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LGHL LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ohio State men lost to Northwestern, things got testy in the press conference
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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ohio State men lost to Northwestern, things got testy in the press conference
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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Another press conference after another loss for a team that will not be playing in the big dance.
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 Thursday night’s loss to Northwestern, the media spoke with the head coach of the winning team — Chris Collins — and the losing team — Chris Holtmann. We also spoke with Justice Sueing and Bruce Thornton.
Collins spent most of his time relating Ohio State’s current struggles to the struggles of some of his Northwestern teams over the years. He said that Ohio State has been in most of their games, but “It’s hard to get back up and compete when you’ve experienced so little joy.” Collins said the Buckeyes have several playmakers, but that his team’s resolve and positivity on the road helped get them the win.
Sueing and Thornton didn’t have a ton to provide, other than dismissing the idea that something “was up” with Brice Sensabaugh after his worst game in college thus far. Sueing acknowledged that he’s played better, but that it doesn’t matter when the team isn’t winning.
Holtmann also dismissed the idea that he’s “taken Sensabaugh out of his rhythm” by moving him to the bench for the past two games. He said Sensabaugh is “being guarded by the other team’s best player” and that he is just trying to get the freshman in the best position possible.
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
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Another press conference after another loss for a team that will not be playing in the big dance.
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 Thursday night’s loss to Northwestern, the media spoke with the head coach of the winning team — Chris Collins — and the losing team — Chris Holtmann. We also spoke with Justice Sueing and Bruce Thornton.
Collins spent most of his time relating Ohio State’s current struggles to the struggles of some of his Northwestern teams over the years. He said that Ohio State has been in most of their games, but “It’s hard to get back up and compete when you’ve experienced so little joy.” Collins said the Buckeyes have several playmakers, but that his team’s resolve and positivity on the road helped get them the win.
Sueing and Thornton didn’t have a ton to provide, other than dismissing the idea that something “was up” with Brice Sensabaugh after his worst game in college thus far. Sueing acknowledged that he’s played better, but that it doesn’t matter when the team isn’t winning.
Holtmann also dismissed the idea that he’s “taken Sensabaugh out of his rhythm” by moving him to the bench for the past two games. He said Sensabaugh is “being guarded by the other team’s best player” and that he is just trying to get the freshman in the best position possible.
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is your favorite Ohio State men’s basketball team of all time?
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You’re Nuts: What is your favorite Ohio State men’s basketball team of all time?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Fred Squillante/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Reminder — the two of us are in our 20s.
The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team is officially under .500 for the first time since they started the 2015-16 season 2-4. The Buckeyes have lost to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northwestern in succession and have now fallen to 11-13 overall and 3-10 in the conference after starting 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference.
So for this week’s iteration of ‘You’re Nuts’, we are going to completely ignore all that and take a trip down memory lane, as we all do when things are not going the way we like.
Last week, we discussed who we thought would make the biggest impact for the Buckeyes as freshmen next season. Connor went with Scotty Middleton and Justin went with Bronny James, taking the huge leap and making the assumption that he would wind up at Ohio State.
Connor won with 51 percent of the vote. Justin got 19 percent and the third option of “someone else” got the remaining 30 percent of the vote.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24417655/Screenshot__155_.png)
Here are the standings after 87 weeks:
Justin- 39
And now here is this week’s topic of discussion.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24422585/933262296.jpg "Ohio State Buckeyes v Gonzaga Bulldogs")
Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The 2017-2018 edition of Ohio State men’s basketball was Chris Holtmann’s first team, and simultaneously played the “plucky underdog” and “fearsome favorite” role at the same time, all season long.
When Thad Matta was fired in the middle of the summer of 2017, Chris Holtmann was hired and had very little time to patch holes in a roster that had just missed the NCAA Tournament and lost one player to graduation, another to the NBA Draft, and two via transfer. Keita Bates-Diop was coming off a nasty leg injury, and the team really did not have a true point guard.
Holtmann added Andrew Dakich to the team via transfer right away. Dakich played sparingly at Michigan and was considering transferring to a low mid-major before Holtmann called. To put it in respectful terms, Dakich was as close to being a walk-on before coming to Ohio State as you could be without actually being a walk-on. Suddenly he became one of the main ballhandlers for a team that would go on to start 9-0 in the B1G that season.
There was also star power on the team at the same time, with Keita Bates-Diop bouncing back from the gruesome leg injury the previous season and becoming the B1G Player of the Year during the 2017-2018 year. He, along with Jae’Sean Tate and freshman Kaleb Wesson, actually provided a solid 1-2-3 punch for Holtmann’s first team.
That team was a blast because expectations were so low, and despite rushing out of the gate to the tune of an 18-4 record, Ohio State remained unranked in the AP Poll until late January. If it weren’t for back-to-back road losses at Penn State and Michigan in February, you’re probably looking at a Big Ten championship in Holtmann’s first season. Ultimately, Ohio State finished 15-3 in the B1G and tied with Purdue for second place.
You also can’t forget the 80-64 shellacking of No. 1 Michigan State that occurred that season. On January 7, 2018, in front of 17,599 people, the Buckeyes whomped Sparty 80-64 to knock off the top-ranked team in the country. Bates-Diop had a career-high 32 points, but it was Dakich’s half-courter at the halftime buzzer that gave Ohio State a 12-point lead that is etched into my mind forever. Nothing describes that team better than the future NBA player scoring 32 while the former walk-on runs point and hits the most emotional shot of the game.
Ohio State pulled a tough draw in the NCAA Tournament that season by getting Mike Daum and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits first and then an under-seeded four-seed Gonzaga in the second round, but it was still a hell of a run. That team had the guys to make a Sweet Sixteen, but it’s also tough to look at that Gonzaga team that had Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell, and Josh Perkins and think that Ohio State should have beaten them.
Still a very fun, very memorable team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24417656/usa_today_6129050.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Division I Championship-Ohio State vs Syracuse")
Michael Ivins-USA TODAY Sports
I will get ahead of this and start out with this statement. I am fully aware that this season also had probably the most disappointing loss of the Thad Matta era. Maybe the 06-07 national title game but I believe that Florida team was just better.
This Kentucky team was not better and there is an argument to be made that Ohio State probably could have run the table if they just beat this Wildcat team in the Sweet 16. Mainly because the road to a national title after this would have been a two-seeded North Carolina team but then a three-seeded UCONN team and an eight seeded Butler in the national championship game. Could they have made a run? Likely. But we will never know. Would be interesting to see the fans’ reaction to a loss like that in this day and age in social media.
If you want to relive that game for whatever reason, here you go.
However, this is still my personal favorite Buckeye team. I am only 26 so I don’t have any memory of the ‘70s, ‘80s, or ‘90s, and the first real season I remember is Jim O’Brien’s final season. Just to add some context there.
This team, in my humble opinion, was the most talented team Matta ever had. Even the guys that didn’t play like Jordan Sibert and JD Weatherspoon transferred to other schools and became all-conference players at those respective schools. And they didn’t even play on that team.
Also, my favorite Buckeye ever is Jon Diebler, and this was his most impactful season. I was also a big Evan Turner fan, and this was their first season without him but this team was still awesome to watch and follow. They started the season 24-0 and only lost at the Kohl Center to Wisconsin and at Mackey Arena to Purdue.
Unfortunately, it did not end the way anyone wanted it to, but that team will always hold a place in my head as a super fun team. If only Brandon Knight wasn’t nails at the end of the game.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Fred Squillante/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Reminder — the two of us are in our 20s.
The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team is officially under .500 for the first time since they started the 2015-16 season 2-4. The Buckeyes have lost to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northwestern in succession and have now fallen to 11-13 overall and 3-10 in the conference after starting 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference.
So for this week’s iteration of ‘You’re Nuts’, we are going to completely ignore all that and take a trip down memory lane, as we all do when things are not going the way we like.
Last week, we discussed who we thought would make the biggest impact for the Buckeyes as freshmen next season. Connor went with Scotty Middleton and Justin went with Bronny James, taking the huge leap and making the assumption that he would wind up at Ohio State.
Connor won with 51 percent of the vote. Justin got 19 percent and the third option of “someone else” got the remaining 30 percent of the vote.
Here are the standings after 87 weeks:
After 87 weeks:
Justin- 39
Connor- 35
Other- 9
(There have been four ties)
And now here is this week’s topic of discussion.
Today’s question: What is your favorite Ohio State men’s basketball team of all time?
Connor: 2017-18
The 2017-2018 edition of Ohio State men’s basketball was Chris Holtmann’s first team, and simultaneously played the “plucky underdog” and “fearsome favorite” role at the same time, all season long.
When Thad Matta was fired in the middle of the summer of 2017, Chris Holtmann was hired and had very little time to patch holes in a roster that had just missed the NCAA Tournament and lost one player to graduation, another to the NBA Draft, and two via transfer. Keita Bates-Diop was coming off a nasty leg injury, and the team really did not have a true point guard.
Holtmann added Andrew Dakich to the team via transfer right away. Dakich played sparingly at Michigan and was considering transferring to a low mid-major before Holtmann called. To put it in respectful terms, Dakich was as close to being a walk-on before coming to Ohio State as you could be without actually being a walk-on. Suddenly he became one of the main ballhandlers for a team that would go on to start 9-0 in the B1G that season.
There was also star power on the team at the same time, with Keita Bates-Diop bouncing back from the gruesome leg injury the previous season and becoming the B1G Player of the Year during the 2017-2018 year. He, along with Jae’Sean Tate and freshman Kaleb Wesson, actually provided a solid 1-2-3 punch for Holtmann’s first team.
That team was a blast because expectations were so low, and despite rushing out of the gate to the tune of an 18-4 record, Ohio State remained unranked in the AP Poll until late January. If it weren’t for back-to-back road losses at Penn State and Michigan in February, you’re probably looking at a Big Ten championship in Holtmann’s first season. Ultimately, Ohio State finished 15-3 in the B1G and tied with Purdue for second place.
You also can’t forget the 80-64 shellacking of No. 1 Michigan State that occurred that season. On January 7, 2018, in front of 17,599 people, the Buckeyes whomped Sparty 80-64 to knock off the top-ranked team in the country. Bates-Diop had a career-high 32 points, but it was Dakich’s half-courter at the halftime buzzer that gave Ohio State a 12-point lead that is etched into my mind forever. Nothing describes that team better than the future NBA player scoring 32 while the former walk-on runs point and hits the most emotional shot of the game.
Ohio State pulled a tough draw in the NCAA Tournament that season by getting Mike Daum and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits first and then an under-seeded four-seed Gonzaga in the second round, but it was still a hell of a run. That team had the guys to make a Sweet Sixteen, but it’s also tough to look at that Gonzaga team that had Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell, and Josh Perkins and think that Ohio State should have beaten them.
Still a very fun, very memorable team.
Justin: 2010-11
I will get ahead of this and start out with this statement. I am fully aware that this season also had probably the most disappointing loss of the Thad Matta era. Maybe the 06-07 national title game but I believe that Florida team was just better.
This Kentucky team was not better and there is an argument to be made that Ohio State probably could have run the table if they just beat this Wildcat team in the Sweet 16. Mainly because the road to a national title after this would have been a two-seeded North Carolina team but then a three-seeded UCONN team and an eight seeded Butler in the national championship game. Could they have made a run? Likely. But we will never know. Would be interesting to see the fans’ reaction to a loss like that in this day and age in social media.
If you want to relive that game for whatever reason, here you go.
However, this is still my personal favorite Buckeye team. I am only 26 so I don’t have any memory of the ‘70s, ‘80s, or ‘90s, and the first real season I remember is Jim O’Brien’s final season. Just to add some context there.
This team, in my humble opinion, was the most talented team Matta ever had. Even the guys that didn’t play like Jordan Sibert and JD Weatherspoon transferred to other schools and became all-conference players at those respective schools. And they didn’t even play on that team.
Also, my favorite Buckeye ever is Jon Diebler, and this was his most impactful season. I was also a big Evan Turner fan, and this was their first season without him but this team was still awesome to watch and follow. They started the season 24-0 and only lost at the Kohl Center to Wisconsin and at Mackey Arena to Purdue.
Unfortunately, it did not end the way anyone wanted it to, but that team will always hold a place in my head as a super fun team. If only Brandon Knight wasn’t nails at the end of the game.
Continue reading...
LGHL Eboni Walker’s impact for the Ohio State women and potential to start against Indiana
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Eboni Walker’s impact for the Ohio State women and potential to start against Indiana
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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images
With an injury to Rebeka Mikulášiková, Walker could see her name in the starting lineup for the first time this season, giving Ohio State another look.
On Wednesday, the Ohio State women’s basketball team looked like the former No. 2 team in the country against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Actually, even better than when the Buckeyes were 19-0. Aside from the big performances from the usual big performers, an injury led to more minutes and a potential boost for the Scarlet & Gray through forward Eboni Walker.
All season, Walker’s played the role of an impact substitute, providing added depth inside the paint. Wednesday, Walker’s status was updated to defacto starter when forward Rebeka Mikulášiková went out of the game with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter with what was later confirmed as a high ankle sprain.
Walker responded playing her best game of the season. The Las Vegas, Nevada native produced season highs in minutes (25), points (12), and assists (6). It came against a Minnesota team with impressive post presence in forwards Alanna “Rose” Micheaux and Mallory Heyer.
Micheaux specifically was neutralized by Walker’s ability to block lanes, get back quickly on defense, and anticipate defensive movement. The Minnesota forward had eight points and four rebounds, compared to a team-leading 14.7 points and 8.4 rebounds entering Wednesday.
Of those eight, only four came when Walker was on the floor guarding the Gophers’ big. No big deal to Walker’s teammates.
“I’m not really shocked,” said guard Taylor Mikesell. “We see the effort and the energy every day in practice and it just happened to be her moment tonight and she was ready to step into it and she helped us a lot.”
She might have to help a lot more on Monday when the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers come to Columbus and Walker’s already shown that it's a spotlight she can handle.
On Jan. 26, when Ohio State traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, the Buckeyes fell in their second of three straight losses, 78-65. In the fourth quarter, when Ohio State needed a boost to try and salvage something following their second-worst quarter of the season with six total points, Walker’s name was called.
The forward played every minute of the fourth quarter and eight of those minutes up against the Hoosiers' dominant forward/center Mackenzie Holmes. Walker held Holmes to four points and outrebounded her 5-to-1, with two offensive rebounds.
Now, there’s an argument to be made that Indiana was in cruise control with a 17-point lead at the time, but assuming Holmes and the Hoosiers will take it easy on the court is a pretty preposterous notion.
There’s no official word on Mikulášiková, with an update likely coming Saturday. She could return, with head coach Kevin McGuff saying the Slovakian was “in a little bit of pain and discomfort.” Either of the two bigs gives Ohio State vastly different looks with each having its own strengths and weaknesses.
For Mikulášiková, she brings three-point shooting ability that, when on, can stretch defenses and create more space for teammates to work. Also, it doesn’t allow defenders to double-team a player like Mikesell and more space for forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry to score inside the paint.
Walker can’t match Mikulášiková’s shooting range, but she makes up for it in other ways. Namely, more speed on the defensive end of the court than Mikulášiková. Walker plays with a controlled intensity and covers space quickly, something that could at least slow Holmes down.
“We just did our dub chain in there, we gave it to her,” said McGuff. “Just because we really needed her to step up in Rebeka’s absence and just thought her energy was really good. Post defense, they have a really good post player and she made her work for everything she got.”
Ohio State will need to give Indiana everything they’ve got, and for all four quarters. The Buckeyes were able to outscore the Hoosiers in three of four quarters in Indiana but lacked the intensity and energy in the third. Could Walker be one piece that helps increase that energy for four full quarters?
The good thing is Walker won’t have to do anything alone. It is a team game after all. If Walker starts, it seems unlikely that she plays all 40 minutes. When Walker wasn’t playing the five, a glimpse of future years of Ohio State basketball showed its face with Thierry playing more of a center position.
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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images
With an injury to Rebeka Mikulášiková, Walker could see her name in the starting lineup for the first time this season, giving Ohio State another look.
On Wednesday, the Ohio State women’s basketball team looked like the former No. 2 team in the country against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Actually, even better than when the Buckeyes were 19-0. Aside from the big performances from the usual big performers, an injury led to more minutes and a potential boost for the Scarlet & Gray through forward Eboni Walker.
All season, Walker’s played the role of an impact substitute, providing added depth inside the paint. Wednesday, Walker’s status was updated to defacto starter when forward Rebeka Mikulášiková went out of the game with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter with what was later confirmed as a high ankle sprain.
Walker responded playing her best game of the season. The Las Vegas, Nevada native produced season highs in minutes (25), points (12), and assists (6). It came against a Minnesota team with impressive post presence in forwards Alanna “Rose” Micheaux and Mallory Heyer.
Micheaux specifically was neutralized by Walker’s ability to block lanes, get back quickly on defense, and anticipate defensive movement. The Minnesota forward had eight points and four rebounds, compared to a team-leading 14.7 points and 8.4 rebounds entering Wednesday.
Of those eight, only four came when Walker was on the floor guarding the Gophers’ big. No big deal to Walker’s teammates.
“I’m not really shocked,” said guard Taylor Mikesell. “We see the effort and the energy every day in practice and it just happened to be her moment tonight and she was ready to step into it and she helped us a lot.”
She might have to help a lot more on Monday when the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers come to Columbus and Walker’s already shown that it's a spotlight she can handle.
On Jan. 26, when Ohio State traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, the Buckeyes fell in their second of three straight losses, 78-65. In the fourth quarter, when Ohio State needed a boost to try and salvage something following their second-worst quarter of the season with six total points, Walker’s name was called.
The forward played every minute of the fourth quarter and eight of those minutes up against the Hoosiers' dominant forward/center Mackenzie Holmes. Walker held Holmes to four points and outrebounded her 5-to-1, with two offensive rebounds.
Now, there’s an argument to be made that Indiana was in cruise control with a 17-point lead at the time, but assuming Holmes and the Hoosiers will take it easy on the court is a pretty preposterous notion.
There’s no official word on Mikulášiková, with an update likely coming Saturday. She could return, with head coach Kevin McGuff saying the Slovakian was “in a little bit of pain and discomfort.” Either of the two bigs gives Ohio State vastly different looks with each having its own strengths and weaknesses.
For Mikulášiková, she brings three-point shooting ability that, when on, can stretch defenses and create more space for teammates to work. Also, it doesn’t allow defenders to double-team a player like Mikesell and more space for forwards Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry to score inside the paint.
Walker can’t match Mikulášiková’s shooting range, but she makes up for it in other ways. Namely, more speed on the defensive end of the court than Mikulášiková. Walker plays with a controlled intensity and covers space quickly, something that could at least slow Holmes down.
“We just did our dub chain in there, we gave it to her,” said McGuff. “Just because we really needed her to step up in Rebeka’s absence and just thought her energy was really good. Post defense, they have a really good post player and she made her work for everything she got.”
Ohio State will need to give Indiana everything they’ve got, and for all four quarters. The Buckeyes were able to outscore the Hoosiers in three of four quarters in Indiana but lacked the intensity and energy in the third. Could Walker be one piece that helps increase that energy for four full quarters?
The good thing is Walker won’t have to do anything alone. It is a team game after all. If Walker starts, it seems unlikely that she plays all 40 minutes. When Walker wasn’t playing the five, a glimpse of future years of Ohio State basketball showed its face with Thierry playing more of a center position.
Continue reading...
LGHL Three schools to be wary of for 2024 Ohio recruiting
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Three schools to be wary of for 2024 Ohio recruiting
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
The Buckeyes need to identify the top Ohio HS players, as schools are ready to try to plunder the state’s talent.
Before I get into the gist of my article, I want to wish former Ohio State running back and current member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Trey Sermon, the very best of luck this weekend in Super Bowl LVII. Sermon is the only former Buckeye who is participating in The Super Bowl, and is unlikely to be an active participant, but would earn a Super Bowl ring if the Eagles defeat the Chiefs.
**
In my estimation, one of Michael Keaton’s more underrated performances in the last few years is in the 2016 movie “The Founder”. Keaton plays the role of Ray Kroc, the man who created McDonald’s franchises and eventually forced out the actual McDonald brothers from their business. One of the better lines in the movie is uttered by Dick McDonald, played by the actor Nick Offerman, saying, “There’s a wolf in the hen house. We let him in...”.
At this point, you are thinking, “Minnich, what does this have to do with Ohio State football?!?” Let me explain my analogy.
In last week’s article, I defined three goals I have for Ohio State as they work diligently on assembling their 2024 recruiting class. Presently, the Buckeyes sits with three verbal commitments.
Ohio State football has always been built upon the talented players from the great state of Ohio. While Ohio has suffered population losses over the years to other states down south, the reality is Ohio is blessed with exceptional high school programs all throughout the state, with players capable of playing for many NCAA Division 1 programs.
I referenced this in last week’s article, and will merely reiterate it again — perhaps in today’s NIL landscape, Ohio State would do better by focusing more heavily upon Ohio talent, versus trying to recruit talent from all around the country. Former OSU head coach Jim Tressel had rosters loaded with Ohio talent, and perhaps Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day will adopt a similar approach. Day was recently quoted as saying, “I also think that, you know, it matters to have guys from the state of Ohio now more than ever...”
Below are three schools to be wary of for 2024 Ohio recruiting. As you will read, all three have ties to the Buckeye State, and all have or will be trying to poach talented Ohioans to their respective programs.
Think of some of the better players from Ohio who have chosen to take their talents to “That Team Up North” throughout the years — John Kolesar, Ricky Powers, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson.
One of Jim Tressel’s strengths from 2001-2011 was essentially keeping Michigan from Ohio’s top talent. Yes, Tressel did lose a few (Prescott Burgess, Shawn Crable, Mario Manningham), but he kept the Wolverines at bay for most of the time.
I bring this up as Michigan signed four Ohio players in their 2023 recruiting class. None had Ohio State offers, but it is a sign that the Wolverines are trying to reestablish a presence in Ohio that had been blocked. Even though the 2024 recruiting class will not be signed for 10 months, a few of the top players in the state of Ohio are being forecast to wind up with the Wolverines. Four of the top 15, to be exact.
So here’s to hoping that Ohio State tries to get back to the Wolverines not having a prime seat at the table for Ohio’s top talent.
2. Notre Dame
This school has pretty much always been a constant in trying to get Ohio talent, considering the abundance of Catholic high schools throughout the state of Ohio. Remembering that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is a former Ohio State linebacker who has strong ties to the Ohio high school coaching community from his days as an assistant at Cincinnati (more on that momentarily), it should not be surprising that the Fighting Irish will do their best to try to get some of Ohio’s better players to come to South Bend, Indiana.
Notre Dame signed two players from Ohio, and DE Brenan Vernon held an Ohio State offer. At first glance in 2024, Notre Dame is projected to sign one of the top-15 players from the state of Ohio.
3. Wisconsin
Just because I have Wisconsin third on this list does not mean that I do not consider them to be a threat to land top Ohio talent. New Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell arrived too late in the 2023 recruiting cycle to make a big splash, but Fickell will likely be drawing on his extensive high school relationships that he cultivated while as an Ohio State assistant under Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, and even more so as the head coach of Cincinnati.
Fickell gained a positive reputation for identifying the so-called “diamonds in the rough” prospects, such as former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, and developing them into premier players. Just because Fickell’s address is Madison, Wisconsin, does not mean that he has lost that talent, and it will not be surprising to see Fickell try to capitalize upon Ohio players who may feel overlooked or neglected by the Ohio State coaching staff.
Ohio State associate athletic director/general manager of player personnel Mark Pantoni has been quoted as saying that Ohio State will be “trying to sign as many Ohio kids as possible.” It may be a necessity to keep the lurking wolves from entering into the proverbial hen house of Ohio talent.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
The Buckeyes need to identify the top Ohio HS players, as schools are ready to try to plunder the state’s talent.
Before I get into the gist of my article, I want to wish former Ohio State running back and current member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Trey Sermon, the very best of luck this weekend in Super Bowl LVII. Sermon is the only former Buckeye who is participating in The Super Bowl, and is unlikely to be an active participant, but would earn a Super Bowl ring if the Eagles defeat the Chiefs.
**
In my estimation, one of Michael Keaton’s more underrated performances in the last few years is in the 2016 movie “The Founder”. Keaton plays the role of Ray Kroc, the man who created McDonald’s franchises and eventually forced out the actual McDonald brothers from their business. One of the better lines in the movie is uttered by Dick McDonald, played by the actor Nick Offerman, saying, “There’s a wolf in the hen house. We let him in...”.
At this point, you are thinking, “Minnich, what does this have to do with Ohio State football?!?” Let me explain my analogy.
In last week’s article, I defined three goals I have for Ohio State as they work diligently on assembling their 2024 recruiting class. Presently, the Buckeyes sits with three verbal commitments.
Ohio State football has always been built upon the talented players from the great state of Ohio. While Ohio has suffered population losses over the years to other states down south, the reality is Ohio is blessed with exceptional high school programs all throughout the state, with players capable of playing for many NCAA Division 1 programs.
I referenced this in last week’s article, and will merely reiterate it again — perhaps in today’s NIL landscape, Ohio State would do better by focusing more heavily upon Ohio talent, versus trying to recruit talent from all around the country. Former OSU head coach Jim Tressel had rosters loaded with Ohio talent, and perhaps Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day will adopt a similar approach. Day was recently quoted as saying, “I also think that, you know, it matters to have guys from the state of Ohio now more than ever...”
Below are three schools to be wary of for 2024 Ohio recruiting. As you will read, all three have ties to the Buckeye State, and all have or will be trying to poach talented Ohioans to their respective programs.
- Michigan
Think of some of the better players from Ohio who have chosen to take their talents to “That Team Up North” throughout the years — John Kolesar, Ricky Powers, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson.
One of Jim Tressel’s strengths from 2001-2011 was essentially keeping Michigan from Ohio’s top talent. Yes, Tressel did lose a few (Prescott Burgess, Shawn Crable, Mario Manningham), but he kept the Wolverines at bay for most of the time.
I bring this up as Michigan signed four Ohio players in their 2023 recruiting class. None had Ohio State offers, but it is a sign that the Wolverines are trying to reestablish a presence in Ohio that had been blocked. Even though the 2024 recruiting class will not be signed for 10 months, a few of the top players in the state of Ohio are being forecast to wind up with the Wolverines. Four of the top 15, to be exact.
So here’s to hoping that Ohio State tries to get back to the Wolverines not having a prime seat at the table for Ohio’s top talent.
2. Notre Dame
This school has pretty much always been a constant in trying to get Ohio talent, considering the abundance of Catholic high schools throughout the state of Ohio. Remembering that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is a former Ohio State linebacker who has strong ties to the Ohio high school coaching community from his days as an assistant at Cincinnati (more on that momentarily), it should not be surprising that the Fighting Irish will do their best to try to get some of Ohio’s better players to come to South Bend, Indiana.
Notre Dame signed two players from Ohio, and DE Brenan Vernon held an Ohio State offer. At first glance in 2024, Notre Dame is projected to sign one of the top-15 players from the state of Ohio.
3. Wisconsin
Just because I have Wisconsin third on this list does not mean that I do not consider them to be a threat to land top Ohio talent. New Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell arrived too late in the 2023 recruiting cycle to make a big splash, but Fickell will likely be drawing on his extensive high school relationships that he cultivated while as an Ohio State assistant under Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, and even more so as the head coach of Cincinnati.
Fickell gained a positive reputation for identifying the so-called “diamonds in the rough” prospects, such as former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, and developing them into premier players. Just because Fickell’s address is Madison, Wisconsin, does not mean that he has lost that talent, and it will not be surprising to see Fickell try to capitalize upon Ohio players who may feel overlooked or neglected by the Ohio State coaching staff.
Ohio State associate athletic director/general manager of player personnel Mark Pantoni has been quoted as saying that Ohio State will be “trying to sign as many Ohio kids as possible.” It may be a necessity to keep the lurking wolves from entering into the proverbial hen house of Ohio talent.
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