-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
2026 MA OL Marky Walbridge (ttun signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Needham(MA) St. Sebastians
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 270lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Needham(MA) St. Sebastians
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 270lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL You’re Nuts: Are Ohio State’s rebounding issues fixable?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Are Ohio State’s rebounding issues fixable?
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-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have been beaten on the boards in a big way in each of their last two games.
Well, the vibes have certainly done a sharp 180 over last four days, huh? Just over a week ago, Ohio State pounded Washington to get back to an even 7-7 in Big Ten play, and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament was in its sights. Since then, the Buckeyes lost two home games to Michigan and Northwestern to fall back to 7-9 in conference play, and more importantly they picked up their 11th and 12th losses of the year.
What’s noteworthy about the two losses is that Ohio State was dominated on the glass by both teams. It was kind of expected against Michigan, which starts a pair of seven-footers in Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin. The Wolverines out-rebounded Ohio State 46-31, and won the game by three points.
More surprising is that Northwestern bulled the Buckeyes on the glass, 36-27. Northwestern grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, which equates to 44.8% of their own misses. The Wildcats only had one starter taller than 6-foot-7 — center Matthew Nicholson.
Last week, Connor and Justin (maybe prematurely?) debated if an 8, 9, 10, or 11 seed would be the most advantageous for Ohio State to secure in the NCAA Tournament, should they make it. Justin said an 11 because it gives Ohio State a better chance to win a second game, and 57% of the readers agreed with him.
Connor- 86
Ohio State isn’t going to make the NCAA Tournament if they can’t survive on the glass over their final four games. They don’t need to win the rebounding battle, but they can’t get bullied like they have been the last two games. Unfortunately, the roster is what it is — Jake Diebler can’t acquire more height. Can they figure out how to survive on the glass enough to still make the NCAA Tournament?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25881604/usa_today_25358309.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State can play bigger lineups, the problem is the Buckeyes will be sorely lacking in other areas if they go solely with a bigger lineup.
For example, if Aaron Bradshaw gets over the sniffles and can fly out west, he’s still 7-foot-1. He has not been a great rebounder this season, no, but he’s still tall, with long arms and should be able to prevent offensive rebounds if he gets minutes.
Statistically, Sean Stewart is one of the best defensive rebounders in the country this season. He’s only 6-foot-9, but he high-points the ball like a receiver when it comes off the glass and will out-leap pretty much anybody.
Ivan Njegovan is 7-foot-1 as well, but closer to 250 pounds. He’s still pretty raw, but he does seem to understand the concept of “see ball, grab ball.” Njegovan isn’t going to contribute a whole lot on offense, and God help us if he tries to guard some type of mobile big man or stretch-four. But he’s a big body — he should be able to prevent the other team from living on the glass.
If Ohio State wants to get big, they may need to play two of these guys together at times. It will look clunky, and it 100% is going to hinder the offense. The Buckeyes may not get as many great shots with a combo of any of those two guys patrolling the floor at the same time, since Njegovan and Stewart have limited shooting range and Bradshaw is — at best — an iffy jump shooter.
But hey, the question wasn’t “Can Ohio State fix its rebounding issues and still operate a smooth offense?” it was just “Can Ohio State fix the rebounding issue?”
The answer is yeah, they could probably cut down some of those second, third, fourth, and (on Thursday) fifth-chance opportunities just by increasing minutes for all three guys, and even playing them together at times. It might create some issues elsewhere, but if the goal is just “get basketball off the rim before other team does” then they do have the big bodies to do that more than they have been.
I don’t think Ohio State’s rebounding issues have been dire this season or have been the Buckeyes’ biggest issue. But they are a problem nonetheless, and unless the guards are perfect, it is hard to overcome.
They are T9 in the Big Ten rebounding this season, so right in the middle. But when they play any team with a capable big man, they get eaten alive and give up enough offensive rebounds per game that it comes back to bite them.
The problem is there is no fixing it now. Ivan Njegovan is raw and might be good down the road, but he isn’t ready now. Austin Park is out of the rotation, Aaron Bradshaw needs an offseason of strength training and working on rebounding as a skill and Sean Stewart and Devin Royal are decent rebounders but undersized, something out of their control.
This is the main thing we have to address in the offseason. They don’t have a rebounder they can count on, and every good team has that. They don’t need someone who averages 15 rebounds a game, but they need someone who can limit second-chance points and be a reliable force in the paint.
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-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have been beaten on the boards in a big way in each of their last two games.
Well, the vibes have certainly done a sharp 180 over last four days, huh? Just over a week ago, Ohio State pounded Washington to get back to an even 7-7 in Big Ten play, and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament was in its sights. Since then, the Buckeyes lost two home games to Michigan and Northwestern to fall back to 7-9 in conference play, and more importantly they picked up their 11th and 12th losses of the year.
What’s noteworthy about the two losses is that Ohio State was dominated on the glass by both teams. It was kind of expected against Michigan, which starts a pair of seven-footers in Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin. The Wolverines out-rebounded Ohio State 46-31, and won the game by three points.
More surprising is that Northwestern bulled the Buckeyes on the glass, 36-27. Northwestern grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, which equates to 44.8% of their own misses. The Wildcats only had one starter taller than 6-foot-7 — center Matthew Nicholson.
Last week, Connor and Justin (maybe prematurely?) debated if an 8, 9, 10, or 11 seed would be the most advantageous for Ohio State to secure in the NCAA Tournament, should they make it. Justin said an 11 because it gives Ohio State a better chance to win a second game, and 57% of the readers agreed with him.
After 192 weeks:
Connor- 86
Justin- 81
Other- 19
(There have been six ties)
Ohio State isn’t going to make the NCAA Tournament if they can’t survive on the glass over their final four games. They don’t need to win the rebounding battle, but they can’t get bullied like they have been the last two games. Unfortunately, the roster is what it is — Jake Diebler can’t acquire more height. Can they figure out how to survive on the glass enough to still make the NCAA Tournament?
This week’s question: Are Ohio State’s rebounding issues fixable?
Connor: Yes
Ohio State can play bigger lineups, the problem is the Buckeyes will be sorely lacking in other areas if they go solely with a bigger lineup.
For example, if Aaron Bradshaw gets over the sniffles and can fly out west, he’s still 7-foot-1. He has not been a great rebounder this season, no, but he’s still tall, with long arms and should be able to prevent offensive rebounds if he gets minutes.
Statistically, Sean Stewart is one of the best defensive rebounders in the country this season. He’s only 6-foot-9, but he high-points the ball like a receiver when it comes off the glass and will out-leap pretty much anybody.
Ivan Njegovan is 7-foot-1 as well, but closer to 250 pounds. He’s still pretty raw, but he does seem to understand the concept of “see ball, grab ball.” Njegovan isn’t going to contribute a whole lot on offense, and God help us if he tries to guard some type of mobile big man or stretch-four. But he’s a big body — he should be able to prevent the other team from living on the glass.
If Ohio State wants to get big, they may need to play two of these guys together at times. It will look clunky, and it 100% is going to hinder the offense. The Buckeyes may not get as many great shots with a combo of any of those two guys patrolling the floor at the same time, since Njegovan and Stewart have limited shooting range and Bradshaw is — at best — an iffy jump shooter.
But hey, the question wasn’t “Can Ohio State fix its rebounding issues and still operate a smooth offense?” it was just “Can Ohio State fix the rebounding issue?”
The answer is yeah, they could probably cut down some of those second, third, fourth, and (on Thursday) fifth-chance opportunities just by increasing minutes for all three guys, and even playing them together at times. It might create some issues elsewhere, but if the goal is just “get basketball off the rim before other team does” then they do have the big bodies to do that more than they have been.
Justin: No
I don’t think Ohio State’s rebounding issues have been dire this season or have been the Buckeyes’ biggest issue. But they are a problem nonetheless, and unless the guards are perfect, it is hard to overcome.
They are T9 in the Big Ten rebounding this season, so right in the middle. But when they play any team with a capable big man, they get eaten alive and give up enough offensive rebounds per game that it comes back to bite them.
The problem is there is no fixing it now. Ivan Njegovan is raw and might be good down the road, but he isn’t ready now. Austin Park is out of the rotation, Aaron Bradshaw needs an offseason of strength training and working on rebounding as a skill and Sean Stewart and Devin Royal are decent rebounders but undersized, something out of their control.
This is the main thing we have to address in the offseason. They don’t have a rebounder they can count on, and every good team has that. They don’t need someone who averages 15 rebounds a game, but they need someone who can limit second-chance points and be a reliable force in the paint.
Continue reading...