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LGHL New Buckeyes shine to avoid another Ohio State home upset in NCAA Tournament
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New Buckeyes shine to avoid another Ohio State home upset in NCAA Tournament
ThomasCostello 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 via Imagn Images
The text that Cotie McMahon sent to the team and how last season still lingers in a new look Buckeye roster
Last season, Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, the highest since 2010 when head coach Jim Foster led the Buckeyes. That year in the Second Round, the Buckeyes fell by 20 points to No. 7 seeded Mississippi State.
Last season, Ohio State’s tournament run ended similarly when the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils erased a double-digit first half lead to end the Buckeyes’ season in the Second Round.
“It’s not something that we want to feel again. Not being able to win both games,” said junior forward Cotie McMahon. “It definitely hurt us a lot.”
This time, only two starters from last season were on the roster with freshman Jaloni Cambridge and transfers Chance Gray and Ajae Petty not having that same feeling of defeat as the returning Buckeyes. Add another level to that and both Cambridge and Gray played in their first March Madness games ever Friday night, with the former playing in her first season and the latter not making the postseason in two previous years with the Oregon Ducks.
McMahon and head coach Kevin McGuff did all they could off the court to let the new players know that feeling.
“Cotie [McMahon] sent us a text this morning saying it’s win or go home and have the mentality to go out and have fun and play as hard as we can,” said Gray. “Like McGuff said before the game started, all we’re guaranteed is 40 minutes.”
Gray and the Buckeyes made the most of those 40 minutes, but it was hard going in the first 20.
Ohio State and Montana State traded leads four times in the first quarter and in the second things got even more heated. Following a three-point shot by Gray, the Bobcats went on a 10-point run. to swing the game in the visitors’ favor. Flashbacks to the 2024 NCAA Tournament were mentally not hard to find if the Buckeyes were looking, but they were not.
Instead, Ohio State thought about defense.
“Getting back to being aggressive in the press,” said Gray. “Getting steals and converting the steals, I think that’s kind of what got us going. We talked in the huddle. They went on their run and it was time for us to go on our run.”
Ohio State forced two turnovers, each ending in points for the Buckeyes. Coach McGuff’s side also forced the Bobcats into five missed shots to end the second quarter and eight total going into the third quarter.
Out of the halftime locker room, Gray took the game into her hands and hit three consecutive three-point shots. It started a run of six consecutive baskets and stretched the Ohio State lead to 20 points.
“In the start of the second half, we played really aggressively in transition,” said McGuff. “Sometimes people equate being around the basket with a great shot. But when there’s two people there and you can spray it out to somebody wide open, which is what happened, and Chance was obviously capitalizing on those, we just moved the ball a lot better until we found a better shot than what we were getting in the first half.”
That extra passing worked as designed and the Buckeyes shot 58.8% in the third quarter, the most efficient quarter of the game for Ohio State.
Even so, it was defense made the run possible. Ohio State forced eight of the Bobcats’ 26 turnovers in the third quarter. The Buckeyes scored 10 of their 32 points off turnovers in the third period to put the game out of the visitors’ reach.
Gray ended the game with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Cambridge had 12 points with 6 assists and 6 steals. All five starters scored in double figures for the Buckeyes in the 71-51 win over Montana State.
McMahon and guard Taylor Thierry, the other returning starter, each helped avoid the upset too, with Thierry’s team-leading 16 points and six rebounds with McMahon grabbing five rebounds on 15 points. It was an impressive victory, but things are far from over.
The Buckeyes still have one more game remaining at home to avoid breaking the team’s unbeaten the record in Columbus this season and to send Ohio State to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four seasons.
“Enjoy this one but it’s short-lived,” said McGuff. “Show up tomorrow, use our practice time to get as prepared as possible and we know we’re going to have a really tough game on Sunday.”
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello 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 via Imagn Images
The text that Cotie McMahon sent to the team and how last season still lingers in a new look Buckeye roster
Last season, Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, the highest since 2010 when head coach Jim Foster led the Buckeyes. That year in the Second Round, the Buckeyes fell by 20 points to No. 7 seeded Mississippi State.
Last season, Ohio State’s tournament run ended similarly when the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils erased a double-digit first half lead to end the Buckeyes’ season in the Second Round.
“It’s not something that we want to feel again. Not being able to win both games,” said junior forward Cotie McMahon. “It definitely hurt us a lot.”
This time, only two starters from last season were on the roster with freshman Jaloni Cambridge and transfers Chance Gray and Ajae Petty not having that same feeling of defeat as the returning Buckeyes. Add another level to that and both Cambridge and Gray played in their first March Madness games ever Friday night, with the former playing in her first season and the latter not making the postseason in two previous years with the Oregon Ducks.
McMahon and head coach Kevin McGuff did all they could off the court to let the new players know that feeling.
“Cotie [McMahon] sent us a text this morning saying it’s win or go home and have the mentality to go out and have fun and play as hard as we can,” said Gray. “Like McGuff said before the game started, all we’re guaranteed is 40 minutes.”
Gray and the Buckeyes made the most of those 40 minutes, but it was hard going in the first 20.
Ohio State and Montana State traded leads four times in the first quarter and in the second things got even more heated. Following a three-point shot by Gray, the Bobcats went on a 10-point run. to swing the game in the visitors’ favor. Flashbacks to the 2024 NCAA Tournament were mentally not hard to find if the Buckeyes were looking, but they were not.
Instead, Ohio State thought about defense.
“Getting back to being aggressive in the press,” said Gray. “Getting steals and converting the steals, I think that’s kind of what got us going. We talked in the huddle. They went on their run and it was time for us to go on our run.”
Ohio State forced two turnovers, each ending in points for the Buckeyes. Coach McGuff’s side also forced the Bobcats into five missed shots to end the second quarter and eight total going into the third quarter.
Out of the halftime locker room, Gray took the game into her hands and hit three consecutive three-point shots. It started a run of six consecutive baskets and stretched the Ohio State lead to 20 points.
“In the start of the second half, we played really aggressively in transition,” said McGuff. “Sometimes people equate being around the basket with a great shot. But when there’s two people there and you can spray it out to somebody wide open, which is what happened, and Chance was obviously capitalizing on those, we just moved the ball a lot better until we found a better shot than what we were getting in the first half.”
That extra passing worked as designed and the Buckeyes shot 58.8% in the third quarter, the most efficient quarter of the game for Ohio State.
Gray Gets Buckets
No big deal juststraight three pointers to open the second half ️@chancegrayy | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/wDKneOzMQo
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) March 22, 2025
Even so, it was defense made the run possible. Ohio State forced eight of the Bobcats’ 26 turnovers in the third quarter. The Buckeyes scored 10 of their 32 points off turnovers in the third period to put the game out of the visitors’ reach.
Gray ended the game with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Cambridge had 12 points with 6 assists and 6 steals. All five starters scored in double figures for the Buckeyes in the 71-51 win over Montana State.
McMahon and guard Taylor Thierry, the other returning starter, each helped avoid the upset too, with Thierry’s team-leading 16 points and six rebounds with McMahon grabbing five rebounds on 15 points. It was an impressive victory, but things are far from over.
The Buckeyes still have one more game remaining at home to avoid breaking the team’s unbeaten the record in Columbus this season and to send Ohio State to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four seasons.
“Enjoy this one but it’s short-lived,” said McGuff. “Show up tomorrow, use our practice time to get as prepared as possible and we know we’re going to have a really tough game on Sunday.”
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: McGuff discusses technical foul in Ohio State win over Montana State
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Uncut: McGuff discusses technical foul in Ohio State win over Montana State
ThomasCostello 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 via Imagn Images
Plus, Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge talk about their first appearances in the NCAA Tournament
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament field of 64 teams Friday against the Montana State Bobcats. The Big Sky champions came into Columbus after winning the regular season and conference tournament with a 30-3 record, but after a back-and-forth start to the game, Ohio State ran away in a 71-51 win.
After the game, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about how the Buckeyes lack of extra passes in the first quarter led to the game being so close, with six lead changes in the first half. Also, his message to the team at halftime, which led to a 15-point third quarter run that put the game away for Ohio State and the moment that led to a technical foul for the coach.
Gray and Cambridge talked about what forward Cotie McMahon texted to them Friday morning and how the team responded to McGuff’s second quarter technical foul and the Buckeyes’ 26 forced turnovers against the Bobcats.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello 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 via Imagn Images
Plus, Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge talk about their first appearances in the NCAA Tournament
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land 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 | iHeart Radio
Ohio State women’s basketball entered the NCAA Tournament field of 64 teams Friday against the Montana State Bobcats. The Big Sky champions came into Columbus after winning the regular season and conference tournament with a 30-3 record, but after a back-and-forth start to the game, Ohio State ran away in a 71-51 win.
After the game, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Chance Gray and Jaloni Cambridge spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff talked about how the Buckeyes lack of extra passes in the first quarter led to the game being so close, with six lead changes in the first half. Also, his message to the team at halftime, which led to a 15-point third quarter run that put the game away for Ohio State and the moment that led to a technical foul for the coach.
Gray and Cambridge talked about what forward Cotie McMahon texted to them Friday morning and how the team responded to McGuff’s second quarter technical foul and the Buckeyes’ 26 forced turnovers against the Bobcats.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State to face Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of March Madness
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State to face Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of March Madness
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 Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Volunteers face-off in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history
Ohio State women’s basketball returns to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday after the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats on Friday night. Now the Scarlet and Gray know the team they will face when the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the No. 12 USF Bulls 101-66.
The Volunteers and Bulls got off to a fast start on Friday night, with Tennessee playing a fast-paced offense under first year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell. To USF’s credit, the AAC conference tournament champions responded to everything the Vols threw at them with five lead changes in the first quarter.
However, in the second the Tennessee defense made things difficult on the Bulls. USF shot 4-of-14 from the line and the Vols forced six turnovers, with nine points coming off of those turnovers.
Standing out for Tennessee was guard Talaysia Cooper, who scored 16 points in the first half alone to nearly match her team-leading 16.7 points per game. What made the performance so special was that it was Cooper’s return from an ankle injury the sophomore sustained on March 6, on Tennessee’s Senior Day.
Cooper led the team with 20 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
Tennessee outscored USF 29-9 in the second quarter and there was no coming back for the AAC side in the final half. USF stayed with the Vols in the third quarter but did not do enough on the defensive end of the court to stop Tennessee from keeping up. Caldwell’s side increased their lead by two points by the end of the third quarter.
Ohio State and Tennessee have history in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols defeated the Buckeyes three previous times during the 1996, 2011 and 2016 editions of March Madness, with the past two during the Sweet Sixteen round of games.
The first two defeats came against legendary head coach Pat Summitt, who led the Vols to a national title during the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
However, in the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons, the two teams played a home-and-home series that began in Columbus on the first night of the 22-23 campaign. In that game, Ohio State shocked the top-10 ranked Vols 87-75 in junior Cotie McMahon’s first NCAA game. The next season, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and defeated then head coach Kellie Harper’s Volunteers 78-58.
At the end of last season, Tennessee moved on from Harper and hired Caldwell, who is known for an offense that shots a lot of shots from beyond the arc. The Vols are No. 3 in the nation with 30.9 three-point attempts per game. Last season, with the Marshall Thundering Herd, Caldwell’s side led the nation with 31.9 shots from deep per game, a then NCAA record before Arkansas State shot 32.5 this season.
There is no official time for the Second Round game until the completion of Friday night’s First Round tournament matchups.
Continue reading...
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 Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Volunteers face-off in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history
Ohio State women’s basketball returns to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday after the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats on Friday night. Now the Scarlet and Gray know the team they will face when the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the No. 12 USF Bulls 101-66.
The Volunteers and Bulls got off to a fast start on Friday night, with Tennessee playing a fast-paced offense under first year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell. To USF’s credit, the AAC conference tournament champions responded to everything the Vols threw at them with five lead changes in the first quarter.
However, in the second the Tennessee defense made things difficult on the Bulls. USF shot 4-of-14 from the line and the Vols forced six turnovers, with nine points coming off of those turnovers.
Standing out for Tennessee was guard Talaysia Cooper, who scored 16 points in the first half alone to nearly match her team-leading 16.7 points per game. What made the performance so special was that it was Cooper’s return from an ankle injury the sophomore sustained on March 6, on Tennessee’s Senior Day.
Cooper led the team with 20 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
Tennessee outscored USF 29-9 in the second quarter and there was no coming back for the AAC side in the final half. USF stayed with the Vols in the third quarter but did not do enough on the defensive end of the court to stop Tennessee from keeping up. Caldwell’s side increased their lead by two points by the end of the third quarter.
Ohio State and Tennessee have history in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols defeated the Buckeyes three previous times during the 1996, 2011 and 2016 editions of March Madness, with the past two during the Sweet Sixteen round of games.
The first two defeats came against legendary head coach Pat Summitt, who led the Vols to a national title during the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
However, in the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons, the two teams played a home-and-home series that began in Columbus on the first night of the 22-23 campaign. In that game, Ohio State shocked the top-10 ranked Vols 87-75 in junior Cotie McMahon’s first NCAA game. The next season, head coach Kevin McGuff’s side traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and defeated then head coach Kellie Harper’s Volunteers 78-58.
At the end of last season, Tennessee moved on from Harper and hired Caldwell, who is known for an offense that shots a lot of shots from beyond the arc. The Vols are No. 3 in the nation with 30.9 three-point attempts per game. Last season, with the Marshall Thundering Herd, Caldwell’s side led the nation with 31.9 shots from deep per game, a then NCAA record before Arkansas State shot 32.5 this season.
There is no official time for the Second Round game until the completion of Friday night’s First Round tournament matchups.
Continue reading...
2026 AZ OL Tucker Smith is a Buckeye!!!
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 19 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Phoenix (AZ) O'Conner
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 280lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: IOL
School: Phoenix (AZ) O'Conner
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 280lbs
Login to view embedded media