-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Spring Game details confirmed; Blue Jackets reportedly to play in The Shoe next season
- News
- 0 Replies
Spring Game details confirmed; Blue Jackets reportedly to play in The Shoe next season
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
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
Report: Blue Jackets to host outdoor game at Ohio Stadium in 2025
Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State announces kick off time, ticket information for 2024 spring game
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Former Ohio State All-American Guard Ken Fritz Dies at 66
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Five Questions as Ryan Day evaluates busy Buckeyes offseason (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Corey Dennis leaving Ohio State, taking job at Utah
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State gives away an 18-point second-half lead (again) to lose to Indiana 76-73
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
As season slides away, Ohio State still not sure how to win: 5 Indiana takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Stats and eyes tell us the Ohio State men are one of the worst second-half teams in the Big Ten
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State women’s win over Indiana wasn’t a ‘statement victory,’ it was expected
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State men’s and women’s tennis are both dominating right now
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Around the Rink: Bilka, Amos Shine; Former Buckeyes to Play in Rivalry Series
Reid Murray, The Lantern
Buckeyes Among First 2024 B1G Weekly Award Winners
Ohio State Athletics
This is a really big deal:
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
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
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
Report: Blue Jackets to host outdoor game at Ohio Stadium in 2025
Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State announces kick off time, ticket information for 2024 spring game
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Our Buckeyes are Super Bowl ready
@youngchase907 x @nbsmallerbear
: @49ers pic.twitter.com/00kVUUxkq1
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) February 6, 2024
Former Ohio State All-American Guard Ken Fritz Dies at 66
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Five Questions as Ryan Day evaluates busy Buckeyes offseason (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Corey Dennis leaving Ohio State, taking job at Utah
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
On the Hardwood
Ohio State gives away an 18-point second-half lead (again) to lose to Indiana 76-73
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
As season slides away, Ohio State still not sure how to win: 5 Indiana takeaways
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Stats and eyes tell us the Ohio State men are one of the worst second-half teams in the Big Ten
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State women’s win over Indiana wasn’t a ‘statement victory,’ it was expected
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Ohio State men’s and women’s tennis are both dominating right now
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Around the Rink: Bilka, Amos Shine; Former Buckeyes to Play in Rivalry Series
Reid Murray, The Lantern
Buckeyes Among First 2024 B1G Weekly Award Winners
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This is a really big deal:
Continue reading...
2026 OH OL Adam Guthrie (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 52 Replies
LGHL Today is technically National Signing Day; Ohio State should add one more player to its 2024 class
- News
- 0 Replies
Today is technically National Signing Day; Ohio State should add one more player to its 2024 class
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Dominic Kirks is set to be only the third defensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class.
It used to be that the first Wednesday in February was something akin to a holy day for college football fans. It was the day that months — and in some cases even years — of hype and speculation finally came to fruition as players put pens to paper and faxed their National Letters of Intent to their colleges of choice, cementing the school that they would be spending three to five years of their lives playing for.
Now, thanks to the advent of the Early Signing Period and early enrollees, the official college football National Signing Day is reserved almost exclusively for a small handful of players who — for whatever reason — needed to take some extra time to make a decision, or perhaps witnessed a coaching change at their intended school, so had to reengage the recruiting process.
Of the top 250 players in 247Sports’ 2024 recruiting rankings, only eight have not yet signed with a school, and only one has not yet committed — wide receiver and the No. 134 player in the country Ashton Bethel-Roman has picked up a bunch of high-value crystal balls for Texas A&M over the last few days, but appears to be waiting until Signing Day to make it official.
Ohio State is expected to wrap up the cycle with a 21-man recruiting class, but 15 of those players are already on campus and participating in winter conditioning and will be on hand for spring practice. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes are expected to pick up the signature of one more player as four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks is set to make it official this morning.
Kirks is the No. 162 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is the No. 24 defensive lineman and No. 8 player from the state of Ohio. Initially, the Painesville native committed to Washington, but decided not to sign his Letter of Intent in December. Then, when Kalen DeBoer opted to leave the Huskies to take over in Tuscaloosa, Kirks reconsidered his commitment. The day after he decommitted from UW, Kirks was on campus in Columbus, and one week later, he had officially pledged to be a Buckeye.
Now, to be clear, had Kirks signed with Washington in December, due to the coaching change, he almost certainly would have been let out of the Letter of Intent, so his holding off likely didn’t change a whole lot — especially since he never intended to enroll early — but it did show that he was never 100% set on the Huskies.
Assuming that Kirks does sign with OSU today, he will be the 21st scholarship player in OSU’s class and the ninth in the top 200 of 247’s Composite Rankings. He would join five-star Eddrick Houston and three-star Eric Mensah as the only defensive lineman in the class (Houston is an EDGE rusher, while Mensah and Kirks will play inside), but given that Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, and Tyleik Williams all opted to return, the lack of defensive line reinforcements isn’t as big of an issue this cycle — but it absolutely will be in 2025.
When factoring in transfers, the Buckeyes have the No. 3 recruiting class in the country and the second-highest average player ranking behind only Georgia. Oregon is the only other Big Ten team (yep, that’s going to take some getting used to) in the top 10 at No. 4. Penn State is No. 14, Michigan is No. 18, and USC is No. 20. Nebraska and Wisconsin come in at Nos. 23 and 24 respectively.
Head coach Ryan Day will hold his traditional Signing Day press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center today, but will almost certainly be asked many more questions about transfers and coaching staff changes than new signees, but that’s the life in the big city for a coach who has had as interesting and exciting a month as Day has.
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
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Dominic Kirks is set to be only the third defensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class.
It used to be that the first Wednesday in February was something akin to a holy day for college football fans. It was the day that months — and in some cases even years — of hype and speculation finally came to fruition as players put pens to paper and faxed their National Letters of Intent to their colleges of choice, cementing the school that they would be spending three to five years of their lives playing for.
Now, thanks to the advent of the Early Signing Period and early enrollees, the official college football National Signing Day is reserved almost exclusively for a small handful of players who — for whatever reason — needed to take some extra time to make a decision, or perhaps witnessed a coaching change at their intended school, so had to reengage the recruiting process.
Of the top 250 players in 247Sports’ 2024 recruiting rankings, only eight have not yet signed with a school, and only one has not yet committed — wide receiver and the No. 134 player in the country Ashton Bethel-Roman has picked up a bunch of high-value crystal balls for Texas A&M over the last few days, but appears to be waiting until Signing Day to make it official.
Ohio State is expected to wrap up the cycle with a 21-man recruiting class, but 15 of those players are already on campus and participating in winter conditioning and will be on hand for spring practice. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes are expected to pick up the signature of one more player as four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks is set to make it official this morning.
Kirks is the No. 162 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is the No. 24 defensive lineman and No. 8 player from the state of Ohio. Initially, the Painesville native committed to Washington, but decided not to sign his Letter of Intent in December. Then, when Kalen DeBoer opted to leave the Huskies to take over in Tuscaloosa, Kirks reconsidered his commitment. The day after he decommitted from UW, Kirks was on campus in Columbus, and one week later, he had officially pledged to be a Buckeye.
Now, to be clear, had Kirks signed with Washington in December, due to the coaching change, he almost certainly would have been let out of the Letter of Intent, so his holding off likely didn’t change a whole lot — especially since he never intended to enroll early — but it did show that he was never 100% set on the Huskies.
Assuming that Kirks does sign with OSU today, he will be the 21st scholarship player in OSU’s class and the ninth in the top 200 of 247’s Composite Rankings. He would join five-star Eddrick Houston and three-star Eric Mensah as the only defensive lineman in the class (Houston is an EDGE rusher, while Mensah and Kirks will play inside), but given that Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, and Tyleik Williams all opted to return, the lack of defensive line reinforcements isn’t as big of an issue this cycle — but it absolutely will be in 2025.
When factoring in transfers, the Buckeyes have the No. 3 recruiting class in the country and the second-highest average player ranking behind only Georgia. Oregon is the only other Big Ten team (yep, that’s going to take some getting used to) in the top 10 at No. 4. Penn State is No. 14, Michigan is No. 18, and USC is No. 20. Nebraska and Wisconsin come in at Nos. 23 and 24 respectively.
Head coach Ryan Day will hold his traditional Signing Day press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center today, but will almost certainly be asked many more questions about transfers and coaching staff changes than new signees, but that’s the life in the big city for a coach who has had as interesting and exciting a month as Day has.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: The college football coaching carousel just keeps on spinning
- News
- 0 Replies
Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: The college football coaching carousel just keeps on spinning
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images
The Hangout Boys discuss Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Hafley, and others leaving for the NFL, as well as Bill O’Brien’s potential departure from Columbus. How does it all end up affecting Ohio State!?
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:
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck wonder aloud why so many college football coaches seem to be devising and/or implementing an exit strategy — to leave either the collegiate ranks or the coaching industry altogether. Is this current offseason a sign of things to come? Or are we all just overreacting to a few surprising moves?
After nine successful seasons as the head coach of his alma mater, Jim Harbaugh reportedly left a massive extension on the table, opting instead to inherit a consistent underachiever in the NFL. Jeff Hafley walked away from his head coaching position at Boston College to become a defensive coordinator at the next level. And Nick Saban, the GOAT, retired at or near the top of his game!
Were these coaches over the chaos and/or concerned about future of CFB? Or did the stars simply align for them to pursue other opportunities? And how exactly do these moves impact Ohio State?
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
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images
The Hangout Boys discuss Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Hafley, and others leaving for the NFL, as well as Bill O’Brien’s potential departure from Columbus. How does it all end up affecting Ohio State!?
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 wonder aloud why so many college football coaches seem to be devising and/or implementing an exit strategy — to leave either the collegiate ranks or the coaching industry altogether. Is this current offseason a sign of things to come? Or are we all just overreacting to a few surprising moves?
After nine successful seasons as the head coach of his alma mater, Jim Harbaugh reportedly left a massive extension on the table, opting instead to inherit a consistent underachiever in the NFL. Jeff Hafley walked away from his head coaching position at Boston College to become a defensive coordinator at the next level. And Nick Saban, the GOAT, retired at or near the top of his game!
Were these coaches over the chaos and/or concerned about future of CFB? Or did the stars simply align for them to pursue other opportunities? And how exactly do these moves impact Ohio State?
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
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Indiana: Game preview and prediction
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Indiana: Game preview and prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Ohio State will look to get back on track after losing seven of its last eight as they head back home for two games this week.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (13-9, 3-8) will look to get back on track this week with two games in Columbus, starting tonight against the Indiana Hoosiers (13-9, 5-6).
This is a contest between two teams desperate for a win, as the Buckeyes are coming off a close loss at Iowa, and Indiana is coming off an 85-71 loss at home to Penn State. Ohio State has lost seven of its last eight games, and Indiana has lost four of its last five.
This is the season’s second matchup between the two teams, as Indiana won the first matchup 71-65 at Assembly Hall. In the first game, which was exactly a month ago on Jan. 6, the Hoosiers were led by a career game from Malik Reneau, who recorded 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting and seven rebounds.
Xavier Johnson had 18 points, three assists, and three rebounds in that game, but has missed time recently with an injury and is questionable to play in this contest. C.J. Gunn added 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
Jamison Battle led the Buckeyes with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the three-point line and added nine rebounds. Zed Key tallied 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The guard duo of Brice Thornton and Roddy Gayle struggled immensely the last time these two teams met, combining to shoot 7-for-34 from the field, 0-for-12 from three-point range, and totaling 18 points. Felix Okpara had his best defensive game of his career, recording 15 rebounds and five blocks while holding Kel’el Ware to eight points and six rebounds on 4-for-10 shooting in 31 minutes.
The Buckeyes dominated the Hoosiers on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 49-27, but lost the turnover battle 14-4 and only shot 7-for-27 from three-point range. Ohio State led 46-37 early in the second half, but struggled late in the second half and allowed the Hoosiers to take a double-digit lead.
This was also the game that started the Buckeyes’ slide. Ohio State entered the night 12-2 overall, and has since lost seven of its last eight games, with the sole win coming at home against Penn State.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25269570/1976112088.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 03 Penn State at Indiana")
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Indiana is led by the aforementioned Reneau, who averages 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He is shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. Kel’el Ware is right behind him with 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while also adding 1.6 blocks per contest. Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway are averaging 11.0 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
Starting point guard Xavier Johnson is questionable to play in this one after missing the Hoosiers’ last game with an elbow injury he sustained late in their game against Iowa. Johnson is averaging 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in just under 25 minutes per game.
The Buckeyes are led into this one by sophomore point guard Bruce Thornton, who is scoring 15.6 points per game to lead the team while adding 3.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Thornton has been struggling with shooting recently, however, as his averages have fallen to 41.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three-point range.
Jamison Battle is averaging 14.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting a Big Ten-best 45.0 percent from three-point range. Roddy Gayle is averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.
The biggest issue for Ohio State has been its defense. The Buckeyes have fallen to No. 120 in KenPom in defensive efficiency and are No. 40 in offensive efficiency. Indiana is more consistent — but consistently bad — ranking No. 101 in offense and No. 100 in defense.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25269574/1981166071.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 02 Ohio State at Iowa")
Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The good part about this game is it is in Columbus. Ohio State is 9-3 at home this season, with losses to Texas A&M, Illinois and Wisconsin, while they are 0-6 on the road.
Ohio State’s season is on life support, and even that might be generous. If they want any chance of salvaging the season, they have to win both games this week at home against Indiana and Maryland, with the Terrapins coming to town on Saturday.
Two big factors in this game will be Zed Key and Felix Okpara. Both big men for the Buckeyes played well in the first matchup against the Hoosiers, but Key’s minutes have drastically gone down since then, and Okpara has been inconsistent. If those two can play well and slow down Ware, Mgbako and Reneau, it will take some pressure off of the guards and Battle.
The Buckeyes also need more from the bench. Scotty Middleton, Dale Bonner, Zed Key, Devin Royal and even Bowen Hardman have played minutes off the bench the last month in an attempt to get something going when the Buckeyes are struggling on offense. However, the bench has been unable to find any consistency, and it puts a lot of pressure on Thornton, Gayle and Battle to do the bulk of the scoring.
Basically, Ohio State needs more production from guys not named Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Jamison Battle to get out of this slump.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 76.9%
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: Peacock
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
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Ohio State will look to get back on track after losing seven of its last eight as they head back home for two games this week.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (13-9, 3-8) will look to get back on track this week with two games in Columbus, starting tonight against the Indiana Hoosiers (13-9, 5-6).
This is a contest between two teams desperate for a win, as the Buckeyes are coming off a close loss at Iowa, and Indiana is coming off an 85-71 loss at home to Penn State. Ohio State has lost seven of its last eight games, and Indiana has lost four of its last five.
This is the season’s second matchup between the two teams, as Indiana won the first matchup 71-65 at Assembly Hall. In the first game, which was exactly a month ago on Jan. 6, the Hoosiers were led by a career game from Malik Reneau, who recorded 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting and seven rebounds.
Xavier Johnson had 18 points, three assists, and three rebounds in that game, but has missed time recently with an injury and is questionable to play in this contest. C.J. Gunn added 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
Jamison Battle led the Buckeyes with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the three-point line and added nine rebounds. Zed Key tallied 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The guard duo of Brice Thornton and Roddy Gayle struggled immensely the last time these two teams met, combining to shoot 7-for-34 from the field, 0-for-12 from three-point range, and totaling 18 points. Felix Okpara had his best defensive game of his career, recording 15 rebounds and five blocks while holding Kel’el Ware to eight points and six rebounds on 4-for-10 shooting in 31 minutes.
The Buckeyes dominated the Hoosiers on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 49-27, but lost the turnover battle 14-4 and only shot 7-for-27 from three-point range. Ohio State led 46-37 early in the second half, but struggled late in the second half and allowed the Hoosiers to take a double-digit lead.
This was also the game that started the Buckeyes’ slide. Ohio State entered the night 12-2 overall, and has since lost seven of its last eight games, with the sole win coming at home against Penn State.
Preview
Indiana is led by the aforementioned Reneau, who averages 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He is shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. Kel’el Ware is right behind him with 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while also adding 1.6 blocks per contest. Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway are averaging 11.0 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
Starting point guard Xavier Johnson is questionable to play in this one after missing the Hoosiers’ last game with an elbow injury he sustained late in their game against Iowa. Johnson is averaging 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in just under 25 minutes per game.
The Buckeyes are led into this one by sophomore point guard Bruce Thornton, who is scoring 15.6 points per game to lead the team while adding 3.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Thornton has been struggling with shooting recently, however, as his averages have fallen to 41.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three-point range.
Jamison Battle is averaging 14.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting a Big Ten-best 45.0 percent from three-point range. Roddy Gayle is averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.
The biggest issue for Ohio State has been its defense. The Buckeyes have fallen to No. 120 in KenPom in defensive efficiency and are No. 40 in offensive efficiency. Indiana is more consistent — but consistently bad — ranking No. 101 in offense and No. 100 in defense.
Prediction
The good part about this game is it is in Columbus. Ohio State is 9-3 at home this season, with losses to Texas A&M, Illinois and Wisconsin, while they are 0-6 on the road.
Ohio State’s season is on life support, and even that might be generous. If they want any chance of salvaging the season, they have to win both games this week at home against Indiana and Maryland, with the Terrapins coming to town on Saturday.
Two big factors in this game will be Zed Key and Felix Okpara. Both big men for the Buckeyes played well in the first matchup against the Hoosiers, but Key’s minutes have drastically gone down since then, and Okpara has been inconsistent. If those two can play well and slow down Ware, Mgbako and Reneau, it will take some pressure off of the guards and Battle.
The Buckeyes also need more from the bench. Scotty Middleton, Dale Bonner, Zed Key, Devin Royal and even Bowen Hardman have played minutes off the bench the last month in an attempt to get something going when the Buckeyes are struggling on offense. However, the bench has been unable to find any consistency, and it puts a lot of pressure on Thornton, Gayle and Battle to do the bulk of the scoring.
Basically, Ohio State needs more production from guys not named Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Jamison Battle to get out of this slump.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 76.9%
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: Peacock
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 78, Indiana 72
Continue reading...
