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LGHL Ohio State makes cut for 3 top recruits

Ohio State makes cut for 3 top recruits
Charles Doss
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes are in the mix for three more standout prospects.

When you receive a chance to suit up for the Ohio State football team, you pay attention. Already sitting pretty with numerous top prospects, two more standout recruits announced over the weekend they are still considering taking their talents to Columbus.

One step closer


With a commitment coming after the 16th of April, four-star athlete Dyami Brown is now down to six programs.

Starting to come down to the wire, the West Mecklenburg (NC) High School product will score touchdowns for either North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Michigan, Louisville or Alabama.


Correction

Top 5

1. North Carolina
2. Virginia tech
3. Ohio state
4. Michigan / Louisville
5. Alabama

— Dyami Brown (@deuce2_) March 10, 2017

Since locking in his offer from OSU in early November, Brown, who hauled in 54 receptions for 1,012 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns — while also snatching 49 total tackles and three interceptions as a junior — has yet to make it to to the 614 to check out the what the Buckeyes could offer on and off the football field. With that being said, his home-state Tarheels and the Hokies of Virginia Tech seem to be the key teams to beat out at the moment for the 6-foot-2, 180-pound jack-of-all-trades.

Son of former NFL standout sets leaders


After recently picking up his scholarship offer from the Ohio State coaching staff, 2018 cornerback Jaycee Horn, the son of former longtime NFL wide out Joe Horn, trimmed his list of over 35 potential landing spots to 15 on Friday evening.

Now fighting it out for Horn: Ohio State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Missouri, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Louisville and Mississippi.

One of those lucky schools will end up with the 6-foot, 175-pound shut down defensive back.


Top 15 No Order (Recruitment Still Open) ‼️ @screamtaaye pic.twitter.com/BXNjHqqyLe

— Jaycee Horn (@jayceehorn_10) March 11, 2017

Horn, one of the hottest prospects on the market, has watched his recruitment take off recently after putting together a solid junior campaign. Helping Alpharetta (GA) High School to an overall record of 7-4, the three-star rated recruit finished last season with 29 total tackles and six interceptions.

Picking up scholarship offers weekly from heavy hitters on the college football scene, Horn should watch his rankings skyrocket up the list relatively soon. At the moment he’s currently pegged as the 55th cornerback and 626th overall recruit in the class of 2018, according to the 247Sports Composite.

2019 WR names top 14


Even though Jordan Whittington has nearly two years until he puts pen to paper with a college program on National Signing Day, the class of 2019 prospect is still thinking towards the future.

While most of his classmates were trying to make plans for the night, Whittington, a top 10 wide receiver in the 2019 class, took to his Twitter page on Saturday to let the world know what schools are sticking out above the others involved in his recruitment.

Dropping a top 14 consisting of programs that have and have yet offer him a scholarship, the 6-foot-1 sophomore from Cuero, Texas is high on not just Ohio State, but Arizona, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU and UCLA.


Top 14‼️..... pic.twitter.com/KUY7r5sODp

— Jordan❄Whittington (@J_Whitt3) March 11, 2017

It might be unclear where Jordan will play on the next level, but one thing is for certain: he’ll be hard to keep off the field. A threat to score nearly every time the ball is in his hands, Whittington accounted for over 1,800 all purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns last season at Cuero High School.

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Google College roundup: FGCU baseball rallies in ninth again, but falls to ... - Naples Daily News

College roundup: FGCU baseball rallies in ninth again, but falls to ... - Naples Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College roundup: FGCU baseball rallies in ninth again, but falls to ...
Naples Daily News
The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team almost pulled off its second big ninth-inning rally in its series against Ohio State.

and more »


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Google Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes passed over for NIT invitation - The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes passed over for NIT invitation - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes passed over for NIT invitation
The Columbus Dispatch
It turns out, it wasn't his decision. The Buckeyes were not selected to participate in the NIT and were alongside UNC-Asheville as the first two teams to fail to make the cut, NIT committee chairman Reggie Minton said after the brackets were unveiled ...
Buckeyes' postseason future247Sports
For Ohio State basketball, missing the NIT marks a new low in the Thad Matta eraLandof10.com
College roundup: FGCU baseball rallies in ninth again, but falls to BuckeyesNaples Daily News
Land-Grant Holy Land -Scout -cleveland.com
all 34 news articles »


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Google 2017 NIT bracket: See the full 32-team field - Landof10.com

2017 NIT bracket: See the full 32-team field - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 NIT bracket: See the full 32-team field
Landof10.com
After tallying 17-15 on the year with a 7-11 record in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes were left out of not just the NCAA Tournament, but the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) as well. With that, what Ohio State head coach Thad Matta admitted earlier this ...
Early Thoughts On The NIT BracketBig Apple Buckets

all 156 news articles »


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Google Several Buckeye targets land prestigious The Opening invite - 247Sports

Several Buckeye targets land prestigious The Opening invite - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Several Buckeye targets land prestigious The Opening invite
247Sports
The latest The Opening Regional was held today in Los Angeles and several top Ohio State targets were rewarded with an invite to the prestigious The Opening in July in Oregon. Claremont (Calif.) linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu, who plans to visit Ohio ...

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LGHL Corey ‘Philly’ Brown joining Cardale Jones and the Buffalo Bills

Corey ‘Philly’ Brown joining Cardale Jones and the Buffalo Bills
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeye just signed a deal with the Bills in free agency.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver and former Buckeye Corey “Philly” Brown was a restricted free agent heading into the offseason, but the team decided not to place a tender on the wideout and let him navigate free agency. Brown ended up striking a new deal with the Buffalo Bills — joining other Ohio State products, Cardale Jones and Adolphus Washington.

The entire Carolina offense struggled in 2016, with quarterback Cam Newton accounting for a majority of the team’s rushing yards and an offensive line that couldn’t stop the pass rush. Brown saw a small decrease in number of snaps (584) last season, compared to the 754 he lined up for in 2015. Despite the reduction in snaps, he only saw one fewer target in 2016.

One of Brown’s major issues is with drops. It’s one of the reasons that he only started eight games in 2016 compared to 11 in 2015. It’s also one of the reasons that despite only seeing one fewer target in 2016, he recorded 171 fewer yards and only one touchdown.

Brown signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of Ohio State, with a three-year deal worth $1.545 million.

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LGHL Ohio State fails to even get an NIT bid

Ohio State fails to even get an NIT bid
Matt Brown
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Many fans are likely thankful the season is now over.

After Ohio State was upset by Rutgers in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, Thad Matta wasn’t sure if the Buckeyes would play in the NIT if an offer came.

That question has bene rendered moot. The NIT bracket has been announced, and the Buckeyes did not make the field.

Reggie Minton, the NIT Committee Chairman, said on the broadcast that when compared to the final teams in, Ohio State “came up just a bit short”. He also added that no teams declined bids this season.

Ohio State, at 17-15, wasn’t in serious contention for an NCAA bid this season, thanks to a bevy of bad losses, both in Big Ten play, and to Florida Atlantic out of conference play. It might have been nice for the Buckeyes to get a shot at another game or two, to help keep their streak of 20 win seasons alive, and build some momentum for next season, but that won’t be the case.

This is the first time Ohio State will miss the postseason since the 2004-2005 season, Thad Matta’s first year in Columbus.

It’s highly unlikely Ohio State would decide to play in another postseason tournament, like the CBI, so with Matta set to return for the 2017-2018 season, the process for getting ready for then begins now.

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Google Buckeyes not in NIT field - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)

Buckeyes not in NIT field - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes not in NIT field
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Ohio State is not included in the National Invitational Tournament's 32-team field, which was announced Sunday evening. The news that the Buckeyes are not a part of the 32-team field, which is filled out with teams that did not earn bids for the 68 ...

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Google What Ohio State Buckeye recruits are saying on Twitter - Bucknuts - 247Sports

What Ohio State Buckeye recruits are saying on Twitter - Bucknuts - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What Ohio State Buckeye recruits are saying on Twitter - Bucknuts
247Sports
Ohio State recruits and commitments have plenty to say every day on Twitter. And we have the latest here at Bucknuts!

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Google Country's No. 1 RB will soon visit Ohio State - 247Sports

Country's No. 1 RB will soon visit Ohio State - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Country's No. 1 RB will soon visit Ohio State
247Sports
Mater Dei wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown who has been told he is a priority recruit by the Buckeyes, also earned an invite to The Opening. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes ...

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Google Buckeyes' postseason future - 247Sports

Buckeyes' postseason future - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' postseason future
247Sports
This is not where Ohio State wanted to be. After missing out on the NCAA Tournament a year ago for the first time in seven seasons, the Buckeyes planned on getting back to the Big Dance in 2017. When the bracket is announced Sunday night following the ...
Ohio State basketball: What went wrong in 2016-17 for the BuckeyesLandof10.com
College roundup: FGCU baseball rallies in ninth again, but falls to BuckeyesNaples Daily News
Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4 winLand-Grant Holy Land
OSU - The Lantern -Eleven Warriors -10TV
all 16 news articles »


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Google Ohio State Football: Buckeyes in Post Combine NFL Mock Drafts - Scarlet and Game

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes in Post Combine NFL Mock Drafts - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Football: Buckeyes in Post Combine NFL Mock Drafts
Scarlet and Game
How former Ohio State players are listed in these mock drafts following their workouts at the NFL Combine. Most of the Ohio State players performed well at the NFL Combine and have solidified or improved their draft status according to recent mock drafts.
2017 NFL Draft profile: Is Pat Elflein the safest ex-Ohio State player to pick?Landof10.com
Eye on 85: Roster Attrition is Nothing New For Ohio StateEleven Warriors
The rise of Ohio State's Marshon LattimoreLand-Grant Holy Land

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Google Ohio State set to get visit from recent 2019 offer, California DB being recruited by Jaiden...

Ohio State set to get visit from recent 2019 offer, California DB being recruited by Jaiden Woodbey and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State set to get visit from recent 2019 offer, California DB being recruited by Jaiden Woodbey and more
Landof10.com
There is no doubt that the Buckeyes are looking to add at least one – and maybe two – tight ends to their 2018 recruiting class. The top target, as we've said for months and will continue to say until he makes a college decision, is Lindenhurst (N.Y ...
Former Alabama commit says Buckeyes have offered247Sports

all 1 news articles »


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LGHL 2017 NIT Selection Show: Start time, TV Channel, live stream, & how to watch

2017 NIT Selection Show: Start time, TV Channel, live stream, & how to watch
Matt Brown
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Will this tournament include Ohio State? Only way to find out is to watch.

The NCAA Selection Show starts at 5:30 today, but we all know Ohio State won’t hear their name called. Any tiny chance for the Buckeyes to dance ended when Ohio State lost to Rutgers to open the Big Ten Tournament.

But the NIT? That’s still a possibility. Ohio State didn’t commit to playing in the NIT on Wednesday, but they’re still likely to get an invite, if they want one, with various bracket projection sites slotting them around a five seed slot.

Should the Buckeyes fail to earn a top four seed in the NIT, they’ll be on the road, with opening round games being played on campus sites. The final four, of course, is played in New York City.

Will they accept a bid? Where will they play? Who will they play? We’ll find out tonight. Here’s how to watch:

How to watch the selection show:

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPNU

Online: WatchESPN

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BTN Best of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament

Best of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

Now that a Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan has been crowned after blazing an incredible four-day trail through D.C., it’s time to pick the “bests” from the event celebrating its 20th season. It’s tough to narrow down these picks after 13 games in five days, but here they are.
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LGHL Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4 win

Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4 win
Ben Martens
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes nearly had a replay of Friday night’s blown lead, but held on against the Eagles.

For Ohio State baseball, Sunday’s 5-4 win over Florida Gulf Coast had to bring on some flashbacks of blown leads past. Just two days removed from blowing a five-run lead in the ninth inning of game one on Friday, the Buckeyes very nearly followed the same script against the Eagles in the series finisher.

With a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Ohio State closer Yianni Pavlopoulos yielded three runs and had the tying run at second base before sealing the Buckeye victory.

FGCU mounted its last-ditch effort to repeat Friday’s heroics with back-to-back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning against Pavlopoulos, cutting the deficit to two. A sacrifice fly two batters later brought made it a one-run game, but a pair of groundouts ended things.

Ohio State’s record now stands at 6-8 on the young season, and while there was much to be concerned about in the series against the 24th-ranked Eagles, the Buckeyes did show some resiliency. That can only help as the club continues to grow and eyes Big Ten play.

From a bullpen that had been much-maligned throughout the series, the Buckeyes did get two scoreless innings from Kyle Michalik and a scoreless inning of redemption from Seth Kinker before the scare from Pavlopoulos.

And unlike game two of the series, when the team managed just a run, Ohio State did generate some offense in this one. Bo Coolen hit a two-run home run, while Tre’ Gantt collected three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Jalen Washington drove in a run.

After two straight rough outings, Adam Niemeyer was pushed back to Sunday from his usual Friday spot in the rotation. The right-hander responded with what was easily his best outing since opening day, allowing just one run on three hits in five innings of work, walking two and striking out two, en route to his second win of the season. It was an encouraging sign.

FGCU was not nearly as sharp as in the first two games of the series, getting 6.1 innings out of lefty starter Josh Dye, who struck out six while allowing an uncharacteristic five runs, and managing just four hits before the wild final frame.

As was the case in Saturday’s game, Ohio State staked itself to the early lead in this one. Gantt led off with a single, extending his reached base streak to all 13 games thus far this season, and Washington tripled to the left-center gap to bring him around. Dye retired Noah McGowan and Zach Ratcliff after that and looked close to escaping with no further damage, but Coolen connected on his first home run in scarlet and gray to make it a three-run inning.

Niemeyer stranded a runner in the first inning and left the bases loaded in the second, tiptoeing around trouble. He was unable to avoid it in the third, though, as Corey Fehribach took him deep to right-center to put the Eagles on the board and cut the lead to 3-1.

The Buckeyes got that run back in the fifth thanks to a costly error by FGCU third baseman Richie Garcia. On a ground ball off the bat of Jacob Barnwell, Garcia’s throwing error allowed the Ohio State catcher to race around the bags all the way to third. He then beat a play at the plate when Gantt laid down a squeeze bunt, making it a 4-1 ballgame.

Meanwhile, Niemeyer continued to throw zeroes up on the board, allowing just one baserunner between the fourth and fifth innings before exiting the game for Michalik.

In the seventh, the Buckeyes chased Dye from the game thanks to a leadoff double by Shea Murray and a sacrifice bunt by Barnwell. Reliever Ryan Ahern entered and Gantt laid down another bunt, scoring Murray. He also advanced to second thanks to an error on the play at the plate to keep the pressure on.

Ahern faced just the one hitter before the Eagles went back to the bullpen, this time for Kenton Hering, who induced a groundout from Washington and struck out McGowan to end the threat.

The theatrics were just about to begin, but this time the boys from Columbus persevered.

Ohio State will remain in Florida for the next few days, continuing its spring break trip with the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte. The Buckeyes will take on Lehigh on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a Wednesday morning tilt with Bucknell.

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Google Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4...

Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4 win - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-Florida Gulf Coast 2017 final score: Baseball Buckeyes hang on (barely) for 5-4 win
Land-Grant Holy Land
Just two days removed from blowing a five-run lead in the ninth inning of game one on Friday, the Buckeyes very nearly followed the same script against the Eagles in the series finisher. With a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Ohio State ...


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LGHL Ohio State lacrosse stays undefeated with 12-4 win over Cleveland State

Ohio State lacrosse stays undefeated with 12-4 win over Cleveland State
Meredith Hein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes move to 7-0 on the season with an eight-point win in the Horseshoe.

The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s lacrosse team earned its seventh win of the season Saturday at Ohio Stadium, defeating the Vikings of Cleveland State by a 12-4 mark to remain undefeated on the year. The eight-point win is the Buckeyes’ largest margin of victory on the young season.

With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 7-0 on the year as they prepare for the toughest stretch of the season in which they will face three of the nation’s top-four teams.

Ohio State opened up scoring with two-straight goals from freshman midfielder Tre Leclaire. Senior attackman Austin Shanks then put the Buckeyes up three on a man-up goal midway through the quarter. Though the Vikings scored with 4:31 remaining in the opening quarter, senior midfielder Johnny Pearson scored his 10th goal of the year, assisted by sophomore attackman Jack Jasinski, to keep the Buckeyes’ lead at three heading into the second quarter.

Leclaire rounded out his hat trick with a goal just 44 seconds into the second quarter to extend Ohio State’s lead. Freshman attackman Lukas Buckley then broke a nine-minute scoring drought for both teams when he found the back of the net on a man-up opportunity with 5:15 remaining in the quarter, assisted by senior attackman Eric Fannell, giving the Buckeyes a 6-1 lead heading into the break.

Senior midfielder J.T. Blubaugh scored the first goal of the second half for the Buckeyes 2:41 into the third quarter. Cleveland State answered quickly to keep the margin at five, but Ohio State converted the game’s next three goals on shots by junior attackman Hank Bethke, senior midfielder John Kelly and junior midfielder Austin Seiple. Though the Vikings outshot Ohio State 11-8 in the third, the Buckeyes carried a 10-2 lead into the final quarter.

Both teams traded goals in the fourth, with Seiple scoring his second of the day with 10:12 remaining. Cleveland State would answer, but freshman attackman Nick Musci responded with his third goal of the season for the Buckeyes’ final score of the game.

Leclaire led the Buckeyes with three goals on the day, and also leads Ohio State in scoring on the season with 17 goals so far this year.

Overall, Ohio State outshot Cleveland State 37-28. Senior goalie Tom Carey had seven saves on 10 shots on the day, while fellow senior Nick Doyle, who played the final 7:54, had two saves on three shots.

Ohio State went just 8-of-17 on faceoff attempts on the day, with senior specialist Jake Withers winning all four of the attempts he faced. The Buckeyes won the groundball battle, however, picking up 25 of 42 attempts, led by Carey who picked up four individually. Withers’ three groundballs on the day also made him the all-time leader in groundballs in program history at Ohio State with 239 career pick ups.

With the loss, Cleveland State falls to 2-6 on the season. The Vikings’ next game against Hofstra, initially scheduled for Tuesday, was cancelled due to an impending snowstorm due to hit New York this week, but Cleveland State will head to Fairfield Wednesday for their next scheduled matchup. Ohio State, meanwhile, faces 17th-ranked Towson in Maryland Tuesday before returning home to face No. 4 Denver in Columbus Sunday. Looking ahead, the Buckeyes are scheduled to take on No. 1 Notre Dame in South Bend the following weekend before opening conference play against No. 3 Penn State.

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Google Bucknuts 90: Offseason intrigue picks up steam - 247Sports

Bucknuts 90: Offseason intrigue picks up steam - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bucknuts 90: Offseason intrigue picks up steam
247Sports
And a host of Buckeyes are gearing up for the NFL Draft and an expanded bank account. Basically, another ho-hum offseason for Ohio State. This is not ho-hum: Mark Neal is back from his three-week, sun-drenched sabbatical. We had a lot to catch up on ...

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Google Ohio State basketball: What went wrong in 2016-17 for the Buckeyes - Landof10.com

Ohio State basketball: What went wrong in 2016-17 for the Buckeyes - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: What went wrong in 2016-17 for the Buckeyes
Landof10.com
After a disappointing 2015-16 campaign ended with the Buckeyes relegated to the NIT, players vowed improvement. Ohio State had never missed the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons during head coach Thad Matta's tenure, which began in 2004.

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LGHL The rise of Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore

The rise of Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore
Ian Hartitz
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_9780276.0.jpg

The No. 1 cornerback prospect’s journey to the 2017 NFL Draft was far from traditional.

With a team that has as much yearly turnover as Ohio State, we’re often forced to evaluate incoming starters with high school tape and word of mouth from practices. Sometimes that word of mouth reveals ridiculous statistical feats, such as Malik Hooker snagging 40 (!!!) interceptions on the scout team during his redshirt season. It’s also how we found out that Noah Brown was “pretty much unguardable” even before his four-touchdown night in Norman.

Marshon Lattimore’s rapid rise to fame at Ohio State was a lot harder to see coming. Sure, the latest No. 1 recruit from Cleveland Glenville had plenty of hype, but Lattimore was never able to scratch the surface of his limitless potential due to chronic hamstring issues.

The problem began during Lattimore’s first year on campus and he eventually had to get surgery. He was able to participate in seven games as a redshirt freshman before once again going down with a hamstring injury. The presence of future NFL defensive backs Doran Grant, Eli Apple and Conley didn’t make cornerback the most pressing need on the field, but it was still disappointing to see a player with Lattimore’s talent not even get a chance to shine.

"It's aggravating not playing because of an injury when I know I'm ready ... I don't let it break me. I'm keeping my head high ... Right now, I feel the best I've felt since I've been here, so I'm not really concerned."

Marshon Lattimore


Lattimore was able to stay healthy during the 2016 offseason in part thanks to an increased emphasis on preparation and stretching. He won the starting job across from Conley and quickly proved that he more than belonged with the Buckeyes’ group of ball-hawks in the secondary:


Lattimore’s two interceptions against Tulsa earned him national player of the week honors. His size and athleticism were problematic enough for opposing wide receivers, but his true calling card proved to be his impeccable press-coverage technique. Per PFF, Lattimore allowed just two of 12 passes thrown into his coverage on go routes to be caught. Considering Ohio State rarely gives its corners help over the top, this stat demonstrates just how tough it was to beat him deep.

Lattimore proved this point again and again against Bowling Green and Tulsa, but his real coming-out party came against the Oklahoma Sooners. Prior to the game, backup quarterback Austin Kendall pointed out that the Buckeyes ran a basic defense that he thought the Sooners would exploit. Kendall wasn’t exactly wrong, as the Buckeyes do often simply line up in man-to-man coverage or in cover-four. Kendall’s mistake was assuming that the Sooners had the athletes to make Ohio State pay in these one-on-one situations, as Lattimore and co. quickly proved just how dangerous they could be against elite competition that was willing to test them deep:


Lattimore’s ability to lock down any receiver across from him proved to be invaluable. Opposing offenses couldn’t pass downfield on the Buckeyes, and this stifled potential comeback attempts by Michigan State and Wisconsin in crunch time.

Lattimore’s excellent play earned him plenty of accolades and before you knew it, he was a top-prospect for the NFL draft. Man-to-man cornerbacks are becoming one of the most valuable prototypes in the NFL and Lattimore’s college production confirmed the hype that surrounded his alien-like athletic ability.

"Let them think that ... I'm just gonna keep trying to show them that I'm that good. All that, first round and all that stuff I don't really feed into that. I just stay locked in to what I gotta do."

Marshon Lattimore


Lattimore finished the season as a first team All-Big Ten selection and is regularly mentioned as one of the top cornerbacks available in the 2017 NFL Draft. His 4.36 second 40-yard dash certainly helped his draft stock, but his performance on the field was what truly separated him from his peers.

Lattimore was targeted 41 times on the season. He intercepted four of those passes and broke up six. Per PFF, opponents had a passer rating of 30.2 when throwing at Lattimore — the fourth-best mark in the FBS among corners with at least 40 targets.

Oh, and he’s also not afraid to tackle. Per PFF, Lattimore didn’t miss a single one of his 37 solo tackle attempts last season. Cornerbacks with Lattimore’s athletic ability don’t fall off trees, but it’s even more rare to see a specimen also have such great game production to confirm those special athletic traits.

“When you look at Lattimore, every time you watched him you saw a guy that could be a shutdown corner... I really think he has a higher ceiling than any of the other corners.” — Mel Kiper Jr.


Lattimore’s job as the defense’s right cornerback was usually to erase the man in front of him by any means necessary. Malik Hooker would often sit in the middle of the field and survey the receivers, but Lattimore and Conley were mostly on their own on the outside. Part of what makes Lattimore such a special cornerback is not just his ability to play tight coverage, but also his ability to make up ground when he does lose a step on the receiver:


Lattimore’s eyes get stuck in the backfield for a beat too long in the above clip and this momentary lapse was enough to allow the receiver to get a step of separation. Lattimore didn’t panic and he quickly erased the space between himself and the receiver before rising up to make a fantastic play on the ball. Ohio State fans found out how frustrating it can be to watch an offense that is incapable of stretching the defense vertically, but this was a reality for opposing offenses the entire season thanks to the play of Lattimore and Conley.

The other factor that separates Lattimore from some of his peers is his willingness to tackle. Ohio State doesn’t ask its corners to do much in the run game, but its clear that a certain level of physicality is required to make it on the field with the rest of the silver bullets. Lattimore proved to be more than willing to take on any ball carrier and his tackling ability was at times utilized on blitzes:


It’s not like Lattimore lived in opposing backfields, but he regularly stepped up in the run game and blew up wide-receiver screens thanks to his physicality and relentless pursuit of the ball.

Ohio State doesn’t make its defense too complicated for their cornerbacks and this has presented some questions about how pro-ready Lattimore is. His responsibility in college rarely had him covering receivers in the slot and Ohio State seldom ran zone coverage.

Still, one of the most valuable commodities in the NFL today is having a cornerback who can erase the other team’s best wide receiver. There are few college cornerbacks who possess Lattimore’s skill set and even fewer that combine it with his ball skills and press technique. He may have only balled out for one season in Columbus, but look for Marshon Lattimore to continue to make a name for himself on Sundays for years to come.

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LGHL No. 15 Ohio State beats No. 16 Wisconsin again, 3-1

No. 15 Ohio State beats No. 16 Wisconsin again, 3-1
Matt Torino
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes complete the weekend sweep and clinch third place in the Big Ten.

Ohio State needed a win tonight to gain a leg up on Wisconsin for an NCAA tournament at large bid and to clinch the number three seed in the Big Ten tournament and avoid Michigan in round one. They did both and completed the weekend sweep in Madison, beating the No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers 3-1 on Saturday night.

Matt Tomkins put together another stellar performance in net, allowing only one goal en route to the 3-1 victory. He stopped 27 out of 28 shots on goal and didn’t allow that one goal until Ohio State was already up three with under ten minutes to go in regulation.

Mason Jobst officially went over the fifty point mark on the season as he scored the game’s opening goal and then assisted on Brendon Kearney’s insurance shorthander in the third period. He’s unquestionably been Ohio State’s MVP this season with Nick Schilkey battling through injuries and Tanner Laczynski tailing off post-World Juniors.

OSU also showcased more attacking behavior in this one, a welcomed sight, outshooting the Badgers in both the first and second periods, 10-7 and 13-11 respectively. They were outshot 10-5 in the third, but when you’re up three goals and the game’s likely over, it’s more excusable than starting it when you’re just up one or two goals as the Buckeyes seem to do too often.

Ohio State never trailed for a second in this one, as Jobst started off the scoring in the first period as he sniped one from the faceoff circle and then went flying right after getting it off. He became the first Buckeye since R.J. Umberger in 2003 to put up 50 points in a season. The powerplay goal came on a feed from Tomkins, who had the lone assist.

Kevin Miller scored his 11th of the year in the second to make it 2-1 in favor of the No. 15 Buckeyes. David Gust fed Dakota Joshua who sent it back across the ice for Miller who shot it home. But even that tic-tac-toe goal wouldn’t be Ohio State’s prettiest on the night.

At 17:39 of the second, Ohio State was shorthanded as Matt Joyaux was in the penalty box for goalie interference, and Jobst, from the neutral zone, skipped a pass like a rock on a pond to a streaking Brendon Kearney on a breakaway, who then found some space and hit the back of the net. Sasha Larocque had the secondary assist on Kearney’s second of the year.

That would be all Matt Tomkins would need. Aside from allowing a third period goal to Luke Kunin at 11:37, Tomkins’ record was sparkling on the night. He eliminated any chance of fellow senior Christian Frey taking back the starting job for the conference tournament with another +.900 save percentage night. And hardly anyone can stop Kunin, who now has 21 goals on the year anyway. Not quite Schilkey, but who is?

If you told me going into this weekend that Ohio State would get virtually nothing on the scoresheet from Nick Schilkey and Tanner Laczynski and still Ohio State would sweep the Badgers, I would’ve had you committed to Clockworks Psychiatric Hospital.

But Matt Tomkins turned into Patrick Roy all of a sudden and Mason Jobst turned into Wayne Gretzky out here and when that happens, you can beat pretty much anyone.

The Buckeyes will have their second and most important season start on Thursday when they play Michigan State in Detroit. The Spartans finished only 3-14-2 in conference, so Ohio State will be heavily favored, but one of those three wins came against your Buckeyes.

If Ohio State loses, they suffer a tremendous blow for their at large chances. If they win, they’ll play Wisconsin again in what could essentially be a play in game for the NCAAs. And OSU sure showed it could beat the Badgers this weekend.

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Google OU Posts NCAA's Best Score, Beats Buckeyes - Soonersports.com

OU Posts NCAA's Best Score, Beats Buckeyes - Soonersports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OU Posts NCAA's Best Score, Beats Buckeyes
Soonersports.com
NORMAN -- The top-ranked Oklahoma men's gymnastics team remained unbeaten Saturday night, topping No. 4 Ohio State 434.550-417.600 inside McCasland Field House. Oklahoma's team mark was the highest by any team in the NCAA this season.


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Google Badgers hockey swept by Buckeyes in regular-season finale - FOXSports.com

Badgers hockey swept by Buckeyes in regular-season finale - FOXSports.com
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Badgers hockey swept by Buckeyes in regular-season finale
FOXSports.com
The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team finished the 2016-17 Big Ten regular season with a 3-1 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. One night after falling 5-1 to Ohio State, Wisconsin came out flat once again on senior night and found themselves in a 3-0 ...
Badgers men's hockey: Goaltender Matt Jurusik injured in blowout loss to BuckeyesMadison.com
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Men's hockey: Statement weekend; Buckeyes close regular season at No. 16 WisconsinOSU - The Lantern
USCHO -Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3 -The Daily Cardinal
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