-
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 Catching up with where Ohio State’s men’s and women’s hockey teams stand
- News
- 0 Replies
Catching up with where Ohio State’s men’s and women’s hockey teams stand
Brett Ludwiczak 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 teams are ranked in the top-10 in the USCHO rankings.
With the NHL All-Star break upon us, now would be a perfect time to check out Ohio State’s hockey teams if you wanted to see some winners on the ice in Columbus.
While the Blue Jackets are fighting to give themselves the best shot in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes by having the worst record in the league, the men’s and women’s Buckeye hockey teams are both fighting for a national championship.
Women’s ice hockey
In the case of the Ohio State women’s hockey team, the Buckeyes are looking to become back-to-back champions. This weekend has Nadine Muzerall’s team heading to Minneapolis for a couple showdowns with Minnesota.
After the Buckeyes beat the Golden Gophers in three of their four regular season meetings last year, as well as earning a 3-2 overtime win in the WCHA Final Faceoff, Minnesota won the first meeting of this season, 4-2 in Columbus in late September. Ohio State recovered to earn a 4-4 tie in the follow-up meeting the next day. The 4-2 loss is the only loss the Buckeyes have suffered in regulation this year.
Even though Minnesota currently sits above Ohio State in the WCHA standings, the Buckeyes are ranked first in the country in the USCHO rankings. The Golden Gophers sit third in the rankings entering this weekend’s action. The Buckeyes have been on a hot streak, winning their last 10 games, but that won’t be the longest win streak when the teams take the ice, as Minnesota has won 12-straight contests.
There are a number of familiar names from last year’s championship team that are back to try and help Ohio State repeat. Last year, Sophie Jaques was the 2022 WCHA Defender of the Year, as well as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award given annually to the top female college ice hockey player in the United States. In her fifth season in Columbus, Jaques is just two goals away from matching the career-high 21 goals she netted last season. The 19 goals Jaques scored this year are a team-high.
Leading Ohio State in scoring is Jennifer Gardiner, who has scored 16 goals and dished out 26 assists. Both of those totals are already career highs in a season for Gardiner, who notched 15 goals and 24 assists last season in 38 games. The senior is also +26 so far this season, which is better than the +23 she posted last year.
Last season, Paetyn Levis was at her best in the biggest games of the season, earning a spot on the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, and being named MVP of the Frozen Four. Levis scored in both Frozen Four contests. Following a season where she tallied 24 goals and 29 assists, Levis is on a similar pace this year, scoring 18 goals and 14 helpers through 28 games.
Between the pipes, Amanda Thiele got better as the season moved along last year, finishing with an 18-3 record with a 1.31 goals against average. White Thiele has the highest goals against average and lowest save percentage among the three Ohio State goaltenders, her numbers are still really good.
Any team in the country would be thrilled to have a goaltender like Thiele, who has a 1.94 goals against average and .895 save percentage in the 15 games she has played this year. The Buckeyes have a luxury of being able to call on Raygan Kirk or Quinn Kuntz if they feel Thiele isn’t on top of her game.
Men’s ice hockey
Ohio State’s men’s hockey team entered Friday’s game against Penn State with a 16-9-1 record. Following a slow start to the season, the Buckeyes have won seven of their last nine games, which has allowed them to move up to seventh in the USCHO rankings.
During their last nine games, the only two losses came on the road, with the first being a 4-2 setback at Michigan on Jan. 14, and the other coming six days later when the Buckeyes were shutout 4-0 by Wisconsin.
Ohio State and Penn State have met twice already this season in early December. The Nittany Lions won the first meeting 2-1 on their home ice. The Buckeyes regrouped the following day to win 4-3. The two teams enter Friday’s game with pretty similar records. Penn State has played two more games this year and is 18-9-1, while Ohio State’s 9-7 record in the Big Ten is just a little better than the 8-9-1 conference record of the Nittany Lions.
The Buckeyes have had a variety of players find the back of the net this year, as three skaters have at least 10 goals this sesason. Cam Thiesing’s 11 goals lead the team, while Joe Dunlap and Davis Burnside each have 10 goals. Stephen Halliday is the team’s overall scoring leading with 24 points, just one point ahead of Jake Wise for the team lead. Mason Lohrei has the high assist total on the team this year, dishing out 18 helpers.
Unlike the women’s team, which has three goalies who have played in at least four games, Jakub Dobes has seen the majority of the time in goal. Dobes has played 1451 of the possible 1505 minutes through 25 games this season. The Buckeye goalie is 15-9-1 this year with a 2.27 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage. The fifth round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft has recorded two shutouts so far this season.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Both teams are ranked in the top-10 in the USCHO rankings.
With the NHL All-Star break upon us, now would be a perfect time to check out Ohio State’s hockey teams if you wanted to see some winners on the ice in Columbus.
While the Blue Jackets are fighting to give themselves the best shot in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes by having the worst record in the league, the men’s and women’s Buckeye hockey teams are both fighting for a national championship.
Women’s ice hockey
In the case of the Ohio State women’s hockey team, the Buckeyes are looking to become back-to-back champions. This weekend has Nadine Muzerall’s team heading to Minneapolis for a couple showdowns with Minnesota.
After the Buckeyes beat the Golden Gophers in three of their four regular season meetings last year, as well as earning a 3-2 overtime win in the WCHA Final Faceoff, Minnesota won the first meeting of this season, 4-2 in Columbus in late September. Ohio State recovered to earn a 4-4 tie in the follow-up meeting the next day. The 4-2 loss is the only loss the Buckeyes have suffered in regulation this year.
Even though Minnesota currently sits above Ohio State in the WCHA standings, the Buckeyes are ranked first in the country in the USCHO rankings. The Golden Gophers sit third in the rankings entering this weekend’s action. The Buckeyes have been on a hot streak, winning their last 10 games, but that won’t be the longest win streak when the teams take the ice, as Minnesota has won 12-straight contests.
There are a number of familiar names from last year’s championship team that are back to try and help Ohio State repeat. Last year, Sophie Jaques was the 2022 WCHA Defender of the Year, as well as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award given annually to the top female college ice hockey player in the United States. In her fifth season in Columbus, Jaques is just two goals away from matching the career-high 21 goals she netted last season. The 19 goals Jaques scored this year are a team-high.
Leading Ohio State in scoring is Jennifer Gardiner, who has scored 16 goals and dished out 26 assists. Both of those totals are already career highs in a season for Gardiner, who notched 15 goals and 24 assists last season in 38 games. The senior is also +26 so far this season, which is better than the +23 she posted last year.
Last season, Paetyn Levis was at her best in the biggest games of the season, earning a spot on the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, and being named MVP of the Frozen Four. Levis scored in both Frozen Four contests. Following a season where she tallied 24 goals and 29 assists, Levis is on a similar pace this year, scoring 18 goals and 14 helpers through 28 games.
Between the pipes, Amanda Thiele got better as the season moved along last year, finishing with an 18-3 record with a 1.31 goals against average. White Thiele has the highest goals against average and lowest save percentage among the three Ohio State goaltenders, her numbers are still really good.
Any team in the country would be thrilled to have a goaltender like Thiele, who has a 1.94 goals against average and .895 save percentage in the 15 games she has played this year. The Buckeyes have a luxury of being able to call on Raygan Kirk or Quinn Kuntz if they feel Thiele isn’t on top of her game.
Men’s ice hockey
Ohio State’s men’s hockey team entered Friday’s game against Penn State with a 16-9-1 record. Following a slow start to the season, the Buckeyes have won seven of their last nine games, which has allowed them to move up to seventh in the USCHO rankings.
During their last nine games, the only two losses came on the road, with the first being a 4-2 setback at Michigan on Jan. 14, and the other coming six days later when the Buckeyes were shutout 4-0 by Wisconsin.
Ohio State and Penn State have met twice already this season in early December. The Nittany Lions won the first meeting 2-1 on their home ice. The Buckeyes regrouped the following day to win 4-3. The two teams enter Friday’s game with pretty similar records. Penn State has played two more games this year and is 18-9-1, while Ohio State’s 9-7 record in the Big Ten is just a little better than the 8-9-1 conference record of the Nittany Lions.
The Buckeyes have had a variety of players find the back of the net this year, as three skaters have at least 10 goals this sesason. Cam Thiesing’s 11 goals lead the team, while Joe Dunlap and Davis Burnside each have 10 goals. Stephen Halliday is the team’s overall scoring leading with 24 points, just one point ahead of Jake Wise for the team lead. Mason Lohrei has the high assist total on the team this year, dishing out 18 helpers.
Unlike the women’s team, which has three goalies who have played in at least four games, Jakub Dobes has seen the majority of the time in goal. Dobes has played 1451 of the possible 1505 minutes through 25 games this season. The Buckeye goalie is 15-9-1 this year with a 2.27 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage. The fifth round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft has recorded two shutouts so far this season.
Continue reading...
LGHL Four Storylines: No. 10 Ohio State women travel to No. 8 Maryland on Sunday
- News
- 0 Replies
Four Storylines: No. 10 Ohio State women travel to No. 8 Maryland on Sunday
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 Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What to watch when two evenly-matched sides meet for another top-10 matchup
On Jan. 20, 2022, the Ohio State women’s basketball team took to its home court and earned its biggest win of the season, to date. It was against the then-No. 12 Maryland Terrapins. The win was the Buckeyes’ first against a ranked team that season after falling to the Indiana Hoosiers and twice to the Michigan Wolverines.
The win propelled the Scarlet and Gray to an eventual Big Ten regular season title and gave a glimpse into the potential of Ohio State. On Sunday, the Buckeyes take on the Terrapins for the first time this season. It’s a game in a vastly different season for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side but has that same potential to be the start of a run through the end of the season.
Here’s what to watch in the Sunday afternoon game.
Entering Sunday, there are parallels between the Buckeyes and Terrapins. The first is their Big Ten roads this season. Both teams sit near the top of the standings with a 9-3 record, third and fourth with Ohio State edging them out on overall record.
Ohio State and Maryland both lost to an unranked Big Ten team and a pair of conference juggernauts in the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers.
Thursday night, the Terrapins were in Iowa, facing the Hawkeyes. Unlike Ohio State’s game against guard Caitlin Clark and the black and gold of Iowa where the Buckeyes kept the game close in spells, Maryland was outmatched. The Hawkeyes won 96-82 on top of 70 combined points between Clark and center Monika Czinano.
That means Ohio State is going to face a team with added motivation to win and playing on Maryland’s home court.
For the Buckeyes, it's their first test after losing three-straight games to those same Hawkeyes, Hoosiers, and unranked Purdue Boilermakers. Win this game and that bad aura of losing to the best in the conference lightens a bit but lose and eyes might have to move to the B1G Tournament and not a back-to-back regular season conference title.
That title is misleading because stopping guard Diamond Miller really isn’t something that can be done. It’s more about making it more difficult around Miller.
The senior guard is destined to be a lottery pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, for good reason. Miller has outstanding court presence and as a 6-foot-3 athlete who can score with ease, rebound, and still provide outstanding defense is a rarity.
Miller is top five in the Big Ten in scoring with 19 points, 2.1 steals, and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Rebounding-wise, Miller leads the Terrapins with 6.2 per game, a career-high.
In other words: Maryland’s success runs through Miller.
Last year, the Buckeyes played the guard well. In Ohio State’s home win, Miller scored 12 points, under her season average, and had five rebounds and four assists. In the follow-up game, a 77-72 Maryland victory, Miller having a better game was the difference, scoring 18 points against the Buckeyes with six rebounds.
This year’s edition of Miller is even better though and she needs to be. The Terrapins lost both forward Angel Reese to the LSU Tigers and guard Ashley Owusu to the Virginia Tech Hokies.
It’ll likely be the job of underclassmen Taylor Thierry and Cotie McMahon to post up against Miller. If the two athletic forwards hold Miller to her totals from last season, it gives the Buckeyes a good chance of pulling out the win.
Against the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday, the Buckeyes' three-point shooting improved from their previous three games. Ohio State shot 8-for-21 after going 14-for-68 against Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue. If the Buckeyes’ three-point shooting continues to trend upward, it bodes well for the Scarlet and Gray.
In conference play this season, the Terrapins allow the most shots from deep. Maryland has allowed 95 threes in 12 games, allowing 37.1% efficiency from the perimeter, the second-worst team in the conference.
Threat-wise, the Buckeyes have guard Taylor Mikesell who’s more than capable to have a big night from three, but it’s her teammates who will need to step up. With Mikesell as currently the only consistent shooter from deep, the extra attention the guard receives means shots aren’t as easy to get off.
Forward Rebeka Mikulášiková is the teammate with the highest chance of filling that role. Her 101 attempts this season make her the only other Buckeye shooting triple-digit shots from deep. Should Mikulášiková hit her shots Sunday, that means less attention on Mikesell and more space in the paint for McMahon and Thierry to attack the basket.
Also, point guard Rikki Harris has been playing the best assisting basketball of her career. Should the ball continue to move well through Harris, the absence of guard Jacy Sheldon won’t be another talking point following a defeat, which brings the last storyline.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, coach McGuff said Sheldon is very close to returning. He reiterated that this week in midweek media availability, saying that Sheldon could possibly see time on the court this week.
This week now means Maryland. Sheldon didn’t make her debut in Madison, against the Badgers. Does that mean she’s destined to play? Not exactly.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24407902/1371654467.jpg "Ohio State v Maryland")
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Will Sunday’s game feature a Jacy Sheldon vs. Diamond Miller matchup?
The decision to play is in the hands of the doctor and trainers for the Buckeyes. McGuff’s assured that Sheldon won’t return until she’s 100% healthy. If she does return Sunday though, it likely won’t mean a full 40-minute game, expecting more around 20 minutes.
If Sheldon returns, not only is there another offensive threat on the floor, but the Buckeyes' defense increases tenfold. Sheldon averaged six steals per game after her five starts this season, but hasn’t played since a Nov. 30 trip to the Louisville Cardinals.
In last year’s marquee Buckeyes win, Ohio State won the turnover battle, forcing 18 against the Terrapins. This season, Maryland’s leading the Buckeyes in forcing turnovers during Big Ten play but Sheldon hasn’t played any Big Ten games.
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 Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What to watch when two evenly-matched sides meet for another top-10 matchup
On Jan. 20, 2022, the Ohio State women’s basketball team took to its home court and earned its biggest win of the season, to date. It was against the then-No. 12 Maryland Terrapins. The win was the Buckeyes’ first against a ranked team that season after falling to the Indiana Hoosiers and twice to the Michigan Wolverines.
The win propelled the Scarlet and Gray to an eventual Big Ten regular season title and gave a glimpse into the potential of Ohio State. On Sunday, the Buckeyes take on the Terrapins for the first time this season. It’s a game in a vastly different season for head coach Kevin McGuff’s side but has that same potential to be the start of a run through the end of the season.
Here’s what to watch in the Sunday afternoon game.
Bouncing Back from Ranked Losses
Entering Sunday, there are parallels between the Buckeyes and Terrapins. The first is their Big Ten roads this season. Both teams sit near the top of the standings with a 9-3 record, third and fourth with Ohio State edging them out on overall record.
Ohio State and Maryland both lost to an unranked Big Ten team and a pair of conference juggernauts in the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers.
Thursday night, the Terrapins were in Iowa, facing the Hawkeyes. Unlike Ohio State’s game against guard Caitlin Clark and the black and gold of Iowa where the Buckeyes kept the game close in spells, Maryland was outmatched. The Hawkeyes won 96-82 on top of 70 combined points between Clark and center Monika Czinano.
That means Ohio State is going to face a team with added motivation to win and playing on Maryland’s home court.
For the Buckeyes, it's their first test after losing three-straight games to those same Hawkeyes, Hoosiers, and unranked Purdue Boilermakers. Win this game and that bad aura of losing to the best in the conference lightens a bit but lose and eyes might have to move to the B1G Tournament and not a back-to-back regular season conference title.
Stopping Diamond Miller
That title is misleading because stopping guard Diamond Miller really isn’t something that can be done. It’s more about making it more difficult around Miller.
The senior guard is destined to be a lottery pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, for good reason. Miller has outstanding court presence and as a 6-foot-3 athlete who can score with ease, rebound, and still provide outstanding defense is a rarity.
Miller is top five in the Big Ten in scoring with 19 points, 2.1 steals, and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Rebounding-wise, Miller leads the Terrapins with 6.2 per game, a career-high.
In other words: Maryland’s success runs through Miller.
Last year, the Buckeyes played the guard well. In Ohio State’s home win, Miller scored 12 points, under her season average, and had five rebounds and four assists. In the follow-up game, a 77-72 Maryland victory, Miller having a better game was the difference, scoring 18 points against the Buckeyes with six rebounds.
This year’s edition of Miller is even better though and she needs to be. The Terrapins lost both forward Angel Reese to the LSU Tigers and guard Ashley Owusu to the Virginia Tech Hokies.
It’ll likely be the job of underclassmen Taylor Thierry and Cotie McMahon to post up against Miller. If the two athletic forwards hold Miller to her totals from last season, it gives the Buckeyes a good chance of pulling out the win.
Three-Point Shooting
Against the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday, the Buckeyes' three-point shooting improved from their previous three games. Ohio State shot 8-for-21 after going 14-for-68 against Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue. If the Buckeyes’ three-point shooting continues to trend upward, it bodes well for the Scarlet and Gray.
In conference play this season, the Terrapins allow the most shots from deep. Maryland has allowed 95 threes in 12 games, allowing 37.1% efficiency from the perimeter, the second-worst team in the conference.
Threat-wise, the Buckeyes have guard Taylor Mikesell who’s more than capable to have a big night from three, but it’s her teammates who will need to step up. With Mikesell as currently the only consistent shooter from deep, the extra attention the guard receives means shots aren’t as easy to get off.
Forward Rebeka Mikulášiková is the teammate with the highest chance of filling that role. Her 101 attempts this season make her the only other Buckeye shooting triple-digit shots from deep. Should Mikulášiková hit her shots Sunday, that means less attention on Mikesell and more space in the paint for McMahon and Thierry to attack the basket.
Also, point guard Rikki Harris has been playing the best assisting basketball of her career. Should the ball continue to move well through Harris, the absence of guard Jacy Sheldon won’t be another talking point following a defeat, which brings the last storyline.
Does Jacy Sheldon Play?
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, coach McGuff said Sheldon is very close to returning. He reiterated that this week in midweek media availability, saying that Sheldon could possibly see time on the court this week.
This week now means Maryland. Sheldon didn’t make her debut in Madison, against the Badgers. Does that mean she’s destined to play? Not exactly.
Will Sunday’s game feature a Jacy Sheldon vs. Diamond Miller matchup?
The decision to play is in the hands of the doctor and trainers for the Buckeyes. McGuff’s assured that Sheldon won’t return until she’s 100% healthy. If she does return Sunday though, it likely won’t mean a full 40-minute game, expecting more around 20 minutes.
If Sheldon returns, not only is there another offensive threat on the floor, but the Buckeyes' defense increases tenfold. Sheldon averaged six steals per game after her five starts this season, but hasn’t played since a Nov. 30 trip to the Louisville Cardinals.
In last year’s marquee Buckeyes win, Ohio State won the turnover battle, forcing 18 against the Terrapins. This season, Maryland’s leading the Buckeyes in forcing turnovers during Big Ten play but Sheldon hasn’t played any Big Ten games.
Continue reading...
LGHL LGHL Uncut Podcast: Greg Gard, Chris Holtmann, Ohio State players discuss Wisconsin’s win over Buckeyes
- News
- 0 Replies
LGHL Uncut Podcast: Greg Gard, Chris Holtmann, Ohio State players discuss Wisconsin’s win over Buckeyes
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State’s head coach was a little bit calmer after the game than he was during.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Following Ohio State’s 65-60 loss to Wisconsin, the media spoke to Greg Gard, Chris Holtmann, Zed Key, and Isaac Likekele about Ohio State’s eighth loss in their last nine games. Gard, the winner of the game, was able to discuss Wisconsin shaking off a bad stretch and winning a game on the road.
Gard praised his players for “not letting the outside noise get to them” and refusing to let a slump (Wisconsin had lost six of seven heading into Thursday’s game) continue. He praised Brice Sensabaugh’s ability to create shots at any time, but said it was much easier to guard him on Thursday since he was in foul trouble the entire time.
Key and Likekele did not have answers for why Ohio State did not come out with enough “bite” or “energy” in the 22nd game of the season. Key stoutly rejected any notion that the team dislikes or resents Sensabaugh for his sudden success.
Holtmann was as short as he’s ever been in a press conference. He was critical of officials, saying, “We weren’t allowed to talk to them.”
He also said he’s not sure why a second technical was called on him, adding that, “The first was warranted, but I did not feel that the second was.”
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State’s head coach was a little bit calmer after the game than he was during.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Following Ohio State’s 65-60 loss to Wisconsin, the media spoke to Greg Gard, Chris Holtmann, Zed Key, and Isaac Likekele about Ohio State’s eighth loss in their last nine games. Gard, the winner of the game, was able to discuss Wisconsin shaking off a bad stretch and winning a game on the road.
Gard praised his players for “not letting the outside noise get to them” and refusing to let a slump (Wisconsin had lost six of seven heading into Thursday’s game) continue. He praised Brice Sensabaugh’s ability to create shots at any time, but said it was much easier to guard him on Thursday since he was in foul trouble the entire time.
Key and Likekele did not have answers for why Ohio State did not come out with enough “bite” or “energy” in the 22nd game of the season. Key stoutly rejected any notion that the team dislikes or resents Sensabaugh for his sudden success.
Holtmann was as short as he’s ever been in a press conference. He was critical of officials, saying, “We weren’t allowed to talk to them.”
He also said he’s not sure why a second technical was called on him, adding that, “The first was warranted, but I did not feel that the second was.”
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...