• 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.

Hot

Forum list

Hot

 Threads Latest activity Posts Social Questions
plum diamonds buckeye planet

LGHL Ohio State recruiting: Looking at in-state 2025 quarterback Tavien St. Clair

Ohio State recruiting: Looking at in-state 2025 quarterback Tavien St. Clair
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

11145620.0.jpeg

Tavien St. Clair | 247Sports

Maybe an over-looked prospect, but Ohio’s own St. Clair is the real deal

The quarterback position at Ohio State has always been in a good spot, but Ryan Day’s arrival in Columbus started a trend of success even higher than what the Buckeyes had seen before. Churning out multiple NFL Draft picks — another in the near future thanks to CJ Stroud — Day is crushing it when it comes to both recruiting and development.

On the current roster, both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown are battling it out to be the next in line for all of the accolades this position seems to come with when you play well. But looking ahead to the future of quarterback recruiting, Day may not have to look very far for the next great talent to handle the reigns.

Stealing most of the attention for future quarterback recruiting, 2025 target Ryan Montgomery (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) is first on the list, and of course his brother Luke Montgomery has a lot to do with that exposure. In his own right though, Ryan has put up some incredible numbers only two seasons into his prep career.

Holding an offer from Ohio State, clearly the Buckeyes and Day have seen all that they need to if he’s to be the guy they really go after in that class. Surely Ryan is deserving of the offer beyond his family ties, and his skillset should only improve with two more seasons still to play. Still though, he’s not the only in-state Ohio signal caller worth looking at in this 2025 class.

Bellefontaine, Ohio is home to Tavien St. Clair, a 6-foot-4, 195 pound quarterback who may not see as much recognition in regard to Ohio State recruiting, but believe this, the staff is very much aware of St. Clair and all that he brings to the table.

Holding nearly double-digit offers right now, Tavien has the likes of Florida, Tennessee, Louisville, Pitt, and a few others in the fold for the meantime, but certainly other notable programs are soon to follow. The Buckeyes may not be on the list just yet, but with a staff taking notice and two full seasons to progress, we’re going to focus on the potential St. Clair has to be a legitimate quarterback at the next level — Buckeye or not.

Film Study​


Unranked right now on his 247Sports profile, the likelihood of him being one of the better quarterbacks in the 2025 class is pretty strong considering the aforementioned offer list that includes two SEC schools. That said, in reviewing both of his first two seasons on film, St. Clair, while not a finished product, gives plenty to be excited about.

The latest film from his sophomore campaign can be viewed below, but just a few notes on his intangibles that catch your attention have to be what college coaches are also seeing.

One of the facets of his game that is seen right away is his ability to extend the play. So many times a play will breakdown, and the smart thing to do in some cases is to throw the ball away and live to fight another down. But Tavien is experienced with being able to create something downfield that looked like nothing was there. That includes his legs too.

St. Clair doesn’t look to be shy when it comes to tucking the ball and taking off, and that definitely something Ohio State fans have wanted to see more of as of late.

Additionally, the arm strength is there. Whether it’s rolling out away from his dominant side where he has to set his feet and flip his hips or in a simple drop back fashion, Tavien can hit all of the spots. Coaches talk about being able to sit on one hash and drill an out route across the field in what’s referred to as an “NFL throw” and that doesn’t seem to be an issue here.

Again, this is far from a finished product, but the skillset and athleticism check every box. Montgomery may be the favorite to be Ohio State’s top target in 2025 and that very well could be the case already, but Tavien is no slouch.

It’s never a bad thing to have multiple power five talents in your own state in a recruiting class, and the Buckeyes seem to have that in 2025. It’s going to work itself out in the end, but these two players are going to be fun to watch over the next couple of years before hopefully at least one of them ends up in Columbus.

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

Google Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament final: How to watch, stream the game - Yahoo Sports

Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament final: How to watch, stream the game - Yahoo Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament final: How to watch, stream the game Yahoo Sports

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL Column: With or without the accolades, Brice Sensabaugh was the best freshman in the Big Ten

Column: With or without the accolades, Brice Sensabaugh was the best freshman in the Big Ten
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The same logic that earned Malaki Branham the B1G Freshman of the Year last season wound up costing Sensabaugh the same award one year later.

With all due respect to Jalen Hood-Schifino — who is the undisputed Big Ten Freshman of the Year after earning the award Tuesday afternoon — Brice Sensabaugh was the best freshman the B1G had to offer this season.

When you look at the season-long statistics of both players, Sensabaugh exceeds Hood-Schifino in nearly every stat category. It’s actually harder to find stats that favor the Indiana’s star freshman than it is for Sensabaugh.

Creating a case for Sensabaugh to be freshman of the year doesn’t take jumping through hoops. Since his collegiate career is likely ending in the next 48 hours, let’s take a closer look at his stats this season, and how they stack up to the Big Ten FOTY’s:


However, there are a few things that should be pointed out. Hood-Schifino played considerably more minutes than Sensabaugh did, especially in the heart of conference play. Some may say that’s actually a credit to Sensabaugh, who scored more and was more efficient than Hood-Schifino in nearly 10 fewer minutes per game. Others will say that the best ability is availability, and that Hood-Schifino’s ability to play 30-plus minutes per game for a team that finished top-four in the Big Ten matters a ton — which it does!

Sensabaugh’s subpar and at times painful defense made it impossible to keep him on the floor. Hood-Schifino, while not a lockdown defender, didn’t have nearly the struggles Sensabaugh did on that end. Mike Woodson trusted JHS to stay on the floor and defend without becoming a target. Chris Holtmann did not always trust Sensabaugh to do the same. Film backs this up.

If Sensabaugh had played 32 minutes per game, his numbers would have blown Hood-Schifino’s out of the water. Sensabaugh’s stats extrapolated over 32.6 minutes per game (the amount JHS played per game) would have been 22.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. Had those been his stats, the Freshman of the Year award would’ve been a lock, right?

BRICE SENSABAUGH MY GOODNESS

(via @CBSSportsCBB)
pic.twitter.com/sYoxXkvMix

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 26, 2023
Click to expand...

The problem is, that’s not how it works. Playing both ends is required to be successful in the college game. Sensabaugh’s defense never really showed up this season, and it hindered his ability to stay on the court. If another freshman averaged seven points per game over 10 minutes each night, would we do the same math and try to make the same argument? It’s a slippery slope that we aught not approach.

The difference in minutes played is a big part of why Hood-Schifino took home the award, but the bigger — and more obvious reason — is the success of each of their teams. Ohio State finished in 13th place in the Big Ten with a 5-15 record in league play. Hood-Schifino’s Indiana team finished in third place in the conference with a 12-8 record in league play.

Sensabaugh was scoring points in losing efforts, while Schifino was more often than not hitting big shots that decided the outcomes of games. Whether people like it or not, that stuff matters. Sensabaugh could only do so much to carry a poorly constructed roster, and his team quickly sunk into the Big Ten basement once the calendar flipped to 2023.

Ohio State fans that are upset by this shouldn’t have too much of a qualm, however. Last year, Malaki Branham won the award over Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens in a very similar fashion — Branham’s Buckeyes finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, while Nebraska finished in 13th with a 4-16 record. Branham won the award despite averaging three points and 1.6 rebounds fewer than McGowens per game.

Branham also had an uneven year, having not really turned it on until the third month of the season. If you looked solely at statistics, McGowens was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, just like Sensabaugh would be this season if only the stats mattered.

Both Sensabaugh and Hood-Schifino will be entering the NBA Draft next month, and both are going to be first-round selections. Their games are fairly different, but both should find success in the league — Sensabaugh as a solo shot creator, and Hood Schifino as less of a pure scorer but more of a well-rounded contributor. The notion that JHS doesn’t deserve the award this year is silly, because he earned it. But the best freshman doesn’t always win the award — like this year.

Jalen Hood-Schifino Went OFF for 35 points and 7 rebounds against no. 5 Purdue @jalenhs pic.twitter.com/50ZIRiLdtz

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) February 26, 2023
Click to expand...

One last statistic to take home is Sensabaugh’s impressive consistency for a struggling Ohio State team. From Dec. 3, 2022 to Feb. 5, 2023, he scored in double-digits in 16 consecutive games. He was also Ohio State’s leading scorer for 13 consecutive games during that stretch, which is the most consecutive games leading the team in scoring for any freshman in program history.

Hood-Schifino had a nine-game streak where he scored in double digits, but he wasn’t asked to carry nearly the same load offensively that Sensabaugh was, with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson also around.

Just like the MVP race sometimes boils down to “who was the most important player” versus “who was the best player” the Freshman of the Year award doesn’t automatically go to the best freshman in the league. Big numbers are great, but did they lead your team to success? For Sensabaugh — whether that’s his fault or not — they did not. For Hood-Schifino, it did.

One of them will be playing deep(er) into March than the other, and that guy took home the hardware.

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL Column: My swan song and spicy opinions you can’t fight with me on

Column: My swan song and spicy opinions you can’t fight with me on
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Florida Atlantic v Ohio State


That’s all, folks.

After nearly a decade with LGHL, I’ve made the tough decision to step away. It’s been such a fun ride — literally what a dream to be able to write weekly about these programs that I love!

It’s been such a joy to write about Ohio State and the broader sports landscape, from the silly, like If Big Ten schools were characters from The Office and Halloween-themed game previews, to the serious, analytical and beyond.

Anyway, since none of you can fight me on it, let’s wrap this journey with some spicy takes, shall we?

Kevin Warren was a good commissioner and his loss is a big one for the Big Ten​


I know a lot of folks were not fans of Warren, whose time with the conference was brief compared to his predecessor. That’s because his first days on the job were spent trying to figure out what the heck the conference was going to do in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hindsight is 20/20, and sure, some of Warren’s decisions probably look worse with that benefit. However, his leadership over three years was net-positive by a long shot. The conference remained one of the most stable, profitable, future-proofed and forward-looking in the nation.

Highlights? Expanding the Big Ten with two of the biggest brands in sports while inking a monster media deal and navigating the new NCAA environment wrought with disruption from the transfer portal and NIL.

Championship games need to be earlier​


Since I’m wrapping up my time before I can do my next bi-annual rant of why college championship games should be played not at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays, we’ll just sum here. By the time Monday night rolls around, I’m wiped and have zero capacity to host friends and watch a championship football or basketball game. If the game is skewed by halftime, I’m not bothering to watch the rest. If the game is an all-SEC rematch, I’m not watching at all.

I like the targeting rule​


Sorry not sorry. There will be no football in 20 years if kids don’t grow up playing football after incontrovertible evidence has emerged on the impact of helmet-to-helmet hits and traumatic brain injury. It’s also just lame to expect WWF-style wrestling on the football field. Big hits are less cool than acrobatic catches or shifty rushes and the latter moves have the advantage of not generally causing concussions.

Student athletes deserve to be treated with respect​


Even if college athletes are making thousands of dollars with NIL deals, they still don’t deserve anyone’s spite when they do something wrong on the field or hard court. To all those who have ever thought it was okay to write to a collegiate kicker on Twitter after they missed a field goal, you’re in the wrong. And if you say something to justify your behavior like “I had money on that game,” then maybe you shouldn’t be gambling if you really couldn’t afford to play with that money.

Racism and sexism do exist in sports and they need to go​


See how PO’d people get when Black players comment on issues impacting Black players or how Troy Aikman felt like it was okay to say that hopefully we can “take the dresses off” quarterbacks. It’s real and it’s dumb and your sports are only going to lose future fan bases if it continues. Because if you need another reason than just treating people with equality and justice, then the future of being able to watch your favorite sport should be a good motivator.

Sports should be accessible to all. Whether it’s on the field or court, on the sidelines, in the front office or even simply as fans, we should all be able to enjoy them in whatever capacity we choose without retribution.

And stop quizzing that girl at the bar on her sports knowledge. She’s not interested and it’s super f***ing annoying.

We need to stop idolizing athletes and coaches as heroes just because they’re good on the field​


It’s so easy to look up to sports figures because of their superhuman prowess. Who didn’t want to be like Mike or idolize LeBron James? But just because someone is good at sports doesn’t mean they’re someone to look up to (see Charles Barkley not being a role model). It’s a good lesson that just because someone is strong or can throw a good spiral doesn’t correlate to being a good person.

Of course, it doesn’t preclude them either. There are some examples of amazing humans who happened to play sports and who have gone above and beyond to support their communities. LeBron, as a much older person, invested in a school in his hometown and did what Michael Scott could never do with Scott’s Tots — that’s hero-worthy. Malcolm Jenkins used his platform to promote social justice in communities where he played. Again, the off-the-field contributions are notable and impressive.


Anyway, this being the last column I’m writing for LGHL, I did want to end with a word of thanks to all our readers, my fellow writers (including Brett, Jami and Megan whom I had the chance to work with so regularly), Matt and Gene, and of course my darling husband and pets who are always my inspiration.

Wishing you all the best, adopt, don’t shop and as always, Go Bucks!

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL Ohio State wrestlers take fourth at the 2023 Big Ten Championships

Ohio State wrestlers take fourth at the 2023 Big Ten Championships
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

BigTens_Sammy_Semis_Saturday_03.04.23003.0.jpg

Ohio State Athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Fueled by a championship-winning effort from Sammy Sasso, the Buckeyes secured a solid fourth-place finish in Ann Arbor.

Ohio State took fourth in this past weekend’s Big Ten Wrestling Championships, matching their team result from 2022. But unlike last year, which saw OSU finish 37 points back of third place, Tom Ryan’s squad was at or near its collective best in Ann Arbor.

A handful of grapplers advanced to semifinal and/or final matches held on Sunday, and Sammy Sasso secured his second individual title at 149 pounds.

. . . #GOBUCKS pic.twitter.com/Kyhw2ZeduN

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 5, 2023
Click to expand...

Typically, taking 4th in a 14-team conference tournament would not lend itself to bragging rights. And yes, the Buckeyes likely had higher aspirations. But the Big Ten Championships is/are not your average conference tournament.

What makes this event so special, you ask? Only that a team from the Big Ten has won each and every national title since 2006. And all but seven since 1988. Those other seven just so happen to belong the same school: Oklahoma State, who (along with Iowa and Iowa State) dominated the sport of wrestling for roughly 50 years.

So it has been the Big Ten, Oklahoma State, and everybody else for longer than you or I can remember — which means that, yes, the Big Ten Championships are kind of a big deal.


Ohio State was actually in “medal contention” (first, second, or third) with only a few matches to go on Sunday, but dropped to fourth place when Nebraska’s Silas Allred won the 197-pound title. The Buckeyes would go on to finish with 99 team points, just 5.5 behind the third-place Cornhuskers. Penn State and Iowa took first and second respectively, in what turned out to be a two-horse race.

As a result of the Big Ten allotment and their individual finishes, OSU will now send seven wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma (March 16-18). All seven Buckeyes performed admirably over the weekend, but perhaps none more so than Dylan D’Emilio.

While no stranger to these B1G Championships, having taken fifth in 2022, D’Emilio entered the weekend in the bottom half of his 141-pound bracket. Then, after losing his opening match to Purdue’s Parker Filius, Ohio State’s redshirt junior was forced to work his way through a consolation bracket, where he met 4-seed Frankie Tal-Shahar of Northwestern in the semis.

It was there that D’Emilio avenged an earlier loss to Tal-Shahar, earning himself a spot in the third-place match. He would ultimately go on to lose to Penn State’s Beau Bartlett, but D’Emilio still deserves praise as one of the stars of the weekend for OSU.

Duane Burleson / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

He (D’Emilio) will join Sasso, Romero, Jesse Mendez, Carson Kharchla, Ethan Smith, and Tate Orndorff at the NCAA Championships, where a top-10 team finish should be the goal. Here is a quick look at how they all punched their ticket(s) to Tulsa.

Jesse Mendez, 133 pounds — Sixth place​

Duane Burleson / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Star freshman Mendez struggled in his first postseason tournament with the Buckeyes but lives to fight another day in Tulsa. After entering the B1G Championships as a 2-seed, he made light work of Rutgers’ Joe Heilmann with a 4-0 shutout.

However, Mendez would go on to lose his next three matches, including a pair to opponents he had previously defeated in duals. Hopefully this was a learning experience and a small bump in the road for the future face of Ohio State wrestling.

Dylan D’Emilio, 141 pounds — Fourth place​


As covered earlier, D’Emilio grinded his way through the consolation bracket. He wrestled a total of five matches in two days, winning three and earning a trip to the NCAAs.

Sammy Sasso, 149 pounds — First place​


Sasso won his second Big Ten Championship in Ann Arbor, and has now taken either first or second in each of the last four seasons. He will be looking to capture a national title in Tulsa, but his legendary status is already cemented in Columbus.

Carson Kharchla, 165 pounds — Third place​


Kharchla returned from injury with a vengeance. The redshirt junior dominated Rutgers’ Robert Kanniard to the tune of a 20-5 tech fall in his opening match, before taking down Penn State’s Alex Facundo in his second. Kharchla then dropped a surprising major decision to eventual 165-lb champ Dean Hamiti, but bounced back with one more victory before being awarded third place due to a medical forfeit.

Ethan Smith, 174 pounds — Third place​


All Smith does is perform well in the B1G Championships. By going 4-1 this past weekend, he matched his result from last year and secured his fourth top-4 placement in a Scarlet and Gray singlet.

Kaleb Romero, 184 pounds — Second place​


This sixth-year senior and leader for the Buckeyes continues to impress during what has been a career-best season. Romero only needed two wins to reach the 184-lb final, but both were of the hard-fought variety, over quality opponents. His quest for a B1G title was then ended by Aaron Brooks, the reigning and back-to-back national champion.

But Romero’s second-place finish was still very impressive and the best of his OSU career. Additionally, his two wins in Ann Arbor put him over 20 for the 2022-23 season.

Tate Orndorff, Heavyweight — Fourth place​

Duane Burleson / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Now a five-time NCAA qualifier, Orndorff took fourth in a weight class loaded with big, strong, freaky talent. His two losses came against wrestlers ranked No. 2 and No. 3 by InterMat, which is nothing to scoff at. He will be looking for his second top-10 finish at nationals in the Sooner State.

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL Our resident streaming expert breaks down how to watch Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Big Ten Tournament, March Madness

Our resident streaming expert breaks down how to watch Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Big Ten Tournament, March Madness
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Believe it or not, cord-cutters, you can watch all of the Big Ten Tournament for free, and we’ll tell you how.

Look, we all get it, the Ohio State men’s basketball season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. While just two months ago, it felt like Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes had a legitimate shot to win the Big Ten, they enter the conference tournament as the 13th seed, and whether their post-B1G postseason potential is in serious question.

Nonetheless, we are Buckeye fans, so we are inherently gluttons for punishment, so clearly we are going to watch OSU’s game tonight at 6:30 ET against No. 12 Wisconsin. But, you might be curious what the best ways to watch the entire Big Ten Tournament are, and that’s where my day job comes in.

When I’m not #BloggingAboutTheBuckeyes, I am the News Editor for TheStreamable.com and, as you might have guessed, we cover streaming services. So, I’m going to run you through the best options to catch all of the B1G MBB action this week.

How to Watch the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament​

  • When: Wednesday, March 8 through Sunday, March 12
  • TV: Big Ten Network, CBS, Paramount+

The games taking place on Wednesday through Friday will all air on Big Ten Network with the full complement of pre and postgame shows surrounding the on-court festivities. Then, once the tournament’s final four teams are determined, coverage will switch over to CBS. However, what’s great about that is the fact that you don’t have to have a cable, satellite, or live-streaming subscription to watch those games.

Instead, all you need is a subscription to Paramount+. The Premium tier of the streamer runs $9.99 per month, but comes with a live feed of your local CBS affiliate, so it’s a cheap way to watch basketball, football, or anything broadcast on the Eye Network. But, what makes it even better is that Paramount+ offers a free seven-day trial. So, if you are just interested in the B1G Ten Tournament weekend games, you can check out all three at no cost.

This also applies to the NCAA Tournament, but early on in the Big Dance, CBS won’t air all of the games, so it gets a little more complicated, but more on that in a minute.

Who Has the Best Odds to Win Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Game?​


One of the reasons that so many people watch sports is for betting purposes, so if you are trying to map out your B1G Tourney viewing schedule, it would seem to make sense to check in on the odds to win the title according to the DraftKings SportsBook. Unsurprisingly, Purdue leads the way at +145, which means that if you bet $100 on the Boilermakers to cut down the nets in Chicago and they do, then you take home a total of $245 for a $145 profit.

Ohio State and its Wednesday opponent the Wisconsin Badgers are tied for the 12th-best (or third-worst) odds to earn the conference’s automatic bid at +5500, so if you picked up how these odds work from the Purdue example, you will understand that if you put a C-note down on the Bucks or the Badgers to win and somehow in the name of Dr. James Naismeth they pull it off, you would pocket $5,500... but even with that potential windfall, I wouldn’t recommend making that bet.


How to Watch No. 12 Wisconsin vs. No. 13 Ohio State​

  • When: Wednesday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: Big Ten Network

If you have a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription, then you likely already know how you are going to watch tonight’s game and the entire Big Ten Tournament. The majority of the games are on the Big Ten Network, but the semifinals and championship game will air on CBS.

But, if you are looking for ways to watch the entire tournament and March Madness, but don’t currently have a subscription, I will tell you the best options. There are six major live TV streaming services — also known as virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) — they are DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.

Because we know that the Big Ten Tournament is on BTN and CBS, the first thing that we want to do is look for a service that has both of those channels on its base package, so you can pay as little as possible. Only three of the services fit that bill: fuboTV, Hulu, and YouTube TV.

Next, let’s look at the free trials. If you are only interested in the Big Ten Tournament and aren’t really invested in the Big Dance, then both Fubo and YouTube would work. The former offers a seven-day free trial, while the latter gives you two weeks; Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer a free trial.

However, if you — like most sane sports fans — consider the first two days of the NCAA Tournament to be national holidays, then you can cross fuboTV off of your list. That is because March Madness airs across four channels, the aforementioned CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. Fubo dropped the Turner Networks from its service in 2020 over a carriage dispute, so if a free trial is important to you, YouTube TV is your best bet, especially since it is also the cheapest option at $64.99 per month, after the 14-day trial.

So, I would recommend signing up for YouTube TV as the best streaming option for the Big Ten and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments.

What Are the Odds for the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Game?​


Neither the Buckeyes nor the Badgers wanted to be in this position, playing g the opening game of the conference tournament. They are two proud, successful programs that have fallen on hard times this year. However, heading into the postseason, the Buckeyes have won two of three and gave a game effort in East Lansing on Michigan State’s Senior Day.

Wisconsin on the other hand has lost two of three and just narrowly escaped losing to No. 14 seed Minnesota on the final day of the regular season (the Gophers’ only conference win was over the Buckeyes). Therefore, coming into the No. 12 vs. No. 13 matchup in the B1G Tournament, Ohio State is actually favored to win by the DraftKings SportsBook, albeit by the thinnest of margins.

The Buckeyes are favored by a single-point and with a total points line of 131, Vegas is projecting the game to be a Buckeye win of 66-65. The only time that the two teams played this season was on Feb. 2 with Wisconsin winning 65-60. Have the Buckeyes improved by six points in the nearly five weeks? We will find out tonight.

What Is the Schedule for the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament?​


The last bit of viewing information that you could use to plan your Big Ten Tournament viewing schedule is the bracket and the schedule. So... here you go:

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket:​


Complete Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Network Broadcast Schedule:​


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

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL Bucketheads Podcast Episode 69: The Buckeyes are looking to make history in Chicago

Bucketheads Podcast Episode 69: The Buckeyes are looking to make history in Chicago
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

How many more days will we have Ohio State men’s basketball?

‘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 69 (nice) of our men’s basketball podcast, Connor and Justin dissect the Big Ten Tournament bracket and take their guesses at how far Ohio State will advance. One of our cohosts think the Buckeyes will win a game before bowing out in round two. The other....is a bite more optimistic.

Then they make their picks for a winner, as well as break down which bubble teams will need one win or more to solidify a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan probably needs two wins, while Rutgers may need one — mathematically, this won’t work out for both parties. Wisconsin absolutely needs to beat Ohio State to get into the tournament, and Penn State could use a win against seven-seed Illinois to make sure they’re safe. Will any of these teams make the tournament?

Finally, the guys share some good news about the podcast, which will continue on as advertised into the summer after a brief cancellation scare.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Continue reading...
Click to expand...

LGHL You’re Nuts: Who wins this year’s Big Ten Tournament?

You’re Nuts: Who wins this year’s Big Ten Tournament?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Basketball: Indiana at Michigan

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!

Conference tournaments for all the major conferences start up over the next few days, while a number of teams have already clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament in thrilling fashion. Southeast Missouri State won the Ohio Valley in overtime, while UNC-Asheville rallied from down 14 in the second half on Sunday to claim the Big South title.

While seeing teams in one-bid leagues is exciting, there is something different about the few days before the brackets are announced when there is an avalanche of college basketball from noon to beyond midnight. The Thursday and Friday of conference tournament week is especially entertaining during the day because you’ll see top conference seeds try and fight off pesky lower seeds who have nothing left to lose.

The Big Ten Tournament kicks off on Wednesday with Ohio State and Wisconsin in the first round. Even though we love the Buckeyes, we aren’t crazy enough to think Chris Holtmann’s team is going to become the first team to shock the world and win five games to secure the Big Ten’s automatic bid. Since expansion of the conference, no Big Ten team playing on Wednesday has ever made it to even Saturday, let alone Sunday.

Since the Buckeyes aren’t a legitimate threat to win it all in Chicago, today we are giving our picks for who we do think will win the Big Ten Tournament title. This year has been wide-open in the conference, which makes the tournament even tougher to predict than normal. Will it be Purdue with monster Zach Edey? Can Northwestern continue to shock college basketball with their strong play? Or will it be someone else?

Today’s question: Who will win this year’s Big Ten Tournament?​

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.​


Before we get to our choices for today’s question, we have to announce that this will be Meredith’s last “You’re Nuts”. To celebrate an amazing run at Land-Grant Holy Land, we are going to also pick our favorite “You’re Nuts” involving Meredith.

We thank Meredith for years of tremendous writing here at LGHL, and wish her nothing but the best going forward!

Brett’s answer: Indiana​


Picking Purdue feels way too chalky for me. I know the Boilermakers have Zach Edey, but what happens if Edey gets into foul trouble and is sidelined for a big chunk of a game? Does Purdue have enough outside of Edey to survive something like that? I’m not convinced that they do.

Give me the team that has beaten Purdue twice this year. Indiana has a player that is just as much of a game-changer as Edey. Trayce Jackson-Davis hit another level with his play after the calendar turned to 2023. The Hoosiers closed out the regular season with an overtime win over Michigan in Bloomington where they overcame a double-digits deficit in the second half to take down the Wolverines for the second time this season.

Not only do I like the veteran presence that Jackson-Davis gives Indiana, the Hoosiers also have one of the best freshmen in the country in Jalen Hood-Schifino. Sometimes the play from the guard is inconsistent, but when he gets hot he can really fill it up. Indiana also has some other complimentary pieces in Race Thompson and Miller Kopp, who won’t be shook by the big stage that comes with the conference tournament.

The Hoosiers also have a favorable draw in this year’s tournament. Indiana could square off with Maryland in the quarterfinals, but the Terrapins weren’t very good at the end of the regular season. In the semifinals, the Hoosiers could see Illinois, Penn State, or Northwestern. Mike Woodson’s team has to be eager to see the Wildcats again to get some revenge since Northwestern beat them twice this year.

Brett’s favorite ‘You’re Nuts”: Which non-football related historical figure would be best to coach Ohio State?​


This was back from the early days of “You’re Nuts” back in May 2021. The offseason obviously provides a little bit more of a challenge to try and come up with topics, but this was one that I knew would be fun when Meredith suggested it.

Usually when we suggested topics, one of us would e-mail the other on Sunday with an idea, and for the most part there wasn’t much back-and-forth about it since they were well thought out and were close to the pulse of what was happening with the Buckeyes (or with sports in general).

I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to write not only these pieces with, but also to share game previews and bold predictions over the last few years. It’s not going to be the same here at LGHL without Meredith, since she was such a professional with her work, but also knew when was time to have fun with articles and topics. I wish you all of the great things in your next chapter, since you deserve all of them!

Meredith’s answer: Northwestern​


Sadly, I can’t imagine Ohio State turning on the jets and winning the Big Ten Tournament this year, so I’m going to go with another biased take and say it’ll be Northwestern. The Wildcats are poised to make their second-ever NCAA Tournament and as the conference’s perennial underdog, it’s hard to cheer against them.

The Wildcats finished the regular season tied with three other teams for second-place in the conference standings, and with their luck and tiebreakers, drew the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Their 20-10 overall finish is the team’s best since the 2016-17 season when Northwestern made that single NCAA Tournament.

While their scoring is nothing to write home about (quite literally - the Wildcats are 11th in the conference in offense with just 68 points per game), their defense is elite, allowing under 63 points per game. Like their football counterparts, if Northwestern can’t overmatch their opponents on talent, they’ll stay in the game with smart play and a defensive mindset.

Meredith’s favorite ‘You’re Nuts”: Mean Girls (obviously)​


I was very close to picking the favorite historical figure edition as well!

In terms of my favorite “You’re Nuts” topic we’ve done together, last May, we created a burn book for Big Ten football coaches. Brett took the Big Ten East and I the West. My favorite was the bonus pick of Tracy Clay (“HE MADE OUT WITH A DILLY BAR!”)

Anyway, thanks for everything, Brett - it’s been a blast these past couple years writing these pieces, previews, bold predictions and more!

Continue reading...
Click to expand...
Load more

Filter

Latest winning wagers

Back
Top