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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Battle, Gayle on Ohio State’s win over Nebraska, NCAA tournament chances
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Uncut Podcast: Battle, Gayle on Ohio State’s win over Nebraska, NCAA tournament chances
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
We spoke with Ohio State’s two leading scorers on a night when Bruce Thornton was unable to play.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Shortly after knocking off Nebraska 78-69 without leading scorer Bruce Thornton, Ohio State interim head coach Jake Diebler, Jamison Battle (32 points), and Roddy Gayle (first career double-double) spoke to the media. We also spoke with Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg for about three minutes.
Hoiberg started off and spent some time talking about Gayle, saying “He’s so good with the shot fake, and we jumped every single time.” Hoiberg also said he’s a “Chris Holtmann fan” and that Diebler is doing a very good job thus far.
Then Battle and Gayle spoke. Battle said he felt there’s an unspoken respect given from the coaches when a player knocks down two or three three-pointers in a row, that allows him to take a bad one until he cools off. He also talked about how he “knows the sand is running out” for his career. Gayle called Dale Bonner the “floor general” and said his being out there makes Ohio State want to get up and down faster by default.
Diebler continued to harp on the character of the team, saying with each win, the “character of the team is revealed more and more.” He also said he thinks Thornton will recover quickly from migraine issues that kept him out Thursday.
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
We spoke with Ohio State’s two leading scorers on a night when Bruce Thornton was unable to play.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Shortly after knocking off Nebraska 78-69 without leading scorer Bruce Thornton, Ohio State interim head coach Jake Diebler, Jamison Battle (32 points), and Roddy Gayle (first career double-double) spoke to the media. We also spoke with Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg for about three minutes.
Hoiberg started off and spent some time talking about Gayle, saying “He’s so good with the shot fake, and we jumped every single time.” Hoiberg also said he’s a “Chris Holtmann fan” and that Diebler is doing a very good job thus far.
Then Battle and Gayle spoke. Battle said he felt there’s an unspoken respect given from the coaches when a player knocks down two or three three-pointers in a row, that allows him to take a bad one until he cools off. He also talked about how he “knows the sand is running out” for his career. Gayle called Dale Bonner the “floor general” and said his being out there makes Ohio State want to get up and down faster by default.
Diebler continued to harp on the character of the team, saying with each win, the “character of the team is revealed more and more.” He also said he thinks Thornton will recover quickly from migraine issues that kept him out Thursday.
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 1 point guard prospect Jaloni Cambridge officially signs with Ohio State women’s basketball
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No. 1 point guard prospect Jaloni Cambridge officially signs with Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jaloni Cambridge on Instagram | @idkjaloni
After verbally committing on Dec. 29, the guard made it official Thursday.
The celebration for Ohio State women’s basketball didn’t stop Wednesday night when the Buckeyes defeated the Michigan Wolverines for its 16th Big Ten regular season title. Not only did the Scarlet and Gray secure the outright conference title, but Thursday they received the outright written commitment of No. 3 overall 2024 recruit Jaloni Cambridge.
Cambridge verbally committed to Ohio State on Dec. 29, giving the Buckeyes 2024 recruiting class a boost.
Currently with Montverde Academy in Florida, Cambridge is a 5-foot-5 guard who is NCAA-ready. The guard can find space through defenders, has the court vision to find teammates with her passing ability, and can shoot. Cambridge’s shooting spans all three levels.
In Cambridge’s final season before embarking on her college journey, she’s earned high praise. Included in Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s midseason starting five, Cambridge also earned a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team.
The 5-foot-5 guard joins guards Ava Watson and Seini Hicks in the backcourt. In the paint, head coach Kevin McGuff added forward Ella Hobbs and Elisa Lemmilä.
However, Cambridge won’t have normal freshman problems acclimating with the team, since she’s already well connected with one teammate. Cambridge joins redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge on the Buckeyes’ roster after her older sister transferred to Ohio State from the Kentucky Wildcats in the summer of 2023.
While starting lineups for next season are nowhere close to being finalized, Cambridge already makes a strong case for consideration. Ohio State loses at least two starting-caliber guards this offseason with eligibility running out for graduate seniors Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor.
Also, redshirt senior guards Rikki Harris and Madison Greene are each potentially done with their playing careers. They both have an extra season of eligibility, thanks to the bonus year earned by COVID-19’s impact on winter sports, but injuries have hobbled their careers thus far.
Signs point to Indianapolis, Indiana native Rikki Harris not taking the additional year, following her emotional inclusion in Senior Day on Sunday. However, Greene did not participate, so that door is still open. While neither officially means that they are or are not returning, Senior Day participation is normally a strong sign of the decision-making process for players in their potential final seasons.
If Senior Day is the litmus test for returning, Cambridge would have an experienced senior in Greene to play alongside and learn from. Barring any transfers in the offseason, Ohio State also returns guards Emma Shumate, Diana Collins, and Kaia Henderson, with the two first names earning minutes throughout the season.
Ohio State hasn’t made a formal announcement of the signing as it is still likely pending review and sign-off from the university’s compliance office.
Cambridge chose the Buckeyes over LSU, the reigning national champions, and former champs in the South Carolina Gamecocks. Also on the list of final schools were Georgia, Florida, Louisville, and Baylor.
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
Jaloni Cambridge on Instagram | @idkjaloni
After verbally committing on Dec. 29, the guard made it official Thursday.
The celebration for Ohio State women’s basketball didn’t stop Wednesday night when the Buckeyes defeated the Michigan Wolverines for its 16th Big Ten regular season title. Not only did the Scarlet and Gray secure the outright conference title, but Thursday they received the outright written commitment of No. 3 overall 2024 recruit Jaloni Cambridge.
Cambridge verbally committed to Ohio State on Dec. 29, giving the Buckeyes 2024 recruiting class a boost.
Currently with Montverde Academy in Florida, Cambridge is a 5-foot-5 guard who is NCAA-ready. The guard can find space through defenders, has the court vision to find teammates with her passing ability, and can shoot. Cambridge’s shooting spans all three levels.
In Cambridge’s final season before embarking on her college journey, she’s earned high praise. Included in Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s midseason starting five, Cambridge also earned a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team.
The 5-foot-5 guard joins guards Ava Watson and Seini Hicks in the backcourt. In the paint, head coach Kevin McGuff added forward Ella Hobbs and Elisa Lemmilä.
However, Cambridge won’t have normal freshman problems acclimating with the team, since she’s already well connected with one teammate. Cambridge joins redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge on the Buckeyes’ roster after her older sister transferred to Ohio State from the Kentucky Wildcats in the summer of 2023.
While starting lineups for next season are nowhere close to being finalized, Cambridge already makes a strong case for consideration. Ohio State loses at least two starting-caliber guards this offseason with eligibility running out for graduate seniors Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor.
Also, redshirt senior guards Rikki Harris and Madison Greene are each potentially done with their playing careers. They both have an extra season of eligibility, thanks to the bonus year earned by COVID-19’s impact on winter sports, but injuries have hobbled their careers thus far.
Signs point to Indianapolis, Indiana native Rikki Harris not taking the additional year, following her emotional inclusion in Senior Day on Sunday. However, Greene did not participate, so that door is still open. While neither officially means that they are or are not returning, Senior Day participation is normally a strong sign of the decision-making process for players in their potential final seasons.
If Senior Day is the litmus test for returning, Cambridge would have an experienced senior in Greene to play alongside and learn from. Barring any transfers in the offseason, Ohio State also returns guards Emma Shumate, Diana Collins, and Kaia Henderson, with the two first names earning minutes throughout the season.
Ohio State hasn’t made a formal announcement of the signing as it is still likely pending review and sign-off from the university’s compliance office.
Cambridge chose the Buckeyes over LSU, the reigning national champions, and former champs in the South Carolina Gamecocks. Also on the list of final schools were Georgia, Florida, Louisville, and Baylor.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What are the odds Ohio State men’s basketball makes the NCAA Tournament?
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You’re Nuts: What are the odds Ohio State men’s basketball makes the NCAA 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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes need to win four more games, at minimum, to have a chance.
What a rollercoaster ride this season has been for these Ohio State Buckeyes. This team won 12 of its first 14 games and was darn close to being ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. Then, they lost nine of their next 11, and Chris Holtmann was promptly shown the door with six games remaining.
At 4-10, Jake Diebler’s job was to find a way to make this team play hard as the ship slowly sank to the bottom of the ocean. Once the season was over, Diebler and the staff would be let go, players would probably enter the transfer portal, (which still is going to happen, most likely) and the next coach would be hired and set out to put the pieces back together and build it new.
But so far, this Ohio State team hasn’t followed the script. They’ve won three out of four games with Diebler, including victories over Purdue and a road win at a place no Ohio State team has won in over a decade. Now, the Buckeyes are in a spot where they’re four — maybe five — wins away from punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Last week, Connor and Justin drew their arbitrary lines of what Diebler would need to do to have the “interim” tag removed and earn the full-time head coach’s job. Justin said anything short of a national championship would mean Ross Bjork hires someone else. Connor said Diebler needs to win the Big Ten Tournament.
By a nose, Connor won with 34% of the vote. “Do more than make the tournament but not win a championship” was the second most popular option at 32%.
Connor- 69
Ohio State’s path to the NCAA Tournament is narrow, but for the first time, it looks like the Buckeyes could potentially make it without winning the Big Ten Tournament. How many more wins in a row would it take?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25312545/usa_today_22656452.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Nebraska at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State undoubtedly controls its own destiny and can make the tournament without winning the Big Ten Tournament, but it is going to take a lot. Right now this team has caught lightning in a bottle, and I’m not sure it will last as long as they need it to in order to make the tournament.
The Buckeyes are No. 65 in the NET rankings, No. 56 in KenPom, and are tied for 12th in the Big Ten as of Friday morning. Those metrics are not the only things that matter, but they do matter. Since they’re so low and do not have any Quad-1 games remaining, I think winning the final two games against Rutgers and Michigan is needed plus at least three wins in the Big Ten Tournament to be guaranteed a spot.
That means if Ohio State was sneak its way out of the bottom four spots and not play Wednesday, they would need to make it to the Big Ten championship game and finish with a record of 22-13, and 9-11 in Big Ten play.
If Ohio State did all of that, but only won two games in the Big Ten Tournament, I think they would have a puncher’s chance of getting in, but would probably be left on the outside looking in. There are too many teams similar to Ohio State, hovering between 40 and 60 in the NET, that didn’t start the season 4-10 in conference play. The Buckeyes would only have four Quad-1 wins, compared to other bubble teams — like Pitt or Virginia — who have five and seven.
That’s all assuming Ohio State doesn’t lose to Michigan or Rutgers, too. The Wolverines would love nothing more than to travel to Columbus and spoil the Buckeyes’ fun. Two years ago, Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus without Hunter Dickinson, ruining Senior Day. Beating Rutgers on the road will be a task too, as the RAC is one of the toughest places to play in the country. Even though Rutgers isn’t much better than Ohio State, snatching a road win will be tough — the Buckeyes only have one of those this season.
To me, there are just too many things that have to go right. There’s a window, but it is incredibly small.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25312304/usa_today_22656123.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Nebraska at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
I think the Buckeyes have a decent chance to make the postseason, specifically the NCAA Tournament. But I will say, even if they don’t make the Big Dance, they should absolutely accept an invite to the NIT. It will only benefit them in the future. But enough of that, this is about the important tournament.
Currently, the Buckeyes are 17-12 overall and 7-11 in conference. They play against Michigan this Sunday and at Rutgers next Sunday. Michigan is the worst team in the conference and just lost by 30 at Rutgers. Rutgers has had moments of being good, but their offense is unreliable, and they scored less than 50 points at home against Maryland just last week.
Ohio State also already beat Rutgers this season, one of its two wins in January. Winning at the RAC is a different challenge, but the Buckeyes are playing with a different energy that we have seen translate to the road finally.
Now, if they win those two, which is a must, they will finish the season at 19-12 and 9-11 in the conference. Their best wins would be over Michigan State, Purdue, and Alabama. That likely would not quite be enough. However, if they can grab a couple of wins in the Big Ten Tournament, especially beating one of the other bubble teams and getting to 20-21 wins, that should get them to Dayton and into the play-in tournament, which I consider making the tournament because the records and statistics count as NCAA Tournament stats.
The big thing will be what happens in front of them as well, and that is the unpredictable part. They will need some teams that are currently sitting on the bubble to stumble down the stretch, including a couple of teams that are in the Big Ten, like Nebraska, Northwestern, and Minnesota.
But somehow, some way, this thing is far from over.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes need to win four more games, at minimum, to have a chance.
What a rollercoaster ride this season has been for these Ohio State Buckeyes. This team won 12 of its first 14 games and was darn close to being ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. Then, they lost nine of their next 11, and Chris Holtmann was promptly shown the door with six games remaining.
At 4-10, Jake Diebler’s job was to find a way to make this team play hard as the ship slowly sank to the bottom of the ocean. Once the season was over, Diebler and the staff would be let go, players would probably enter the transfer portal, (which still is going to happen, most likely) and the next coach would be hired and set out to put the pieces back together and build it new.
But so far, this Ohio State team hasn’t followed the script. They’ve won three out of four games with Diebler, including victories over Purdue and a road win at a place no Ohio State team has won in over a decade. Now, the Buckeyes are in a spot where they’re four — maybe five — wins away from punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Last week, Connor and Justin drew their arbitrary lines of what Diebler would need to do to have the “interim” tag removed and earn the full-time head coach’s job. Justin said anything short of a national championship would mean Ross Bjork hires someone else. Connor said Diebler needs to win the Big Ten Tournament.
By a nose, Connor won with 34% of the vote. “Do more than make the tournament but not win a championship” was the second most popular option at 32%.
After 141 weeks:
Connor- 69
Justin- 53
Other- 15
(There have been four ties)
Ohio State’s path to the NCAA Tournament is narrow, but for the first time, it looks like the Buckeyes could potentially make it without winning the Big Ten Tournament. How many more wins in a row would it take?
Today’s Question: What are the odds Ohio State men’s basketball makes the NCAA Tournament?
Connor: Less than a 50% chance
Ohio State undoubtedly controls its own destiny and can make the tournament without winning the Big Ten Tournament, but it is going to take a lot. Right now this team has caught lightning in a bottle, and I’m not sure it will last as long as they need it to in order to make the tournament.
The Buckeyes are No. 65 in the NET rankings, No. 56 in KenPom, and are tied for 12th in the Big Ten as of Friday morning. Those metrics are not the only things that matter, but they do matter. Since they’re so low and do not have any Quad-1 games remaining, I think winning the final two games against Rutgers and Michigan is needed plus at least three wins in the Big Ten Tournament to be guaranteed a spot.
That means if Ohio State was sneak its way out of the bottom four spots and not play Wednesday, they would need to make it to the Big Ten championship game and finish with a record of 22-13, and 9-11 in Big Ten play.
If Ohio State did all of that, but only won two games in the Big Ten Tournament, I think they would have a puncher’s chance of getting in, but would probably be left on the outside looking in. There are too many teams similar to Ohio State, hovering between 40 and 60 in the NET, that didn’t start the season 4-10 in conference play. The Buckeyes would only have four Quad-1 wins, compared to other bubble teams — like Pitt or Virginia — who have five and seven.
That’s all assuming Ohio State doesn’t lose to Michigan or Rutgers, too. The Wolverines would love nothing more than to travel to Columbus and spoil the Buckeyes’ fun. Two years ago, Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus without Hunter Dickinson, ruining Senior Day. Beating Rutgers on the road will be a task too, as the RAC is one of the toughest places to play in the country. Even though Rutgers isn’t much better than Ohio State, snatching a road win will be tough — the Buckeyes only have one of those this season.
To me, there are just too many things that have to go right. There’s a window, but it is incredibly small.
Justin: Above 50% chance
I think the Buckeyes have a decent chance to make the postseason, specifically the NCAA Tournament. But I will say, even if they don’t make the Big Dance, they should absolutely accept an invite to the NIT. It will only benefit them in the future. But enough of that, this is about the important tournament.
Currently, the Buckeyes are 17-12 overall and 7-11 in conference. They play against Michigan this Sunday and at Rutgers next Sunday. Michigan is the worst team in the conference and just lost by 30 at Rutgers. Rutgers has had moments of being good, but their offense is unreliable, and they scored less than 50 points at home against Maryland just last week.
Ohio State also already beat Rutgers this season, one of its two wins in January. Winning at the RAC is a different challenge, but the Buckeyes are playing with a different energy that we have seen translate to the road finally.
Now, if they win those two, which is a must, they will finish the season at 19-12 and 9-11 in the conference. Their best wins would be over Michigan State, Purdue, and Alabama. That likely would not quite be enough. However, if they can grab a couple of wins in the Big Ten Tournament, especially beating one of the other bubble teams and getting to 20-21 wins, that should get them to Dayton and into the play-in tournament, which I consider making the tournament because the records and statistics count as NCAA Tournament stats.
The big thing will be what happens in front of them as well, and that is the unpredictable part. They will need some teams that are currently sitting on the bubble to stumble down the stretch, including a couple of teams that are in the Big Ten, like Nebraska, Northwestern, and Minnesota.
But somehow, some way, this thing is far from over.
Continue reading...
LGHL The small moment showing Jacy Sheldon’s indelible impact on Ohio State women’s basketball
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The small moment showing Jacy Sheldon’s indelible impact on Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Underneath a layer of obvious on-court ability is a player whose off-court impact will stretch beyond her years in scarlet and gray
Following Wednesday’s outright title victory for Ohio State women’s basketball, and players took turns climbing a ladder to cut a piece of the net, guard Jacy Sheldon had a Sheldon-like performance. The graduate senior took no time getting up the ladder, trimming a piece of nylon, including a quick “woo” and clap towards fans, before climbing down and walking away.
It was the opposite of what fans see on the court. Sheldon dives on the floor to earn an extra possession, doesn’t allow opponents to breathe when the ball is inbounded, and can hit a shot at all three levels on the offensive side of the court.
Those performances by the local Dublin Coffman High School graduate elicit strong crowd reactions, and Wednesday’s win against the Michigan Wolverines featured more reasons for scarlet and gray-clad fans to get out of their seats.
Sheldon led Ohio State with 22 points, and three steals, assists, and rebounds. A play that summarizes the guard’s play well came in the first quarter.
Receiving a pass in the corner, Sheldon sent up a three-point attempt. For a split second, Sheldon watches the attempt and then sprints to the basket. When the shot ricocheted off the rim, and into the hands of a Wolverine, Sheldon was already behind the player knocking the ball out of her hands, sending it hurling past the baseline.
The guard kept going, not satisfied with losing the possession. Sheldon dove out of bounds to send the ball back into play, to the hands of a waiting guard/forward Taylor Thierry, who hit an impressive reverse layup.
While it’s a perfect representation of Sheldon’s gamesmanship, there was a better moment that represents what the guard means to the program. It was in the second half. It didn’t make any highlight reels.
Following a whistle, forward Cotie McMahon began voicing her thoughts on a call, beginning to raise her arms to help make the point. Sheldon stepped in and stopped the sophomore, putting her arms down.
Strong argument or not, McMahon’s lack of receiving foul calls — even though the forward often flies into the paint, receives contact, and goes to the court — earned her two technical fouls in two weeks; both came during moments of frustration that referees thought went too far.
Sheldon stopped things from escalating to help the forward keep her focus.
“She’s literally the voice of reason,” said McMahon. “So she’s always just talking in your ear, whether it’s something that you want to hear or something that you’re not. But she’s going to be completely honest and with her, her biggest thing is just like, come on, we got so much more to play for.”
The guard has an otherworldly ability to drown out what’s around her and have laser-sharp focus on the task at hand. Instilled in her as a child, playing for her father/coach, Sheldon is never overwhelmed with the moment because the moment in her head is the current possession. It’s the next pass. It’s where she and her teammates are standing on the court in those seconds.
McMahon wasn’t lacking in saying how much Sheldon means to the team.
“She’s very big on just not letting a certain play or a certain moment affect us as a team,” said McMahon. “And, you know, me specifically, because I’m kind of in my head a lot, but she does a really great job of just kind of onto the next and just staying motivated and keeping us as a team hungry.”
When it's Sheldon’s turn to field questions about her craft, it usually ends a couple of different ways but one is more popular than most: It goes back to the team.
Sheldon’s poured into her teammates. Whether it’s helping McMahon stay in the moment, boosting the confidence of Thierry, or helping guard Celeste Taylor adjust to a new team.
After five seasons, Sheldon came into the program at a time when sanctions loomed and head coach Kevin McGuff decided to go a different way with the team. From an early age, Sheldon’s been part of the plans.
In five years, 126 appearances and 114 starts, Sheldon’s seen the side go from “recruit the best” to “recruit what fits.” When talking about it, Sheldon doesn’t sound like a 23-year-old, she sounds like a coach.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of work,” said Sheldon. “But I think where we’re at today says a lot about this program and the people within it. We got great kids, great coaches, and people who just want to get better and literally work every day. And that’s what we do here. And on and off the court, we stay together and make good decisions.”
The old sports adage of “having a coach on the field” applies to Sheldon, and the guard’s actual coach, Kevin McGuff, sees that program-changing impact’s trickle-down effect to the rest of the roster.
“Jacy [Sheldon] models the way,” said McGuff. “These young people, when they come into our program, they’re going to learn from the leaders. Jacy, and the other upperclassmen, have done a great job to make sure the team is focused on the right things, whether it be practice, or the next opponent on the schedule.”
Sunday, Sheldon and the Buckeyes take their tunnel vision on the right things, and a 15-game winning streak, to Iowa City to face the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes.
Although the game itself doesn’t carry weight in the regular season standings, with the Scarlet and Gray locking up the title and No. 1 Big Ten Tournament seeding, there’s still NCAA Tournament seeding and carrying momentum into the postseason.
While a conference and NCAA Tournament title are goals for Sheldon’s final college season, the guard echoes Coach McGuff when she confidently says Iowa is their current focus. It’s hard to doubt it considering this current edition of the Buckeyes beat not only the Hawkeyes but everyone else who’s come their way in the 2024 calendar.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena is going to be loud on Sunday, but the way Sheldon operates, one possession at a time, has permeated into the younger players on the team. The last time the two Big Ten powerhouses competed, the nearly 19,000 people also created a pretty raucous environment at Columbus’ Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State went down 12 points in the second half, but Sheldon helped pull the Buckeyes out of the hole, all while not knowing the team was down double-digits. Credit that to focusing on the next play. The guard had 16 points and four assists, playing the final 25 minutes of the game (including overtime). McMahon, the next generation of Buckeye leadership, had 21 points and nine assists. Part of a 33-point, 12-rebound performance.
McMahon isn’t only playing like the graduate senior, but sounding like her too, when asked about what she wants to accomplish in the rest of her NCAA career.
“Hopefully, getting the Big Ten champs, the tournament champs, and then the goal is always to chase the ring, the natty [national championship].” said McMahon. “That will continue to be my goal from here on out, and doing whatever I can to help lead my team for the next two years. Losing Jaycee is obviously a big loss, but we’ll have people to step up and kind of help us fulfill those goals as well.”
With Sheldon’s leadership playing alongside McMahon for two and a half years, plus the list of remaining Buckeyes who will stay beyond the guard’s Ohio State exit, that focus passes down from one team core to the next.
Oh, there was one more thing Sheldon did after cutting down the net. She found her sister Emmy Sheldon and adopted-through-basketball sister Rikki Harris and gave them a hug. Celebrating a moment five years in the making.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Underneath a layer of obvious on-court ability is a player whose off-court impact will stretch beyond her years in scarlet and gray
Following Wednesday’s outright title victory for Ohio State women’s basketball, and players took turns climbing a ladder to cut a piece of the net, guard Jacy Sheldon had a Sheldon-like performance. The graduate senior took no time getting up the ladder, trimming a piece of nylon, including a quick “woo” and clap towards fans, before climbing down and walking away.
It was the opposite of what fans see on the court. Sheldon dives on the floor to earn an extra possession, doesn’t allow opponents to breathe when the ball is inbounded, and can hit a shot at all three levels on the offensive side of the court.
Those performances by the local Dublin Coffman High School graduate elicit strong crowd reactions, and Wednesday’s win against the Michigan Wolverines featured more reasons for scarlet and gray-clad fans to get out of their seats.
Sheldon led Ohio State with 22 points, and three steals, assists, and rebounds. A play that summarizes the guard’s play well came in the first quarter.
Receiving a pass in the corner, Sheldon sent up a three-point attempt. For a split second, Sheldon watches the attempt and then sprints to the basket. When the shot ricocheted off the rim, and into the hands of a Wolverine, Sheldon was already behind the player knocking the ball out of her hands, sending it hurling past the baseline.
The guard kept going, not satisfied with losing the possession. Sheldon dove out of bounds to send the ball back into play, to the hands of a waiting guard/forward Taylor Thierry, who hit an impressive reverse layup.
While it’s a perfect representation of Sheldon’s gamesmanship, there was a better moment that represents what the guard means to the program. It was in the second half. It didn’t make any highlight reels.
Following a whistle, forward Cotie McMahon began voicing her thoughts on a call, beginning to raise her arms to help make the point. Sheldon stepped in and stopped the sophomore, putting her arms down.
Strong argument or not, McMahon’s lack of receiving foul calls — even though the forward often flies into the paint, receives contact, and goes to the court — earned her two technical fouls in two weeks; both came during moments of frustration that referees thought went too far.
Sheldon stopped things from escalating to help the forward keep her focus.
“She’s literally the voice of reason,” said McMahon. “So she’s always just talking in your ear, whether it’s something that you want to hear or something that you’re not. But she’s going to be completely honest and with her, her biggest thing is just like, come on, we got so much more to play for.”
The guard has an otherworldly ability to drown out what’s around her and have laser-sharp focus on the task at hand. Instilled in her as a child, playing for her father/coach, Sheldon is never overwhelmed with the moment because the moment in her head is the current possession. It’s the next pass. It’s where she and her teammates are standing on the court in those seconds.
McMahon wasn’t lacking in saying how much Sheldon means to the team.
“She’s very big on just not letting a certain play or a certain moment affect us as a team,” said McMahon. “And, you know, me specifically, because I’m kind of in my head a lot, but she does a really great job of just kind of onto the next and just staying motivated and keeping us as a team hungry.”
When it's Sheldon’s turn to field questions about her craft, it usually ends a couple of different ways but one is more popular than most: It goes back to the team.
Sheldon’s poured into her teammates. Whether it’s helping McMahon stay in the moment, boosting the confidence of Thierry, or helping guard Celeste Taylor adjust to a new team.
After five seasons, Sheldon came into the program at a time when sanctions loomed and head coach Kevin McGuff decided to go a different way with the team. From an early age, Sheldon’s been part of the plans.
In five years, 126 appearances and 114 starts, Sheldon’s seen the side go from “recruit the best” to “recruit what fits.” When talking about it, Sheldon doesn’t sound like a 23-year-old, she sounds like a coach.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of work,” said Sheldon. “But I think where we’re at today says a lot about this program and the people within it. We got great kids, great coaches, and people who just want to get better and literally work every day. And that’s what we do here. And on and off the court, we stay together and make good decisions.”
The old sports adage of “having a coach on the field” applies to Sheldon, and the guard’s actual coach, Kevin McGuff, sees that program-changing impact’s trickle-down effect to the rest of the roster.
“Jacy [Sheldon] models the way,” said McGuff. “These young people, when they come into our program, they’re going to learn from the leaders. Jacy, and the other upperclassmen, have done a great job to make sure the team is focused on the right things, whether it be practice, or the next opponent on the schedule.”
Sunday, Sheldon and the Buckeyes take their tunnel vision on the right things, and a 15-game winning streak, to Iowa City to face the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes.
Although the game itself doesn’t carry weight in the regular season standings, with the Scarlet and Gray locking up the title and No. 1 Big Ten Tournament seeding, there’s still NCAA Tournament seeding and carrying momentum into the postseason.
While a conference and NCAA Tournament title are goals for Sheldon’s final college season, the guard echoes Coach McGuff when she confidently says Iowa is their current focus. It’s hard to doubt it considering this current edition of the Buckeyes beat not only the Hawkeyes but everyone else who’s come their way in the 2024 calendar.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena is going to be loud on Sunday, but the way Sheldon operates, one possession at a time, has permeated into the younger players on the team. The last time the two Big Ten powerhouses competed, the nearly 19,000 people also created a pretty raucous environment at Columbus’ Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State went down 12 points in the second half, but Sheldon helped pull the Buckeyes out of the hole, all while not knowing the team was down double-digits. Credit that to focusing on the next play. The guard had 16 points and four assists, playing the final 25 minutes of the game (including overtime). McMahon, the next generation of Buckeye leadership, had 21 points and nine assists. Part of a 33-point, 12-rebound performance.
McMahon isn’t only playing like the graduate senior, but sounding like her too, when asked about what she wants to accomplish in the rest of her NCAA career.
“Hopefully, getting the Big Ten champs, the tournament champs, and then the goal is always to chase the ring, the natty [national championship].” said McMahon. “That will continue to be my goal from here on out, and doing whatever I can to help lead my team for the next two years. Losing Jaycee is obviously a big loss, but we’ll have people to step up and kind of help us fulfill those goals as well.”
With Sheldon’s leadership playing alongside McMahon for two and a half years, plus the list of remaining Buckeyes who will stay beyond the guard’s Ohio State exit, that focus passes down from one team core to the next.
Oh, there was one more thing Sheldon did after cutting down the net. She found her sister Emmy Sheldon and adopted-through-basketball sister Rikki Harris and gave them a hug. Celebrating a moment five years in the making.
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