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LGHL Three positions on offense that need to produce for Ohio State in 2024
- News
- 0 Replies
Three positions on offense that need to produce for Ohio State in 2024
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A look at three key spots that could affect the ceiling for Ohio State’s offense this fall.
As Ohio State goes through its spring preparation for the 2024 season, thoughts turn toward how good the team could be in the fall. Denzel Burke is on record as saying his attitude is that it’s “natty or bust” for the Buckeyes in 2024.
While many fans likely agree with that sentiment, there are always far too many variables over the course of a college football season for things to be that simple, regardless of how much talent a team returns. There are injuries, weird weather, game-changing calls, and more that can ultimately decide how the season goes. The waters get muddied a bit further in 2024 with the expansion of the College Football Playoff.
But the Buckeyes, at least on paper, appear to be at least one of the favorites for the national championship. That seems to be a consensus from writers across the country who have already tried their hand at predicting who will reign supreme at the end of a college football season still months away in the future.
If Jim Knowles’ defense continues to make forward strides this fall, that side of the football will take care of itself. After an unusual 2023 season in terms of Ryan Day’s offense, I have more concerns about the Buckeyes’ supposed strength entering the upcoming season.
There are three spots that I’ll be paying more attention to than usual.
Emeka Egbuka is the most accomplished returning receiver, but he’ll need to bounce back from a season slowed by injury and hampered (at times, anyway) by the play of first-year starter Kyle McCord, who has since departed for Syracuse.
Largely due to those two factors, Egbuka dropped to fewer than half of his 2022 totals for yards (1,151) and touchdowns (10) in 2023, totalling 515 yards and four touchdowns last season in just three fewer games played. His receptions dropped from 74 to 41.
Egbuka, if healthy, is an oustanding wide receiver and a potential first-round NFL pick. This will be the season he shows whether he can realize that potential. Gone is generational WR1 Marvin Harrison Jr., so there will be no secondary cornerback assigned to cover Egbuka. He’s going to draw the coverage assignment for the other team’s best guy every week.
The speedy native of Steilacoom, Washington, will easily be a first-round pick if he stays healthy and approaches his 2022 numbers again in 2024. There will be plenty of film and sustained success for a team to spend one of those valuable first-round spots on him.
However, some of his success isn’t solely up to him. The two positions mentioned below will have some effect on Egbuka’s level of success in 2024. Additionally, it will be up to his fellow wide receivers to ensure other teams can’t double-team him by also showing they can provide yards, first downs, and touchdowns. Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Jayden Ballard seem like they’ll be the guys to do that, and none of them are proven...yet.
The Buckeyes grabbed Will Howard out of the transfer portal and likely expect him to win the starting position. With a less talented cast around him at Kansas State, Howard put up statistics that weren’t dissimilar to what McCord did at Ohio State. That alone should be an indication that he can do as well or better with the Buckeyes’ talent around him. However, it’s not a given that Howard will take advantage of his opportunity.
Should Howard not seize the day, Devin Brown is waiting in the wings. Brown has the advantage of having been in the program, and therefore has a big head start. He fought for the starting quarterback role in 2023 and got snaps early in the year in key moments, but didn’t do enough to win more than leadership of a red zone package that focused on QB runs, until an injury on such a play limited his participation. From that point on, it was all McCord until his departure.
By all accounts, Brown was exceeding expectations and impressing in the run-up to the Cotton Bowl in December. But an injury early in that game ended his night early and Ohio State’s offense could do nothing against Missouri. Brown will not only have to prove he can keep his ankles intact to win the starting job, but he’ll have to perform if and when given his opportunity.
If Howard or Brown don’t show enough, and if there aren’t significant strides made by sophomore Lincoln Kienholz, there are two talented and highly touted freshmen waiting for their chance. Air Noland and Julian Sayin will be raw, but both have got all the tools required for the position.
Whoever wins the quarterback position has to improve upon what McCord did in 2023, especially on third downs. Ohio State’s offense will almost certainly be better when running the football with the addition of Quinshon Judkins joining an already loaded running backs room. The passing game needs to be up to its usual OSU standards and that starts with the quarterback.
OK, maybe the passing game’s success doesn’t start with the quarterback after all. There is another player who handles the football on every snap before the quarterback even touches it. Ohio State had some issues at center in 2023 and have added another player to the mix out of the transfer portal.
Battling Carson Hinzman will be Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin, a graduate student from Buford, GA. Hinzman had some struggles a year ago, but McLaughlin did as well, despite having three years of college experience at the position. The big job for OSU offensive line coach Justin Frye is to get one of those guys playing his best football in 2024. This will be important on multiple levels.
The center must recognize what the defense is doing and help with assignments before the snap. They need to deliver good, easy-to-catch snaps. In the run game, they must help provide lanes for TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins, and Dallan Hayden. And, of course, they must protect the quarterback.
For me, these are the three positions that have to step up in 2024 for the Buckeyes to compete for the Big Ten title, let alone a national championship. There are other spots on the offense that I’ll be watching, but those three may be the difference between a decent season and a special one.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A look at three key spots that could affect the ceiling for Ohio State’s offense this fall.
As Ohio State goes through its spring preparation for the 2024 season, thoughts turn toward how good the team could be in the fall. Denzel Burke is on record as saying his attitude is that it’s “natty or bust” for the Buckeyes in 2024.
While many fans likely agree with that sentiment, there are always far too many variables over the course of a college football season for things to be that simple, regardless of how much talent a team returns. There are injuries, weird weather, game-changing calls, and more that can ultimately decide how the season goes. The waters get muddied a bit further in 2024 with the expansion of the College Football Playoff.
But the Buckeyes, at least on paper, appear to be at least one of the favorites for the national championship. That seems to be a consensus from writers across the country who have already tried their hand at predicting who will reign supreme at the end of a college football season still months away in the future.
If Jim Knowles’ defense continues to make forward strides this fall, that side of the football will take care of itself. After an unusual 2023 season in terms of Ryan Day’s offense, I have more concerns about the Buckeyes’ supposed strength entering the upcoming season.
There are three spots that I’ll be paying more attention to than usual.
WR1
Emeka Egbuka is the most accomplished returning receiver, but he’ll need to bounce back from a season slowed by injury and hampered (at times, anyway) by the play of first-year starter Kyle McCord, who has since departed for Syracuse.
Largely due to those two factors, Egbuka dropped to fewer than half of his 2022 totals for yards (1,151) and touchdowns (10) in 2023, totalling 515 yards and four touchdowns last season in just three fewer games played. His receptions dropped from 74 to 41.
Egbuka, if healthy, is an oustanding wide receiver and a potential first-round NFL pick. This will be the season he shows whether he can realize that potential. Gone is generational WR1 Marvin Harrison Jr., so there will be no secondary cornerback assigned to cover Egbuka. He’s going to draw the coverage assignment for the other team’s best guy every week.
The speedy native of Steilacoom, Washington, will easily be a first-round pick if he stays healthy and approaches his 2022 numbers again in 2024. There will be plenty of film and sustained success for a team to spend one of those valuable first-round spots on him.
However, some of his success isn’t solely up to him. The two positions mentioned below will have some effect on Egbuka’s level of success in 2024. Additionally, it will be up to his fellow wide receivers to ensure other teams can’t double-team him by also showing they can provide yards, first downs, and touchdowns. Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Jayden Ballard seem like they’ll be the guys to do that, and none of them are proven...yet.
QB1
The Buckeyes grabbed Will Howard out of the transfer portal and likely expect him to win the starting position. With a less talented cast around him at Kansas State, Howard put up statistics that weren’t dissimilar to what McCord did at Ohio State. That alone should be an indication that he can do as well or better with the Buckeyes’ talent around him. However, it’s not a given that Howard will take advantage of his opportunity.
Should Howard not seize the day, Devin Brown is waiting in the wings. Brown has the advantage of having been in the program, and therefore has a big head start. He fought for the starting quarterback role in 2023 and got snaps early in the year in key moments, but didn’t do enough to win more than leadership of a red zone package that focused on QB runs, until an injury on such a play limited his participation. From that point on, it was all McCord until his departure.
By all accounts, Brown was exceeding expectations and impressing in the run-up to the Cotton Bowl in December. But an injury early in that game ended his night early and Ohio State’s offense could do nothing against Missouri. Brown will not only have to prove he can keep his ankles intact to win the starting job, but he’ll have to perform if and when given his opportunity.
If Howard or Brown don’t show enough, and if there aren’t significant strides made by sophomore Lincoln Kienholz, there are two talented and highly touted freshmen waiting for their chance. Air Noland and Julian Sayin will be raw, but both have got all the tools required for the position.
Whoever wins the quarterback position has to improve upon what McCord did in 2023, especially on third downs. Ohio State’s offense will almost certainly be better when running the football with the addition of Quinshon Judkins joining an already loaded running backs room. The passing game needs to be up to its usual OSU standards and that starts with the quarterback.
Center
OK, maybe the passing game’s success doesn’t start with the quarterback after all. There is another player who handles the football on every snap before the quarterback even touches it. Ohio State had some issues at center in 2023 and have added another player to the mix out of the transfer portal.
Battling Carson Hinzman will be Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin, a graduate student from Buford, GA. Hinzman had some struggles a year ago, but McLaughlin did as well, despite having three years of college experience at the position. The big job for OSU offensive line coach Justin Frye is to get one of those guys playing his best football in 2024. This will be important on multiple levels.
The center must recognize what the defense is doing and help with assignments before the snap. They need to deliver good, easy-to-catch snaps. In the run game, they must help provide lanes for TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins, and Dallan Hayden. And, of course, they must protect the quarterback.
For me, these are the three positions that have to step up in 2024 for the Buckeyes to compete for the Big Ten title, let alone a national championship. There are other spots on the offense that I’ll be watching, but those three may be the difference between a decent season and a special one.
Continue reading...
LGHL Recent history shows Ohio State women’s basketball’s ability to respond
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Recent history shows Ohio State women’s basketball’s ability to respond
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After the Maryland Terrapins loomed large over the Buckeyes, the NCAA Tournament approaches.
The trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota was cut two days short for Ohio State women’s basketball. Entering the Big Ten Tournament as the regular season champions, and No. 1 seed, the Buckeyes fell hard in its lone game of the weekend. Head coach Brenda Frese’s Terps played a strong 40 minutes that left the Scarlet and Gray with questions, and a long time to dwell on it and fix it.
Recent history shows that the Buckeyes can bounce back.
Following Friday’s midday game, Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff showed a level of frustration that normally doesn’t transfer from the court to the press conference room. Words were not minced.
“Today like nobody was very good,” said McGuff. “So I don’t think the starters were good, the bench wasn’t good, I wasn’t good, nobody was good.”
The Buckeyes had its worst shooting performance of the season at the Target Center, shooting a season-low 35.9% from the floor. From beyond the arc, the Scarlet and Gray went 6-for-22. Defensively, the Buckeyes forced its second-lowest turnover amount of the season (13) and were outrebounded 21 to 44.
At the final buzzer, Ohio State had its biggest margin of defeat of the season, falling by 21 points to the Terrapins.
“I thought Maryland played a great game. They were really prepared,” said McGuff. “They played like a team that might have needed this to get in the tournament, and we played like a team that showed up as the No. 1 seed and everybody was just supposed to lie down, and that’s not what happened.”
These emotions and comments aren’t new to the Buckeyes this season. In Ann Arbor, Michigan on Dec. 30, the Buckeyes looked like a team expecting the Michigan Wolverines to lay down too.
In that defeat, it wasn’t an Ohio State team that looked defeated throughout, like Friday’s version, but a team lacking chemistry.
Regardless of the method of defeat, there’s a silver lining in how the Buckeyes responded. A response that could see its way to the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State’s loss to the Wolverines was a shock to the team’s system. After two months of adjusting to the loss of teammates, and the inclusion of new ones, the rivalry loss spurred on a winning streak the Big Ten hadn’t seen since the 05/06 season.
During a 15-game winning streak, the Buckeyes defeated the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who won its third Big Ten Tournament in a row Sunday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Plus, a win against a full-strength Indiana Hoosiers and twice defeating the same Terrapins who ended Ohio State’s tournament run.
Any loss will elicit the deepest held insecurities about the team, and there was no short of them following Friday’s defeat, but the odds are stacked in the Buckeyes’ favor that a turnaround is possible.
Now, Ohio State waits until March 17 for their March Madness seeding fate, but it’s expected that the Buckeyes will host the first two games of the tournament. The only way it doesn’t happen is if the tournament committee somehow decides to move the predicted No. 1 seed before the conference tournament all the way down to a fifth seed or lower. That’s not going to happen.
After taking time off following the tournament, the Scarlet and Gray get to practice on its home court, and not leave until potentially making the Sweet Sixteen — held in either Albany, New York or Portland, Oregon.
This season, the Buckeyes were tough to beat at the Schottenstein Center. In 16 games in Columbus, Ohio State lost once, to the then No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.
That doesn’t mean the success will repeat on its own. There’s work for the Buckeyes to do if it hopes to replicate, and further, its Elite Eight success of last season. In Friday’s defeat to Maryland, a strong zone set by Coach Frese’s side gave Ohio State fits. Forward Cotie McMahon tried her best to break through the zone, getting to the rim often, but the shots didn’t fall, albeit tough shots going into a lot of contact.
Against Michigan, the forward scored five points; the lowest against a Power Five team this season. Since that defeat though, the forward looked every bit of the First Team All-Big Ten player she’d be crowned at the end of the season.
McMahon followed that performance up with a 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds clip for the 2024 leg of the 2023-24 season.
Also, guard Jacy Sheldon scored her third-lowest point total against a Power Five opponent on Friday, with her 10 points eclipsed by a five-point performance against the Wolverines in December. Like McMahon, Sheldon wasn’t held down too long and led the Buckeyes in scoring on its way to the graduate senior’s second regular season title.
There are some games that a team will outright lose on its own. The defeat in Michigan falls into that category for Ohio State. Friday’s win was just as much of a strong performance for Maryland as it was a poor performance for the Buckeyes.
Unless lightning strikes twice, with the next strike ending the season completely, the Buckeyes are a team with the ability to make a deep tournament run.
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
After the Maryland Terrapins loomed large over the Buckeyes, the NCAA Tournament approaches.
The trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota was cut two days short for Ohio State women’s basketball. Entering the Big Ten Tournament as the regular season champions, and No. 1 seed, the Buckeyes fell hard in its lone game of the weekend. Head coach Brenda Frese’s Terps played a strong 40 minutes that left the Scarlet and Gray with questions, and a long time to dwell on it and fix it.
Recent history shows that the Buckeyes can bounce back.
Following Friday’s midday game, Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff showed a level of frustration that normally doesn’t transfer from the court to the press conference room. Words were not minced.
“Today like nobody was very good,” said McGuff. “So I don’t think the starters were good, the bench wasn’t good, I wasn’t good, nobody was good.”
The Buckeyes had its worst shooting performance of the season at the Target Center, shooting a season-low 35.9% from the floor. From beyond the arc, the Scarlet and Gray went 6-for-22. Defensively, the Buckeyes forced its second-lowest turnover amount of the season (13) and were outrebounded 21 to 44.
At the final buzzer, Ohio State had its biggest margin of defeat of the season, falling by 21 points to the Terrapins.
“I thought Maryland played a great game. They were really prepared,” said McGuff. “They played like a team that might have needed this to get in the tournament, and we played like a team that showed up as the No. 1 seed and everybody was just supposed to lie down, and that’s not what happened.”
These emotions and comments aren’t new to the Buckeyes this season. In Ann Arbor, Michigan on Dec. 30, the Buckeyes looked like a team expecting the Michigan Wolverines to lay down too.
In that defeat, it wasn’t an Ohio State team that looked defeated throughout, like Friday’s version, but a team lacking chemistry.
Regardless of the method of defeat, there’s a silver lining in how the Buckeyes responded. A response that could see its way to the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State’s loss to the Wolverines was a shock to the team’s system. After two months of adjusting to the loss of teammates, and the inclusion of new ones, the rivalry loss spurred on a winning streak the Big Ten hadn’t seen since the 05/06 season.
During a 15-game winning streak, the Buckeyes defeated the likes of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who won its third Big Ten Tournament in a row Sunday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Plus, a win against a full-strength Indiana Hoosiers and twice defeating the same Terrapins who ended Ohio State’s tournament run.
Any loss will elicit the deepest held insecurities about the team, and there was no short of them following Friday’s defeat, but the odds are stacked in the Buckeyes’ favor that a turnaround is possible.
Now, Ohio State waits until March 17 for their March Madness seeding fate, but it’s expected that the Buckeyes will host the first two games of the tournament. The only way it doesn’t happen is if the tournament committee somehow decides to move the predicted No. 1 seed before the conference tournament all the way down to a fifth seed or lower. That’s not going to happen.
After taking time off following the tournament, the Scarlet and Gray get to practice on its home court, and not leave until potentially making the Sweet Sixteen — held in either Albany, New York or Portland, Oregon.
This season, the Buckeyes were tough to beat at the Schottenstein Center. In 16 games in Columbus, Ohio State lost once, to the then No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.
That doesn’t mean the success will repeat on its own. There’s work for the Buckeyes to do if it hopes to replicate, and further, its Elite Eight success of last season. In Friday’s defeat to Maryland, a strong zone set by Coach Frese’s side gave Ohio State fits. Forward Cotie McMahon tried her best to break through the zone, getting to the rim often, but the shots didn’t fall, albeit tough shots going into a lot of contact.
Against Michigan, the forward scored five points; the lowest against a Power Five team this season. Since that defeat though, the forward looked every bit of the First Team All-Big Ten player she’d be crowned at the end of the season.
McMahon followed that performance up with a 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds clip for the 2024 leg of the 2023-24 season.
Also, guard Jacy Sheldon scored her third-lowest point total against a Power Five opponent on Friday, with her 10 points eclipsed by a five-point performance against the Wolverines in December. Like McMahon, Sheldon wasn’t held down too long and led the Buckeyes in scoring on its way to the graduate senior’s second regular season title.
There are some games that a team will outright lose on its own. The defeat in Michigan falls into that category for Ohio State. Friday’s win was just as much of a strong performance for Maryland as it was a poor performance for the Buckeyes.
Unless lightning strikes twice, with the next strike ending the season completely, the Buckeyes are a team with the ability to make a deep tournament run.
Continue reading...
LGHL It was a mostly crappy weekend for Ohio State teams, but men’s basketball came through with a Sunday win
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- 0 Replies
It was a mostly crappy weekend for Ohio State teams, but men’s basketball came through with a Sunday win
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-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
5 things we learned through first week of OSU spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Why Australian punter Nick McLarty is a ‘difference maker’ for OSU’s 2024 class
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State: 40 thoughts on 40 defensive scholarship players in spring camp (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
‘He’s a supernatural athlete:’ Caleb Downs turning heads early in spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Emeka Egbuka looks to bring more versatility to Buckeyes’ offense in 2024
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Jordan Hancock thankful for position change, wants to be best ‘nickel’ in the country (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins, Curtis Samuel Among at Least 17 Former Ohio State Players Becoming NFL Free Agents This Week
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
No. 10 Ohio State will face No. 7 Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State stays hot, spoils Rutgers Senior Day with 73-51 win
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
As Jake Diebler brings ‘family’ to the forefront, Ohio State thrives
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State women’s basketball falls to Maryland 82-61 in early tournament exit
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
How can Ohio State women rebound after woeful loss to Maryland?
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Ice Hockey: Buckeyes Upset No. 5/6 Badgers, Advance to B1G Semifinals
Ohio State Athletics
Wrestling: Mendez Takes Big Ten Title at 141
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State Women’s Hockey earns No. 1 Overall Seed in NCAA Tournament for Third Straight Year
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
This was cinematic magic:
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
Vincent Carchietta-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
5 things we learned through first week of OSU spring practice
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Why Australian punter Nick McLarty is a ‘difference maker’ for OSU’s 2024 class
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State: 40 thoughts on 40 defensive scholarship players in spring camp (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
‘He’s a supernatural athlete:’ Caleb Downs turning heads early in spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Emeka Egbuka looks to bring more versatility to Buckeyes’ offense in 2024
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Jordan Hancock thankful for position change, wants to be best ‘nickel’ in the country (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins, Curtis Samuel Among at Least 17 Former Ohio State Players Becoming NFL Free Agents This Week
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
On the Hardwood
No. 10 Ohio State will face No. 7 Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State stays hot, spoils Rutgers Senior Day with 73-51 win
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
As Jake Diebler brings ‘family’ to the forefront, Ohio State thrives
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
A big road win to end the regular seasonThankful for everyone that is a part of this @OhioStateHoops FAMILY! https://t.co/Rc6N6OWbMo
— Jake Diebler (@JakeDiebler) March 11, 2024
Ohio State women’s basketball falls to Maryland 82-61 in early tournament exit
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
How can Ohio State women rebound after woeful loss to Maryland?
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Men’s Ice Hockey: Buckeyes Upset No. 5/6 Badgers, Advance to B1G Semifinals
Ohio State Athletics
Wrestling: Mendez Takes Big Ten Title at 141
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State Women’s Hockey earns No. 1 Overall Seed in NCAA Tournament for Third Straight Year
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
And now for something completely different...
This was cinematic magic:
Continue reading...
LGHL Top-10 OT, four-star RB put Ohio State on short list
- News
- 0 Replies
Top-10 OT, four-star RB put Ohio State on short list
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 OT Micah DeBose | Jason Caldwell, Inside The Auburn Tigers/247Sports
The Buckeyes also earned a commitment from a 6-foot-7 punter on Friday.
With spring practice having kicked off last week for Ohio State, the coaching staff is hard at work both in preparing for the upcoming 2024 college football season in addition to building for the future through recruiting. Ryan Day and his group are expecting to host many of the nation’s top talents over the next few weeks, but even before those visitors start rolling in the Buckeyes already find themselves making positive strides on the trail.
On Friday, Ohio State learned it was still in the running for one of the country’s top offensive tackles when four-star lineman Micah DeBose announced his top remaining schools. A top-100 player in the 2025 class with at least 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes made the cut for the 6-foot-5 junior alongside Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and others.
DeBose was formerly a Georgia commit, making his verbal pledge to the Bulldogs in January of 2023 before re-opening his commitment this past December. The Alabama native visited Ohio State in July, when he received his official offer, and again for the Michigan State game in November. Following the Buckeyes’ 38-3 win over the Spartans, DeBose had nothing but good things to say about Ohio State.
“The fans and coaches are so different, and I love that. Just the culture and the O-H-I-O (chants) were really fun to me,” he told Eleven Warriors. “[...] I’ve talked with [the coaches] about football a lot, but my visit wasn’t just all about football. It was about how my daily life is going and getting to know me more on a personal level. Overall, my visit to Ohio State was great and I will be back sooner than later.”
DeBose currently ranks as the No. 8 OT in the cycle and the No. 69 player overall per the 247Sports Composite. A multi-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and track and field, the tackle helped lead Vigor to a 14-1 record and the Alabama State 4A Championship. While DeBose plays his high school football in Alabama, he has ties to Ohio, as he was born in Cleveland and spent eight years there before moving south.
Also including Ohio State among their top schools over the weekend was four-star running back Tory Blaylock. The Texas native cut his list of over 40 offers down to just a half dozen on Saturday, and the Buckeyes were included alongside Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
Blaylock ranks as the No. 17 RB nationally the No. 32 player in the talent-rich state of Texas per the 247Sports Composite. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back comes from a football family, with his brothers Travian and Taylen both currently safeties at Wisconsin and Sam Houston, respectively, and his father Derrick a former running back at Stephen F. Austin, having also played in the NFL from 2001-07.
In speaking to On3 about each of his six finalists, here is what Blaylock had to say about Ohio State:
“Great legacy and coaching staff. I feel can build me into a better player and set me up for life after football.”
The Sooners are currently the odds-on favorite to land Blaylock’s services, but a lot can happen between now and signing day in December. Ohio State is active in the running back recruiting department after signing just two guys in the position in 2024 and with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to enter the NFL after this upcoming season.
The Buckeyes remain heavily in the mix for guys like Jordon Davison, Marquise Davis and Bo Jackson, in addition to Blaylock, and will look to sign at least two if not three backs in this cycle.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 OT Micah DeBose | Jason Caldwell, Inside The Auburn Tigers/247Sports
The Buckeyes also earned a commitment from a 6-foot-7 punter on Friday.
With spring practice having kicked off last week for Ohio State, the coaching staff is hard at work both in preparing for the upcoming 2024 college football season in addition to building for the future through recruiting. Ryan Day and his group are expecting to host many of the nation’s top talents over the next few weeks, but even before those visitors start rolling in the Buckeyes already find themselves making positive strides on the trail.
On Friday, Ohio State learned it was still in the running for one of the country’s top offensive tackles when four-star lineman Micah DeBose announced his top remaining schools. A top-100 player in the 2025 class with at least 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes made the cut for the 6-foot-5 junior alongside Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and others.
DeBose was formerly a Georgia commit, making his verbal pledge to the Bulldogs in January of 2023 before re-opening his commitment this past December. The Alabama native visited Ohio State in July, when he received his official offer, and again for the Michigan State game in November. Following the Buckeyes’ 38-3 win over the Spartans, DeBose had nothing but good things to say about Ohio State.
“The fans and coaches are so different, and I love that. Just the culture and the O-H-I-O (chants) were really fun to me,” he told Eleven Warriors. “[...] I’ve talked with [the coaches] about football a lot, but my visit wasn’t just all about football. It was about how my daily life is going and getting to know me more on a personal level. Overall, my visit to Ohio State was great and I will be back sooner than later.”
DeBose currently ranks as the No. 8 OT in the cycle and the No. 69 player overall per the 247Sports Composite. A multi-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and track and field, the tackle helped lead Vigor to a 14-1 record and the Alabama State 4A Championship. While DeBose plays his high school football in Alabama, he has ties to Ohio, as he was born in Cleveland and spent eight years there before moving south.
Also including Ohio State among their top schools over the weekend was four-star running back Tory Blaylock. The Texas native cut his list of over 40 offers down to just a half dozen on Saturday, and the Buckeyes were included alongside Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
NEWS: Four-Star RB Tory Blaylock is down toSchools!
The 6’0 197 RB from Houston, TX is ranked as the No. 4 RB in Texas (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/6addwYlBdv pic.twitter.com/lWV7GL9p0g
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 9, 2024
Blaylock ranks as the No. 17 RB nationally the No. 32 player in the talent-rich state of Texas per the 247Sports Composite. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back comes from a football family, with his brothers Travian and Taylen both currently safeties at Wisconsin and Sam Houston, respectively, and his father Derrick a former running back at Stephen F. Austin, having also played in the NFL from 2001-07.
In speaking to On3 about each of his six finalists, here is what Blaylock had to say about Ohio State:
“Great legacy and coaching staff. I feel can build me into a better player and set me up for life after football.”
The Sooners are currently the odds-on favorite to land Blaylock’s services, but a lot can happen between now and signing day in December. Ohio State is active in the running back recruiting department after signing just two guys in the position in 2024 and with both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins set to enter the NFL after this upcoming season.
The Buckeyes remain heavily in the mix for guys like Jordon Davison, Marquise Davis and Bo Jackson, in addition to Blaylock, and will look to sign at least two if not three backs in this cycle.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State added a commitment to its 2024 class over the weekend when 6-foot-7 punter Nick McLarty announced his decision to join the Buckeyes. The ProKick Australia product will instantly join the mix to earn the job as the team’s starting punter this season, with Jesse Mirco having transferred to Vanderbilt. McLarty will be the only scholarship punter on the roster, joining walk-on Joe McGuire.
- Ohio State added another name to its spring visitor guest list in 2026 defensive lineman Cincere Johnson. The 6-foot-3, 225 pound edge rusher hails out of Glenville High School in Cleveland — a program the Buckeyes are quite familiar with.
My Upcoming Unofficial Visits!
Notre Dame- March 20th
Ohio state - March 23rd
Louisville - March 27th
Michigan State - March 30th
TBD - Toledo @AllenTrieu @Mark__Porter @SWiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/XnemoKAPtK
— Cincere Johnson (@JCincere8) March 8, 2024
- New Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly will get a chance to chat in person with the nation’s No. 1 QB in the 2026 class when Jared Curtis makes his return visit to Columbus on April 1. The Tennessee native was in attendance for the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State this past season, and the five-star is clearly interested enough to make a second trip on his own dime.
Top-ranked 2026 prospect @Jaredcurtis37 sets a return visit to #OhioState.
@SWiltfong247 https://t.co/aXwjLDxWCH pic.twitter.com/vIERRLo6P9
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) March 9, 2024
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LGHL No. 10 Ohio State will face No. 7 Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament
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No. 10 Ohio State will face No. 7 Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are looking for their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2013.
The regular season has concluded, and the Ohio State men’s basketball team finished with a record of 19-12, and 9-11 in Big Ten play. That puts the Buckeyes in 10th place and has earned them a first-round bye in this week’s Big Ten Tournament. The Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Penn State Nittany Lions also finished the season with a 9-11 record in conference, with Minnesota winning the tiebreaker thanks to its 3-1 record against Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes went 2-2 against the two other teams, splitting both season series. Because of this, Minnesota is the No. 9 seed, Ohio State is the No. 10 seed, and Penn State is the No. 11 seed.
Earning the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament has set the Buckeyes up with a date with the 7-seed, Iowa. The Hawkeyes went 4-2 in their final six games of the season to sneak onto the NCAA Tournament bubble. Iowa has a high-powered offense that scored 90+ points nine different times this year, led by junior forward Payton Sandfort, who averages 16 points per game. Iowa also has the second-worst defense in the Big Ten, allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions. In comparison, Ohio State has allowed 100.9 points per 100 possessions.
The Hawkeyes beat the Buckeyes 79-77 in the only match between the two teams this season on Feb. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Ohio State had the ball down one point with 23 seconds remaining and a chance to win it, but a Felix Okpara turnover handed it right back to Iowa. The Hawkeyes went on to hit five out of six free throws and foul Ohio State at the other end each time afterwards, preventing the Buckeyes from even having a chance to tie it in the final seconds.
Iowa is in a very similar spot as Ohio State, probably needing multiple wins at the Big Ten Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament. Iowa has made the NCAA Tournament each of the last four seasons but has not made the Sweet Sixteen since 1999.
If Ohio State was to beat Iowa on Thursday (6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network), it would set up a re-match on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) with 2-seed Illinois. The Fighting Illini won the only matchup between the two teams this season, beating Ohio State 87-75 on January 30. Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. each had 23 points for Illinois in that game, and as a unit, Illinois shot 51.7% and hit 18 of their 20 free throws.
Since Diebler took over, Ohio State has won five out of six games, including wins over three NCAA Tournament teams in Purdue, Michigan State, and Nebraska. The defense has sharpened, allowing just 65.8 points per game since the coaching change. In the previous 12 games (with Holtmann), Ohio State was allowing 74.9 points per game.
What once looked like an impossible dream, now is within reach, as two wins in Minneapolis would — at the very least — put Ohio State in the conversation for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. A win over Iowa would be a Quad-2 win, and a win over Illinois would be a Quad-1 win. Two wins would put the Buckeyes on the map for a bid, but the win over Iowa being Quad-2 might mean that Ohio State would need a win on Saturday as well to feel secure about its chances.
Fewer than two wins would cause Ohio State to miss the NCAA Tournament, and would likely get an invitation to the NIT — which they would reportedly accept without hesitation. Ohio State would then host at least one NIT game at the Schottenstein Center, barring any scheduling conflicts with the Women’s NCAA Tournament — since the Ohio State women’s basketball team will likely be hosting as well.
Last year, No. 13 seed Ohio State became the first Big Ten team to play on Wednesday and make it to the tournament semi-finals on Saturday. The Buckeyes beat Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State on consecutive days before falling to the eventual champion Boilermakers, 80-66, on Saturday.
Ohio State’s last Big Ten Tournament title was in 2013.
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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
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are looking for their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2013.
The regular season has concluded, and the Ohio State men’s basketball team finished with a record of 19-12, and 9-11 in Big Ten play. That puts the Buckeyes in 10th place and has earned them a first-round bye in this week’s Big Ten Tournament. The Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Penn State Nittany Lions also finished the season with a 9-11 record in conference, with Minnesota winning the tiebreaker thanks to its 3-1 record against Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes went 2-2 against the two other teams, splitting both season series. Because of this, Minnesota is the No. 9 seed, Ohio State is the No. 10 seed, and Penn State is the No. 11 seed.
Earning the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament has set the Buckeyes up with a date with the 7-seed, Iowa. The Hawkeyes went 4-2 in their final six games of the season to sneak onto the NCAA Tournament bubble. Iowa has a high-powered offense that scored 90+ points nine different times this year, led by junior forward Payton Sandfort, who averages 16 points per game. Iowa also has the second-worst defense in the Big Ten, allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions. In comparison, Ohio State has allowed 100.9 points per 100 possessions.
The Hawkeyes beat the Buckeyes 79-77 in the only match between the two teams this season on Feb. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Ohio State had the ball down one point with 23 seconds remaining and a chance to win it, but a Felix Okpara turnover handed it right back to Iowa. The Hawkeyes went on to hit five out of six free throws and foul Ohio State at the other end each time afterwards, preventing the Buckeyes from even having a chance to tie it in the final seconds.
Iowa is in a very similar spot as Ohio State, probably needing multiple wins at the Big Ten Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament. Iowa has made the NCAA Tournament each of the last four seasons but has not made the Sweet Sixteen since 1999.
If Ohio State was to beat Iowa on Thursday (6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network), it would set up a re-match on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) with 2-seed Illinois. The Fighting Illini won the only matchup between the two teams this season, beating Ohio State 87-75 on January 30. Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. each had 23 points for Illinois in that game, and as a unit, Illinois shot 51.7% and hit 18 of their 20 free throws.
Since Diebler took over, Ohio State has won five out of six games, including wins over three NCAA Tournament teams in Purdue, Michigan State, and Nebraska. The defense has sharpened, allowing just 65.8 points per game since the coaching change. In the previous 12 games (with Holtmann), Ohio State was allowing 74.9 points per game.
What once looked like an impossible dream, now is within reach, as two wins in Minneapolis would — at the very least — put Ohio State in the conversation for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. A win over Iowa would be a Quad-2 win, and a win over Illinois would be a Quad-1 win. Two wins would put the Buckeyes on the map for a bid, but the win over Iowa being Quad-2 might mean that Ohio State would need a win on Saturday as well to feel secure about its chances.
Fewer than two wins would cause Ohio State to miss the NCAA Tournament, and would likely get an invitation to the NIT — which they would reportedly accept without hesitation. Ohio State would then host at least one NIT game at the Schottenstein Center, barring any scheduling conflicts with the Women’s NCAA Tournament — since the Ohio State women’s basketball team will likely be hosting as well.
Last year, No. 13 seed Ohio State became the first Big Ten team to play on Wednesday and make it to the tournament semi-finals on Saturday. The Buckeyes beat Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State on consecutive days before falling to the eventual champion Boilermakers, 80-66, on Saturday.
Ohio State’s last Big Ten Tournament title was in 2013.
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LGHL Ohio State stays hot, spoils Rutgers Senior Day with 73-51 win
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Ohio State stays hot, spoils Rutgers Senior Day with 73-51 win
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are now 5-1 under interim head coach Jake Diebler and are sizzling heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (19-12, 9-11) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-16, 7-13) met on Sunday afternoon in Piscataway, with the Buckeyes looking to stay hot and go into the Big Ten Tournament with momentum. The Scarlet Knights were just hoping to celebrate a win on Senior Day and end the regular season on a high note. In the end, it was Ohio State that was celebrating, winning 73-51.
Rutgers forward Mawot Mag did not play in this contest. He averages 9.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and has started in 16 games this season.
The big conversation coming into this game is the Buckeye's late-season turnaround under interim head coach Jake Diebler. The Buckeyes were 4-1 since firing head coach Chris Holtmann coming into today’s game, with wins over Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Michigan. Three of those teams are NCAA Tournament teams.
Ohio State is looking to enter the Big Ten tournament winning five of its last six games, with this game being the regular season finale. Ohio State entered this contest with a full week of rest, while Rutgers played at Wisconsin on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes started the contest the best way possible, with three-pointers from Roddy Gayle and Jamison Battle and a bucket from Felix Okpara giving Ohio State an early 8-0 lead. Ohio State then took a 14-5 lead into the under-12 timeout and kept a six to ten-point lead for the majority of the first half. However, Rutgers cut the lead to five after a Cliff Omoruyi three-point play at the under-4 media timeout.
Two free throws from Bruce Thornton pushed the Buckeye lead back to seven points at 27-20 with 3:31 remaining in the first half. However, Rutgers went on an 8-3 run to end the half, so the Buckeyes led 30-28 heading into the break. The Buckeyes had opportunities to run Rutgers off the floor, but nine first-half turnovers held them back.
Ohio State was 9-for-22 from the field and 4-for-10 from three-point range at the half. Rutgers was 9-for-29 from the field and 2-for-10 from three-point range at the half.
Ohio State started the second half on a 14-6 run to push the lead out to ten points and 44-34 at the under-12 timeout.
A bucket from Scotty Middleton and a three-pointer from Bruce Thornton gave the Buckeyes a 49-35 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining. Another three from Middleton gave the Buckeyes a 52-35 lead. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Ohio State outscored Rutgers 22-7, finally breaking through and creating a deficit that seemed far too large for the Big Ten’s worst offensive team to overcome.
Ohio State took a 54-37 lead into the under-8 media timeout, doing it with uncharacteristically strong three-point showing and strong second halves from the freshmen, Middleton and Devin Royal. After struggling to create separation in the first half, the Buckeyes shot higher than 60% for most of the second stanza and completely overwhelmed the Scarlet Knights.
The Buckeyes pushed their lead out to 25, leading Rutgers 70-45 with three minutes remaining in the game.
When all was said and done, the Buckeyes had wrapped up a 73-51 win over Rutgers at the RAC. The Fighting Jake Dieblers are now 5-1 in their last six games, are on a four-game winning streak, and won their second road game in a row.
Aundre Hyatt recorded 11 points for Rutgers, while Cliff Omoruyi added 10. Roddy Gayle led all scorers for Ohio State with 14 points. Bruce Thornton added 11 points, and Felix Okpara and Jamison Battle both finished with 10 points. OSU shot 57.7% in the second half.
Here are some key moments and takeaways from the Buckeyes win Sunday afternoon:
Rutgers missed its first 11 shots in this game, going down 11-3 early, and the Buckeyes lead 14-5 at the under-12 media timeout. However, the Scarlet Knights were able to cut into the difference throughout the first half, and after starting 0-for-11, they went 9-for-18 for the rest of the half and only trailed by two points at the halftime break.
In the first four minutes of the game, Felix Okpara recorded one point, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Rutgers is a tough matchup for any big man going up against Cliff Omoruyi, but Okpara and Zed Key were able to make their presence known early.
Omoruyi also picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, forcing him to go to the bench. Okpara finished with six points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in the first half.
The Buckeyes struggled to hold possession in the first half, scoring nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. Rutgers only had five turnovers and got seven more shots up than the Buckeyes. They scored the same number of field goals, but the Buckeyes were more efficient.
The Buckeyes struggled to end the first half, allowing Rutgers back into the game, but did not take long in the second half to pull away and led by double digits. The Buckeyes outscored Rutgers 22-7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half to close the door on the Scarlet Knights for the rest of the game, completing the season sweep.
Ohio State (19-12, 9-11) will play either Wednesday or Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament, as either the 9, 10, or 11-seed. With their hot ending to the season, the Buckeyes could punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament if it wins two or three games in Minneapolis. If they don’t, Ohio State will be a high seed in the NIT next week.
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
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are now 5-1 under interim head coach Jake Diebler and are sizzling heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (19-12, 9-11) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-16, 7-13) met on Sunday afternoon in Piscataway, with the Buckeyes looking to stay hot and go into the Big Ten Tournament with momentum. The Scarlet Knights were just hoping to celebrate a win on Senior Day and end the regular season on a high note. In the end, it was Ohio State that was celebrating, winning 73-51.
Rutgers forward Mawot Mag did not play in this contest. He averages 9.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and has started in 16 games this season.
The big conversation coming into this game is the Buckeye's late-season turnaround under interim head coach Jake Diebler. The Buckeyes were 4-1 since firing head coach Chris Holtmann coming into today’s game, with wins over Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Michigan. Three of those teams are NCAA Tournament teams.
Ohio State is looking to enter the Big Ten tournament winning five of its last six games, with this game being the regular season finale. Ohio State entered this contest with a full week of rest, while Rutgers played at Wisconsin on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes started the contest the best way possible, with three-pointers from Roddy Gayle and Jamison Battle and a bucket from Felix Okpara giving Ohio State an early 8-0 lead. Ohio State then took a 14-5 lead into the under-12 timeout and kept a six to ten-point lead for the majority of the first half. However, Rutgers cut the lead to five after a Cliff Omoruyi three-point play at the under-4 media timeout.
Two free throws from Bruce Thornton pushed the Buckeye lead back to seven points at 27-20 with 3:31 remaining in the first half. However, Rutgers went on an 8-3 run to end the half, so the Buckeyes led 30-28 heading into the break. The Buckeyes had opportunities to run Rutgers off the floor, but nine first-half turnovers held them back.
Ohio State was 9-for-22 from the field and 4-for-10 from three-point range at the half. Rutgers was 9-for-29 from the field and 2-for-10 from three-point range at the half.
Ohio State started the second half on a 14-6 run to push the lead out to ten points and 44-34 at the under-12 timeout.
A bucket from Scotty Middleton and a three-pointer from Bruce Thornton gave the Buckeyes a 49-35 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining. Another three from Middleton gave the Buckeyes a 52-35 lead. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Ohio State outscored Rutgers 22-7, finally breaking through and creating a deficit that seemed far too large for the Big Ten’s worst offensive team to overcome.
Ohio State took a 54-37 lead into the under-8 media timeout, doing it with uncharacteristically strong three-point showing and strong second halves from the freshmen, Middleton and Devin Royal. After struggling to create separation in the first half, the Buckeyes shot higher than 60% for most of the second stanza and completely overwhelmed the Scarlet Knights.
The Buckeyes pushed their lead out to 25, leading Rutgers 70-45 with three minutes remaining in the game.
When all was said and done, the Buckeyes had wrapped up a 73-51 win over Rutgers at the RAC. The Fighting Jake Dieblers are now 5-1 in their last six games, are on a four-game winning streak, and won their second road game in a row.
Aundre Hyatt recorded 11 points for Rutgers, while Cliff Omoruyi added 10. Roddy Gayle led all scorers for Ohio State with 14 points. Bruce Thornton added 11 points, and Felix Okpara and Jamison Battle both finished with 10 points. OSU shot 57.7% in the second half.
Here are some key moments and takeaways from the Buckeyes win Sunday afternoon:
Cold start for Rutgers
Rutgers missed its first 11 shots in this game, going down 11-3 early, and the Buckeyes lead 14-5 at the under-12 media timeout. However, the Scarlet Knights were able to cut into the difference throughout the first half, and after starting 0-for-11, they went 9-for-18 for the rest of the half and only trailed by two points at the halftime break.
Making an impact in the paint
In the first four minutes of the game, Felix Okpara recorded one point, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Rutgers is a tough matchup for any big man going up against Cliff Omoruyi, but Okpara and Zed Key were able to make their presence known early.
Omoruyi also picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, forcing him to go to the bench. Okpara finished with six points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in the first half.
Taking care of the ball
The Buckeyes struggled to hold possession in the first half, scoring nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. Rutgers only had five turnovers and got seven more shots up than the Buckeyes. They scored the same number of field goals, but the Buckeyes were more efficient.
Second half successes
The Buckeyes struggled to end the first half, allowing Rutgers back into the game, but did not take long in the second half to pull away and led by double digits. The Buckeyes outscored Rutgers 22-7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half to close the door on the Scarlet Knights for the rest of the game, completing the season sweep.
Up Next
Ohio State (19-12, 9-11) will play either Wednesday or Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament, as either the 9, 10, or 11-seed. With their hot ending to the season, the Buckeyes could punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament if it wins two or three games in Minneapolis. If they don’t, Ohio State will be a high seed in the NIT next week.
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