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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
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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
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2027 SC OL Nathan Carson (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: OT
School: Columbia (SC) Irmo
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 288lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: OT
School: Columbia (SC) Irmo
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 288lbs
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2027 TX LB Cooper Witten (Verbal Offer)
- By ScriptOhio
- Football Recruiting
- 10 Replies
247
Rivals
Hudl
On3
"X"
Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Argyle (TX) Liberty Christian
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 210 lbs
In each and every class, the Buckeyes take big swings at landing the best players. Chris Henry Jr. is the big fish for the Buckeyes in the class of 2026 where their focus is primarily.
Ohio State has put some resources toward the class of 2027 as well. The Buckeyes are set to receive a spring visit from the son of an NFL legend.
2027 LB Cooper Witten will be in Columbus on March 21 visiting the Buckeyes, a day after he visits Michigan. Other spring visits for the son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end and 11-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten will be Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson, SMU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.
Login to view embedded media .
.
.
continued
Just sayin':
1) Getting him on campus for an "unofficial visit" is a good start......
2) It appears that he is a safety not a LB (as shown in On3 picture).
3) In case you wondered, C. J. Witten is a 3 star LB who signed a LOI with Rice per 24/7 and Rivals.
Rivals
Hudl
On3
"X"
Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Argyle (TX) Liberty Christian
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 210 lbs
Ohio State Buckeyes to receive visit from NFL legend’s son that will make everyone feel a bit old
If the Ohio State Buckeyes recruit a player hard they are normally in the mix in the end. Ryan Day and his staff have continued the top level of recruiting since taking over for Urban Meyer over a half-decade ago.In each and every class, the Buckeyes take big swings at landing the best players. Chris Henry Jr. is the big fish for the Buckeyes in the class of 2026 where their focus is primarily.
Ohio State has put some resources toward the class of 2027 as well. The Buckeyes are set to receive a spring visit from the son of an NFL legend.
2027 LB Cooper Witten will be in Columbus on March 21 visiting the Buckeyes, a day after he visits Michigan. Other spring visits for the son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end and 11-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten will be Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Clemson, SMU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.
Login to view embedded media .
.
.
continued
Just sayin':
1) Getting him on campus for an "unofficial visit" is a good start......
2) It appears that he is a safety not a LB (as shown in On3 picture).
3) In case you wondered, C. J. Witten is a 3 star LB who signed a LOI with Rice per 24/7 and Rivals.
LGHL Ohio State women run away from Montana State for 71-51 NCAA Tournament win
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Ohio State women run away from Montana State for 71-51 NCAA Tournament win
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
It was a back-and-forth game, with a technical, in the first half but a 24-point Buckeye run sealed the win.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not lost a first-round game in the 12-year tenure of head coach Kevin McGuff. That continued Friday when the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats behind five Ohio State players in double figures in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Big Sky champions 71-51.
Before the ball was tipped, the Buckeyes were already behind due to injury. Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä, who came on strong at the start of the 2025 calendar, missed the game due to a foot injury. Head coach Kevin McGuff listed Lemmilä as questionable but the center had a boot on her left foot and did not suit up.
Even so, the game was going to be played in the press. Both the Bobcats and Buckeyes are known for playing full-court pressure defenses and they did not disappoint. In the first half, the teams combined for 24 turnovers, with the Buckeyes forcing 14 of the visiting side from Montana.
Ohio State turned those into 18 first-half points and at the end of the first half it was a 32-27 advantage for the Buckeyes, but by no means was it easy for the home side.
In the first quarter, the programs swapped the lead four times, despite the Buckeyes starting the game with turnovers on two of the first three Montana State plays. Giving the visitors an early lead was Big Sky Player of the Year Esmeralda Morales. The guard hit two three-point shots and was part of a seven-point run that put the Buckeyes down four points within the first four minutes.
The Buckeyes answered back with two fast-break baskets off turnovers, followed by a seven-point run that swung the game into Ohio State’s favor.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes were the aggressors with six points to start the quarter but then the Bobcats flipped the momentum of the game, with some assistance from the officiating crew.
It began with an elbow thrown by forward Addison Harris but was called a foul against shooting guard Chance Gray. Soon after that, Gray went up for a shot inside the arc and it looked like a defensive foul. Instead, Gray got called for a travel.
Then on defense, the ball went off Bobcat forward Katelynn Martin and it rolled parallel to the benches courtside. Instead of eventually calling it out on Martin, the referees called a backcourt violation on Thierry even though she was not the last one to touch the ball.
That sent McGuff from angry to incensed. The 12-year Buckeye head coach earned a technical foul for his troubles and Montana State guard Natalie Picton hit two free throws.
They were two of 10-straight points for Picton, part of a one-player 10-point run for Montana State that gave the Bobcats a four-point lead. Afterward, it was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored the last nine points of the second quarter, including six from forward Cotie McMahon. It was part of a 10-point first half for the forward and she and the Buckeyes were only getting started.
Ohio State went on a 24-point run from the 3:17 mark of the second quarter through the 7:08 mark of the third. Out of halftime, Gray hit her first three shots, all from beyond the arc, with Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon, and Petty finishing up a 15-point third-quarter run.
The Buckeyes extended their five-point halftime lead to 18 by the end of the third quarter but near the end of the period, Ohio State looked like a team that knew they were up by 18 points.
Montana State scored seven points to end the third quarter, including one layup where the Buckeye defense had nobody on the player who went up to the rim for an easy layup like she was in practice.
McGuff’s side woke up to start the fourth quarter, scoring seven of the first eight points. With a 24-point lead, all the Buckeyes had to do was outlast the Bobcats. Instead, the Buckeyes kept up the pressure.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Thierry took a shot that missed the rim completely and headed toward the out-of-bounds line. Guard Kennedy Cambridge was not satisfied with giving up the possession and the redshirt sophomore sprinted toward the ball and leapt out of bounds to save it. It went back to Thierry for a layup that kept the Ohio State lead at 24 points.
Montana State cut into the lead but did not have enough time to make the game competitive in the latter minutes of the quarter. With under two minutes remaining, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford brought in backups to give players minutes before the final buzzer.
There were five Ohio State players who scored in double-digits in the win, with Thierry scoring 16 points with five rebounds. Jaloni Cambridge added 12 points 6 assists and 6 steals. McMahon and Gray scored 15 points each. For the Bobcats, Morales led with 18 points while Picton scored 12.
Ohio State also won the battle of the full-court presses. Montana State gave the ball away 26 times, the most turnovers for the Bobcats this season. The Buckeyes had 16 but outscored the Bobcats 32-21 on points off turnovers.
With Ohio State’s win over the Bobcats, the Buckeyes now wait roughly two hours to see who they play in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be either the No. 14 South Florida Bulls or No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers with the time to be announced.
The Buckeyes have recent history against both sides, with a two-game series against the Vols during the 2022-23 and 23-24 seasons. Ohio State won both of the games of the home-and-home.
Ohio State played USF at the San Diego Invitational in December of 2022 and needed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Bulls. In the game, Buckeyes’ point guard Madison Greene tore her ACL for a second consecutive season, ending her 2022-23 campaign.
Overall, Ohio State is 3-10 against the Volunteers and 2-2 against the Bulls in program history.
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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
It was a back-and-forth game, with a technical, in the first half but a 24-point Buckeye run sealed the win.
Ohio State women’s basketball has not lost a first-round game in the 12-year tenure of head coach Kevin McGuff. That continued Friday when the No. 4 Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Montana State Bobcats behind five Ohio State players in double figures in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Big Sky champions 71-51.
Before the ball was tipped, the Buckeyes were already behind due to injury. Freshman center Elsa Lemmilä, who came on strong at the start of the 2025 calendar, missed the game due to a foot injury. Head coach Kevin McGuff listed Lemmilä as questionable but the center had a boot on her left foot and did not suit up.
Even so, the game was going to be played in the press. Both the Bobcats and Buckeyes are known for playing full-court pressure defenses and they did not disappoint. In the first half, the teams combined for 24 turnovers, with the Buckeyes forcing 14 of the visiting side from Montana.
Ohio State turned those into 18 first-half points and at the end of the first half it was a 32-27 advantage for the Buckeyes, but by no means was it easy for the home side.
In the first quarter, the programs swapped the lead four times, despite the Buckeyes starting the game with turnovers on two of the first three Montana State plays. Giving the visitors an early lead was Big Sky Player of the Year Esmeralda Morales. The guard hit two three-point shots and was part of a seven-point run that put the Buckeyes down four points within the first four minutes.
The Buckeyes answered back with two fast-break baskets off turnovers, followed by a seven-point run that swung the game into Ohio State’s favor.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes were the aggressors with six points to start the quarter but then the Bobcats flipped the momentum of the game, with some assistance from the officiating crew.
It began with an elbow thrown by forward Addison Harris but was called a foul against shooting guard Chance Gray. Soon after that, Gray went up for a shot inside the arc and it looked like a defensive foul. Instead, Gray got called for a travel.
Then on defense, the ball went off Bobcat forward Katelynn Martin and it rolled parallel to the benches courtside. Instead of eventually calling it out on Martin, the referees called a backcourt violation on Thierry even though she was not the last one to touch the ball.
That sent McGuff from angry to incensed. The 12-year Buckeye head coach earned a technical foul for his troubles and Montana State guard Natalie Picton hit two free throws.
They were two of 10-straight points for Picton, part of a one-player 10-point run for Montana State that gave the Bobcats a four-point lead. Afterward, it was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored the last nine points of the second quarter, including six from forward Cotie McMahon. It was part of a 10-point first half for the forward and she and the Buckeyes were only getting started.
Ohio State went on a 24-point run from the 3:17 mark of the second quarter through the 7:08 mark of the third. Out of halftime, Gray hit her first three shots, all from beyond the arc, with Jaloni Cambridge, McMahon, and Petty finishing up a 15-point third-quarter run.
The Buckeyes extended their five-point halftime lead to 18 by the end of the third quarter but near the end of the period, Ohio State looked like a team that knew they were up by 18 points.
Montana State scored seven points to end the third quarter, including one layup where the Buckeye defense had nobody on the player who went up to the rim for an easy layup like she was in practice.
McGuff’s side woke up to start the fourth quarter, scoring seven of the first eight points. With a 24-point lead, all the Buckeyes had to do was outlast the Bobcats. Instead, the Buckeyes kept up the pressure.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Thierry took a shot that missed the rim completely and headed toward the out-of-bounds line. Guard Kennedy Cambridge was not satisfied with giving up the possession and the redshirt sophomore sprinted toward the ball and leapt out of bounds to save it. It went back to Thierry for a layup that kept the Ohio State lead at 24 points.
Montana State cut into the lead but did not have enough time to make the game competitive in the latter minutes of the quarter. With under two minutes remaining, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford brought in backups to give players minutes before the final buzzer.
There were five Ohio State players who scored in double-digits in the win, with Thierry scoring 16 points with five rebounds. Jaloni Cambridge added 12 points 6 assists and 6 steals. McMahon and Gray scored 15 points each. For the Bobcats, Morales led with 18 points while Picton scored 12.
Ohio State also won the battle of the full-court presses. Montana State gave the ball away 26 times, the most turnovers for the Bobcats this season. The Buckeyes had 16 but outscored the Bobcats 32-21 on points off turnovers.
What’s Next
With Ohio State’s win over the Bobcats, the Buckeyes now wait roughly two hours to see who they play in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be either the No. 14 South Florida Bulls or No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers with the time to be announced.
The Buckeyes have recent history against both sides, with a two-game series against the Vols during the 2022-23 and 23-24 seasons. Ohio State won both of the games of the home-and-home.
Ohio State played USF at the San Diego Invitational in December of 2022 and needed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Bulls. In the game, Buckeyes’ point guard Madison Greene tore her ACL for a second consecutive season, ending her 2022-23 campaign.
Overall, Ohio State is 3-10 against the Volunteers and 2-2 against the Bulls in program history.
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LGHL Hockey Roundup: Ohio State women’s hockey playing in fifth straight Frozen Four
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Hockey Roundup: Ohio State women’s hockey playing in fifth straight Frozen Four
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeye women will try and bring home their third national title in four years this weekend, while the men battle Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament title game.
Not only are the men’s and women’s basketball seasons heading into their final act as the NCAA Tournaments are beginning, the men’s and women’s hockey seasons also are getting ready to come to a close.
On Sunday a women’s hockey champion will be crowned in Minneapolis. On the men’s side, conference tournament finals are being played, and soon the bracket for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed. Ohio State is not only playing in the women’s Frozen Four, the men’s team will move on to the NCAA Tournament after they play in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday night.
Ohio State’s women’s hockey team is in the midst of an impressive run under head coach Nadine Muzerall. With their 6-1 win over St. Lawrence on Saturday, the Buckeyes secured a spot in their fifth straight Frozen Four, and sixth overall under Muzerall.
To earn their fourth straight championship game appearance, Ohio State will take on Cornell on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, with the winner meeting the winner of the other semifinal between Minnesota and Wisconsin on Sunday.
In their first NCAA Tournament game on Saturday, the Buckeyes hosted St. Lawrence at OSU Ice Rink. The game got off to a rough start when the Saints opened up the scoring 6:26 into the game when Aly McLeod scored a power play goal. The lead didn’t last long, as Sloane Matthews leveled the score seven minutes later. Joy Dunne’s goal with just over a minute left in the first period ended up being the game-winning goal.
After a scoreless second period, the Buckeyes added on to their lead in the third period when Jocelyn Amos, Makenna Webster, Dunne, and Jordyn Petrie netted goals. Dunne became the first Ohio State woman to record multiple goals in an NCAA Tournament game, and her four points were the most by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Goaltender Amanda Thiele made 13 saves to earn the victory, improving her record to 6-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Now Ohio State turns their attention to Cornell, who earned a spot in the Frozen Four by defeating Minnesota-Duluth 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Alyssa Regalado 3:24 into the third period, marking just the second goal of the season for Regalado.
By stopping all 28 shots she faced, goalie Annelies Bergmann recorded her 10th shutout of the season. The Big Red will be making their first Frozen Four appearance since 2019, and their fifth in program history.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25918998/usa_today_24595392.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State and Cornell have already met once this season, with the Buckeyes winning 7-3 in late October in the Icebreaker Tournament Championship Game. Jocelyn Amos recorded two goals and two assists in the game, while Sloane Matthews and Kiara Zanon each had a goal and two assists. So far this season, Cornell has allowed 47 goals to opponents, with seven of those tallies coming in their loss to the Buckeyes in Columbus.
If Ohio State is able to put pucks past Bergmann like they did in the first meeting, they should be in good shape to make the final. Bergmann has been one of the best goalies in the country this year, posting a 1.28 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
If Bergmann isn’t on top of her game, the Big Red might have trouble keeping pace with Ohio State since Cornell doesn’t have quite as much firepower as the Buckeyes. Lindzi Avar leads the team with 15 goals, and is one of five Big Red players with at least 10 goals this year.
By comparison, Ohio State has six players with at least 10 goals, but three have scored at least 17 goals. Jocelyn Amos leads the team with 27 goals, followed by Joy Dunne’s 26 goals.
Time: Friday 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
The Ohio State men’s hockey team also has a very important game this weekend. On Saturday, the Buckeyes take on Michigan State in East Lansing in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
To earn a place in the title game for the third time in program history, Ohio State beat Penn State 4-3 in overtime at Value City Arena on Saturday night. If the Buckeyes are able to beat the Spartans on Saturday, it will be their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. The previous appearances in the championship game came in 2014 and 2018.
The semifinal game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions was a thrilling battle. Ohio State jumped out to a lead when Gunnerwolfe Fontaine scored halfway through the first period. Penn State would come out of the gates firing in the second period, with Ben Schoen scoring at the 2:08 mark, followed by JJ Wiebusch’s power play goal at 9:05 of the period giving the Nittany Lions the lead.
The third period was a wild ride, as Nathan Lewis tied the game halfway through the period. Then Patrick Guzzo gave the Buckeyes the lead a couple minutes later. The advantage wouldn’t last long, though. Matt DiMarsico tied the game back up just a few minutes later. After a tense close to the third period and overtime, Fontaine netted the game-winner at 14:31 of the first overtime period to give Ohio State the win on their home ice. Logan Terness made 23 saves to push his record to 10-8-1 on the season.
Now the Buckeyes will square off with Michigan State, who beat Notre Dame 1-0 on Saturday to keep their dream alive of winning their second straight Big Ten Tournament. The only goal of the victory over the Fighting Irish was scored by Issac Howard 19 seconds into the third period.
Trey Augustine made 18 saves to record his third shutout of the season. If Michigan State is able to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament, they’ll join Notre Dame, who won back-to-back tournament titles in 2017 and 2018, along with Michigan in 2022 and 2023 as schools to win the conference tournament in back-to-back years.
If the four games they played in the regular season are any indication on what we’ll see on Saturday night, Ohio State could have their work cut out for them in East Lansing. The Buckeyes lost three of four meetings with the Spartans, with their only triumph being a 4-2 victory in Columbus on Jan. 30.
Ohio State allowed four goals in each of the other three games the schools played. Then again, not a lot of teams have been able to get the better of Michigan State this year, as the Spartans have a 25-6-4 record, and will be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.
Both squads have shown plenty of offensive prowess this season, with each rostering four players with at least 10 goals. Issac Howard is the most dangerous offensive threat, recording 24 goals and 47 points for Michigan State. The Buckeyes are led in points by Gunnerwolfe Fontaine, who has 36 points, and Riley Thompson has netted a team-high 17 goals.
The title game tilt will likely come down to who is better between the pipes. Trey Augustine has a 2.02 goals against average and .927 save percentage for the Spartans. Logan Terness counters with a 2.25 goals against average and .925 save percentage for the Buckeyes.
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeye women will try and bring home their third national title in four years this weekend, while the men battle Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament title game.
Not only are the men’s and women’s basketball seasons heading into their final act as the NCAA Tournaments are beginning, the men’s and women’s hockey seasons also are getting ready to come to a close.
On Sunday a women’s hockey champion will be crowned in Minneapolis. On the men’s side, conference tournament finals are being played, and soon the bracket for the NCAA Tournament will be revealed. Ohio State is not only playing in the women’s Frozen Four, the men’s team will move on to the NCAA Tournament after they play in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Saturday night.
Women’s hockey
Ohio State’s women’s hockey team is in the midst of an impressive run under head coach Nadine Muzerall. With their 6-1 win over St. Lawrence on Saturday, the Buckeyes secured a spot in their fifth straight Frozen Four, and sixth overall under Muzerall.
To earn their fourth straight championship game appearance, Ohio State will take on Cornell on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, with the winner meeting the winner of the other semifinal between Minnesota and Wisconsin on Sunday.
In their first NCAA Tournament game on Saturday, the Buckeyes hosted St. Lawrence at OSU Ice Rink. The game got off to a rough start when the Saints opened up the scoring 6:26 into the game when Aly McLeod scored a power play goal. The lead didn’t last long, as Sloane Matthews leveled the score seven minutes later. Joy Dunne’s goal with just over a minute left in the first period ended up being the game-winning goal.
After a scoreless second period, the Buckeyes added on to their lead in the third period when Jocelyn Amos, Makenna Webster, Dunne, and Jordyn Petrie netted goals. Dunne became the first Ohio State woman to record multiple goals in an NCAA Tournament game, and her four points were the most by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Goaltender Amanda Thiele made 13 saves to earn the victory, improving her record to 6-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Now Ohio State turns their attention to Cornell, who earned a spot in the Frozen Four by defeating Minnesota-Duluth 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Alyssa Regalado 3:24 into the third period, marking just the second goal of the season for Regalado.
By stopping all 28 shots she faced, goalie Annelies Bergmann recorded her 10th shutout of the season. The Big Red will be making their first Frozen Four appearance since 2019, and their fifth in program history.
Ohio State and Cornell have already met once this season, with the Buckeyes winning 7-3 in late October in the Icebreaker Tournament Championship Game. Jocelyn Amos recorded two goals and two assists in the game, while Sloane Matthews and Kiara Zanon each had a goal and two assists. So far this season, Cornell has allowed 47 goals to opponents, with seven of those tallies coming in their loss to the Buckeyes in Columbus.
If Ohio State is able to put pucks past Bergmann like they did in the first meeting, they should be in good shape to make the final. Bergmann has been one of the best goalies in the country this year, posting a 1.28 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
If Bergmann isn’t on top of her game, the Big Red might have trouble keeping pace with Ohio State since Cornell doesn’t have quite as much firepower as the Buckeyes. Lindzi Avar leads the team with 15 goals, and is one of five Big Red players with at least 10 goals this year.
By comparison, Ohio State has six players with at least 10 goals, but three have scored at least 17 goals. Jocelyn Amos leads the team with 27 goals, followed by Joy Dunne’s 26 goals.
Time: Friday 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Men’s hockey
The Ohio State men’s hockey team also has a very important game this weekend. On Saturday, the Buckeyes take on Michigan State in East Lansing in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
To earn a place in the title game for the third time in program history, Ohio State beat Penn State 4-3 in overtime at Value City Arena on Saturday night. If the Buckeyes are able to beat the Spartans on Saturday, it will be their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. The previous appearances in the championship game came in 2014 and 2018.
The semifinal game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions was a thrilling battle. Ohio State jumped out to a lead when Gunnerwolfe Fontaine scored halfway through the first period. Penn State would come out of the gates firing in the second period, with Ben Schoen scoring at the 2:08 mark, followed by JJ Wiebusch’s power play goal at 9:05 of the period giving the Nittany Lions the lead.
The third period was a wild ride, as Nathan Lewis tied the game halfway through the period. Then Patrick Guzzo gave the Buckeyes the lead a couple minutes later. The advantage wouldn’t last long, though. Matt DiMarsico tied the game back up just a few minutes later. After a tense close to the third period and overtime, Fontaine netted the game-winner at 14:31 of the first overtime period to give Ohio State the win on their home ice. Logan Terness made 23 saves to push his record to 10-8-1 on the season.
Now the Buckeyes will square off with Michigan State, who beat Notre Dame 1-0 on Saturday to keep their dream alive of winning their second straight Big Ten Tournament. The only goal of the victory over the Fighting Irish was scored by Issac Howard 19 seconds into the third period.
Trey Augustine made 18 saves to record his third shutout of the season. If Michigan State is able to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament, they’ll join Notre Dame, who won back-to-back tournament titles in 2017 and 2018, along with Michigan in 2022 and 2023 as schools to win the conference tournament in back-to-back years.
If the four games they played in the regular season are any indication on what we’ll see on Saturday night, Ohio State could have their work cut out for them in East Lansing. The Buckeyes lost three of four meetings with the Spartans, with their only triumph being a 4-2 victory in Columbus on Jan. 30.
Ohio State allowed four goals in each of the other three games the schools played. Then again, not a lot of teams have been able to get the better of Michigan State this year, as the Spartans have a 25-6-4 record, and will be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.
Both squads have shown plenty of offensive prowess this season, with each rostering four players with at least 10 goals. Issac Howard is the most dangerous offensive threat, recording 24 goals and 47 points for Michigan State. The Buckeyes are led in points by Gunnerwolfe Fontaine, who has 36 points, and Riley Thompson has netted a team-high 17 goals.
The title game tilt will likely come down to who is better between the pipes. Trey Augustine has a 2.02 goals against average and .927 save percentage for the Spartans. Logan Terness counters with a 2.25 goals against average and .925 save percentage for the Buckeyes.
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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LGHL Buckeye fans not overly optimistic about women’s basketball’s tournament chances
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Buckeye fans not overly optimistic about women’s basketball’s 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
Samantha Madar USA TODAY Network via IMAGN IMAGES
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Friends, we are living in the madness of March and while the Ohio State men’s basketball team has already closed the book on the 2024-25 season, the Buckeye women are gearing up to start their Big Dance tonight at 5:30 p.m. in a game being broadcast on ESPN2.
So heading into the tournament, we asked Buckeye Nation a pair of questions about the school’s two basketball programs.
We wanted to know what fans’ expectations were for the women’s team as they start their tournament run, and what they would need to get invested in the men’s team next season.
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/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25921567/OhioState_2_31925.png)
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar USA TODAY Network via IMAGN IMAGES
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Friends, we are living in the madness of March and while the Ohio State men’s basketball team has already closed the book on the 2024-25 season, the Buckeye women are gearing up to start their Big Dance tonight at 5:30 p.m. in a game being broadcast on ESPN2.
So heading into the tournament, we asked Buckeye Nation a pair of questions about the school’s two basketball programs.
We wanted to know what fans’ expectations were for the women’s team as they start their tournament run, and what they would need to get invested in the men’s team next season.
Question 1: How will the Ohio State women’s basketball season end?
Question 2: What needs to happen in 2025-26 season to get you back on the OSU men’s basketball team bandwagon?
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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LGHL You’re Nuts: What should be the transfer portal priority for Ohio State men’s basketball?
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You’re Nuts: What should be the transfer portal priority for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What’s the most dire need for Ohio State as they look to improve the roster?
Welcome to the madness, friends. March Madness, transfer portal madness, the madness of wearing a jacket to work in the morning because it’s chilly, but not needing it by the afternoon because the temperature jumped 20 degrees by the time you head home — welcome all of it.
As we sink deeper into our couches this weekend and watch basketball until our eyeballs sink into our skulls, we’re also looking at Ohio State and its needs as the offseason develops. So far Austin Parks has entered the portal, opening up one roster spot for next season, but odds are that won’t be the only spot that opens up.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated if this year’s failures change the expectations for next season at all. Both writers said no, the expectations won’t change at all, but that’s because Connor and Justin have different expectations. Justin said Jake Diebler’s second team needs to make the NCAA Tournament still. Connor said Ohio State needs to take a step forward as if they had made the NCAA Tournament this year, which means actually winning a game or two in the Big Dance.
Fifty-five percent of the readers sided with Connor last week, saying that the program’s failure to meet expectations this year does not mean the bar will remain at just making the NCAA Tournament next year.
Connor- 87
Without knowing how many spots Ohio State will have, we have to assume that the roster won’t be too flexible and the Buckeyes may not be adding a ton. If that’s the case, Diebler and his staff will need to be very deliberate in which players they add to the program between now and say, May.
In Ohio State’s loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw combined to score two points on 1-of-6 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. On the season, they combined to average 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Austin Parks and Ivan Njegovan provided basically nothing behind the two of them.
Ohio State’s biggest weakness this past season was the lack of a strong foundation at the center position, both offensively and defensively. Bradshaw was not sturdy enough to guard the paint, so Stewart had to slide over to center. However, Stewart is only 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, so he was constantly playing out of position. That led to him fouling a ton, averaging one foul every 5.4 minutes of gameplay this past season.
Diebler and his staff really have no choice this off-season but to add a starting-caliber center. Ohio State’s offense was far too reliant on its guards to go out and create offense on their own with terrible spacing because teams did not have to respect the painted area.
Former Iowa center Owen Freeman is the best center available right now in the transfer portal, but I’m skeptical Ohio State will land any of the elite transfer players this spring and I also don’t think the Buckeyes need an elite center to turn this team into an NCAA Tournament roster. Even someone similar to the Ohio State version of Zed Key — 10 points and six rebounds per game — would have been really helpful this past season to create some spacing for Ohio State’s guards.
I’m not sure who it will be, but the coaching staff has to go add a post player that they can insert into the starting lineup in November who will help space the offense and create a little more open space for guys like Bruce Thornton and John Mobley.
Over the last two years, the Buckeyes have brought in Micah Parrish and Jamison Battle as proven and experienced wings who can shoot the ball and play high minutes as starters.
They will have to do that again with the loss of Parrish to graduation.
In my ideal world, the Buckeyes bring in a starting wing and center and start those two transfers, with Devin Royal at the four and Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw as backups in the front court. The backcourt remains the same.
Finding a wing in the portal is the priority because no one can step into that role right now. Royal is not a consistent enough shooter to play the three, and his main impact is in the paint.
As for a center, Stewart and Bradshaw are still young and can improve, so even though I do think you have to bring in someone else to start, they are at least there if they swing and miss.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What’s the most dire need for Ohio State as they look to improve the roster?
Welcome to the madness, friends. March Madness, transfer portal madness, the madness of wearing a jacket to work in the morning because it’s chilly, but not needing it by the afternoon because the temperature jumped 20 degrees by the time you head home — welcome all of it.
As we sink deeper into our couches this weekend and watch basketball until our eyeballs sink into our skulls, we’re also looking at Ohio State and its needs as the offseason develops. So far Austin Parks has entered the portal, opening up one roster spot for next season, but odds are that won’t be the only spot that opens up.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated if this year’s failures change the expectations for next season at all. Both writers said no, the expectations won’t change at all, but that’s because Connor and Justin have different expectations. Justin said Jake Diebler’s second team needs to make the NCAA Tournament still. Connor said Ohio State needs to take a step forward as if they had made the NCAA Tournament this year, which means actually winning a game or two in the Big Dance.
Fifty-five percent of the readers sided with Connor last week, saying that the program’s failure to meet expectations this year does not mean the bar will remain at just making the NCAA Tournament next year.
After 196 weeks:
Connor- 87
Justin- 84
Other- 19
(There have been six ties)
Without knowing how many spots Ohio State will have, we have to assume that the roster won’t be too flexible and the Buckeyes may not be adding a ton. If that’s the case, Diebler and his staff will need to be very deliberate in which players they add to the program between now and say, May.
This week’s question: What should the transfer portal priority be for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor: Starting center
In Ohio State’s loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw combined to score two points on 1-of-6 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. On the season, they combined to average 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Austin Parks and Ivan Njegovan provided basically nothing behind the two of them.
Ohio State’s biggest weakness this past season was the lack of a strong foundation at the center position, both offensively and defensively. Bradshaw was not sturdy enough to guard the paint, so Stewart had to slide over to center. However, Stewart is only 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, so he was constantly playing out of position. That led to him fouling a ton, averaging one foul every 5.4 minutes of gameplay this past season.
Diebler and his staff really have no choice this off-season but to add a starting-caliber center. Ohio State’s offense was far too reliant on its guards to go out and create offense on their own with terrible spacing because teams did not have to respect the painted area.
Former Iowa center Owen Freeman is the best center available right now in the transfer portal, but I’m skeptical Ohio State will land any of the elite transfer players this spring and I also don’t think the Buckeyes need an elite center to turn this team into an NCAA Tournament roster. Even someone similar to the Ohio State version of Zed Key — 10 points and six rebounds per game — would have been really helpful this past season to create some spacing for Ohio State’s guards.
I’m not sure who it will be, but the coaching staff has to go add a post player that they can insert into the starting lineup in November who will help space the offense and create a little more open space for guys like Bruce Thornton and John Mobley.
Justin: Sharp shooting wing
Over the last two years, the Buckeyes have brought in Micah Parrish and Jamison Battle as proven and experienced wings who can shoot the ball and play high minutes as starters.
They will have to do that again with the loss of Parrish to graduation.
In my ideal world, the Buckeyes bring in a starting wing and center and start those two transfers, with Devin Royal at the four and Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw as backups in the front court. The backcourt remains the same.
Finding a wing in the portal is the priority because no one can step into that role right now. Royal is not a consistent enough shooter to play the three, and his main impact is in the paint.
As for a center, Stewart and Bradshaw are still young and can improve, so even though I do think you have to bring in someone else to start, they are at least there if they swing and miss.
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