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LGHL Ohio State sending 15 to NFL combine men’s basketball is clinging to tournament chances
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Ohio State sending 15 to NFL combine men’s basketball is clinging to tournament chances
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Spring Showcase Tickets ON SALE
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State at NFL Combine: Full schedule for media, on-field workouts
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
A record 15 Buckeyes are headed to NFL combine. What’s at stake?
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Five Ohio State Players Who Could See Their NFL Draft Stock Rise with a Strong Showing at the NFL Combine
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
One stat highlights degree of OSU football’s roster turnover in 2025
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs land on On3’s too-early All-American team
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State cornerback breakdown: Looking to what’s next in 2025
Bill Landis, Dotting The Eyes
Spring Position Preview: Another Elite Ohio State Wide Receiver Corps Prepares to Dominate in 2025
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State linebackers: Most important, most intriguing Buckeyes in spring
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
How each incoming 2025 transfer fits for Ohio State
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
USBWA names Jaloni Cambridge National Freshman of the Week
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Breaking down Ohio State men’s basketball’s three-game losing streak
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: How Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon’s friendship has fueled Ohio State to a strong season
Samuel Cipriani, The Lantern
Blue Jackets’ outdoor game against Red Wings to feature Buckeyes feel
Brian Hedger, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Gymnastics: David Ramirez Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: Regular Season Wraps Up for No. 8/10 Buckeyes vs. No. 11 Wolverines
Ohio State Athletics
Rifle: Sprague Selected to Compete at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
Calling “Anora” for Best Picture:
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
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Spring Showcase Tickets ON SALE
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State at NFL Combine: Full schedule for media, on-field workouts
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
A record 15 Buckeyes are headed to NFL combine. What’s at stake?
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Good Luck to our Nation Leading 15 @NFL Combine Invites️ & National Champions
: 2025 #NFLCombine starts Feb. 27 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/m3qn7LNsgq
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) February 25, 2025
Five Ohio State Players Who Could See Their NFL Draft Stock Rise with a Strong Showing at the NFL Combine
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
One stat highlights degree of OSU football’s roster turnover in 2025
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs land on On3’s too-early All-American team
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State cornerback breakdown: Looking to what’s next in 2025
Bill Landis, Dotting The Eyes
Spring Position Preview: Another Elite Ohio State Wide Receiver Corps Prepares to Dominate in 2025
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State linebackers: Most important, most intriguing Buckeyes in spring
Austin Ward, Dotting The Eyes
How each incoming 2025 transfer fits for Ohio State
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
On the Hardwood
USBWA names Jaloni Cambridge National Freshman of the Week
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Breaking down Ohio State men’s basketball’s three-game losing streak
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: How Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon’s friendship has fueled Ohio State to a strong season
Samuel Cipriani, The Lantern
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Blue Jackets’ outdoor game against Red Wings to feature Buckeyes feel
Brian Hedger, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Gymnastics: David Ramirez Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Ice Hockey: Regular Season Wraps Up for No. 8/10 Buckeyes vs. No. 11 Wolverines
Ohio State Athletics
Rifle: Sprague Selected to Compete at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Calling “Anora” for Best Picture:
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. USC: Game preview and prediction
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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. USC: Game preview and prediction
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, the Buckeyes’ West Coast road trip continues with a do-or-die game against the Trojans.
As they enter the final three games of the regular season, Ohio State remains in Los Angeles to face the University of Southern California at 10:30 p.m. ET tonight on the Big Ten Network.
The Buckeyes (15-13, 7-10 B1G) are on a three-game losing streak, and have lost four of their last five. After netting themselves some big wins in January, the wheels seem to have come off this month at perhaps the most inopportune time. While the hourglass hasn’t completely run out of sand on an NCAA Tournament berth — they are still projected at a No. 11 seed — if they want to keep their March hopes alive, the Buckeyes have no wiggle room left.
Fortunately for them, all three of their remaining games are winnable, and up first are the USC Trojans. USC (14-13, 6-10 B1G) is in a slump of its own, having lost five of its last six. They currently sit just a half-game behind the Buckeyes in conference standings. They dropped their most recent game to Rutgers, 95-85, on the road.
Though the teams have met seven times in program history, this is their first meeting since USC officially joined the Big Ten earlier this year, and it is the first meeting in which both teams have so much riding on the game. Each of their last seven games have been close, and it seems like a strong possibility Wednesday night’s game will follow suit.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25888324/usa_today_25495315.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Ohio State at UCLA")
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Some of the Buckeyes’ recent woes can be attributed to the flu bug that’s been going through Ohio State’s locker room. Center Aaron Bradshaw has missed two games in a row, Sean Stewart and John Mobley Jr. have both been affected, and Mobley in particular looked off his game against UCLA, presumably due to the toll the illness has taken on his body.
Still, the Buckeyes have struggled to hit their shots from long range, and they’ve been obliterated by their opponents in the paint in their recent losses. Add to that the level at which their opponents have been outrebounding them in this current skid, and the alarms are sounding for the team to find their footing and fast.
Bradshaw is questionable for Wednesday’s game, but head coach Jake Diebler has hinted that the team could have him back against the Trojans, which would help with the challenges in the paint and on the glass. Still, the rest of the team also needs to be in top shape to keep this bubble team from, well, bursting.
In Ohio State’s last outing against the Bruins, UCLA opened well, but by a few minutes into the game, both teams were struggling to knock down their shots. For more than three and a half minutes in the first half, the teams combined to go 0-for-18 from the floor, with no points scored.
By the end of the first half, UCLA held a narrow 28-24 lead. The Buckeyes shot just 27 percent from the field (9-for-33) and 25 percent from distance (3-for-12) in the half.
While both teams started the second half shooting better, with Austin Parks and Mobley both hitting early threes for OSU to bring the Buckeyes within one, UCLA managed to extend their lead to 44-35. The Buckeyes were playing tough, but when you struggle to knock down the shots, it’s hard to close a points gap, allowing the Bruins to close things out, 69-61.
Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes against the Bruins with 21 points, while Micah Parrish added 12 points for the good guys.
Thornton leads the team in scoring on the season, averaging 17.3 points per game, along with 4.3 assists. Devin Royal, Mobley and Parrish are also putting up double-figure averages, good for 13.3, 13.0 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. Royal also leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.0 per game.
For the Trojans, things have been equally challenging of late, though they did a much better job of hitting shots in their last outing than OSU did against the Bruins. Most recently, the Trojans faced Rutgers on the road in New Jersey, where USC managed to keep things neck-and-neck in the first half. The teams went basket-for-basket for most of the first half, though Rutgers managed to take the lead at the end of the half after an 8-0 run.
Despite a phenomenal second-half outing from Desmond Claude, who put up 24 points in the second half alone and finished the game with 30 points for USC, the Scarlet Knights managed to widen the gap. Even an 8-0 run from the Trojans at the end of the game wasn’t enough, as Rutgers had already capitalized on their momentum. They took the win, 95-85.
It was not a total disaster for the Trojans, though, as they shot 51.5 percent from the field (34-of-66) and knocked down 46.7 percent of their threes. In addition to Claud’s spectacular performance, Wesley Yates III tacked on 23 points of his own, and the team was good for a season-best 18 offensive rebounds.
Claud leads the team this season with 16.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. Three other Trojans are averaging double figures: Yates III (13.4 ppg), Chibuzo Agbo (11.5 ppg), and Terrance Williams II (10.6 ppg).
Saint Thomas leads the team in rebounds, averaging 6.0 per game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25888325/usa_today_25495349.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Southern California at Rutgers")
John Jones-Imagn Images
Both Ohio State and USC have a lot on the line at this point in the season. Any slip-ups could be the difference in whether or not they make the tournament—which means there is a lot to play for.
The Buckeyes have the opportunity to control their own destiny by winning out, and any pitfalls will be theirs and theirs alone to own. Does a loss completely preclude them from a tournament berth? Not necessarily. But they can’t rely on next time anymore — they’re running out of “next times” to course correct.
Is that nerve-wracking as a fan? Absolutely. But it also makes for great basketball, especially when the two teams on the court are this evenly matched.
The Buckeyes have a marginally better record than USC, but at the end of the day, don’t expect that to mean anything. This game is going to come down to grit, to heart, to who wants it more, and to who does what they need to do to make that happen. It’s a trial run for March.
USC will have the added advantage of a friendly environment. And more tangibly, the Buckeyes’ recent struggles have been areas where the Trojans have been strong.
While the Buckeyes have struggled to rebound, USC is coming off its best offensive rebounding performance this season. While the Buckeyes have struggled to hit shots, USC shot well against Rutgers.
And it’s not that the Buckeyes are incapable of these things—they’re averaging 78.2 points and 34.4 rebounds per game to USC’s 76.7 and 31.4, respectively—it’s that these have been areas that have hurt them in the last three games.
Some of this game will come down to how healthy the Buckeyes are when they take the court tonight. But beyond that, this game will tell us a lot about what both of these teams are made of on the intangible front. Which team can dig deep and tap into their grit to secure a critical win?
Yes, the Buckeyes will have to hit their shots. Yes, they will have to improve on their recent rebounding. But more importantly, they have to believe they can do this. Diebler is going to have to help his team stay focused and get across the finish line.
But don’t think for a second that USC won’t be doing the same thing. If these two teams have historically played each other closely, with Ohio State outscoring USC by just six points total across their seven overall meetings, 484-478, this game won’t be the exception.
If you’re looking for a blowout, you’re probably in the wrong place. This is likely to go basket-for-basket. But if you’re looking for great basketball? You’re in the right place.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 52.5%
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: BTN
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, the Buckeyes’ West Coast road trip continues with a do-or-die game against the Trojans.
As they enter the final three games of the regular season, Ohio State remains in Los Angeles to face the University of Southern California at 10:30 p.m. ET tonight on the Big Ten Network.
The Buckeyes (15-13, 7-10 B1G) are on a three-game losing streak, and have lost four of their last five. After netting themselves some big wins in January, the wheels seem to have come off this month at perhaps the most inopportune time. While the hourglass hasn’t completely run out of sand on an NCAA Tournament berth — they are still projected at a No. 11 seed — if they want to keep their March hopes alive, the Buckeyes have no wiggle room left.
Fortunately for them, all three of their remaining games are winnable, and up first are the USC Trojans. USC (14-13, 6-10 B1G) is in a slump of its own, having lost five of its last six. They currently sit just a half-game behind the Buckeyes in conference standings. They dropped their most recent game to Rutgers, 95-85, on the road.
Though the teams have met seven times in program history, this is their first meeting since USC officially joined the Big Ten earlier this year, and it is the first meeting in which both teams have so much riding on the game. Each of their last seven games have been close, and it seems like a strong possibility Wednesday night’s game will follow suit.
Preview
Some of the Buckeyes’ recent woes can be attributed to the flu bug that’s been going through Ohio State’s locker room. Center Aaron Bradshaw has missed two games in a row, Sean Stewart and John Mobley Jr. have both been affected, and Mobley in particular looked off his game against UCLA, presumably due to the toll the illness has taken on his body.
Still, the Buckeyes have struggled to hit their shots from long range, and they’ve been obliterated by their opponents in the paint in their recent losses. Add to that the level at which their opponents have been outrebounding them in this current skid, and the alarms are sounding for the team to find their footing and fast.
Bradshaw is questionable for Wednesday’s game, but head coach Jake Diebler has hinted that the team could have him back against the Trojans, which would help with the challenges in the paint and on the glass. Still, the rest of the team also needs to be in top shape to keep this bubble team from, well, bursting.
In Ohio State’s last outing against the Bruins, UCLA opened well, but by a few minutes into the game, both teams were struggling to knock down their shots. For more than three and a half minutes in the first half, the teams combined to go 0-for-18 from the floor, with no points scored.
By the end of the first half, UCLA held a narrow 28-24 lead. The Buckeyes shot just 27 percent from the field (9-for-33) and 25 percent from distance (3-for-12) in the half.
While both teams started the second half shooting better, with Austin Parks and Mobley both hitting early threes for OSU to bring the Buckeyes within one, UCLA managed to extend their lead to 44-35. The Buckeyes were playing tough, but when you struggle to knock down the shots, it’s hard to close a points gap, allowing the Bruins to close things out, 69-61.
Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes against the Bruins with 21 points, while Micah Parrish added 12 points for the good guys.
Thornton leads the team in scoring on the season, averaging 17.3 points per game, along with 4.3 assists. Devin Royal, Mobley and Parrish are also putting up double-figure averages, good for 13.3, 13.0 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. Royal also leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.0 per game.
For the Trojans, things have been equally challenging of late, though they did a much better job of hitting shots in their last outing than OSU did against the Bruins. Most recently, the Trojans faced Rutgers on the road in New Jersey, where USC managed to keep things neck-and-neck in the first half. The teams went basket-for-basket for most of the first half, though Rutgers managed to take the lead at the end of the half after an 8-0 run.
Despite a phenomenal second-half outing from Desmond Claude, who put up 24 points in the second half alone and finished the game with 30 points for USC, the Scarlet Knights managed to widen the gap. Even an 8-0 run from the Trojans at the end of the game wasn’t enough, as Rutgers had already capitalized on their momentum. They took the win, 95-85.
It was not a total disaster for the Trojans, though, as they shot 51.5 percent from the field (34-of-66) and knocked down 46.7 percent of their threes. In addition to Claud’s spectacular performance, Wesley Yates III tacked on 23 points of his own, and the team was good for a season-best 18 offensive rebounds.
Claud leads the team this season with 16.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. Three other Trojans are averaging double figures: Yates III (13.4 ppg), Chibuzo Agbo (11.5 ppg), and Terrance Williams II (10.6 ppg).
Saint Thomas leads the team in rebounds, averaging 6.0 per game.
Prediction
Both Ohio State and USC have a lot on the line at this point in the season. Any slip-ups could be the difference in whether or not they make the tournament—which means there is a lot to play for.
The Buckeyes have the opportunity to control their own destiny by winning out, and any pitfalls will be theirs and theirs alone to own. Does a loss completely preclude them from a tournament berth? Not necessarily. But they can’t rely on next time anymore — they’re running out of “next times” to course correct.
Is that nerve-wracking as a fan? Absolutely. But it also makes for great basketball, especially when the two teams on the court are this evenly matched.
The Buckeyes have a marginally better record than USC, but at the end of the day, don’t expect that to mean anything. This game is going to come down to grit, to heart, to who wants it more, and to who does what they need to do to make that happen. It’s a trial run for March.
USC will have the added advantage of a friendly environment. And more tangibly, the Buckeyes’ recent struggles have been areas where the Trojans have been strong.
While the Buckeyes have struggled to rebound, USC is coming off its best offensive rebounding performance this season. While the Buckeyes have struggled to hit shots, USC shot well against Rutgers.
And it’s not that the Buckeyes are incapable of these things—they’re averaging 78.2 points and 34.4 rebounds per game to USC’s 76.7 and 31.4, respectively—it’s that these have been areas that have hurt them in the last three games.
Some of this game will come down to how healthy the Buckeyes are when they take the court tonight. But beyond that, this game will tell us a lot about what both of these teams are made of on the intangible front. Which team can dig deep and tap into their grit to secure a critical win?
Yes, the Buckeyes will have to hit their shots. Yes, they will have to improve on their recent rebounding. But more importantly, they have to believe they can do this. Diebler is going to have to help his team stay focused and get across the finish line.
But don’t think for a second that USC won’t be doing the same thing. If these two teams have historically played each other closely, with Ohio State outscoring USC by just six points total across their seven overall meetings, 484-478, this game won’t be the exception.
If you’re looking for a blowout, you’re probably in the wrong place. This is likely to go basket-for-basket. But if you’re looking for great basketball? You’re in the right place.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 52.5%
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: BTN
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 78, USC 77, OT
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Is this the end of the road?
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Bucketheads Podcast: Is this the end of the road?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
We discuss the disastrous past week for the Buckeyes, and what they need to do to make it to the NCAA Tournament.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 151 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor discuss the disastrous week the Ohio State men’s basketball team is coming off of and if it is possible for them to bounce back.
Also, what went wrong against Northwestern and UCLA? Even though the losses looked similar on the scoreboard, Ohio State's issues arose in different ways. Does Bruce Thornton need to play a more selfish game?
In the end, we discuss NCAA Tournament scenarios and what the Buckeyes must do to go dancing for the first time in three years.
Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
We discuss the disastrous past week for the Buckeyes, and what they need to do to make it to the NCAA Tournament.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 151 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor discuss the disastrous week the Ohio State men’s basketball team is coming off of and if it is possible for them to bounce back.
Also, what went wrong against Northwestern and UCLA? Even though the losses looked similar on the scoreboard, Ohio State's issues arose in different ways. Does Bruce Thornton need to play a more selfish game?
In the end, we discuss NCAA Tournament scenarios and what the Buckeyes must do to go dancing for the first time in three years.
Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Game Preview: No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 23 Michigan State
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Game Preview: No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. No. 23 Michigan State
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Spartans battle for a Big Ten double-bye
It’s not often that two teams in the same conference play such a similar style of basketball, especially when both teams are near the top of that conference. On Thursday, when the No. 23 Michigan State Spartans travel to Columbus for a matchup against No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball, two teams that thrive off forcing turnovers meet with a lot on the line.
For the Buckeyes, a win secures a top-four spot in the Big Ten Tournament, skipping the first two rounds to join in the quarterfinal. For the Spartans, Michigan State needs to win to stay part of that double-bye conversation.
The matchup promises to be fast, featuring two transfers playing against each other for the first time in years and the return of a former Buckeye who swapped scarlet and gray for green and white in the offseason.
Ohio State is on a six-game unbeaten streak against the Spartans. This streak spans two Michigan State coaches, a whole roster turnover in East Lansing, and the availability of only one Buckeye when it began.
This year, things are a little different. For one, the Buckeyes themselves are practically a new team with three new starters. While Ohio State still plays the same pressing defensive style as years past, there are new personnel at the helm and when it comes to forcing turnovers this edition is actually statistically better.
The current campaign of Buckeyes defenders averages 1.5 more steals per game than last season with staunch defenders like guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor in the backcourt. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge and senior Taylor Thierry are a big reason why. Cambridge’s speed and Thierry’s overall athleticism and defensive timing make both of them tough to beat. Thierry held USC Trojan star guard JuJu Watkins to 10 points before Thierry fouled out in the fourth quarter. Watkins scored seven in the final minutes without Thierry on the court.
For the Spartans, they’re suddenly right behind Ohio State in effectively pressing opponents. Like the Buckeyes, Michigan State now plays a chaotic full-court press, sitting right behind the conference-leading Buckeyes 11.7 steals per conference game with 11.4. Leading head coach Robyn Fralick’s defensive set is regular starting guard Jocelyn Tate. The defender averages 2.4 steals per game, right behind Thierry who leads the Big Ten with 2.5 steals per game.
When Michigan State starters go to the bench, it doesn’t get much easier. Nyla Hampton, who averages 23 minutes per game coming in as a substitute, grabs 2.0 steals per game. The two make the most of their opportunities to force mistakes from their opponents.
Offensively, the Spartans inside game is tenacious, led by guard Julia Ayrault and forward Grace Vanslooten. Ayrault is called a guard but plays a lot like Thierry. She’s another tall, athletic, shooter who can hurt a team both inside and outside. In three previous games against the Buckeyes, Ayrault averages 8.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
In the case of Vanslooten, the former Oregon Duck joined Sparty in the offseason, coming to the Big Ten with Ohio State shooting guard Chance Gray.
“I’m just excited to face off against her again and see what it’s like being on opposite sides of each other this time,” said Gray following Ohio State’s win over Purdue on Sunday.
Gray, Vanslooten, and Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon played together in AAU basketball, but the first two left the Buckeye State for the Pacific Northwest. Vanslooten is a 6-foot-3 forward from Toledo who leads the Spartans with 15.5 points per game. The forward also averages 6.8 rebounds per game, but unlike most forwards, it’s a pretty even split between offensive and defensive rebounds. Vanslooten is strong on the boards using athleticism, not only height.
Combine Vanslooten and Ayrault together and they’re a one-two punch unlike many teams in the Big Ten who rely maybe on one strong interior presence and the rest of the four playing to or through them.
Ohio State fans might remember Vanslooten from when she played with Te-Hina Paopao on the Ducks. Despite the Buckeyes 84-67 runaway victory at the 2022 San Diego Invitational, Vanslooten scored 29 points with nine rebounds as a freshman. That was also with an interior defense that’s improved with forward Ajae Petty and freshman Elsa Lemmilä patrolling the paint.
A silver lining for the Buckeyes in the defensive matchup is their experience with the press. When teams hurry up their pace against Ohio State, it forces mistakes. The Scarlet and Gray feed off mistakes but will have to make the most of the fast break opportunities.
Another characteristic Michigan State possesses is that the Spartans are never out of a game. They play like the Buckeyes of two years ago who didn’t see a double-digit deficit they couldn’t eliminate.
Against the UCLA Bruins, Michigan State was down by nearly double digits at halftime, but the second-half Spartans stormed out to a 22-12 third quarter and had a lead in the fourth quarter. If not for guard Kiki Rice taking over the fourth quarter, and a suspicious technical called on the Spartans coaching staff late in the game, it could have been an upset of the No 1 Bruins in Los Angeles.
Erasing deficits is a skill the Spartans have shown multiple times this season, and it's something that might keep head coach Kevin McGuff up at night. The Buckeyes lost two consecutive double-digit leads to the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Iowa Hawkeyes, both requiring overtime to reset Ohio State.
That kind of play can’t happen if the Buckeyes hope to lock up a top-four spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
Something aiding Ohio State though is a return to form for Gray and Petty. After both suffered a month-long cold spell in almost every aspect of the game, the two upperclassmen led the Buckeye blowout of the Purdue Boilermakers. Gray led the team with 21 points, hitting five shots from beyond the arc. It’s the first time the shooting guard hit multiple threes in a game since Jan. 19. In the eight games that followed, Gray hit three three-point shots total.
For Petty, the transfer graduate senior forward had her first double-double, or game with double-digit points or rebounds, since Jan. 12. Now does this mean that both of them are back to playing closer to their potential? One game doesn’t necessarily make a comeback, and Wednesday will be a bigger test than the Boilermakers who sit in 16th place in the Big Ten.
If the play of the duo stumbles, coach McGuff showed over the last few weeks that he’s fine bringing in Lemmilä or guard Kennedy Cambridge in for extended minutes. While neither is a consistent offensive threat, they both bring defense that could calm down a game against a Spartan team that will be fast-paced.
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G- Jaddan Simmons
G- Theryn Hallock
G- Jocelyn Tate
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Grace Vanslooten
Wednesday night’s game is going to be close. Michigan State will start as the aggressors, requiring the Buckeyes to play from behind in the first half. After halftime, Ohio State will ramp up their defensive intensity and come away with a close victory, despite Vanslooten getting a double-double against the Buckeyes.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+
There’s good and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news — the game is behind the B1G+ paywall. The good news? It’s the last time Ohio State plays on the streaming service this season.
The problem Wednesday isn’t completely a men vs. women’s sports issue. Now, there have been times that a ranked Ohio State game was paywalled behind an unranked men’s game but at least this time the Big Ten Network has on a ranked vs. ranked matchup between the Maryland Terrapins and Michigan State men’s teams.
A larger issue with B1G+, and not talking about its unreliable tech issues, is that there’s little flexibility when games like Wednesday’s between the Buckeyes and Spartans happen. A game that will determine tournament seeding, and featuring two ranked programs, whatever is decided at the start of the season sticks.
Since only complaining about problems without any kind of solution is annoying, here’s an idea. Fox needs to emulate the ESPN app. For less than B1G+, ESPN subscribers get ACC and SEC games, plus all of the soccer, hockey, and ESPN 8: The Ocho sporting events imaginable.
Hopefully, in the offseason, this becomes a reality, but until then either get to the Schottenstein Center, drive onto campus to use wifi (therefore getting B1G+ for free), or shell out the dough. If none of those options work, read Land-Grant Holy Land for all the best Ohio State women’s basketball coverage for no dollars at all.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Spartans battle for a Big Ten double-bye
It’s not often that two teams in the same conference play such a similar style of basketball, especially when both teams are near the top of that conference. On Thursday, when the No. 23 Michigan State Spartans travel to Columbus for a matchup against No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball, two teams that thrive off forcing turnovers meet with a lot on the line.
For the Buckeyes, a win secures a top-four spot in the Big Ten Tournament, skipping the first two rounds to join in the quarterfinal. For the Spartans, Michigan State needs to win to stay part of that double-bye conversation.
The matchup promises to be fast, featuring two transfers playing against each other for the first time in years and the return of a former Buckeye who swapped scarlet and gray for green and white in the offseason.
Preview
Ohio State is on a six-game unbeaten streak against the Spartans. This streak spans two Michigan State coaches, a whole roster turnover in East Lansing, and the availability of only one Buckeye when it began.
This year, things are a little different. For one, the Buckeyes themselves are practically a new team with three new starters. While Ohio State still plays the same pressing defensive style as years past, there are new personnel at the helm and when it comes to forcing turnovers this edition is actually statistically better.
The current campaign of Buckeyes defenders averages 1.5 more steals per game than last season with staunch defenders like guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor in the backcourt. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge and senior Taylor Thierry are a big reason why. Cambridge’s speed and Thierry’s overall athleticism and defensive timing make both of them tough to beat. Thierry held USC Trojan star guard JuJu Watkins to 10 points before Thierry fouled out in the fourth quarter. Watkins scored seven in the final minutes without Thierry on the court.
For the Spartans, they’re suddenly right behind Ohio State in effectively pressing opponents. Like the Buckeyes, Michigan State now plays a chaotic full-court press, sitting right behind the conference-leading Buckeyes 11.7 steals per conference game with 11.4. Leading head coach Robyn Fralick’s defensive set is regular starting guard Jocelyn Tate. The defender averages 2.4 steals per game, right behind Thierry who leads the Big Ten with 2.5 steals per game.
When Michigan State starters go to the bench, it doesn’t get much easier. Nyla Hampton, who averages 23 minutes per game coming in as a substitute, grabs 2.0 steals per game. The two make the most of their opportunities to force mistakes from their opponents.
Offensively, the Spartans inside game is tenacious, led by guard Julia Ayrault and forward Grace Vanslooten. Ayrault is called a guard but plays a lot like Thierry. She’s another tall, athletic, shooter who can hurt a team both inside and outside. In three previous games against the Buckeyes, Ayrault averages 8.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
In the case of Vanslooten, the former Oregon Duck joined Sparty in the offseason, coming to the Big Ten with Ohio State shooting guard Chance Gray.
“I’m just excited to face off against her again and see what it’s like being on opposite sides of each other this time,” said Gray following Ohio State’s win over Purdue on Sunday.
Gray, Vanslooten, and Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon played together in AAU basketball, but the first two left the Buckeye State for the Pacific Northwest. Vanslooten is a 6-foot-3 forward from Toledo who leads the Spartans with 15.5 points per game. The forward also averages 6.8 rebounds per game, but unlike most forwards, it’s a pretty even split between offensive and defensive rebounds. Vanslooten is strong on the boards using athleticism, not only height.
Combine Vanslooten and Ayrault together and they’re a one-two punch unlike many teams in the Big Ten who rely maybe on one strong interior presence and the rest of the four playing to or through them.
Ohio State fans might remember Vanslooten from when she played with Te-Hina Paopao on the Ducks. Despite the Buckeyes 84-67 runaway victory at the 2022 San Diego Invitational, Vanslooten scored 29 points with nine rebounds as a freshman. That was also with an interior defense that’s improved with forward Ajae Petty and freshman Elsa Lemmilä patrolling the paint.
A silver lining for the Buckeyes in the defensive matchup is their experience with the press. When teams hurry up their pace against Ohio State, it forces mistakes. The Scarlet and Gray feed off mistakes but will have to make the most of the fast break opportunities.
Another characteristic Michigan State possesses is that the Spartans are never out of a game. They play like the Buckeyes of two years ago who didn’t see a double-digit deficit they couldn’t eliminate.
Against the UCLA Bruins, Michigan State was down by nearly double digits at halftime, but the second-half Spartans stormed out to a 22-12 third quarter and had a lead in the fourth quarter. If not for guard Kiki Rice taking over the fourth quarter, and a suspicious technical called on the Spartans coaching staff late in the game, it could have been an upset of the No 1 Bruins in Los Angeles.
Erasing deficits is a skill the Spartans have shown multiple times this season, and it's something that might keep head coach Kevin McGuff up at night. The Buckeyes lost two consecutive double-digit leads to the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Iowa Hawkeyes, both requiring overtime to reset Ohio State.
That kind of play can’t happen if the Buckeyes hope to lock up a top-four spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
Something aiding Ohio State though is a return to form for Gray and Petty. After both suffered a month-long cold spell in almost every aspect of the game, the two upperclassmen led the Buckeye blowout of the Purdue Boilermakers. Gray led the team with 21 points, hitting five shots from beyond the arc. It’s the first time the shooting guard hit multiple threes in a game since Jan. 19. In the eight games that followed, Gray hit three three-point shots total.
For Petty, the transfer graduate senior forward had her first double-double, or game with double-digit points or rebounds, since Jan. 12. Now does this mean that both of them are back to playing closer to their potential? One game doesn’t necessarily make a comeback, and Wednesday will be a bigger test than the Boilermakers who sit in 16th place in the Big Ten.
If the play of the duo stumbles, coach McGuff showed over the last few weeks that he’s fine bringing in Lemmilä or guard Kennedy Cambridge in for extended minutes. While neither is a consistent offensive threat, they both bring defense that could calm down a game against a Spartan team that will be fast-paced.
Projected Starters
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Lineup Notes
- Petty’s double-double Sunday afternoon gave the senior 900 career points and 700 career rebounds
- Cambridge earned both Big Ten and USBWA Freshman of the Week honors last week after averaging 22.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals in three games
- Lemmilä’s 52 blocks this season is more than Ohio State’s previous European forward Rebeka Mikulášiková had in five seasons with the Buckeyes (37), showing the difference in playing styles of the two bigs
Michigan State
G- Jaddan Simmons
G- Theryn Hallock
G- Jocelyn Tate
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Grace Vanslooten
Lineup Notes
- The Spartans have three players who average double-figure scoring: Vanslooten (15.5), Ayrault (14.9), and Hallock (13.8)
- After starting the first seven games of the season, former Buckeye guard Emma Shumate averages 4.8 points and 16.5 minutes per game
- Since going to the bench for eight games. Vanslooten averages 19.8 points per game in the last six games, all starts
Prediction
Wednesday night’s game is going to be close. Michigan State will start as the aggressors, requiring the Buckeyes to play from behind in the first half. After halftime, Ohio State will ramp up their defensive intensity and come away with a close victory, despite Vanslooten getting a double-double against the Buckeyes.
How to Watch
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+
LGHL Score Prediction: 78-73, Ohio State Buckeyes
B1G+ Strikes Back
There’s good and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news — the game is behind the B1G+ paywall. The good news? It’s the last time Ohio State plays on the streaming service this season.
The problem Wednesday isn’t completely a men vs. women’s sports issue. Now, there have been times that a ranked Ohio State game was paywalled behind an unranked men’s game but at least this time the Big Ten Network has on a ranked vs. ranked matchup between the Maryland Terrapins and Michigan State men’s teams.
A larger issue with B1G+, and not talking about its unreliable tech issues, is that there’s little flexibility when games like Wednesday’s between the Buckeyes and Spartans happen. A game that will determine tournament seeding, and featuring two ranked programs, whatever is decided at the start of the season sticks.
Since only complaining about problems without any kind of solution is annoying, here’s an idea. Fox needs to emulate the ESPN app. For less than B1G+, ESPN subscribers get ACC and SEC games, plus all of the soccer, hockey, and ESPN 8: The Ocho sporting events imaginable.
Hopefully, in the offseason, this becomes a reality, but until then either get to the Schottenstein Center, drive onto campus to use wifi (therefore getting B1G+ for free), or shell out the dough. If none of those options work, read Land-Grant Holy Land for all the best Ohio State women’s basketball coverage for no dollars at all.
Continue reading...
Off-season thread: Favorite Movie or TV cars or trucks.
- By AKAK
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
- 37 Replies
So this is just probably a nostalgia thread but there don't need to be rules...that said...
I'll start with a couple here that gave me the feels the first time I saw them, so extra credit for cars not from car movies and maybe lets stay away from complete fantasy vehicles (batmobiles and whatnot) but blur lines if you want..
First, not even the most iconic James Bond car but the one that popped in my head when the idea for this thread was brought up:
#1 copper metallic esprit turbo from your eyes only with ski racks.
#2 Bronco/F-150 based little mule from romancing the stone
I'll start with a couple here that gave me the feels the first time I saw them, so extra credit for cars not from car movies and maybe lets stay away from complete fantasy vehicles (batmobiles and whatnot) but blur lines if you want..
First, not even the most iconic James Bond car but the one that popped in my head when the idea for this thread was brought up:
#1 copper metallic esprit turbo from your eyes only with ski racks.
#2 Bronco/F-150 based little mule from romancing the stone
2027 CA CB Havon Finney (LSU Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
School: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Position: CB
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 170lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
School: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Position: CB
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 170lbs
Login to view embedded media