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LGHL Brice Sensabaugh to enter 2023 NBA Draft
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Brice Sensabaugh to enter 2023 NBA Draft
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Sensabaugh has until June 12 to withdraw from the draft and return to Ohio State, if he so chooses.
After an overwhelmingly successful season that saw him lead Ohio State in scoring and set multiple freshman program records, Brice Sensabaugh has officially entered his name into the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward from Orlando, Florida averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Buckeyes over 33 games. He shot 48% overall and 40.5% from three-point range, and was Ohio State’s leading scorer in 18 of the 33 games he played in. The 13-game streak from December 17 against North Carolina to February 2 against Wisconsin was the longest stretch of consecutive games where a freshman has led Ohio State in scoring in the history of the program.
Sensabaugh was a four-star recruit in last year’s 2022 class, joining Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Bowen Hardman. He was not a top-50 recruit in that class, but turned in one of the best freshman seasons in all of college basketball last season. He ranked behind only Alabama’s Brandon Miller (19.6) and Lamar’s Nate Calmese (17.6) in points per game among freshmen. Sensabaugh was named Third Team All-Big Ten this past season as well as being named to the All-Freshman team in the conference.
Sensabaugh’s greatest assets are his ability to create a shot for himself off the dribble as well as his ability to finish at the rim in traffic. His three-point shot is above average, but fell considerably at the tail end of the season hitting just six of his final 24 attempts down the stretch (25%). He’s a more than capable free throw shooter at 83%, and rebounds well for his size when he chooses to put in the effort on the glass. All in all, he looks like someone who could step into the league and become a consistent double-digit scorer pretty quickly.
The holes in Sensabaugh’s game mostly lie on the defensive side of the ball, which, luckily for him, is not the side of the game NBA scouts are as concerned with. He struggled mightily guarding the perimeter this season, lacking the foot speed to keep up with guards and shooters. He was also vulnerable below the basket, but at 6-foot-6 won’t be expected to play a ton in the paint, anyway.
Obvious — but not easy — fixes for his defensive woes are to lose a bit of weight and improve his lateral quickness. Teams would target Sensabaugh on defense this season because of his inability to adjust and move with the man he was guarding, often bailing himself out by fouling or simply letting someone blow past him. If Sensabaugh was able to slim down a bit, it may help in that area. He also sustained a knee injury during the Big Ten Tournament, although early reports are that it is not a serious or long-term injury.
The burly freshman wasn’t much of a distributor this past season, either, averaging 1.2 assists per game to two turnovers. He dribbled out of control at times and the ball would disappear with him on offense, dribbling himself into a pickle or forcing a pass at the last second after he’d realized he didn’t have any other options.
With that said, his ability to create his own shot off the dribble and knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers is top-tier, and NBA scouts are intrigued by his potential. The range of where he could land varies depending where you look.
Tankathon predicts Sensabagh to go in the late lottery — tenth overall to the Toronto Raptors.
Bleacher Report has Sensabaugh going in the middle of the first round — 17th overall to the Atlanta Hawks.
NBADraft Net has Sensabaugh being taken as the first pick in the second round by the New York Knicks.
If Sensabaugh chose to return to college, he would have to make that decision and inform the league before June 12.
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
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Sensabaugh has until June 12 to withdraw from the draft and return to Ohio State, if he so chooses.
After an overwhelmingly successful season that saw him lead Ohio State in scoring and set multiple freshman program records, Brice Sensabaugh has officially entered his name into the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward from Orlando, Florida averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Buckeyes over 33 games. He shot 48% overall and 40.5% from three-point range, and was Ohio State’s leading scorer in 18 of the 33 games he played in. The 13-game streak from December 17 against North Carolina to February 2 against Wisconsin was the longest stretch of consecutive games where a freshman has led Ohio State in scoring in the history of the program.
Sensabaugh was a four-star recruit in last year’s 2022 class, joining Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Bowen Hardman. He was not a top-50 recruit in that class, but turned in one of the best freshman seasons in all of college basketball last season. He ranked behind only Alabama’s Brandon Miller (19.6) and Lamar’s Nate Calmese (17.6) in points per game among freshmen. Sensabaugh was named Third Team All-Big Ten this past season as well as being named to the All-Freshman team in the conference.
Sensabaugh’s greatest assets are his ability to create a shot for himself off the dribble as well as his ability to finish at the rim in traffic. His three-point shot is above average, but fell considerably at the tail end of the season hitting just six of his final 24 attempts down the stretch (25%). He’s a more than capable free throw shooter at 83%, and rebounds well for his size when he chooses to put in the effort on the glass. All in all, he looks like someone who could step into the league and become a consistent double-digit scorer pretty quickly.
The holes in Sensabaugh’s game mostly lie on the defensive side of the ball, which, luckily for him, is not the side of the game NBA scouts are as concerned with. He struggled mightily guarding the perimeter this season, lacking the foot speed to keep up with guards and shooters. He was also vulnerable below the basket, but at 6-foot-6 won’t be expected to play a ton in the paint, anyway.
Obvious — but not easy — fixes for his defensive woes are to lose a bit of weight and improve his lateral quickness. Teams would target Sensabaugh on defense this season because of his inability to adjust and move with the man he was guarding, often bailing himself out by fouling or simply letting someone blow past him. If Sensabaugh was able to slim down a bit, it may help in that area. He also sustained a knee injury during the Big Ten Tournament, although early reports are that it is not a serious or long-term injury.
The burly freshman wasn’t much of a distributor this past season, either, averaging 1.2 assists per game to two turnovers. He dribbled out of control at times and the ball would disappear with him on offense, dribbling himself into a pickle or forcing a pass at the last second after he’d realized he didn’t have any other options.
With that said, his ability to create his own shot off the dribble and knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers is top-tier, and NBA scouts are intrigued by his potential. The range of where he could land varies depending where you look.
Tankathon predicts Sensabagh to go in the late lottery — tenth overall to the Toronto Raptors.
Bleacher Report has Sensabaugh going in the middle of the first round — 17th overall to the Atlanta Hawks.
NBADraft Net has Sensabaugh being taken as the first pick in the second round by the New York Knicks.
If Sensabaugh chose to return to college, he would have to make that decision and inform the league before June 12.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball frontcourt this season?
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You’re Nuts: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball frontcourt this season?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes’ two leading scorers were forwards, but they weren’t exactly deep at the position.
Okay folks. We are back like we never left.
Last week on “You’re Nuts”, we graded the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt this past season — the freshmen Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle as well as transfers Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele.
Check that out below.
After the votes were tallied, Connor won this one with his grade of a C. Shoutout the one person who voted them an A, though. We appreciate the positivity, as does the team after a bungled mess of a season.
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Here are the current standings as we approach 100 weeks of doing this.
Justin- 41
This week, we are sticking to the script and grading the frontcourt. As a note, this will NOT include Zed Key and Felix Okpara, as we will grade them next week as centers on their own. We’re looking at Brice Sensabaugh, Justice Sueing, Tanner Holden, and Gene Brown.
Let’s ride.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24503769/usa_today_20070646.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Penn State at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes had two forwards who enjoyed objectively good seasons in Brice Sensabaugh and Justice Sueing, and two forwards who either did not play or weren’t featured when they did play in Tanner Holden and Gene Brown. It seems silly to give the second-worst team in the Big Ten a good grade at any spot, really, so I will give the frontcourt the same grade the backcourt — C.
If you pinned my ears back and forced me to grade each of the four forwards individually I’d probably go with this:
Brice Sensabaugh: A
Justice Sueing: B-
Eugene Brown: C
Tanner Holden: D
Sensabaugh and Sueing get good grades from me. Sensabaugh exploded onto the scene as a freshman and not only led Ohio State in scoring, but was one of the top freshmen in the entire country. His rebounding improved later in the season, and he even dished out the occasional assist.
Even if the results weren’t there on defense (this is a major concern for him at both the college and NBA levels) the effort at least improved as the season advanced. You can’t have a freshman average over 16 points per game and not give him an A. He carried this lifeless body of a team for much of the season.
Sueing got a ton of flack, criticism, and venom from Ohio State fans this year for an extended poor stretch of play during the middle of the season that eventually led to him being benched for a few games. Frustration with repeated poor performances is reasonable, but proclaiming that the team would be much better without such an “awful” player is, quite literally, being a prisoner of the moment.
Sueing ended the season averaging 12.3 points per game on 42.4% shooting. His three-point shooting was a career-worst 28.9%, but he did finish the year by knocking down 12 of his final 24 from beyond the arc, including going 10-19 in the Big Ten Tournament.
Compared to expectations for his final season, Sueing underperformed. But if we’re just looking at a blank slate, he was still a productive player for the Buckeyes, and even earned Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
Gene Brown, or “Gene Bean” as his teammates like to call him, missed the first few games of the season dealing with the after-effects of a concussion suffered in a pre-season practice. Once he returned, he bounced in and out of the rotation, averaging 10 minutes per game and making one start. The 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing was asked to guard opponents of all sizes this season, from smaller guards to a 7-foot-4 giant in the Big Ten Tournament.
Brown’s effort and willingness to do whatever is asked of him has never wavered. His production, especially on the offensive end, has. He’s not a featured piece of the offense when he’s in, and therefore doesn’t do much scoring. You can’t wholly blame Brown for this, as he did shoot north of 50% this season on just 32 shot attempts. But ideally you get more production from a third year player who has been in the program the entire time he’s been in college.
For reasons unbeknownst to us, Tanner Holden completely fell out of the rotation by February. He averaged 3.6 points per game and shot at or close to 50% from both the three-point line and overall, but he registered eight DNP’s down the stretch. Perhaps it was practice or an attitude issue — we may never know. But Holden went from a 20-point per game scorer at Wright State to an end of the bench piece for the Buckeyes. Certainly, that’s not what anyone involved — including you or I — had in mind for him.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24532778/usa_today_20193523.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament Quarterfinals - Michigan State vs Ohio State")
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
This one is really difficult, because depending on how you view these players positions, there could be two or four players in this category. Tanner Holden and Eugene Brown are more of a combo guard/forward, but for this activity we will put them in the frontcourt.
First of all, it is kind of crazy that this frontcourt possibly played with a lottery pick all season. And I am going to get out ahead of this in the beginning: I do not think Justice Sueing had as bad a season as some people would lead you to believe he did.
He wasn’t as great as some people expected and sometimes struggled to be what the Buckeyes needed him to be, but ultimately he finished as an honorable All-Big Ten selection and played some great basketball down the stretch of the season. And it is hard to get into a groove when you play two seasons in four years.
Nevertheless, the problem with this section for the team was with the two guys I previously mentioned, but that is not to say it was entirely their fault.
For Eugene Brown, he missed most of non-conference play while recovering from a concussion and it is hard to enter a rotation mid-season. He provided some great effort and defense off the bench, but never was able to provide much on offense, averaging 2.2 points per game this season.
For Tanner Holden, he was a 20-point per game scorer at Wright State and many expected him to come to Columbus and be one of their main contributors on offense. However, something happened halfway through the season that saw him fall out of the rotation and barely see the floor in late January and February.
Justice Sueing finished the season averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He was second on the team in scoring and third on the team in rebounds. He struggled at times with turnovers and offensive efficiency, but he cleaned that up towards the end of the season and played well during the Buckeyes strong finish to the season.
For Brice Sensabaugh, not much to say. He led the team on offense in pretty much every game, and while he struggled on defense, he is a freshman that was asked to do so much on this team. He was great all season.
I give this squad a B because ultimately, I think this position group had two of the best three players on the team. But they went 16-19.
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
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes’ two leading scorers were forwards, but they weren’t exactly deep at the position.
Okay folks. We are back like we never left.
Last week on “You’re Nuts”, we graded the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt this past season — the freshmen Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle as well as transfers Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele.
Check that out below.
After the votes were tallied, Connor won this one with his grade of a C. Shoutout the one person who voted them an A, though. We appreciate the positivity, as does the team after a bungled mess of a season.
Here are the current standings as we approach 100 weeks of doing this.
After 93 weeks:
Justin- 41
Connor- 37
Other- 11
(There have been four ties)
This week, we are sticking to the script and grading the frontcourt. As a note, this will NOT include Zed Key and Felix Okpara, as we will grade them next week as centers on their own. We’re looking at Brice Sensabaugh, Justice Sueing, Tanner Holden, and Gene Brown.
Let’s ride.
Today’s Question: What would you grade the Ohio State men’s basketball frontcourt this season?
Connor: C
The Buckeyes had two forwards who enjoyed objectively good seasons in Brice Sensabaugh and Justice Sueing, and two forwards who either did not play or weren’t featured when they did play in Tanner Holden and Gene Brown. It seems silly to give the second-worst team in the Big Ten a good grade at any spot, really, so I will give the frontcourt the same grade the backcourt — C.
If you pinned my ears back and forced me to grade each of the four forwards individually I’d probably go with this:
Brice Sensabaugh: A
Justice Sueing: B-
Eugene Brown: C
Tanner Holden: D
Sensabaugh and Sueing get good grades from me. Sensabaugh exploded onto the scene as a freshman and not only led Ohio State in scoring, but was one of the top freshmen in the entire country. His rebounding improved later in the season, and he even dished out the occasional assist.
Even if the results weren’t there on defense (this is a major concern for him at both the college and NBA levels) the effort at least improved as the season advanced. You can’t have a freshman average over 16 points per game and not give him an A. He carried this lifeless body of a team for much of the season.
Sueing got a ton of flack, criticism, and venom from Ohio State fans this year for an extended poor stretch of play during the middle of the season that eventually led to him being benched for a few games. Frustration with repeated poor performances is reasonable, but proclaiming that the team would be much better without such an “awful” player is, quite literally, being a prisoner of the moment.
Sueing ended the season averaging 12.3 points per game on 42.4% shooting. His three-point shooting was a career-worst 28.9%, but he did finish the year by knocking down 12 of his final 24 from beyond the arc, including going 10-19 in the Big Ten Tournament.
Compared to expectations for his final season, Sueing underperformed. But if we’re just looking at a blank slate, he was still a productive player for the Buckeyes, and even earned Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
EUGENE BROWN#B1GMBBT x @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/iDl9dNUmvA
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 11, 2023
Gene Brown, or “Gene Bean” as his teammates like to call him, missed the first few games of the season dealing with the after-effects of a concussion suffered in a pre-season practice. Once he returned, he bounced in and out of the rotation, averaging 10 minutes per game and making one start. The 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing was asked to guard opponents of all sizes this season, from smaller guards to a 7-foot-4 giant in the Big Ten Tournament.
Brown’s effort and willingness to do whatever is asked of him has never wavered. His production, especially on the offensive end, has. He’s not a featured piece of the offense when he’s in, and therefore doesn’t do much scoring. You can’t wholly blame Brown for this, as he did shoot north of 50% this season on just 32 shot attempts. But ideally you get more production from a third year player who has been in the program the entire time he’s been in college.
For reasons unbeknownst to us, Tanner Holden completely fell out of the rotation by February. He averaged 3.6 points per game and shot at or close to 50% from both the three-point line and overall, but he registered eight DNP’s down the stretch. Perhaps it was practice or an attitude issue — we may never know. But Holden went from a 20-point per game scorer at Wright State to an end of the bench piece for the Buckeyes. Certainly, that’s not what anyone involved — including you or I — had in mind for him.
Justin: B
This one is really difficult, because depending on how you view these players positions, there could be two or four players in this category. Tanner Holden and Eugene Brown are more of a combo guard/forward, but for this activity we will put them in the frontcourt.
First of all, it is kind of crazy that this frontcourt possibly played with a lottery pick all season. And I am going to get out ahead of this in the beginning: I do not think Justice Sueing had as bad a season as some people would lead you to believe he did.
He wasn’t as great as some people expected and sometimes struggled to be what the Buckeyes needed him to be, but ultimately he finished as an honorable All-Big Ten selection and played some great basketball down the stretch of the season. And it is hard to get into a groove when you play two seasons in four years.
Nevertheless, the problem with this section for the team was with the two guys I previously mentioned, but that is not to say it was entirely their fault.
For Eugene Brown, he missed most of non-conference play while recovering from a concussion and it is hard to enter a rotation mid-season. He provided some great effort and defense off the bench, but never was able to provide much on offense, averaging 2.2 points per game this season.
For Tanner Holden, he was a 20-point per game scorer at Wright State and many expected him to come to Columbus and be one of their main contributors on offense. However, something happened halfway through the season that saw him fall out of the rotation and barely see the floor in late January and February.
Justice Sueing finished the season averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He was second on the team in scoring and third on the team in rebounds. He struggled at times with turnovers and offensive efficiency, but he cleaned that up towards the end of the season and played well during the Buckeyes strong finish to the season.
For Brice Sensabaugh, not much to say. He led the team on offense in pretty much every game, and while he struggled on defense, he is a freshman that was asked to do so much on this team. He was great all season.
I give this squad a B because ultimately, I think this position group had two of the best three players on the team. But they went 16-19.
Continue reading...
LGHL Visiting Locker Room: The UConn Blog on the UConn Huskies ahead of Sweet Sixteen matchup with Ohio State
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Visiting Locker Room: The UConn Blog on the UConn Huskies ahead of Sweet Sixteen matchup with Ohio State
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sean Elliot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Looking at the return of guard Azzi Fudd, is parity creeping into NCAA women’s basketball and more
The Ohio State women’s basketball team has a difficult task ahead of them Saturday when they face off against the UConn Huskies. In six previous games against the East Coast side, the Buckeyes haven’t managed a win over the Huskies but could that change this year?
To dive into that and more about UConn, Land-Grant Holy Land spoke to friends over at The UConn Blog, writer and podcaster Daniel Connolly. Here’s what Connolly had to say about parity, Buckeye transfer Dorka Juhász, and more for Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen battle.
Land-Grant Holy Land: UConn made it to the Sweet Sixteen after the Baylor Bears gave a good first-half fight. Then star guard Azzi Fudd stepped in. For folks who might not watch a lot of UConn basketball, what does Fudd do that makes her so dangerous? Also, is she now back to that pre-injury form or is there room for gaining even more comfort on the court?
LGHL: A name familiar to Buckeye fans is forward Dorka Juhász, the Ohio State transfer. Last season, Juhász didn’t really make a name for herself in the UConn squad until injuries afforded her more starts. Now, this season the Hungarian has started every game she's been back from injury. How has Juhász changed since coming to UConn and how vital is she to Geno Auriemma’s gameplan?
LGHL: The Huskies are pushing for their 15th Final Four appearance in a row. UConn and coach Auriemma are synonymous with college basketball and even without a national title in a few years, the Huskies are still revered and feared across the nation. With all that said, no team is perfect. What are the weaknesses of a healthy version of this year’s UConn team?
LGHL: Over the last few years, parity has crept into the NCAA women’s basketball landscape. I know it’s potentially a loaded question but how has that changed things at UConn, if it has at all?
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sean Elliot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Looking at the return of guard Azzi Fudd, is parity creeping into NCAA women’s basketball and more
The Ohio State women’s basketball team has a difficult task ahead of them Saturday when they face off against the UConn Huskies. In six previous games against the East Coast side, the Buckeyes haven’t managed a win over the Huskies but could that change this year?
To dive into that and more about UConn, Land-Grant Holy Land spoke to friends over at The UConn Blog, writer and podcaster Daniel Connolly. Here’s what Connolly had to say about parity, Buckeye transfer Dorka Juhász, and more for Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen battle.
Land-Grant Holy Land: UConn made it to the Sweet Sixteen after the Baylor Bears gave a good first-half fight. Then star guard Azzi Fudd stepped in. For folks who might not watch a lot of UConn basketball, what does Fudd do that makes her so dangerous? Also, is she now back to that pre-injury form or is there room for gaining even more comfort on the court?
LGHL: A name familiar to Buckeye fans is forward Dorka Juhász, the Ohio State transfer. Last season, Juhász didn’t really make a name for herself in the UConn squad until injuries afforded her more starts. Now, this season the Hungarian has started every game she's been back from injury. How has Juhász changed since coming to UConn and how vital is she to Geno Auriemma’s gameplan?
LGHL: The Huskies are pushing for their 15th Final Four appearance in a row. UConn and coach Auriemma are synonymous with college basketball and even without a national title in a few years, the Huskies are still revered and feared across the nation. With all that said, no team is perfect. What are the weaknesses of a healthy version of this year’s UConn team?
LGHL: Over the last few years, parity has crept into the NCAA women’s basketball landscape. I know it’s potentially a loaded question but how has that changed things at UConn, if it has at all?
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 3 Ohio State women vs. No. 2 UConn: Game Preview, projected starters and prediction
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No. 3 Ohio State women vs. No. 2 UConn: Game Preview, projected starters and prediction
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Huskies compete for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Ohio State women’s basketball is one game away from making the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993, the lone season the Buckeyes made it to the NCAA Championship game. To get to that history-making moment, the Scarlet & Gray have to do it against the 11-time NCAA Champions, the UConn Huskies.
Here’s a game preview.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and UConn Huskies enter Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen game with different roads. UConn beat Vermont and Baylor, with even a deficit against the Baylor Bears in the first quarter coming back to win by 19 points
Ohio State was down 16 points to the mid-major James Madison Dukes but cut the second-quarter lead to three by halftime. The Buckeyes pulled away in the second half, winning 80-66.
Against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Buckeyes needed a last-second shot by guard Jacy Sheldon to move into the Sweet Sixteen. However, the Scarlet & Gray led from the jump until almost 39 minutes of game time. Ohio State came on top thanks to a last-second shot by Sheldon and a calm performance by forward Eboni Walker.
Saturday is UConn’s 29th Sweet Sixteen in a row, older than any player on either team and Ohio State celebrates its second in a row.
This year’s edition of the Huskies features guard Azzi Fudd and forwards Aaliyah Edwards and Dorka Juhász. A knee injury kept Fudd out of the team for most of the season, but the sophomore returned for the Big East Conference Tournament.
Fudd’s strength is her ability to shoot. Before her knee injury, Fudd averaged 17.9 points per game on 53.4% shooting efficiency. Fudd hasn’t found the same efficiency touch, but still scored 22 points in the round of 32 against Baylor. The guard shot 40.9% on Monday, showing that Fudd is getting closer to becoming the player she was prior to her injury.
Juhász also missed time for UConn, but not as much as Fudd. The former Buckeye started and played in 28 games, missing eight games as Juhász returned from a wrist injury and surgery in 2022.
That took Juhász out of the Final Four for UConn, holding her back from her goal of moving to UConn and winning a national championship. The forward’s shooting this season is her best yet, hitting 50.3% of her shots.
The lone star for the Huskies who didn't miss ample time is Edwards. UConn’s starting forward leads the team with 17 points per game and Edwards’ nine rebounds per game is good for second-best on the UConn roster after Juhász.
With the attention Edwards and Juhász draw in the paint, it’ll be a busier defensive game for forwards Eboni Walker and Cotie McMahon. Saturday’s game is similar to the three times Ohio State played the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana, like UConn, has a quick, high-scoring, forward in MacKenzie Homes that the Buckeyes do.
The Scarlet and Gray had one strong game against Holmes, in the Big Ten Tournament where Holmes had 12 points and seven rebounds with McMahon giving special attention to the Hoosier.
Ohio State’s press is also key. UConn hasn't seen many presses this season, but the Buckeyes employ one of, if not the, strongest press if it can effectively get going. The press will only get a chance if head coach Kevin McGuff’s side doesn’t get off to a slow shooting start because the Buckeyes won't really press until they score.
Victory against UNC aside, Ohio State had three rough shooting performances in the first half of games. It caused the Buckeyes to come back from 16 and 24-point games against the Tar Heels and Indiana respectively.
While the comeback against Indiana is impressive. It doesn’t mean Ohio State can let UConn get ahead. Since 1989, the Huskies have proven they aren't a team that can be taken lightly.
Ohio State hasn’t beaten UConn in six attempts. In those six games, the Huskies beat the Buckeyes by at least 10 points per game. Saturday will be closer than previous games.
The Buckeyes hit shots early, and keep in the game throughout the 40 minutes but ultimately fall to the Huskies. UConn will run the rebounding margin over Ohio State, and the Buckeyes will have problems against the players in the paint for the Huskies.
UConn’s win will be closer than the previous six, but choosing against UConn feels like a bad idea in March.
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Television: ABC
Stream: ESPN App
Friday night, also in Seattle, the Iowa Hawkeyes became the first Big Ten team in the tournament to reach the Elite Eight. The Hawkeyes accomplished it by beating the Colorado Buffaloes.
The win didn’t come easily. Iowa jumped to an early 10-point lead but came back to take a five-point lead. It didn’t last long, and when Iowa went up before halftime they never lost the lead. However, with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes cut their deficit to four points.
Iowa responded with forward Monika Czinano hitting a layup, and guard Kate Martin scoring five free throws. The Hawkeyes Elite Eight trip is the fifth in the program’s history.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Huskies compete for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Ohio State women’s basketball is one game away from making the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993, the lone season the Buckeyes made it to the NCAA Championship game. To get to that history-making moment, the Scarlet & Gray have to do it against the 11-time NCAA Champions, the UConn Huskies.
Here’s a game preview.
Preview
The Ohio State Buckeyes and UConn Huskies enter Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen game with different roads. UConn beat Vermont and Baylor, with even a deficit against the Baylor Bears in the first quarter coming back to win by 19 points
Ohio State was down 16 points to the mid-major James Madison Dukes but cut the second-quarter lead to three by halftime. The Buckeyes pulled away in the second half, winning 80-66.
Against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Buckeyes needed a last-second shot by guard Jacy Sheldon to move into the Sweet Sixteen. However, the Scarlet & Gray led from the jump until almost 39 minutes of game time. Ohio State came on top thanks to a last-second shot by Sheldon and a calm performance by forward Eboni Walker.
Saturday is UConn’s 29th Sweet Sixteen in a row, older than any player on either team and Ohio State celebrates its second in a row.
This year’s edition of the Huskies features guard Azzi Fudd and forwards Aaliyah Edwards and Dorka Juhász. A knee injury kept Fudd out of the team for most of the season, but the sophomore returned for the Big East Conference Tournament.
Fudd’s strength is her ability to shoot. Before her knee injury, Fudd averaged 17.9 points per game on 53.4% shooting efficiency. Fudd hasn’t found the same efficiency touch, but still scored 22 points in the round of 32 against Baylor. The guard shot 40.9% on Monday, showing that Fudd is getting closer to becoming the player she was prior to her injury.
Juhász also missed time for UConn, but not as much as Fudd. The former Buckeye started and played in 28 games, missing eight games as Juhász returned from a wrist injury and surgery in 2022.
That took Juhász out of the Final Four for UConn, holding her back from her goal of moving to UConn and winning a national championship. The forward’s shooting this season is her best yet, hitting 50.3% of her shots.
The lone star for the Huskies who didn't miss ample time is Edwards. UConn’s starting forward leads the team with 17 points per game and Edwards’ nine rebounds per game is good for second-best on the UConn roster after Juhász.
With the attention Edwards and Juhász draw in the paint, it’ll be a busier defensive game for forwards Eboni Walker and Cotie McMahon. Saturday’s game is similar to the three times Ohio State played the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana, like UConn, has a quick, high-scoring, forward in MacKenzie Homes that the Buckeyes do.
The Scarlet and Gray had one strong game against Holmes, in the Big Ten Tournament where Holmes had 12 points and seven rebounds with McMahon giving special attention to the Hoosier.
Ohio State’s press is also key. UConn hasn't seen many presses this season, but the Buckeyes employ one of, if not the, strongest press if it can effectively get going. The press will only get a chance if head coach Kevin McGuff’s side doesn’t get off to a slow shooting start because the Buckeyes won't really press until they score.
Victory against UNC aside, Ohio State had three rough shooting performances in the first half of games. It caused the Buckeyes to come back from 16 and 24-point games against the Tar Heels and Indiana respectively.
While the comeback against Indiana is impressive. It doesn’t mean Ohio State can let UConn get ahead. Since 1989, the Huskies have proven they aren't a team that can be taken lightly.
Projected Lineups
Lineup Notes
- Guard Taylor Mikesell leads the NCAA Tournament in three-point efficiency at 38.5%
- Guard Jacy Sheldon has six steals in two March Madness games this season
- Forward Cotie McMahon enters Saturday with six-straight games with double-digit scoring
Lineup Notes
- Forward Aaliyah Edwards leads the Huskies with 48 points across two NCAA Tournament games
- UConn has five players averaging double figures per game
- Forward Aubrey Griffin left UConn’s win over the Baylor Bears with back spasms
Prediction
Ohio State hasn’t beaten UConn in six attempts. In those six games, the Huskies beat the Buckeyes by at least 10 points per game. Saturday will be closer than previous games.
The Buckeyes hit shots early, and keep in the game throughout the 40 minutes but ultimately fall to the Huskies. UConn will run the rebounding margin over Ohio State, and the Buckeyes will have problems against the players in the paint for the Huskies.
UConn’s win will be closer than the previous six, but choosing against UConn feels like a bad idea in March.
How to Watch
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Television: ABC
Stream: ESPN App
LGHL Score Prediction: 88-80 UConn Huskies
Hawkeyes Move On
Friday night, also in Seattle, the Iowa Hawkeyes became the first Big Ten team in the tournament to reach the Elite Eight. The Hawkeyes accomplished it by beating the Colorado Buffaloes.
The win didn’t come easily. Iowa jumped to an early 10-point lead but came back to take a five-point lead. It didn’t last long, and when Iowa went up before halftime they never lost the lead. However, with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes cut their deficit to four points.
Iowa responded with forward Monika Czinano hitting a layup, and guard Kate Martin scoring five free throws. The Hawkeyes Elite Eight trip is the fifth in the program’s history.
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LGHL One year ago today, Ohio State women’s basketball suffered a disappointing loss, but it also paved the way for this year’s success
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One year ago today, Ohio State women’s basketball suffered a disappointing loss, but it also paved the way for this year’s success
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Erik Smith/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The game didn’t go the Buckeyes’ way, but what happened afterwards set the team on a course for returning to the Sweet Sixteen.
On March 24, 2022, the Ohio State women’s basketball team was the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. After beating the LSU Tigers convincingly in a rowdy PMAC Arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a narrative that the Buckeyes struggled against top teams was silenced. The Scarlet & Gray moved on to Spokane, Washington for a Sweet Sixteen matchup against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns battled for three quarters. Each side hoped for a spot in the Elite Eight, trading blows. After 10 lead changes though, Ohio State stalled. For 3:48 on the game clock, the Buckeyes couldn’t hit a shot, and guard Rori Harmon and the Longhorns capitalized, pushing the lead to 10 points.
Ohio State swapped a cold spell with Texas, but the deficit couldn’t be completely wiped away. The Buckeyes exited the NCAA Tournament in a 66-63 defeat.
Guard Taylor Mikesell did all she could that night to get the win for Ohio State. The first-year transfer who joined the Buckeyes after two years with the Maryland Terrapins and one tough season with the Oregon Ducks went 3-for-4 from deep.
Mikesell led the team with 19 points, turning the ball over only once as the only member of the Scarlet & Gray playing every second of the game.
In the weeks leading up to the NCAA Tournament, talk swirled about Mikesell’s decision: Go professional and be one-and-done at Ohio State or return for a fifth and final NCAA season. After the defeat to Texas,
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24532782/1387856575.jpg "NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament - Sweet 16 - Spokane")
Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images
Even with a standout performance, the Buckeyes couldn’t get past the Longhorns in the 2022 Sweet Sixteen.
As Mikesell and guard Jacy Sheldon awaited the media, Sheldon said something to Mikesell.
“Me and Jacy (Sheldon) kind of looked at each other and said ‘We can do something really special,’” said Mikesell. “I just remember her saying “dude you’ve got to come back.’”
It didn’t take long for Mikesell and Sheldon to build a reputation around the Big Ten. Named the “splash sisters,” the two Ohio-born guards lit up opposing offenses. Mikesell with the deep three and floating layup and Sheldon with cutting moves to the basket and defensive pressure.
That conversation between two 21-22 All-B1G First Team selections, guards who led the Buckeyes on and off the court, held weight. The loss was the catalyst that spurred on what came next: A Mikesell return for one final ride with Ohio State.
“I have a feeling in that moment, as a competitor, you hate leaving that bitter taste in your mouth,” said Mikesell. “It kind of clicked that ‘yeah I’m coming back.’”
Mikesell’s decision paid dividends.
The 22-23 season picked up where the last season finished off. Mikesell brought back her on and off-court leadership, and sharpshooting from deep. Sheldon returned possessing even more tenacity on defense as the starting point guard, a role Sheldon only picked up in the previous year following injuries to Madison Greene and Kateri Poole.
Ohio State’s season began by beating the then No. 5 team in the country, the Tennesse Volunteers. A win where the Buckeyes came out of the halftime locker room down eight points, which Mikesell helped wipe away in a quarter.
The guard scored 15 of the Buckeyes’ third-quarter points, hitting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, outscoring the Volunteers who had 13 total points. In the next game, Sheldon tied a program record, grabbing 11 steals in a win against the Boston College Eagles.
It looked like Ohio State had become a force to be reckoned with, until the end of November. That’s when Sheldon went down with a lower leg injury that led to the guard playing only one of the Buckeyes’ last 22 regular season games.
Less than a month later, Greene, who returned in the 22-23 season after a knee injury kept her completely out of the 21-22 Buckeyes’ Sweet Sixteen run, suffered another season-ending knee injury. However, in part because of Mikesell’s presence, Ohio State continued winning.
Mikesell shifted from a shooting guard to a do-everything guard. Along with redshirt junior Rikki Harris, the two alternated point guard duties for spells of games. Even with the added defensive attention Mikesell received without Sheldon on the court, the guard continued her high productivity.
With a permanent shadow on offense of the opposition’s best defending guard, Mikesell led the Buckeyes scoring 17.2 points in the final 25 games leading into the NCAA Tournament.
While Mikesell’s three-point efficiency lowered slightly from her NCAA-leading numbers throughout the 21-22 season, Mikesell still used her quick release to keep the Buckeyes competing despite a decimation of the point guard role due to injury.
Even as Ohio State went through the struggles of losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, and Maryland Terrapins within a few weeks of each other, Mikesell and other Buckeye leaders helped get the team out of their funk at the right time.
Now, with a Sweet Sixteen game looming for the second straight season and Sheldon back from injury, eyes are set on UConn.
“I think honestly our chemistry is at an all-time high right now. We kinda all got healthy at the right time,” said Sheldon. “I’m excited to continue to see us continue to grow. We’ve played a lot of good games but to be honest I don’t think we’ve played our best game yet.”
That’s what the Buckeyes are hoping for on Saturday.
UConn is a side that features formidable talent and is led by historic coaching. Guard Azzi Fudd, forward Aaliyah Edwards, and head coach Geno Auriemma have the Huskies looking for their 15th Final Four run in a row. This a stark contrast to an Ohio State side hoping to make it to the Final Four for only the second time since their lone trip to the championship game 30 years ago.
While the Scarlet and Gray is hoping to boost their program’s stature to another level, UConn’s been there for 24 years, winning 11 national titles in the process. However, Mikesell’s leveraging that motivation to return, the 2022 Sweet Sixteen defeat, like she does anything: For the betterment of the team.
“I think we’re familiar with the feeling of losing to get to that next level,” said Mikesell. “So definitely want to get past that this point, this year. Just a little bit added just me personally this is my last chance I want to go as far as possible.”
Every game is potentially the last for the graduate senior, Mikesell. A guard who grows through past trials like going through struggles in the Oregon program or losing earlier than the team wanted in March Madness. Mikesell is another piece, an important piece, of a competitive edge Ohio State will use on Saturday.
“This is the most competitive team I’ve ever been on and I think that takes you really far,” said Sheldon. “Our want to compete and our want to go out there and show them everything that we have is making us excited.”
That competitive fire is something the Buckeyes would have less of if Mikesell made a different decision last year.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24532771/mikesell_senior_night.jpeg)
Ben Cole - Land-Grant Holy Land
Mikesell often credits the return to Ohio, and playing for Ohio State, as the best decision she’s made. The Massillon native went from the East Coast all the way out west before returning home again. Now, with the support of Scarlet & Gray fans and with her family sitting in the stands, Mikesell and the Buckeyes return to the Pacific Northwest to create a different ending than the loss against Texas.
“The body of work that we’ve done for two years has been pretty incredible,” said Mikesell. “But we’re obviously not satisfied with where we’re at.”
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Erik Smith/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The game didn’t go the Buckeyes’ way, but what happened afterwards set the team on a course for returning to the Sweet Sixteen.
On March 24, 2022, the Ohio State women’s basketball team was the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. After beating the LSU Tigers convincingly in a rowdy PMAC Arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a narrative that the Buckeyes struggled against top teams was silenced. The Scarlet & Gray moved on to Spokane, Washington for a Sweet Sixteen matchup against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns battled for three quarters. Each side hoped for a spot in the Elite Eight, trading blows. After 10 lead changes though, Ohio State stalled. For 3:48 on the game clock, the Buckeyes couldn’t hit a shot, and guard Rori Harmon and the Longhorns capitalized, pushing the lead to 10 points.
Ohio State swapped a cold spell with Texas, but the deficit couldn’t be completely wiped away. The Buckeyes exited the NCAA Tournament in a 66-63 defeat.
Guard Taylor Mikesell did all she could that night to get the win for Ohio State. The first-year transfer who joined the Buckeyes after two years with the Maryland Terrapins and one tough season with the Oregon Ducks went 3-for-4 from deep.
Mikesell led the team with 19 points, turning the ball over only once as the only member of the Scarlet & Gray playing every second of the game.
In the weeks leading up to the NCAA Tournament, talk swirled about Mikesell’s decision: Go professional and be one-and-done at Ohio State or return for a fifth and final NCAA season. After the defeat to Texas,
Even with a standout performance, the Buckeyes couldn’t get past the Longhorns in the 2022 Sweet Sixteen.
As Mikesell and guard Jacy Sheldon awaited the media, Sheldon said something to Mikesell.
“Me and Jacy (Sheldon) kind of looked at each other and said ‘We can do something really special,’” said Mikesell. “I just remember her saying “dude you’ve got to come back.’”
It didn’t take long for Mikesell and Sheldon to build a reputation around the Big Ten. Named the “splash sisters,” the two Ohio-born guards lit up opposing offenses. Mikesell with the deep three and floating layup and Sheldon with cutting moves to the basket and defensive pressure.
That conversation between two 21-22 All-B1G First Team selections, guards who led the Buckeyes on and off the court, held weight. The loss was the catalyst that spurred on what came next: A Mikesell return for one final ride with Ohio State.
“I have a feeling in that moment, as a competitor, you hate leaving that bitter taste in your mouth,” said Mikesell. “It kind of clicked that ‘yeah I’m coming back.’”
Mikesell’s decision paid dividends.
The 22-23 season picked up where the last season finished off. Mikesell brought back her on and off-court leadership, and sharpshooting from deep. Sheldon returned possessing even more tenacity on defense as the starting point guard, a role Sheldon only picked up in the previous year following injuries to Madison Greene and Kateri Poole.
Ohio State’s season began by beating the then No. 5 team in the country, the Tennesse Volunteers. A win where the Buckeyes came out of the halftime locker room down eight points, which Mikesell helped wipe away in a quarter.
The guard scored 15 of the Buckeyes’ third-quarter points, hitting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, outscoring the Volunteers who had 13 total points. In the next game, Sheldon tied a program record, grabbing 11 steals in a win against the Boston College Eagles.
It looked like Ohio State had become a force to be reckoned with, until the end of November. That’s when Sheldon went down with a lower leg injury that led to the guard playing only one of the Buckeyes’ last 22 regular season games.
Less than a month later, Greene, who returned in the 22-23 season after a knee injury kept her completely out of the 21-22 Buckeyes’ Sweet Sixteen run, suffered another season-ending knee injury. However, in part because of Mikesell’s presence, Ohio State continued winning.
Mikesell shifted from a shooting guard to a do-everything guard. Along with redshirt junior Rikki Harris, the two alternated point guard duties for spells of games. Even with the added defensive attention Mikesell received without Sheldon on the court, the guard continued her high productivity.
With a permanent shadow on offense of the opposition’s best defending guard, Mikesell led the Buckeyes scoring 17.2 points in the final 25 games leading into the NCAA Tournament.
While Mikesell’s three-point efficiency lowered slightly from her NCAA-leading numbers throughout the 21-22 season, Mikesell still used her quick release to keep the Buckeyes competing despite a decimation of the point guard role due to injury.
Even as Ohio State went through the struggles of losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Indiana Hoosiers, and Maryland Terrapins within a few weeks of each other, Mikesell and other Buckeye leaders helped get the team out of their funk at the right time.
Now, with a Sweet Sixteen game looming for the second straight season and Sheldon back from injury, eyes are set on UConn.
“I think honestly our chemistry is at an all-time high right now. We kinda all got healthy at the right time,” said Sheldon. “I’m excited to continue to see us continue to grow. We’ve played a lot of good games but to be honest I don’t think we’ve played our best game yet.”
That’s what the Buckeyes are hoping for on Saturday.
UConn is a side that features formidable talent and is led by historic coaching. Guard Azzi Fudd, forward Aaliyah Edwards, and head coach Geno Auriemma have the Huskies looking for their 15th Final Four run in a row. This a stark contrast to an Ohio State side hoping to make it to the Final Four for only the second time since their lone trip to the championship game 30 years ago.
While the Scarlet and Gray is hoping to boost their program’s stature to another level, UConn’s been there for 24 years, winning 11 national titles in the process. However, Mikesell’s leveraging that motivation to return, the 2022 Sweet Sixteen defeat, like she does anything: For the betterment of the team.
“I think we’re familiar with the feeling of losing to get to that next level,” said Mikesell. “So definitely want to get past that this point, this year. Just a little bit added just me personally this is my last chance I want to go as far as possible.”
Every game is potentially the last for the graduate senior, Mikesell. A guard who grows through past trials like going through struggles in the Oregon program or losing earlier than the team wanted in March Madness. Mikesell is another piece, an important piece, of a competitive edge Ohio State will use on Saturday.
“This is the most competitive team I’ve ever been on and I think that takes you really far,” said Sheldon. “Our want to compete and our want to go out there and show them everything that we have is making us excited.”
That competitive fire is something the Buckeyes would have less of if Mikesell made a different decision last year.
Mikesell often credits the return to Ohio, and playing for Ohio State, as the best decision she’s made. The Massillon native went from the East Coast all the way out west before returning home again. Now, with the support of Scarlet & Gray fans and with her family sitting in the stands, Mikesell and the Buckeyes return to the Pacific Northwest to create a different ending than the loss against Texas.
“The body of work that we’ve done for two years has been pretty incredible,” said Mikesell. “But we’re obviously not satisfied with where we’re at.”
Continue reading...
LGHL Four Storylines: No. 3 Ohio State women vs. No. 2 UConn in Sweet Sixteen
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Four Storylines: No. 3 Ohio State women vs. No. 2 UConn in Sweet Sixteen
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
What to watch for in Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen battle in Seattle
Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET, the Sweet Sixteen regional semifinal tips off in Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. It features two forces in college sports for different reasons: The Ohio State women’s basketball team and the UConn Huskies.
On the Ohio State side, their presence looms large over the sport in the size of the university’s athletic department and success across sports, even if the women’s basketball program doesn’t have a national championship trophy to its name. On the UConn side, they’re the winningest team in women’s NCAA Division I basketball, amassing a trophy cabinet including a nation-leading 11 National Championships.
There are numerous elements in this game. Here are four of the biggest storylines to focus your attention this weekend.
The UConn Huskies are a team that can hurt an opponent anywhere on the court but for the Buckeyes a spot to always watch is in the post. Ohio State isn’t a strong rebounding team and sides with quick dominating bigs create a liability for the Buckeyes.
UConn has that with forwards Aaliyah Edwards (17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game), Aubrey Griffin (11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game) and former Buckeye Dorka Juhász (14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game). Starting the game will likely be Edwards and Juhász. Of the two, Edwards has the traits to hurt Ohio State the most.
“One of the things that makes her so special is just she’s an incredible athlete but she can play around the basket and on the perimeter,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “I’m hoping, especially when we have forward Eboni Walker out there, that we can kind of match that a little bit.”
Since Feb. 13, Walker’s started every game for the Scarlet & Gray with forward Rebeka Mikulášiková suffering a high ankle sprain on Feb. 8. In those nine starts, Walker’s results have been mixed but she enters the Sweet Sixteen on the back of two strong performances.
Against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Monday, in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, Walker scored 15 points and had four offensive rebounds and seven boards overall. Walker’s most impressive statistic was having zero turnovers, showing the growing patience she’s brought on the court.
Walker’s also quicker on her feet than Mikulášiková, although coach McGuff loses the three-point shooting of Mikulášiková when Walker is on the court. Walker’s patience and agility near the basket is crucial if Ohio State wants to compete for 40 minutes against UConn.
Underclassmen forwards Taylor Thierry and Cotie McMahon will join Walker in that responsibility. In the Big Ten Tournament, McMahon excelled especially against the Indiana Hoosiers, cutting off passes to AP All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes.
This season, something the Huskies haven’t seen a lot is a a full court defensive press. According to Her Hoops Stats, UConn is in the bottom 10th percentile for facing the press this season. Now, the perennial contenders go into Saturday facing one of the toughest presses in the country.
That gives Ohio State a distinct advantage, if the the Buckeyes’ press can get set. For that, there needs to be shots falling for the Scarlet & Gray. Should that happen, UConn will need to adjust.
Back home in Connecticut this week, the Huskies worked on the press in practice, hoping to duplicate it with practice players. The players chosen, according to guard Lou Lopez Sénéchal “the bigger ones, the more athletic ones” in an effort to replicate what Ohio State does on the court.
While a practice team might not get everything right, it still helps UConn who not only doesn’t see the defensive set often but they also give up the second most turnovers in the Big East. The Huskies give the ball away 16.4 times per game on average, with a turnover margin of -2.12.
When you take a look at guard Jacy Sheldon’s moments since returning from a foot injury, there are highlights of a game-winner in the NCAA Tournament, well-timed steals and a team-leading 14 assists in the last two March Madness games.
Even so, Sheldon is healthy but still not fully back to the pre-injury star. Should Sheldon’s trajectory of increasing productivity and defensive effectiveness continue against the UConn Huskies, it makes a game that many think will be a Huskies blowout something much more interesting.
“We play much faster transitioning to offense when she’s in the game,” said McGuff. “She just pushes the ball so aggressively and everybody’s got to come with her. And then we’re more effective in our press. Her ball pressure, her speed quickness, ability to cover ground, quick hands just puts us at another level.”
Sheldon’s scoring is also increasing. For the 23 games the Dublin, Ohio guard missed this season, the Buckeyes needed larger individual efforts on offense to make up for the Sheldon’s 19.7 points averaged in the 21-22 season.
In three Big Ten Tournament games, Sheldon scored 18 points, 12 of which coming in the 24-point comeback against the Hoosiers. So far in two NCAA Tournament games, Sheldon has 17 and 16 points against James Madison and North Carolina respectively.
If Sheldon finds the space to move and shoot against the Huskies, don’t count Ohio State out of the game.
An enemy for a lot of teams is the injury bug. This season, UConn’s felt it more than most. All season, the Huskies have mostly played with a 10-player roster thanks to injuries to star guard Azzi Fudd and Griffin. Not to mention guard Paige Bueckers and freshman forward Isuneh “Ice” Brady who each missed the entire season before it even began.
UConn returned both Fudd and Griffin as the postseason began. Against the Baylor Bears, in the Second Round, Fudd scored 17 points in the third quarter of the win and Griffin grabbed 12 rebounds.
However, like Sheldon, both aren’t back to their 100% selves. In Fudd’s five games, the guard is shooting 33.3% from the field, as opposed to her 53.4% shooting in nine games to start the season. For Griffin, the forward left the game for UConn against Baylor with back spasms, playing 19 minutes in the UConn victory.
The hope is both teams play injury free basketball, but the injuries leading to Saturday’s game still have an impact.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
What to watch for in Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen battle in Seattle
Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET, the Sweet Sixteen regional semifinal tips off in Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. It features two forces in college sports for different reasons: The Ohio State women’s basketball team and the UConn Huskies.
On the Ohio State side, their presence looms large over the sport in the size of the university’s athletic department and success across sports, even if the women’s basketball program doesn’t have a national championship trophy to its name. On the UConn side, they’re the winningest team in women’s NCAA Division I basketball, amassing a trophy cabinet including a nation-leading 11 National Championships.
There are numerous elements in this game. Here are four of the biggest storylines to focus your attention this weekend.
In the Paint
The UConn Huskies are a team that can hurt an opponent anywhere on the court but for the Buckeyes a spot to always watch is in the post. Ohio State isn’t a strong rebounding team and sides with quick dominating bigs create a liability for the Buckeyes.
UConn has that with forwards Aaliyah Edwards (17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game), Aubrey Griffin (11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game) and former Buckeye Dorka Juhász (14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game). Starting the game will likely be Edwards and Juhász. Of the two, Edwards has the traits to hurt Ohio State the most.
Nika MühlAaliyah Edwards pic.twitter.com/Fnuz8Bo098
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 21, 2023
“One of the things that makes her so special is just she’s an incredible athlete but she can play around the basket and on the perimeter,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “I’m hoping, especially when we have forward Eboni Walker out there, that we can kind of match that a little bit.”
Since Feb. 13, Walker’s started every game for the Scarlet & Gray with forward Rebeka Mikulášiková suffering a high ankle sprain on Feb. 8. In those nine starts, Walker’s results have been mixed but she enters the Sweet Sixteen on the back of two strong performances.
Against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Monday, in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, Walker scored 15 points and had four offensive rebounds and seven boards overall. Walker’s most impressive statistic was having zero turnovers, showing the growing patience she’s brought on the court.
Walker’s also quicker on her feet than Mikulášiková, although coach McGuff loses the three-point shooting of Mikulášiková when Walker is on the court. Walker’s patience and agility near the basket is crucial if Ohio State wants to compete for 40 minutes against UConn.
Underclassmen forwards Taylor Thierry and Cotie McMahon will join Walker in that responsibility. In the Big Ten Tournament, McMahon excelled especially against the Indiana Hoosiers, cutting off passes to AP All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes.
UConn’s Offense in the Press
This season, something the Huskies haven’t seen a lot is a a full court defensive press. According to Her Hoops Stats, UConn is in the bottom 10th percentile for facing the press this season. Now, the perennial contenders go into Saturday facing one of the toughest presses in the country.
That gives Ohio State a distinct advantage, if the the Buckeyes’ press can get set. For that, there needs to be shots falling for the Scarlet & Gray. Should that happen, UConn will need to adjust.
Back home in Connecticut this week, the Huskies worked on the press in practice, hoping to duplicate it with practice players. The players chosen, according to guard Lou Lopez Sénéchal “the bigger ones, the more athletic ones” in an effort to replicate what Ohio State does on the court.
While a practice team might not get everything right, it still helps UConn who not only doesn’t see the defensive set often but they also give up the second most turnovers in the Big East. The Huskies give the ball away 16.4 times per game on average, with a turnover margin of -2.12.
Jacy Sheldon’s Return Continues
When you take a look at guard Jacy Sheldon’s moments since returning from a foot injury, there are highlights of a game-winner in the NCAA Tournament, well-timed steals and a team-leading 14 assists in the last two March Madness games.
Even so, Sheldon is healthy but still not fully back to the pre-injury star. Should Sheldon’s trajectory of increasing productivity and defensive effectiveness continue against the UConn Huskies, it makes a game that many think will be a Huskies blowout something much more interesting.
“We play much faster transitioning to offense when she’s in the game,” said McGuff. “She just pushes the ball so aggressively and everybody’s got to come with her. And then we’re more effective in our press. Her ball pressure, her speed quickness, ability to cover ground, quick hands just puts us at another level.”
ICE IN HER VEINS
— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) March 20, 2023
Sheldon’s scoring is also increasing. For the 23 games the Dublin, Ohio guard missed this season, the Buckeyes needed larger individual efforts on offense to make up for the Sheldon’s 19.7 points averaged in the 21-22 season.
In three Big Ten Tournament games, Sheldon scored 18 points, 12 of which coming in the 24-point comeback against the Hoosiers. So far in two NCAA Tournament games, Sheldon has 17 and 16 points against James Madison and North Carolina respectively.
If Sheldon finds the space to move and shoot against the Huskies, don’t count Ohio State out of the game.
UConn’s Health
An enemy for a lot of teams is the injury bug. This season, UConn’s felt it more than most. All season, the Huskies have mostly played with a 10-player roster thanks to injuries to star guard Azzi Fudd and Griffin. Not to mention guard Paige Bueckers and freshman forward Isuneh “Ice” Brady who each missed the entire season before it even began.
UConn returned both Fudd and Griffin as the postseason began. Against the Baylor Bears, in the Second Round, Fudd scored 17 points in the third quarter of the win and Griffin grabbed 12 rebounds.
However, like Sheldon, both aren’t back to their 100% selves. In Fudd’s five games, the guard is shooting 33.3% from the field, as opposed to her 53.4% shooting in nine games to start the season. For Griffin, the forward left the game for UConn against Baylor with back spasms, playing 19 minutes in the UConn victory.
The hope is both teams play injury free basketball, but the injuries leading to Saturday’s game still have an impact.
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LGHL 7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the NFL Draft - 5th Round
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7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the NFL Draft - 5th Round
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 Mark Cunningham/Getty Images
These Scarlet and Gray legends produced the highest ROI relative to when they were selected in the NFL Draft.
Since 1936, the first year in which an official pro football draft took place, 481 Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft. Two players – Russ Thomas and Bob Meyers – were actually drafted into the NFL twice, in back-to-back (but separate) years. And 14 of those 481 former Buckeyes were also taken in the AFL Draft, including the legendary Hall of Fame wideout Paul Warfield. That makes 497 total draft picks for OSU since Gomer Jones was selected by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals nearly a century ago.
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Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Warfield counts for two
Of the nearly 500 Buckeyes taken, hundreds have enjoyed successful pro careers, while others flamed out and/or never played a snap after their time in Columbus. The Ohio State football program has produced NFL Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, Players and Rookies of the Year, ten-year tackling dummies, one-and-doners, monumental busts, and everything in between.
All of these former OSU football players share one thing in common, which is their affiliation with THE greatest university on the planet. Conversely, one thing that sets them all apart is their varying degrees of success (or lack thereof) in the NFL.
Another way to look at it is in terms of value. Each of these players produced value – positive or negative – for the team which drafted them. And that is what I am going to look at in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. I am going to attempt to identify the seven best Scarlet and Gray values, picking only one player from each round (length of the modern draft, and going in reverse order).
Before we get started, “best” and “most” must be sorted out. Best value is not the same as most valuable. And “most valuable” is not the same as “best value.” Warfield, Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Jack Tatum, or Jim Parker would inarguably be among the most valuable (former) Buckeyes at the professional level. All became team captains, Pro Bowlers, eventual Hall of Famers, you name it. But they were also taken within the first 20 picks of their respective drafts, whereas Dick LeBeau made the NFL Hall of Fame as a fifth-rounder.
I might argue that LeBeau was the better overall value because of where/when he was drafted. But going round by round means I do not have to choose between Pace or LeBeau, which is a good thing because there are already plenty of difficult decisions ahead... Without further ado, let’s go bargain shopping.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24504728/usa_today_3545521.jpg)
David Boss-USA TODAY Sports
Heavily featured in the intro above, LeBeau might be remembered more for his coaching career, which lasted 45 (!) years. But to ignore his achievements as a player would be doing a major disservice to this former Buckeye. Because LeBeau was a legend long before he ever wore a coaching headset.
A two-way contributor for Woody Hayes’ 1957 national championship team, he then went on to snatch 62 interceptions during a 14-year NFL career which ultimately earned him a HOF nod in 2010. We’re talking about an all-time great and one of the stingiest defensive backs the NFL has ever seen... A damn fine career for any player, let alone a fifth-round draft pick.
Now, it should be pointed out that LeBeau was drafted 58th overall in 1959 — with a pick that would currently fall in the latter half of the second round. However, the NFL was much smaller 60+ years ago, and a fifth-rounder is a fifth-rounder. Interestingly enough, LeBeau became the most accomplished player from his draft class, but we’ll get to that later.
Prior to being selected in the 1959 NFL Draft, LeBeau was a two-way standout for Ohio State. And prior to that, he made his mark in London, Ohio, just west of Columbus. He chose to remain close to home (for college) and suited up for the Scarlet and Gray from 1956-1958.
As a halfback for the Buckeyes, LeBeau scored nine career touchdowns and threw a handful of passes... I think. OSU only lists official stats dating back to 1960, so we’ll have to trust the rest of the internet on this one. But it was LeBeau’s play at corner which caught the eye(s) of most NFL teams. The Cleveland Browns were particularly impressed and selected the sticky cover man with pick No. 58, making him the fourth Ohio State player taken in that ‘59 draft.
Unfortunately for the ol’ Brownies, they made the mistake of cutting LeBeau before he ever played a game in Cleveland. The team severed ties with their rookie DB during training camp, leaving the homegrown Buckeye unemployed for a period of time. Although not the start he likely envisioned, LeBeau did eventually find work with the Detroit Lions, for whom he played the entirety of his career. So all’s well that ends well, I suppose.
Initially a backup, LeBeau earned a spot in the starting lineup for the final six games of his rookie campaign. He then remained in the Lions’ lineup for over a decade, not missing a game until his second-to-last season in 1971. The ultimate ironman, he was paired with fellow Hall of Famer Dick “Night Train” Lane from ‘60-65 and helped form one of the league’s best secondary units.
LeBeau picked off at least three passes in 12 straight seasons and earned Second Team All-Pro recognition in 1964, ‘65, and ‘70. He was also named to the Pro Bowl three times, although not after his amazing 1970 season. As a 33-year-old corner that year, the soon-to-be coach came down with 9 INT in 14 games to lead the NFC.
Detroit experienced a mixed bag of success with LeBeau on the team, but his stellar individual play was consistent. He finished his career with 62 INT, which ranked third all-time in 1972 (LeBeau’s last season) and seventh all these years later. The former OSU great then transitioned to coaching immediately upon retirement and became one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time.
For 44 years, much of it spent in the AFC North, LeBeau designed, developed, and coached some of the best defenses in the league. He helped turn the Cincinnati Bengals into a contender during the 80s and 90’s before overseeing one of the best pass-rushes ever in Pittsburgh. LeBeau has also been credited with inventing the zone blitz and popularizing the 3-4 base defense.
All told, LeBeau spent 59 years in the NFL. Fifty. Nine... A fifth-round pick in any sport is lucky to spend 59 weeks in the league, forget about 59 years spanning multiple generations. But this former Buckeye was and is one of a kind in the football world, making him the most valuable fifth-rounder to ever wear shoulder pads for the Scarlet and Gray.
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 Mark Cunningham/Getty Images
These Scarlet and Gray legends produced the highest ROI relative to when they were selected in the NFL Draft.
Since 1936, the first year in which an official pro football draft took place, 481 Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft. Two players – Russ Thomas and Bob Meyers – were actually drafted into the NFL twice, in back-to-back (but separate) years. And 14 of those 481 former Buckeyes were also taken in the AFL Draft, including the legendary Hall of Fame wideout Paul Warfield. That makes 497 total draft picks for OSU since Gomer Jones was selected by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals nearly a century ago.
Warfield counts for two
Of the nearly 500 Buckeyes taken, hundreds have enjoyed successful pro careers, while others flamed out and/or never played a snap after their time in Columbus. The Ohio State football program has produced NFL Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, Players and Rookies of the Year, ten-year tackling dummies, one-and-doners, monumental busts, and everything in between.
All of these former OSU football players share one thing in common, which is their affiliation with THE greatest university on the planet. Conversely, one thing that sets them all apart is their varying degrees of success (or lack thereof) in the NFL.
Another way to look at it is in terms of value. Each of these players produced value – positive or negative – for the team which drafted them. And that is what I am going to look at in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. I am going to attempt to identify the seven best Scarlet and Gray values, picking only one player from each round (length of the modern draft, and going in reverse order).
Before we get started, “best” and “most” must be sorted out. Best value is not the same as most valuable. And “most valuable” is not the same as “best value.” Warfield, Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Jack Tatum, or Jim Parker would inarguably be among the most valuable (former) Buckeyes at the professional level. All became team captains, Pro Bowlers, eventual Hall of Famers, you name it. But they were also taken within the first 20 picks of their respective drafts, whereas Dick LeBeau made the NFL Hall of Fame as a fifth-rounder.
I might argue that LeBeau was the better overall value because of where/when he was drafted. But going round by round means I do not have to choose between Pace or LeBeau, which is a good thing because there are already plenty of difficult decisions ahead... Without further ado, let’s go bargain shopping.
Round 5: Dick LeBeau, Cornerback
Heavily featured in the intro above, LeBeau might be remembered more for his coaching career, which lasted 45 (!) years. But to ignore his achievements as a player would be doing a major disservice to this former Buckeye. Because LeBeau was a legend long before he ever wore a coaching headset.
A two-way contributor for Woody Hayes’ 1957 national championship team, he then went on to snatch 62 interceptions during a 14-year NFL career which ultimately earned him a HOF nod in 2010. We’re talking about an all-time great and one of the stingiest defensive backs the NFL has ever seen... A damn fine career for any player, let alone a fifth-round draft pick.
**LeBeau was actually cut during training camp as a rookie before he ever played a down for the team that drafted him. So his inclusion on this list could be argued against because he did not provide any value to said team. But it’s my list and he is a legend, so deal with it.
Now, it should be pointed out that LeBeau was drafted 58th overall in 1959 — with a pick that would currently fall in the latter half of the second round. However, the NFL was much smaller 60+ years ago, and a fifth-rounder is a fifth-rounder. Interestingly enough, LeBeau became the most accomplished player from his draft class, but we’ll get to that later.
Prior to being selected in the 1959 NFL Draft, LeBeau was a two-way standout for Ohio State. And prior to that, he made his mark in London, Ohio, just west of Columbus. He chose to remain close to home (for college) and suited up for the Scarlet and Gray from 1956-1958.
As a halfback for the Buckeyes, LeBeau scored nine career touchdowns and threw a handful of passes... I think. OSU only lists official stats dating back to 1960, so we’ll have to trust the rest of the internet on this one. But it was LeBeau’s play at corner which caught the eye(s) of most NFL teams. The Cleveland Browns were particularly impressed and selected the sticky cover man with pick No. 58, making him the fourth Ohio State player taken in that ‘59 draft.
Unfortunately for the ol’ Brownies, they made the mistake of cutting LeBeau before he ever played a game in Cleveland. The team severed ties with their rookie DB during training camp, leaving the homegrown Buckeye unemployed for a period of time. Although not the start he likely envisioned, LeBeau did eventually find work with the Detroit Lions, for whom he played the entirety of his career. So all’s well that ends well, I suppose.
Initially a backup, LeBeau earned a spot in the starting lineup for the final six games of his rookie campaign. He then remained in the Lions’ lineup for over a decade, not missing a game until his second-to-last season in 1971. The ultimate ironman, he was paired with fellow Hall of Famer Dick “Night Train” Lane from ‘60-65 and helped form one of the league’s best secondary units.
LeBeau picked off at least three passes in 12 straight seasons and earned Second Team All-Pro recognition in 1964, ‘65, and ‘70. He was also named to the Pro Bowl three times, although not after his amazing 1970 season. As a 33-year-old corner that year, the soon-to-be coach came down with 9 INT in 14 games to lead the NFC.
Detroit experienced a mixed bag of success with LeBeau on the team, but his stellar individual play was consistent. He finished his career with 62 INT, which ranked third all-time in 1972 (LeBeau’s last season) and seventh all these years later. The former OSU great then transitioned to coaching immediately upon retirement and became one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time.
For 44 years, much of it spent in the AFC North, LeBeau designed, developed, and coached some of the best defenses in the league. He helped turn the Cincinnati Bengals into a contender during the 80s and 90’s before overseeing one of the best pass-rushes ever in Pittsburgh. LeBeau has also been credited with inventing the zone blitz and popularizing the 3-4 base defense.
All told, LeBeau spent 59 years in the NFL. Fifty. Nine... A fifth-round pick in any sport is lucky to spend 59 weeks in the league, forget about 59 years spanning multiple generations. But this former Buckeye was and is one of a kind in the football world, making him the most valuable fifth-rounder to ever wear shoulder pads for the Scarlet and Gray.
Continue reading...