Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for February 10, 2023
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

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

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For your Earholes...​

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

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On the Gridiron​

Former Ohio State wide receiver Dimitrious Stanley dies at age 48
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

An Appreciation: Friends recall life and times of ex-Buckeye Dimitrious Stanley
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

My heart is shattered. Best friend/brother Dimitrious Stanley has passed after an incredibly courageous battle against prostate cancer. There will never be another like him. I am forever grateful for being gifted this guy into my life. #BuckeyeGreat #RIP3 pic.twitter.com/jAGt3tNZ3U

— Anthony Rothman (@AnthonyRothman) February 9, 2023

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Nick Bosa, Garrett Wilson honored for 2023 NFL seasons
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Garrett Wilson praises Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of 2023 NFL draft
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State NIL collectives The Foundation, O Foundation announce merger
Pete Nakos, Lettermen Row

BREAKING NEWS:

MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT!

THE Foundation and The O Foundation, two top collectives supporting @OhioStateFB and @OhioStateHoops have come to an agreement to join forces and merge! Both of these groups are "team players" and are supporting the same cause, with ONLY… https://t.co/xut7eB8WnK pic.twitter.com/XYKyY6JZah

— THE Foundation (@TheFoundation1_) February 9, 2023

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Key takeaways: Tony Alford, running backs put frustrating 2022 behind them (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Roster Reset: Buckeyes cornerback room has pieces to reclaim ‘BIA’ status (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Key Takeaways as Tim Walton retools, revitalizes cornerbacks (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Tristan Gebbia offers a blueprint for how Ohio State can keep its quarterback room full
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

Teams that signed the highest percentage of 2023 Blue-Chip recruits https://t.co/8o0XWiZwqr pic.twitter.com/6Ok76FQc01

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 9, 2023

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What does Ohio State’s defense need to do to make a championship leap under Jim Knowles? (paywall)
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic

Former Ohio State football players Amir Riep, Jahsen Wint found not guilty of rape and kidnapping charges
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

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On the Hardwood​

Northwestern slips past Ohio State in back-and-forth affair, 69-63
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

What enabled Northwestern to pull away from Ohio State?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State Keeps Finding New Ways to Lose During Stretch of 10 Losses in 11 Games
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Media puts Chris Holtmann on hot seat after Ohio State’s loss to Northwestern
Brad Crawford, Bucknuts


Chris Holtmann on Brice Sensabaugh’s Reduced Role Against Northwestern: “It Just Was the Rotation”
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Column: Ohio State’s season comes down to a matchup against Northwestern. If they lose, there is nothing left to salvage
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

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Outside the Shoe and Schott​

Column: Ohio State and Columbus are missing out on some fun outdoor hockey events
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Men’s Tennis: No. 1 Buckeyes Comeback to Top No. 9 Wake Forest 4-3
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Volleyball: No. 11 Buckeyes Start MIVA Season With 3-1 Win
Ohio State Athletics

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And now for something completely different...​

IYKYK

@leamichele

♬ original sound - leamichele

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Buck Off Podcast: Buckeyes at NFL Awards, Super Bowl preview, and why the Pac-12 is the worst
Chris Renne 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 guys are back to discuss everything you need for Super Bowl weekend, as well as other news from the week.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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

On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to get into everything around the sports world this week and then some.

We start the episode with a discussion about the Buckeyes at the NFL awards, including Garrett Wilson, Nick Bosa and more. This leads to a trip down memory lane discussing the differing skillsets of Chris Olave and Wilson, and their memorable rookie seasons. Then we discuss the Bosa Brothers’ tale of two seasons. And this turns into a discussion about getting into someone’s head.

After that our nostalgia kicks in and we discuss LeBron James and our favorite video game memories from childhood. We talk about the scoring record of LeBron and how it was such a big sports moment that needed even more appreciation. This leads to a conversation about the NCAA basketball video games and how we can’t wait for the next college football video game.

Then our conversation turns to our Super Bowl preview, and you have one host on each side of the matchup. We debate who will win, favorite non-football Super Bowl activities to make the game more interesting (hint: betting), and then we make our picks for the game.

Continuing on with the show, we discuss the current media news in Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 a year early as well as how far down the Pac-12 has fallen. In both conversations there is a lot of talks about future failures and how bad the situations for all three will be in a few years.

To close out the show, we give our final thoughts about the best Super Bowl food and what we’re doing this weekend for the bIg game.

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Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Buckeyes make the top six for a 2024 running back target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Plus, Ohio State continues to send out new offers in future cycles.

With Ohio State’s players doing winter workouts in preparation of spring football in the coming months, the effort is being put in place to ensure the 2023 campaign finishes better than this past year. In the same manner the players are working, the staff is putting in the hours on the recruiting trail, and that was evident again on Thursday as a couple of headlines came about in regard to Buckeye football recruiting.

2025 defensive lineman earns Buckeye offer​

The Buckeyes were once again active on Thursday, sending out a new offer to another defensive line prospect. Showing the time is now for evaluations and offers to go out, position coach Larry Johnson is a little quicker on the offers it seems in these next couple of cycles, and that only benefits Ohio State as more time to build lasting relationships always helps in recruiting efforts.

The next in line to see Ohio State offer, class of 2025 product Amare Adams took to Twitter to share the latest news. A 6-foot-3, 275 pound defensive tackle from South Carolina, Adams currently holds just under double-digit offers to his name, but with schools such as Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida State, and now Ohio State in the mix this early on certainly shows the type of player he is now and is expected to be at the next level.

The No. 46 player nationally, Adams checks in as the sixth best player at his position and the top player in his home state for the 2025 class per 247Sports. There is one prediction in favor of South Carolina on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but only one submission this early isn’t a guarantee by any means. More top programs are sure to be next in line to offer Amare, but with the Buckeyes now in the fold, the communication from Johnson will really start to pick up as they look to be a real threat in this recruitment for the long haul.

Blessed to receive another offer from Ohio State University!!! @R2X_Rushmen1 @OhioStateFB @CoachBake99 @CoachEstepLCHS @coachap21 @Coach_Stan3 ️️ pic.twitter.com/yxP7aLNZb9

— Amare Adams (@AmareAdams7) February 9, 2023

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2024 running back names a top schools list​

What Ohio State is going to do at the running back position in the 2024 class is pretty critical. Without signing a running back in 2023, the Buckeyes are fine thanks to their elite depth already on the roster, but you definitely need a running back in 2024 — and possibly even two.

There’s multiple options out there, and with the in-state Ohio targets such as Jordan Marshall receiving most of the early attention, it may seem like the plan is already in place. However, there’s other candidates out there who are just as interested in the Buckeyes, and that was shown to be true again on Thursday.

Trimming his recruitment down a bit and cutting the list to a top six schools, Texas native James Peoples announced via Twitter the next major step in his recruitment. The No. 76 player nationally, James is also the sixth best running back in the class and the 11th best player in Texas for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. An obvious home run for any program who lands him, Ohio State would love to continue being a real player for his commitment, and the good news yesterday was they still remain in the running.

Rounding out the six final schools included TCU, Alabama, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. With over 20 offers to his name, getting to six shows he is going through the process pretty seriously. Right now, the schools listed as “warm” on his 247Sports profile are Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas, but from his own doing, the three others are very much still in it.

Peoples is one to watch very closely over the next couple of months, as this process with Ohio State and their running back needs begin to sort itself out.

#AGTG Beyond blessed to be in this position, I am now down to MY FINAL 6 Schools!!!

@Bill Kurelic @JamesCrepea @SWiltfong247 @ParkerThune@BHoward 11 @247Hudson@Fhall565Hall @InsideTexas@BrandonDrumm247
@RTRnews@NebraskaOnBTN @JClarkHFB247 @JamesCrepea pic.twitter.com/5C71XvrBLt

— James (@James_peoples17) February 9, 2023

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Quick Hits​

• Uniforms, facilities, NIL, winning, and more are all major aspects of recruiting and what is desired by prep players, but maybe is nothing as important as a program’s ability to develop and get guys to the NFL.

Last night, the Buckeyes notched another feather in their cap with the NFL Awards, as Ohio State products took home two of the crowns. Much like the Draft success, Ohio State players are excelling on Sundays, and seeing both Nick Bosa as AP Defensive Player of the Year and Garrett Wilson as Offensive Rookie of the Year did wonders for the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts.

3 awards, 2 buckeyes so far #DevelopedHere #NFLHonors

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) February 10, 2023

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• Missed from earlier this week, Ohio State also extended another offer to class of 2026 defensive lineman, Tony Cumberland. Without a ranking strictly due to his class status, it’s only a matter of time before he’s one of the more well-known and highly ranked players in his cycle, as he already holds offers from the likes of Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, and now Ohio State.

Extremely excited to announce that I have received my 6th D1 offer from Ohio State University @CoachhZoe @DMWolvesFB @coachconrad41 pic.twitter.com/LFlDfbit95

— Tony Cumberland (@tony_cumberland) February 8, 2023

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Northwestern slips past Ohio State in back-and-forth affair, 69-63
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 finally got a really good game out of Justice Sueing, but even that was not enough to stop the misery.

With fewer than 10 games remaining in the season and the losses piling up, time is running out for Ohio State (11-13, 3-10) to scrape together enough wins to have a chance at competing in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time under head coach Chris Holtmann.

A season that began with hopes of winning a Big Ten title — or at least competing for one — are long game. The Buckeyes are now playing for their tournament lives, and even if they do go on a late run this season, the odds still are not good. Ohio State entered tonight’s game against Northwestern with nine conference losses, which is a number that would get them in the NCAA Tournament if it held and OSU won each of their final eight games.

But things went similarly to how they’ve gone over the past month-plus — badly. Northwestern avenged their New Year’s Day loss to the Buckeyes, winning 69-63 Thursday night in Columbus.

Ohio State rolled with a lineup of Bruce Thornton, Sean McNeil, Justice Sueing, Isaac Likekele, and Zed Key. Chris Collins countered with a starting five of Boo Buie, Ty Berry, Chase Audige, Robbie Beran, and Matt Nicholson.

Unlike each of the last two games, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead instead of falling behind right from the get-go. Thanks to five quick points from Key, the Buckeyes held a 9-6 lead by the first media timeout 5:19 into the game. The Buckeyes’ first nine points of the game all came in the paint, with Likekele and Felix Okpara also scoring.

ZED KEY!! Throwin' it down! @iamzedkey x @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/q0HOjCnavE

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 10, 2023

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Northwestern “battled” —if you want to call it that — to a 17-15 lead at the under-eight media timeout with 7:40 remaining in the first half. Both teams were barely shooting 40% from the floor over the first 12 or so minutes, and the two teams also combined for eight turnovers by this point. Had Ohio State not missed each of their first seven three-pointers, they may have had a lead.

Northwestern ran an inbounds play to Nick Martinelli with four seconds remaining in the first half and he scored off the glass to give Northwestern a 28-27 lead heading to the halftime locker room. Buie had nine first-half points for the Wildcats, who actually shot worse overall in the first half (42.3%) than the Buckeyes (54.2%).

The gorgeous spin by @N_Martinelli1 for @NUMensBball before the buzzer pic.twitter.com/IQknBvEYzH

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 10, 2023

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Ohio State missed all nine of their first-half three-point attempts but went 13-15 from two-point range. Additionally, Brice Sensabaugh was the only Buckeyes (of nine) to not score in the first half.

Ohio State finally knocked down their first three-pointer of the game 2:26 into the second half courtesy of McNeil, which tied the game up 33-33. Ohio State fell behind by five points momentarily, but held a 37-35 lead at the first media timeout of the second half.

MCNEIL @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/S8fXxu8x2l

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 10, 2023

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Beran knocked down his second triple of the game with 10:34 to go to tie things up 45-all, but Thornton answered with a floater to get the Buckeyes back up by a pair of points. Chris Collins immediately called timeout, as the chess match between two coaches desperately in need of a win continued.

The Wildcats moved back in front 51-47 by the under-eight timeout thanks to a three from Berry, who had missed his first four shots from downtown before that. To this point in the game, neither team had a lead larger than six points at any time, and there were 10 lead changes.

However, Northwestern went on a 7-0 run courtesy of Buie and Barnhizer to go up 61-52 with just over four minutes remaining. Buie shot four consecutive free throws after being fouled on two drives, and Barnhizer hammered his fourth triple of the game to give Chris Collins’ squad their biggest lead yet.

The Buckeyes clawed back late — as they have been prone to do after falling behind — but were not able to complete the comeback at home, as they ultimately fell to the (most likely) tournament-bound Wildcats.

If you didn’t stay up to see Ohio State lose their 10th game in their last 11, here are a few key moments and runs that eventually did the Buckeyes in:

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A new man?​

For the first time since injuring his shoulder against Purdue on Jan. 5, Key was able to warm up without the large shoulder brace that made it “hard for him to breathe” according to Chris Holtmann. He put it back on before the start of the game, but early on he looked much healthier and more comfortable than he has in several weeks, scoring on a three-point play and also dunking over the top of Nicholson to score five of Ohio State’s first nine points.

There were a number of times throughout the game were Key appeared to be in significant pain after being hit in his shoulder, so while it appeared that he is regaining his full range of motion, there is clearly still a lot of pain involved.

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Wildcats get a wild start beyond the arc​

At 31.6%, Northwestern is 11th in the Big Ten in three-point shooting, but that didn’t discourage them from letting it fly early — or from knocking them down. The Wildcats canned three of their first six, with one each coming from Buie, Audige, and Brooks Barnhizer.

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OSU uses an 8-0 run to take back the lead​

After falling behind 17-15 with 10 minutes remaining in the half and going over four minutes straight without a basket, the Buckeyes went on an 8-0 run over the next five minutes to go ahead 23-17. Ohio State got buckets from Roddy Gayle, Sueing, McNeil, and Tanner Holden during the run, and interestingly enough Brice Sensabaugh did not have a basket to this point. The Buckeyes were getting it done without their best offensive player, which is quite a changeup from the season script thus far.

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Northwestern scores at the buzzer to take a halftime lead​

After falling behind 23-17, the Wildcats outscored the Buckeyes 11-4 over the final five minutes to take a 28-27 lead into the halftime locker room. Inbounding the ball from the side with four seconds left, Northwestern got the ball to Nick Martinelli on the left block who spun around Sueing and glassed one just in time to take the lead back.

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These numbers make no sense? ​

If I told you that Ohio State’s leading scorer had zero at halftime and that the Buckeyes missed all nine of their three-point attempts, what do you think their overall field goal percentage would be? Today, it was 54.2% — an elite mark.

Oddly enough, the Buckeyes were 13-15 (86.6%) from two-point range in the first half, and 0-9 from distance. Eight of the nine guys who saw time in the first half scored for OSU — the only one who did not was Sensabaugh.

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Sensabaugh scores for the first time, flips the lead once again​

Whether it was game script, personnel-related, or Holtmann just not liking what he saw from Sensabaugh in the first half, Ohio State’s star freshman did not score his first basket of the game until the 12:32 mark of the second half. His long stepback two gave Ohio State a 43-42 lead.

Sensabaugh only played six minutes during the first half and was 0-2 shooting with a turnover and a steal. He checked in at the 13:52 mark of the second half for his first action of the second stanza.

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Barnhizer’s three puts Northwestern up nine late ​

After Thornton’s floater got Ohio State back within two points with 6:06 remaining, Northwestern scored seven straight over the next 1:22 to take a 61-52 lead. Barnhizer capped the run with a three-pointer — his fourth of the game — which also tied his season-high of 18 points.

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Sueing goes on a 5-0 run to make it closer ​

Trailing 61-52 with just under five minutes remaining, Sueing scored five consecutive points all on his own to get Ohio State back within two possessions, 61-57. He then went to the line with a chance to hit two free throws and make it a two-point game, but he missed both, and Ohio State still trailed by four.

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Up Next:​

Ohio State (11-13, 3-10) hosts Michigan State (15-9, 7-6) Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET — six hours ahead of the Super Bowl — on CBS. This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Spartans recently snapped a two-game losing streak with a home win over Maryland on Tuesday evening, 63-58. Tom Izzo’s team is currently the No. 42 team in the country according to KenPom, and has the No. 27-rated defense.

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Ohio State Falls to Northwestern, 69-63, As Buckeyes Drop Five Straight For the Second Time in 2023 | Eleven W - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

1. Ohio State Falls to Northwestern, 69-63, As Buckeyes Drop Five Straight For the Second Time in 2023 | Eleven W Eleven Warriors
2. Buckeyes Open Weekend Homestand vs. Northwestern Thursday Ohio State University
3. Buckeyes Frustrated With 1-9 Stretch But Still Believe They’re “Not Far Off” From Getting Over the Hump Eleven Warriors

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Former Buckeyes Nick Bosa, Garrett Wilson take home NFL Player of the Year awards - Saturday Tradition
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Former Buckeyes Nick Bosa, Garrett Wilson take home NFL Player of the Year awards Saturday Tradition

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Buckeyes Falls to Northwestern 69-63 – Ohio State Buckeyes - Ohio State University
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Buckeyes Falls to Northwestern 69-63 – Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State University

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No. 11 Buckeyes Start MIVA Season With 3-1 Win - Ohio State University
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No. 11 Buckeyes Start MIVA Season With 3-1 Win Ohio State University

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Lions Promote Ex-Buckeye QB JT Barrett | Ohio State NFL Tracker - Sports Illustrated
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Lions Promote Ex-Buckeye QB JT Barrett | Ohio State NFL Tracker Sports Illustrated

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Buckeye Nation mourns the loss of former receiver Dimitrious Stanley - Yahoo Sports
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Buckeye Nation mourns the loss of former receiver Dimitrious Stanley Yahoo Sports

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An Appreciation: Friends recall life and times of ex-Buckeye Dimitrious Stanley - 247Sports
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An Appreciation: Friends recall life and times of ex-Buckeye Dimitrious Stanley 247Sports

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Eight former Buckeyes invited to NFL scouting combine - NBC4 WCMH-TV
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Eight former Buckeyes invited to NFL scouting combine NBC4 WCMH-TV

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Gophers women run into model of efficiency in No. 13 Buckeyes - Star Tribune
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Gophers women run into model of efficiency in No. 13 Buckeyes Star Tribune

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Ohio State Football Two-Deep Depth Chart Projections for 2023 - Sports Illustrated
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Ohio State Football Two-Deep Depth Chart Projections for 2023 Sports Illustrated

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Court rules on ex-Ohio State football players accused of rape, kidnapping - Sports Illustrated
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Court rules on ex-Ohio State football players accused of rape, kidnapping Sports Illustrated

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8 Buckeyes, 2 local prep products invited to NFL Scouting Combine - Dayton Daily News
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8 Buckeyes, 2 local prep products invited to NFL Scouting Combine Dayton Daily News

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Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann: Buckeyes' 'poorest defensive effort' defines 86-70 loss at Indiana - 247Sports
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Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann: Buckeyes' 'poorest defensive effort' defines 86-70 loss at Indiana 247Sports

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https://twitter.com/CoachBinckes?re...acks-coach-sean-binckes-as-graduate-assistant

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https://owlsports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/sean-binckes/4654

Sean Binckes joined the Temple Football staff as a graduate assistant in February, 2022. He works with Jafar Williams and the wide receivers.

Binckes came to Temple from FIU where he was the running backs coach under head coach Butch Davis in 2021. He had originally joined the Panthers’ staff in 2020 as a graduate assistant and earned a master's degree in recreation and sports management.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native began his coaching career at Nassau Community College as a wide receivers coach in 2016. While Binckes also held the title of offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach throughout his tenure at Nassau, he moved to the offensive line in 2019.

Binckes played tight end at LIU Post from 2012-16 where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in health sciences.

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Despite being 3-9 in Big Ten play, Ohio State is actually favored over Northwestern tonight
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes got one of their three B1G win over the Wildcats on Jan. 1.

Friends, a lot has changed for the Ohio State men’s basketball team since New Year’s Day. When the Buckeyes traveled to Evanston, Ill., they were 9-3 and coming off back-to-back games scoring 90 or more points.

On the first day of 2023, Chris Holtmann’s squad earned their second conference win to start their Big Ten slate. They beat the Northwestern Wildcats — who were 10-2 at the time — by an impressive score of 73-57. Following that W, the Buckeyes had the second-best odds to win the Big Ten according to DraftKings SportsBook behind only Purdue.

Since then, Ohio State has gone 1-9, losing each of those nine games by single digits except for one (86-70 vs. Indiana), and the average losing margin has been 6.3 points per game. The Buckeyes currently sit at 13th in the Big Ten, ahead of only the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-15, 1-11), who Ohio State lost to on Jan. 12 by a score of 70-67.

So, knowing all of those painful facts, you might be surprised to know that Holtmann and his team actually enters Thursday’s home matchup against Northwestern as 5.5-point favorites again according to DraftKings SportsBook.

The oddsmakers have the total points line at 137, which means that they are projecting a final score in the neighborhood of 71-66 in favor of the Buckeyes. I know that bookmakers make their money getting these types of things right, and they are often eerily accurate with their projections, but I’ve watched enough Buckeye basketball this season to not expect to much.

So, while I would love to see the bookmakers proven correct and for the Buckeyes to get another check in the Win Column, but there ain’t no chance that I would put money on it at this point. However, I live in a state that does not have legalized sports betting, so what do I know? If you decide to place a bet on this game — either for or against Ohio State — I wish you luck, because my nerves will be frayed enough as it is even without having a few bucks on the line.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.​

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Column: Ohio State’s season comes down to a matchup against Northwestern. If they lose, there is nothing left to salvage
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

With a season many have already deemed over, the Buckeyes have one last favorable opportunity to build confidence down the home stretch.

The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team is still in the middle of a rough stretch, going 1-9 in their last 10 games on top of a current four-game losing streak. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the season is far from over with eight games to go.

Ohio State will not have an easy route, but every game remaining on the schedule is winnable. Those games down the final stretch include matchups against Northwestern, Michigan State twice, Purdue, Penn State, Illinois and Maryland. The Buckeyes play five of eight games at home, where they are 8-3 on the year. If the team can find some momentum, they are still talented enough to give opponents issues on any given night.

With the end of the year fast approaching, starting with a game against Northwestern that they’re favored in is a great place for the Buckeyes to look to build confidence and get back on track. Ohio State still ranks 16th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. Even with the scoring issues the Buckeyes have at times, that is still a number that can start translating to wins.

The problem for Ohio State during this 1-9 stretch is they have been incredibly inconsistent shooting the ball, which is where the problems start and stop. In the one win against Iowa, the Buckeyes shot 56.3 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three point range. Led by Sensabaugh going 10-of-12 from the floor, it was the best offensive output of the season from the Buckeyes. This is not the level that should be expected, but the way the ball moved led to 15 assisted baskets, which is what Holtmann’s offenses have been built on.

Outside of the Iowa game, Sensabaugh is the only player comfortable initiating offense. Every time the Buckeyes play, it feels like pulling teeth for anybody else to create their own offense. Sueing has been passive on top of inconsistent, Likelele has scored two or less points in six out of 10 games, and so on. This is amplified with one of the more reliable offensive players in Key still on the mend and playing with the restrictive brace. This puts more pressure on everybody down the roster — which has not worked well.

And that is where this matchup against the Wildcats is so important to this final stretch.

Already with more wins than last year, Northwestern led by coach Chris Collins has found more success with their transfer losses. From an offensive standpoint, the scoring goes through their two guards Chase Audige and Boo Buie, the latter being the leading scorer on the team. With Ohio State’s newly announced team captain Bruce Thornton and Isaac Likelele, there is a defensive matchup that had a lot of success in the first matchup.

The two Buckeyes held the leading Wildcat scorers to a combined point total of 26 on 28.1 percent shooting last time the two teams met. This is the type of game that can reestablish Ohio State’s defensive confidence back. They’ve had success here before. Over the last four losses, the Buckeyes have not defended the perimeter well, and they also struggled against both dominant bigs they played in Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis and Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson.

Northwestern doesn’t play with a big of that caliber. Their starting center Matthew Nicholson is averaging just over six points, six rebounds and one block per game. This will be Key’s first opportunity since his injury to establish the painted area against a player he should be able to overmatch physically.

Looking at the remaining schedule, Northwestern is the most winnable game remaining. If this team is going to turn it around, it starts with a win over Northwestern like their first win over them in Evanston. They can find both offensive and defensive confidence against the Wildcats, which can start a stretch run.

Right now, the Buckeyes are squarely out of the NCAA Tournament and don’t have a lot of data points on their record. Last season, the Michigan Wolverines made the tournament as an 11-seed with a 19-15 record. That means the Buckeyes are not out of the field yet.

With eight games left on the schedule and the conference tournament remaining, they don’t need to be perfect. They will have opportunities for multiple Quad-1 and Quad-2 wins down the stretch. A 5-3 record is probably enough to get them on the bubble heading into the Big Ten Tournament.

A win against Northwestern would not get them back in the conversation, but it would definitely be the nail in the coffin if they were to lose this game. With rematches against Purdue, Maryland, and Illinois — whom the Buckeyes to lost by single digit margins — flipping those results back in their favor would go a long way. Adding to that games against Iowa – their best offensive performance of the year – and a tough matchup against Penn State will give the Buckeyes ample opportunity to salvage this season.

With most of the fans feeling like this is a lost season, the Buckeyes are not there just yet. Resident Buckethead Connor Lemons has pointed out many times that Ohio State is ranked 363rd in KenPom’s luck rating. As a glass half-full writer, that has got to flip at some point, and why can’t that flip happen for the stretch run?

Looking at the other half of the glass, if Ohio State does lose, which is a likely scenario given how the Buckeyes have played in their last 10 games, the season is over. There is literally nothing they can do after that outside of winning the Big Ten Tournament or going undefeated down the stretch that would get them into the Big Dance. This would also signify the worst season since Thad Matta’s last year in charge, and would likely point to being one of the worst seasons since 2003-04.

To avoid that, Holtmann has hit the reset button with a midseason captain vote, his ejection against Wisconsin, and the insertion of Eugene Brown into the lineup more. None of the three have changed much – we’ll find out about the captaincy tonight – making it feel like Holtmann is grasping for straws. But under the surface of it all, is a basketball team with six new faces playing significant roles.

They are always a game a way from gelling, and basketball has always been a game of runs. If Ohio State can find some consistency offensively, and improve on their 85th ranked defensive efficiency rating, there is a team that has the talent to give anyone in the Big Ten trouble on a given night. That’s not enough to be confident, but it should be enough to not throw a the season just yet with a very winnable game at home.

For the Buckeyes, the season will not be defined by this matchup against the Wildcats. This would just be another bullet point on the list of failures in 2022-23. But a game where Ohio State is favored at home against a team they beat handedly in the first matchup is exactly what the Buckeyes need right now. If the Buckeyes come out lethargic and undisciplined defensively, then there is probably no saving this group.

This is the end point of the season with a loss, so there will be ample pressure and the critics won’t be quiet if this game ends with Ohio State being defeated again.

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How Many Buckeyes in PFF's Top 100 Players in NFL Draft? - Sports Illustrated
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

How Many Buckeyes in PFF's Top 100 Players in NFL Draft? Sports Illustrated

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Column: What to watch at Ohio State in February
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Because our usual options are slumping.

Somehow January flew by and we find ourselves in February 2023. College football has long been over. Despite a hot start from Ohio State women’s hoops, the Buckeyes find themselves losers of four of their last five. And men’s basketball has only won two games this calendar year as they could be skidding out of the NCAA Tournament field.

Fortunately, if you’re just looking for Ws from Ohio State programs, you’ve got plenty of options.

Men’s lacrosse​

After opening their season and breaking in their new stadium with a 15-7 win over Air Force, Ohio State men’s lacrosse faces off this weekend against Cleveland State. Jack Myers had four goals and five assists against the Falcons, which earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Drew Blanchard took home conference Specialist of the Week recognition, having won 22-of-26 faceoffs.

The Buckeyes are ranked 14th in the NCAA and have high hopes for a deep NCAA Tournament run this season, especially as all eyes are on them in their new digs. You can check them out Saturday at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.

Women’s ice hockey​

The Buckeyes have put together an impressive run this season as they look to defend their national title. No. 1 Ohio State is sitting at 25-3-2 on the season, most recently splitting a series with No. 3 Minnesota in Minneapolis. Jennifer Gardiner is leading the Buckeyes on the year with 42 points on 16 goals and 26 assists, while Madison Bizal is anchoring Ohio State on defense.

Next up, Ohio State returns home for a two-game series against St. Thomas Friday (you can watch them at OSU Ice Rink Friday and Saturday!). Then the Buckeyes have their last regular-season series against Wisconsin in Madison before the WCHA Tournament, where they’re poised for another deep postseason run.

Wrestling​

The Big Ten is the national center of collegiate wrestling. The conference boasts three of the top-four teams in the NCAA (No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Iowa and No. 4 Ohio State). Ohio State is sitting at 11-1 on the season, their only loss coming in a duel against Penn State. The Buckeyes have their last head-to-head matchup of the season Friday against No. 10 Nebraska at the Covelli Center. The Big Ten Tournament starts March 4 with the NCAA Championships kicking off March 16.

Tennis​

Ohio State is firing on all cylinders on the tennis court, as both the men’s and women’s programs get into the meat of their spring seasons. The men’s team is ranked No. 2 in Division I and is undefeated (9-0) on the year. They’ll have a test this week when they face No. 9 Wake Forest on the road Thursday, but the squad is coming off a 4-0 victory over sixth-ranked Texas Sunday. Robert Cash and James Trotter are both undefeated in singles play this year and, along with their partners, have held their own in doubles as well.

The No. 11-ranked women’s tennis team is also surging. The squad is 5-0 on the season, having just come off a win over No. 5 Georgia. This weekend brings the ITA Indoor National Team Championship in Seattle. The Buckeyes enter the 16-team tournament as the No. 6 seed, facing Auburn in the first round. Ohio State has three players (Kolie Allen, Shelly Bereznyak and Irina Cantos Siemens) who are undefeated in dual matches on the season.

Swimming and Diving​

Ohio State hosts their Winter Invitational this weekend. Both the men’s and women’s teams rose to No. 5 in the rankings this week ahead of their tournament, the last event before the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor.

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Column: Ohio State and Columbus are missing out on some fun outdoor hockey events
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The Buckeyes wouldn’t have to go up to Cleveland for outdoor games if Ohio Stadium was winterized.

things are getting icy at @FEStadium

New seats released for 'Faceoff on the Lake,' tickets starting at just $10!
» https://t.co/VPnG0nmmTN pic.twitter.com/4W2VdfOwcL

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 6, 2023

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Growing up near Buffalo, I developed a love for hockey at an early age. Much like the Buffalo Bills, seasons for the Sabres always ended in failure. Even the year when they made the Stanley Cup Finals, the appearance was tainted by Brett Hull’s goal which won Lord Stanley’s Cup for the Dallas Stars.

Even though the goal according to hockey rules was a good goal, it will always be “No Goal” to me. Hull will always get some extra hate from me because of it.

When I moved to Columbus, my allegiances expanded to the Blue Jackets. After living in Ohio’s capital city since 2005, if you asked me now who my favorite team is, I’d say the Blue Jackets over the Sabres now. I have been a Blue Jackets quarter-season ticket holder since the 2019-20 season, and even though Columbus is struggling, I still have a great time at the 10-12 games I’m at during the season.

One thing that has been irking me for years when it comes to hockey in Columbus is how the team hasn’t partnered with Ohio State to get an outdoor game at Ohio Stadium. There have been outdoor games at Michigan Stadium, Notre Dame Stadium, and even TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

How is Ohio State going to be standing on the outside looking in on something like this? The scenes for a game at The Horseshoe would be outstanding.

Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images

I get there is a hurdle for putting on an event like this. The stadium would have to be winterized to be able to handle the possible cold temperatures that could be seen in Columbus on New Year’s Day. I don’t have the exact numbers on how much a progress like that would cost, but I would imagine it would be somewhere around $3 million dollars. Don’t quote me on this, it’s just a figure I think I’ve heard in the past.

Obviously I know that amount of money is a lot, but is it really that much when you are Ohio State? Besides, athletic director Gene Smith already announced in the fall that Ohio State would be adding a “facility maintenance fee” to tickets. As if tickets for Buckeye football games weren’t already out of hand, it sounds like they only going to get more expensive in the coming years.

Ohio State is going to have to winterize Ohio Stadium eventually. With the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff, it’s likely we see the Buckeyes hosting a home playoff game at some point. December football games are unheard of, but soon enough they are going to become the norm. While Smith may want any Ohio State home playoff games to be moved to the soulless dome stadium in Indianapolis, the backlash would be unimaginable if Ohio State actually passed on a home playoff game at Ohio Stadium.

The school is already missing out on some cool events because they haven’t yet winterized the stadium. It certainly will be a fun atmosphere when Ohio State’s men’s hockey team takes on Michigan at First Energy Stadium in Cleveland next weekend. The game would be even better if it was taking place at Ohio Stadium, especially since it has been a bit since an Ohio State team has beat Michigan at The Horseshoe.

It’s not just the men’s hockey team that deserves an outdoor game at the iconic college football stadium. We have the reigning women’s hockey national champions at Ohio State. There are so many great talents currently on the women’s hockey team, and they should get a chance to play at Ohio Stadium. Just imagine how awesome it would be if there was a men’s and women’s outdoor hockey doubleheader next weekend.

Plus, winterizing the stadium would put the wheels in motion to bring an NHL Winter Classic to Columbus. Seattle has been in the league for like five minutes, and they already are slated to host next year’s NHL Winter Classic. Columbus has been in the league for over 20 years and an outdoor game here is so far away. It feels like if the Blue Jackets were to get an outdoor game it would end up being up in Cleveland, which would be embarrassing.

Hopefully Ohio State, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the NHL get this all sorted out sometime in the near future. An event like this is way too much to not have happened yet. Then again, maybe after signing Johnny Gaudreau in the offseason, the league is hoping Columbus tanks well enough to win the Connor Bedard sweepstakes to give the outdoor debut for the Blue Jackets a little more star power.

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Sensabaugh Named to Julius Erving Top 10 – Ohio State Buckeyes - Ohio State University
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Sensabaugh Named to Julius Erving Top 10 – Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State University

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Bucketheads Podcast: Coming to grips with a (probably) lost season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

It would be nice to just see this team end the season on a high note.

‘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 | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio​

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During episode 65, Justin and Connor return to discuss an Ohio State team that’s now 3-9 in Big Ten play and all but eliminated from the NCAA Tournament with a month still to play. It took some time, but it seems that Chris Holtmann has finally hit the point where he just wants to play the guys who play the hardest, limiting the minutes of some in favor of guys like Gene Brown and Roddy Gayle.

While the Buckeyes aren’t mathematically eliminated from the tournament, they’ll have to go on quite the run to make it, plus win a few games in the B1G Tournament — or win the B1G Tournament outright. It’s been quite some time since Ohio State has won consecutive games, so the odds of that are slimmer than slim.

They also discuss Holtmann’s ejection from the Wisconsin game, and who stepped up big-time for the Wolverines on the perimeter last weekend to give Hunter Dickinson the space to do what he did.

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Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

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