-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye do you wish had won a national title at Ohio State?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye do you wish had won a national title at Ohio State?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X49270 TK1 R9 F25
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
On Sunday we saw the final game of Caitlin Clark’s remarkable college basketball career. Unfortunately for Iowa fans, Clark and the Hawkeyes fell short in the championship game for the second year in a row. After handing South Carolina their only loss of the season last year in the Final Four battle between the two teams, this year Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks were able to finish their season undefeated with an 87-75 over Clark and company in Cleveland. Between South Carolina not losing a game all year, Clark breaking the NCAA scoring record, and the play of Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, and others, it was the most memorable women’s college basketball season in history.
When the final whistle blew on Sunday, the reality set in that Clark would leave college without having won a national championship. Despite not bringing a title back to Iowa City, Clark will still be looked at as one of the most influential players women’s college basketball has ever seen. Leading the Hawkeyes to a title would have been the icing on the cake of an iconic college career. Not only is Clark college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, but she is also a two-time National Player of the Year and will be the first pick in the WNBA Draft, which will take place on Monday.
Since Clark wasn’t able to win a title at Iowa, that got us thinking about which Ohio State players we wish had been able to win a national championship during their time in Columbus. Of course we want every athlete that dons the scarlet and gray to win a title but we know that isn’t possible. Instead, we figured we’d focus on one player that you thought deserved to raise a trophy while they were a Buckeye.
About the only thing Orlando Pace wasn’t able to do on the football field was win a national championship at Ohio State. The offensive tackle not only won the Lombardi Trophy twice, the Outland Trophy, and Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams, and has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Pace was so impactful on the field as a Buckeye that he was one of the few linemen to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in the voting back in 1996.
What makes Pace not winning a title while he was a Buckeye even tougher to stomach is Ohio State had great teams in both 1995 and 1996, with the only thing keeping them out of contention for a championship being losses to Michigan in their final game of the regular season. The Buckeyes lost 31-23 in Ann Arbor in 1995 to a Wolverine squad that entered The Game with an 8-3 record. The following season saw another Ohio State team that entered The Game ranked second in the country losing 13-9 in Columbus to another 8-3 Michigan team. While it’s not a given the Buckeyes would go on to be named national champs had they beaten Michigan and won their bowl games, it would have been nice for the Buckeyes and Pace to have a chance to at least state their case for a title.
Let’s be honest, Pace doesn’t need a college football national title since his body of work already speaks for itself. The main reason I wish Pace had been able to get a championship at Ohio State is because it would only add to him being one of the best offensive linemen that the game of football has ever seen. Much like what Clark did on the court at Iowa, The Pancake Man did things that we’ll likely never see on the football field in Columbus from an offensive lineman. It would have been incredible to see a Buckeye team win a national championship where their best player was an offensive lineman.
Orlando Pace is a great option for this question. One of the best Buckeyes to ever play the game and someone who certainly deserved to be on a championship team. However, I am going to go in a slightly different direction, in fact, I’m just going to go a few years behind the greatest offensive lineman in Buckeye history.
My pick is King Eddie George, who ran behind Orlando Pace for two seasons in Columbus and he is the first OSU player that I truly remember being a die-hard fan of. His junior season in 1994 — in which he ran for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns — was my eighth grade year, and I was just starting to truly come into my Buckeye fandom as an individual sentient human being. Of course, I was a lifelong Ohio State fan, but most of that came from living in Central Ohio and being the child of OSU alums. With Eddie, I felt like I was finally making a connection with a player beyond just my inherent connection with the school.
George’s senior season saw him win Ohio State’s first Heisman Trophy since Archie Griffin two decades before. He rushed for 1,927 yards and 24 TDs while also adding in 417 yards and one score as a receiver. There was just something magical about watching Eddie run — which continued in the NFL; he was a combination of power, speed, and agility that has become increasingly rare in the decades since he played.
Like Pace, Eddie’s Buckeyes were part of the John Cooper Era, which means that far athletically superior teams often lost to Michigan and in bowl games. That is true, to various degrees, in both of the seasons that saw No. 27 serve as the featured back. In his junior year of 1994, OSU did get one of Cooper’s two victories over Michigan, but had already lost three times in the regular season and then fell to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.
Then, in 1995, Ohio State was No. 2 heading into the final weekend of the regular season, where it lost in Ann Arbor and then fell to Tennessee, again in the Citrus Bowl.
I can only imagine what a runner like Eddie George would have been able to accomplish playing for Jim Tressell, or even Urban Meyer; I, for one, think that playing for a different OSU head coach might have been enough to get Eddie his national title.
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
SetNumber: X49270 TK1 R9 F25
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
On Sunday we saw the final game of Caitlin Clark’s remarkable college basketball career. Unfortunately for Iowa fans, Clark and the Hawkeyes fell short in the championship game for the second year in a row. After handing South Carolina their only loss of the season last year in the Final Four battle between the two teams, this year Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks were able to finish their season undefeated with an 87-75 over Clark and company in Cleveland. Between South Carolina not losing a game all year, Clark breaking the NCAA scoring record, and the play of Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, and others, it was the most memorable women’s college basketball season in history.
When the final whistle blew on Sunday, the reality set in that Clark would leave college without having won a national championship. Despite not bringing a title back to Iowa City, Clark will still be looked at as one of the most influential players women’s college basketball has ever seen. Leading the Hawkeyes to a title would have been the icing on the cake of an iconic college career. Not only is Clark college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, but she is also a two-time National Player of the Year and will be the first pick in the WNBA Draft, which will take place on Monday.
Since Clark wasn’t able to win a title at Iowa, that got us thinking about which Ohio State players we wish had been able to win a national championship during their time in Columbus. Of course we want every athlete that dons the scarlet and gray to win a title but we know that isn’t possible. Instead, we figured we’d focus on one player that you thought deserved to raise a trophy while they were a Buckeye.
Today’s question: Which Buckeye do you wish had won a national championship while at Ohio State?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Orlando Pace
About the only thing Orlando Pace wasn’t able to do on the football field was win a national championship at Ohio State. The offensive tackle not only won the Lombardi Trophy twice, the Outland Trophy, and Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams, and has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Pace was so impactful on the field as a Buckeye that he was one of the few linemen to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in the voting back in 1996.
What makes Pace not winning a title while he was a Buckeye even tougher to stomach is Ohio State had great teams in both 1995 and 1996, with the only thing keeping them out of contention for a championship being losses to Michigan in their final game of the regular season. The Buckeyes lost 31-23 in Ann Arbor in 1995 to a Wolverine squad that entered The Game with an 8-3 record. The following season saw another Ohio State team that entered The Game ranked second in the country losing 13-9 in Columbus to another 8-3 Michigan team. While it’s not a given the Buckeyes would go on to be named national champs had they beaten Michigan and won their bowl games, it would have been nice for the Buckeyes and Pace to have a chance to at least state their case for a title.
Let’s be honest, Pace doesn’t need a college football national title since his body of work already speaks for itself. The main reason I wish Pace had been able to get a championship at Ohio State is because it would only add to him being one of the best offensive linemen that the game of football has ever seen. Much like what Clark did on the court at Iowa, The Pancake Man did things that we’ll likely never see on the football field in Columbus from an offensive lineman. It would have been incredible to see a Buckeye team win a national championship where their best player was an offensive lineman.
Matt’s answer: Eddie George
Orlando Pace is a great option for this question. One of the best Buckeyes to ever play the game and someone who certainly deserved to be on a championship team. However, I am going to go in a slightly different direction, in fact, I’m just going to go a few years behind the greatest offensive lineman in Buckeye history.
My pick is King Eddie George, who ran behind Orlando Pace for two seasons in Columbus and he is the first OSU player that I truly remember being a die-hard fan of. His junior season in 1994 — in which he ran for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns — was my eighth grade year, and I was just starting to truly come into my Buckeye fandom as an individual sentient human being. Of course, I was a lifelong Ohio State fan, but most of that came from living in Central Ohio and being the child of OSU alums. With Eddie, I felt like I was finally making a connection with a player beyond just my inherent connection with the school.
George’s senior season saw him win Ohio State’s first Heisman Trophy since Archie Griffin two decades before. He rushed for 1,927 yards and 24 TDs while also adding in 417 yards and one score as a receiver. There was just something magical about watching Eddie run — which continued in the NFL; he was a combination of power, speed, and agility that has become increasingly rare in the decades since he played.
Like Pace, Eddie’s Buckeyes were part of the John Cooper Era, which means that far athletically superior teams often lost to Michigan and in bowl games. That is true, to various degrees, in both of the seasons that saw No. 27 serve as the featured back. In his junior year of 1994, OSU did get one of Cooper’s two victories over Michigan, but had already lost three times in the regular season and then fell to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.
Then, in 1995, Ohio State was No. 2 heading into the final weekend of the regular season, where it lost in Ann Arbor and then fell to Tennessee, again in the Citrus Bowl.
I can only imagine what a runner like Eddie George would have been able to accomplish playing for Jim Tressell, or even Urban Meyer; I, for one, think that playing for a different OSU head coach might have been enough to get Eddie his national title.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Farewell to Roddy Gayle and Zed Key, hello to... Bronny James?
- News
- 0 Replies
Bucketheads Podcast: Farewell to Roddy Gayle and Zed Key, hello to... Bronny James?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Disp / USA TODAY NETWORK
Could Bronny James be headed to Ohio State? And who was interested in the Ohio State job?
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On Episode 116, we are officially in the transfer portal and scoops season, and the Buckeyes have been involved in both.
First, we discuss Roddy Gayle Jr. and Zed Key's entering the transfer portal. We also discuss their careers in Columbus, plus where they could land and what might be the best fit for them.
Then, we talk about the reports that John Calipari showed interest in the Ohio State job before the Buckeyes hired Jake Diebler. What does interest actually mean? And do we think there was actually a chance Cal could have ended up in Columbus?
Lastly, Ohio State hired Joel Justus as an assistant coach and Bronny James is in the transfer portal and has entered the NBA draft. We close the episode discussing those two prominent sports figures and their recent ties to our wonderful university. Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Disp / USA TODAY NETWORK
Could Bronny James be headed to Ohio State? And who was interested in the Ohio State job?
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On Episode 116, we are officially in the transfer portal and scoops season, and the Buckeyes have been involved in both.
First, we discuss Roddy Gayle Jr. and Zed Key's entering the transfer portal. We also discuss their careers in Columbus, plus where they could land and what might be the best fit for them.
Then, we talk about the reports that John Calipari showed interest in the Ohio State job before the Buckeyes hired Jake Diebler. What does interest actually mean? And do we think there was actually a chance Cal could have ended up in Columbus?
Lastly, Ohio State hired Joel Justus as an assistant coach and Bronny James is in the transfer portal and has entered the NBA draft. We close the episode discussing those two prominent sports figures and their recent ties to our wonderful university. Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Dallan Hayden to hit the transfer portal, men’s basketball hires Joel Justus
- News
- 0 Replies
Dallan Hayden to hit the transfer portal, men’s basketball hires Joel Justus
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State RB Dallan Hayden plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal
Grant Grubbs, On3
What Dallan Hayden’s transfer portal plans mean for the Buckeyes (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Julian Sayin has his black stripe removed
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State Defensive End Mitchell Melton Standing out in Spring Practice, Aiming to Stack Healthy Seasons for First Time
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Power Rankings: Potential breakout stars at Ohio State’s spring game
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
N.C. State’s Joel Justus joining Ohio State’s Jake Diebler’s staff
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State before Arkansas? Kentucky’s John Calipari reached out
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
You’re Nuts: Biggest transfer loss for Ohio State men’s basketball
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
An Updated Look at Ohio State’s Transfer Portal Targets for 2023-24
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Track & field, men’s volleyball lead OSU spring sport storylines you should be following
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Golfer Neal Shipley Set to Live Out Dream of Playing in the Masters
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
This has disaster written all over it:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State RB Dallan Hayden plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal
Grant Grubbs, On3
What Dallan Hayden’s transfer portal plans mean for the Buckeyes (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Julian Sayin has his black stripe removed
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State Defensive End Mitchell Melton Standing out in Spring Practice, Aiming to Stack Healthy Seasons for First Time
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Power Rankings: Potential breakout stars at Ohio State’s spring game
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
N.C. State’s Joel Justus joining Ohio State’s Jake Diebler’s staff
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State before Arkansas? Kentucky’s John Calipari reached out
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
You’re Nuts: Biggest transfer loss for Ohio State men’s basketball
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
An Updated Look at Ohio State’s Transfer Portal Targets for 2023-24
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Track & field, men’s volleyball lead OSU spring sport storylines you should be following
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Golfer Neal Shipley Set to Live Out Dream of Playing in the Masters
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
And now for something completely different...
This has disaster written all over it:
Continue reading...
LGHL Track & field, men’s volleyball lead OSU spring sport storylines you should be following
- News
- 0 Replies
Track & field, men’s volleyball lead OSU spring sport storylines you should be following
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateMTEN Twitter
Buckeye news updates on the No. 10 men’s volleyball team, softball, and more.
Whether you’re looking to get on the tennis train, take a few laps around the track, or root, root, root for the Buckeyes’ baseball and softball teams, here at LGHL, we’re keeping you up-to-date on what’s happening with all your Buckeye sports teams.
The Buckeyes hit the road to face No. 23 Nebraska in Lincoln this past weekend, falling 2-1 in the series but winning big during Sunday’s game to prevent the sweep.
Friday, the Buckeyes were blanked by the Cornhuskers, 3-0, to open the series. Cornhusker pitcher Brett Sears threw a complete game shutout, with the loss going to OSU pitcher Landon Beidelschies, who gave up all three runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Saturday looked more promising, with the Buckeyes jumping out to a 2-0 lead, thanks to a home run from Josh Stevenson and an RBI single from Mitchell Okuley, but ultimately falling, 7-2. Gavin Bruni took the loss for the Buckeyes, and like Beidelschies on Friday, gave up three runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25381276/Baseball.jpeg)
@OhioStateBASE Twitter
They showed up prepared on Sunday though, keeping the Huskers’ brooms in storage, thanks to swinging bats and wild pitches. The Buckeyes jumped out to an early lead, thanks to an RBI groundout from Henry Kaczmar which drove home Isaac Cadena, along with an RBI double from Okuley that drove home Matthew Graveline. Graveline had struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. Kaczmar also put up a leadoff home run in the third, Joseph Mershon had a two-run single, and Okuley put the icing on the cake with a ninth-inning grand slam.
Next up, the boys in Scarlet head back to Columbus for a six-game homestand. They’ll kick things off against Bowling Green (15-10) on Weds, followed by Morehead State (17-14) on Thursday. They’ll then take on Iowa in a three-game series, Friday-Sunday.
The Buckeye softball team fell to 19-15 (2-4 in the Big Ten) after being swept on the road by Minnesota (21-15, 7-2).
Minnesota won the Friday night matchup, 9-1, with freshman Jasmyn Burns bringing in the Buckeyes’ lone run with her first home run of the season.
Saturday brought more woes for the Buckeyes, as they dropped both games in a doubleheader. Initially, they were set to play one game on Saturday, and one on Sunday, but due to rain in the forecast, the schedule was reconfigured into Saturday’s doubleheader. They lost the first game, 14-6 but kept it much closer in the second game, falling just shy with a final score of 12-11.
In the first game, the Buckeyes led 6-2, with the Golden Gophers going on to put up 12 unanswered runs in the OSU loss, 10 of which came in the bottom of the sixth.
In the second game, the Buckeyes again jumped out to an early lead, 11-3, and while Minnesota closed the gap a bit in the sixth, Minnesota didn’t seal their win until the bottom of the seventh. Still, it was an exceptional showing for Sam Hackenbracht. The Buckeye went four-for-four with two home runs and four RBIs. Tegan Cortelletti went 6-for-8 with two RBIs, and Taylor Heckman put up six RBIs.
Next up, the Buckeyes will regroup as they head home to host a midweek matchup against Ohio at Buckeye Field this Wednesday.
Both the men’s and women’s golf teams have this week off from competition; instead, they’ll be busy preparing for their next outings.
The men next take the course April 19-21, when they host the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament in Columbus.
The women’s regular season comes to a close in Columbus on April 13-14, when they host the Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational at the OSU Scarlet Course.
The women’s lacrosse team (7-5) fell to Cincinnati (10-4) in the first game of a three-game road stretch, but they’ve still got reason to celebrate, as last week’s win over No. 19 Penn State brought with it weekly honors for two Buckeye players.
Goalie Regan Alexander was named IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week and named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her role in the Buckeyes’ come-from-behind victory over the Nittany Lions. Attacker Kate Tyack won both the Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week awards, on the back of her hat trick (all of which came in the final 2:56 of the game).
Against Cincinnati, the Buckeyes took an early 4-2 lead before Cincinnati put up 5 unanswered goals. Both teams went back and forth a bit before OSU regained its footing with a four-goal rally late in the game, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the job done, and the Buckeyes fell, 13-11.
Next up, the women will continue their three-game road stretch, starting with Louisville on Tuesday and Northwestern on Saturday.
The men’s team (6-6, 1-2) also fell this week in a close contest with No. 9 Maryland (7-3, 2-1) but had their own weekly honors to celebrate as well.
Goalie Caleb Fyock was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season for his role in the Buckeyes’ road victory over No. 19 Rutgers last week. Fyock had 12 saves in the win.
Against Maryland, it was a neck-and-neck contest, tied up at half with three goals apiece. Each team had a three-goal run in the second half, but Maryland was able to secure the victory, 8-7, in the Terrapins’ lowest-scoring outing of the season.
Fyock had 11 saves, and Jack McKenna had his third hat trick of the season.
The men (6-5, 1-1) took down No. 19 Rutgers on the road in New Jersey, 14-8. They never trailed, in what turned out to be a dominant victory for the men.
Alex Marinier had a record day, with a career-high five goals and five points in the Buckeye victory. The Buckeyes also excelled defensively, holding Rutgers to its second-lowest scoring game of the year, and doing a great job forcing turnovers from the Scarlet Knights.
Next, the men will return home to host Johns Hopkins on Sunday at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
The Ohio State Track & Field team headed to South Carolina for the Gamecock Invitational, where they swept the 100m/110m hurdles.
Braxton Brann won his first collegiate 110m hurdles contest, posting a time of 13.96. Janela Spencer ran 13.31 in the 100m hurdles to complete the sweep.
The Buckeyes also placed in a number of events, finishing as the runner-up in the women’s 100m, men’s and women’s pole vault, women’s 200m, men’s and women’s 4x100m relay, and women’s 4x400m relay,
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25381277/Track.jpeg)
@OhioStateTFXC Twitter
Up next for the Buckeyes, they will split time, heading to the Tom Jones Memorial and the Bryan Clay Invite this Friday and Saturday.
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s rowing team hosted the OSU Regatta in Columbus last Saturday, facing off primarily against Minnesota, with No. 18 Oregon State and No. 16 Indiana also competing.
The competition marked the Buckeyes’ Senior Day, celebrating the 16 senior members of the team completing their careers, and it came with big results.
OSU won six of their seven races, falling to Minnesota only in the 1N8.
The Buckeyes have this coming weekend off. Up next, they’ll head to Sarasota, Florida for the Big Ten Invite on April 19.
The No. 10 men’s volleyball team (19-8, 11-5) wrapped up regular season play with two home matches last week, facing McKendree to close out MIVA play last Thursday, followed by Senior Day against Maryville on Friday.
Against McKendree, the Buckeyes dropped the first two sets before coming back to win the match, 3-2. Jacob Pasteur led the Buckeyes with 15 kills in the victory.
The Buckeyes finish the MIVA regular season in third place, with an 11-5 record in the conference.
They then finished the regular season with an out-of-conference sweep, 3-0, over Maryville on Senior Day, Kyle Teune led both teams with 10 kills.
Now, the Buckeyes head into the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the MIVA postseason tournament. They’ll host No. 6-seed Lewis—a team the Buckeyes beat twice this season—this Saturday at 5 PM.
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s tennis team (13-6, 6-1) posted another sweep last week, this time a 7-0 victory against Penn State on the road, for OSU’s sixth consecutive win and third consecutive sweep.
It was the Buckeyes’ eighth shutout this year, propelled by six singles victories, five of which came in straight sets. OSU also secured the doubles point. Sydni Ratliff, No. 41-ranked Luciana Perry, and No. 15-ranked Irina Cantos Siemers all won in both singles and doubles.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25381281/WTennis.jpeg)
@OhioStAthletics Twitter
Audrey Spencer joined Ratliff in the doubles win, and Teah Chavez and Akanksha Bhan each contributed a singles victory.
Next up, they’ll head to Iowa for a road match on April 12, followed by a trip to Nebraska on April 14.
On the men’s side, the No. 1 team in the country (23-1, 5-0) remains undefeated in the conference after sweeping Penn State, 7-0, on Friday night.
No. 24 Jack Anthrop and No. 110 Alexander Bernard remain undefeated in singles, and the Buckeyes lost just one singles set on their way to sweeping the singles points. OSU also dominated the doubles point, with victories from Bryce Nakashima and Bernard, as well as the No. 13-ranked duo of Andrew Lutschaunig and Justin Boulais.
The men will now head into a huge weekend, first hosting Michigan State—who remain undefeated in conference play—followed by a matchup with rivals Michigan.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateMTEN Twitter
Buckeye news updates on the No. 10 men’s volleyball team, softball, and more.
Whether you’re looking to get on the tennis train, take a few laps around the track, or root, root, root for the Buckeyes’ baseball and softball teams, here at LGHL, we’re keeping you up-to-date on what’s happening with all your Buckeye sports teams.
Baseball
The Buckeyes hit the road to face No. 23 Nebraska in Lincoln this past weekend, falling 2-1 in the series but winning big during Sunday’s game to prevent the sweep.
Friday, the Buckeyes were blanked by the Cornhuskers, 3-0, to open the series. Cornhusker pitcher Brett Sears threw a complete game shutout, with the loss going to OSU pitcher Landon Beidelschies, who gave up all three runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Saturday looked more promising, with the Buckeyes jumping out to a 2-0 lead, thanks to a home run from Josh Stevenson and an RBI single from Mitchell Okuley, but ultimately falling, 7-2. Gavin Bruni took the loss for the Buckeyes, and like Beidelschies on Friday, gave up three runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
They showed up prepared on Sunday though, keeping the Huskers’ brooms in storage, thanks to swinging bats and wild pitches. The Buckeyes jumped out to an early lead, thanks to an RBI groundout from Henry Kaczmar which drove home Isaac Cadena, along with an RBI double from Okuley that drove home Matthew Graveline. Graveline had struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. Kaczmar also put up a leadoff home run in the third, Joseph Mershon had a two-run single, and Okuley put the icing on the cake with a ninth-inning grand slam.
Next up, the boys in Scarlet head back to Columbus for a six-game homestand. They’ll kick things off against Bowling Green (15-10) on Weds, followed by Morehead State (17-14) on Thursday. They’ll then take on Iowa in a three-game series, Friday-Sunday.
Softball
The Buckeye softball team fell to 19-15 (2-4 in the Big Ten) after being swept on the road by Minnesota (21-15, 7-2).
Minnesota won the Friday night matchup, 9-1, with freshman Jasmyn Burns bringing in the Buckeyes’ lone run with her first home run of the season.
Saturday brought more woes for the Buckeyes, as they dropped both games in a doubleheader. Initially, they were set to play one game on Saturday, and one on Sunday, but due to rain in the forecast, the schedule was reconfigured into Saturday’s doubleheader. They lost the first game, 14-6 but kept it much closer in the second game, falling just shy with a final score of 12-11.
In the first game, the Buckeyes led 6-2, with the Golden Gophers going on to put up 12 unanswered runs in the OSU loss, 10 of which came in the bottom of the sixth.
In the second game, the Buckeyes again jumped out to an early lead, 11-3, and while Minnesota closed the gap a bit in the sixth, Minnesota didn’t seal their win until the bottom of the seventh. Still, it was an exceptional showing for Sam Hackenbracht. The Buckeye went four-for-four with two home runs and four RBIs. Tegan Cortelletti went 6-for-8 with two RBIs, and Taylor Heckman put up six RBIs.
Next up, the Buckeyes will regroup as they head home to host a midweek matchup against Ohio at Buckeye Field this Wednesday.
Golf
Both the men’s and women’s golf teams have this week off from competition; instead, they’ll be busy preparing for their next outings.
The men next take the course April 19-21, when they host the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament in Columbus.
The women’s regular season comes to a close in Columbus on April 13-14, when they host the Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational at the OSU Scarlet Course.
Lacrosse
The women’s lacrosse team (7-5) fell to Cincinnati (10-4) in the first game of a three-game road stretch, but they’ve still got reason to celebrate, as last week’s win over No. 19 Penn State brought with it weekly honors for two Buckeye players.
Goalie Regan Alexander was named IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week and named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her role in the Buckeyes’ come-from-behind victory over the Nittany Lions. Attacker Kate Tyack won both the Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week awards, on the back of her hat trick (all of which came in the final 2:56 of the game).
Against Cincinnati, the Buckeyes took an early 4-2 lead before Cincinnati put up 5 unanswered goals. Both teams went back and forth a bit before OSU regained its footing with a four-goal rally late in the game, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the job done, and the Buckeyes fell, 13-11.
Next up, the women will continue their three-game road stretch, starting with Louisville on Tuesday and Northwestern on Saturday.
The men’s team (6-6, 1-2) also fell this week in a close contest with No. 9 Maryland (7-3, 2-1) but had their own weekly honors to celebrate as well.
Goalie Caleb Fyock was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season for his role in the Buckeyes’ road victory over No. 19 Rutgers last week. Fyock had 12 saves in the win.
Against Maryland, it was a neck-and-neck contest, tied up at half with three goals apiece. Each team had a three-goal run in the second half, but Maryland was able to secure the victory, 8-7, in the Terrapins’ lowest-scoring outing of the season.
Fyock had 11 saves, and Jack McKenna had his third hat trick of the season.
The men (6-5, 1-1) took down No. 19 Rutgers on the road in New Jersey, 14-8. They never trailed, in what turned out to be a dominant victory for the men.
Alex Marinier had a record day, with a career-high five goals and five points in the Buckeye victory. The Buckeyes also excelled defensively, holding Rutgers to its second-lowest scoring game of the year, and doing a great job forcing turnovers from the Scarlet Knights.
Next, the men will return home to host Johns Hopkins on Sunday at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
Track & Field
The Ohio State Track & Field team headed to South Carolina for the Gamecock Invitational, where they swept the 100m/110m hurdles.
Braxton Brann won his first collegiate 110m hurdles contest, posting a time of 13.96. Janela Spencer ran 13.31 in the 100m hurdles to complete the sweep.
The Buckeyes also placed in a number of events, finishing as the runner-up in the women’s 100m, men’s and women’s pole vault, women’s 200m, men’s and women’s 4x100m relay, and women’s 4x400m relay,
Up next for the Buckeyes, they will split time, heading to the Tom Jones Memorial and the Bryan Clay Invite this Friday and Saturday.
Rowing
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s rowing team hosted the OSU Regatta in Columbus last Saturday, facing off primarily against Minnesota, with No. 18 Oregon State and No. 16 Indiana also competing.
The competition marked the Buckeyes’ Senior Day, celebrating the 16 senior members of the team completing their careers, and it came with big results.
OSU won six of their seven races, falling to Minnesota only in the 1N8.
The Buckeyes have this coming weekend off. Up next, they’ll head to Sarasota, Florida for the Big Ten Invite on April 19.
Men’s Volleyball
The No. 10 men’s volleyball team (19-8, 11-5) wrapped up regular season play with two home matches last week, facing McKendree to close out MIVA play last Thursday, followed by Senior Day against Maryville on Friday.
Against McKendree, the Buckeyes dropped the first two sets before coming back to win the match, 3-2. Jacob Pasteur led the Buckeyes with 15 kills in the victory.
The Buckeyes finish the MIVA regular season in third place, with an 11-5 record in the conference.
They then finished the regular season with an out-of-conference sweep, 3-0, over Maryville on Senior Day, Kyle Teune led both teams with 10 kills.
Now, the Buckeyes head into the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the MIVA postseason tournament. They’ll host No. 6-seed Lewis—a team the Buckeyes beat twice this season—this Saturday at 5 PM.
Tennis
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s tennis team (13-6, 6-1) posted another sweep last week, this time a 7-0 victory against Penn State on the road, for OSU’s sixth consecutive win and third consecutive sweep.
It was the Buckeyes’ eighth shutout this year, propelled by six singles victories, five of which came in straight sets. OSU also secured the doubles point. Sydni Ratliff, No. 41-ranked Luciana Perry, and No. 15-ranked Irina Cantos Siemers all won in both singles and doubles.
Audrey Spencer joined Ratliff in the doubles win, and Teah Chavez and Akanksha Bhan each contributed a singles victory.
Next up, they’ll head to Iowa for a road match on April 12, followed by a trip to Nebraska on April 14.
On the men’s side, the No. 1 team in the country (23-1, 5-0) remains undefeated in the conference after sweeping Penn State, 7-0, on Friday night.
No. 24 Jack Anthrop and No. 110 Alexander Bernard remain undefeated in singles, and the Buckeyes lost just one singles set on their way to sweeping the singles points. OSU also dominated the doubles point, with victories from Bryce Nakashima and Bernard, as well as the No. 13-ranked duo of Andrew Lutschaunig and Justin Boulais.
The men will now head into a huge weekend, first hosting Michigan State—who remain undefeated in conference play—followed by a matchup with rivals Michigan.
Continue reading...
UConn Huskies
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 5 Replies
UConn caps dominant 2-year run with another title
Finishing a job that the selection committee thought they were capable of when they were granted the No. 1 overall seed, the UConn Huskies cruised to the school's sixth men's NCAA championship Monday night, pulling away from the Purdue Boilermakers.
UConn beats Purdue and cruises to sixth NCAA championship
"What could you say?" UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "We won -- by a lot again."And after one of the most dominant NCAA tournament runs in history last year, when UConn beat its six opponents by 20.0 points per game, it was even more unbeatable this year. The Huskies' average scoring margin in their six 2024 NCAA tournament wins was 23.3 points.
Once again, all six wins came by double digits -- making that 12 straight NCAA tournament wins by at least 10 points dating back to last season.
How UConn became the first back-to-back national champion in 17 years
Zach Edey got his points for Purdue, but UConn's perimeter defense limited the Boilermakers to just one made 3-pointer.
The keys that won UConn the 2024 men's national championship
UConn has done it. The Huskies repeated as national champions with a convincing 75-60 victory over Purdue. Coach Dan Hurley's team is the first reigning champion to defend its title successfully since Florida won back-to-back championships under Billy Donovan in 2006 and 2007.The much anticipated clash of the big men lived up to its billing. Zach Edey put up his usual impressive numbers for the Boilermakers: 37 points to go with 10 rebounds. Even so, Donovan Clingan guarded Edey straight up and enabled his teammates to stay on Purdue's perimeter shooters.
With this loss for the Boilermakers, the Big Ten's streak now stands at 24 years and counting since Michigan State won a title for the conference in 2000. Over that span, the Big Ten is 0-8 in national title games.
What was the key to UConn's win?
With UConn in 2024, you have to point at keys, plural. The Huskies out-Purdued Purdue in terms of getting more shots. They didn't turn the ball over at all and crashed their offensive glass. Tristen Newton showed no fear of Edey in attacking the paint repeatedly. Most of all, UConn's defense stayed on Purdue's shooters. Edey scored from the field, but he didn't get to the line, Purdue didn't get its usual share of second chances and there was only one made 3.
.
.
.
continued
UConn, Duke installed as '25 NCAA title favorites
UConn and Duke enter the offseason as the variable early betting favorites to win the 2025 men's basketball championship.
UConn, Duke open as betting favorites to win 2025 NCAA title
A heavy betting favorite -- both in the odds and for the public -- throughout March Madness, UConn is the first back-to-back NCAA men's basketball champion since Florida in 2007. But it's uncertain if the Huskies can make it three in a row in a highly volatile college basketball landscape.UConn is the favorite to win the 2025 national championship at ESPN BET and Caesars Sportsbook, opening with +900 and 10-1 odds, respectively. However, DraftKings (10-1) and FanDuel (11-1) have Duke favored to take home the top prize next season, with the Huskies coming in at second (14-1) and sixth (18-1) on those respective odds boards. BetMGM has Kansas and Duke tied at the top (11-1), with UConn right behind (12-1).
Hurley plans to stay at UConn, chase a dynasty
With Kentucky's coaching job expected to open Tuesday, UConn's Dan Hurley said he intends to remain with the Huskies in pursuit of "a dynasty in modern times."
Dan Hurley plans to stay at UConn, eyes 'dynasty in modern times'
With Kentucky's coaching job expected to officially open Tuesday, UConn's Danny Hurley made clear Monday night that he plans to stay with the Huskies and attempt to win a third straight national title.After UConn beat Purdue 75-60 to repeat as NCAA tournament champions, Hurley addressed the opening with a few jokes, telling reporters he doesn't "think that's a concern" when asked about Kentucky. He added they should ask his wife, Andrea, who is also a native of New Jersey.
"Oh my God, Kentucky or anywhere that's going to take her further from New Jersey," he said when asked about her reaction to a potential move. "I mean, we just went to Rhode Island, which I had to drag her to, and then to Connecticut. I got her closer. And now further? I can't afford a divorce right now, too. I just started making money."
Hurley went on to give some insight into what's next for his program: "Now you're thinking in your brain, as I'm looking at the locker room, about the chance to do it three times, like a dynasty in modern times. I mean, that's what I'm thinking about."
UConn officials are in line with that thinking, as they gave Hurley a hefty new contract last year in the wake of his first national title at UConn. Hurley made $5 million this season as part of the six-year deal that was announced in June.
Just sayin': Of the 8 UConn players (that played more than 1 minute); only Newton and Spenser are out of eligibility. Karaban, Clingan, Castle, Stewart, Johnson, and Diarra could return next year. Regardless, being considered a legitimate NCAA Champion contender next season UConn should be very attractive to some very good transfers.
Will Hurley actually stay at UConn?
Will UConn 3-PEAT in 2024/2025?
Would 3 consecutive NCAA wins be considered a dynasty?
LGHL Ohio State five-star safety target has Buckeyes as a top school
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State five-star safety target has Buckeyes as a top school
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 five-star safety Trey McNutt via Mick Walker - @MickWalker247, 247Sports
Ohio State also made the cut for a four-star linebacker and added numerous names to its visitor list for the annual spring game this Saturday.
Monday was the start of another busy week on the recruiting trail for the Ohio State coaching staff. The program’s annual spring game takes place this Saturday, and with it comes one of the busiest recruiting weeks for the Buckeyes. This year’s scrimmage will have more eyes on it than ever before, thanks to it being the first ever spring game to be broadcast live on national television on FOX.
As a result, a lot of focus will be placed on this current roster of Buckeyes and who wins position battles. However, Ohio State will also place a priority on recruiting this week, and it kicked off Monday when the Buckeyes made multiple top schools lists for some of the nation’s top talents.
The biggest news Monday was that the Buckeyes made the top eight schools for five-star safety and Ohio native Trey McNutt (Cleveland, OH / Shaker Heights) alongside Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas A&M and USC.
Son of former Ohio State cornerback Richard McNutt, the blue-chip prospect has long been familiar with the Buckeyes. Additionally, being from Ohio, McNutt has been able to make multiple visits to Ohio State, including a handful of trips already this spring. Because of all of this, the Buckeyes have been viewed as favorites for most of his recruitment.
That being said, McNutt is going to do his due diligence in his recruitment and ensure he chooses the school best for him, and he has an impressive group of finalists. McNutt will likely take multiple official visits to some of his finalists, and Ohio State should receive one of those official visits.
McNutt is one of the highest-rated secondary prospects in the 2025 class and he would make for an excellent addition to an already star-studded recruiting class. The Buckeyes currently hold verbal commitments from five-star cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Na’’eem Offord and four-star cornerback Blake Woody. The Buckeyes also hold a commitment from three-star safety DeShawn Stewart, and they are in good standing with five-star safety Faheem Delane.
McNutt is the No. 1 safety in the 247Sports Composite and is the No. 26 overall prospect. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of Ohio.
Ohio State didn’t just make the one top schools list Monday, as they also made the cut for 2025 four-star linebacker Emmanuel Karmo (Minneapolis, MN / Robbinsdale Cooper) who released his top seven schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Karmo included Oregon, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska and USC in his top schools. With all of his seven finalists being in the Big Ten moving forward, his commitment is that much more important.
Ohio State offered Karmo in late January after the Buckeyes made the trip to Minnesota to visit with him. He has not yet made his way to Columbus, but the Buckeyes will need to get him on campus in some capacity if they are going to earn his commitment.
Karmo is the No. 42 LB in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 374 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Minnesota.
Ohio State will be playing host to plenty of recruits this weekend for its annual spring game. Below are just some of the recruits who took to social media Monday to announce their planned attendance:
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 five-star safety Trey McNutt via Mick Walker - @MickWalker247, 247Sports
Ohio State also made the cut for a four-star linebacker and added numerous names to its visitor list for the annual spring game this Saturday.
Monday was the start of another busy week on the recruiting trail for the Ohio State coaching staff. The program’s annual spring game takes place this Saturday, and with it comes one of the busiest recruiting weeks for the Buckeyes. This year’s scrimmage will have more eyes on it than ever before, thanks to it being the first ever spring game to be broadcast live on national television on FOX.
As a result, a lot of focus will be placed on this current roster of Buckeyes and who wins position battles. However, Ohio State will also place a priority on recruiting this week, and it kicked off Monday when the Buckeyes made multiple top schools lists for some of the nation’s top talents.
The biggest news Monday was that the Buckeyes made the top eight schools for five-star safety and Ohio native Trey McNutt (Cleveland, OH / Shaker Heights) alongside Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas A&M and USC.
NEWS: Elite 2025 Safety Trey McNutt is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 185 S from Shaker Heights, OH is ranked as the No. 1 Safety in ‘25 (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/fdhQL4DV6b pic.twitter.com/2MoqvzJmYT
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 8, 2024
Son of former Ohio State cornerback Richard McNutt, the blue-chip prospect has long been familiar with the Buckeyes. Additionally, being from Ohio, McNutt has been able to make multiple visits to Ohio State, including a handful of trips already this spring. Because of all of this, the Buckeyes have been viewed as favorites for most of his recruitment.
That being said, McNutt is going to do his due diligence in his recruitment and ensure he chooses the school best for him, and he has an impressive group of finalists. McNutt will likely take multiple official visits to some of his finalists, and Ohio State should receive one of those official visits.
McNutt is one of the highest-rated secondary prospects in the 2025 class and he would make for an excellent addition to an already star-studded recruiting class. The Buckeyes currently hold verbal commitments from five-star cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Na’’eem Offord and four-star cornerback Blake Woody. The Buckeyes also hold a commitment from three-star safety DeShawn Stewart, and they are in good standing with five-star safety Faheem Delane.
McNutt is the No. 1 safety in the 247Sports Composite and is the No. 26 overall prospect. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of Ohio.
Ohio State makes the cut for four-star LB
Ohio State didn’t just make the one top schools list Monday, as they also made the cut for 2025 four-star linebacker Emmanuel Karmo (Minneapolis, MN / Robbinsdale Cooper) who released his top seven schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Karmo included Oregon, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska and USC in his top schools. With all of his seven finalists being in the Big Ten moving forward, his commitment is that much more important.
Ohio State offered Karmo in late January after the Buckeyes made the trip to Minnesota to visit with him. He has not yet made his way to Columbus, but the Buckeyes will need to get him on campus in some capacity if they are going to earn his commitment.
Karmo is the No. 42 LB in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 374 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Minnesota.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State offered 2026 running back Javian Osborne (Foreny, TX / Forney) Monday. Osborne does not yet have a star ranking from 247Sports, but he is the No. 2 RB according to On3 and is the No. 30 overall prospect. He is also the No. 11 RB and the No. 143 overall prospect according to Rivals.
Ohio State will be playing host to plenty of recruits this weekend for its annual spring game. Below are just some of the recruits who took to social media Monday to announce their planned attendance:
- Four-star RB Byron Lewis
Class: 2025
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage
Size: 5-foot-11, 200 lbs.
- RB Shahn Alston
Class: 2026
Size: 5-foot-10, 2-5 lbs.
Hometown: Painesville, OH / Harvey - TE Anthony Cartwright
Class: 2027
Size: 6-foot-4, 198 lbs.
Hometown: Franklin, MI / Detroit Country Day
- CB Braylon Edwards
Class: 2026
Hometown: Duncanville, TX / Duncanville
Size: 5-foot-10, 160 lbs.
- Edge Caden Turner
Class: 2026
Homewtown: Ironton, OH
Size: 6-foot-5, 225 lbs.
Continue reading...
Joel Justus (Associate Head Coach)
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 3 Replies
Ohio State Hires N.C. State Assistant Joel Justus As Associate Head Coach
Joel Justus, who helped lead N.C. State to a Final Four berth this season, is joining Jake Diebler’s coaching staff as associate head coach.
OHIO STATE HIRES N.C. STATE ASSISTANT JOEL JUSTUS AS ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
Jake Diebler has found his associate head coach.
Joel Justus, who helped lead N.C. State to a Final Four berth this season, officially joined Ohio State’s coaching staff on Monday.
Login to view embedded media
“Joel is someone I have known for a while and I’m excited to have him join our staff,” Diebler said in a statement. “He is a well-rounded coach with great experience in the development and recruiting spaces, while winning everywhere he’s been. His vision for building a program and developing a winning culture is something I was looking for and I can’t wait for him to get started.”
LGHL You’re Nuts: Biggest transfer loss for Ohio State men’s basketball
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Biggest transfer loss for Ohio State men’s basketball
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes have lost four players to the transfer portal this offseason.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
A few weeks ago, Ohio State hired/promoted Jake Diebler to be the head coach of its men’s basketball team, with one of the main selling points being roster retention. Surely, the (listed) primary recruiter for most of the guys on the roster – and the man who guided the Buckeyes to an 8-3 finish after Chris Holtmann’s firing – would keep the band together and run it back for a prosperous redemption season, right?
Well, about that...
Since the end of the season and the subsequent opening of the transfer portal, OSU has lost four players, while adding just one (from said portal). And the “add” is actually just a return! Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy to have Meechie Johnson back in the fold. But if the Ohio State basketball program was a convenience or retail store, we’d be saying that it’s been looted... Then somebody walked in and returned a single lost item.
In transfers alone, the Buckeyes have lost 65 minutes of playing time, 26 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists per game. So far. If Taison Chatman or Evan Mahaffey also decides to leave, things could get very, very hairy in Columbus.
But I think OSU could already be in trouble. No single transfer (out) was going to “break” the Scarlet and Gray, but in my opinion, the totality of the four – plus Jamison Battle and Dale Bonner – has potential to do so.
Seriously, look at the production Diebler has coming back. Between Bruce Thornton, Felix Okpara, Devin Royal, Chatman and Mahaffey, the returning Buckeyes combined to average 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 assists... They’re basically getting back a single Nikola Jokic. And 1 v 5 doesn’t typically go well.
So yeah, color me concerned. Or call me crazy. I just think that having several average-to-good basketball players is better than having a few. I also think that having a coach with 813 career wins and a national title is better than having a coach with eight. But again, I might be crazy.
Anywho, I say all that to say this: I believe that Scotty Middleton is or will be the biggest loss for Ohio State. Which might sound... you guessed it, crazy. After all, we’re talking about a guy who dished out 20 assists in 30 games and set his career highs in both points and rebounds in his first (!) game. But my opinion is based purely on Middleton’s potential.
It feels like forever since OSU last had a productive 3-and-D wing, despite that particular role being such an important piece/position in today’s game. And that is where I think Middleton will thrive in the not-so-distant future.
Middleton finished the season 28-of-62 from beyond the arc, good for 45%. He was literally the Buckeyes’ most accurate three-point shooter. Granted the volume was low, but still. And his defense really came around toward the end of the year. He wasn’t always in the right spots, but that comes with experience. His effort was great, though. And defense starts and ends with effort.
There’s also the fact that Middleton was a top-60 national recruit and inarguably one of the top three or four athletes on Ohio State’s roster. There is no player on the current roster that offers the same package. Not even Thornton, who is obviously a stud but lacks size. Or Royal, who I love as a player and a local product.
Mark my words, Scotty Middleton will break out at his next stop. Or maybe even the one after that, a la Jaedon LeDee. Either way, Middleton is going to produce elsewhere. His combination of athleticism and skill will prove to be a big loss for the Buckeyes, unfortunately.
Josh was nice enough to afford me a layup here — basketball pun intended — so I will in fact go the easy route and say that Roddy Gayle Jr. will be Ohio State’s biggest loss this offseason.
A former top-50 national recruit in the 2022 casual, the Utah native was the No. 2 shooting guard and No. 49 overall player in the cycle. Gayle played rotationally as a freshman, logging around 16 minutes per game while averaging 4.6 points per contest, but really got things going this past season as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.5 points per game — good for third-best on the team behind only Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle — while also averaging 4.6 boards and 3.1 assists, good for third and second-best on the team, respectively.
That is a lot of production to replace, on top of losing your second-leading scorer in Battle to graduation. The losses of Middleton and Key hurt as well, especially with Middleton being only a freshman with room to grow and develop after being the No. 50 overall player in the 2023 class. However, Gayle’s role will be especially tough to fill next season, as he likely would have been the team’s second-leading scorer alongside Thornton.
The addition of Meechie Johnson will help soften the blow a little bit, as the former Ohio State guard spent the last two seasons at South Carolina where he averaged 13.4 points per game over that span. However, Johnson is a less efficient scorer than Gayle, shooting 37.1% from the field and 32.8% from three-point range over his three-year collegiate career compared to 44.7% and 33.1%, respectively, for Gayle across two seasons. Johnson is also two inches shorter at 6-foot-2.
With four players in the portal and the lone addition in Johnson, head coach Jake Diebler has three roster spots up for grabs. There are a few obvious names out there as far as Ohio State’s target list goes, including the likes of Matt Allocco, Jalen Sullinger, Otega Oweh, Rowan Brumbaugh and of course Bronny James, among others.
Allocco and Sullinger are both older players with just one year of eligibility remaining. A Hilliard native and two-time second team All-Ivy League player out of Princeton, Allocco is a career 41.2% shooter from beyond the arc and averaged 12.7 points per game last season as a 6-foot-4 guard. Sullinger, son of former Ohio State guard JJ Sullinger and nephew of two-time All-American Buckeye center Jared Sullinger, averaged 15.4 points per game at Kent State this past season.
I’m not even going to try and understand the direction for James, but other younger guys like Brumbaugh and Oweh are intriguing options. Brumbaugh, the No. 16 PG and No. 89 player overall in the 2022 class, played his freshman ball at Georgetown, where he averaged 8.3 points per game and shot 37% from three-point land. Oweh, a player whom the Buckeyes have reportedly “gained traction” with, averaged 11.2 points per game on 49.3% shooting from the field this past season with Oklahoma, and is a bigger guard at 6-foot-5.
There will likely be many more names added to the list of potential targets for Diebler and the men’s basketball team, but it is still tough to lose a guy like Gayle. Can Ohio State go out and get a guy who could potentially match or better what the guard would have done next season? Sure, but it is much easier to already have that guy on the roster and continue his development than take a gamble on a new face out of the portal.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes have lost four players to the transfer portal this offseason.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Who is the biggest transfer loss for Ohio State men’s basketball this offseason?
Josh’s Take
A few weeks ago, Ohio State hired/promoted Jake Diebler to be the head coach of its men’s basketball team, with one of the main selling points being roster retention. Surely, the (listed) primary recruiter for most of the guys on the roster – and the man who guided the Buckeyes to an 8-3 finish after Chris Holtmann’s firing – would keep the band together and run it back for a prosperous redemption season, right?
Well, about that...
Since the end of the season and the subsequent opening of the transfer portal, OSU has lost four players, while adding just one (from said portal). And the “add” is actually just a return! Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy to have Meechie Johnson back in the fold. But if the Ohio State basketball program was a convenience or retail store, we’d be saying that it’s been looted... Then somebody walked in and returned a single lost item.
In transfers alone, the Buckeyes have lost 65 minutes of playing time, 26 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists per game. So far. If Taison Chatman or Evan Mahaffey also decides to leave, things could get very, very hairy in Columbus.
But I think OSU could already be in trouble. No single transfer (out) was going to “break” the Scarlet and Gray, but in my opinion, the totality of the four – plus Jamison Battle and Dale Bonner – has potential to do so.
Seriously, look at the production Diebler has coming back. Between Bruce Thornton, Felix Okpara, Devin Royal, Chatman and Mahaffey, the returning Buckeyes combined to average 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 assists... They’re basically getting back a single Nikola Jokic. And 1 v 5 doesn’t typically go well.
So yeah, color me concerned. Or call me crazy. I just think that having several average-to-good basketball players is better than having a few. I also think that having a coach with 813 career wins and a national title is better than having a coach with eight. But again, I might be crazy.
Anywho, I say all that to say this: I believe that Scotty Middleton is or will be the biggest loss for Ohio State. Which might sound... you guessed it, crazy. After all, we’re talking about a guy who dished out 20 assists in 30 games and set his career highs in both points and rebounds in his first (!) game. But my opinion is based purely on Middleton’s potential.
It feels like forever since OSU last had a productive 3-and-D wing, despite that particular role being such an important piece/position in today’s game. And that is where I think Middleton will thrive in the not-so-distant future.
Middleton finished the season 28-of-62 from beyond the arc, good for 45%. He was literally the Buckeyes’ most accurate three-point shooter. Granted the volume was low, but still. And his defense really came around toward the end of the year. He wasn’t always in the right spots, but that comes with experience. His effort was great, though. And defense starts and ends with effort.
There’s also the fact that Middleton was a top-60 national recruit and inarguably one of the top three or four athletes on Ohio State’s roster. There is no player on the current roster that offers the same package. Not even Thornton, who is obviously a stud but lacks size. Or Royal, who I love as a player and a local product.
Mark my words, Scotty Middleton will break out at his next stop. Or maybe even the one after that, a la Jaedon LeDee. Either way, Middleton is going to produce elsewhere. His combination of athleticism and skill will prove to be a big loss for the Buckeyes, unfortunately.
Gene’s Take
Josh was nice enough to afford me a layup here — basketball pun intended — so I will in fact go the easy route and say that Roddy Gayle Jr. will be Ohio State’s biggest loss this offseason.
A former top-50 national recruit in the 2022 casual, the Utah native was the No. 2 shooting guard and No. 49 overall player in the cycle. Gayle played rotationally as a freshman, logging around 16 minutes per game while averaging 4.6 points per contest, but really got things going this past season as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.5 points per game — good for third-best on the team behind only Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle — while also averaging 4.6 boards and 3.1 assists, good for third and second-best on the team, respectively.
That is a lot of production to replace, on top of losing your second-leading scorer in Battle to graduation. The losses of Middleton and Key hurt as well, especially with Middleton being only a freshman with room to grow and develop after being the No. 50 overall player in the 2023 class. However, Gayle’s role will be especially tough to fill next season, as he likely would have been the team’s second-leading scorer alongside Thornton.
The addition of Meechie Johnson will help soften the blow a little bit, as the former Ohio State guard spent the last two seasons at South Carolina where he averaged 13.4 points per game over that span. However, Johnson is a less efficient scorer than Gayle, shooting 37.1% from the field and 32.8% from three-point range over his three-year collegiate career compared to 44.7% and 33.1%, respectively, for Gayle across two seasons. Johnson is also two inches shorter at 6-foot-2.
With four players in the portal and the lone addition in Johnson, head coach Jake Diebler has three roster spots up for grabs. There are a few obvious names out there as far as Ohio State’s target list goes, including the likes of Matt Allocco, Jalen Sullinger, Otega Oweh, Rowan Brumbaugh and of course Bronny James, among others.
Allocco and Sullinger are both older players with just one year of eligibility remaining. A Hilliard native and two-time second team All-Ivy League player out of Princeton, Allocco is a career 41.2% shooter from beyond the arc and averaged 12.7 points per game last season as a 6-foot-4 guard. Sullinger, son of former Ohio State guard JJ Sullinger and nephew of two-time All-American Buckeye center Jared Sullinger, averaged 15.4 points per game at Kent State this past season.
I’m not even going to try and understand the direction for James, but other younger guys like Brumbaugh and Oweh are intriguing options. Brumbaugh, the No. 16 PG and No. 89 player overall in the 2022 class, played his freshman ball at Georgetown, where he averaged 8.3 points per game and shot 37% from three-point land. Oweh, a player whom the Buckeyes have reportedly “gained traction” with, averaged 11.2 points per game on 49.3% shooting from the field this past season with Oklahoma, and is a bigger guard at 6-foot-5.
There will likely be many more names added to the list of potential targets for Diebler and the men’s basketball team, but it is still tough to lose a guy like Gayle. Can Ohio State go out and get a guy who could potentially match or better what the guard would have done next season? Sure, but it is much easier to already have that guy on the roster and continue his development than take a gamble on a new face out of the portal.
Continue reading...
