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LGHL Bench depth vital for Ohio State Sunday against Tennessee
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Bench depth vital for Ohio State Sunday against Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Vols bring five-player substitutions to support Kim Caldwell’s game plan, and here is how Ohio State’s bench will help
For sports fans who have never attended a track meet, Sunday night’s game between Ohio State women’s basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers will be their first. The Big Ten and SEC sides do not shy away from running, and conditioning for both sides is vital in team strategy. How can the Buckeyes outlast the Vols onslaught? Look to the bench.
First year Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell brought tactics to basketball that make the phrase “run and gun” look like it's in slow motion. On offense, the Vols do not waste time taking shots, and a lot of those come from beyond the arc. The 31.1 attempts per game is top of the SEC and third in the nation, with seven players averaging at least two attempted shots from deep per game.
Defensively, the Vols press their opponents to force live ball turnovers and generally disrupt their opponent’s rhythm.
It is going to be a handful for the starting five of Ohio State. When the taller Tennessee side passes out of the press, Buckeye defenders have to get back faster than usual to get a hand in the face of whoever has the ball outside of the arc, because it could be one of many. Then, on offense, the Scarlet and Gray have to move both quickly and while protecting the ball to try and get behind the Tennessee defense.
The Tennessee starting five does not matter in the slightest. In 32 games, Caldwell picked 17 different starting five groups. That’s because within a couple minutes of the tip, five new players will come in and take their place. The Vols have 10 players who average between 14.7 and 25 minutes per game, with nobody playing more than those 25 minutes by guard Samara Spencer.
What this all means is that there cannot be a dip in intensity for Ohio State when players come in off the bench. More than any other game this season, the substitutes need to match Tennessee the second they get on the floor, without time to get a feel for the game.
“I mean, for me, I’m excited,” said graduate senior forward Eboni Walker, with a smile on her face. “I do my best to come out on fire. I mean, that’s what we want to do. I think from all the years of playing, I kind of get excited with teams that do a lot of subbing, just giving you new looks, a new way to score, and just having that flow of basketball.”
Walker is one of five likely available players for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side, and one of the reasons Ohio State’s bench depth is different than other teams in the country.
Ohio State does not have a roster of 13-15 players who come in every game, but the bench is a story of quality over quantity and, on their best nights, bring different looks to the game that make opponents adjust.
Take graduate senior Madison Greene for example. The guard is not an offensive weapon like starting freshman Jaloni Cambridge, but she has six years in the Ohio State program and 47 starts under her belt. Before two ACL tears sidelined the Pickerington, Ohio native, Greene started as a freshman and earned the trust of coach McGuff quickly.
When Greene comes into the game, she brings a calm to the team on offense, and enhanced ball handling, something the Buckeyes will need against Tennessee’s full court pressure. How good is it? Against the Maryland Terrapins on the final day of the regular season, Greene went to the ground twice while still keeping a dribble going to avoid a travel.
For Walker, the fifth year senior forward plays a hybrid power forward/center-like position for McGuff. If the Buckeye defense forces tough shots for Tennessee that clang off the rim, Walker brings energy to the boards and is not afraid to go up against players taller than her inside the paint.
The two experienced Ohio State players are also playing in their last game on their home court, adding even more motivation to a game that is already overflowing with expectations to move on in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s win-or-go-home and we need to come out there tomorrow and just give it our all, and just have fun at the end of the day,” said Greene.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge does not need much help matching a team’s pressure because when the defense-minded guard enters the game she typically raises the intensity levels. Ohio State needs Cambridge to come in and annoy the Volunteers, force turnovers and go for loose basketballs.
Then there is the freshman duo of guard Ava Watson and center Elsa Lemmilä rounding out who will be available for Ohio State. Both are either coming off of, or playing through, injuries at this point of the season, but each brings skills that enhance what the Buckeyes can do against Tennessee on the court.
Watson came back against Montana State on Friday for the first time in over a month, after spraining her ankle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13. The shooting guard has featured in a few games in her freshman season from beyond the arc, and if Ohio State is hitting extra passes and finding Watson, shots going down will go a long way.
However, Watson can also defend. In high school, Watson led her team to a state championship using a full court press like McGuff’s at Ohio State. Although the freshman did not score any points on Friday, she forced a steal and played well in one-on-one defense.
“I think she could be really instrumental tomorrow and with their style of play,” said McGuff. “We are going to interest to play a lot of people to try to stay fresh. Everybody is kind of all hands on deck. Everybody should show up and be ready.”
The question mark of the group of substitutes is Lemmilä. Since the end of 2024, the 6-foot-6 Finn played through a foot injury, but returned to practice on Friday. Lemmilä did not dress for Ohio State’s First Round game, likely as a means to keep the center’s minutes reserved for the challenge of Tennessee.
Tennessee’s length will be difficult for Ohio State, especially 6-foot-4 forward Zee Spearman and 6-foot-5 forward Jillian Hollingshead. When either are in the game, having someone like Lemmilä available will help the Vols think twice going attacking the basket. Lemmilä’s 58 blocks this season is the most for a Buckeye since the Tori McCoy’s 59 in the 16-17 campaign. All of Lemmilä’s came from the bench too.
How the bench five play is crucial for Ohio State’s success on Sunday, and on Saturday Walker gave the fans credit for one of the last times in her NCAA career. She also turned into an expert marketer.
“I think it’s almost unfair for us to be here; they give us a lot of added energy, and we definitely feed off of them. So if anyone is listening, come to the game tomorrow, 8:00, after church. You know, church is early, 8:00 is late. Perfect time for us,” said Walker. “It’s going to be special, thinking about how long we’ve been here and the kind of history that we’ve been able to build.”
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
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Vols bring five-player substitutions to support Kim Caldwell’s game plan, and here is how Ohio State’s bench will help
For sports fans who have never attended a track meet, Sunday night’s game between Ohio State women’s basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers will be their first. The Big Ten and SEC sides do not shy away from running, and conditioning for both sides is vital in team strategy. How can the Buckeyes outlast the Vols onslaught? Look to the bench.
First year Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell brought tactics to basketball that make the phrase “run and gun” look like it's in slow motion. On offense, the Vols do not waste time taking shots, and a lot of those come from beyond the arc. The 31.1 attempts per game is top of the SEC and third in the nation, with seven players averaging at least two attempted shots from deep per game.
Defensively, the Vols press their opponents to force live ball turnovers and generally disrupt their opponent’s rhythm.
It is going to be a handful for the starting five of Ohio State. When the taller Tennessee side passes out of the press, Buckeye defenders have to get back faster than usual to get a hand in the face of whoever has the ball outside of the arc, because it could be one of many. Then, on offense, the Scarlet and Gray have to move both quickly and while protecting the ball to try and get behind the Tennessee defense.
The Tennessee starting five does not matter in the slightest. In 32 games, Caldwell picked 17 different starting five groups. That’s because within a couple minutes of the tip, five new players will come in and take their place. The Vols have 10 players who average between 14.7 and 25 minutes per game, with nobody playing more than those 25 minutes by guard Samara Spencer.
What this all means is that there cannot be a dip in intensity for Ohio State when players come in off the bench. More than any other game this season, the substitutes need to match Tennessee the second they get on the floor, without time to get a feel for the game.
“I mean, for me, I’m excited,” said graduate senior forward Eboni Walker, with a smile on her face. “I do my best to come out on fire. I mean, that’s what we want to do. I think from all the years of playing, I kind of get excited with teams that do a lot of subbing, just giving you new looks, a new way to score, and just having that flow of basketball.”
Walker is one of five likely available players for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side, and one of the reasons Ohio State’s bench depth is different than other teams in the country.
Ohio State does not have a roster of 13-15 players who come in every game, but the bench is a story of quality over quantity and, on their best nights, bring different looks to the game that make opponents adjust.
Take graduate senior Madison Greene for example. The guard is not an offensive weapon like starting freshman Jaloni Cambridge, but she has six years in the Ohio State program and 47 starts under her belt. Before two ACL tears sidelined the Pickerington, Ohio native, Greene started as a freshman and earned the trust of coach McGuff quickly.
When Greene comes into the game, she brings a calm to the team on offense, and enhanced ball handling, something the Buckeyes will need against Tennessee’s full court pressure. How good is it? Against the Maryland Terrapins on the final day of the regular season, Greene went to the ground twice while still keeping a dribble going to avoid a travel.
For Walker, the fifth year senior forward plays a hybrid power forward/center-like position for McGuff. If the Buckeye defense forces tough shots for Tennessee that clang off the rim, Walker brings energy to the boards and is not afraid to go up against players taller than her inside the paint.
The two experienced Ohio State players are also playing in their last game on their home court, adding even more motivation to a game that is already overflowing with expectations to move on in the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s win-or-go-home and we need to come out there tomorrow and just give it our all, and just have fun at the end of the day,” said Greene.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge does not need much help matching a team’s pressure because when the defense-minded guard enters the game she typically raises the intensity levels. Ohio State needs Cambridge to come in and annoy the Volunteers, force turnovers and go for loose basketballs.
Then there is the freshman duo of guard Ava Watson and center Elsa Lemmilä rounding out who will be available for Ohio State. Both are either coming off of, or playing through, injuries at this point of the season, but each brings skills that enhance what the Buckeyes can do against Tennessee on the court.
Watson came back against Montana State on Friday for the first time in over a month, after spraining her ankle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Feb. 13. The shooting guard has featured in a few games in her freshman season from beyond the arc, and if Ohio State is hitting extra passes and finding Watson, shots going down will go a long way.
However, Watson can also defend. In high school, Watson led her team to a state championship using a full court press like McGuff’s at Ohio State. Although the freshman did not score any points on Friday, she forced a steal and played well in one-on-one defense.
“I think she could be really instrumental tomorrow and with their style of play,” said McGuff. “We are going to interest to play a lot of people to try to stay fresh. Everybody is kind of all hands on deck. Everybody should show up and be ready.”
The question mark of the group of substitutes is Lemmilä. Since the end of 2024, the 6-foot-6 Finn played through a foot injury, but returned to practice on Friday. Lemmilä did not dress for Ohio State’s First Round game, likely as a means to keep the center’s minutes reserved for the challenge of Tennessee.
Tennessee’s length will be difficult for Ohio State, especially 6-foot-4 forward Zee Spearman and 6-foot-5 forward Jillian Hollingshead. When either are in the game, having someone like Lemmilä available will help the Vols think twice going attacking the basket. Lemmilä’s 58 blocks this season is the most for a Buckeye since the Tori McCoy’s 59 in the 16-17 campaign. All of Lemmilä’s came from the bench too.
How the bench five play is crucial for Ohio State’s success on Sunday, and on Saturday Walker gave the fans credit for one of the last times in her NCAA career. She also turned into an expert marketer.
“I think it’s almost unfair for us to be here; they give us a lot of added energy, and we definitely feed off of them. So if anyone is listening, come to the game tomorrow, 8:00, after church. You know, church is early, 8:00 is late. Perfect time for us,” said Walker. “It’s going to be special, thinking about how long we’ve been here and the kind of history that we’ve been able to build.”
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State, Wisconsin meet in the women’s hockey title game for a third straight year
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Ohio State, Wisconsin meet in the women’s hockey title game for a third straight year
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 Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years.
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years when they battle Wisconsin in the final of the Frozen Four in Minneapolis.
Ohio State will face a familiar foe at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis in the NCAA Championship Game. The Buckeyes will battle the Wisconsin Badgers, who they have not only played four times this year, the two programs have also met in the last two title games, with each team earning a 1-0 win. Anyone tuning in this afternoon will be in for a treat since these are two of the top programs in the country, and when they get together on the ice the result usually comes right down to the wire.
The Buckeyes were able to make the championship game by defeating Cornell 4-2 in Friday’s first Frozen Four semifinal. Makenna Webster opened up the scoring 2:24 into the game to give Ohio State an early lead. Brooke Disher’s goal doubled the lead just over four minutes later. Cornell would tie the game up in the second period with two goals in just over a minute.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25923125/2205622232.jpg "2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship - Semi-Finals")
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
In the third period, Joy Dunne took over, scoring two goals in the first 7:22 to give Ohio State the lead for good. Dunne now has scored at least one goal in nine straight games. With her two goals, Dunne’s 28 goals this season now lead the team in scoring, passing the 27 goals Jocelyn Amos has scored. Amos did have an assist in the game, extending her streak to five straight games with at least one point.
The final opponent for the Buckeyes this year will be the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat Minnesota 6-2 in Friday’s second semifinal. The Golden Gophers actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead 14:14 into the first period, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Laila Edwards scored a shorthanded goal three minutes later. The Badgers would take the lead for good in the second period with goals from Casey O’Brien and Kristen Simms. Edwards would finish with a hat trick after scoring two goals in the third period, while O’Brien scored two goals in the victory.
It’s fitting these two teams are meeting in the championship game, not only because they have split the last two NCAA titles, they also split their four meetings this year. In the first series of the season in Columbus in mid-November, Wisconsin won the first game 4-2, followed by the Buckeyes winning the next night 3-2. The teams would play one game in Madison, with the Badgers hammering Ohio State 6-0 on January 2nd. Two days later they would meet in an outdoor game at Wrigley Field, ending with a thrilling Ohio State victory in a shootout after the teams couldn’t break a 3-3 deadlock in overtime. Jenna Buglioni secured the win for the Buckeyes when she scored in the seventh round of the shootout.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25923126/2205641566.jpg "2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship - Semi-Finals")
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
For as good as Ohio State’s offense has been this year, Wisconsin has been even better when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the next. The Badgers have scored 217 goals this year. Laila Edwards is one of five Wisconsin players to score at least 20 goals this year, leading the team with 34 goals. Casey O’Brien is the team’s overall point leader with 88 points, breaking Meghan Duggan’s school record of 87 points recorded during the 2010-11 season. At least when it comes to trying to slow down the Wisconsin attack, Amanda Thiele has made numerous starts at goalie for the Buckeyes over the last few years.
This is the championship game fans of women’s college hockey were hoping for since it’s obvious these are the best two teams in the country. Wisconsin has lost just one game in regulation this year, and that was to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Now the Badgers enter today’s game on a 12-game winning streak. The title game appearance is their 12th in school history, while Ohio State will be playing in their fourth consecutive title game.
Much like the Cornell game, Ohio State is going to have to try and solve one of the best goaltenders in the country. Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton posted a 35-1-2 record this year with eight shutouts, a 1.20 goals against average, and a .946 save percentage. At least the Buckeyes come into this game with some confidence since they have gotten to McNaughton in a couple of matchups this season. That’s only half the battle though, since the Badgers have the most prolific scoring attack in the country this year. To win, Ohio State is going to have to play nearly a perfect game, but if there is anyone who can get her players to reach that level, it is Buckeye head coach Nadine Muzerall.
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years.
This afternoon the Ohio State women’s hockey team will be vying for their third national title in the last four years when they battle Wisconsin in the final of the Frozen Four in Minneapolis.
Ohio State will face a familiar foe at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis in the NCAA Championship Game. The Buckeyes will battle the Wisconsin Badgers, who they have not only played four times this year, the two programs have also met in the last two title games, with each team earning a 1-0 win. Anyone tuning in this afternoon will be in for a treat since these are two of the top programs in the country, and when they get together on the ice the result usually comes right down to the wire.
The Buckeyes were able to make the championship game by defeating Cornell 4-2 in Friday’s first Frozen Four semifinal. Makenna Webster opened up the scoring 2:24 into the game to give Ohio State an early lead. Brooke Disher’s goal doubled the lead just over four minutes later. Cornell would tie the game up in the second period with two goals in just over a minute.
In the third period, Joy Dunne took over, scoring two goals in the first 7:22 to give Ohio State the lead for good. Dunne now has scored at least one goal in nine straight games. With her two goals, Dunne’s 28 goals this season now lead the team in scoring, passing the 27 goals Jocelyn Amos has scored. Amos did have an assist in the game, extending her streak to five straight games with at least one point.
The final opponent for the Buckeyes this year will be the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat Minnesota 6-2 in Friday’s second semifinal. The Golden Gophers actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead 14:14 into the first period, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Laila Edwards scored a shorthanded goal three minutes later. The Badgers would take the lead for good in the second period with goals from Casey O’Brien and Kristen Simms. Edwards would finish with a hat trick after scoring two goals in the third period, while O’Brien scored two goals in the victory.
It’s fitting these two teams are meeting in the championship game, not only because they have split the last two NCAA titles, they also split their four meetings this year. In the first series of the season in Columbus in mid-November, Wisconsin won the first game 4-2, followed by the Buckeyes winning the next night 3-2. The teams would play one game in Madison, with the Badgers hammering Ohio State 6-0 on January 2nd. Two days later they would meet in an outdoor game at Wrigley Field, ending with a thrilling Ohio State victory in a shootout after the teams couldn’t break a 3-3 deadlock in overtime. Jenna Buglioni secured the win for the Buckeyes when she scored in the seventh round of the shootout.
For as good as Ohio State’s offense has been this year, Wisconsin has been even better when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the next. The Badgers have scored 217 goals this year. Laila Edwards is one of five Wisconsin players to score at least 20 goals this year, leading the team with 34 goals. Casey O’Brien is the team’s overall point leader with 88 points, breaking Meghan Duggan’s school record of 87 points recorded during the 2010-11 season. At least when it comes to trying to slow down the Wisconsin attack, Amanda Thiele has made numerous starts at goalie for the Buckeyes over the last few years.
This is the championship game fans of women’s college hockey were hoping for since it’s obvious these are the best two teams in the country. Wisconsin has lost just one game in regulation this year, and that was to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Now the Badgers enter today’s game on a 12-game winning streak. The title game appearance is their 12th in school history, while Ohio State will be playing in their fourth consecutive title game.
Much like the Cornell game, Ohio State is going to have to try and solve one of the best goaltenders in the country. Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton posted a 35-1-2 record this year with eight shutouts, a 1.20 goals against average, and a .946 save percentage. At least the Buckeyes come into this game with some confidence since they have gotten to McNaughton in a couple of matchups this season. That’s only half the battle though, since the Badgers have the most prolific scoring attack in the country this year. To win, Ohio State is going to have to play nearly a perfect game, but if there is anyone who can get her players to reach that level, it is Buckeye head coach Nadine Muzerall.
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Continue reading...
LGHL NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Tennessee
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NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Tennessee
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes and Volunteers meet for the third straight season, but the Vols could not be more different of a side
The NCAA Tournament continues in Columbus on Sunday night as No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 5 Tennessee. It renews a series between two powerhouse NCAA athletic departments, with the Volunteers having the edge in the world of women’s basketball.
While the Buckeyes defeated the Vols in two straight regular seasons, Tennessee enters the matchup with a more than convicting win in the First Round and a relentless style of play that has already pushed the best teams in the country to their breaking points.
Can Ohio State break through? Can Tennessee withstand their play while facing the Buckeyes’ full court press? Does the Scarlet and Gray have enough depth to compete for 40 minutes?
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s hockey faces Wisconsin for the National Championship. Four hours later, the Buckeyes face a Tennessee side that has similarities to a hockey team.
First year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell pushes her teams through each level of college basketball before landing in Knoxville in the offseason. So much so that Tennessee does not make a substitution here or there, they swap out entire lineups.
“You have to have 10 or 11 players that you trust,” said Caldwell. “That’s a big step for a coach is to have everyone accept their roles and lean into their roles and trust them and put them on the floor every night.”
So, a starting lineup is important for most teams, but not as much for the Vols because the players on the bench know they will be in the game within a couple of minutes. Tennessee plays a full court style of pressure defense for 40 minutes, usually with players taking one-on-one assignments.
Against the USF Bulls, Tennessee knew the AAC side had one consistently good ball handler on offense, so the Vols focused in on them directly. Defensively, Rocky Top attacks teams until they wear them down. That only motivates Tennessee players to add more pressure.
That happened quickly on Friday night against USF and in the second quarter the Vols held the Bulls to only nine points while Caldwell’s side racked up 29 points. It put the game away for good with half of the game remaining, but Tennessee did not let up.
“Even when we had a big lead, something we have done all year is just kind of stopped guarding just because we saw a 20-point win,” said Caldwell. “And we continue to sit down and guard to the final minute, and that was a really big improvement for us.”
Tennessee had the normal adjustment period at the start of the season with a new coach and system to implement, but hit their stride at the beginning of the 2025 calendar. After a string of close defeats to ranked teams, the Vols defeated the UConn Huskies on Feb. 6 and it gave the team a boost.
Then, in the final week of the season and into the SEC Tournament, things started to slip. It began with the Kentucky Wildcats and point guard Georgia Amoore. After head coach Kenny Brooks faced Caldwell and her previous team in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats knew the system well and handled it effectively in an 82-58 rout of the Vols. Tennessee then lost at home to the Georgia Bulldogs, a side that went 12-18 this season.
In the SEC Tournament, Tennessee got back to their winning ways in the first game but then fell the next day to Vanderbilt. Despite 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, the long season wore the Vols down.
So, when the team had two weeks off heading into the tournament, it showed in the 101-66 dismantling of the AAC Tournament champion Bulls.
Offensively, Tennessee is just as much of a buzzsaw as they are on defense. Caldwell’s side is known for taking shots early in the shot clock, with many coming from beyond the arc, 31.1 attempts from deep per game to be exact. That’s the third highest in the country a year after Caldwell broke the NCAA record with Marshall in the 23-24 season.
“We have to get back in transition and guard them and try to challenge them at the three-point line,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They made, what was it, 16 yesterday? That will be a huge part of the game.”
Heading into the matchup, the Volunteers are saying similar things to other teams who play press style defenses. Mainly that they will be ready because they practice against a press every day. Ohio State’s press is unique in that it is disciplined and features players who have history in the set.
While it is a 2-2-1 setup, the way McGuff’s sides are relentless in their pursuit of the ball is different than a normal press. Ohio State will throw multiple people at the Volunteers to see what they can do to disrupt the offense and force turnovers.
This season, the Vols have not given up more than 20 turnovers in a game, while Ohio State has 15 games out of 32 where the Buckeyes forced more than 20.
Where it will be more difficult for Ohio State is the size of the Volunteers. Of the 10 players who get most of the minutes for Caldwell, seven of them stand at least six feet tall, while the Buckeyes have five, total on their active roster, and one of which might not play due to injury.
Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä practiced on Saturday, but it’s still unsure if she will get any minutes after sitting out against the Montana State Bobcats on Friday. Lemmilä has a left foot injury that started to hurt the 6-foo-6 big in January.
In her place on Friday was graduate senior Eboni Walker, who does not bring the same size as Lemmilä or starting forward Ajae Petty, but has the kind of fight needed to pick up rebounds consistently. Walker had four offensive rebounds against Montana State and two assists. Ohio State will need play like Walker’s against a Tennessee team that will not let up on the boards.
Despite playing a large group of players consistently (no one averages more than 25 minutes per game this season), the standout on the roster is Talaysia Cooper. The redshirt sophomore leads the team with 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds. 3.2 assists and a conference high 3.0 steals per game.
There is not a guard that is a like-for-like defensive option for Cooper. Standing at six feet tall, it’s a likely matchup with Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry, who is a semifinalist for National Defensive Player of the Year. Do not be surprised if McGuff has Thierry on the court anytime Cooper’s line gets put in the game by Caldwell.
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G- Samara Spencer
G- Jewel Spear
G- Talaysia Cooper
G- Ruby Whitehorn
F- Lazaria Spearman
Ohio State will be aggressive off the jump and give the Volunteers a much different challenge than the USF Bulls did, a side that does not play the same pressure style of defense.
How the game goes for the Buckeyes will be based on how the defense is keeping the Volunteers from making easy baskets. If the Vols pass easily out of the press and find open looks, it could be a long night for McGuff’s side.
Cotie McMahon will get to the line often as she goes to the basket for Ohio State frequently. The size and defensive pressure of the Vols will put Tennessee in foul trouble, but the game will be close until the end. It could go either way but how the visitors shoot three-point shots will make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
Ohio State and Tennessee have three previous games in the NCAA Tournament, with all three going the way of the Volunteers. Legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt led the Vols in the first two wins in 1996 and 2011. In 1996, Summitt ended up winning the National Championship after defeating former assistant coach Nancy Darsch and the Buckeyes in the second round.
In 2011 and 2016, Ohio State and Tennessee met in the Sweet Sixteen, with the second coming under Summitt’s predecessor Holly Warlick.
All three defeats for the Scarlet and Gray were by double-digits.
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
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes and Volunteers meet for the third straight season, but the Vols could not be more different of a side
The NCAA Tournament continues in Columbus on Sunday night as No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball welcomes No. 5 Tennessee. It renews a series between two powerhouse NCAA athletic departments, with the Volunteers having the edge in the world of women’s basketball.
While the Buckeyes defeated the Vols in two straight regular seasons, Tennessee enters the matchup with a more than convicting win in the First Round and a relentless style of play that has already pushed the best teams in the country to their breaking points.
Can Ohio State break through? Can Tennessee withstand their play while facing the Buckeyes’ full court press? Does the Scarlet and Gray have enough depth to compete for 40 minutes?
Preview
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s hockey faces Wisconsin for the National Championship. Four hours later, the Buckeyes face a Tennessee side that has similarities to a hockey team.
First year Vols head coach Kim Caldwell pushes her teams through each level of college basketball before landing in Knoxville in the offseason. So much so that Tennessee does not make a substitution here or there, they swap out entire lineups.
“You have to have 10 or 11 players that you trust,” said Caldwell. “That’s a big step for a coach is to have everyone accept their roles and lean into their roles and trust them and put them on the floor every night.”
So, a starting lineup is important for most teams, but not as much for the Vols because the players on the bench know they will be in the game within a couple of minutes. Tennessee plays a full court style of pressure defense for 40 minutes, usually with players taking one-on-one assignments.
Against the USF Bulls, Tennessee knew the AAC side had one consistently good ball handler on offense, so the Vols focused in on them directly. Defensively, Rocky Top attacks teams until they wear them down. That only motivates Tennessee players to add more pressure.
That happened quickly on Friday night against USF and in the second quarter the Vols held the Bulls to only nine points while Caldwell’s side racked up 29 points. It put the game away for good with half of the game remaining, but Tennessee did not let up.
“Even when we had a big lead, something we have done all year is just kind of stopped guarding just because we saw a 20-point win,” said Caldwell. “And we continue to sit down and guard to the final minute, and that was a really big improvement for us.”
Tennessee had the normal adjustment period at the start of the season with a new coach and system to implement, but hit their stride at the beginning of the 2025 calendar. After a string of close defeats to ranked teams, the Vols defeated the UConn Huskies on Feb. 6 and it gave the team a boost.
Then, in the final week of the season and into the SEC Tournament, things started to slip. It began with the Kentucky Wildcats and point guard Georgia Amoore. After head coach Kenny Brooks faced Caldwell and her previous team in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats knew the system well and handled it effectively in an 82-58 rout of the Vols. Tennessee then lost at home to the Georgia Bulldogs, a side that went 12-18 this season.
In the SEC Tournament, Tennessee got back to their winning ways in the first game but then fell the next day to Vanderbilt. Despite 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game, the long season wore the Vols down.
So, when the team had two weeks off heading into the tournament, it showed in the 101-66 dismantling of the AAC Tournament champion Bulls.
Offensively, Tennessee is just as much of a buzzsaw as they are on defense. Caldwell’s side is known for taking shots early in the shot clock, with many coming from beyond the arc, 31.1 attempts from deep per game to be exact. That’s the third highest in the country a year after Caldwell broke the NCAA record with Marshall in the 23-24 season.
“We have to get back in transition and guard them and try to challenge them at the three-point line,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They made, what was it, 16 yesterday? That will be a huge part of the game.”
Heading into the matchup, the Volunteers are saying similar things to other teams who play press style defenses. Mainly that they will be ready because they practice against a press every day. Ohio State’s press is unique in that it is disciplined and features players who have history in the set.
While it is a 2-2-1 setup, the way McGuff’s sides are relentless in their pursuit of the ball is different than a normal press. Ohio State will throw multiple people at the Volunteers to see what they can do to disrupt the offense and force turnovers.
This season, the Vols have not given up more than 20 turnovers in a game, while Ohio State has 15 games out of 32 where the Buckeyes forced more than 20.
Where it will be more difficult for Ohio State is the size of the Volunteers. Of the 10 players who get most of the minutes for Caldwell, seven of them stand at least six feet tall, while the Buckeyes have five, total on their active roster, and one of which might not play due to injury.
Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä practiced on Saturday, but it’s still unsure if she will get any minutes after sitting out against the Montana State Bobcats on Friday. Lemmilä has a left foot injury that started to hurt the 6-foo-6 big in January.
In her place on Friday was graduate senior Eboni Walker, who does not bring the same size as Lemmilä or starting forward Ajae Petty, but has the kind of fight needed to pick up rebounds consistently. Walker had four offensive rebounds against Montana State and two assists. Ohio State will need play like Walker’s against a Tennessee team that will not let up on the boards.
Despite playing a large group of players consistently (no one averages more than 25 minutes per game this season), the standout on the roster is Talaysia Cooper. The redshirt sophomore leads the team with 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds. 3.2 assists and a conference high 3.0 steals per game.
There is not a guard that is a like-for-like defensive option for Cooper. Standing at six feet tall, it’s a likely matchup with Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry, who is a semifinalist for National Defensive Player of the Year. Do not be surprised if McGuff has Thierry on the court anytime Cooper’s line gets put in the game by Caldwell.
Projected Lineups
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Tennessee
G- Samara Spencer
G- Jewel Spear
G- Talaysia Cooper
G- Ruby Whitehorn
F- Lazaria Spearman
Prediction
Ohio State will be aggressive off the jump and give the Volunteers a much different challenge than the USF Bulls did, a side that does not play the same pressure style of defense.
How the game goes for the Buckeyes will be based on how the defense is keeping the Volunteers from making easy baskets. If the Vols pass easily out of the press and find open looks, it could be a long night for McGuff’s side.
Cotie McMahon will get to the line often as she goes to the basket for Ohio State frequently. The size and defensive pressure of the Vols will put Tennessee in foul trouble, but the game will be close until the end. It could go either way but how the visitors shoot three-point shots will make the night difficult for the Buckeyes.
LGHL Score Prediction: 79-76, Tennessee Volunteers
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ESPN
Stream: ESPN App
Tournament History
Ohio State and Tennessee have three previous games in the NCAA Tournament, with all three going the way of the Volunteers. Legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt led the Vols in the first two wins in 1996 and 2011. In 1996, Summitt ended up winning the National Championship after defeating former assistant coach Nancy Darsch and the Buckeyes in the second round.
In 2011 and 2016, Ohio State and Tennessee met in the Sweet Sixteen, with the second coming under Summitt’s predecessor Holly Warlick.
All three defeats for the Scarlet and Gray were by double-digits.
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