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LGHL Ohio State grabs a Leap Day victory over Nebraska, 78-69; keeps tourney hopes alive
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Ohio State grabs a Leap Day victory over Nebraska, 78-69; keeps tourney hopes alive
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes showed up and beat one of the Big Ten’s best teams without one of their best players... again.
Still riding the high of beating Michigan State Sunday afternoon, Ohio State (17-12, 7-11) aka the fighting Jake Dieblers welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-1, 10-8) to the Schottenstein Center Thursday evening. Nebraska beat Ohio State 83-69 back on Jan. 23 and traveled to Columbus Thursday in search of a season sweep.
The Buckeyes are hot (warm?), but Nebraska came into this game even hotter, having won its last four games, including a road win at Indiana and an 18-point win over Minnesota at home. The ‘Huskers have officially put themselves in a position to earn a top-four seed and the coveted double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Fred Hoiberg’s ‘Huskers went with a starting five of Kesei Tominaga, Brice Williams, Juwan Gary, Rienk Mast, and Josiah Allick.
With Bruce Thornton ruled out shortly before the game with a migraine, senior guard Dale Bonner started in his place. Alongside him were Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara. This was the first game that Thornton had ever missed in his two seasons.
Without Thornton on the floor, Ohio State turned the ball over on each of its first two possessions, but Battle followed that with eight consecutive points to put the Buckeyes up 8-3. Nebraska answered with a triple from Williams to make it 8-6, but Battle hit another three, followed by a euro-step layup from Gayle to make it 13-6 Ohio State at the first media timeout.
The Huskers answered with a 13-2 run and took a 19-15 lead into the under-12 media timeout with 11:14 remaining in the first half. Nebraska knocked down four three-pointers in the first nine minutes of the game.
Nebraska extended the lead a bit while facing the rarely-used Bowen Hardman/Devin Royal/Taison Chatman/Felix Okpara/Jamison Battle lineup, and held a 25-20 lead with 7:38 remaining in the first half. With no Thornton, Ohio State struggled with turnovers, as five different guys coughed up the biscuit at least once through the first 12 minutes.
After the Nebraska lead grew to seven points late in the first half, the Buckeyes ended the half on a 12-3 run, taking a 39-37 lead into the locker room at halftime. Battle and Gayle did the heavy lifting, scoring 26 of Ohio State’s 39 points in the first half. Scotty Middleton also chipped in two big-time three-pointers when it looked like things might go off the rails for Ohio State. Tominaga had nine first-half points for Nebraska, but five different ‘Huskers chipped in at least four points over the first 20 minutes.
The Buckeyes held Nebraska to one basket over the first 4:41 of the second half, increasing the lead to 46-37 before Gary scored off a nice dish from Lawrence to make it 46-39 with 15:19 left in the game. Gayle continued to penetrate and get to the bucket, and Okpara was a big deterrent below the basket in the second half, forcing several Nebraska misses on layups.
Lawrence strung together some big buckets for Nebraska and kept them within one or two possessions for most of the second half. Ohio State’s 12th turnover of the game with 7:41 left game gave the ball back to Nebraska and sent this one to the under-8 media timeout with the Buckeyes up, 63-58.
Ohio State led for essentially the entire second half, bending but not breaking defensively and keeping Nebraska just barely out of reach. It seemed like every time the ‘Huskers came up with a basket to turn the tide, the Buckeyes had an answer at the other end to prevent it from becoming a run. Fred Hoiberg’s team showed why they’re tournament-caliber, but Ohio State was able to fend them off and salvage the season split, 78-69.
If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State improve to 3-1 under Jake Diebler and keep its slim NCAA hopes alive, here are a few key moments and plays that happened along the way:
Nebraska grabbed two offensive rebounds on their first possession of the game before Tominaga finally knocked down a three-pointer to open the scoring, but Battle — who missed the Michigan State game with an ankle injury — went on an 11-3 run all by himself to help put Ohio State up, 11-6 four minutes into the game.
After Battle went bananas to start the game, Nebraska went to work and authored a 15-2 run to put the fans back in their seats and quiet the arena down. The ‘Huskers got baskets from five different guys during the run — Wilcher, Allick, Gary, Jamarques Lawrence, Sam Hoiberg — which lasted 3:54. Gary’s uncontested layup with 11:03 left in the first half put Nebraska up, 21-15.
Nebraska went up 34-27 with just under five minutes left in the first half and did not score another basket the rest of the half. Other than three free throws from Tominaga (two different trips), Hoiberg’s team was held scoreless for the final 4:47 of the half.
Ohio State, on the other hand, hit three of its final six shots and knocked down five free throws, ending the half on a 12-3 run to go into the locker room with a 39-37 lead.
Royal’s stock has been steadily rising over the last few weeks, but Middleton and Chatman have contributed more as “fillers” than anything else over the past few weeks — playing minutes here and there, but not making a huge impact. That was not the case on Thursday night, as Middleton’s third three-pointer of the game set a career-high with 12:47 left in the game. Chatman also knocked down a first-half three-pointer — the first of his collegiate career.
With Ohio State leading 67-63 and 4:49 left in the game, Lawrence dished off to Gary on the break, and the 6-foot-6 junior from Columbia, South Carolina slammed home an easy dunk to make it 67-65.
Moments after Gayle left the game with an injury, Battle was fouled by Mast going to the basket and knocked down both free throws, making it 75-67 with two minutes left to go.
Ohio State (17-12, 7-11) gets two days off and then welcomes the Michigan Wolverines (8-0, 3-14) to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday for Senior Day and the final home game of the season. Michigan beat Ohio State 73-65 back on January 15 in Ann Arbor — one of Michigan’s three conference wins.
Sunday’s game between Ohio State and Michigan will tip off at 4:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes showed up and beat one of the Big Ten’s best teams without one of their best players... again.
Still riding the high of beating Michigan State Sunday afternoon, Ohio State (17-12, 7-11) aka the fighting Jake Dieblers welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-1, 10-8) to the Schottenstein Center Thursday evening. Nebraska beat Ohio State 83-69 back on Jan. 23 and traveled to Columbus Thursday in search of a season sweep.
The Buckeyes are hot (warm?), but Nebraska came into this game even hotter, having won its last four games, including a road win at Indiana and an 18-point win over Minnesota at home. The ‘Huskers have officially put themselves in a position to earn a top-four seed and the coveted double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Fred Hoiberg’s ‘Huskers went with a starting five of Kesei Tominaga, Brice Williams, Juwan Gary, Rienk Mast, and Josiah Allick.
With Bruce Thornton ruled out shortly before the game with a migraine, senior guard Dale Bonner started in his place. Alongside him were Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, and Felix Okpara. This was the first game that Thornton had ever missed in his two seasons.
Without Thornton on the floor, Ohio State turned the ball over on each of its first two possessions, but Battle followed that with eight consecutive points to put the Buckeyes up 8-3. Nebraska answered with a triple from Williams to make it 8-6, but Battle hit another three, followed by a euro-step layup from Gayle to make it 13-6 Ohio State at the first media timeout.
The Huskers answered with a 13-2 run and took a 19-15 lead into the under-12 media timeout with 11:14 remaining in the first half. Nebraska knocked down four three-pointers in the first nine minutes of the game.
Nebraska extended the lead a bit while facing the rarely-used Bowen Hardman/Devin Royal/Taison Chatman/Felix Okpara/Jamison Battle lineup, and held a 25-20 lead with 7:38 remaining in the first half. With no Thornton, Ohio State struggled with turnovers, as five different guys coughed up the biscuit at least once through the first 12 minutes.
After the Nebraska lead grew to seven points late in the first half, the Buckeyes ended the half on a 12-3 run, taking a 39-37 lead into the locker room at halftime. Battle and Gayle did the heavy lifting, scoring 26 of Ohio State’s 39 points in the first half. Scotty Middleton also chipped in two big-time three-pointers when it looked like things might go off the rails for Ohio State. Tominaga had nine first-half points for Nebraska, but five different ‘Huskers chipped in at least four points over the first 20 minutes.
The Buckeyes held Nebraska to one basket over the first 4:41 of the second half, increasing the lead to 46-37 before Gary scored off a nice dish from Lawrence to make it 46-39 with 15:19 left in the game. Gayle continued to penetrate and get to the bucket, and Okpara was a big deterrent below the basket in the second half, forcing several Nebraska misses on layups.
Lawrence strung together some big buckets for Nebraska and kept them within one or two possessions for most of the second half. Ohio State’s 12th turnover of the game with 7:41 left game gave the ball back to Nebraska and sent this one to the under-8 media timeout with the Buckeyes up, 63-58.
Ohio State led for essentially the entire second half, bending but not breaking defensively and keeping Nebraska just barely out of reach. It seemed like every time the ‘Huskers came up with a basket to turn the tide, the Buckeyes had an answer at the other end to prevent it from becoming a run. Fred Hoiberg’s team showed why they’re tournament-caliber, but Ohio State was able to fend them off and salvage the season split, 78-69.
If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State improve to 3-1 under Jake Diebler and keep its slim NCAA hopes alive, here are a few key moments and plays that happened along the way:
Battle scores 11 in 1:51 to put Ohio State back in front
Nebraska grabbed two offensive rebounds on their first possession of the game before Tominaga finally knocked down a three-pointer to open the scoring, but Battle — who missed the Michigan State game with an ankle injury — went on an 11-3 run all by himself to help put Ohio State up, 11-6 four minutes into the game.
Nebraska responds with a 15-2 run
After Battle went bananas to start the game, Nebraska went to work and authored a 15-2 run to put the fans back in their seats and quiet the arena down. The ‘Huskers got baskets from five different guys during the run — Wilcher, Allick, Gary, Jamarques Lawrence, Sam Hoiberg — which lasted 3:54. Gary’s uncontested layup with 11:03 left in the first half put Nebraska up, 21-15.
‘Huskers go cold, Buckeyes go into half with two-point lead
Nebraska went up 34-27 with just under five minutes left in the first half and did not score another basket the rest of the half. Other than three free throws from Tominaga (two different trips), Hoiberg’s team was held scoreless for the final 4:47 of the half.
Ohio State, on the other hand, hit three of its final six shots and knocked down five free throws, ending the half on a 12-3 run to go into the locker room with a 39-37 lead.
Freshmen showing up for Ohio State
Royal’s stock has been steadily rising over the last few weeks, but Middleton and Chatman have contributed more as “fillers” than anything else over the past few weeks — playing minutes here and there, but not making a huge impact. That was not the case on Thursday night, as Middleton’s third three-pointer of the game set a career-high with 12:47 left in the game. Chatman also knocked down a first-half three-pointer — the first of his collegiate career.
Gary gets Nebraska within two
With Ohio State leading 67-63 and 4:49 left in the game, Lawrence dished off to Gary on the break, and the 6-foot-6 junior from Columbia, South Carolina slammed home an easy dunk to make it 67-65.
Battle’s free throws make it 75-67
Moments after Gayle left the game with an injury, Battle was fouled by Mast going to the basket and knocked down both free throws, making it 75-67 with two minutes left to go.
Up Next:
Ohio State (17-12, 7-11) gets two days off and then welcomes the Michigan Wolverines (8-0, 3-14) to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday for Senior Day and the final home game of the season. Michigan beat Ohio State 73-65 back on January 15 in Ann Arbor — one of Michigan’s three conference wins.
Sunday’s game between Ohio State and Michigan will tip off at 4:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut Podcast: OSU celebrates outright B1G title; McGuff, McMahon, Sheldon talk Michigan win
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Uncut Podcast: OSU celebrates outright B1G title; McGuff, McMahon, Sheldon talk Michigan win
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The three talk about not sharing the Big Ten title, beating Michigan and looking ahead to Iowa.
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Sunday’s win for Ohio State women’s basketball locked up a share of the Big Ten regular season title, but Wednesday night, the Buckeyes let people know they don’t like sharing. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Michigan Wolverines 67-51 to claim the outright league title. Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff, guard Jacy Sheldon, and forward Cotie McMahon spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff, talked about the importance of this team, why this specific title win is special, how the Buckeyes look ahead to the next game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, and how he planned on celebrating the big win. Hint: It includes going home and sitting on his couch.
Then, McMahon and Sheldon talk about how much the team’s grown to get to this moment, only wanting the trophy for themselves and how Sunday’s game against the Iowa Hawkeyes is still personal to the team.
That and more, in a press conference right after confetti and streamers fell to the floor of the Schottenstein Center.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Threads: @1ThomasCostello
Bluesky: @thomascostello.bsky.social
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The three talk about not sharing the Big Ten title, beating Michigan and looking ahead to Iowa.
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Sunday’s win for Ohio State women’s basketball locked up a share of the Big Ten regular season title, but Wednesday night, the Buckeyes let people know they don’t like sharing. The Scarlet and Gray defeated the Michigan Wolverines 67-51 to claim the outright league title. Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff, guard Jacy Sheldon, and forward Cotie McMahon spoke with the media.
Coach McGuff, talked about the importance of this team, why this specific title win is special, how the Buckeyes look ahead to the next game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, and how he planned on celebrating the big win. Hint: It includes going home and sitting on his couch.
Then, McMahon and Sheldon talk about how much the team’s grown to get to this moment, only wanting the trophy for themselves and how Sunday’s game against the Iowa Hawkeyes is still personal to the team.
That and more, in a press conference right after confetti and streamers fell to the floor of the Schottenstein Center.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Threads: @1ThomasCostello
Bluesky: @thomascostello.bsky.social
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State fans weigh in on spring practice, Jake Diebler’s future, women’s basketball season
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Ohio State fans weigh in on spring practice, Jake Diebler’s future, women’s basketball 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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buckeye Nation has had is say. Do you agree?
Before, during, and after the Ohio State football season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to ask and answer questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
As the calendar flips from February to March, we are in an interesting time in the college sports schedule. The women’s basketball team wraps up its regular season on Sunday with an eye on a deep NCAA Tournament run; football kicks off spring practice next Tuesday; and the men are still clinging to a wild, highly unlikely dream of making the tournament.
We wanted to take the temperature on how Buckeye Nation felt about these three programs heading into the new month. So earlier this week, we asked three questions in our latest fan survey, and the results are now in.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
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As I said in the survey article, the two offensive options were by far the most intriguing to me. While there are certainly going to be important changes happening on the defensive side of the ball, the offense needs the most improvement from 2023 and has the biggest additions in new coordinator and playcaller Chip Kelly and quarterback Will Howard.
Kelly has only been in Columbus for a few weeks, but seeing what his take on Ryan Day’s offense is will certainly be an important storyline this spring. Will it be more run-heavy, more uptempo, more five-wide focused?
Then, there is the man running the show on the field. Howard isn’t what I would consider an elite quarterback at Kansas State, but he showed signs on potential. How much will his running ability be called up in the new-look OSU offense? Will he be able to better distribute the ball to the Buckeye wide receivers than Kyle McCord did?
I’m not sure if all of these questions will be answered in the spring, but they are what will be at top of mind for me.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25311559/OhioState_2_022824.png)
I don’t know if Jake Diebler will want to return under a new Ohio State head coach, or if the future coach will want to keep him. But, in a vacuum, this is the option that I would be in favor of. The players clearly love him and play hard for him. He has been an integral part of the recruiting success that Chris Holtmann had toward the end of his tenure, and if by keeping him you are able to stave off a mass exodus for the transfer portal, then I think that is a positive.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25311560/OhioState_3_022824.png)
Having 85% of the Ohio State fandom following any team that isn’t football is a huge accomplishment and having it be a women’s sport is even more impressive. Kevin McGuff’s team is incredibly fun and should be a treat to watch throughout March and hopefully into April. If you aren’t following along already, there’s plenty of time to jump on the bandwagon. The more the merrier!
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buckeye Nation has had is say. Do you agree?
Before, during, and after the Ohio State football season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to ask and answer questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
As the calendar flips from February to March, we are in an interesting time in the college sports schedule. The women’s basketball team wraps up its regular season on Sunday with an eye on a deep NCAA Tournament run; football kicks off spring practice next Tuesday; and the men are still clinging to a wild, highly unlikely dream of making the tournament.
We wanted to take the temperature on how Buckeye Nation felt about these three programs heading into the new month. So earlier this week, we asked three questions in our latest fan survey, and the results are now in.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
Question 1: What are you most excited to watch during spring practice?
As I said in the survey article, the two offensive options were by far the most intriguing to me. While there are certainly going to be important changes happening on the defensive side of the ball, the offense needs the most improvement from 2023 and has the biggest additions in new coordinator and playcaller Chip Kelly and quarterback Will Howard.
Kelly has only been in Columbus for a few weeks, but seeing what his take on Ryan Day’s offense is will certainly be an important storyline this spring. Will it be more run-heavy, more uptempo, more five-wide focused?
Then, there is the man running the show on the field. Howard isn’t what I would consider an elite quarterback at Kansas State, but he showed signs on potential. How much will his running ability be called up in the new-look OSU offense? Will he be able to better distribute the ball to the Buckeye wide receivers than Kyle McCord did?
I’m not sure if all of these questions will be answered in the spring, but they are what will be at top of mind for me.
Question 2: What should Ohio State do with Jake Diebler?
I don’t know if Jake Diebler will want to return under a new Ohio State head coach, or if the future coach will want to keep him. But, in a vacuum, this is the option that I would be in favor of. The players clearly love him and play hard for him. He has been an integral part of the recruiting success that Chris Holtmann had toward the end of his tenure, and if by keeping him you are able to stave off a mass exodus for the transfer portal, then I think that is a positive.
Question 3: How plugged in are you to the women’s basketball team?
Having 85% of the Ohio State fandom following any team that isn’t football is a huge accomplishment and having it be a women’s sport is even more impressive. Kevin McGuff’s team is incredibly fun and should be a treat to watch throughout March and hopefully into April. If you aren’t following along already, there’s plenty of time to jump on the bandwagon. The more the merrier!
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL No rest for Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Iowa: It’s still personal
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No rest for Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Iowa: It’s still personal
ThomasCostello 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
With a chance to take it easy going into the Big Ten Tournament, Buckeyes hope to pick up where they left off, traveling to Iowa City
On Jan. 21, when Ohio State women’s basketball defeated the then No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes in Columbus, forward Cotie McMahon talked about a moment of disrespect that sat with the team. It was the kind of disrespect that revived what used to be the marquee Iowa vs. Ohio State women’s basketball rivalry that predated other universities beginning to care about the sport.
Sunday’s matchup between the two top-10 teams looked like a main event caliber game that the Big Ten schedule makers saw as a means to crown a champion with the winner of a single game. Because for weeks, the two teams were neck-and-neck.
That 100-92 victory over the Hawkeyes was one in a series of 15-straight victories for the Buckeyes. During that span, the Hawkeyes fell to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers. Those losses first made clinching a share of the title and then winning it outright all the more easy for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side.
Ohio State’s run is impressive enough to wipe away all of the competitive intrigue away from a game Sunday that, on paper, means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the standings in Big Ten basketball.
Off paper, the game still includes guard Caitlin Clark, who might be playing her final regular season home game in Iowa City on Sunday — if she opts to forego her extra season of eligibility. That alone has ticket prices starting at $491 to simply get in the door, a record for the sport.
So, does beating Iowa in your house, taking away its chance at a regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament wipe the slate clean? Is a matchup with the Hawkeyes still personal?
“Of course,” said McMahon following Wednesday’s win over the Michigan Wolverines. “We’ll just leave it at that.”
There are things to be upset about as an Ohio State player. Not only the response from the Hawkeyes in 2023 that McMahon referenced, but there’s also the end of the Jan. 21 game.
As the Buckeyes celebrated their season-shifting success against superstar guard Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the attention the team earned was overshadowed by a post-game incident. Clark and a person on the sideline collided as the person ran towards the crowd on the court to document the moment. It’s a moment that reignited discussions on court storming that reached new levels in the last week when it impacted the Duke Blue Devils men’s team.
Go back even further and March of 2023 featured an overwhelmingly one-sided game against the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa didn’t beat Ohio State as much as it embarrassed it, defeating the Scarlet and Gray 105-72.
Without knowing the specifics, there are a vast amount of options out there. Not even diving into the idea of a target being on Clark’s back for her Player of the Year-level abilities or a constant barrage of talking to referees by Clark when things don’t go the Hawkeyes way.
Regardless of why this game continues to be circled in the minds of Ohio State, when the Buckeyes travel to Carver Arena on Sunday, it won’t be considered part of a victory parade.
Ohio State gets Thursday off practice and then it's back to work on Friday, before a likely travel day on Saturday. Overall, the preparation, according to head coach Kevin McGuff, is no different. The goal is prepare on Friday and Saturday to win on Sunday. For the players, it’s more than preparation as usual.
“It’s just a game we want to win,” said McMahon. “Especially at Iowa.”
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With a chance to take it easy going into the Big Ten Tournament, Buckeyes hope to pick up where they left off, traveling to Iowa City
On Jan. 21, when Ohio State women’s basketball defeated the then No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes in Columbus, forward Cotie McMahon talked about a moment of disrespect that sat with the team. It was the kind of disrespect that revived what used to be the marquee Iowa vs. Ohio State women’s basketball rivalry that predated other universities beginning to care about the sport.
Sunday’s matchup between the two top-10 teams looked like a main event caliber game that the Big Ten schedule makers saw as a means to crown a champion with the winner of a single game. Because for weeks, the two teams were neck-and-neck.
That 100-92 victory over the Hawkeyes was one in a series of 15-straight victories for the Buckeyes. During that span, the Hawkeyes fell to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers. Those losses first made clinching a share of the title and then winning it outright all the more easy for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side.
Ohio State’s run is impressive enough to wipe away all of the competitive intrigue away from a game Sunday that, on paper, means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the standings in Big Ten basketball.
Off paper, the game still includes guard Caitlin Clark, who might be playing her final regular season home game in Iowa City on Sunday — if she opts to forego her extra season of eligibility. That alone has ticket prices starting at $491 to simply get in the door, a record for the sport.
So, does beating Iowa in your house, taking away its chance at a regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament wipe the slate clean? Is a matchup with the Hawkeyes still personal?
“Of course,” said McMahon following Wednesday’s win over the Michigan Wolverines. “We’ll just leave it at that.”
There are things to be upset about as an Ohio State player. Not only the response from the Hawkeyes in 2023 that McMahon referenced, but there’s also the end of the Jan. 21 game.
As the Buckeyes celebrated their season-shifting success against superstar guard Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the attention the team earned was overshadowed by a post-game incident. Clark and a person on the sideline collided as the person ran towards the crowd on the court to document the moment. It’s a moment that reignited discussions on court storming that reached new levels in the last week when it impacted the Duke Blue Devils men’s team.
Go back even further and March of 2023 featured an overwhelmingly one-sided game against the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa didn’t beat Ohio State as much as it embarrassed it, defeating the Scarlet and Gray 105-72.
Without knowing the specifics, there are a vast amount of options out there. Not even diving into the idea of a target being on Clark’s back for her Player of the Year-level abilities or a constant barrage of talking to referees by Clark when things don’t go the Hawkeyes way.
Regardless of why this game continues to be circled in the minds of Ohio State, when the Buckeyes travel to Carver Arena on Sunday, it won’t be considered part of a victory parade.
Ohio State gets Thursday off practice and then it's back to work on Friday, before a likely travel day on Saturday. Overall, the preparation, according to head coach Kevin McGuff, is no different. The goal is prepare on Friday and Saturday to win on Sunday. For the players, it’s more than preparation as usual.
“It’s just a game we want to win,” said McMahon. “Especially at Iowa.”
Continue reading...
LGHL Why linebacker is actually Ohio State football’s most intriguing spring practice position battle
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Why linebacker is actually Ohio State football’s most intriguing spring practice position battle
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have plenty of talent at the LB position but very little experience... Both on the field and on the sideline.
When fans, media types, etc. talk about the most important player(s)/position(s) on a football field or team – at least in terms of affecting a game’s outcome – linebacker is rarely mentioned near the top of anyone’s list.
Linebackers tend to get recognized or ridiculed as one of the reasons that Team A or Team B struggled and/or lost, but receive little (if any) credit when their team comes out on top. Sure, the Ray Lewis’ of the world get plenty of love, but few view even the best linebackers as franchise players or super impactful game-changers.
Look no further than Ohio State’s last national championship team for evidence of this: Middle linebacker Joshua Perry led the 2014 Buckeyes in tackles with 124, however, his name is rarely (if ever) mentioned among the top five players or “heroes” on/for that championship-winning squad. One is far more likely to hear Zeke, Cardale, J.T., Bosa, or Bell.
There is also a case to be made for Darron Lee (a LB), but that kind of supports my argument, doesn’t it? Perry had 33 more stops than Bell, OSU’s second-leading tackler, yet his name does not seem to be held in the same reverence as the group above.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25310383/usa_today_8882522.jpg)
Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports
**I acknowledge that most diehards do remember Perry quite fondly, but you get my point, right? Let’s at least agree that the No. 37 jersey was not exactly a top-seller during his tremendous career.
My general point here is that I think linebackers are perpetually underappreciated and/or undervalued. And with that being said, I wish to make a case that Ohio State’s LB position battle will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the team’s upcoming spring practice session(s). Humor me, won’t you?
Surely, Will Howard’s development at quarterback is or eventually will be the top story in Columbus, specifically pertaining to OSU football. But I believe that the team’s LB battle – specifically LB2, next to Cody Simon – should not be far behind. Because not only are the Buckeyes tasked with replacing two experienced starters in Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, but they are also being tasked to do so with a first-time full-time position coach and a very shallow depth pool from which to choose players.
And while some might minimize the impact of the LB position, I happen to think that having two guys in the middle of the field, both of whom know what they’re seeing and what they’re doing, is pretty damn important.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25311026/1702765596.jpg)
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Right now, the Buckeyes essentially have two similar groups of players to choose from — who could, or I guess will, eventually fill the vacant LB role (or roles, you never know): Those with little experience and those with none.... Less than ideal, right?
The frontrunner for the spot opposite Simon seems to be third-year athletic marvel Sonny Styles, however, there is the teeny, tiny, little issue of him (Styles) currently being listed as a safety. That, and Ohio State coaches have been anything but committal when asked about moving Styles to LB on a regular or full-time basis. So sure, Styles as LB2 sounds great in theory. But in reality, and as of Feb 29, he is a safety with very few reps at anything resembling the LB position.
Another third-year player who has been mentioned as a potential starting LB for the Buckeyes is Ohio’s top-ranked player from the Class of 2022, C.J. Hicks. An actual, natural LB, Hicks was rated as the No. 2 player at his position coming out of high school, and many people just assumed that he was destined to become a star in Columbus. But through two seasons, Hicks has done little to inspire confidence.
That is not to say the Dayton native deserves any sort of criticism, though. Unfortunately for Hicks, he has been LB4, 5, or 6 on a depth chart that is rarely utilized beyond No. 3. Eichenberg, Chambers, and Simon monopolized snaps at the position for the past two seasons, leaving only scraps for Hicks and others. And when the latter did see the field (rarely), he looked raw, green, out of position, flat-footed, you name it. That’s what happens when a player gets a handful of game reps once a month!
Others vying for a LB role include Kourt Williams, Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese, and possibly even Garrett Stover. Which means we’re talking about a fifth-year player who has unfortunately never been able to stay healthy, a third-year player with even fewer competitive reps than Hicks, a hybrid athlete who may or may not even play LB, and a true freshman. So, like, how is the LB not wildly intriguing!?
If I wanted to, I could argue that things at the position appear downright bleak... Now I won’t, because I happen to have a great deal of faith in both Styles and Hicks, as well as new LB coach James Laurinaitis. But what I will do is point out that anyone who looks at this position group with anything less than curiosity and/or intrigue is living in a fantasy world. We are are truly entering the great unknown here, folks!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25295724/usa_today_21934629.jpg)
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Laurinaitis’ status as a first-time position coach certainly adds to the intrigue, but he basically occupied the role last year, while also having other responsibilities. So I'm not really worried about that. However, I would be lying if I said that Styles, Hicks, and/or any of the others are a sure thing. They’re not. Otherwise, this position battle would not be so damn interesting.
Good ‘backers go unnoticed, while the bad ones stick out like a sore thumb. And OSU fans have seen both play in The Shoe. Those who underperform face a great deal of criticism, and there is absolutely a future scenario in which Styles, Hicks, etc. are forced to do the same. They could hear boos from their homes fans or receive stupid, ignorant messages via social media. I would never wish that upon any Buckeye, but that’s just sort of the world we all live in.
Foolishness aside, my hope is that these guys at linebacker just play out of their collective minds. But it is the furthest thing from a guarantee, which is why I cannot wait to start following the position battle in less than a week’s time. Finding out the favorite to start at right tackle or tight end is great, but I would much rather see or hear about the next Ryan Shazier.
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have plenty of talent at the LB position but very little experience... Both on the field and on the sideline.
When fans, media types, etc. talk about the most important player(s)/position(s) on a football field or team – at least in terms of affecting a game’s outcome – linebacker is rarely mentioned near the top of anyone’s list.
Linebackers tend to get recognized or ridiculed as one of the reasons that Team A or Team B struggled and/or lost, but receive little (if any) credit when their team comes out on top. Sure, the Ray Lewis’ of the world get plenty of love, but few view even the best linebackers as franchise players or super impactful game-changers.
Look no further than Ohio State’s last national championship team for evidence of this: Middle linebacker Joshua Perry led the 2014 Buckeyes in tackles with 124, however, his name is rarely (if ever) mentioned among the top five players or “heroes” on/for that championship-winning squad. One is far more likely to hear Zeke, Cardale, J.T., Bosa, or Bell.
There is also a case to be made for Darron Lee (a LB), but that kind of supports my argument, doesn’t it? Perry had 33 more stops than Bell, OSU’s second-leading tackler, yet his name does not seem to be held in the same reverence as the group above.
**I acknowledge that most diehards do remember Perry quite fondly, but you get my point, right? Let’s at least agree that the No. 37 jersey was not exactly a top-seller during his tremendous career.
My general point here is that I think linebackers are perpetually underappreciated and/or undervalued. And with that being said, I wish to make a case that Ohio State’s LB position battle will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the team’s upcoming spring practice session(s). Humor me, won’t you?
Surely, Will Howard’s development at quarterback is or eventually will be the top story in Columbus, specifically pertaining to OSU football. But I believe that the team’s LB battle – specifically LB2, next to Cody Simon – should not be far behind. Because not only are the Buckeyes tasked with replacing two experienced starters in Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, but they are also being tasked to do so with a first-time full-time position coach and a very shallow depth pool from which to choose players.
And while some might minimize the impact of the LB position, I happen to think that having two guys in the middle of the field, both of whom know what they’re seeing and what they’re doing, is pretty damn important.
Right now, the Buckeyes essentially have two similar groups of players to choose from — who could, or I guess will, eventually fill the vacant LB role (or roles, you never know): Those with little experience and those with none.... Less than ideal, right?
The frontrunner for the spot opposite Simon seems to be third-year athletic marvel Sonny Styles, however, there is the teeny, tiny, little issue of him (Styles) currently being listed as a safety. That, and Ohio State coaches have been anything but committal when asked about moving Styles to LB on a regular or full-time basis. So sure, Styles as LB2 sounds great in theory. But in reality, and as of Feb 29, he is a safety with very few reps at anything resembling the LB position.
Another third-year player who has been mentioned as a potential starting LB for the Buckeyes is Ohio’s top-ranked player from the Class of 2022, C.J. Hicks. An actual, natural LB, Hicks was rated as the No. 2 player at his position coming out of high school, and many people just assumed that he was destined to become a star in Columbus. But through two seasons, Hicks has done little to inspire confidence.
That is not to say the Dayton native deserves any sort of criticism, though. Unfortunately for Hicks, he has been LB4, 5, or 6 on a depth chart that is rarely utilized beyond No. 3. Eichenberg, Chambers, and Simon monopolized snaps at the position for the past two seasons, leaving only scraps for Hicks and others. And when the latter did see the field (rarely), he looked raw, green, out of position, flat-footed, you name it. That’s what happens when a player gets a handful of game reps once a month!
Others vying for a LB role include Kourt Williams, Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese, and possibly even Garrett Stover. Which means we’re talking about a fifth-year player who has unfortunately never been able to stay healthy, a third-year player with even fewer competitive reps than Hicks, a hybrid athlete who may or may not even play LB, and a true freshman. So, like, how is the LB not wildly intriguing!?
If I wanted to, I could argue that things at the position appear downright bleak... Now I won’t, because I happen to have a great deal of faith in both Styles and Hicks, as well as new LB coach James Laurinaitis. But what I will do is point out that anyone who looks at this position group with anything less than curiosity and/or intrigue is living in a fantasy world. We are are truly entering the great unknown here, folks!
Laurinaitis’ status as a first-time position coach certainly adds to the intrigue, but he basically occupied the role last year, while also having other responsibilities. So I'm not really worried about that. However, I would be lying if I said that Styles, Hicks, and/or any of the others are a sure thing. They’re not. Otherwise, this position battle would not be so damn interesting.
Good ‘backers go unnoticed, while the bad ones stick out like a sore thumb. And OSU fans have seen both play in The Shoe. Those who underperform face a great deal of criticism, and there is absolutely a future scenario in which Styles, Hicks, etc. are forced to do the same. They could hear boos from their homes fans or receive stupid, ignorant messages via social media. I would never wish that upon any Buckeye, but that’s just sort of the world we all live in.
Foolishness aside, my hope is that these guys at linebacker just play out of their collective minds. But it is the furthest thing from a guarantee, which is why I cannot wait to start following the position battle in less than a week’s time. Finding out the favorite to start at right tackle or tight end is great, but I would much rather see or hear about the next Ryan Shazier.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Is Ohio State back in the NCAA Tournament conversation?
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Bucketheads Podcast: Is Ohio State back in the NCAA Tournament conversation?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
We discuss what the Buckeyes have to do to make the NCAA Tournament and have another coaching conversation.
“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 107 of Bucketheads, The Ohio State men’s basketball team is back. Connor and Justin break down the Dale Bonner shot, and the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State.
Now, the important question arises: How can the Buckeyes play their way into the NCAA Tournament? And is that even a realistic possibility?
We also talk about coaches and whether or not Jake Diebler has a legitimate shot to be the next head coach. And who do we want to get the job? It looks like Greg McDermott might be out, so who is on the list?
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
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
Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
We discuss what the Buckeyes have to do to make the NCAA Tournament and have another coaching conversation.
“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 107 of Bucketheads, The Ohio State men’s basketball team is back. Connor and Justin break down the Dale Bonner shot, and the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State.
Now, the important question arises: How can the Buckeyes play their way into the NCAA Tournament? And is that even a realistic possibility?
We also talk about coaches and whether or not Jake Diebler has a legitimate shot to be the next head coach. And who do we want to get the job? It looks like Greg McDermott might be out, so who is on the list?
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
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball wins outright B1G title, defeats Michigan 67-51
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No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball wins outright B1G title, defeats Michigan 67-51
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
The Buckeyes win its ninth outright regular season conference title, beating the Wolverines in the process
The mission for Ohio State women’s basketball Wednesday night was simple: Beat the Michigan Wolverines and lock up an outright Big Ten regular season title. Those Wolverines, the only team to beat the Buckeyes on the conference calendar, had a goal themselves, to strengthen its resume for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State avenged its Dec. 30 loss to the Wolverines, locking up its 16th conference title and ninth outright title, beating Michigan 67-51 victory.
Right out of the gate, which was again delayed by leftover confetti from last week’s Drake concerts, Ohio State was pushing its agenda.
After winning the tip, the Buckeyes got out to a quick 4-0 lead, until Michigan forward Elissa Brett poked the ball out of the hands of forward Rebeka Mikulášiková, going on the fast break. As the Maize and Blue forward went up for what she thought was an easy layup, Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor swatted the ball out of bounds.
Michigan would respond offensively, as both teams took turns making baskets. Adding to the highlights of the first quarter, guard Jacy Sheldon showed the hustle that’s made her a fan favorite for five seasons. Off a missed corner three-point shot, Sheldon ran up to knock the ball out of a Michigan rebounder’s hands, leap out of bounds to save the ball from going out and getting it to the hands of forward Taylor Thierry who hit a reverse layup under the basket.
In the final five minutes of the quarter, the fast offensive start of the game slowed a bit, with both teams combining for three total baskets. Of the three, Ohio State hit two, taking a 13-9 lead into the second quarter. Although foul trouble showed its head again.
Receiving the fouls weren’t any Buckeye starters, but two role-players off the bench. Guard Rikki Harris and forward Taiyier Parks each picked up two fouls in three minutes on the court. The latter was worrying for Ohio State with forward Eboni Walker listed as out for the game, and not in the arena.
The second quarter, the Buckeyes started separating themselves from the visiting rivals. Michigan hit one of its first six shots of the quarter, forcing four quick turnovers. Offensively, Ohio State was exploiting its own recent form from beyond the arc. With five players who are capable of shooting from deep, once Wolverine defenders closed in, the Buckeyes didn’t shoot or pass. Instead, they ran to the basket.
Ohio State increased its first half lead to nearly double-digits, but Michigan fought back. Out of the second quarter media timeout, the Wolverines went on a 10-point run, turning an eight-point deficit into a two-point lead.
In the pendulum swing in the visitor’s favor, Ohio State missed all four of its attempted shots and gave the ball away three times before head coach Kevin McGuff called a timeout. A timeout 48.8 seconds away from halftime.
Out of the timeout, forward Cotie McMahon hit a layup to tie the game, and that's where things stood entering halftime locked at 22-22.
The Wolverines made shooting difficult in the second quarter. Outside of forcing six turnovers from the Buckeyes, the Michigan defense didn’t give anyone space when they took the ball into the paint, making Ohio State shoot midrange and long-range attempts. The 4-for-13 shooting performance let the Wolverines flip the first quarter score, outscoring the Scarlet and Gray 13-9.
Hurting the Buckeyes especially was the play of Wolverines bench forward Cameron Williams. The forward hurt Ohio State in the paint, leading the visitors with six points. In the second half. Williams returned to the game and the Buckeyes showed halftime adjustments.
When Williams got the ball, a second Ohio State player joined to defend, making Williams either take a tough shot or find a teammate for something outside of the paint. Improved defense and forcing three turnovers in the first two and a half minutes of the second half put the home side back on top, starting the quarter with six unanswered points.
Also, Sheldon found a deep shooting stroke. Hitting two in the first half of the third quarter put the Buckeyes back up seven points with a quarter and a half remaining sitting between Ohio State and a title celebration at home.
Michigan hoped for a similar swing in their direction following a timeout, but it continued to be the Buckeyes turning the screw. McMahon hit a layup on the inbound pass, with Taylor following up with her first made three-point shot of the game. That three put Ohio State up double-digits for the first time. By the time the 10-point Buckeyes run was over, the home side had a 14-point lead on the Maize and Blue.
The visitors almost cut the lead back down to 10 quickly, if not for a tough moment for Michigan’s Lauren Hansen. Intercepting the pass and going on a clear fast break, Hansen went up for a layup that rolled off the rim, into the hands of Sheldon who was fouled in the process.
That gave the home side the bonus for the remaining 2:38 of the quarter. The Wolverines kept the chess game going, making its own moves to right the ship. How they did it was by mimicking passes to the basket and then finding open guards on the wing.
Ohio State gave up a three-point shot to cut its lead to nine points, with two seconds remaining, Harris stole the ball, it got to Sheldon and the graduate senior hit a layup right before the sound of the buzzer. It gave the Buckeyes an 11-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.
In the fourth, the defensive pressure continued for the home side. In the first two minutes, Ohio State forced two more turnovers, up to 22 with eight minutes remaining of the game. The Buckeyes turned those turnovers into six of the first eight points scored in the quarter. It increased Coach McGuff’s side’s lead to 15 points.
The Buckeyes eventually helped the Wolverines hit a new season record in turnovers, and Ohio State didn’t relent. Turnovers continued to go the Buckeyes’ way but fouls reared their ugly head.
Issues with keeping a forward in the game became real with Parks and Mikulášiková each earning four fouls with half the fourth quarter remaining. Plus, a Parks foul was Ohio State’s fifth, putting Michigan in the bonus.
Even with the extra trips to the line, the Buckeyes held onto its lead, and with it the outright Big Ten regular season championship, 67-51.
Leading the way for Coach McGuff was Sheldon. Playing her final regular season game at home, the guard scored a team high 22 points, including four shots from deep.
Following the game, as fireworks popped inside the stadium, and scarlet and gray confetti shot through the air, the Buckeyes celebrated on the court with coaches and family. Each player taking a turn climbing up the ladder to cut down a piece of the net. At the end, Coach McGuff cutting the entire net down and swinging it around, exciting the crowd of over a thousand who stuck around to watch the celebrations.
Against Michigan on Dec. 30, Sheldon and McMahon scored a combined 12 points in the 69-60 win over the Wolverines. Wednesday night, the pair accounted for 40 of the Buckeyes’ 67 points.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25310784/2038749988.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 28 Women’s - Michigan at Ohio State")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was a far cry from the performance that left the Scarlet and Gray soul searching at the end of the 2023 calendar. Now, 15 games later, the Buckeyes lift a regular season title thanks to not only the star pair, but a game where seemingly every Ohio State player who saw the court left an impact.
After celebrating on the court for over 30 minutes, Ohio State regrouped in the locker room. In the usual tradition of awarding a “dub chain” performance after each win, McGuff changed things around, applauding that team performance.
In the last 15 games, the Buckeyes beat everyone in its path. That includes ranked teams like the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers, and multiple games against teams in the top half of the standings, like the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins.
For all the success and accolades given to the side, Sheldon said something after the game that should scare some opponents.
“I don’t even think we’ve played our best 40 minutes yet, which is pretty exciting.”
The graduate senior forward wasn’t on the bench for the end of Ohio State’s win over the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday. That absence continued Wednesday night, when Walker was listed as “out” on the availability report and wasn’t seen on the bench for the Buckeyes.
After the game, Coach McGuff addressed her absence.
“She’s currently away from the team. There’s no certainty about her status moving forward.”
A response without specificity, but still carries weight on the chances of Walker returning to the court this season.
The Buckeyes have one more game left of the regular season, and it’s a big one. Coach McGuff’s side travels to Iowa City, Iowa to face the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes. Last time out, the Scarlet and Gray welcomed the Hawkeyes to the Schottenstein Center and came back from 12 points down to defeat Iowa 100-92.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
The Buckeyes win its ninth outright regular season conference title, beating the Wolverines in the process
The mission for Ohio State women’s basketball Wednesday night was simple: Beat the Michigan Wolverines and lock up an outright Big Ten regular season title. Those Wolverines, the only team to beat the Buckeyes on the conference calendar, had a goal themselves, to strengthen its resume for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State avenged its Dec. 30 loss to the Wolverines, locking up its 16th conference title and ninth outright title, beating Michigan 67-51 victory.
Right out of the gate, which was again delayed by leftover confetti from last week’s Drake concerts, Ohio State was pushing its agenda.
After winning the tip, the Buckeyes got out to a quick 4-0 lead, until Michigan forward Elissa Brett poked the ball out of the hands of forward Rebeka Mikulášiková, going on the fast break. As the Maize and Blue forward went up for what she thought was an easy layup, Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor swatted the ball out of bounds.
Michigan would respond offensively, as both teams took turns making baskets. Adding to the highlights of the first quarter, guard Jacy Sheldon showed the hustle that’s made her a fan favorite for five seasons. Off a missed corner three-point shot, Sheldon ran up to knock the ball out of a Michigan rebounder’s hands, leap out of bounds to save the ball from going out and getting it to the hands of forward Taylor Thierry who hit a reverse layup under the basket.
In the final five minutes of the quarter, the fast offensive start of the game slowed a bit, with both teams combining for three total baskets. Of the three, Ohio State hit two, taking a 13-9 lead into the second quarter. Although foul trouble showed its head again.
Receiving the fouls weren’t any Buckeye starters, but two role-players off the bench. Guard Rikki Harris and forward Taiyier Parks each picked up two fouls in three minutes on the court. The latter was worrying for Ohio State with forward Eboni Walker listed as out for the game, and not in the arena.
The second quarter, the Buckeyes started separating themselves from the visiting rivals. Michigan hit one of its first six shots of the quarter, forcing four quick turnovers. Offensively, Ohio State was exploiting its own recent form from beyond the arc. With five players who are capable of shooting from deep, once Wolverine defenders closed in, the Buckeyes didn’t shoot or pass. Instead, they ran to the basket.
Ohio State increased its first half lead to nearly double-digits, but Michigan fought back. Out of the second quarter media timeout, the Wolverines went on a 10-point run, turning an eight-point deficit into a two-point lead.
In the pendulum swing in the visitor’s favor, Ohio State missed all four of its attempted shots and gave the ball away three times before head coach Kevin McGuff called a timeout. A timeout 48.8 seconds away from halftime.
Out of the timeout, forward Cotie McMahon hit a layup to tie the game, and that's where things stood entering halftime locked at 22-22.
The Wolverines made shooting difficult in the second quarter. Outside of forcing six turnovers from the Buckeyes, the Michigan defense didn’t give anyone space when they took the ball into the paint, making Ohio State shoot midrange and long-range attempts. The 4-for-13 shooting performance let the Wolverines flip the first quarter score, outscoring the Scarlet and Gray 13-9.
Hurting the Buckeyes especially was the play of Wolverines bench forward Cameron Williams. The forward hurt Ohio State in the paint, leading the visitors with six points. In the second half. Williams returned to the game and the Buckeyes showed halftime adjustments.
When Williams got the ball, a second Ohio State player joined to defend, making Williams either take a tough shot or find a teammate for something outside of the paint. Improved defense and forcing three turnovers in the first two and a half minutes of the second half put the home side back on top, starting the quarter with six unanswered points.
Also, Sheldon found a deep shooting stroke. Hitting two in the first half of the third quarter put the Buckeyes back up seven points with a quarter and a half remaining sitting between Ohio State and a title celebration at home.
Michigan hoped for a similar swing in their direction following a timeout, but it continued to be the Buckeyes turning the screw. McMahon hit a layup on the inbound pass, with Taylor following up with her first made three-point shot of the game. That three put Ohio State up double-digits for the first time. By the time the 10-point Buckeyes run was over, the home side had a 14-point lead on the Maize and Blue.
The visitors almost cut the lead back down to 10 quickly, if not for a tough moment for Michigan’s Lauren Hansen. Intercepting the pass and going on a clear fast break, Hansen went up for a layup that rolled off the rim, into the hands of Sheldon who was fouled in the process.
That gave the home side the bonus for the remaining 2:38 of the quarter. The Wolverines kept the chess game going, making its own moves to right the ship. How they did it was by mimicking passes to the basket and then finding open guards on the wing.
Ohio State gave up a three-point shot to cut its lead to nine points, with two seconds remaining, Harris stole the ball, it got to Sheldon and the graduate senior hit a layup right before the sound of the buzzer. It gave the Buckeyes an 11-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.
In the fourth, the defensive pressure continued for the home side. In the first two minutes, Ohio State forced two more turnovers, up to 22 with eight minutes remaining of the game. The Buckeyes turned those turnovers into six of the first eight points scored in the quarter. It increased Coach McGuff’s side’s lead to 15 points.
The Buckeyes eventually helped the Wolverines hit a new season record in turnovers, and Ohio State didn’t relent. Turnovers continued to go the Buckeyes’ way but fouls reared their ugly head.
Issues with keeping a forward in the game became real with Parks and Mikulášiková each earning four fouls with half the fourth quarter remaining. Plus, a Parks foul was Ohio State’s fifth, putting Michigan in the bonus.
Even with the extra trips to the line, the Buckeyes held onto its lead, and with it the outright Big Ten regular season championship, 67-51.
Leading the way for Coach McGuff was Sheldon. Playing her final regular season game at home, the guard scored a team high 22 points, including four shots from deep.
Non-Drake Confetti
Following the game, as fireworks popped inside the stadium, and scarlet and gray confetti shot through the air, the Buckeyes celebrated on the court with coaches and family. Each player taking a turn climbing up the ladder to cut down a piece of the net. At the end, Coach McGuff cutting the entire net down and swinging it around, exciting the crowd of over a thousand who stuck around to watch the celebrations.
McMahon and Sheldon Excellence
Against Michigan on Dec. 30, Sheldon and McMahon scored a combined 12 points in the 69-60 win over the Wolverines. Wednesday night, the pair accounted for 40 of the Buckeyes’ 67 points.
It was a far cry from the performance that left the Scarlet and Gray soul searching at the end of the 2023 calendar. Now, 15 games later, the Buckeyes lift a regular season title thanks to not only the star pair, but a game where seemingly every Ohio State player who saw the court left an impact.
No Dub Chain Winner
After celebrating on the court for over 30 minutes, Ohio State regrouped in the locker room. In the usual tradition of awarding a “dub chain” performance after each win, McGuff changed things around, applauding that team performance.
Still Not at its Peak
In the last 15 games, the Buckeyes beat everyone in its path. That includes ranked teams like the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers, and multiple games against teams in the top half of the standings, like the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins.
For all the success and accolades given to the side, Sheldon said something after the game that should scare some opponents.
“I don’t even think we’ve played our best 40 minutes yet, which is pretty exciting.”
Eboni Walker Absence
The graduate senior forward wasn’t on the bench for the end of Ohio State’s win over the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday. That absence continued Wednesday night, when Walker was listed as “out” on the availability report and wasn’t seen on the bench for the Buckeyes.
After the game, Coach McGuff addressed her absence.
“She’s currently away from the team. There’s no certainty about her status moving forward.”
A response without specificity, but still carries weight on the chances of Walker returning to the court this season.
What’s Next
The Buckeyes have one more game left of the regular season, and it’s a big one. Coach McGuff’s side travels to Iowa City, Iowa to face the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes. Last time out, the Scarlet and Gray welcomed the Hawkeyes to the Schottenstein Center and came back from 12 points down to defeat Iowa 100-92.
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