and Blue over the Scarlet and Gray yesterday. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back is the No. 91 player in the country, seventh-rated running back, and third-ranked player in the state of Ohio according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Along with TTUN, the reigning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year had narrowed down his list of possible schools to Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. With Marshall’s commitment to Michigan, he becomes the third Ohio native in the team’s 2024 class, joining No. 338 offensive lineman from Avon, Ohio Luke Hamilton and No. 390 defensive lineman Ted Hammond from St. Xavier.
While this is a blow to the Buckeyes’ class, it is not necessarily a debilitating one as they are the perceived leader for an even more well-regarded back. The very nice No. 69 player in the country James Peoples now becomes even more of an important piece in the recruiting puzzle for Tony Alford and the Buckeyes.
The four-star back from San Antonio does not currently hold any crystal balls from 247 experts, but does have an 89.2% prediction machine rating according to On3. Oklahoma and Texas are the other teams considered in the running for the back, but according to On3, they are considerably behind in the race currently.
Peoples will be in Columbus next week on March 30 and will make his official visit Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25. Monday, the 26th is my birthday, so it would be very nice if he gave me the present of a BOOM!
Quick Hits
- Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes will have an opportunity to potentially land the next great Ohio State defensive lineman from June 23-25. In addition to Peoples’ being in town that weekend, so will the No. 11 player in the country, Chicago St. Ignatius defensive lineman Justin Scott. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound prospect has set those days from a trip to Columbus according to Rivals’ Clint Cosgrove. He will visit the Georgia Bulldogs earlier in the month from June 2-4.
- Ohio State is looking to add a Tank to the defensive line. Former Maryland defensive tackle Anthony “Tank” Booker was on campus on Tuesday, presumably for Ohio State’s spring practice. The Cincinnati Winton Woods alum has two years of eligibility remaining. He was not an especially often-used player for the Terps, but flashed this season in limited reps. Fellow Winton Woods players Miyan Williams and Jermaine Mathews are currently on the Buckeyes’ roster.
- While the Ohio State football team is back from spring break, high school players from across the country are taking advantage of their breaks in order to get in some unofficial visits. One of those players is the No. 71 player in the 2025 class Eli Owens who picked up an offer from the Buckeyes on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2 athlete from Alcoa, Tenn. is the No. 4 rated athlete in the country and fourth-rated prospect from the Volunteer State.
After an outstanding visit, I’m beyond blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University!!!!!️ @CoachKee @NCEC_Recruiting @NatlPlaymkrsAca @supermax100_ @alcoafootball @scoop1914 @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/O9GndS7tg4
— Eli Owens (@Eli_Owens19) March 21, 2023
- The No. 1 athlete in the 2024 recruiting class Mike Matthews is planning on cutting down his list of finalists to 12 in the relatively near future according to 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. Currently, the Lilburn, Ga. native says that Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC are the schools that stick out. The No. 10 player in the country, Matthews is projected as a wide receiver.
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LGHL Gear up for spring and summer with the best Ohio State gear
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Gear up for spring and summer with the best Ohio State gear
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We’ve got the best shirts, shorts, hats, and more to add to your scarlet and gray wardrobe this spring.
Winter is behind us and so are the heavy jackets, mittens, and scarves. If you’re looking for some new gear for the warmer months, then look no further! We got you covered with the best Ohio State gear to get for this Spring and Summer.
On those hot summer days, you can rest assured knowing you’ll look as cool as a cucumber when you’ve got this Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Straw Hat. This is the sizzlin’ summer style you’ve been looking for.
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The game. The pool. The tailgate. The vacation spot. These are just a few places where you’ll want to stylishly rep your team on the go in this Ohio State Buckeyes Thematic Stadium Print Button Up Shirt!
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Never before has fandom looked so good and felt so relaxing. Lounge like a legend while you cheer your team on to victory by rocking this Ohio State Buckeyes Reversible Colorblock Hoodeez.
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Whether you’re walking around the house, in the park, or to your favorite seat in the stadium ready to cheer your team on to victory, do it in style by rocking these Ohio State Buckeyes Colorblock Big Logo Clogs!
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The only thing better than taking a dip in the pool on a hot day is doing so while showing off your one-of-a-kind team spirit. That’s why we made these Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Swimming Trunks.
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Stars, stripes, and a whole lot of team spirit. Plant your flag as the best fan around by pledging your allegiance to the Ohio State Buckeyes Americana Vertical Flag.
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Fandom never looked so good. Whether you’re at the game, hitting the beach, or getting your epic workout on at the gym, this Ohio State Buckeyes Women’s Colorblock Tie-Breaker Sleeveless Top is sure to make you the most passionate and best-dressed fan around.
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You’re a GOAT of grocery shopping. A dynamo of deal-finding. An expert of the express checkout. Prove you’re a phenom of fandom as well by enhancing your shopping experience with these Ohio State Buckeyes 4 Pack Reusable Shopping Bags.
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Your favorite jersey doesn’t adhere to your company’s dress code? Bummer. Try this Ohio State Buckeyes Striped Polyester Polo instead. When someone tells you to dress to impress, THIS is what they’re referring to.
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Warm weather’s got NOTHING on you. That’s because this Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Boonie Hat is here to keep you cool and comfortable when the temperature goes up!
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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
We’ve got the best shirts, shorts, hats, and more to add to your scarlet and gray wardrobe this spring.
Winter is behind us and so are the heavy jackets, mittens, and scarves. If you’re looking for some new gear for the warmer months, then look no further! We got you covered with the best Ohio State gear to get for this Spring and Summer.
Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Straw Hat
On those hot summer days, you can rest assured knowing you’ll look as cool as a cucumber when you’ve got this Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Straw Hat. This is the sizzlin’ summer style you’ve been looking for.
Ohio State Buckeyes Thematic Stadium Print Button Up Shirt
The game. The pool. The tailgate. The vacation spot. These are just a few places where you’ll want to stylishly rep your team on the go in this Ohio State Buckeyes Thematic Stadium Print Button Up Shirt!
Ohio State Buckeyes Reversible Colorblock Hoodeez
Never before has fandom looked so good and felt so relaxing. Lounge like a legend while you cheer your team on to victory by rocking this Ohio State Buckeyes Reversible Colorblock Hoodeez.
Ohio State Buckeyes Colorblock Big Logo Clog
Whether you’re walking around the house, in the park, or to your favorite seat in the stadium ready to cheer your team on to victory, do it in style by rocking these Ohio State Buckeyes Colorblock Big Logo Clogs!
Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Swimming Trunks
The only thing better than taking a dip in the pool on a hot day is doing so while showing off your one-of-a-kind team spirit. That’s why we made these Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Swimming Trunks.
Ohio State Buckeyes Americana Vertical Flag
Stars, stripes, and a whole lot of team spirit. Plant your flag as the best fan around by pledging your allegiance to the Ohio State Buckeyes Americana Vertical Flag.
Ohio State Buckeyes Womens Tie-Breaker Sleeveless Top
Fandom never looked so good. Whether you’re at the game, hitting the beach, or getting your epic workout on at the gym, this Ohio State Buckeyes Women’s Colorblock Tie-Breaker Sleeveless Top is sure to make you the most passionate and best-dressed fan around.
Ohio State Buckeyes 4 Pack Reusable Shopping Bag
You’re a GOAT of grocery shopping. A dynamo of deal-finding. An expert of the express checkout. Prove you’re a phenom of fandom as well by enhancing your shopping experience with these Ohio State Buckeyes 4 Pack Reusable Shopping Bags.
Ohio State Buckeyes Striped Polyester Polo
Your favorite jersey doesn’t adhere to your company’s dress code? Bummer. Try this Ohio State Buckeyes Striped Polyester Polo instead. When someone tells you to dress to impress, THIS is what they’re referring to.
Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Boonie Hat
Warm weather’s got NOTHING on you. That’s because this Ohio State Buckeyes Floral Boonie Hat is here to keep you cool and comfortable when the temperature goes up!
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Spring practice, coach salaries and the draft
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Silver Bullets Podcast: Spring practice, coach salaries and the draft
Michael Citro 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
It’s all about the numbers: jersey, salary, and draft position.
Chip Minnich and I are back with our monthly offseason check-in, and Ohio State football is also back — sort of. Spring football practices are underway as the team looks to develop in its offseason approach to the annual Ohio State SpringGame glorified practice. We discuss some of the new numbers that a few of the Buckeyes will be wearing this fall.
Another topic of interest in this episode is the fallout from the NFL Combine, where C.J. Stroud may have helped himself relative to the competition to be the first quarterback selected. Other quarterbacks who elected to throw at the Combine... maybe didn’t help themselves by doing so.
Salary information from the OSU coaching staff was made public, and so we’ve got some thoughts on what some of those pay raises were, who might have been worthy of them, and perhaps others who might be lucky to still be on the staff. It’s painfully clear I need to hire Brian Hartline’s agent.
We wrapped up with some talk about the upcoming NFL Draft and where several prominent former Buckeyes figure to go, which ones might go late, and which ones might not go at all. There could be multiple first-round picks and a multi-year starter might not be selected at all, which could be better than getting chosen in the final round or two anyway.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
Enjoy the run-up to the Spring Game, everyone. And if you go, you might run into 60% of Chip’s family in the stands.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro 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
It’s all about the numbers: jersey, salary, and draft position.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Chip Minnich and I are back with our monthly offseason check-in, and Ohio State football is also back — sort of. Spring football practices are underway as the team looks to develop in its offseason approach to the annual Ohio State Spring
Another topic of interest in this episode is the fallout from the NFL Combine, where C.J. Stroud may have helped himself relative to the competition to be the first quarterback selected. Other quarterbacks who elected to throw at the Combine... maybe didn’t help themselves by doing so.
Salary information from the OSU coaching staff was made public, and so we’ve got some thoughts on what some of those pay raises were, who might have been worthy of them, and perhaps others who might be lucky to still be on the staff. It’s painfully clear I need to hire Brian Hartline’s agent.
We wrapped up with some talk about the upcoming NFL Draft and where several prominent former Buckeyes figure to go, which ones might go late, and which ones might not go at all. There could be multiple first-round picks and a multi-year starter might not be selected at all, which could be better than getting chosen in the final round or two anyway.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
Enjoy the run-up to the Spring Game, everyone. And if you go, you might run into 60% of Chip’s family in the stands.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon hits last-second shot to beat North Carolina 71-69, advance to Sweet Sixteen
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Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon hits last-second shot to beat North Carolina 71-69, advance to Sweet Sixteen
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 Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
An absolute thriller at the Schott for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen!
Although the timing was odd — a Monday, 4 p.m. ET tip-off —the Ohio State women’s basketball team and North Carolina Tar Heels took to the court. Their mission: Secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen.
Ohio State went up 12 points in the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels kept battling, despite a key injury. Even so, the Buckeyes held on, moving on to the Sweet Sixteen following the 71-69 victory.
Unlike Ohio State’s game against James Madison on Saturday, the Buckeyes had the momentum early. A pair of three-point makes by guard Taylor Mikesell and a jumper by forward Eboni Walker put the home team up 8-0 after three minutes. It took the Tar Heels until the 5:55 mark to make their first shot of the game.
However, after a timeout, North Carolina made it more of a game. The Tar Heels shrunk a nine-point Buckeyes lead to one with a tough shooting spell, hitting two of their last eight shots of the quarter.
Those shots came from freshman forward Cotie McMahon. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year hit a midrange shot and continued applying pressure to the basket, although the whistles weren’t always going her way.
After the first quarter, the Scarlet and Gray were up 16-14 and to start the second quarter, the Buckeyes pushed their lead out again. Ohio State continued to do it through turnovers. In the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Buckeyes forced three turnovers. Combine that with strong play on offense and the home team went up eight points again.
That lead was led by strong play by Walker. Ohio State’s transfer forward out of Las Vegas, Nevada forced a turnover, assisted in a tight space on offense, and had a crossover move that turned into a layup.
The Buckeyes scored the first six points of the quarter and even as UNC guard Deja Kelly hit a three, Mikesell responded with a shot of her own from deep. It was Mikesell’s third of the game with over 25 minutes still remaining in the Round of 32 contest.
North Carolina chipped away at the lead, but the Buckeyes held onto a five-point advantage heading into halftime. Much of that UNC scoring came inside the paint. The Tar Heels shot 1-for-8 from three in the first half and 37.9% overall. Ohio State, after not hitting 32% efficiency in any of their last three first halves of games, shot 46.2%, leading 33-28 after the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Ohio State wasn’t settling with the five-point lead. Immediately, the Buckeyes went into the press. Halfway through the quarter, the Tar Heels were at three turnovers, with Ohio State getting four points off the changes in possession.
After a six-point run for the home team, Ohio State secured a double-digit lead for the first time. Again, UNC responded but every shot was returned by the Buckeyes. Slightly limited coming out of the break was McMahon. Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart changed tactics and put two-to-three Tar Heels on anyone going to the rim, in hopes of limiting effectiveness.
It worked for the visitors, cutting the 10-point lead to one point. Also, after the officiating crew allowed a pretty physical game, more whistles started surfacing as the game got closer.
Even so, Ohio State scored seven of the last five points of the quarter, thanks to a floating layup and trip to the line by Mikesell with two seconds remaining, the Buckeyes entered the final quarter up 51-46.
In the fourth quarter, there were good moments and bad. The worse coming on the UNC side of the ball. Star guard Kelly, with under seven minutes remaining, ran into Walker on a screen and went to the ground. The guard needed to be carried off the court, with her left knee being injured in the contact.
The injury came when the Tar Heels were down 12 points to Ohio State. On the same play though, it was Sheldon getting that lead to a dozen. Sheldon missed on the open three-point attempt but chased the ball to the rim, grabbing the rebound. From the rebound the guard found Mikesell open in the corner, hitting her fourth three-point shot of the night.
As Kelly was then walked back to the locker room, UNC clawed back into the game. Guard/forward Alyssa Ustby, who attacked the rim all game, hit two consecutive layups, topped off with a three-point shot by guard Kennedy Todd-Williams. Coach McGuff called a timeout, now up five points.
Out of the timeout though, Ustby got Ohio State again. This time, running around McMahon, hesitating, and hitting an acrobatic layup, bringing the game within a possession.
After Ohio State and North Carolina exchanged free throws, Walker put the Buckeyes up three with a layup. Then, Kelly returned after it looked like the star wouldn’t play again in the game.
Following Kelly’s entrance, the guard went to the free throw line, drawing a foul and hitting both free throws. Then, a Buckeyes turnover gave North Carolina their first lead of the game. In five minutes a 12-point lead was erased, with UNC up one with 2:04 remaining.
Ohio State battled back. A Sheldon layup, Walker rebound and a free throw by Sheldon put the Buckeyes back up 69-67 with 38 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes got the ball back thanks to a foul on forward Teonni Key on a screen, but with the possession Ohio State threw the ball away.
Then Kelly came in off the timeout to hit the game-tying shot. That shot gave the Buckeyes 9.8 seconds to find a basket of their own or face a potential overtime period. Off the timeout, it was Sheldon who hit the floating layup, putting the Buckeyes up 71-69 with 1.8 seconds on the clock.
UNC advanced the ball and off the inbound, a lob to Ustby went too far, giving OSU the win and the trip to Seattle for the Sweet Sixteen.
Starting the scoring for Ohio State was the graduate senior Mikesell. The guard led the Buckeyes with nine points in the first half, hitting three shots from deep. While the deep shooting cooled for a bit, Mikesell added steals and assists in the contest, showing how vital the guard is to this Buckeyes team.
Over the past month of the regular season and postseason, Walker started at the forward position but it was a toss-up on who head coach Kevin McGuff would prefer on the floor at any given time. Neither Walker nor forward Rebeka Mikulášiková solidified themselves as the person that needed to be in the game.
Monday, Walker was great for the Buckeyes. Not necessarily in scoring or highlight reel moves but in solid play overall. Walker went three quarters without giving up a turnover, grabbing seven rebounds and leading Ohio State’s +/- with 19.
In the fourth quarter, Walker hit a midrange shot to put Ohio State up double-digits again. Walker’s 15 points are the most she’s scored as a Buckeye. On top of that, the forward had no turnovers.
Ohio State now moves on to the Sweet Sixteen. The Buckeyes travel to Seattle, Washington to face the winner of the UConn Huskies and the Baylor Bears. The third round of the tournament matches how far the Scarlet & Gray made it in last year’s tournament, before ultimately falling to the Texas Longhorns in a 66-63 defeat at the hands of the Big 12 side.
The Sweet Sixteen is scheduled for Saturday, March 25.
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 Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
An absolute thriller at the Schott for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen!
Although the timing was odd — a Monday, 4 p.m. ET tip-off —the Ohio State women’s basketball team and North Carolina Tar Heels took to the court. Their mission: Secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen.
Ohio State went up 12 points in the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels kept battling, despite a key injury. Even so, the Buckeyes held on, moving on to the Sweet Sixteen following the 71-69 victory.
Unlike Ohio State’s game against James Madison on Saturday, the Buckeyes had the momentum early. A pair of three-point makes by guard Taylor Mikesell and a jumper by forward Eboni Walker put the home team up 8-0 after three minutes. It took the Tar Heels until the 5:55 mark to make their first shot of the game.
However, after a timeout, North Carolina made it more of a game. The Tar Heels shrunk a nine-point Buckeyes lead to one with a tough shooting spell, hitting two of their last eight shots of the quarter.
Those shots came from freshman forward Cotie McMahon. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year hit a midrange shot and continued applying pressure to the basket, although the whistles weren’t always going her way.
After the first quarter, the Scarlet and Gray were up 16-14 and to start the second quarter, the Buckeyes pushed their lead out again. Ohio State continued to do it through turnovers. In the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Buckeyes forced three turnovers. Combine that with strong play on offense and the home team went up eight points again.
That lead was led by strong play by Walker. Ohio State’s transfer forward out of Las Vegas, Nevada forced a turnover, assisted in a tight space on offense, and had a crossover move that turned into a layup.
The Buckeyes scored the first six points of the quarter and even as UNC guard Deja Kelly hit a three, Mikesell responded with a shot of her own from deep. It was Mikesell’s third of the game with over 25 minutes still remaining in the Round of 32 contest.
North Carolina chipped away at the lead, but the Buckeyes held onto a five-point advantage heading into halftime. Much of that UNC scoring came inside the paint. The Tar Heels shot 1-for-8 from three in the first half and 37.9% overall. Ohio State, after not hitting 32% efficiency in any of their last three first halves of games, shot 46.2%, leading 33-28 after the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Ohio State wasn’t settling with the five-point lead. Immediately, the Buckeyes went into the press. Halfway through the quarter, the Tar Heels were at three turnovers, with Ohio State getting four points off the changes in possession.
After a six-point run for the home team, Ohio State secured a double-digit lead for the first time. Again, UNC responded but every shot was returned by the Buckeyes. Slightly limited coming out of the break was McMahon. Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart changed tactics and put two-to-three Tar Heels on anyone going to the rim, in hopes of limiting effectiveness.
It worked for the visitors, cutting the 10-point lead to one point. Also, after the officiating crew allowed a pretty physical game, more whistles started surfacing as the game got closer.
Even so, Ohio State scored seven of the last five points of the quarter, thanks to a floating layup and trip to the line by Mikesell with two seconds remaining, the Buckeyes entered the final quarter up 51-46.
In the fourth quarter, there were good moments and bad. The worse coming on the UNC side of the ball. Star guard Kelly, with under seven minutes remaining, ran into Walker on a screen and went to the ground. The guard needed to be carried off the court, with her left knee being injured in the contact.
The injury came when the Tar Heels were down 12 points to Ohio State. On the same play though, it was Sheldon getting that lead to a dozen. Sheldon missed on the open three-point attempt but chased the ball to the rim, grabbing the rebound. From the rebound the guard found Mikesell open in the corner, hitting her fourth three-point shot of the night.
As Kelly was then walked back to the locker room, UNC clawed back into the game. Guard/forward Alyssa Ustby, who attacked the rim all game, hit two consecutive layups, topped off with a three-point shot by guard Kennedy Todd-Williams. Coach McGuff called a timeout, now up five points.
Out of the timeout though, Ustby got Ohio State again. This time, running around McMahon, hesitating, and hitting an acrobatic layup, bringing the game within a possession.
After Ohio State and North Carolina exchanged free throws, Walker put the Buckeyes up three with a layup. Then, Kelly returned after it looked like the star wouldn’t play again in the game.
Following Kelly’s entrance, the guard went to the free throw line, drawing a foul and hitting both free throws. Then, a Buckeyes turnover gave North Carolina their first lead of the game. In five minutes a 12-point lead was erased, with UNC up one with 2:04 remaining.
Ohio State battled back. A Sheldon layup, Walker rebound and a free throw by Sheldon put the Buckeyes back up 69-67 with 38 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes got the ball back thanks to a foul on forward Teonni Key on a screen, but with the possession Ohio State threw the ball away.
Then Kelly came in off the timeout to hit the game-tying shot. That shot gave the Buckeyes 9.8 seconds to find a basket of their own or face a potential overtime period. Off the timeout, it was Sheldon who hit the floating layup, putting the Buckeyes up 71-69 with 1.8 seconds on the clock.
UNC advanced the ball and off the inbound, a lob to Ustby went too far, giving OSU the win and the trip to Seattle for the Sweet Sixteen.
Mikesell’s Last Game in Columbus
Starting the scoring for Ohio State was the graduate senior Mikesell. The guard led the Buckeyes with nine points in the first half, hitting three shots from deep. While the deep shooting cooled for a bit, Mikesell added steals and assists in the contest, showing how vital the guard is to this Buckeyes team.
Walker’s Emergence
Over the past month of the regular season and postseason, Walker started at the forward position but it was a toss-up on who head coach Kevin McGuff would prefer on the floor at any given time. Neither Walker nor forward Rebeka Mikulášiková solidified themselves as the person that needed to be in the game.
Monday, Walker was great for the Buckeyes. Not necessarily in scoring or highlight reel moves but in solid play overall. Walker went three quarters without giving up a turnover, grabbing seven rebounds and leading Ohio State’s +/- with 19.
In the fourth quarter, Walker hit a midrange shot to put Ohio State up double-digits again. Walker’s 15 points are the most she’s scored as a Buckeye. On top of that, the forward had no turnovers.
What’s Next
Ohio State now moves on to the Sweet Sixteen. The Buckeyes travel to Seattle, Washington to face the winner of the UConn Huskies and the Baylor Bears. The third round of the tournament matches how far the Scarlet & Gray made it in last year’s tournament, before ultimately falling to the Texas Longhorns in a 66-63 defeat at the hands of the Big 12 side.
The Sweet Sixteen is scheduled for Saturday, March 25.
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LGHL Ohio State recruiting: Don’t let That Team Up North stand in the way
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Ohio State recruiting: Don’t let That Team Up North stand in the way
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brian Robinson | 247Sports
A deep dive on why Ohio State needs to offer Brian Robinson.
Everybody knows Ohio State is a national brand and one of the biggest when it comes to collegiate athletics — and of course when it comes specifically to football. On the recruiting front, because of their brand, the Buckeyes have always been able to recruit nationally and have a ton of success doing so.
However, it’s a well-known fact that the program also prioritizes in-state Ohio kids and trying to keep the other Midwest powers from poaching their homegrown talents. Every year the Buckeyes bring in Ohio targets, and while some classes may be bigger than others, the goal of building a wall around the state borders is still a common theme.
It’s not an automatic that Ohio State keeps every in-state target they want, but certainly more times than not the coaches are able to keep their Ohio natives in Columbus for their college careers. In the current class, the Buckeyes only have four commits, but looking at that total, two of those early commits are from Ohio, with several more hopefully to follow suit.
Again, not every Ohio State offered target in Ohio ends up committing to the Buckeyes, as yesterday was further proof to that being the case after running back, Jordan Marshall decided to commit to Ohio State’s biggest rival.
The Cincinnati Moeller product was down to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Tennessee, but this latest in-state prospect to leave the Ohio borders is exactly why this piece addresses how important it is to not let your top in-state targets get away. Though the staff is still in great position for other 2024 running backs, like Texas native James Peoples, it still stings when an Ohio high school prospect chooses against the home team.
That said, many times Ohio products who leave the state are not always players that were offered by the Buckeyes, so sometimes it’s not a “loss” if being blunt. If the coaching staff is able to get out-of-state players that they believe are a better fit, then surely that’s the go-to move. However, looking directly at competing against a rival like Michigan, this program just can’t allow the Wolverines to land players who didn’t have an Ohio State offer and end up using that as motivation for wanting to beat the Buckeyes down the road.
It may not be in every recruiting cycle, but over the years, players who would have loved to play for the Buckeyes have gone elsewhere because of never earning an Ohio State offer. In this case, this looks directly at who the coaches should offer in the current 2024 class right in their own backyard.
The reasoning can be for a number of aspects, but for this specific candidate, it’s due to the talent, upside, and keeping him away from a rival program where it can come back to bite the Buckeyes in the end.
There’s arguably not a better example of who the Buckeyes should offer in this current class than Brian Robinson. A 6-foot-5, 255 pound edge rusher, Robinson is currently the No. 123 player nationally, the ninth best player at his position, and the fourth best prospect in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite in the 2024 class. The Youngstown product you would think would be a shoe in for Ohio State with that kind of ranking, but with nearly 40 offers to his name, the Buckeyes are not yet one of them.
Linking back to the aforementioned Marshall, Ohio State was very much in the mix, making his top four list of schools. But in reality, the Buckeyes may have been a little late to the party, and to Michigan’s advantage, the Wolverines were in on him from the start. Could that be the difference in why Marshall chose to go into enemy territory? Certainly possible looking at it now.
Looking at Robinson, the Buckeyes not even offering yet is interesting. Maybe they have a different outlook on his stock and what he brings to the table, but with the 247Sports Crystal Ball pointing towards Michigan again, this recruitment sort of feels like one that could come back to bite the Buckeyes. Maybe that’s going too far, but when you look at the defensive line as a whole, it’s puzzling.
The Buckeyes have not been bad on the defensive line, but Larry Johnson has set a standard that is that high for a reason. The truth is, the production could be better and needs to be better. Offering an in-state four-star prospect with 36 offers to his name doesn’t really seem like taking a “chance” on the kid, especially with him being from Ohio and being linked to — once again — your rival who you haven’t beat in two consecutive tries. In my mind, that’s a kid you offer.
I’ll leave it at this. You be the judge and ask yourself after watching the tape if this is a player Ohio State should be more interested in. The sting of Marshall may be getting the best of the emotions here, but in this rivalry, everything feels more important.
If Robinson does in fact choose the Wolverines, Ohio State wouldn’t be ‘losing’ him due to not offering, but knowing the need at defensive end and wanting to keep that border around Ohio strong, this recruitment is one I feel the Buckeyes need to enter.
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
Brian Robinson | 247Sports
A deep dive on why Ohio State needs to offer Brian Robinson.
Everybody knows Ohio State is a national brand and one of the biggest when it comes to collegiate athletics — and of course when it comes specifically to football. On the recruiting front, because of their brand, the Buckeyes have always been able to recruit nationally and have a ton of success doing so.
However, it’s a well-known fact that the program also prioritizes in-state Ohio kids and trying to keep the other Midwest powers from poaching their homegrown talents. Every year the Buckeyes bring in Ohio targets, and while some classes may be bigger than others, the goal of building a wall around the state borders is still a common theme.
It’s not an automatic that Ohio State keeps every in-state target they want, but certainly more times than not the coaches are able to keep their Ohio natives in Columbus for their college careers. In the current class, the Buckeyes only have four commits, but looking at that total, two of those early commits are from Ohio, with several more hopefully to follow suit.
Again, not every Ohio State offered target in Ohio ends up committing to the Buckeyes, as yesterday was further proof to that being the case after running back, Jordan Marshall decided to commit to Ohio State’s biggest rival.
The Cincinnati Moeller product was down to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Tennessee, but this latest in-state prospect to leave the Ohio borders is exactly why this piece addresses how important it is to not let your top in-state targets get away. Though the staff is still in great position for other 2024 running backs, like Texas native James Peoples, it still stings when an Ohio high school prospect chooses against the home team.
That said, many times Ohio products who leave the state are not always players that were offered by the Buckeyes, so sometimes it’s not a “loss” if being blunt. If the coaching staff is able to get out-of-state players that they believe are a better fit, then surely that’s the go-to move. However, looking directly at competing against a rival like Michigan, this program just can’t allow the Wolverines to land players who didn’t have an Ohio State offer and end up using that as motivation for wanting to beat the Buckeyes down the road.
It may not be in every recruiting cycle, but over the years, players who would have loved to play for the Buckeyes have gone elsewhere because of never earning an Ohio State offer. In this case, this looks directly at who the coaches should offer in the current 2024 class right in their own backyard.
The reasoning can be for a number of aspects, but for this specific candidate, it’s due to the talent, upside, and keeping him away from a rival program where it can come back to bite the Buckeyes in the end.
Brian Robinson — Defensive End
There’s arguably not a better example of who the Buckeyes should offer in this current class than Brian Robinson. A 6-foot-5, 255 pound edge rusher, Robinson is currently the No. 123 player nationally, the ninth best player at his position, and the fourth best prospect in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite in the 2024 class. The Youngstown product you would think would be a shoe in for Ohio State with that kind of ranking, but with nearly 40 offers to his name, the Buckeyes are not yet one of them.
Linking back to the aforementioned Marshall, Ohio State was very much in the mix, making his top four list of schools. But in reality, the Buckeyes may have been a little late to the party, and to Michigan’s advantage, the Wolverines were in on him from the start. Could that be the difference in why Marshall chose to go into enemy territory? Certainly possible looking at it now.
Looking at Robinson, the Buckeyes not even offering yet is interesting. Maybe they have a different outlook on his stock and what he brings to the table, but with the 247Sports Crystal Ball pointing towards Michigan again, this recruitment sort of feels like one that could come back to bite the Buckeyes. Maybe that’s going too far, but when you look at the defensive line as a whole, it’s puzzling.
The Buckeyes have not been bad on the defensive line, but Larry Johnson has set a standard that is that high for a reason. The truth is, the production could be better and needs to be better. Offering an in-state four-star prospect with 36 offers to his name doesn’t really seem like taking a “chance” on the kid, especially with him being from Ohio and being linked to — once again — your rival who you haven’t beat in two consecutive tries. In my mind, that’s a kid you offer.
I’ll leave it at this. You be the judge and ask yourself after watching the tape if this is a player Ohio State should be more interested in. The sting of Marshall may be getting the best of the emotions here, but in this rivalry, everything feels more important.
If Robinson does in fact choose the Wolverines, Ohio State wouldn’t be ‘losing’ him due to not offering, but knowing the need at defensive end and wanting to keep that border around Ohio strong, this recruitment is one I feel the Buckeyes need to enter.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: What we’ve already learned from Ohio State’s spring practice ahead of return from break
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Column: What we’ve already learned from Ohio State’s spring practice ahead of return from break
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State is back from Spring Break, but before they start practice again let’s take a look at what we’ve already learned about the 2023 Buckeyes.
Ohio State had their usual short start to Spring Practice before sending their players off for Spring break this past week. In that short window of practice time, there was a ton of information given about what the 2023 football team may look like.
Over the first week, the media heard from multiple position coaches as well as players and the head coach. Each meeting with the groups gave some clarity on where each position group stands at this point in the year, and also projects how the group might look come the beginning of Fall.
There is still a long way to the end of Spring Practice, but listening to what the coaches say in these early parts should lead to some answers for the future. Without overanalyzing, we can see how the Buckeyes are shaping up. With a few coaches still waiting to speak to the media we still have a ton we’re waiting to hear about, but the coaches who have already had their availability have spoken volumes.
Looking back at the pressers, the Buckeyes' new arrivals are making noise and some players vying for their first playing time this year have started making their moves.
Brian Hartline has been the best recruiter in the country since he took over as the full-time receiver coach at Ohio State. That is why there was little drop-off at the receiver position for the Buckeyes when they lost two first-round picks in the NFL Draft as well as the leading returning receiver.
Now the loss of Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not hurt for most of the season, but the depth did get challenged late in the year. That is why the recruiting that Hartline does is important, being able to replace a first-round pick with another first-rounder is not a luxury most teams have. That is why hearing that the incoming freshman receivers showed up ready to compete right away is exciting, and should also come as no surprise.
“The truth is they’re gonna get really pushed by this freshman group. The three guys that came in have already made an impact. We’ve been very impressed with them,” Day said when asked about the incoming receivers.
Hartline also went into detail about the preparation the three freshman receivers came in with, and the Buckeyes will be watching this group closely. For Ohio State, this will either make the second-year receivers better, or they will get passed up by the incoming group who proved their talent in practice. Both coaches gave a shoutout to Noah Rogers, and that could mean he might be vying for early playing time.
Now odds are there won’t be much of a rotation again that includes the young guys, but the two-year plan is starting to get clarity for the Buckeyes at the receiver position. Any glimpses we get will be a look into the future of the position.
Defensive back transfers are impressive
Jim Knowles has a huge second year ahead of him, and one of the biggest question marks for his defense entering the offseason was the needed improvement of the secondary. To make this happen Knowles and the defensive staff brought in two defensive back transfers in All-Freshman SEC team Davison Igbinosun and All-ACC safety Ja’Had Carter. Both have brought an edge to their respective rooms, and the Buckeyes might have already found their answer to last year's problems.
Starting with Igbinosun, the Buckeyes are excited about his potential. For the Buckeyes, corner has been a problem over the past few seasons, and to the ire of the fanbase little had been done to address the struggles. Last year, the thin depth was challenged due to injuries, leading to an offseason where not making a move would be unacceptable. That is why Igbinosun has the potential to be the most impactful defensive transfer Ohio State has gotten in the portal era.
“He has real length and got his hands on a lot of balls. And he was quick to mix it up, too. I joke with him all the time, he’s got that Jersey toughness, you know? And he’s got experience in the SEC, and played a lot of football. I just think he’s gonna bring a lot of competition to the position,” Knowles said.
Igbinosun will be a starter this Fall, and if not a starter he will absolutely play a significant role in the corner rotation. Having the combination of him, Denzel Burke, as well as Jordan Hancock, coming into the Spring healthy, and the young guys in the room, the depth is looking significantly better in the corner room.
Now onto Ja’Had Carter, the Syracuse transfer is an experienced transfer, but not in the same vein as Tanner McAlister from last year. Carter comes to Ohio State as an all-conference player in a Syracuse defense that was solid. Being a legitimate starter puts less pressure on the younger players and provides Ohio State with impactful players to fill the holes left in addition to the competition it provides.
“They’re not a young guy coming in who’s kind of feeling things, these guys aren’t messing around. And it pushes everyone,” Knowles added about the transfers.
This level of competition is what the transfer portal should create at Ohio State, both players will be key contributors as we know from the glowing reviews Knowles already dulled out. Last year the two players who were mentioned in this regard were Lathan Ransom and Ronnie Hickman, both of whom played major roles last season.
This is a quick note, but Ohio State has three positions on the offensive line set three days into Spring barring any unforeseen circumstances. Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones both return to their roles at their respective guard positions. Josh Fryar has moved over to Left tackle and seems to have already taken that position over. That means there is only to positions for the taking.
“We moved Josh to left, we felt like he had enough experience,” Day continued on with the other positions. “We see Zen and Tegra on the other side, watch the film, kind of see where they’re at. (Carson Hinzman’s) at center there, (Vic Cutler’s) at center.”
The assumption at right tackle was Zen Michalski, but recent revelations show that a former fringe top-100 recruit from Lakota West has different ideas. That recruit is now in year two and named Tegra Tshabola. Tshabola has transformed his body and shown the ability to be a starting tackle early.
At center after receiving the transfer commitment from Cutler, the position was trending towards him being a shoo-in to replace Luke Wypler at center. That was until Hinzman added 10 pounds in the offseason. This shows the improved recruiting under Frye has taken a foothold on position battles.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the second-year Buckeyes will play, but they are well ahead of schedule from where many projected them. There should be no surprise if these competitions extend past spring, and not because there is no talent in the room to start.
There are a lot of stories still surrounding the Ohio State football team, these stories include the quarterback battle, Ryan Day passing the sticks, and how positional rotations will work out. With the answers to some of the offseason questions basically already decided, this gives clarity to the coaching staff to fill out the depth charts and turn their focus to the other battles at hand.
Seeing the exciting young receivers show up ready to compete tells a lot about the class that is coming in. The natural offensive line progression taking place leaves the Buckeyes in a better place than many projected. And the secondary is already being impacted by transfers from a competition and depth standpoint. Ohio State has a long way to go, but this adds to the excitement of the Spring Game and what we can learn from there.
Now that Spring Break is over the Buckeyes will hit the ground full steam ahead upon the return of the players. As the coaches and players speak there will be a lot more to learn as Spring progresses.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State is back from Spring Break, but before they start practice again let’s take a look at what we’ve already learned about the 2023 Buckeyes.
Ohio State had their usual short start to Spring Practice before sending their players off for Spring break this past week. In that short window of practice time, there was a ton of information given about what the 2023 football team may look like.
Over the first week, the media heard from multiple position coaches as well as players and the head coach. Each meeting with the groups gave some clarity on where each position group stands at this point in the year, and also projects how the group might look come the beginning of Fall.
There is still a long way to the end of Spring Practice, but listening to what the coaches say in these early parts should lead to some answers for the future. Without overanalyzing, we can see how the Buckeyes are shaping up. With a few coaches still waiting to speak to the media we still have a ton we’re waiting to hear about, but the coaches who have already had their availability have spoken volumes.
Looking back at the pressers, the Buckeyes' new arrivals are making noise and some players vying for their first playing time this year have started making their moves.
Freshman receivers are ready now
Brian Hartline has been the best recruiter in the country since he took over as the full-time receiver coach at Ohio State. That is why there was little drop-off at the receiver position for the Buckeyes when they lost two first-round picks in the NFL Draft as well as the leading returning receiver.
Now the loss of Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not hurt for most of the season, but the depth did get challenged late in the year. That is why the recruiting that Hartline does is important, being able to replace a first-round pick with another first-rounder is not a luxury most teams have. That is why hearing that the incoming freshman receivers showed up ready to compete right away is exciting, and should also come as no surprise.
“The truth is they’re gonna get really pushed by this freshman group. The three guys that came in have already made an impact. We’ve been very impressed with them,” Day said when asked about the incoming receivers.
Hartline also went into detail about the preparation the three freshman receivers came in with, and the Buckeyes will be watching this group closely. For Ohio State, this will either make the second-year receivers better, or they will get passed up by the incoming group who proved their talent in practice. Both coaches gave a shoutout to Noah Rogers, and that could mean he might be vying for early playing time.
Now odds are there won’t be much of a rotation again that includes the young guys, but the two-year plan is starting to get clarity for the Buckeyes at the receiver position. Any glimpses we get will be a look into the future of the position.
Defensive back transfers are impressive
Jim Knowles has a huge second year ahead of him, and one of the biggest question marks for his defense entering the offseason was the needed improvement of the secondary. To make this happen Knowles and the defensive staff brought in two defensive back transfers in All-Freshman SEC team Davison Igbinosun and All-ACC safety Ja’Had Carter. Both have brought an edge to their respective rooms, and the Buckeyes might have already found their answer to last year's problems.
Starting with Igbinosun, the Buckeyes are excited about his potential. For the Buckeyes, corner has been a problem over the past few seasons, and to the ire of the fanbase little had been done to address the struggles. Last year, the thin depth was challenged due to injuries, leading to an offseason where not making a move would be unacceptable. That is why Igbinosun has the potential to be the most impactful defensive transfer Ohio State has gotten in the portal era.
“He has real length and got his hands on a lot of balls. And he was quick to mix it up, too. I joke with him all the time, he’s got that Jersey toughness, you know? And he’s got experience in the SEC, and played a lot of football. I just think he’s gonna bring a lot of competition to the position,” Knowles said.
Igbinosun will be a starter this Fall, and if not a starter he will absolutely play a significant role in the corner rotation. Having the combination of him, Denzel Burke, as well as Jordan Hancock, coming into the Spring healthy, and the young guys in the room, the depth is looking significantly better in the corner room.
Now onto Ja’Had Carter, the Syracuse transfer is an experienced transfer, but not in the same vein as Tanner McAlister from last year. Carter comes to Ohio State as an all-conference player in a Syracuse defense that was solid. Being a legitimate starter puts less pressure on the younger players and provides Ohio State with impactful players to fill the holes left in addition to the competition it provides.
“They’re not a young guy coming in who’s kind of feeling things, these guys aren’t messing around. And it pushes everyone,” Knowles added about the transfers.
This level of competition is what the transfer portal should create at Ohio State, both players will be key contributors as we know from the glowing reviews Knowles already dulled out. Last year the two players who were mentioned in this regard were Lathan Ransom and Ronnie Hickman, both of whom played major roles last season.
Offensive line is basically set, but young offensive linemen might have something to say
This is a quick note, but Ohio State has three positions on the offensive line set three days into Spring barring any unforeseen circumstances. Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones both return to their roles at their respective guard positions. Josh Fryar has moved over to Left tackle and seems to have already taken that position over. That means there is only to positions for the taking.
“We moved Josh to left, we felt like he had enough experience,” Day continued on with the other positions. “We see Zen and Tegra on the other side, watch the film, kind of see where they’re at. (Carson Hinzman’s) at center there, (Vic Cutler’s) at center.”
The assumption at right tackle was Zen Michalski, but recent revelations show that a former fringe top-100 recruit from Lakota West has different ideas. That recruit is now in year two and named Tegra Tshabola. Tshabola has transformed his body and shown the ability to be a starting tackle early.
At center after receiving the transfer commitment from Cutler, the position was trending towards him being a shoo-in to replace Luke Wypler at center. That was until Hinzman added 10 pounds in the offseason. This shows the improved recruiting under Frye has taken a foothold on position battles.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the second-year Buckeyes will play, but they are well ahead of schedule from where many projected them. There should be no surprise if these competitions extend past spring, and not because there is no talent in the room to start.
There are a lot of stories still surrounding the Ohio State football team, these stories include the quarterback battle, Ryan Day passing the sticks, and how positional rotations will work out. With the answers to some of the offseason questions basically already decided, this gives clarity to the coaching staff to fill out the depth charts and turn their focus to the other battles at hand.
Seeing the exciting young receivers show up ready to compete tells a lot about the class that is coming in. The natural offensive line progression taking place leaves the Buckeyes in a better place than many projected. And the secondary is already being impacted by transfers from a competition and depth standpoint. Ohio State has a long way to go, but this adds to the excitement of the Spring Game and what we can learn from there.
Now that Spring Break is over the Buckeyes will hit the ground full steam ahead upon the return of the players. As the coaches and players speak there will be a lot more to learn as Spring progresses.
Continue reading...
LGHL The broken play that moved Ohio State women’s basketball into Sweet Sixteen
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The broken play that moved Ohio State women’s basketball into Sweet Sixteen
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 Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Guard Jacy Sheldon and an unsung hero in the Buckeyes’ win were pivotal in the game-winning shot
For all but 1:02 of Monday's NCAA Tournament Second Round game between the Ohio State women’s basketball and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Buckeyes were in the lead. However, with nine seconds remaining, Ohio State was tied with the Tar Heels. Enter senior guard Jacy Sheldon. Here’s how the play went down. A play that didn’t go according to plan but was saved by a teammate.
“It didn’t go exactly the way we wanted it,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “It got a little fouled up on our timing, and they guarded it well, they guarded the initial action really well.”
So, what went wrong in a play that ended with a game-winning shot by Sheldon?
To answer that question, take a trip back to the Big Ten Tournament. The play Ohio State ran Monday is a copy of what the Buckeyes used to win the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Take a look.
Against the Hoosiers it was more straightforward. Guard Rikki Harris passes the ball into forward Taylor Thierry inside the perimeter. This move draws in Indiana’s defense, leaving space for Harris to get the pass from Thierry at the top of the arc.
With Sheldon and sharpshooting guard Taylor Mikesell on each wing, Indiana can’t drop an extra defender on the ball without leaving one of them open. Not a good idea against two All-B1G First Team players.
Then, Harris makes a great individual effort to drive to the basket, hitting the eventual game-winner. A game where the Buckeyes had to come back from 24 points to pick up the conference tournament victory.
Like coach McGuff said, the Tar Heels’ defense made Monday’s game-winner different even before the inbound pass was made.
This time, Harris takes the pass again. Forward Cotie McMahon is playing the role of drawing in the defense, but guard/forward Alyssa Ustby puts strong defensive pressure on the freshman, taking away Harris’ first option. That’s when the unsung hero comes into the play.
“Eboni (Walker) did a great job kind of — like he (McGuff) said, it didn’t go as planned, and she made a great play there and that’s what led to that bucket,” said Sheldon. “So I think keeping our composure in that situation was huge, keeping possession of the ball, and that was all Eboni.”
Harris finds Walker on the wing in a play that was designed for Sheldon to have the last shot. Even though Walker is a transfer, a player who only recently began starting for the Buckeyes, the forward showed senior experience and poise in the moment.
Walker dribbles around the edge of the perimeter, and even as Mikesell runs past the forward, Walker doesn’t give the ball away to the first person she can. This is an important, but quick, moment of the play. Walker fakes the pass to Mikesell and it gives the forward enough time to get past her defender and into the key following a pass to Sheldon in the corner.
After the pass, it’s individual effort by Sheldon. The defender Walker brought into the paint is now a couple steps away from the guard from Dublin, Ohio. Even so, Sheldon had three Tar Heels in her face but none of the outstretched arms stopped the floating jumper from hitting off the back iron and into the hoop, securing Ohio State’s place in the Sweet Sixteen.
“You know, I told ‘em in the locker room, sometimes it’s about X’s and O’s and sometimes it’s about having the best player on the court,” said McGuff.
On Monday, Ohio State had the best player and then some.
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 Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Guard Jacy Sheldon and an unsung hero in the Buckeyes’ win were pivotal in the game-winning shot
For all but 1:02 of Monday's NCAA Tournament Second Round game between the Ohio State women’s basketball and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Buckeyes were in the lead. However, with nine seconds remaining, Ohio State was tied with the Tar Heels. Enter senior guard Jacy Sheldon. Here’s how the play went down. A play that didn’t go according to plan but was saved by a teammate.
“It didn’t go exactly the way we wanted it,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “It got a little fouled up on our timing, and they guarded it well, they guarded the initial action really well.”
So, what went wrong in a play that ended with a game-winning shot by Sheldon?
To answer that question, take a trip back to the Big Ten Tournament. The play Ohio State ran Monday is a copy of what the Buckeyes used to win the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Take a look.
Against the Hoosiers it was more straightforward. Guard Rikki Harris passes the ball into forward Taylor Thierry inside the perimeter. This move draws in Indiana’s defense, leaving space for Harris to get the pass from Thierry at the top of the arc.
With Sheldon and sharpshooting guard Taylor Mikesell on each wing, Indiana can’t drop an extra defender on the ball without leaving one of them open. Not a good idea against two All-B1G First Team players.
Then, Harris makes a great individual effort to drive to the basket, hitting the eventual game-winner. A game where the Buckeyes had to come back from 24 points to pick up the conference tournament victory.
Like coach McGuff said, the Tar Heels’ defense made Monday’s game-winner different even before the inbound pass was made.
This time, Harris takes the pass again. Forward Cotie McMahon is playing the role of drawing in the defense, but guard/forward Alyssa Ustby puts strong defensive pressure on the freshman, taking away Harris’ first option. That’s when the unsung hero comes into the play.
“Eboni (Walker) did a great job kind of — like he (McGuff) said, it didn’t go as planned, and she made a great play there and that’s what led to that bucket,” said Sheldon. “So I think keeping our composure in that situation was huge, keeping possession of the ball, and that was all Eboni.”
Harris finds Walker on the wing in a play that was designed for Sheldon to have the last shot. Even though Walker is a transfer, a player who only recently began starting for the Buckeyes, the forward showed senior experience and poise in the moment.
Walker dribbles around the edge of the perimeter, and even as Mikesell runs past the forward, Walker doesn’t give the ball away to the first person she can. This is an important, but quick, moment of the play. Walker fakes the pass to Mikesell and it gives the forward enough time to get past her defender and into the key following a pass to Sheldon in the corner.
After the pass, it’s individual effort by Sheldon. The defender Walker brought into the paint is now a couple steps away from the guard from Dublin, Ohio. Even so, Sheldon had three Tar Heels in her face but none of the outstretched arms stopped the floating jumper from hitting off the back iron and into the hoop, securing Ohio State’s place in the Sweet Sixteen.
“You know, I told ‘em in the locker room, sometimes it’s about X’s and O’s and sometimes it’s about having the best player on the court,” said McGuff.
On Monday, Ohio State had the best player and then some.
“GIVE HER HER DUB CHAIN!” - @rik_2019 @JacySheldon pic.twitter.com/2GPmQNn74l
— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) March 20, 2023
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2025 TN TE Eli Owens (ttun Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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247
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HudL
Class: 2025
Position: TE
School: Alcoa(TN) Alcoa
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 230lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: TE
School: Alcoa(TN) Alcoa
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 230lbs
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which team left in the NCAA Tournament are you rooting for to win it all?
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You’re Nuts: Which team left in the NCAA Tournament are you rooting for to win it all?
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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
And just like that, the first two rounds of the 2023 men’s basketball NCAA Tournament are in the books. What a wild ride it has been so far. While some people might have had Purdue losing before the first weekend of the tournament was completed, nobody thought the Boilermakers would lose to Fairleigh Dickinson. Now only one Big Ten team is left standing, and it is Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans.
It wasn’t just the Big Ten that had to deal with losses over the first few days of the tournament. College basketball’s “blue bloods” were hit hard in the first two rounds. Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky all lost over the weekend and now can join North Carolina, who didn’t even make the tournament, in watching the rest of the action from home. This marks the second time in the last three years that all four of those teams failed to make the Sweet Sixteen, showing just how wide-open college basketball is these days.
Even though some of the most storied programs in college basketball aren’t a part of this year’s final 16 teams in the tournament, that doesn’t mean the rest of the tournament isn’t worth watching. There are still plenty of great players and coaches that are looking to become part of history by cutting down the nets in Houston. Today we want to know who you are rooting for to win it all in a couple of weeks.
I feel like I have taken some of Josh Heytvelt’s magic mushrooms with this pick. Honestly though, outside of Ohio State and Big Ten basketball, I feel like Gonzaga is the team I’ve watched the most this year since I do tend to be more of a night owl. The Zags might not have quite the collection of talent that they did a few years ago, but they have found a way to make the pieces they have worked great together.
Leading Gonzaga is Drew Timme, who feels like he has been on Mark Few’s team for 38 years. Timme has the look of a guy who is about to dominate the church rec league, but he has the talent to drop 25 points against any team in the country. Along with Timme, Gonzaga has guys like Julian Strawther, Anton Watson, and Rasir Bolton, who all can fill it up if opponents decide to dedicate more resources to shutting down Timme.
Gonzaga will have a tough game on Thursday night against UCLA, but they might be catching the Bruins at the perfect time. UCLA is dealing with some injury issues. Jaylen Clark was lost for the rest of the season due to an injury he suffered in the regular season finale against Arizona. On Saturday against Northwestern, David Singleton sprained an ankle, and while Singleton should be able to play Thursday, he could be limited on the court and with his mobility depending on how severe the injury is.
Even though UCLA has an outstanding defense, Gonzaga has shown they can solve some of the toughest defenses in the country. The Zags already beat Saint Mary’s twice, with the second victory being an absolute destruction of the Gaels in the WCC Championship Game. When Gonzaga beats UCLA on Thursday, they’ll face either Arkansas or UConn, which are winnable games. I just don’t see the Zags losing another game, finally getting Few a title after so many close calls.
Honestly, I am a little shell-shocked. I had one of my best opening weekends in recent March Madness memory, but I did a dumb thing and picked a Big Ten team to win it all. So, what am I going to do for my re-pick? Take a (soon-to-be) Big Ten to win it all. Not only that, but I’m going to take the team that plays Brett’s pick in the Sweet Sixteen; bring it on, BLeez!
The Bruins entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 team in the country according to KenPom, behind only No. 1 seeds Houston and Alabama. When you couple that with the fact that UCLA is the No. 2 seed in the West region, that means that they are the top-rated team left, after Arkansas knocked off Kansas in the Round of 32.
As Brett mentioned, UCLA is dealing with injuries, but theoretically, they should have one of the easiest paths to the Final 4, considering that they are the highest seed in their region. Yes, having Clark out for the season and Singleton hobbled is less than ideal, but they are UCLA’s third and fourth-leading scorers on the season, meaning that senior guards Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell (17.5 and 13.4 points per game respectively) are still around to carry the load.
This time of year, everybody always says that the veteran, guard-led teams tend to have an advantage in the tournament. And let’s not forget that in the 2021 tournament, it was the Zags that ended UCLA’s historic run 93-90 in the Final Four with an absolutely insane buzzer-beating three-pointer by Jalen Suggs.
Jaquez, Campell, and Singleton were all on that team, and you know they will want revenge for that heartbreaker.
KenPom says that UCLA is the No. 2 team in terms of adjusted defense in the country and No. 21 adjusted offense. Gonzaga is the No. 1 adjusted offense according to KenPom, but they have the No. 75 adjusted defense. So, while I love and respect Brett, I’m taking the Bruins to win this one — and the rest of the way. I mean, how can you not root for the Big Ten team wearing those beautiful blue jerseys?
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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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
And just like that, the first two rounds of the 2023 men’s basketball NCAA Tournament are in the books. What a wild ride it has been so far. While some people might have had Purdue losing before the first weekend of the tournament was completed, nobody thought the Boilermakers would lose to Fairleigh Dickinson. Now only one Big Ten team is left standing, and it is Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans.
It wasn’t just the Big Ten that had to deal with losses over the first few days of the tournament. College basketball’s “blue bloods” were hit hard in the first two rounds. Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky all lost over the weekend and now can join North Carolina, who didn’t even make the tournament, in watching the rest of the action from home. This marks the second time in the last three years that all four of those teams failed to make the Sweet Sixteen, showing just how wide-open college basketball is these days.
Even though some of the most storied programs in college basketball aren’t a part of this year’s final 16 teams in the tournament, that doesn’t mean the rest of the tournament isn’t worth watching. There are still plenty of great players and coaches that are looking to become part of history by cutting down the nets in Houston. Today we want to know who you are rooting for to win it all in a couple of weeks.
Today’s question: Which team left in this year’s NCAA Tournament are you rooting for to win it all?
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: Gonzaga
I feel like I have taken some of Josh Heytvelt’s magic mushrooms with this pick. Honestly though, outside of Ohio State and Big Ten basketball, I feel like Gonzaga is the team I’ve watched the most this year since I do tend to be more of a night owl. The Zags might not have quite the collection of talent that they did a few years ago, but they have found a way to make the pieces they have worked great together.
Leading Gonzaga is Drew Timme, who feels like he has been on Mark Few’s team for 38 years. Timme has the look of a guy who is about to dominate the church rec league, but he has the talent to drop 25 points against any team in the country. Along with Timme, Gonzaga has guys like Julian Strawther, Anton Watson, and Rasir Bolton, who all can fill it up if opponents decide to dedicate more resources to shutting down Timme.
Gonzaga will have a tough game on Thursday night against UCLA, but they might be catching the Bruins at the perfect time. UCLA is dealing with some injury issues. Jaylen Clark was lost for the rest of the season due to an injury he suffered in the regular season finale against Arizona. On Saturday against Northwestern, David Singleton sprained an ankle, and while Singleton should be able to play Thursday, he could be limited on the court and with his mobility depending on how severe the injury is.
Even though UCLA has an outstanding defense, Gonzaga has shown they can solve some of the toughest defenses in the country. The Zags already beat Saint Mary’s twice, with the second victory being an absolute destruction of the Gaels in the WCC Championship Game. When Gonzaga beats UCLA on Thursday, they’ll face either Arkansas or UConn, which are winnable games. I just don’t see the Zags losing another game, finally getting Few a title after so many close calls.
Matt’s answer: UCLA
Honestly, I am a little shell-shocked. I had one of my best opening weekends in recent March Madness memory, but I did a dumb thing and picked a Big Ten team to win it all. So, what am I going to do for my re-pick? Take a (soon-to-be) Big Ten to win it all. Not only that, but I’m going to take the team that plays Brett’s pick in the Sweet Sixteen; bring it on, BLeez!
The Bruins entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 team in the country according to KenPom, behind only No. 1 seeds Houston and Alabama. When you couple that with the fact that UCLA is the No. 2 seed in the West region, that means that they are the top-rated team left, after Arkansas knocked off Kansas in the Round of 32.
As Brett mentioned, UCLA is dealing with injuries, but theoretically, they should have one of the easiest paths to the Final 4, considering that they are the highest seed in their region. Yes, having Clark out for the season and Singleton hobbled is less than ideal, but they are UCLA’s third and fourth-leading scorers on the season, meaning that senior guards Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell (17.5 and 13.4 points per game respectively) are still around to carry the load.
This time of year, everybody always says that the veteran, guard-led teams tend to have an advantage in the tournament. And let’s not forget that in the 2021 tournament, it was the Zags that ended UCLA’s historic run 93-90 in the Final Four with an absolutely insane buzzer-beating three-pointer by Jalen Suggs.
Jaquez, Campell, and Singleton were all on that team, and you know they will want revenge for that heartbreaker.
KenPom says that UCLA is the No. 2 team in terms of adjusted defense in the country and No. 21 adjusted offense. Gonzaga is the No. 1 adjusted offense according to KenPom, but they have the No. 75 adjusted defense. So, while I love and respect Brett, I’m taking the Bruins to win this one — and the rest of the way. I mean, how can you not root for the Big Ten team wearing those beautiful blue jerseys?
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LGHL Land-Grant Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day says it takes being ‘extraordinary’ to be Ohio State quarterback
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Land-Grant Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day says it takes being ‘extraordinary’ to be Ohio State quarterback
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
He also discussed scrimmages, Hartline calling plays, and more in Tuesday’s presser.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode, we’ve got uncut audio from Ryan Day’s press conference on Tuesday, March 21 in which he provided updates about the Ohio State football team’s return to spring practices after spring break. In the presser, he discussed plans for upcoming scrimmages, the first day in pads, how the quarterback battle is shaping up, Brian Hartline calling plays, staff responsibility changes, and more.
You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
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
He also discussed scrimmages, Hartline calling plays, and more in Tuesday’s presser.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode, we’ve got uncut audio from Ryan Day’s press conference on Tuesday, March 21 in which he provided updates about the Ohio State football team’s return to spring practices after spring break. In the presser, he discussed plans for upcoming scrimmages, the first day in pads, how the quarterback battle is shaping up, Brian Hartline calling plays, staff responsibility changes, and more.
You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
