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LGHL How the NCAA basketball coaching carousel could impact Ohio State women’s basketball
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How the NCAA basketball coaching carousel could impact 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
The Buckeyes recent success could end with a shakeup in its coaching ranks, with one strong candidate for a head coaching job elsewhere.
Tuesday, the talk around women’s college basketball was on coaching changes, and just south of the Ohio River was a big one. Virginia Tech Hokes head coach Kenny Brooks left Blacksburg, Virginia after eight seasons and a 2023 Final Four run to become the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Its the biggest of many coaching moves announced this week — moves that Ohio State women’s basketball has been immune from over its past three seasons of success on the court.
Does that change this offseason?
While there’s no speculation of head coach Kevin McGuff looking for another challenge, the Buckeyes assistant coaching staff has multiple names who’ve shown their ability to run programs on their own. Leading that list is associate head coach Carla Morrow.
In three seasons, the Scarlet and Gray have found a resurgent success, and it began when Morrow moved from assistant coach to associate head coach. Following three seasons without postseason play or a Big Ten trophy for its trophy case, Ohio State’s won two of the last three conference regular season crowns and made a Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in consecutive seasons.
Morrow is a integral part of that success.
At the end of the 2022-23 season, Land-Grant Holy Land spoke with Coach McGuff exclusively about his 10 years leading the Buckeyes. When McGuff talked about Morrow, it was clear her impact is wide reaching.
“It’s one thing for assistant coaches to say ‘I have a great relationship with a player,’” said McGuff. “I always look at it like “can you influence their behavior or can you steer them in the right direction of where we want them to go?’ She does that and I think its really important.”
Look at any of the posts from Ohio State’s practices on social media, and Morrow is part of it. Going up against players like former guard Taylor Mikesell in a shooting contest, throwing around a football or being on the receiving end of a Cotie McMahon joke. Morrow’s work goes beyond relationships and steering players in the right direction.
The former WNBA player and assistant coach for the Chicago Sky also brings strong basketball strategy to what fans see on the court. When the Buckeyes prepare for opponents, Morrow brings nearly complete game plans to Coach McGuff.
People outside of the program notice these things too.
In January, the Athletic had Morrow on its list of assistant coaches ready to be a head coach. On March 15, ABIS (Advancement of Blacks in Sports) named Morrow to its Head Coach Watchlist.
It’s safe to say that Morrow’s time may not be long with Ohio State.
The available jobs are out there too. At the time of writing, there are at least 20 open coaching positions in NCAA women’s basketball. From Power Five schools like the aforementioned Hokies to a laundry list of mid-majors to start as a first time head coach.
Morrow isn’t the only one on the staff to watch.
Assistant coach Wesley Brooks spent time with multiple Power Five conference schools. Brooks started with the West Virginia Mountaineers as a graduate assistant before going to the University of Utah, followed by four years with the Michigan Wolverines. Brooks joined the staff in 2021, with Morrow’s promotion to associate head coach.
On the Buckeyes’ staff, Brooks is crucial in the team’s recruiting, going on the road more than any other coach, according to McGuff. A crucial piece of coaching is the recruiting element, especially at smaller schools, and according to McGuff, “Kids like him, he’s easy to like.”
Even if head coaching isn’t in the immediate future for the entire staff, with coaching moves around the country happening daily, there’s need for assistant coaches in higher positions within the team and associate head coaches.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has been relatively stable for the past three seasons. Is this the offseason that changes?
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
The Buckeyes recent success could end with a shakeup in its coaching ranks, with one strong candidate for a head coaching job elsewhere.
Tuesday, the talk around women’s college basketball was on coaching changes, and just south of the Ohio River was a big one. Virginia Tech Hokes head coach Kenny Brooks left Blacksburg, Virginia after eight seasons and a 2023 Final Four run to become the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Its the biggest of many coaching moves announced this week — moves that Ohio State women’s basketball has been immune from over its past three seasons of success on the court.
Does that change this offseason?
While there’s no speculation of head coach Kevin McGuff looking for another challenge, the Buckeyes assistant coaching staff has multiple names who’ve shown their ability to run programs on their own. Leading that list is associate head coach Carla Morrow.
In three seasons, the Scarlet and Gray have found a resurgent success, and it began when Morrow moved from assistant coach to associate head coach. Following three seasons without postseason play or a Big Ten trophy for its trophy case, Ohio State’s won two of the last three conference regular season crowns and made a Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in consecutive seasons.
Morrow is a integral part of that success.
At the end of the 2022-23 season, Land-Grant Holy Land spoke with Coach McGuff exclusively about his 10 years leading the Buckeyes. When McGuff talked about Morrow, it was clear her impact is wide reaching.
“It’s one thing for assistant coaches to say ‘I have a great relationship with a player,’” said McGuff. “I always look at it like “can you influence their behavior or can you steer them in the right direction of where we want them to go?’ She does that and I think its really important.”
Look at any of the posts from Ohio State’s practices on social media, and Morrow is part of it. Going up against players like former guard Taylor Mikesell in a shooting contest, throwing around a football or being on the receiving end of a Cotie McMahon joke. Morrow’s work goes beyond relationships and steering players in the right direction.
The former WNBA player and assistant coach for the Chicago Sky also brings strong basketball strategy to what fans see on the court. When the Buckeyes prepare for opponents, Morrow brings nearly complete game plans to Coach McGuff.
People outside of the program notice these things too.
In January, the Athletic had Morrow on its list of assistant coaches ready to be a head coach. On March 15, ABIS (Advancement of Blacks in Sports) named Morrow to its Head Coach Watchlist.
One of the best in the business
Congratulations @coachcarla18 on being named by fellow coaches to the 2024 ABIS Associate Head Coach Watch List for elevating the Ohio State program and your coaching career! You are making an incredible impact and we’re thankful to have you! pic.twitter.com/USv1a6hj3h
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) March 15, 2024
It’s safe to say that Morrow’s time may not be long with Ohio State.
The available jobs are out there too. At the time of writing, there are at least 20 open coaching positions in NCAA women’s basketball. From Power Five schools like the aforementioned Hokies to a laundry list of mid-majors to start as a first time head coach.
Morrow isn’t the only one on the staff to watch.
Assistant coach Wesley Brooks spent time with multiple Power Five conference schools. Brooks started with the West Virginia Mountaineers as a graduate assistant before going to the University of Utah, followed by four years with the Michigan Wolverines. Brooks joined the staff in 2021, with Morrow’s promotion to associate head coach.
On the Buckeyes’ staff, Brooks is crucial in the team’s recruiting, going on the road more than any other coach, according to McGuff. A crucial piece of coaching is the recruiting element, especially at smaller schools, and according to McGuff, “Kids like him, he’s easy to like.”
Even if head coaching isn’t in the immediate future for the entire staff, with coaching moves around the country happening daily, there’s need for assistant coaches in higher positions within the team and associate head coaches.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has been relatively stable for the past three seasons. Is this the offseason that changes?
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Wrestling: Jesse Mendez claims OSU’s first national title since 2018, team takes 8th at the NCAA Wrestling Championships
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Ohio State Wrestling: Jesse Mendez claims OSU’s first national title since 2018, team takes 8th at the NCAA Wrestling Championships
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 Evert Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Mendez, Rocco Welsh and Nick Feldman led the way for Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes, each earning All-American status.
Last Thursday, seven of the nine Ohio State wrestlers who competed at this year’s NCAA Wrestling Championships won their first match of the tournament, hinting at a potentially big and prosperous weekend ahead.
This was in stark contrast to the beginning of the Big Ten Championships, where OSU stumbled out of the gate, ultimately leading to a fifth-place finish — just the second time since 2011-12 that Tom Ryan’s squad did not finish among the top four.
Unfortunately, a top-tier finish in Kansas City never came to fruition. Only three Buckeyes were left standing by the last day of competition, as the Penn State Nittany Lions ran away with yet another team championship — their 11th in the last 13 seasons.
Ohio State finished eighth, more than 100 points back of PSU. But unlike the team’s B1G finish, taking eighth at the NCAAs was actually a very positive result. And a good-to-great sign of things to come.
Primarily because all nine of OSU’s NCAA qualifiers are eligible to come back and wrestle for the Buckeyes next season if they indeed choose to do so. Only two upperclassmen (Dylan D’Emilio and Isaac Wilcox) made the trip, and both have the “Covid year” in their back pocket.
Six of the remaining seven competed as true or redshirt freshman, and Jesse Mendez rounded out the group as its only sophomore. That’s called a youth movement, folks. A damn good one, too.
Additionally, there was a trio of young Buckeyes that not only competed in KC, but truly excelled, earning All-American status and even some hardware. Said group was led by 141-pounder Jesse Mendez, who won Ohio State’s first individual NCAA title since 2018 and created/contributed to one hell of an internet meme.
Also earning All-American status were true freshman Rocco Welsh (174) and redshirt freshman Nick Feldman (HWT), both in their first year of competing for the Scarlet and Gray. Welsh made it all the way to the championship match before dropping a close decision to 4x champ Carter Starocci of Penn State, while Feldman wrestled back into contention via the “blood round” and finished the tournament with five victories.
While OSU finished with five All-Americans in 2023, four of those were upperclassmen. The other was Mendez, who has already cemented a legacy and appears to be on his way to becoming one of the program’s most accomplished grapplers. Regardless, three freshman and/or sophomore All-Americans in a rebuilding year is a heck of an accomplishment for the entire program.
Overall, six Buckeyes won at least two matches at the NCAA Championships. This includes the trio of All-Americans, another redshirt freshman in Nic Bouzakis, and both D’Emilio and Wilcox. The former now has 10 wins in four NCAA appearances, while the latter deserves a ton of credit for going from versatile super sub to 22-match winner and NCAA qualifier in his fourth season.
Now onto the offseason, which will be an interesting one for Ohio State. Not only are all nine NCAA qualifiers eligible to return, but so are Paddy Gallagher, Carson Kharchla, and others, several of whom figured into the plans for this season. There is also the possibility of Sammy Sasso’s return, which would be a tremendous story.
All in all, the 2023-24 season proved to be a solid transitional campaign for the Buckeyes. They lost several veteran leaders, NCAA qualifiers, and All-Americans from last year’s squad, and then watched guys like Gallagher and Kharchla suffer season-ending injuries. Yet despite fielding one of the youngest lineups in the sport’s toughest conference, OSU found a way to finish in the top-10 nationally.
Led by Mendez, this Ohio State squad should be right back in the championship conversation again next year. Sure, Penn State will seemingly always be lurking as the favorite, but Ryan’s squad is loaded with young talent. And now most of those young wrestlers have a full or near-full season of collegiate (specifically Big Ten) experience under their belt(s).
So expect more of the same, and starting counting down the days until next season’s wrestle-offs.
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 Evert Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Mendez, Rocco Welsh and Nick Feldman led the way for Tom Ryan’s Buckeyes, each earning All-American status.
Last Thursday, seven of the nine Ohio State wrestlers who competed at this year’s NCAA Wrestling Championships won their first match of the tournament, hinting at a potentially big and prosperous weekend ahead.
This was in stark contrast to the beginning of the Big Ten Championships, where OSU stumbled out of the gate, ultimately leading to a fifth-place finish — just the second time since 2011-12 that Tom Ryan’s squad did not finish among the top four.
Unfortunately, a top-tier finish in Kansas City never came to fruition. Only three Buckeyes were left standing by the last day of competition, as the Penn State Nittany Lions ran away with yet another team championship — their 11th in the last 13 seasons.
Ohio State finished eighth, more than 100 points back of PSU. But unlike the team’s B1G finish, taking eighth at the NCAAs was actually a very positive result. And a good-to-great sign of things to come.
Primarily because all nine of OSU’s NCAA qualifiers are eligible to come back and wrestle for the Buckeyes next season if they indeed choose to do so. Only two upperclassmen (Dylan D’Emilio and Isaac Wilcox) made the trip, and both have the “Covid year” in their back pocket.
Six of the remaining seven competed as true or redshirt freshman, and Jesse Mendez rounded out the group as its only sophomore. That’s called a youth movement, folks. A damn good one, too.
Additionally, there was a trio of young Buckeyes that not only competed in KC, but truly excelled, earning All-American status and even some hardware. Said group was led by 141-pounder Jesse Mendez, who won Ohio State’s first individual NCAA title since 2018 and created/contributed to one hell of an internet meme.
Also earning All-American status were true freshman Rocco Welsh (174) and redshirt freshman Nick Feldman (HWT), both in their first year of competing for the Scarlet and Gray. Welsh made it all the way to the championship match before dropping a close decision to 4x champ Carter Starocci of Penn State, while Feldman wrestled back into contention via the “blood round” and finished the tournament with five victories.
While OSU finished with five All-Americans in 2023, four of those were upperclassmen. The other was Mendez, who has already cemented a legacy and appears to be on his way to becoming one of the program’s most accomplished grapplers. Regardless, three freshman and/or sophomore All-Americans in a rebuilding year is a heck of an accomplishment for the entire program.
All-Americans
Head Coach
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 27, 2024
Overall, six Buckeyes won at least two matches at the NCAA Championships. This includes the trio of All-Americans, another redshirt freshman in Nic Bouzakis, and both D’Emilio and Wilcox. The former now has 10 wins in four NCAA appearances, while the latter deserves a ton of credit for going from versatile super sub to 22-match winner and NCAA qualifier in his fourth season.
Now onto the offseason, which will be an interesting one for Ohio State. Not only are all nine NCAA qualifiers eligible to return, but so are Paddy Gallagher, Carson Kharchla, and others, several of whom figured into the plans for this season. There is also the possibility of Sammy Sasso’s return, which would be a tremendous story.
All in all, the 2023-24 season proved to be a solid transitional campaign for the Buckeyes. They lost several veteran leaders, NCAA qualifiers, and All-Americans from last year’s squad, and then watched guys like Gallagher and Kharchla suffer season-ending injuries. Yet despite fielding one of the youngest lineups in the sport’s toughest conference, OSU found a way to finish in the top-10 nationally.
Led by Mendez, this Ohio State squad should be right back in the championship conversation again next year. Sure, Penn State will seemingly always be lurking as the favorite, but Ryan’s squad is loaded with young talent. And now most of those young wrestlers have a full or near-full season of collegiate (specifically Big Ten) experience under their belt(s).
So expect more of the same, and starting counting down the days until next season’s wrestle-offs.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State set to host nation’s No. 1 offensive lineman, five-star wide receiver this weekend
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Ohio State set to host nation’s No. 1 offensive lineman, five-star wide receiver this weekend
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-Star offensive tackle David Sanders | 247Sports
The Buckeyes are bringing in more elite guests for a major recruiting weekend.
The Buckeyes currently have one offensive line commitment in the 2025 class thanks to in-state pledge Carter Lowe. His addition was a big time feat, but this class must continue to add to it at the position for it to truly be successful.
Every football mind knows the game is won in the trenches, and while Ohio State is and has been talented up front, they also haven’t reached their ultimate goals the last few seasons, proving the recruiting and development have to be better. Development can be sped up — and easier, for a lack of a better term — when you bring in elite prospects, and that’s Ohio State’s goal every year.
The recruiting wins over the last few cycles have been mostly keeping their in-state guys at home, but the long sought after national tackle target has continued to elude Ohio State. The Buckeyes have come up short in that regard too many times, but it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. Thankfully, it looks as if the staff is getting another shot at it this coming weekend when they bring in one of the best in the country.
Making it’s way all over social media on Wednesday, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders has set his visit plans for this weekend, as he’ll take in Ohio State and all that the Buckeyes have to offer.
The No. 2 player nationally and the top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders getting to Columbus for a multiple-day trip is big for the coaching staff, and Ohio State will surely have the atmosphere to impress this weekend, which includes the always rowdy student appreciation practice as well as a very impressive guest list with other high-profile recruits.
Owning 40-plus offers to his name from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, LSU, USC and every other major program, it’s Clemson right now that leads the way on the 247Sports Crystal Ball feature. The Buckeyes are going to shoot their best shot this weekend and for the foreseeable future, but again, getting him on campus this weekend is a major deal and should certainly help their chances moving forward.
Maybe the best part, his Ohio State official visit isn’t set until June. so this trip on his own dime makes it that much better knowing they have multiple opportunities to sell Sanders on joining the program.
Earlier this week Ohio State lost a commitment from Florida receiver Jayvan Boggs. A commit since last October, the Buckeyes certainly didn’t want to lose him as a member of the 2025 class, but if there’s one position that really never needs to be worried about, it’s the receiver group thanks to Brian Hartline.
Every year he has his pick of the litter, and this cycle realistically should be no different considering what he’s been able to do in his tenure. With a ton of elite options out there and at least three to four spots up for grabs, this is the time when Hartline starts to really hone in on his top targeted guys.
This weekend will be a major one for the Buckeyes in getting closer to landing one of those commitments. Knowing there’s only so many players Hartline and Ohio State will say yes to, it very well could be a race to see who pulls the trigger first. Surely there’s a couple names that both the staff and fans would like to see in the fold sooner rather than later.
The name that continues to be discussed maybe more than anyone else, Jaime Ffrench is atop of the list of guys the Buckeyes would love to see in their 2025 class when all is said and done. A step towards that could be this weekend, as he and others from his South Florida Express seven-on-seven squad will be in Columbus on Saturday.
The No. 16 player nationally and third-best receiver per the 247Sports Composite, Ffrench does seem to be getting closer to Ohio State as time goes on, but the Buckeyes know they still have work to do to make it a done deal. This visit will be another chance for Hartline to get him more comfortable with the potential to bring his talents to Columbus, but this recruitment could still go into the summer months, as Florida natives tend to do.
All in all, getting Ffrench on campus is a win for the program and Hartline. Rarely does an Ohio State visit not go incredibly well, and with how things have been trending for Ffrench, you have to like the Buckeyes’ chances in further pulling away in the lead as they look to eventually land his commitment. Having the chance to see Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss and the other Sunshine State natives excelling in Columbus definitely helps Ohio State’s outlook.
While this is a player the Buckeyes have offered and are certainly interested in, it would be a surprise at this point to see him not pick Texas A&M. The Buckeyes are in the mix for several other top players up front on the defensive side of the ball, and will continue their relentless efforts in building up an elite haul for 2025.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-Star offensive tackle David Sanders | 247Sports
The Buckeyes are bringing in more elite guests for a major recruiting weekend.
The Buckeyes currently have one offensive line commitment in the 2025 class thanks to in-state pledge Carter Lowe. His addition was a big time feat, but this class must continue to add to it at the position for it to truly be successful.
Every football mind knows the game is won in the trenches, and while Ohio State is and has been talented up front, they also haven’t reached their ultimate goals the last few seasons, proving the recruiting and development have to be better. Development can be sped up — and easier, for a lack of a better term — when you bring in elite prospects, and that’s Ohio State’s goal every year.
The recruiting wins over the last few cycles have been mostly keeping their in-state guys at home, but the long sought after national tackle target has continued to elude Ohio State. The Buckeyes have come up short in that regard too many times, but it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. Thankfully, it looks as if the staff is getting another shot at it this coming weekend when they bring in one of the best in the country.
Making it’s way all over social media on Wednesday, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders has set his visit plans for this weekend, as he’ll take in Ohio State and all that the Buckeyes have to offer.
The No. 2 player nationally and the top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders getting to Columbus for a multiple-day trip is big for the coaching staff, and Ohio State will surely have the atmosphere to impress this weekend, which includes the always rowdy student appreciation practice as well as a very impressive guest list with other high-profile recruits.
Owning 40-plus offers to his name from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, LSU, USC and every other major program, it’s Clemson right now that leads the way on the 247Sports Crystal Ball feature. The Buckeyes are going to shoot their best shot this weekend and for the foreseeable future, but again, getting him on campus this weekend is a major deal and should certainly help their chances moving forward.
Maybe the best part, his Ohio State official visit isn’t set until June. so this trip on his own dime makes it that much better knowing they have multiple opportunities to sell Sanders on joining the program.
Ohio State looking to land five-star Florida receiver target
Earlier this week Ohio State lost a commitment from Florida receiver Jayvan Boggs. A commit since last October, the Buckeyes certainly didn’t want to lose him as a member of the 2025 class, but if there’s one position that really never needs to be worried about, it’s the receiver group thanks to Brian Hartline.
Every year he has his pick of the litter, and this cycle realistically should be no different considering what he’s been able to do in his tenure. With a ton of elite options out there and at least three to four spots up for grabs, this is the time when Hartline starts to really hone in on his top targeted guys.
This weekend will be a major one for the Buckeyes in getting closer to landing one of those commitments. Knowing there’s only so many players Hartline and Ohio State will say yes to, it very well could be a race to see who pulls the trigger first. Surely there’s a couple names that both the staff and fans would like to see in the fold sooner rather than later.
The name that continues to be discussed maybe more than anyone else, Jaime Ffrench is atop of the list of guys the Buckeyes would love to see in their 2025 class when all is said and done. A step towards that could be this weekend, as he and others from his South Florida Express seven-on-seven squad will be in Columbus on Saturday.
The No. 16 player nationally and third-best receiver per the 247Sports Composite, Ffrench does seem to be getting closer to Ohio State as time goes on, but the Buckeyes know they still have work to do to make it a done deal. This visit will be another chance for Hartline to get him more comfortable with the potential to bring his talents to Columbus, but this recruitment could still go into the summer months, as Florida natives tend to do.
All in all, getting Ffrench on campus is a win for the program and Hartline. Rarely does an Ohio State visit not go incredibly well, and with how things have been trending for Ffrench, you have to like the Buckeyes’ chances in further pulling away in the lead as they look to eventually land his commitment. Having the chance to see Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss and the other Sunshine State natives excelling in Columbus definitely helps Ohio State’s outlook.
Quick Hits
- Four-star defensive line target Landon Rink (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) will announce his college decision on April 3. The No. 312 player nationally and the 36th best defensive lineman in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Rink is down to just Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Texas A&M.
While this is a player the Buckeyes have offered and are certainly interested in, it would be a surprise at this point to see him not pick Texas A&M. The Buckeyes are in the mix for several other top players up front on the defensive side of the ball, and will continue their relentless efforts in building up an elite haul for 2025.
NEWS 2025 DL Landon Rink will announce his commitment on April 3, he tells @ChadSimmons_
He will choose between Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
Read: https://t.co/eQn4NmJTKL pic.twitter.com/e90VegHQou
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 27, 2024
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LGHL Bowen Hardman enters transfer portal after two seasons at Ohio State
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- 1 Replies
Bowen Hardman enters transfer portal after two seasons at Ohio State
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The sophomore from Cincinnati was a seldom-used reserve during his two seasons at Ohio State.
On average, 97% of NCAA Division-I college basketball programs have seen at least one player transfer away per season since the NCAA transfer portal was implemented. Players coming and going and seeking new opportunities is expected. Today, Ohio State’s Bowen Hardman has opted to go that route.
Hardman, a sophomore guard from Cincinnati who appeared in seven games during his freshman season and 18 games as a sophomore, entered the transfer portal Thursday afternoon. It was first reported by Verbal Commits, and quickly re-posted by Hardman himself.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Cincinnati never became an impact rotation player at Ohio State. After being a non-factor his freshman year, he did appear in 18 games this past season, scoring 33 points on 11-of-25 shooting (44%). He was 9-for-21 from three-point range (42.9%). 21 of his 25 shots came from beyond the arc. Hardman averaged 4.3 minutes per game, and scored a season-high 11 points against Nebraska on January 23.
Hardman, the first commitment in Ohio State’s 2022 class, was a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. He was the least-often used freshman of the five in that class, which also included Brice Sensabaugh, Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara. Hardman dealt with injuries late in his high school career which caused his recruiting rankings to drop, and his overall ranking in that class — No. 315 — sticks out among the other members of that 2022 class.
Former head coach Chris Holtmann repeatedly stated that Hardman was not “physically ready” to compete in the Big Ten when he was a freshman, and that he planned on playing four freshmen consistently that season — leaving out Hardman. He wasn’t a liar, either, as Hardman only appeared in seven games as a freshman.
Hardman’s opportunities this past season actually decreased when Holtmann was fired and Diebler was elevated to interim head coach (and eventually head coach). After Diebler was promoted, Hardman played in six of the remaining 11 games, averaging just over two minutes per game.
Since the day he joined the program, it was an uphill climb for Hardman to ever earn consistent minutes. With Ohio State’s guard room not getting any thinner anytime soon, a path for him to increase his role probably did not exist.
In addition to the scholarship offer he got from Ohio State, Hardman was also recruited heavily by Xavier, Cincinnati, Purdue, and Indiana. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Good luck to Bowen wherever he winds up!
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The sophomore from Cincinnati was a seldom-used reserve during his two seasons at Ohio State.
On average, 97% of NCAA Division-I college basketball programs have seen at least one player transfer away per season since the NCAA transfer portal was implemented. Players coming and going and seeking new opportunities is expected. Today, Ohio State’s Bowen Hardman has opted to go that route.
Hardman, a sophomore guard from Cincinnati who appeared in seven games during his freshman season and 18 games as a sophomore, entered the transfer portal Thursday afternoon. It was first reported by Verbal Commits, and quickly re-posted by Hardman himself.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Cincinnati never became an impact rotation player at Ohio State. After being a non-factor his freshman year, he did appear in 18 games this past season, scoring 33 points on 11-of-25 shooting (44%). He was 9-for-21 from three-point range (42.9%). 21 of his 25 shots came from beyond the arc. Hardman averaged 4.3 minutes per game, and scored a season-high 11 points against Nebraska on January 23.
Hardman, the first commitment in Ohio State’s 2022 class, was a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. He was the least-often used freshman of the five in that class, which also included Brice Sensabaugh, Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara. Hardman dealt with injuries late in his high school career which caused his recruiting rankings to drop, and his overall ranking in that class — No. 315 — sticks out among the other members of that 2022 class.
Former head coach Chris Holtmann repeatedly stated that Hardman was not “physically ready” to compete in the Big Ten when he was a freshman, and that he planned on playing four freshmen consistently that season — leaving out Hardman. He wasn’t a liar, either, as Hardman only appeared in seven games as a freshman.
Hardman’s opportunities this past season actually decreased when Holtmann was fired and Diebler was elevated to interim head coach (and eventually head coach). After Diebler was promoted, Hardman played in six of the remaining 11 games, averaging just over two minutes per game.
Since the day he joined the program, it was an uphill climb for Hardman to ever earn consistent minutes. With Ohio State’s guard room not getting any thinner anytime soon, a path for him to increase his role probably did not exist.
In addition to the scholarship offer he got from Ohio State, Hardman was also recruited heavily by Xavier, Cincinnati, Purdue, and Indiana. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Good luck to Bowen wherever he winds up!
Continue reading...
LGHL Inside the numbers of a championship season for Ohio State women’s hockey
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Inside the numbers of a championship season for Ohio State women’s hockey
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes put together a season that will be tough for future Ohio State teams to top.
Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team has now won two national titles in the last three years. The Buckeyes were dominant throughout the season, and there were so many players that contributed to the best season in program history. To look back on just how great the Buckeyes were, we’ll dive into some of the important numbers from the 2023-24 season.
With their 1-0 win over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team won their second national championship in program history. The first national title came two years ago, when the Buckeyes beat Minnesota-Duluth. The only thing separating the Buckeyes from a three-peat is a 1-0 loss to Wisconsin in last year’s title game.
The win over Wisconsin in New Hampshire gave Ohio State their 35th win of the season, which is a school record. The Buckeyes actually set the program record for wins in a season on Friday, when they beat Clarkson in the Frozen Four semifinal. The win over the Badgers just set the mark even higher for future Ohio State teams to try and top.
In each of the last three seasons, the Buckeyes have finished the season with a new school record for wins in the season. The 2021-22 season saw Ohio State finish with 32 wins, last season the Buckeyes notched 33 wins, and this year they improved on last year’s mark by two wins.
Starting with a 6-2 win in Columbus against St. Cloud State on Dec. 2, Ohio State reeled off 16-straight wins, shattering the previous school record of 10-straight victories. The winning streak came to an end in the final game of the regular season, when Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes 4-2 in Madison.
During the winning streak, which spanned over two months, Ohio State outscored their opponents 88-16.
It wasn’t often when Ohio State was pushed to the limit this season, as they outscored their opponents 201-51. During the season, the Buckeyes had four games where they scored at least 10 goals, and another four games where they scored at least eight goals. Of their 35 wins on the season, just seven of those victories were by less than two goals.
The season-high for goals in a game by Ohio State this season was when they scored 12 goals on Feb. 16 against St. Thomas. Seven different Buckeyes scored in the game, with four Ohio State players recording multiple goals in the blowout victory.
There were five games this season where Ohio State players recorded a hat trick. The first three-goal game came in October against Minnesota-Duluth, when Hadley Hartmetz completed the feat. The first of two Joy Dunne hat tricks during the season came less than a month later, when the freshman notched her first career hat trick on Nov. 3 against Bemidji State, and the other came against Minnesota in January.
The other two came in February. Jenna Buglioni also had a hat trick against Bemidji State, followed by Hannah Bilka’s three-goal performance in the 12-1 rout of St. Thomas.
The 24 goals scored by Joy Dunne this season were the high mark on the team. The 2024 Julie Chu Rookie of the Year took a little time to get comfortable on the ice, as she didn’t score her first career goal at Ohio State until her ninth game, but she caught fire as soon as the puck hit the back of the net, scoring three goals in the game.
Dunne’s final goal of the season was the most important, as her goal against Wisconsin on Sunday ended up being the deciding factor in a national championship victory for the Buckeyes.
While Dunne led Ohio State in goals this season, the overall point leader for the Buckeyes was Hannah Bilka, who finished the season with 48 points.
After playing four seasons at Boston College, Bilka transferred to Ohio State following last season. The graduate student didn’t take long to get acclimated to her new surroundings in Columbus, as she had starting with her third game in scarlet and gray she posted at least two points in six straight games.
Bilka’s best performance of the season came in early February, when she was credited with four points in the 11-1 win over Bemidji State.
Of Ohio State’s 35 wins this season, 22 of them came with Raygan Kirk between the pipes for the Buckeyes. The number of wins that Kirk was in goal for this season set a new school record. Kirk was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four.
The final start of the year for Kirk came in the national title game against Wisconsin. By not allowing the Badgers to score, Kirk recorded her 10th shutout of the year, which was the most in the country this season. Keeping opponents off the scoreboard in so many of her starts this season, Kirk finished the year with a 1.05 goals against average.
The NCAA Tournament appearance was Ohio State’s seventh in school history, with all of them coming under head coach Nadine Muzerall. In six of those seasons the Buckeyes have won at least 20 games.
With the tremendous foundation Muzerall has built during her time in Columbus, those numbers are only going to increase over the years. There’s no question that Muzerall has turned Ohio State into the premier women’s ice hockey program in the country right now.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes put together a season that will be tough for future Ohio State teams to top.
Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team has now won two national titles in the last three years. The Buckeyes were dominant throughout the season, and there were so many players that contributed to the best season in program history. To look back on just how great the Buckeyes were, we’ll dive into some of the important numbers from the 2023-24 season.
2
With their 1-0 win over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, Ohio State’s women’s ice hockey team won their second national championship in program history. The first national title came two years ago, when the Buckeyes beat Minnesota-Duluth. The only thing separating the Buckeyes from a three-peat is a 1-0 loss to Wisconsin in last year’s title game.
35
The win over Wisconsin in New Hampshire gave Ohio State their 35th win of the season, which is a school record. The Buckeyes actually set the program record for wins in a season on Friday, when they beat Clarkson in the Frozen Four semifinal. The win over the Badgers just set the mark even higher for future Ohio State teams to try and top.
In each of the last three seasons, the Buckeyes have finished the season with a new school record for wins in the season. The 2021-22 season saw Ohio State finish with 32 wins, last season the Buckeyes notched 33 wins, and this year they improved on last year’s mark by two wins.
16
Starting with a 6-2 win in Columbus against St. Cloud State on Dec. 2, Ohio State reeled off 16-straight wins, shattering the previous school record of 10-straight victories. The winning streak came to an end in the final game of the regular season, when Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes 4-2 in Madison.
During the winning streak, which spanned over two months, Ohio State outscored their opponents 88-16.
201-51
It wasn’t often when Ohio State was pushed to the limit this season, as they outscored their opponents 201-51. During the season, the Buckeyes had four games where they scored at least 10 goals, and another four games where they scored at least eight goals. Of their 35 wins on the season, just seven of those victories were by less than two goals.
12
The season-high for goals in a game by Ohio State this season was when they scored 12 goals on Feb. 16 against St. Thomas. Seven different Buckeyes scored in the game, with four Ohio State players recording multiple goals in the blowout victory.
5
There were five games this season where Ohio State players recorded a hat trick. The first three-goal game came in October against Minnesota-Duluth, when Hadley Hartmetz completed the feat. The first of two Joy Dunne hat tricks during the season came less than a month later, when the freshman notched her first career hat trick on Nov. 3 against Bemidji State, and the other came against Minnesota in January.
The other two came in February. Jenna Buglioni also had a hat trick against Bemidji State, followed by Hannah Bilka’s three-goal performance in the 12-1 rout of St. Thomas.
24
The 24 goals scored by Joy Dunne this season were the high mark on the team. The 2024 Julie Chu Rookie of the Year took a little time to get comfortable on the ice, as she didn’t score her first career goal at Ohio State until her ninth game, but she caught fire as soon as the puck hit the back of the net, scoring three goals in the game.
Dunne’s final goal of the season was the most important, as her goal against Wisconsin on Sunday ended up being the deciding factor in a national championship victory for the Buckeyes.
48
While Dunne led Ohio State in goals this season, the overall point leader for the Buckeyes was Hannah Bilka, who finished the season with 48 points.
After playing four seasons at Boston College, Bilka transferred to Ohio State following last season. The graduate student didn’t take long to get acclimated to her new surroundings in Columbus, as she had starting with her third game in scarlet and gray she posted at least two points in six straight games.
Bilka’s best performance of the season came in early February, when she was credited with four points in the 11-1 win over Bemidji State.
22
Of Ohio State’s 35 wins this season, 22 of them came with Raygan Kirk between the pipes for the Buckeyes. The number of wins that Kirk was in goal for this season set a new school record. Kirk was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four.
10
The final start of the year for Kirk came in the national title game against Wisconsin. By not allowing the Badgers to score, Kirk recorded her 10th shutout of the year, which was the most in the country this season. Keeping opponents off the scoreboard in so many of her starts this season, Kirk finished the year with a 1.05 goals against average.
7
The NCAA Tournament appearance was Ohio State’s seventh in school history, with all of them coming under head coach Nadine Muzerall. In six of those seasons the Buckeyes have won at least 20 games.
With the tremendous foundation Muzerall has built during her time in Columbus, those numbers are only going to increase over the years. There’s no question that Muzerall has turned Ohio State into the premier women’s ice hockey program in the country right now.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State’s season ends, and an interview with One Shining Podcast’s Tate Frazier
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Bucketheads Podcast: Ohio State’s season ends, and an interview with One Shining Podcast’s Tate Frazier
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We talked all things Sweet 16 with Tate, and got his thoughts on the Buckeyes and Jake Diebler.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 114 of the Bucketheads podcast, we discuss the sad fact that the season is over. The Ohio State men’s basketball team lost to the Georgia Bulldogs, 79-77, in the quarterfinals of the NIT, and a tumultuous season has come to an end. Plus, we talk about the transfer portal and the next steps for the Buckeyes.
We also have an interview with Tate Frazier, host of the One Shining Podcast, about all things Sweet 16. We discuss UNC, the ACC, Kentucky, Ohio State, Jake Diebler and much more in an hour-long talk with Tate. Ball knowers can’t miss this one!
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Tate:
Twitter: @tatefrazier
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We talked all things Sweet 16 with Tate, and got his thoughts on the Buckeyes and Jake Diebler.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 114 of the Bucketheads podcast, we discuss the sad fact that the season is over. The Ohio State men’s basketball team lost to the Georgia Bulldogs, 79-77, in the quarterfinals of the NIT, and a tumultuous season has come to an end. Plus, we talk about the transfer portal and the next steps for the Buckeyes.
We also have an interview with Tate Frazier, host of the One Shining Podcast, about all things Sweet 16. We discuss UNC, the ACC, Kentucky, Ohio State, Jake Diebler and much more in an hour-long talk with Tate. Ball knowers can’t miss this one!
Make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review on the show!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Tate:
Twitter: @tatefrazier
Continue reading...