-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Despite being 3-9 in Big Ten play, Ohio State is actually favored over Northwestern tonight
- News
- 0 Replies
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.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
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.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: Ohio State’s season comes down to a matchup against Northwestern. If they lose, there is nothing left to salvage
- News
- 0 Replies
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.
Continue reading...
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.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: What to watch at Ohio State in February
- News
- 0 Replies
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading...
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.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: Ohio State and Columbus are missing out on some fun outdoor hockey events
- News
- 0 Replies
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.
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.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24419401/461445285.jpg "2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Toronto Maple Leafs v Detroit Red Wings")
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.
Continue reading...
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
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.
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.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Coming to grips with a (probably) lost season
- News
- 0 Replies
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.
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.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
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
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
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.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
2025 SC DL Amare Adams (Clemson Signee)
- Football Recruiting
- 4 Replies
247 Profile
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Defensive Line
School: Lake City (SC) Lake City
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 285 lbs
This kid is likely to start grabbing a lot of offers over the next year.
Rivals
HUDL
ON3
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Defensive Line
School: Lake City (SC) Lake City
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 285 lbs
This kid is likely to start grabbing a lot of offers over the next year.
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Northwestern: Game preview and prediction
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Northwestern: Game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State will try and sweep the regular season series with Northwestern when the Buckeyes host the Wildcats tonight.
Following a 77-69 loss up in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Ohio State returns home tonight to take on Northwestern. The Buckeyes will be trying to sweep the regular season series against the Wildcats. The last time these two teams met was on the first day of 2023, with Ohio State easily defeating Northwestern 73-57 in Evanston.
The Buckeyes had no answer for Hunter Dickinson on Sunday, with the Michigan big man scoring 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. The Wolverines led 41-36 at halftime, and didn’t allow Ohio State to cut into the deficit much in the second half. The Buckeyes were able to pull to within three points a couple times early in the second half before the home team pulled away for good.
One bright spot for Ohio State in the game was Bruce Thornton, who was 10-for-13 from the field, finishing with a career-high 22 points. Thornton was about the only Buckeye that took good shots in the game. Head coach Chris Holtmann thought his team took too many unbalanced, low percentage shots over length on Sunday. Holtmann also believes his team needs to take more threes. Ohio State was just 5-of-16 from behind the arc against Michigan.
Thornton’s output on Sunday marked the first time since Ohio State hosted Rutgers back in December that Brice Sensabaugh didn’t lead the Buckeyes in scoring. Sensabaugh came off the bench on Sunday, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Unfortunately, the freshman’s day ended a little early, as he fouled out for the second consecutive game. Justice Sueing also scored 14 points in the loss.
An area that really hurt the Buckeyes against Michigan was in the paint. Dickinson had a big game for the Wolverines, recording a double-double. Zed Key is still dealing with the shoulder injury he suffered in the Purdue game, limiting his effectiveness on the court. To try and make up for some of the defense and rebounding lost because of the injury to Key, Holtmann turned to Eugene Brown III.
It sounds as if Brown will see more playing time the rest of the year. Against Michigan, Brown played 13:41, which was his second-highest total of the season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24419043/usa_today_19931200.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Northwestern at Wisconsin")
Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
With the loss, the Buckeyes have only won two of the 11 games they have played in 2023 One of those wins came on the first day of the year against Northwestern. Ohio State never trailed in the game, winning 73-57. Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes with 18 points, while three of his teammates also were able to reach double figures in the scoring column. Key recorded a double-double in the victory, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
While Ohio State has stumbled mightily since beating Northwestern, the same can’t be said about the Wildcats, who enter tonight’s game with a 16-7 record this year. In Big Ten play, Northwestern is 7-5, which puts them in right in the middle of a gaggle of teams that sit three or four games behind Purdue in the conference standings. Following tonight’s game against Ohio State, Northwestern hosts Purdue and Indiana the next two times they take the court.
Like Ohio State, Northwestern also played on Sunday, earning a regular season sweep of Wisconsin with a 54-52 win over the Badgers in Madison. Boo Buie scored a team-high 13 points in the win, including four free throws over the last 31 seconds to give the Wildcats the lead and secure the victory. Chase Audige added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Even though Ohio State beat Northwestern last month, head coach Chris Holtmann still has a ton of respect for the Wildcats. Holtmann knowns their formula is having veterans guards along with great overall coaching. Northwestern head coach Chris Collins is in his 10th season at the school, with a 149-157 record heading into tonight’s game.
While Collins might have a losing record after a decade in Evanston, he was able to do something no other Northwestern head coach has done. In 2017, Collins was at the helm when the Wildcats made their first NCAA Tournament, beating Vanderbilt in the first round before falling to Gonzaga in the round of 32.
Even more surprising about what Northwestern has done this year, is they are finding success without Pete Nance and Ryan Young, who both transferred out of the program following last season. A lot of the credit can be attributed to point guard Boo Buie, who is in his fourth year with the team. Buie is leading the team with 16.1 points per game, as well as 4.5 assists per game. The point guard is four assists away from reaching 400 career helpers.
Along with Buie, Chase Audige is averaging 15.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. After starting his career at William & Mary, Audige transferred to Northwestern following the 2018-19 season. Ohio State is going to have to be aware of where Audige is when they have the basketball since the senior has eight games this season where he has been credited with at least four steals. With 181 career steals, Audige should be able to reach 200 career steals before the end of the season.
Rounding out the key Northwestern contributors are guards Ty Berry and Brooks Barnhizer, forward Robbie Beran, and center Matthew Nicholson. Berry is hit-or-miss on the offensive end, failing to score more than seven points in six of the last seven games. The lone game in which he crossed that mark came against Nebraska when he netted 26 points. Even with his offensive inconsistencies, Berry always brings it on the defensive end. When Northwestern’s trio of guards needs a break, Barnhizer is usually the first one to come off the bench for the Wildcats.
A third senior that Northwestern relies heavy on is Robbie Beran. While Beran isn’t going to wow people with his stats, he gives Northwestern at least 20 minutes of hard play every time out. Berman might not shoot as much as Buie or Audige, but when he does there is purpose behind his shot. The forward teams with Matthew Nicholson to give the Wildcats some size to compliment Buie, Audige, and Berry in the back court.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24413757/usa_today_19909802.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Wisconsin at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
How is this game different from most of the others we have seen from Ohio State since the calendar turned to 2023? It has almost become routine that the Buckeyes put themselves in an early hole that they are unable to dig themselves out of. We saw it against Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, and numerous other games in Big Ten play. This team doesn’t have the mental toughness to have to play from behind on a regular basis.
Having said that, the Buckeyes can at least come into this game with a bit of confidence since they have already beat Northwestern this season — on the home court of the Wildcats. Ohio State doesn’t actually match up that bad with Northwestern, since the Buckeyes have the guards that can make life difficult for Buie, Audige, and Berry. Ohio State also won’t have to deal with a ton of size against the Wildcats. While Northwestern does have a seven-footer in Matthew Nicholson, he doesn’t have the offensive game of guys like Trayce Jackson-Davis or Zach Edey.
Unless Ohio State somehow is able to go on a lengthy unbeaten stretch to close out the regular season, as well as a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes aren’t going to make the NCAA Tournament this year. One thing Ohio State can do is play spoiler. This is a perfect situation to do just that. Northwestern is looking to make their second NCAA Tournament under Chris Collins.
The Buckeyes do just that tonight. Maybe Northwestern is looking ahead to home games against Purdue and Indiana over the next week. Ohio State shows some fight on their home court tonight and send the Wildcats into their important upcoming contests with a bit of doubt after the Buckeyes complete the regular season sweep.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 77.8%
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State will try and sweep the regular season series with Northwestern when the Buckeyes host the Wildcats tonight.
Following a 77-69 loss up in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Ohio State returns home tonight to take on Northwestern. The Buckeyes will be trying to sweep the regular season series against the Wildcats. The last time these two teams met was on the first day of 2023, with Ohio State easily defeating Northwestern 73-57 in Evanston.
The Buckeyes had no answer for Hunter Dickinson on Sunday, with the Michigan big man scoring 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. The Wolverines led 41-36 at halftime, and didn’t allow Ohio State to cut into the deficit much in the second half. The Buckeyes were able to pull to within three points a couple times early in the second half before the home team pulled away for good.
One bright spot for Ohio State in the game was Bruce Thornton, who was 10-for-13 from the field, finishing with a career-high 22 points. Thornton was about the only Buckeye that took good shots in the game. Head coach Chris Holtmann thought his team took too many unbalanced, low percentage shots over length on Sunday. Holtmann also believes his team needs to take more threes. Ohio State was just 5-of-16 from behind the arc against Michigan.
Thornton’s output on Sunday marked the first time since Ohio State hosted Rutgers back in December that Brice Sensabaugh didn’t lead the Buckeyes in scoring. Sensabaugh came off the bench on Sunday, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Unfortunately, the freshman’s day ended a little early, as he fouled out for the second consecutive game. Justice Sueing also scored 14 points in the loss.
An area that really hurt the Buckeyes against Michigan was in the paint. Dickinson had a big game for the Wolverines, recording a double-double. Zed Key is still dealing with the shoulder injury he suffered in the Purdue game, limiting his effectiveness on the court. To try and make up for some of the defense and rebounding lost because of the injury to Key, Holtmann turned to Eugene Brown III.
It sounds as if Brown will see more playing time the rest of the year. Against Michigan, Brown played 13:41, which was his second-highest total of the season.
Preview
With the loss, the Buckeyes have only won two of the 11 games they have played in 2023 One of those wins came on the first day of the year against Northwestern. Ohio State never trailed in the game, winning 73-57. Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes with 18 points, while three of his teammates also were able to reach double figures in the scoring column. Key recorded a double-double in the victory, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
While Ohio State has stumbled mightily since beating Northwestern, the same can’t be said about the Wildcats, who enter tonight’s game with a 16-7 record this year. In Big Ten play, Northwestern is 7-5, which puts them in right in the middle of a gaggle of teams that sit three or four games behind Purdue in the conference standings. Following tonight’s game against Ohio State, Northwestern hosts Purdue and Indiana the next two times they take the court.
Like Ohio State, Northwestern also played on Sunday, earning a regular season sweep of Wisconsin with a 54-52 win over the Badgers in Madison. Boo Buie scored a team-high 13 points in the win, including four free throws over the last 31 seconds to give the Wildcats the lead and secure the victory. Chase Audige added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Even though Ohio State beat Northwestern last month, head coach Chris Holtmann still has a ton of respect for the Wildcats. Holtmann knowns their formula is having veterans guards along with great overall coaching. Northwestern head coach Chris Collins is in his 10th season at the school, with a 149-157 record heading into tonight’s game.
While Collins might have a losing record after a decade in Evanston, he was able to do something no other Northwestern head coach has done. In 2017, Collins was at the helm when the Wildcats made their first NCAA Tournament, beating Vanderbilt in the first round before falling to Gonzaga in the round of 32.
Even more surprising about what Northwestern has done this year, is they are finding success without Pete Nance and Ryan Young, who both transferred out of the program following last season. A lot of the credit can be attributed to point guard Boo Buie, who is in his fourth year with the team. Buie is leading the team with 16.1 points per game, as well as 4.5 assists per game. The point guard is four assists away from reaching 400 career helpers.
Along with Buie, Chase Audige is averaging 15.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. After starting his career at William & Mary, Audige transferred to Northwestern following the 2018-19 season. Ohio State is going to have to be aware of where Audige is when they have the basketball since the senior has eight games this season where he has been credited with at least four steals. With 181 career steals, Audige should be able to reach 200 career steals before the end of the season.
Rounding out the key Northwestern contributors are guards Ty Berry and Brooks Barnhizer, forward Robbie Beran, and center Matthew Nicholson. Berry is hit-or-miss on the offensive end, failing to score more than seven points in six of the last seven games. The lone game in which he crossed that mark came against Nebraska when he netted 26 points. Even with his offensive inconsistencies, Berry always brings it on the defensive end. When Northwestern’s trio of guards needs a break, Barnhizer is usually the first one to come off the bench for the Wildcats.
A third senior that Northwestern relies heavy on is Robbie Beran. While Beran isn’t going to wow people with his stats, he gives Northwestern at least 20 minutes of hard play every time out. Berman might not shoot as much as Buie or Audige, but when he does there is purpose behind his shot. The forward teams with Matthew Nicholson to give the Wildcats some size to compliment Buie, Audige, and Berry in the back court.
Prediction
How is this game different from most of the others we have seen from Ohio State since the calendar turned to 2023? It has almost become routine that the Buckeyes put themselves in an early hole that they are unable to dig themselves out of. We saw it against Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, and numerous other games in Big Ten play. This team doesn’t have the mental toughness to have to play from behind on a regular basis.
Having said that, the Buckeyes can at least come into this game with a bit of confidence since they have already beat Northwestern this season — on the home court of the Wildcats. Ohio State doesn’t actually match up that bad with Northwestern, since the Buckeyes have the guards that can make life difficult for Buie, Audige, and Berry. Ohio State also won’t have to deal with a ton of size against the Wildcats. While Northwestern does have a seven-footer in Matthew Nicholson, he doesn’t have the offensive game of guys like Trayce Jackson-Davis or Zach Edey.
Unless Ohio State somehow is able to go on a lengthy unbeaten stretch to close out the regular season, as well as a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes aren’t going to make the NCAA Tournament this year. One thing Ohio State can do is play spoiler. This is a perfect situation to do just that. Northwestern is looking to make their second NCAA Tournament under Chris Collins.
The Buckeyes do just that tonight. Maybe Northwestern is looking ahead to home games against Purdue and Indiana over the next week. Ohio State shows some fight on their home court tonight and send the Wildcats into their important upcoming contests with a bit of doubt after the Buckeyes complete the regular season sweep.
ESPN BPI: Ohio State 77.8%
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 67, Northwestern 63
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes offer another top defensive lineman in the 2024 class, stay active on the hardwood as well
- News
- 0 Replies
Buckeyes offer another top defensive lineman in the 2024 class, stay active on the hardwood as well
Caleb Houser 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
Both the football and basketball staffs continue to stay active with their recruiting efforts.
With the defensive assistants pretty active lately, there’s some findings that are coming to the surface about potential plans for next season’s lineup, and certainly how coaches are looking to use their specific guys in certain spots. One of those areas is with the defensive line, and Larry Johnson is very much still wanting to mold his guys the way he always has.
Even with him climbing in age, Johnson still seems to be motivated for the tasks at hand, and that leads also into the recruiting efforts as well. Case and point, on Wednesday Ohio State dished out their latest offer in the 2024 class to defensive line target, Kamarion Franklin.
Taking to his social media to announce the latest in his recruitment, Franklin, a 6-foot-5, 260 pound athlete, added the Buckeyes to a loaded list of offers. Schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, and many others round out his list of over 30 offers to his name. Ohio State’s latest addition, with their track record of success at the defensive line positions, carries some weight.
The No. 21 player nationally, Franklin is also the fifth best player for his position as well as the top ranked player in Mississippi for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. A five-star with the ability to go anywhere in the country, pulling a player out of SEC country is never easy, but Ohio State’s no slouch when it comes to bringing in elite defensive line talent from all four corners of the country.
Johnson has proven himself to be one of the best at his craft when it comes to development, and in recruiting he’s long been at or near the top as well. The Buckeyes will need to make up for some lost time with so many other schools already in the mix, but getting him to campus later this spring or summer would certainly help their chances of being a real threat to land his services.
It’s no secret as to how disappointing this basketball season has been for Ohio State. Marking the programs worst stretch in years, the negativity has been at all time high, but the only way to climb out of this is to get better in all areas. While that sounds simplistic, it’s also the truth — the players need to improve, the staff needs to improve, and many of the reasons as to why Holtmann will be in Columbus next year more than likely is due to his recruiting abilities.
Having put together some strong classes that are coming in as soon as next year, the only matter here is that it needs to continue.
Keeping recruiting a major priority, the basketball staff sent out their latest offer in the 2024 class earlier this week. On the receiving end was New York native, VJ Edgecombe. A 6-foot-5, 180 pound small forward, Edgecombe only has an handful offers to this point, but Ohio State getting into the mix will cause for other suitors to come around paying more attention.
Programs such as Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and St. John’s already threw their name into the running, but again, Holtmann and the Buckeyes may help cause some sort of domino effect here. Unranked as of now on 247Sports, additional offers that could be coming in the near future may fix that trend.
Ohio State does have a bright future if the next class coming in can develop quickly. While things aren’t great right now in the wins and losses column, Holtmann is still a highly respected coach and the Buckeyes have a lot going for them. Recruiting has been a bright spot for this team, and it looks as if they’re going to do their best to continue that feat until they get the current roster sorted out in a good way.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Both the football and basketball staffs continue to stay active with their recruiting efforts.
With the defensive assistants pretty active lately, there’s some findings that are coming to the surface about potential plans for next season’s lineup, and certainly how coaches are looking to use their specific guys in certain spots. One of those areas is with the defensive line, and Larry Johnson is very much still wanting to mold his guys the way he always has.
Even with him climbing in age, Johnson still seems to be motivated for the tasks at hand, and that leads also into the recruiting efforts as well. Case and point, on Wednesday Ohio State dished out their latest offer in the 2024 class to defensive line target, Kamarion Franklin.
Taking to his social media to announce the latest in his recruitment, Franklin, a 6-foot-5, 260 pound athlete, added the Buckeyes to a loaded list of offers. Schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, and many others round out his list of over 30 offers to his name. Ohio State’s latest addition, with their track record of success at the defensive line positions, carries some weight.
The No. 21 player nationally, Franklin is also the fifth best player for his position as well as the top ranked player in Mississippi for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. A five-star with the ability to go anywhere in the country, pulling a player out of SEC country is never easy, but Ohio State’s no slouch when it comes to bringing in elite defensive line talent from all four corners of the country.
Johnson has proven himself to be one of the best at his craft when it comes to development, and in recruiting he’s long been at or near the top as well. The Buckeyes will need to make up for some lost time with so many other schools already in the mix, but getting him to campus later this spring or summer would certainly help their chances of being a real threat to land his services.
2024 hooper grabs OSU offer
It’s no secret as to how disappointing this basketball season has been for Ohio State. Marking the programs worst stretch in years, the negativity has been at all time high, but the only way to climb out of this is to get better in all areas. While that sounds simplistic, it’s also the truth — the players need to improve, the staff needs to improve, and many of the reasons as to why Holtmann will be in Columbus next year more than likely is due to his recruiting abilities.
Having put together some strong classes that are coming in as soon as next year, the only matter here is that it needs to continue.
Keeping recruiting a major priority, the basketball staff sent out their latest offer in the 2024 class earlier this week. On the receiving end was New York native, VJ Edgecombe. A 6-foot-5, 180 pound small forward, Edgecombe only has an handful offers to this point, but Ohio State getting into the mix will cause for other suitors to come around paying more attention.
Programs such as Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and St. John’s already threw their name into the running, but again, Holtmann and the Buckeyes may help cause some sort of domino effect here. Unranked as of now on 247Sports, additional offers that could be coming in the near future may fix that trend.
Ohio State does have a bright future if the next class coming in can develop quickly. While things aren’t great right now in the wins and losses column, Holtmann is still a highly respected coach and the Buckeyes have a lot going for them. Recruiting has been a bright spot for this team, and it looks as if they’re going to do their best to continue that feat until they get the current roster sorted out in a good way.
Continue reading...