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Google BM5: Lack of confidence in Weber? Which WRs will step up? - 247Sports

BM5: Lack of confidence in Weber? Which WRs will step up? - 247Sports
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BM5: Lack of confidence in Weber? Which WRs will step up?
247Sports
All that and more on the midweek spectacular. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE. The BM5 is available on iTunes and more:.


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LGHL Big Ten women’s basketball tournament 2017 preview: Ohio State looks for tourney crown as...

Big Ten women’s basketball tournament 2017 preview: Ohio State looks for tourney crown as top seed
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 head to Indianapolis for the Big Ten tournament this week as the No. 1 seed. Can the team bring home the championship?

For the 15th time in program history, the Ohio State women’s basketball team can call itself Big Ten champions. With their 73-45 victory over Rutgers on Sunday, the Buckeyes concluded the regular season with a 15-1 conference record, tied atop the standings with Maryland.

All eyes now turn to the Big Ten tournament, to be held this Wednesday through Sunday at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where Ohio State will play as the top seed thanks to its head-to-head win against the Terrapins. The scarlet and gray have not been in this position since 2010.


The full bracket for the 2017 #B1GWBBall Tournament. #B1GTourney: https://t.co/AjUqFYlDpl pic.twitter.com/zrg8y0joE6

— B1G Women's Hoops (@B1Gwbball) February 26, 2017

This season has been the most successful for Ohio State during the tenure of head coach Kevin McGuff, but the most meaningful games are just getting started. Let’s take a look at the state of the Buckeyes as they begin their quest to acquire more hardware.

State of the team


Ohio State is one of the two heavy favorites in the conference tourney, alongside Maryland, and head to Indy ranked No. 9 in the country. All-American point guard Kelsey Mitchell, named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year on Tuesday after leading the conference in scoring, will be the focal point for McGuff’s squad, as she has been since the day she set foot on campus.

This season, Mitchell became the fastest player in NCAA women’s basketball history to amass 2,000 career points. The Cincinnati native currently has 2,463 points, ranking third in Ohio State history, sixth in conference history, and sitting less than 1,000 away from the NCAA’s all-time mark, which is now held by Washington’s Kelsey Plum, who broke the old record this past weekend.

The difference for the Buckeyes this season as opposed to the recent past is that Mitchell is not a one-woman band. McGuff has depth the likes of which hasn’t been seen in Columbus in a decade. Ohio State has 10 players averaging at least 13.5 minutes per game, and three of those average double figures in scoring.

Senior forward Shayla Cooper, the undisputed emotional leader of the team, averaged 10.3 points and six rebounds a game in the regular season, and has the versatile game to play the perimeter, go down on the block, or slash to the paint off the dribble. Sophomore guard Sierra Calhoun, who averaged 10.1 points per contest, led the team in three-point shooting accuracy, outpacing even Mitchell, and has shown an ability to get insanely hot behind the arc.

The biggest question for the team is the health of junior forward Stephanie Mavunga, who has been out since February 9th with a foot injury. Before going down, the North Carolina transfer was leading the Big Ten in rebounding with 11.3 boards a game, and was second on the team with an 11.8 point scoring average. A walking double-double, Mavunga’s paint presence will be missed in the conference tournament, and is critical to any chances the Buckeyes have of making a deep run in the NCAA tourney.

Mavunga’s absence no doubt hurts Ohio State, but the rest of the rotation has picked up the slack admirably. Off the bench, McGuff has juniors Asia Doss, Linnae Harper, and Alexa Hart, sophomore Makayla Waterman, and freshmen Kiara Lewis and Tori McCoy to turn to. Throughout the year, each has proven to be trustworthy and capable on the court, and equal to the task of playing the elite competition the Big Ten provides.

Any team with the ball in Mitchell’s hands cannot be counted out, and the Buckeyes’ improved depth this season makes them all that much more dangerous. As the top seed in the conference tournament, Ohio State will have a target on its back, but McGuff has the firepower at his disposal to handle it.

Potential opponents


As the No. 1 seed, the Buckeyes receive a double bye, and will not play their first game until Friday afternoon against the winner of the 8/9 matchup between Iowa and Northwestern. Both opponents played Ohio State tough during the regular season, and either is capable of pulling the upset if not taken seriously.

The Hawkeyes, led by senior guard Ally Disterhoft and sophomore post Megan Gustafson, actually had a late lead against the Buckeyes when the two met in Columbus in mid-February. A late surge thanks to Iowa turnovers allowed for a victory, but this is a team that has proven it can hang with Ohio State.

The same can be said of the Wildcats, who in the second game of the Big Ten schedule, gave the Buckeyes all they could handle in what became a seven-point Ohio State win. A veteran club led by seniors Ashley Deary, Nia Coffey, Lauren Douglas, and Christen Inman, Northwestern plays a smart, physical brand of basketball. Coffey, in particular, could be a load to handle without Mavunga, as she averaged a double-double of 19.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

Should the Buckeyes survive what should be a tough opening game regardless of the opponent, they would play Saturday afternoon against the winner between the fourth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers and their opponent, which could be Nebraska, Illinois, or Purdue.

Ohio State defeated the Huskers twice during the conference slate, both by sizable margins, and blew out Illinois. Indiana was the team’s opponent in the first game of the Big Ten season, and the Buckeyes won by 10, though that margin wasn’t necessarily indicative of how the Hoosiers were outplayed. Junior guard Tyra Buss finished eighth in the conference in scoring, and teams with fellow junior Amanda Cahill and seniors Alex Gassion and Jenn Anderson to give Indiana an experienced, balanced attack.

The rematch?


Ohio State and Maryland were clearly the class of the Big Ten during the regular season, and thus are expected to face off in Sunday’s tournament championship game. The Buckeyes are the only team in the Big Ten to defeat the Terrapins since they joined the conference, and the team’s 98-87 win just a week and a half ago was perhaps the most complete performance for the scarlet and gray all season.

Maryland led the conference in scoring, scoring margin, field goal percentage, rebounding, assists, and steals, and was in the top two or three in virtually every other statistical category. The Terps have just two losses all season: to Ohio State and to the record-breaking Connecticut Huskies, to whom they fell by just six points. Head coach Brenda Frese has a talented team that has a realistic shot of reaching the final four.

Senior center Brionna Jones is a terror in the low post, averaging a double-double with 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She led the country in field goal percentage, and was the top offensive rebounder in the Big Ten. Against the Mavunga-less Buckeyes, she had 21 and nine.

Fellow senior Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is among the best guards in the country, and averaged 18.5 points, 3.8 boards, and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting nearly 44 percent from the three-point line. In the loss to Ohio State, Walker-Kimbrough put up 29 points, four rebounds, and five assists, and hit on 4-of-9 from deep.

Both players were named to both the Naismith Top 30 Watch List and the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20, and both figure to be coveted in the WNBA draft this summer.

Yet, Frese has more weapons than Jones and Walker-Kimbrough, as sophomores Kristen Confroy and Brianna Fraser and freshmen Destiny Slocum and Kaila Charles are all key contributors that helped Maryland average a startling 90 points per game.

In the three seasons that the Terps have been a part of the Big Ten, the Buckeyes are 3-1 against them. Their lone loss came in the 2015 conference tournament final, a 77-74 affair that came down to the wire. Should the two sides meet with the trophy on the line again, Ohio State will have an opportunity to exorcise a few demons of postseasons past.

What it all means


The Big Ten tournament championship is in itself a worthy goal, but the Buckeyes will be playing for more than just another piece of hardware. Their performance will also go a long way towards determining their seeding for the NCAA tournament, and who they can expect to meet there.

As of this writing, ESPN’s Bracketology has Ohio State as a 4-seed, situating them in the Stockton Region. As a top-4 seed, the Buckeyes would host the first two rounds of the tournament, but would be heading on the road for a potential Sweet 16 matchup with the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, a team they lost to, 92-80, in the second game of the season.

Winning the Big Ten tourney, presumably by defeating Maryland for a second time, could help Ohio State to move up the ladder to a 3-seed, delaying any potential clash with a top-seeded team until the Elite 8. There are a lot of variables, and of course nothing is certain until the games are played, but the Buckeyes appear at this juncture to have a whole lot to play for in Indianapolis this week.

The ultimate success of the season is still firmly in the future for Ohio State. This week, we’ll begin to find out just how high the Buckeyes can climb.

How to watch


All games Wednesday through Saturday will be televised live on Big Ten Network and available for streaming on BTN2Go. Sunday’s conference championship game will be shown at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and WatchESPN. For a complete schedule, you can check out the Big Ten Conference’s “Tournament Central” page.

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Google Gill could be next electric playmaker for Buckeyes - CBS sports.com (blog)

Gill could be next electric playmaker for Buckeyes - CBS sports.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gill could be next electric playmaker for Buckeyes
CBS sports.com (blog)
Over the years, Ohio State has some electric athletes donning the Scarlet and Gray. Names that may come to mind when talking about these playmakers include Chris Gamble, Ted Ginn Jr., and Curtis Samuel, just to name a few. In the Class of 2016, Urban ...


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LGHL Ohio State makes offer to Oklahoma commit

Ohio State makes offer to Oklahoma commit
Austin Kemp
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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Can the Buckeyes get in the way of Boomer Schooner for a 2019 WR?

Buckeyes offer a Sooner commit


On Tuesday, the Buckeyes sent an offer out to 2019 wide receiver prospect Arjei Henderson. Henderson, from Richmond, Texas, has recently blown up on the recruiting trail. Currently, the wideout has 21 total offers and is committed to Oklahoma as of two weeks ago.


Truly Blessed to receive an offer from the prestigious University of Ohio State‼️ #Gobuckeyes pic.twitter.com/v97z7ZlhEH

— Hendi™ (@king_hendi) February 28, 2017

At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Henderson has not yet been evaluated by the major recruiting sites, but that could quickly change. Henderson is a shoe-in to be one of the highest rated prospects in the state of Texas by the time his senior season rolls around. Though he’s committed to the Sooners, there’s a ton of time left in this commitment and Ohio State has recruited some excellent receivers in the last couple classes. Though ace Texas recruiter Tim Beck is no longer on staff, the Buckeyes will likely turn to Zach Smith, who’s made a huge name for himself on the recruiting trail over the years. The next step will be to get Henderson on campus over the summer or even next fall. When/if that visit occurs, it will be game on—and it will make Ohio State a legitimate threat in this race.

Below is a highlight reel from the 2019 prospect, as seen on Hudl.

It’s Announcement Day


In case you forgot, four-star all-purpose back Jaelen Gill (Westerville, OH / Westerville South) is set to announce his collegiate decision today. Gill, who holds 33 total offers, is considering the Buckeyes along with a handful of other Big Ten teams; additionally, other powers like Tennessee and UCLA have been in the mix here and there for the Ohio recruit.

Gill looks to fill the role that Curtis Samuel played during the 2016 season. Gill is currently ranked as the No.2 prospect in the state of Ohio and No. 32 in the country for the class of 2018.

If Gill commits to the home state favorite Ohio State, the Buckeyes would have their fourth member of the 2018 class. How likely is it that Gill will commit to OSU? The 247sports crystal ball had 26 predictions for Gill. All of the educated guesses went to one school: The Ohio State University.

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Google Georgia LB hopes to land Ohio State offer, DC star talks Buckeyes visit and more - Landof10.com

Georgia LB hopes to land Ohio State offer, DC star talks Buckeyes visit and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Georgia LB hopes to land Ohio State offer, DC star talks Buckeyes visit and more
Landof10.com
“The staff cares about development as a person,” Lee said when asked what he learned about the Buckeyes on this most recent trip. “The staff cares about having good grades and other important things, that you grow into a well-respected man. That is ...
Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70Land-Grant Holy Land
Buckeyes not focusing on Big Ten standings, Tournament seeds247Sports
Tate's late heroics propel Buckeyes to winBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
cleveland.com -Scout
all 170 news articles »


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Google Buckeyes top Nittany Lions - The News Center

Buckeyes top Nittany Lions - The News Center
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Buckeyes top Nittany Lions
The News Center
Tate finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, Marc Loving added 14 and Trevor Thompson chipped in 11 for the Buckeyes (17-13, 7-10 Big Ten) who won on the road for just the fourth time this season. Penn State took the lead on a Tony Carr 3-pointer ...

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Google Buckeyes Beat Lions At The Buzzer - Scout

Buckeyes Beat Lions At The Buzzer - Scout
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Buckeyes Beat Lions At The Buzzer
Scout
Worse still, PSU entered Wednesday's action in a four-way logjam for places 10 through 13 in the B1G standings, and the Buckeyes were also one of the teams in that mix. Pat Chambers' squad now finds itself in 13th place, ahead of only certain No. 14 ...
Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70Land-Grant Holy Land
Kurelic: Elite Cali LB high on Buckeyes; possible commit news?247Sports
Buckeyes top Nittany LionsThe News Center
cleveland.com -BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
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Google Buckeyes Pull Off Late Win, Down Penn State 71-70 - Scarlet and Game

Buckeyes Pull Off Late Win, Down Penn State 71-70 - Scarlet and Game
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Buckeyes Pull Off Late Win, Down Penn State 71-70
Scarlet and Game
Carr's half court attempt at the buzzer never threatened the rim, giving the Buckeyes a 71-70 win in State College. Ohio State was in control throughout the first half, taking a four point lead into the break, despite 11 turnovers in the opening period ...


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LGHL Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70

Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70
Geoff Hammersley
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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Tate makes a spin, goes with left hand shot to lead Buckeyes past Nittany Lions.

In the penultimate game of the regular season for Ohio State basketball (17-13, 7-10) the Buckeyes pulled off another thrilling win by downing the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-16, 6-11) in State College, Penn., 71-70, behind a last-second layup from junior forward Jae’Sean Tate.

Four Buckeyes crossed double-figures in scoring, with sophomore guard JaQuan Lyle leading the team with 17 points. On the opposite end, the Buckeyes held off the onslaught from the Nittany Lions top scorers. Tony Carr led his squad with 21 points, and Shep Garner contributed 20 points in PSU’s bid to topple Ohio State.

The wild finish came came after a mistake filled first half. A combined 19 turnovers were committed in the first 20 minutes of basketball at Bryce Jordan Arena—with the Buckeyes committing 11 of those TOs.

Even through the turnovers, the Buckeyes led at halftime, 40-36, behind double-digit scoring from senior forward Marc Loving and Lyle.

Early in the second half, though, the Nittany Lions clawed their way back and took their first lead of the contest behind second chance opportunities and deep three point shots. The Nittany Lions opened up on a 15-4 scoring break in the first five minutes of the second half. That run was associated with PSU connecting on 3-of-4 from three-point range.

The hot-hand by the Nittany Lions early in the second half kept their lead afloat, even after going over five minutes without connecting on a field goal. A reason for that: the Buckeyes kept center Trevor Thompson on the bench, as he had three fouls early in the half.

However, the stagnant offense by the Nittany Lions gave life back to the Buckeyes. Ohio State was able to manifest a quick 7-0 run behind free throws from Loving and a three pointer from freshman forward Andre Wesson.

Things got worse for PSU, as guard Josh Reaves fouled out with just over six minutes left in regulation. Before the game started, the Nittany Lions learned they would be without forward Payton Banks, one of the three-point leaders in the Big Ten, due to illness.

As fatigue set in late in the half, another close game was taking shape (again). With under three minutes left, the Bucks clung to a 65-63 lead. After both teams struggled to make shots late, Lyle made a floater with under 80 seconds left to push the Buckeyes’ lead to 69-65. After Lyle’s make, the Nittany Lions scored two points off a layup from guard Tony Carr.

After Carr made the shot to bring the game to 69-67 with 42.3 seconds left in regulation, the referees took a lengthy review to determine how much time was left on the clock. Coming off the free timeout, Jae’Sean Tate drove to the lane for a layup. However, he was called for a travel.

The travel proved costly, as Carr buried a three pointer to put the Nittany Lions up 70-69. But, in Buckeye fashion, the flare for the dramatics weren’t over. Jae’Sean Tate drove to the lane after a spin, and went up with a left hand shot. The shot was contested, but it went through with three seconds left. Penn State would miss the desperation heave from half-court, securing the Buckeyes win on the road.

Ohio State goes into the final contest of the year riding a two-game win streak. The season finale for the Buckeyes will be at home on March 4 against the Indiana Hoosiers (16-14, 6-11). Tip-off is scheduled for noon.

3 things we learned:


1. When Marc Loving turns it on, there really isn’t anything that can be done to stop him. In the first six minutes of the game against the Nittany Lions, Loving buried two three pointers—and had a total of 9 points.

However, when Loving goes cold, he goes cold. After the hot start, Loving missed two threes (one of them an open looked) and ended the first half with 11 points. Even though Loving cooled off going into the midway point, his point total was able to tie him for the most on the Buckeyes.

The cold streak for Loving carried over for the first 10 minutes in the second half, which featured the senior going 0-of-2 from the field and getting two points from the free throw line.

2. Turnovers are still a problem. The Buckeyes were giving up the rock an average of 12.6 times per Big Ten contest before playing PSU. The first possession against the Nittany Lions was, you guessed it, a turnover by sophomore guard C.J. Jackson. Travels happened sporadically in the first half for Thad Matta’s squad, as did possessions that ended with the ball slipping out of the hands and falling out of bounds.

At the end of the first half, OSU had 11 turnovers. (Yes, the Buckeyes almost equaled the full-game TO totals in the first half.) While the Nittany Lions coughed up the ball a handful of times in the first half, they were still able to cash the Buckeye turnovers into 11 points. Not even three minutes into the second half, OSU committed two more TOs.

With less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Tate committed a travel—which was his sixth turnover of the game. At the time of the travel, it was a two point game, 69-67.

Entering the Penn State game, the Buckeyes were in 10 conference clashes that came within 6 points. Giving away free point opportunities kept opponents in the game, and added a few more ‘Ls’ in the loss column for Matta’s bunch.

3. Teamwork makes the dream work. In the first half, the Buckeyes worked the rebounds well and limited Penn State to second-chance points. On the offensive end, the Bucks made five assists and never trailed in the first half to the Nittany Lions.

The little things Ohio State did in the first half enabled them to have the lead. When the Bucks, as a team, start to click, they can be a team that is hard to beat. However, it seems the Columbus, Ohio bunch can’t be a cohesive unit for the full 40 minutes in the game.

When the lead slipped away in the second half, the little things Ohio State was doing in the first 20 minutes of basketball weren’t being duplicated in the final 20 minutes of basketball. A cold shooting display combined with bad fouls (including a technical on freshman center Micah Potter for hanging on the rim after a dunk) made the road contest against Penn State harder.

Late in the game, Wesson committed a foul after a free throw, which gave the Nittany Lions a chance to add more points to the box score. With the team being as young as they are (Loving is the lone senior on the squad) these errors can be ironed out.

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Google Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70 -...

Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70 - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017 final score: Buckeyes hit last second shot to win, 71-70
Land-Grant Holy Land
In the penultimate game of the regular season for Ohio State basketball (17-13, 7-10) the Buckeyes pulled off another thrilling win by downing the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-16, 6-11) in State College, Penn, 71-70. If you are a fan of turnovers, then ...
Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0cleveland.com
Georgia LB hopes to land Ohio State offer, DC star talks Buckeyes visit and moreLandof10.com
Ohio State Wants To Finish The Season Strong Before Worrying About The Big Ten TournamentScout
Victory Bell Rings -CBS sports.com (blog)
all 131 news articles »


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Google Buckeyes not focusing on Big Ten standings, Tournament seeds - 247Sports

Buckeyes not focusing on Big Ten standings, Tournament seeds - 247Sports
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Buckeyes not focusing on Big Ten standings, Tournament seeds
247Sports
The Buckeyes have a 16-13 record and are 6-10 in the Big Ten. An at-large big seems out the window, meaning the only likely way to make the Big Dance would be winning the conference tournament. If the season ended today, OSU would be the 11 seed in ...

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Google Spring Football Preview: Defensive Line - 247Sports

Spring Football Preview: Defensive Line - 247Sports
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Spring Football Preview: Defensive Line
247Sports
Buckeye fans, you are now officially one week away from the start of spring football. This marks the first preparations for the fall. Our spring preview continues seven days out from the start of practice with.

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Google Kurelic: Elite Cali LB high on Buckeyes; possible commit news? - 247Sports

Kurelic: Elite Cali LB high on Buckeyes; possible commit news? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: Elite Cali LB high on Buckeyes; possible commit news?
247Sports
1) There are at least two outstanding linebackers in the state of Ohio the Buckeyes are going after and are in at least decent shape if not very good shape with, Christopher Oats and Dallas Gant. Both have Ohio State scholarship offers they are highly.

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LGHL Ohio State could solidify case as DBU with 3 defensive backs at the combine

Ohio State could solidify case as DBU with 3 defensive backs at the combine
Matt Tamanini
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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Conley, Hooker, and Lattimore are all potential first-rounders.

“The Buckeyes have emerged as the league's current kings of the combine looking back over the last four seasons overall. And while rival Michigan actually has more overall attendees this year, once again Ohio State's loaded draft class in the secondary is in line to steal the show.”

- Austin Ward, ESPN.com


With Eli Apple and Vonn Bell taken in the first two rounds of last year’s NFL draft, this year, Ohio State’s trio of draftable DBs; Gareon Conley, Malik Hooker, and Marshon Lattimore; are looking to continue to cement their legacy as the B.I.A. (“Best In America”).

All three are considered potential first-round selections, with SBNation’s Dan Kadar projecting Hooker to go fifth to the Tennessee Titans (via the L.A. Rams) and Lattimore to move up I-71 to Cleveland with the 12th pick (via the Philadelphia Eagles).

Through the combine, pro-days, and individual workouts, if Conley is able to work himself into a late first-rounder, Ohio State will have a very strong argument for being the country’s DBU.

“With two games left and both against teams sporting identical 6-10 conference records, Ohio State has to win tonight at Penn State and at home Saturday against Indiana if it wants to avoid playing the opening day of the tournament.”

- Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch


Let’s be honest, the chances of the Ohio State men’s basketball team making the NCAA Tournament this season are slim to none, and slim is getting closer to none by the day. However, if the basketball Buckeyes have any hope of making the Dance, they more than likely will need to win out through the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in Washington D.C., including their final regular season games against Penn State (14-15, 6-10) and Indiana (16-13, 6-10).

Ohio State currently sits at 11th in the Big Ten standings, with Penn State at 12th and Indiana at 10th. Places 11-14 play an additional opening round game in the B1G Tourney, adding to the already arduous task of winning the tournament.

However, despite their 16-13, 6-10 record, there is the slightest sliver of optimism, as Ohio State has played well against some of the best opponents on their schedule, including Virginia, UCLA, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. OSU’s balanced attack has four players averaging in double-figures, with Kam Williams just on the outside at 9.9 ppg. So, the ability for the Buckeyes to find points from anywhere in the lineup will force the conference’s better defensive teams to pick a scorer to focus on, potentially opening up opportunities for others.

And, with Jae’Sean Tate, Trevor Thompson, and Marc Loving, the team’s three best players on the season, now getting consistent efforts from Williams, C.J. Jackson, and a still recovering JaQuan Lyle, they might be hitting their stride at the exact right time to pull off one of the biggest David vs. Goliath stories in program history.

The converse, of course, is that Thad Matta’s crew has also been known to play down to their level of competition this season, sometimes with disastrous results; i.e. losing to Florida Atlantic, who is currently 10-17 overall and 6-10 in Conference USA. So, they very well could drop both games against PSU and IU and finish the conference slate 6-12, ahead of only lowly Rutgers.

So while I wouldn’t hold my breath that the Buckeyes will be dancing come March, stranger things have happened. I mean, did you watch the end of the Oscars on Sunday?

“They’re going to be fine, very competitive, if they stay healthy, and on track. I’m talking about with the eight position players now, because pitching is always the unknown, relative to health and experience.”

- Sonny Fulks, Press Pros Magazine


Despite going 1-3 in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge last weekend, former OSU pitcher Sonny Fulks believes that there is reason to be optimistic about the Baseball Buckeyes this season. Even though OSU lost long-ball threat Ronnie Dawson to the MLB Draft, the lineup appears to far more balanced this season as the opportunities to produce runs are well-distributed 1 through 9.

While the Bucks were held to just 11 runs in four games against top-notch West Coast talent, their bullpen did show signs of life, as relievers Seth Kinker and Kyle Michalik looked sharp. However, Fulks believes that a fundamental change in approach is needed for the starting rotation to be effective. While the ability to throw 90 miles per hour is always preferred over not, nowadays, that is a speed that even average hitters are very comfortable hitting against, especially when it is pumped down the middle.

To avoid 90 mph, dead-red fastballs turning into 400 foot homeruns, Fulks says that Ohio State’s starters need to learn how to trust their off-speed and breaking pitches more, and how to work around the outside edges of the strikezone, especially when they are ahead in the count.

The Buckeyes return to the diamond on Friday for a three-game series against Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C.

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Google Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup...

Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0 - cleveland.com
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Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker are Ohio State Buckeyes going to this week's NFL Combine as consensus first-round draft picks. Are there any teammates who could join them? The combine officially begins Tuesday with player ...
Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring247Sports
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Penn State Basketball: Lions Face the BuckeyesVictory Bell Rings
CBS sports.com (blog) -Waiting For Next Year -Scout
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Google BH: Denzel ready for his close-up? | Brooklyn in the (Big) House - 247Sports

BH: Denzel ready for his close-up? | Brooklyn in the (Big) House - 247Sports
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BH: Denzel ready for his close-up? | Brooklyn in the (Big) House
247Sports
The Buckeyes lead for Erasmus Hall's Class of 2018 top 50 prospect Matthew Jones. But Ohio State has also extended an offer to Aron Cruickshank, his classmate. While current vibes are Jones is likely to end up in Scarlet and Gray, we're told that may ...

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Google 2017 NFL Scouting Combine information: Must-see headliners for Browns fans, Buckeyes and...

2017 NFL Scouting Combine information: Must-see headliners for Browns fans, Buckeyes and local players to watch - Akron Beacon Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 NFL Scouting Combine information: Must-see headliners for Browns fans, Buckeyes and local players to watch
Akron Beacon Journal
Must-see headliners for Browns fans: Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer and Texas ...


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2016 tOSU Offense Discussion

FILM STUDY: WHY OHIO STATE'S PASSING GAME STRUGGLED TO TAKE FLIGHT IN 2016

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Throughout its 126 years of playing football, Ohio State has never been known for its ability to throw the ball.



Though the program has produced eight national championship seasons, seven Heisman winners, and 83 consensus All-Americans, only one quarterback has earned a tree in the Buckeye Grove since 1979. Since the timing patterns and route concepts that now make up the 'modern' passing game were widely adopted in the late 1980s and early 90s, Ohio State has rarely featured a premier passing game.

While Troy Smith's 2006 Heisman season re-wrote many of the school's record books, the Buckeyes were still only the 45th-best aerial attack in the nation that fall. Since then, the best showing was the 2014 team that only ranked 52nd in passing yards-per-game, just barely cracking the top half of FBS teams in the category. Despite regularly contending for national championships throughout this period, the Buckeyes have relied far more heavily on a physical ground game under both Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer than dazzling passing displays.

Yet, many believe this lack of success through the air was the reason the most recent Buckeye squad was unable to fulfill their championship potential. Not only did the offense fail to consistently move the ball through the air against when facing their toughest competition (Penn State, Michigan, and Clemson), they struggled mightily against lesser opponents like Indiana and Michigan State as well.

Though there were some bright spots along the way, the unit's inconsistency was a regular point of discussion, even as the team marched along to a spot in the College Football Playoff. After consecutive seasons with a lackluster passing game, though, the heat was turned up on coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck.

To place blame solely on the play-calling is unfair, as there were consistent issues across the entire unit that led the Buckeyes to this point. Most notably, it became clear right away that only one wide receiver, Curtis Samuel, seemed capable of filling the void left by the departures of Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, and Braxton Miller after the previous season.

By midseason, it had become clear to both the fans and opposing coaches that Samuel had become the focal point of every Buckeye game plan. To get him the ball, Warinner and Beck actually did a good job of incorporating wrinkles to free him up on core passing concepts such as 'H-Option' and the deep 'Flood' routes like the one below.

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Google Buckeyes offer Oklahoma WR commitment - 247Sports

Buckeyes offer Oklahoma WR commitment - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer Oklahoma WR commitment
247Sports
Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The 6-foot-1 and 179-pound Henderson is from Richmond (Texas) Travis. Be sure to enjoy VIP access to Bucknuts.com with our 7-day FREE trial offer.

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Google Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring - 247Sports

Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring
247Sports
Last year the Buckeyes had three players drafted in the first 10 picks, five in the first 20 and 12 taken overall. While the numbers may not be as high this year, it should still be another good few days for OSU come late April. According to one draft ...
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Which redshirt freshmen Buckeyes are ready to break out? Ohio State spring football burning questionscleveland.com
Buckeyes looking to put another Potter in Scarlet and Gray?CBS sports.com (blog)
Waiting For Next Year -Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land
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tBBC Senators Trade Jonathan Dahlen for Alex Burrows

Senators Trade Jonathan Dahlen for Alex Burrows
T6S
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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CALGARY, AB – DECEMBER 23: Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 23, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

I’m not angry, I’m despondent.

Making sense of yesterday’s swap that featured the Ottawa Senators acquiring Alex Burrows in exchange for 2016 second round pick (42nd overall) Jonathan Dahlen is easy when you view it through the prism that this is simply extension of the same team-building philosophy that has plagued this organization since Bryan Murray inherited the general manager’s role in 2007.

The Senators have spun their tires over the past 10 years; repeatedly electing to pursue its short-term interests at the expense of its future.

The organization’s decision to help push Bryan Murray out the door and replace him with assistant general manager Pierre Dorion was met with optimism because it was seen as a move to facilitate change and help modernize the hockey operations department.

For many, it didn’t matter that Dorion has been part of the organization since 2007 when he was their chief amateur scout or that he was complicit in a lot of the decision-making as a director of player personnel and as an assistant general manager in the years that followed, fans clung to the idea this represented much-needed change.

At the time of the hire, Dorion said all of the right things and deserved time to prove that the new boss was different from the old boss.

Driven by the pursuit of gate revenues, Eugene Melnyk’s toxic playoff mandate has enabled this team’s general managers to make glaring and easily avoidable transactions that never necessitated the benefit of hindsight to assess as terribly short-sighted mistakes. The Senators repeatedly ignore league-wide trends and evidence-based approaches that could help refine their process and work in concert with what the eyes of the smallest hockey operations department in the NHL tell them. (As an aside, I’m sure there are good, competent people working within the Senators’ front office, but they appear to have no sway in the decision-making process.)

So here we are.

Ignore the fact that the Senators moved one of their few coveted prospects for a 35-year old winger, who will turn 36 years old this April, and signed him to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $2.5-million.

Ignore the fact that the Senators organization is praising Burrows’ character.


He also mocked an opposing player for being abused as a child, taunted a recovering alcoholic, pulled two players’ hair, and bit someone. https://t.co/qrkbaoCjDb

— Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) February 28, 2017


And while you’re at it, ignore the fact that writers in Vancouver are referring to an inept Jim Benning “(swinging) what is arguably his most impressive deal in his time as Canucks GM.”

*Groan*

All of yesterday’s complaints and consternation about this deal are wrapped up in the fact that this trade is a microcosm of the real problem facing the Senators: this organization’s philosophy of irresponsibly living in the present and hoping for the best down the road isn’t working.

This organization repeatedly sells assets for diminished returns and it’s mitigating the positives that come from the development and performance of players like Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson.

Sure, proponents of the deal will look at the Senators’ second place standing in the Atlantic Division, but it’s not like they are sitting comfortably in that position either. If anything, they’re there in part because of the fact that they play within the weakest division in the NHL.

To this point, they’ve been incredibly fortunate to avoid a significant losing streak, but if that lull comes down the stretch, the Senators could easily find themselves in a wild card position or on the outside looking in.

It’s not that far-fetched of a reality.

The Senators’ underlying numbers aren’t particularly flattering.

Their offensive numbers rank among the worst in the NHL and their possession, scoring chance and expected goal percentages aren’t much better.

It’s probably not a wise decision for this team to be “going for it” by throwing more future assets at a band-aid solution, especially when other and probably better alternatives could have been acquired for less. It certainly isn’t a good idea to extend Burrows for another two years and justify it by stating that the move was necessary because the Senators have to meet the expansion draft’s exposure criteria. (As it currently stands, the Senators can expose Curtis Lazar and Bobby Ryan up front.)

Sure, there’s no guarantee that Dahlen fulfills his projected ceiling as a prospect and other prospects like Nick Paul have seen their development stagnate as professionals after having good World Juniors tournaments as well, but a few writers have rationalize this trade by saying, if you’re looking at how teams like Florida, Buffalo, Toronto are built for the future, this may be Ottawa’s best chance to do some damage, especially with only two guaranteed seasons left on Erik Karlsson’s contract.

First, I hate this motivation out of fear because of Karlsson’s uncertain future. As of now, there’s nothing to suggest that he’s going anywhere and the Senators have a track record of re-signing their own. Maybe Karlsson doesn’t re-sign, but that’s a bridge to cross on another day.

Secondly, saying teams like Florida, Buffalo and Toronto were built for the future kind of ignores the fact that Ottawa’s vaunted 2011 rebuild preceded each of these respective teams’. Impatience and shortcut solutions put the Senators on this path. That was the time for Ottawa to invest in its new direction, fill their front office with qualified personnel who can keep up with the best demonstrated practices of the team’s competitors. Right now, it’s like the Senators are back in 2009, desperately trying to cling to a window of contention that closed years ago. Only this time, the Senators’ window of contention hasn’t arrived. It’s not even real.

Finally, if the Senators are going to go for it, overpaying and giving term to soon-to-be 36-year old winger who has depended heavily on Bo Horvat to drive his performance this season probably isn’t the best use of desirable assets. If you are going to flip these kinds of commodities, dream bigger than a “character guy” who’s going to be featured prominently in a third or fourth line role.

The Burrows deal does not reflect a “go for it” moment. It’s a massive overpay a player who fills a role that could have been addressed at a cheaper cost. It is just the latest example of the Senators thinning an already depleted farm system to feed Melnyk’s cyclic machine.

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Google Buckeyes Heisman hero Eddie George proves life after the NFL can have a killer 2nd act —...

Buckeyes Heisman hero Eddie George proves life after the NFL can have a killer 2nd act — will politics be the encore? - Landof10.com
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Buckeyes Heisman hero Eddie George proves life after the NFL can have a killer 2nd act — will politics be the encore?
Landof10.com
The NFL has combines, tryouts and practices; Professional theater has casting calls, auditions and rehearsals. In both circles, the competition is young and hungry, the business lords behind the scenes cold and unforgiving. Of all his old Buckeyes ...


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Google Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit - 247Sports

Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit
247Sports
He could be the hold-the-point DT the Buckeyes need (despite having a nice young group at DT that did well this past year). As I understand it, he got away from IMG Academy this weekend and went up to Florida State for a junior day event. He's also ...
LOOK: Urban Meyer hangs out with ex-Ohio State stars on 2017 Buckeye Cruise for CancerLandof10.com

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Google BM5: Gill get? OL starters? Combine cash? - 247Sports

BM5: Gill get? OL starters? Combine cash? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Gill get? OL starters? Combine cash?
247Sports
If Duane was running the Ohio State offensive line, how would they start out left-to-right when the Buckeyes head to Bloomington for the season opener? * Of the Buckeyes headed to Indy for the NFL Scouting Combine later this week, who is the best bet ...

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