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LGHL You’re Nuts: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt this season?

You’re Nuts: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt this season?
justingolba
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Semifinals Purdue vs. Ohio State

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The future is bright, but how did they play as a unit this season?

Welcome to another edition of “You’re Nuts!” Also, welcome to the NCAA Tournament!

But for Ohio State fans, it’s welcome to the offseason. Last week, we took a look the NCAA Tournament bubble and picked a few teams we thought could make a run in the dance. This week, we’re reflecting a bit on Ohio State’s season that just wrapped up.

As stated, last week’s discussion focused on the NCAA “bubble” teams — teams that we figured would make the tournament, but barely. Justin went with the Penn State Nittany Lions, which is a 10-seed in the Midwest region of the bracket. Connor went with the North Carolina State Wolfpack, which is an 11-seed in the south region.


Penn State earned 74% of the vote and North Carolina State got 26%, which means Justin was out big winner last week. Here are the updated standings after 92 weeks:

After 92 weeks:

Justin- 41
Connor- 36
Other- 11

(There have been four ties)


This week, we’re talking about Ohio State’s guards. Namely Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Isaac Likekele, and Sean McNeil. How would you grade their performance as a unit? Here are our thoughts:

Today’s Question: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt this season?


Connor: C

NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Quarterfinals - Michigan State vs Ohio State
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Ohio State backcourt was a mixed bag this past season. Bruce Thornton was clearly a bright spot, but we got mixed results from the transfer guards, Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele. We’re only doing one grade overall for the sake of keeping it simple, but if I had to assign grades individually I’d probably go with this:

Bruce Thornton: A
Sean McNeil: B-
Roddy Gayle: C
Isaac Likekele: D

Thornton and McNeil get above-average grades in my book. Ohio State’s freshman point guard averaged over 10 points per game his first season and played over 30 minutes per game. His availability and consistency was one of the few things Ohio State was able to rely on this past season (Brice Sensabaugh scoring 15 points every night the only other given). He had an assist to turnover ratio of 2:1 his freshman year and refused to settle for difficult shots, taking nearly double as many two-point attempts as three-pointers.

The future, it's so bright.

Watch Bruce Thornton's #B1GMBBT highlight reel ⤵️.@Bruce2T_ x @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/bQW7g6aCan

— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) March 12, 2023

McNeil didn’t bust the doors down, but he was steady and consistent as a starter for the Buckeyes during his lone season in Columbus. He averaged 9.6 points per game on 43% shooting and 36.9% from three-point land. He wasn’t much of a ballhandler so his assists and turnovers aren’t too, relevant — he was brought to Columbus to score. He did that, scoring in double digits in 17 of the Buckeyes’ 35 games.

Gayle certainly finished the season with a flourish, but he had a very uneven freshman year. He averaged 4.6 points per game, and his minutes swung up and down during the first half of the season (before the ship completely sank in late January and the freshmen began to play more). I didn’t expect Gayle to arrive on campus and be a double-digit scorer right away, but I did expect a bit more production from the high four-star recruit. What we saw at the end of the season could be a sneak peak at what is to come for the talented guard.

It’s hard to look through any kind of lense and not see Likekele’s lone season at Ohio State as under-achieving. “Ice” essentially averaged nine points, four assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game through four seasons at Oklahoma State. In his lone season for the Buckeyes, Likekele averaged 3.8 points, 2.8 assists, and four rebounds per game over 21.8 minutes per contest. He shot 38.8% from the floor and 47.2% from the free throw line (although he did hit some big ones in the Big Ten Tournament).

Likekele did deal with some tragic circumstances in his personal life mid-season which could have impacted his energy and play, but you still can’t look at his season and say he came anywhere close to what the Ohio State staff probably expected for him when they recruited him to the school.

I didn’t think Ohio State’s backcourt was horrid this season, but there were inconsistencies from pretty much everyone but Thornton. It’ll need to be better next season if they want to compete at the top of the Big Ten.


Justin: B

NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Quarterfinals - Michigan State vs Ohio State
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the Buckeye backcourt this season, I don’t think anyone truly knew what we were getting. When you are relying on two freshmen and two transfers, it is hard to judge exactly how everything will mesh.

Obviously the Ohio State season did not go as planned and was one of the more disappointing seasons of the last couple of decades. However, I don’t think the main issue was the guards, and they set us up to be excited about the future.

Isaac Likekele and Sean McNeil were both Big 12 transfers that the Buckeyes brought in to be impactful but in different ways. McNeil is a sharpshooting guard that can be physical on defense coming from Bob Huggins and West Virginia. Likekele is a Swiss army knife that can guard multiple positions and the other team’s best player.

They were both up and down all season, and showed signs of what they were brought into Columbus to be. But ultimately, neither seemed to get adjusted to the Big Ten and maximize their potential on the Buckeyes.

However, both played well at times and also struggled with things outside of basketball. Ice took a leave of absence from the team in December and McNeil’s father dealt with health issues throughout the season. These guys are world class athletes, but they are also humans and deal with human problems that likely affected them on the court in some ways. As it would to anyone.


As for the freshmen, it was up and down as well for them, but it ended about as well as it could gave. Bruce Thornton ran the point position all season and did a great job overall. He hit a slight freshman slump and wall in the middle of Big Ten conference play, but he started off the season great and finished the season great and there is a lot of excitement around him coming back to Columbus after a full offseason.

Roddy Gayle was not as impactful to start the season, but he was a good defender that provided some much needed energy off the bench at times. However, at the end of the season and in the conference tournament, Gayle became basically the Buckeyes go-to scorer and a guy that made nine three-pointers in a row throughout three games.

Thornton and Gayle are going to be a fantastic duo over the next couple of years and showed signs of greatness throughout the season. Ice and McNeil played well at times but were inconsistent for parts of the season. Ultimately, I give the backcourt a B because I do not think they were the main issue with the team.



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LGHL 7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the modern NFL Draft - 6th Round

7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the modern NFL Draft - 6th Round
Josh Dooley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


1127228034.0.jpg

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

These Scarlet and Gray legends produced the highest ROI relative to when they were selected in the NFL Draft.

Since 1936, the first year in which an official pro football draft took place, 481 Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft. Two players – Russ Thomas and Bob Meyers – were actually drafted into the NFL twice, in back-to-back (but separate) years. And 14 of those 481 former Buckeyes were also taken in the AFL Draft, including the legendary Hall of Fame wideout Paul Warfield. That makes 497 total draft picks for OSU since Gomer Jones was selected by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals nearly a century ago.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Warfield counts for two

Of the nearly 500 Buckeyes taken, hundreds have enjoyed successful pro careers, while others flamed out and/or never playing a snap after their time in Columbus. The Ohio State football program has produced NFL Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, Players and Rookies of the Year, ten-year tackling dummies, one-and-doners, monumental busts, and everything in between.

All of these former OSU football players share one thing in common, which is their affiliation with THE greatest university on the planet. Conversely, one thing that sets them all apart is their varying degrees of success (or lack thereof) in the NFL.

Another way to look at it is in terms of value. Each of these players produced value – positive or negative – for the team which drafted them. And that is what I am going to look at in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. I am going to attempt to identify the seven best Scarlet and Gray values, picking only one player from each round (length of the modern draft, and going in reverse order).

Before we get started, “best” and “most” must be sorted out. Best value is not the same as most valuable. And most valuable is not same as best value. Warfield, Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Jack Tatum, or Jim Parker would inarguably be among the most valuable (former) Buckeyes at the professional level. All became team captains, Pro Bowlers, eventual Hall of Famers, you name it. But they were also taken within the first 20 picks of their respective drafts, whereas Dick LeBeau made the NFL Hall of Fame as a fifth-rounder.

I might argue that LeBeau was the better overall value because of where/when he was drafted. But going round by round means I do not have to choose between Pace or LeBeau, which is a good thing because there are already plenty of difficult decisions ahead... Without further ado, let’s go bargain shopping.


Round 6: Nate Ebner, Safety



Ebner, a world-class rugby player, joined the Ohio State football team as a walk-on safety in 2009. While obviously familiar with the game, he never even played football for his high school team. And he was a third-year college student by the time he walked on in Columbus! Out of practice and out of his natural element, Ebner’s physicality and aggressiveness earned him an unlikely spot on the roster.

But in three seasons as a Buckeye, he made little if any impact at his DB position. Instead, Ebner made his mark on special teams. Blessed with good speed (4.5 in the 40), he sprinted down the field with reckless abandon on kick coverage. He was known for his win-at-all-costs mentality and willingness to sacrifice his body. Because of his mental makeup and toughness, he quickly garnered respect as a leader on the gridiron. He also earned the nickname “Leonidas” for his resemblance to actor Gerard Butler in the movie 300.

By the end of 2009, Ebner was already considered one of OSU’s best special teams players. And if you remember anything about those Jim Tressel-coached Buckeyes, you remember the emphasis placed on special teams. So to be mentioned as one of the best players on that unit was a real honor, and speaks volumes about how he was viewed by coaches and teammates.

The rugby-playing walk-on more than earned his spot on the roster during the next few seasons. He accumulated 30 special teams tackles during his Ohio State career, but made a larger impact than the stats would tell you. By 2011, Ebner was on scholarship and voted the team’s most inspirational player, as well as its best special teamer.

He also excelled in the classroom, earning All-Academic Big Ten each season he played for OSU. Ebner epitomized what it meant (and means) to be a Buckeye, and was revered by those in the program. His reputation and pro day performance would go on to earn him an unlikely opportunity in the NFL.

As most players do – even if they are not believed to be a highly-coveted draft prospect – Ebner participated in Ohio State’s pro day held after the 2011 season. Despite his limited role, NFL teams and personnel took notice. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, had a 39.5 inch vertical jump, and benched 225 pounds 23 times. At 6-feet and just over 200 pounds, he was viewed as a special athlete. Against all odds, the New England Patriots selected Ebner with pick No. 197 in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.

And wouldn’t you know, he contributed right away as a rookie, finishing second on the Pats in special teams tackles and playing close to forty snaps as a safety. Ebner became a roster mainstay in short order and enjoyed plenty of success over the next eight seasons as a core special teamer with virtually no “traditional” positional value.

Ebner won three Super Bowls with New England, was named Second-Team All Pro in 2016, and received unusually high praise from Bill Belichick. The legendary coach once said of the former Buckeye:

“His development has really been outstanding. I would probably put him in the, not the all-time top, but maybe in the top-five percent all time of players that I’ve coached, from where they were in college to how they grew in the NFL.”

The Pats never won fewer than 11 regular season games with Ebner on their roster, although Tom Brady’s presence also played a role in the team’s unprecedented success. But Ebner was a key contributor. Furthermore, he was revered by coaches and teammates and provided leadership and attitude not easily found elsewhere.

Ebner spent years 9 and 10 of his NFL career with the New York Giants, for whom he last suited up in 2021... A decade in the league for a rugby-playing safety, taken in the sixth round of the draft, with one career pass breakup. Pretty unique. And pretty damn impressive.

Ebner only totaled 105 tackles, but played in 133 games during his NFL career — which again, lasted 10 seasons. He received an All-Pro nod in 2016 and legitimately contributed to three Super Bowl-winning teams in New England. While his traditional stats do not jump off the page, there is absolutely no question that Ebner provided tremendous value as a sixth-round draft pick.

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LGHL Four Storylines: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 James Madison

Four Storylines: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 James Madison
1ThomasCostello
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


DSC02460.0.jpg

Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land

What to watch in the match-up between the Buckeyes and Dukes

Saturday, the Ohio State women’s basketball team plays their first game of the NCAA Tournament. Facing the James Madison Dukes of the Sun Belt Conference, the Buckeyes are hoping to win their first tournament game inside the Schottenstein Center.

That, increased minutes for guard Jacy Sheldon and more in four storylines for the opening round of March Madness.


Jacy Sheldon Returns Home


Since a Scarlet & Gray route of the McNeese State Cowgirls on Nov. 20, 2022, Sheldon hasn’t played a game at home for Ohio State. The guard returned for a Nov. 30 trip to the Louisville Cardinals before going out with a lower leg injury, later confirmed as a foot injury.

Last weekend, at the Big Ten Tournament, Sheldon made a triumphant return for Ohio State. Sheldon had six points, six assists and six steals across her 15.3 minutes average per game. While the numbers don’t leap off the stat sheet, Sheldon’s defense was integral in the Buckeyes’ 24-point comeback. Also, Sheldon is generally a player who helps in numerous way.

“I feel like she makes all of us better. Without her, we all make each other better as well, but Jacy just adds that extra little push, especially with her game,” said McMahon. “She can create for others but also create for herself. She gives us a lot of opportunities as well as herself.”

For the NCAA Tournament, head coach Kevin McGuff doesn’t have a set number of minutes in mind for the guard but Sheldon will play more. The guard’s comfort back into the game aspects of the team are improved since getting crucial tournament minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

No word if that means a start for the guard or another more minutes off the bench.


Cotie McMahon’s NCAA Tournament Debut


Last season, freshman forward Cotie McMahon came to Ohio State and began practicing with the Buckeyes as a spring enrollee. However, the Centerville, Ohio native didn’t travel with the Scarlet & Gray in their trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

This weekend is McMahon’s first March Madness. There won’t be a lot of time to take in the moment for the freshman, because the Buckeyes need what she’s brought to the team, especially McMahon’s second half of the season.

“It’s been awesome just to see her grow, as a person as well as as a player,” said Mikesell. “It’s kind of rare to see a freshman come in and be so vocal, just be so willing to want to do the work and want to come in and work every single day and get better. It’s kind of crazy to think she’s only a freshman.”

Since the start of 2023, the freshman is second on the team in points per game, averaging 16.7, just under Mikesell’s team-leading 16.8 points per game. The impact doesn’t stop there, McMahon is grabbing 6.6 rebounds in the same stretch, ballooning up to 11 rebounds per game when it counted in the Big Ten Tournament.

Against James Madison, a team who rebounds well and could give the Buckeyes problems in getting second chance points. McMahon and forward Taylor Thierry are the two leading in boards for Ohio State.

The two Scarlet & Gray underclassmen will have guard Kiki Jefferson, averaging 7.9 rebounds per game, and center Kseniia Kozlova averaging 5.9.


Quick Adjustments


James Madison’s defense has the ability to give teams problems. The Dukes switch from man to zone coverage frequently, meaning Ohio State will need to make adjustments on the fly. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they’re a team whose guard play is full of veterans.

If guard Rikki Harris or Sheldon starts the game at point, they each have the ability to run the Buckeyes’ offense effectively. Although the edge goes to Sheldon who’s played in the position more than Harris

It’s also yet to be seen if the Dukes will employ the same strategy against Mikesell as other teams have in the past few months. That’s putting a lone defender on the sharpshooting guard regardless of the defensive set chosen overall.

Either way, playing in the Big Ten affords Ohio State the experience of playing vastly different defenses throughout the season.

A McGuff led team hasn’t lost in the first round of the NCAA women’s tournament and if the Buckeyes adjust there shouldn’t be a reason that changes in 2023.


History in the Schott


With the Buckeyes landing a top-16 seed in the big dance, it affords Ohio State the added incentive of playing at home.

That means a home crowd will be in attendance to root on the Scarlet & Gray for potentially two games, should the Buckeyes win Saturday against the Dukes. It benefits everyone on the team, but it especially gives a handful of players the chance for family to be in attendance.

Of the seven players coach McGuff has played most this season, five are from the Buckeye State. Mikesell, Thierry, McMahon, Sheldon and substitute guard Emma Shumate are each from inside state lines. It creates an extra bonus.

“It means a lot. Last year, we made the tournament, which was great, but we had to take a trip down to LSU and had an unfavorable crowd for both games,” said Mikesell. “It’s pretty cool to have our home fans here with us. Just being able to be in our home state, get to practice in our arena. There’s a familiarity with it and it’s pretty comforting.”

Should the top seeds each win in Columbus on Saturday, that comfort will help against a tough No. 6 seed in the North Carolina Tar Heels of the ACC.

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LGHL Three questions about 2023 Ohio State special teams

Three questions about 2023 Ohio State special teams
CMinnich
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Indiana v Ohio State

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Special teams coach Parker Fleming is under scrutiny by Ohio State fans

Autumn arrives in early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day...” ~ Elizabeth Bowen

Personally, as a lifelong Ohioan, I do not know if we truly get the close of a winter day in Ohio. It just seems as though we get less and less cold, and then suddenly, we have summer weather.

As Ohio State spring football has officially started, I have decided to write a series of articles on a weekly basis to identify and rank the position groups, from least to most concerning, as they pertain to the upcoming 2023 season. Each week, I will point out questions I have about these position groups, and it is my hope that several, if not all, of these questions will be answered by the Ohio State Spring Game on April 15.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Special Teams Units | Concern Ranking: 5th

  • Scholarship Players Lost From The 2022 Squad: K Noah Ruggles
  • Scholarship Players Returning From The 2022 Squad: LS John Ferlmann, K Parker Lewis, P Jesse Mirco, K Jake Siebert
  • Freshmen Players Participating In 2023 Spring Football: None

Reason for my ranking: Special teams is always one of those areas that fans overlook or take for granted, but will certainly notice when or if something goes wrong or not as planned. Think about the last play of The Peach Bowl, when Noah Ruggles’ field goal attempt to win the game, or during “THE GAME” when a fake punt was not called, and could have been truly impactful.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Who will replace Noah Ruggles as Ohio State’s placekicker?

It is truly unfortunate that a lasting memory for Ohio State fans of Noah Ruggles is that field goal attempt in the Peach Bowl that was not successful. Ruggles was 17 of 20 in 2022 on field goals, and 20 of 21 in 2021, so Ohio State fans may want to stop and reflect upon how consistent Ruggles was at making field goals.

Ruggles showed up at Ohio State as a transfer, after the 2021 spring game caused Ohio State head coach Ryan Day concern and angst over the placekicking that was on hand.

Jake Siebert returns, and former USC kicker Parker Lewis seem likely to be the primary competitors for the placekicking job. Walk-ons Casey Magyar and Jayden Fielding will also be in the mix. Fielding handled the kickoff responsibilities last season, so perhaps Fielding may not be involved in the placekicking duties.

2. Can Ohio State find a consistent punt or kickoff returner?

Before I continue too much further — no, Ohio State fans, Marvin Harrison, Jr. is not going to be this year’s punt returner. Much angst about this topic has been on social media, and Harrison let the media know why he was involved on the punt return team after Ohio State concluded its second spring practice.

Said Harrison, “I just go back there more so just enhancing ball tracking skills and everything like that. There’s a good chance I won’t be back there at any point during the season. But in an emergency situation, if I need to go back there, I think I can.” Hopefully, that will put that issue to rest.

Now as to the larger issue, here are some sobering facts that many Ohio State may have forgotten, or have overlooked. The last time Ohio State returned a punt for a touchdown? 2014, when Jalin Marshall single-handedly saved the game for the Buckeyes versus Indiana. The last time Ohio State returned a kickoff for a touchdown? 2010, when Jordan Hall did it in THE GAME in what would be the unfortunate and unforeseen last game for Jim Tressel as Ohio State’s head coach.

I am willing to cut Ohio State’s kickoff returners some slack, as the new rules for fair catching a kickoff make it more likely for a team’s returner to not attempt a return. That being said, Ohio State has so many highly-recruited athletes that it is puzzling the Buckeyes have not found a consistent returner in nearly a decade. And that leads to...

3. Can Parker Fleming regain the faith of the fans?

Fleming was recently the recipient of a two-year contract extension. The aforementioned fake punt that was not called against Michigan was not the only blemish on Fleming in 2022. Ohio State was going to try for a fake punt versus Georgia in The Peach Bowl, but Georgia called a timeout to snuff it out. Ohio State was actually fortunate, as they have 12 men on the field.

Late in the game at Maryland game, Ohio State had a PAT blocked that was returned for two points. Ohio State won the game, but these type of mistakes have led Ohio State fans to openly question how effective Fleming is at directing the special teams units.

If Urban Meyers special teams coach failed 3 fake punts, continued 12 men on the field, awful kick coverage, and no return game . A body would be missing

PARKER IS THE BILL DAVIS OF THE RYAN DAY ERA

— Official Ohio State DG (@DylanEveryday) February 15, 2023

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