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LGHL Laurinaitis, Guerrieri discuss what position Sonny Styles will play this fall

Laurinaitis, Guerrieri discuss what position Sonny Styles will play this fall
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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


Buckeyes analyst Joe Philbin to reportedly leave for NFL job
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Buckeyes got a commitment yesterday, from what I presume is a preferred walk-on:


Back at Ohio State, Matt Guerrieri brings experience to the Buckeye secondary
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

After stellar career, James Laurinaitis thrilled with promotion to OSU linebackers coach
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis made most of winter recruiting opportunity (paywall)
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

Could Ohio State’s Sonny Styles switch from safety to linebacker?
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Buckeyes hopeful C.J. Hicks can ‘cut it loose,’ impress in spring ball (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Three Questions for Buckeyes linebackers heading into spring camp (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

I actually would not be mad about this:


The top moves @Espngreeny wants to see this NFL offseason

1. Giants move up to draft Drake Maye
2. Raiders move up to draft QB
3. Justin Fields to Steelers
4. Stefon Diggs to Cowboys
5. Davante Adams to Jets pic.twitter.com/NeblqSo3i4

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 21, 2024

College Football Playoff adopts new ‘5+7’ format to allow for more at-large bids
Ross Dellenger, Yahoo! Sports

What the CFP’s new 12-team playoff format means for Ohio State
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch


On the Hardwood


Source: Ohio State alum Chris Jent interested in head coaching job
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


A couple REAL names that I’m hearing for the Ohio State opening:
•Greg McDermott
•T. J. Otzelberger
•Amir Abdur-Rahim
•Sean Miller
•Dusty May
•LaMont Paris

— Chas. Wolfe (@highmajorscoop) February 20, 2024

Visiting Locker Room: Onward Sports on Ashley Owusu, Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Penn State
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Battle’s three-point spree vs. Purdue rooted in total team play by Buckeyes
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Big Ten WBB Title Race: Indiana takes a step back, Ohio State controls its destiny
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land


Unknown programs and coaches are reportedly tampering with Ohio State’s star point guard, Bruce Thornton.

In a recent episode of Carxens Crew S2 | E6, former Ohio State star point guard Aaron Craft said, “Other coaches, other programs can't talk to him [Bruce Thornton]… pic.twitter.com/XEqQRXx7CZ

— The Big Ten Huddle ️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) February 20, 2024

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Joy Dunne makes name for herself with Ohio State women’s hockey
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

It was a winning weekend for Buckeye sports, including a national championship
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Men’s Volleyball: No. 7 Ohio State Outlasts Mastodons, Win 3-2
Ohio State Athletics


S5| Putnam tools off the block! Timeout PFW pic.twitter.com/YWJ2AQTtiB

— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) February 21, 2024

Men’s Golf: Chandler Cards 68, Buckeyes Under-Par on Day 2 of Watersound Inv.
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Lacrosse: Fyock Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Ohio State Athletics


And now for something completely different...


I am here for the Beatles’ Cinematic Universe:


EXCLUSIVE: Sam Mendes and his Neal Street Productions have set plans to make four separate theatrical films, one on each of the members of music’s most famous and enduring band, The Beatles https://t.co/hZJxMeFVgx

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 20, 2024

Continue reading...

LGHL How are former Ohio State basketball players faring in the NBA this year?

How are former Ohio State basketball players faring in the NBA this year?
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Los Angeles Lakers v Houston Rockets

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Since we are in the middle of the All-Star break, it feels like a good time to check in on the former Buckeyes in the NBA.

With more than half the season over, the NBA is in the middle of their All-Star break. Even though no former Ohio State players will be playing in this year’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis, there are a number of former Buckeyes who have been playing solid basketball in the first half of the season. Currently, there are eight Ohio State alums on NBA rosters and today we are going to update you on how their seasons are going before teams return to the court and gear up for the push towards the playoffs.


Mike Conley - Guard - Minnesota Timberwolves


The fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft is now in his 17th season in the NBA. Minneapolis has been a great fit for Conley since the Timberwolves acquired the Buckeye point guard before last season’s trade deadline. Minnesota entered the All-Star break with a 39-16 record, which is the best record in the Eastern Conference. With stars like Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert lining up with him, the spotlight isn’t shining on Conley nearly as brightly as it was earlier in his career in Memphis.

In the 50 games he has played so far this season, Conley is averaging 10.6 points per game and 6.4 assists per game. Even though Conley hasn’t hit the 20-point mark on the scoresheet so far this year, he has five games with 10 assists. Head coach Chris Finch has done a great job at getting Conley minutes, but not overworking him, as Conley is seeing 29 minutes of playing time per game. Minnesota recently added to their depth behind Conley, acquiring point guard Monte Morris from Detroit earlier this month.

The Timberwolves are going to need Conley’s experience over the next few months, since they’ll not only be trying to hold off teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot in the Western Conference, once the playoffs begin there will be plenty of tough matchups waiting for them. Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Steph Curry are superstars whom Minnesota could match up in the first round.

Minnesota Timberwolves G Mike Conley Jr. has agreed on a two-year $21 million extension, Steven Heumann and Jess Holtz of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. The Timberwolves keep Conley Jr. out of summer free agency and in backcourt thru 2025-2026. pic.twitter.com/M9MSc3zdsr

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2024

On Monday afternoon news came out that Conley and the Timberwolves have agreed to a two-year extension, keeping the point guard in Minnesota until the 2025-26 season. Unless there is a trade or buyout, Conley could be wrapping up his career in the Twin Cities. Not to say Conley won’t play in the league beyond this extension, but it’s not very often we see players spend nearly 20 years playing in the NBA. At least the former Buckeye is playing with a team that is looking like it could make a deep run in the playoffs, and he can finally earn his first NBA title.


D’Angelo Russell - Guard - Los Angeles Lakers


One of the best players in the NBA since the beginning of 2024 has been D’Angelo Russell. The former Ohio State guard averaged 22.7 points per game in January, and 20.3 points per game this month. Russell must have been fueled by trade rumors he was mentioned in before the NBA’s trade deadline a few weeks ago. The Lakers decided to keep Russell and the decision has the team playing some of the best basketball of the season, entering the All-Star break on a three-game winning streak.

In his final game before the All-Star break, Russell flirted with a triple-double against Utah, finishing with 11 points, 17 assists, and nine rebounds in a 138-22 win on Wednesday night. Something about Salt Lake City has Russell upping his game, as last month he scored a season-high 39 points in a loss to the Jazz. So far this season Russell has cracked the 30-point mark in four games, and he has recorded a double-double in six contests.

With stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers don’t need Russell to score 30 points every time out. What Los Angeles needs is for Russell to be engaged and productive for the nights when LeBron and Davis aren’t having their normal impact on the game. If Russell continues to hit nearly 42 percent of his three-point attempts, which is a career-high, the Lakers are going to end up being a tougher out in the playoffs than they were looking like earlier in the season.


Malaki Branham - Guard - San Antonio Spurs


Last year’s first-round pick by San Antonio has been overshadowed by this year’s first-round pick by the Spurs. Despite the Spurs sitting in last place in the Western Conference, Victor Wembanyama has taken the league by storm with his incredible play so far this season. While Branham has mainly been coming off the bench this season, the former Buckeye is averaging 20 minutes per game and eight points per contest.

San Antonio Spurs v Detroit Pistons
Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images

Lately, Branham has had a hard time finding much traction. In December, Branham had a very strong month, reaching double figures in scoring in 12 of the 14 games he played in, finishing the month with 10.5 points per game. Branham saw his scoring cut in half in January, averaging 5.6 points per game, and it has improved slightly this month, with the second-year pro scoring 6.7 points per game. There was a positive game for Branham heading into the All-Star break though, as he tied his season-high with 19 points in a loss to Dallas on Wednesday night.

With the Spurs having an 11-44 record so far this season, the rest of the year will be about development. It will be interesting to see if San Antonio gives Branham more playing time to evaluate if he is the right fit to be part of the core they build around Wembanyama, or if they are looking to go in a different direction and are planning to move him in the offseason.


Keita Bates-Diop - Forward - Brooklyn Nets


One former Ohio State who was recently traded was Keita Bates-Diop. After starting the season with the Phoenix Suns, Bates-Diop was moved to Brooklyn at the trade deadline as part of the deal that brought Royce O’Neale to Phoenix. Prior to the trade, Bates-Diop appeared in 39 games with the Suns, starting eight times. In 15.3 minutes per game, Bates-Diop was averaging 4.5 points per contest.

In just two games with Brooklyn so far, Bates-Diop hasn’t had much of an impact, with the bulk of the time he has been on the floor coming in a blowout against Boston where he played 12 minutes and scored seven points in the 136-86 loss to the Celtics in the final game before the All-Star break for the Nets. Brooklyn currently has a 21-33 record this season, so it is going to take quite an effort to close out the regular season if the Nets are going to make the playoffs.


Jae’Sean Tate - Forward - Houston Rockets


Much like Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate is in a similar position with the Houston Rockets. At 24-30, Houston is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, even though they have been greatly improved from what we saw from the Rockets last year. Tate has been a fixture of the bench for Houston, starting in just nine of his 51 appearances so far this season. The former Buckeye is averaging 17.5 minutes per game, 4.4 points per game, and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

Houston Rockets v Philadelphia 76ers
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The best performance of the season for Tate came on the first day of 2024 when he scored a season-high 16 points in 26 minutes before fouling out in a 136-113 win over Detroit. Along with his New Year’s Day output, Tate has reached double figures in scoring four times this season. Tate has also done work on the glass in limited floor time, pulling down at least eight rebounds in four games. With a crowded frontcourt, it will likely be tough to see Tate’s playing time increase expect for the forward to give maximum effort when his number is called.


Brice Sensabaugh - Forward - Utah Jazz


If you haven’t been paying attention to the season for Ohio State’s lone first-round draft pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, you haven’t missed much. Sensabaugh entered the season recovering from knee surgery and has only appeared in six NBA games so far this year. The forward scored his first NBA points last month in a 145-113 win against Toronto, finishing with five points in four minutes.

While Sensabaugh gets his legs under him at the professional level, instead of sitting on the bench, Utah has had Sensabaugh playing in the G-League, where he is averaging 19 points per game in 20 appearances this season. The move is a smart one by the Jazz, who have a deep roster with guys like Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Otto Porter Jr., and a number of others at forward. Currently, Utah is a couple of games behind Golden State for the final play-in tournament spot, but it would be hard to imagine Sensabaugh’s role changing the rest of the season.


E.J. Liddell - Forward - New Orleans Pelicans
Duane Washington Jr. - New York Knicks


Even though both of these former Ohio State players are currently on NBA rosters, they are seeing little to no playing time this season so far. Liddell has played in eight games this year, while Washington still hasn’t seen the court after signing a two-way contract with New York last month. The good news for Liddell and Washington is they are both on teams that currently have a firm grasp on playoff spots.

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LGHL Visiting Locker Room: Onward Sports on Ashley Owusu, Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Penn State

Visiting Locker Room: Onward Sports on Ashley Owusu, Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Penn State
ThomasCostello
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Womens Basketball: Penn St. at Maryland

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions face off for the second time this season, and it’s hard to tell which Penn State team will show up in Rec Hall

Ohio State women’s basketball returns to the court Thursday night for the first time since Feb. 14. The eight days of rest ends in Happy Valley, where the Buckeyes take on a side that took the Scarlet and Gray to overtime in December: The Penn State Nittany Lions.

The blue and white of Penn State is a different side than that Dec. 10 afternoon in Columbus. It added an All-American off the injury report, went on a six-game winning streak and put itself back into the conversation for a spot in March Madness.

Then things changed.

To talk about the Penn State Buckeye fans can expect, Land-Grant Holy Land talked with Michael Siroty of Onward State. Siroty discusses Owusu’s impact, where things are going wrong and playing in Rec Hall for the first time in 28 years.



Land-Grant Holy Land: For the first half of the season, the question was, “when will Ashley Owusu play?” Now that Owusu is on the court, how is she contributing?

Onward Sports: There were a lot of questions surrounding Owusu and when she would make her Penn State debut, which ended up happening on Jan. 14. With Owusu in the lineup, Penn State has become much more versatile offensively, as she adds another level of three-level scoring and facilitating.

Owusu has been credited by many of her teammates with setting them up for easy buckets by dropping passes right into their hands from all over the court. With her dribbling skills, Owusu is also extremely effective in creating space from defenders, giving the team a newfound ability to space the floor.

LGHL: After Owusu became active, the Nittany Lions sent on a six-game winning streak and Penn State looked like a team destined for NCAA postseason basketball. Since then, it’s been a five-game losing streak where Penn State is losing by an average of 11.6 points. What’s happened to the Nittany Lions?

OS: The last time the Lady Lions won was Jan. 31 against Minnesota, which was the same game in which guard Tay Valladay tore her meniscus and ACL. Despite not jumping out as a star player, Valladay was an important factor in Penn State’s midseason success, providing a spark defensively and on the glass.

Since Valladay went out with the injury, the team has lacked effort and toughness, and in the last five losses, their opponents have simply wanted it more. Penn State is giving up far too many easy layups down low, and is being careless on the offensive end with soft passes and poor communication.

LGHL: Penn State hasn’t been in the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. What does the side have to do to make it there this season, with the Nittany Lions projected right now hanging on to a spot in the bubble?

OS: In my eyes, Penn State has to win out and make a solid run in the Big Ten tournament to make the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Carolyn Kieger has been talking about making the tournament all season, and before the five-game skid, it looked like the Lady Lions would get there. However, this losing streak has severely lowered their chances of making the tournament.

Obviously, it starts with Ohio State, and beating the No. 2 team in the nation would be a massive resume builder this late in the season. After that, Penn State plays two teams it has already beat this year in Purdue and Minnesota, so this game against Ohio State is a make or break. If they don’t beat the Buckeyes, it might have to be an automatic qualifier that gets the Lady Lions into the tournament.

LGHL: Thursday’s game is special because it’s the first game for the team in Rec Hall in 28 years. What’s the team’s reaction to the change in venue, and do you think it can lift Penn State to pull off a shocking upset of the No. 2 Buckeyes?

OS: Earlier in the season, Kieger said Penn State is a very good team that deserved a higher attendance than it had been getting. This game being played at Rec Hall gives the team its best chance yet to play in front of a crowd that will energize the team. Rec Hall is a small atmosphere, and the sound will reflect directly onto the court, making it a very tough atmosphere to play in, especially against a rival.

As for pulling off an upset, it will take more than the crowd for Penn State to do so. If the Lady Lions play the way they have been over the last couple weeks, Ohio State will have no issue with the crowd. Despite that, I believe Kieger will have her team ready to bring more energy than it has been, and will make this a close game. In the end, though, I don’t see an upset happening.

Continue reading...

LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State men’s basketball makes a necessary change, “Little Animal” becomes official

Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State men’s basketball makes a necessary change, “Little Animal” becomes official
Josh Dooley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_21934629.0.jpg

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Hangout Boys say goodbye to Chris Holtmann and hello to full-time football staffer James Laurinaitis.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio



On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck discuss the firing of former Ohio State men’s basketball coach, Chris Holtmann.

Why was change necessary right now? Will interim coach Jake Diebler be given a legitimate shot at the permanent role? If not, who will lead OSU men’s basketball back to Big Ten and national relevancy? It is probably far too early to speculate on the future, but that won’t stop the Hangout Boys from doing so anyway.

Not all the coaching news (in Columbus) is negative though, as Ryan Day and the Ohio State football program announced several new contracts, as well as one very interesting addition to their full-time coaching staff. James Laurinaitis, a Buckeye legend, has officially graduated from GA to full-time linebackers coach... Finally! Just how impactful will his hire be, on-field and off?

And what about those other new contracts? Is Larry Johnson coaching forever!?

Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!



Connect with the pod
Twitter:
@HolyLandPod

Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter:
@jdooleybuckeye

Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter:
@ctholmes3

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LGHL Mike Conley Jr. signs massive contract extension; OSU men’s tennis wins national title

Mike Conley Jr. signs massive contract extension; OSU men’s tennis wins national title
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Tournament: Ohio State vs Purdue

Jerry Lai-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


Chip Kelly has the pieces in place for a potent run game in 2024
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

TreVeyon Henderson’s maturity, leadership could give the Buckeyes the best backfield in the country in 2024
Patrick Murphy, Land-Grant Holy Land


pic.twitter.com/SUm1FdoDUG

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) February 19, 2024

Buckeyes open as road underdog in massive Oregon clash
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

2024 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Marvin Harrison Jr. Unanimously Projected as Top-Four Pick, Mike Hall Projected to Be Second Ohio State Player Drafted
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors


CJ Stroud's February so far:

• Played the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando
• Spent days at Radio Row in Vegas
• Won OROY at NFL Honors
• Won Cactus Jack celeb softball game MVP
• Dropped 30 pts in NBA Celeb All-Star game
• Sat courtside for Texas-Houston pic.twitter.com/2VuDcbpyYL

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 19, 2024

Buckeyes open as way-too-early home favorite in The Game
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row


On the Hardwood


Head coach or otherwise, Jake Diebler must be on the Ohio State men’s basketball staff next season
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

NIL, collectives to play big role as Ohio State searches for new coach
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Limiting Zach Edey, Zed Key the X-factor in win over Purdue (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

Ohio State remains No. 2 in Week 16 AP Poll
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


Minnesota Timberwolves G Mike Conley Jr. has agreed on a two-year $21 million extension, Steven Heumann and Jess Holtz of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. The Timberwolves keep Conley Jr. out of summer free agency and in backcourt thru 2025-2026. pic.twitter.com/M9MSc3zdsr

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2024

Reports: Mike Conley, Wolves agree to 2-year extension
NBA.com

How are former Ohio State basketball players faring in the NBA this year?
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Watch: Ohio State gives long overdue recognition for 1999 NCAA Final Four team
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts


Outside the Shoe and Schott


Ohio State men’s tennis rallies to win team national indoor title
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Women’s Ice Hockey: Bernard Picks Up WCHA Defender of the Week Award
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Volleyball: Buckeyes Grab Back-to-Back Sweeps in Weekend Matchups
Sara Sharp, The Lantern


And now for something completely different...


I believe this is the year that I finally play in the WSOP.


WORLD SERIES OF POKER REVEALS FULL 2024 WSOP DAILY EVENT SCHEDULE

The 55th Annual World Series of Poker will run from May 28 to July 17, offering nearly 700 tables, many new events, and the highly-coveted WSOP Main Event Bracelet.

Full PR: https://t.co/ia2RJQbXVo
Schedule:… pic.twitter.com/LRQGcD1Uhv

— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) February 16, 2024

Continue reading...

LGHL I-80 Football Show: Would you rather have Chip Kelly or Bill O’Brien?

I-80 Football Show: Would you rather have Chip Kelly or Bill O’Brien?
JordanW330
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk - UCLA v Boise State

Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

In this episode we discuss everything from the Super Bowl to the lackluster NBA All-Star Game.

Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

The Chiefs defeated the 49ers to win back-to-back Super Bowls and their third in five seasons. Patrick Mahomes continues building his case to be the best quarterback ever, while Kyle Shanahan still hasn’t been able to win that elusive title. Like Andy Ried, Jordan believes he will win later in his career when he finally gets a legitimate quarterback.

Bill O’Brien left Ohio State after three weeks on the job to become the head coach of Boston College. Losing a coordinator that quickly would leave many programs scrambling, but Ryan Day had an ace up his sleeve, hiring away his mentor Chip Kelly from UCLA to serve as offensive coordinator. Who would you rather have in Columbus: Chip Kelly or Bill O’Brien?

Dante discusses the state of the NBA and its lack of buy-in from players. The NBA has turned into a bad product in the last few years. In his weekly pitstop, he laments the lack of effort in the All-Star Game. The NBA needs to find a way to make the players care or scrap the game.

Jordan discusses the 2026 Men’s World Cup coming to the U.S., and the possibility for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to be played in the U.S. and Mexico as well.



Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow

Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216

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LGHL It was a winning weekend for Buckeye sports, including a national championship

It was a winning weekend for Buckeye sports, including a national championship
Megan.Husslein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Screen_Shot_2024_02_19_at_3.28.39_PM.0.png

@OhioStateMTEN Twitter

We see you, Ohio State men’s tennis!

Ohio State went 19-1 across all athletic events this past weekend. One of those wins includes a National Championship, as the men’s tennis team won the ITA Indoors on Monday.

Another huge win for Buckeye sports came on Sunday, as the men’s basketball team upset No. 2 Purdue.

Let’s get into all of it.

Men’s Tennis: NATIONAL CHAMPS!

@OhioStateMTEN Twitter

That, my friend, is the face you make when you secure your team a national championship! The men’s tennis team traveled to Manhattan, NY this weekend to play for the ITA Indoor national championships.

After first defeating No. 21 Alabama on Friday, 4-2, they proceeded to roll over No. 8 Harvard 4-1 on Saturday to secure a spot in the semis. Sunday, they shut out No. 6 Virginia, 4-0, to advance to the championship.

Monday it was an absolute battle against No. 2 TCU. The Horned Frogs won the doubles point, then took first singles, so they went up 2-0. However, Jack Anthrop won court four, then JJ Tracy tied things up as he won court three. TCU won second court, so it came down to courts five and six.

Alex Bernard won a hard-fought three-setter, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on court six, so now it was up to Robert Cash on court five to take it home. And that he did. He won his match also in three sets, and the Buckeyes won their third ITA Team Indoor Championship!

Women’s Ice Hockey

@OhioStateWHKY Twitter

The other No. 1 team at Ohio State is killing it, as they do. The women’s hockey team defeated St. Thomas, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at the OSU Ice Rink to clinch the 2023-24 Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season title.

The Buckeyes (28-2-0, 25-1-0 WCHA) have won the title for the second consecutive season, and were presented with the trophy on home ice for the first time in program history.

Ohio State plays its final regular season series of the year at Wisconsin next weekend. The matchup between the No. 1 Buckeyes and No. 2 Badgers is set for Feb. 23-24 in Madison. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. ET Friday and 9:00 p.m. ET Saturday. Game two of the series will be televised on Big Ten Network.

Men’s Ice Hockey


The Buckeyes aren’t messing around

Last night, Ohio State downed No. 4 Wisconsin, 3-1! #NCAAHockey x @OhioStateMHKY
pic.twitter.com/FDz4q5kNyb

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) February 18, 2024

Wow, this team! The men have struggled for a lot of the season, but they have not given up— clearly. They swept No. 4 Wisconsin this past weekend, first with a 3-2 overtime win Friday, then with a 3-1 victory Saturday.

Ohio State never trailed in the series finale. Cam Thiesing and Davis Burnside scored less than a minute into period the first for a 2-0 Ohio State lead. UW drew within one with a power play goal in the second, but the Buckeyes responded less than three minutes later on a Joe Dunlap goal and led 3-1 through two periods.

Softball

@OhioStateSB Twitter

The softball Bucks were supposed to have a full three-day weekend of play, but both Saturday and Sunday’s games got rained out. Luckily, they took advantage of Friday’s games and won both of them to make them 6-1 on the early season.

In the first game against Coastal Carolina, Allison Smith pitched really well, only giving up two hits and one walk in six innings, helping OSU to a 6-0 victory. Emily Ruck also had a great day pitching, as she gave up just two hits against UC Riverside. Kirsten Eppele provided some big offense with a three-run home run, which aided the Bucks on the way to their 7-2 dub.

Baseball


⚾#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/WgbFYehYuE

— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 19, 2024

The baseball team had their opening weekend this past weekend in Arizona. After falling to Boston College on Friday, they bounced back and won both of their games over the next two days.

Two pitchers shined in the 7-2 victory against BYU Saturday, as starter Colin Purcell allowed just one earned run on five hits in five innings. Then, Hunter Shaw pitched four innings of relief, striking out six while earning the save.

The Buckeyes also had strong pitching in their game against USC, which ended up being a 5-2 win.

Women’s and Men’s Lacrosse


Our honor defend.

Game 4 Recap#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/OomsJb8ARj

— Ohio State Men's Lacrosse (@OhioStateMLAX) February 18, 2024

The women’s lacrosse team is off to a hot start this season, winning all four of their games played. This past weekend, they defeated Youngstown State, 17-9, and Akron, 18-3. Their hardest test yet will come Friday, when they play No. 4 Denver.

Guess who else is 4-0? The men’s lax team! Their first road game of the season came against Air Force, but it didn’t matter as they came away with a resounding 12-4 win.

Other Notables:

  • No. 8 Men’s Volleyball defeated Quincy in three sets Friday AND Saturday.
  • Wrestling won big, 38-7, against Michigan State Friday.
  • The No. 13 women’s gymnastics team earned its fourth consecutive win on Friday night at Iowa, recording a score of 197.125 to defeat the Hawkeyes.
  • The women’s golf team won the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational with a 36-hole score of 576 (E) and two individual top-5 finishes, including a first place finish for Kary Hollenbaugh.
  • Oh yeah, the men’s basketball team upset No. 2 Purdue. But I imagine you already knew that one.

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LGHL Big Ten WBB Title Race: Indiana takes a step back, Ohio State controls its destiny

Big Ten WBB Title Race: Indiana takes a step back, Ohio State controls its destiny
ThomasCostello
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 19 Women’s - Indiana at Illinois

Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

While a three-team race looks a lot like two now, the Hoosiers have one chance to get right back into the hunt

There are 12 days remaining in the Big Ten regular season. Right now, Ohio State women’s basketball is the master of its own destiny. If it goes a perfect 4-0 to end the season, it earns a conference title. Easier said than done when the final games are against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan Wolverines, and Iowa Hawkeyes.

Sitting right behind the Buckeyes was a pair of recent league champions who still had a strong say in who was lifting the conference trophy at season’s end. Following the Indiana Hoosiers’ Monday performance, the picture looks a bit different,

Indiana traveled to Champaign, Illinois on Monday to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. Of the top three teams in the conference, the Hoosiers were the lone side not to lose to a team sitting in fourth place or below in Big Ten play. That was until the guards of Illinois put on a show.

Guards Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant played all but four minutes of the Illini’s 86-66 victory, scoring a combined 37 points (Cook with 22 of the 37). Also, forward Kendall Bostic’s 12 points, 11 rebounds, and double-double were half the story of the battle in the paint against Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes. The Hoosiers’ leading scorer in program history led Illinois with 24 points, but had only two rebounds. That’s after entering the game averaging 7.3 per game.

The defeat gives the crimson of Indiana three losses this season, which in this year’s edition of the Big Ten title race puts the Hoosiers in comeback mode. On Thursday, Indiana could be right back in the conversation. That’s when the Hoosiers face the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Taking a look back at the last time these two teams played, on Jan. 13, the 84-57 Indiana defeat doesn’t give the best feelings for Hoosier fans entering Thursday, but now Iowa has to come to Assembly Hall. So far this season, all of Indiana’s four defeats came away from Bloomington.

By the time Indiana and Iowa tip-off, the Buckeyes’ matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions will likely be over, but a win for Ohio State and an upset win for Indiana changes the outlook of the conference.

Currently, three Buckeye wins in the next three games would lock up a share of the Big Ten title before even going to Iowa City, Iowa on March 3. That’s if Iowa continues to win after dropping to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Feb. 11.

However, an Iowa loss in Assembly Hall changes things. Should Indiana pull off the victory, and the next three games go the way of the Scarlet and Gray, it earns the Buckeyes sole ownership of the Big Ten regular season championship before even stepping foot onto a plane to face the Hawkeyes.

It’s safe to say fans of Ohio State women’s basketball will be watching more than one game’s score on Thursday night.

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