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tBBC With the Sens in Dallas, Looking Back at the Jason Spezza Deal
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With the Sens in Dallas, Looking Back at the Jason Spezza Deal
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
ST PAUL, MN – APRIL 24: Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars celebrates scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Sports is all about capitalizing on windows of opportunity.
When the Senators traded Jason Spezza in July of 2014 to the Dallas Stars, it left many Senators fans cursing the organization for selling low on their captain and not cutting bait years earlier when the playmaking centre originally expressed an interest in a change of scenery.
After Bryan Murray’s attempts at trading Spezza to Nashville, a team that was not on Spezza’s list of teams that he could be traded to, for a package similar to what the Penguins received for James Neal, Murray essentially had to acquiesce to Dallas’ offer of Alex Chiasson, prospects Alex Guptill and Nick Paul, and a 2015 second round pick.
The return was underwhelming then and it’s even more underwhelming now.
Although he was billed as a player whose age, size and pedigree meant that he had projectable upside, Chiasson’s production and underlying metrics in Dallas told the story of a player who was destined to be a bottom-six player.
In Ottawa, he was exactly that, but because he was the one piece of the return who was young and actually NHL-ready, he was often unfairly portrayed as the key piece of this deal. Eventually, the expendable Chiasson was dumped on the Calgary Flames for an AHL depth player in Patrick Sieloff.
The prospects haven’t fared much better.
Alex Guptill was an afterthought throw-in in last year’s trade deadline move that brought Phil Varone and Jason Akeson into the fold from the Buffalo Sabres. He is now playing with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL.
Nick Paul’s taken a step back this season and in late February, he was publicly criticized by Pierre Dorion who labeled the prospect as his “biggest disappointment” in Binghamton this season. Through 56 AHL games, he has 10 goals and 28 points – both new professional regular season highs — but, Paul has routinely been passed over whenever the opportunity for an AHL call-up has arisen.
The second round pick that the Senators acquired from Dallas was parlayed at the 2015 NHL Draft with a 2016 conditional third round pick for New Jersey’s second round selection that allowed the Senators to move up and grab Gabriel Gagne.
The 20-year old winger is currently with Ottawa’s ECHL affiliate, the Wichita Thunder, where he was tallied six goals and five assists in 18 games. He has spent 24 games in Binghamton, but his minutes have been limited and he has zero goals and three assists on the stat sheet. The toolsy project is a long ways from playing regular NHL minutes.
Considering how Paul MacLean handled Jason Spezza in the aftermath of the Bobby Ryan trade, I could never really fault Spezza for asking to be moved. The team’s best offensive centre always seemed like a bit of an afterthought who was relegated to playing with lesser skilled players because MacLean felt more comfortable giving those opportunities to younger centres like Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris. It wasn’t really until near the trade deadline when the Senators acquired Ales Hemsky that Spezza found his stride again, but by that point, it was like the damage was already done.
Beyond being closer to his beloved Cowboys, I’m not really sure what the allure to playing in Dallas was for Spezza.
It’s possible he, like a number of hockey analysts, viewed them as a team on the rise that had more resources available and was fewer pieces away from Stanley Cup contention. Perhaps he wanted to escape playing in a Canadian market where he could play in anonymity behind Tyler Seguin but not have his performance be scrutinized heavily by a cynical sect of the fan base who emphasized his shortcomings rather than embrace his talents and what he could bring to the table.
Whatever the case, Dallas’ road to success hasn’t exactly been a smooth one since Spezza arrived.
In his first season, the Stars finished sixth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.
The following year, the Stars pushed the St. Louis Blues to a game seven and were just one win away from playing in the Western Conference finals, but this season, the Stars sit in sixth-place within their division and are at risk of the missing the playoffs for the second time since the Spezza trade was made.
Obviously it’s unfair to expect linear development that sees a franchise achieve greater levels of success each season, but the Stars are a franchise whose underlying numbers improved each season culminating with 2015-16’s 52.56 CF%, but this season, the Stars took a step back.
Now it appears as though they are poised to let veterans like Jiri Hudler, Ales Hemsky and Patrick Sharp test free agency while paving the way for the next generation of young players. The thing is, their farm system has been panned as one of the league’s worst, so barring a series of significant offseason transactions, it’s hard to believe that this team can contend in either of the two years left on Spezza’s deal.
Uproar Over Jersey Numbers
So the City of Pittsburgh is up in arms each and every time a player dons a jersey embroidered with the no. 66 on it (read: Josh Ho-Sang, T.J. Brodie), but if we’re really going to complain about undeserving players wearing a Hall of Famer’s jersey number that’s in the 60’s, let’s talk about how many unrecognizable shitbags don Erik Karlsson’s no. 65.
Hockey-Reference.com‘s database indicates that eight other players have worn no. 65 this season: Andre Burakovsky; Danny DeKeyser; Yanni Gourde; Alexandre Grenier; Ron Hainsey; Karlsson; Markus Nutivaara; Daniel O’Regan; and Andre fucking Shaw. None of these names are made up. They’re actually real people who played in the NHL this season. Yes, Yanni Gourde is a real name and you’re right, even his parents believe wholeheartedly that he never should have merited serious consideration to wear no. 65.
Do the right thing, Gary Bettman. Ban these players and future incompetents from ever wearing no. 65. It’s the right thing to do. #make65greatagain
Sweden Pushing for Players to Develop At Home
On day three of the general managers meeting in Boca Raton, Swedish hockey officials convened with the 30 NHL general managers to discuss player development.
There are some 50 or so Swedish players in the AHL and what the Swedish officials told GMs is that they're better off developing at home
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) March 8, 2017
Somewhere, Mikael Wikstrand is saying, “See!”
Continue reading...
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
ST PAUL, MN – APRIL 24: Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars celebrates scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Sports is all about capitalizing on windows of opportunity.
When the Senators traded Jason Spezza in July of 2014 to the Dallas Stars, it left many Senators fans cursing the organization for selling low on their captain and not cutting bait years earlier when the playmaking centre originally expressed an interest in a change of scenery.
After Bryan Murray’s attempts at trading Spezza to Nashville, a team that was not on Spezza’s list of teams that he could be traded to, for a package similar to what the Penguins received for James Neal, Murray essentially had to acquiesce to Dallas’ offer of Alex Chiasson, prospects Alex Guptill and Nick Paul, and a 2015 second round pick.
The return was underwhelming then and it’s even more underwhelming now.
Although he was billed as a player whose age, size and pedigree meant that he had projectable upside, Chiasson’s production and underlying metrics in Dallas told the story of a player who was destined to be a bottom-six player.
In Ottawa, he was exactly that, but because he was the one piece of the return who was young and actually NHL-ready, he was often unfairly portrayed as the key piece of this deal. Eventually, the expendable Chiasson was dumped on the Calgary Flames for an AHL depth player in Patrick Sieloff.
The prospects haven’t fared much better.
Alex Guptill was an afterthought throw-in in last year’s trade deadline move that brought Phil Varone and Jason Akeson into the fold from the Buffalo Sabres. He is now playing with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL.
Nick Paul’s taken a step back this season and in late February, he was publicly criticized by Pierre Dorion who labeled the prospect as his “biggest disappointment” in Binghamton this season. Through 56 AHL games, he has 10 goals and 28 points – both new professional regular season highs — but, Paul has routinely been passed over whenever the opportunity for an AHL call-up has arisen.
The second round pick that the Senators acquired from Dallas was parlayed at the 2015 NHL Draft with a 2016 conditional third round pick for New Jersey’s second round selection that allowed the Senators to move up and grab Gabriel Gagne.
The 20-year old winger is currently with Ottawa’s ECHL affiliate, the Wichita Thunder, where he was tallied six goals and five assists in 18 games. He has spent 24 games in Binghamton, but his minutes have been limited and he has zero goals and three assists on the stat sheet. The toolsy project is a long ways from playing regular NHL minutes.
Considering how Paul MacLean handled Jason Spezza in the aftermath of the Bobby Ryan trade, I could never really fault Spezza for asking to be moved. The team’s best offensive centre always seemed like a bit of an afterthought who was relegated to playing with lesser skilled players because MacLean felt more comfortable giving those opportunities to younger centres like Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris. It wasn’t really until near the trade deadline when the Senators acquired Ales Hemsky that Spezza found his stride again, but by that point, it was like the damage was already done.
Beyond being closer to his beloved Cowboys, I’m not really sure what the allure to playing in Dallas was for Spezza.
It’s possible he, like a number of hockey analysts, viewed them as a team on the rise that had more resources available and was fewer pieces away from Stanley Cup contention. Perhaps he wanted to escape playing in a Canadian market where he could play in anonymity behind Tyler Seguin but not have his performance be scrutinized heavily by a cynical sect of the fan base who emphasized his shortcomings rather than embrace his talents and what he could bring to the table.
Whatever the case, Dallas’ road to success hasn’t exactly been a smooth one since Spezza arrived.
In his first season, the Stars finished sixth in the Central Division and missed the playoffs.
The following year, the Stars pushed the St. Louis Blues to a game seven and were just one win away from playing in the Western Conference finals, but this season, the Stars sit in sixth-place within their division and are at risk of the missing the playoffs for the second time since the Spezza trade was made.
Obviously it’s unfair to expect linear development that sees a franchise achieve greater levels of success each season, but the Stars are a franchise whose underlying numbers improved each season culminating with 2015-16’s 52.56 CF%, but this season, the Stars took a step back.
Now it appears as though they are poised to let veterans like Jiri Hudler, Ales Hemsky and Patrick Sharp test free agency while paving the way for the next generation of young players. The thing is, their farm system has been panned as one of the league’s worst, so barring a series of significant offseason transactions, it’s hard to believe that this team can contend in either of the two years left on Spezza’s deal.
Uproar Over Jersey Numbers
So the City of Pittsburgh is up in arms each and every time a player dons a jersey embroidered with the no. 66 on it (read: Josh Ho-Sang, T.J. Brodie), but if we’re really going to complain about undeserving players wearing a Hall of Famer’s jersey number that’s in the 60’s, let’s talk about how many unrecognizable shitbags don Erik Karlsson’s no. 65.
Hockey-Reference.com‘s database indicates that eight other players have worn no. 65 this season: Andre Burakovsky; Danny DeKeyser; Yanni Gourde; Alexandre Grenier; Ron Hainsey; Karlsson; Markus Nutivaara; Daniel O’Regan; and Andre fucking Shaw. None of these names are made up. They’re actually real people who played in the NHL this season. Yes, Yanni Gourde is a real name and you’re right, even his parents believe wholeheartedly that he never should have merited serious consideration to wear no. 65.
Do the right thing, Gary Bettman. Ban these players and future incompetents from ever wearing no. 65. It’s the right thing to do. #make65greatagain
Sweden Pushing for Players to Develop At Home
On day three of the general managers meeting in Boca Raton, Swedish hockey officials convened with the 30 NHL general managers to discuss player development.
There are some 50 or so Swedish players in the AHL and what the Swedish officials told GMs is that they're better off developing at home
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) March 8, 2017
Somewhere, Mikael Wikstrand is saying, “See!”
Continue reading...
MotS&G Bo Jordan v. Mark Hall, B1G Championships, VIII
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Bo Jordan v. Mark Hall, B1G Championships, VIII
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bo Jordan had to battle through surgery and injury to get to the B1G Championship. While one might worry about his mat conditioning against the young Phenom Mark Hall, as the match wore on it was Jordan who finished with strength, hitting a winning doubleleg takedown in overtime. The relief and joy is visible
Continue reading...
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Bo Jordan had to battle through surgery and injury to get to the B1G Championship. While one might worry about his mat conditioning against the young Phenom Mark Hall, as the match wore on it was Jordan who finished with strength, hitting a winning doubleleg takedown in overtime. The relief and joy is visible
Continue reading...
LGHL How to watch Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Preview, game time, live streaming online
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How to watch Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State will have to win five games in five days if they want to win their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2013.
If Ohio State wants to go dancing in next week’s NCAA Tournament, they’ll need to win five games in five days at the Big Ten Tournament in Washington D.C. The Buckeyes are hoping the improbable run starts tonight, when they take on Rutgers at the Verizon Center. Ohio State enters the Big Ten Tournament as the 11-seed, which is their lowest seeding in the Big Ten Tournament since 1998, when the Buckeyes entered the inaugural Big Ten Tournament with the same seed.
Since the Big Ten Tournament started in 1998, Ohio State has posted a 26-12 record, winning the tournament title on four different occasions. A lot of Ohio State’s success in the Big Ten Tournament has came with Thad Matta as their head coach. This year marks Matta’s 13th year as head coach at Ohio State, and during that span the Buckeyes have played in 31 Big Tournament games, winning 23 of them. Both of those totals are in the most in the Big Ten during that span.
Ohio State enters tonight’s game trying to regroup from Saturday’s 96-92 senior day loss to Indiana in Columbus. The loss was just the third loss on senior day for the Buckeyes during Matta’s tenure. Most of the time when Ohio State cracks the 90-point barrier in a conference game they end up with a victory. That wasn’t the case on Saturday, as the Buckeyes lost for just the ninth time in 124 when scoring at least 90 points in a Big Ten game.
While Ohio State wasn’t able to defeat the Hoosiers, it wasn’t because of the play of a couple of Buckeyes who have been consistent for pretty much the whole year. Jae’Sean Tate was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media, while Trevor Thompson got the same acknowledgment from the media. Against Indiana, Tate scored a team-high 20 points and added six rebounds, and six assists. Thompson recorded his 11th double-double of the year by scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Tonight’s game marks the sixth meeting ever between Ohio State and Rutgers, with the Buckeyes holding a 4-1 edge in the series. Rutgers won the first-ever meeting between the two schools back in 1978, but Ohio State has won all four meetings since Rutgers joined the Big Ten, including a 70-64 victory over the Scarlet Knights last month in Columbus. With the score tied at 62 with just over a minute to play, Kam Williams completed a four-point play to give Ohio State the lead for good in the contest. Williams finished the game with 23 points, while Trevor Thompson added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Even though Rutgers finished at the bottom of the Big Ten this year, the Scarlet Knights have shown significant signs of improvement under first-year head coach Steve Pikiell. After winning just seven games last year, Rutgers has doubled their win total this year. The Scarlet Knights have played teams a lot tougher this year as well. Even though the conference wins are still lacking, 10 of Rutgers’ last 15 games have been decided by six points or less. By comparison, last year 15 of the 17 Big Ten losses by the Scarlet Knights were by double digits.
After coming into their regular season finale riding a six-game losing streak, the Scarlet Knights are coming into the Big Ten Tournament on a bit of a high-note after beating Illinois 62-59 on Saturday in Piscataway. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, Rutgers was able to battle back and down the Fighting Illini on a game-winning three-pointer by Deshawn Freeman with seven seconds to go. Freeman finished the game with a team-high 21 points, while Corey Sanders added 17 points.
Rutgers will be playing in their third Big Ten Tournament since joining the conference, and the Scarlet Knights are still looking for their first win. All three seasons have seen the Scarlet Knights finish with the worst record in the Big Ten, but after winning two Big Ten games in 2014-15 and just one Big Ten game in 2015-16, this year’s three conference wins were the most they have recorded since joining the conference. In 2015, Rutgers lost 80-68 to Minnesota, and last year the Scarlet Knights lost 89-72 to Nebraska.
Numbers to know
23
Tonight’s game marks the 23rd time in the Big Ten Tournament where Ohio State has gone into their game as the higher seed. In those games, the Buckeyes have amassed a 20-2 record. The last time Ohio State lost as the higher seed was in 2006 when they were the top seed and fell to the second seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in the final. If Ohio State advances they’ll be the lower seed on Thursday night against Northwestern. In 16 games as the lower seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes have just a 6-10 record.
11
This year marks the 13th year that Thad Matta has been Ohio State’s head coach. In Ohio State’s previous 12 opening Big Ten Tournament games, the Buckeyes have posted a 11-1 record. Earning those victories hasn’t always been easy though, as seven of those wins have come by six points or less. The last time Ohio State’s first game of the Big Ten Tournament was decided by more than six points came back in 2013 when the Buckeyes defeated Nebraska 71-50.
14.6
A major reason for the improvement by Rutgers this year has been because of the work the Scarlet Knights have done on the boards. Not only is Rutgers averaging 14.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is third in the country, but the Scarlet Knights are 10th in total rebounds this year, averaging 40.4 rebounds per game. Rutgers leads the Big Ten in both categories. After outrebounding their conference foes in just three games this year, the Scarlet Knights have outrebounded their opponents in 11 of 18 conference games so far this year.
Cast of characters
Ohio State
C.J. Jackson
The sophomore guard has played his best basketball in a Ohio State uniform over his last few games. Jackson poured in a season-high 18 points in the win over Wisconsin nearly two weeks ago, and matched that on Saturday in the loss against Indiana. The Eastern Florida State CC transfer did most of his damage from outside in those two games, hitting nine three-pointers. Prior to his breakout performance against Wisconsin, Jackson had only recorded double figures in the scoring column in one other game, when he scored 13 points in the February 11th loss to Maryland.
JaQuan Lyle
After losing his spot in the starting lineup after the Maryland game in mid-February, Lyle has started to settle into his role coming off the bench for the Buckeyes. In four of the last five games, Lyle has reached double figures in scoring, including scoring at least 17 points in each of the last three games. Lyle has found his shooting stroke as well, hitting seven of his 10 shots in each of the last two games, and hitting all five of his three-point attempts spanning the last three games.
Rutgers
Corey Sanders
The result of last month’s matchup between the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights might have been a little different had Sanders not fouled out with just under five minutes to go in the game. Before fouling out, Sanders had scored 17 points against the Buckeyes. Earlier this week, Sanders was named to the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team by both the coaches and the media. The sophomore guard is leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring this year, averaging 13.0 points per game.
Deshawn Freeman
Freeman was the hero in Saturday’s win over Illinois, scoring a team-high 21 points, and burying the game-winning three-pointer with seven seconds to go. In the first meeting between the schools, Freeman was able to record a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. The 7.9 rebounds per game Freeman is averaging this year leads Rutgers this year.
How to watch
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: BTN2Go
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State will have to win five games in five days if they want to win their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2013.
If Ohio State wants to go dancing in next week’s NCAA Tournament, they’ll need to win five games in five days at the Big Ten Tournament in Washington D.C. The Buckeyes are hoping the improbable run starts tonight, when they take on Rutgers at the Verizon Center. Ohio State enters the Big Ten Tournament as the 11-seed, which is their lowest seeding in the Big Ten Tournament since 1998, when the Buckeyes entered the inaugural Big Ten Tournament with the same seed.
Since the Big Ten Tournament started in 1998, Ohio State has posted a 26-12 record, winning the tournament title on four different occasions. A lot of Ohio State’s success in the Big Ten Tournament has came with Thad Matta as their head coach. This year marks Matta’s 13th year as head coach at Ohio State, and during that span the Buckeyes have played in 31 Big Tournament games, winning 23 of them. Both of those totals are in the most in the Big Ten during that span.
Ohio State enters tonight’s game trying to regroup from Saturday’s 96-92 senior day loss to Indiana in Columbus. The loss was just the third loss on senior day for the Buckeyes during Matta’s tenure. Most of the time when Ohio State cracks the 90-point barrier in a conference game they end up with a victory. That wasn’t the case on Saturday, as the Buckeyes lost for just the ninth time in 124 when scoring at least 90 points in a Big Ten game.
While Ohio State wasn’t able to defeat the Hoosiers, it wasn’t because of the play of a couple of Buckeyes who have been consistent for pretty much the whole year. Jae’Sean Tate was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media, while Trevor Thompson got the same acknowledgment from the media. Against Indiana, Tate scored a team-high 20 points and added six rebounds, and six assists. Thompson recorded his 11th double-double of the year by scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Tonight’s game marks the sixth meeting ever between Ohio State and Rutgers, with the Buckeyes holding a 4-1 edge in the series. Rutgers won the first-ever meeting between the two schools back in 1978, but Ohio State has won all four meetings since Rutgers joined the Big Ten, including a 70-64 victory over the Scarlet Knights last month in Columbus. With the score tied at 62 with just over a minute to play, Kam Williams completed a four-point play to give Ohio State the lead for good in the contest. Williams finished the game with 23 points, while Trevor Thompson added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Even though Rutgers finished at the bottom of the Big Ten this year, the Scarlet Knights have shown significant signs of improvement under first-year head coach Steve Pikiell. After winning just seven games last year, Rutgers has doubled their win total this year. The Scarlet Knights have played teams a lot tougher this year as well. Even though the conference wins are still lacking, 10 of Rutgers’ last 15 games have been decided by six points or less. By comparison, last year 15 of the 17 Big Ten losses by the Scarlet Knights were by double digits.
After coming into their regular season finale riding a six-game losing streak, the Scarlet Knights are coming into the Big Ten Tournament on a bit of a high-note after beating Illinois 62-59 on Saturday in Piscataway. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, Rutgers was able to battle back and down the Fighting Illini on a game-winning three-pointer by Deshawn Freeman with seven seconds to go. Freeman finished the game with a team-high 21 points, while Corey Sanders added 17 points.
Rutgers will be playing in their third Big Ten Tournament since joining the conference, and the Scarlet Knights are still looking for their first win. All three seasons have seen the Scarlet Knights finish with the worst record in the Big Ten, but after winning two Big Ten games in 2014-15 and just one Big Ten game in 2015-16, this year’s three conference wins were the most they have recorded since joining the conference. In 2015, Rutgers lost 80-68 to Minnesota, and last year the Scarlet Knights lost 89-72 to Nebraska.
Numbers to know
23
Tonight’s game marks the 23rd time in the Big Ten Tournament where Ohio State has gone into their game as the higher seed. In those games, the Buckeyes have amassed a 20-2 record. The last time Ohio State lost as the higher seed was in 2006 when they were the top seed and fell to the second seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in the final. If Ohio State advances they’ll be the lower seed on Thursday night against Northwestern. In 16 games as the lower seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes have just a 6-10 record.
11
This year marks the 13th year that Thad Matta has been Ohio State’s head coach. In Ohio State’s previous 12 opening Big Ten Tournament games, the Buckeyes have posted a 11-1 record. Earning those victories hasn’t always been easy though, as seven of those wins have come by six points or less. The last time Ohio State’s first game of the Big Ten Tournament was decided by more than six points came back in 2013 when the Buckeyes defeated Nebraska 71-50.
14.6
A major reason for the improvement by Rutgers this year has been because of the work the Scarlet Knights have done on the boards. Not only is Rutgers averaging 14.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is third in the country, but the Scarlet Knights are 10th in total rebounds this year, averaging 40.4 rebounds per game. Rutgers leads the Big Ten in both categories. After outrebounding their conference foes in just three games this year, the Scarlet Knights have outrebounded their opponents in 11 of 18 conference games so far this year.
Cast of characters
Ohio State
C.J. Jackson
The sophomore guard has played his best basketball in a Ohio State uniform over his last few games. Jackson poured in a season-high 18 points in the win over Wisconsin nearly two weeks ago, and matched that on Saturday in the loss against Indiana. The Eastern Florida State CC transfer did most of his damage from outside in those two games, hitting nine three-pointers. Prior to his breakout performance against Wisconsin, Jackson had only recorded double figures in the scoring column in one other game, when he scored 13 points in the February 11th loss to Maryland.
JaQuan Lyle
After losing his spot in the starting lineup after the Maryland game in mid-February, Lyle has started to settle into his role coming off the bench for the Buckeyes. In four of the last five games, Lyle has reached double figures in scoring, including scoring at least 17 points in each of the last three games. Lyle has found his shooting stroke as well, hitting seven of his 10 shots in each of the last two games, and hitting all five of his three-point attempts spanning the last three games.
Rutgers
Corey Sanders
The result of last month’s matchup between the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights might have been a little different had Sanders not fouled out with just under five minutes to go in the game. Before fouling out, Sanders had scored 17 points against the Buckeyes. Earlier this week, Sanders was named to the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team by both the coaches and the media. The sophomore guard is leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring this year, averaging 13.0 points per game.
Deshawn Freeman
Freeman was the hero in Saturday’s win over Illinois, scoring a team-high 21 points, and burying the game-winning three-pointer with seven seconds to go. In the first meeting between the schools, Freeman was able to record a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. The 7.9 rebounds per game Freeman is averaging this year leads Rutgers this year.
How to watch
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: BTN2Go
Continue reading...
Google Urban Meyer dishes on departing players as spring football begins, Thad Matta isn't dying...
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Urban Meyer dishes on departing players as spring football begins, Thad Matta isn't dying and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Urban Meyer dishes on departing players as spring football begins, Thad Matta isn't dying and more
Landof10.com
The working media that made the trip to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center were afforded a limited window to watch some of the Buckeyes practice and though there were not a whole bunch of earth-shattering revelations. Land of 10's Ryan Ginn helped shed ...
Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching interncleveland.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, IndianaWaiting For Next Year
Pair of Buckeyes, including another lineman, leaving Ohio StateNBCSports.com
247Sports -ESPN (blog) -Chronicle Telegram
all 137 news articles »
Continue reading...
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Urban Meyer dishes on departing players as spring football begins, Thad Matta isn't dying and more
Landof10.com
The working media that made the trip to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center were afforded a limited window to watch some of the Buckeyes practice and though there were not a whole bunch of earth-shattering revelations. Land of 10's Ryan Ginn helped shed ...
Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching interncleveland.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, IndianaWaiting For Next Year
Pair of Buckeyes, including another lineman, leaving Ohio StateNBCSports.com
247Sports -ESPN (blog) -Chronicle Telegram
all 137 news articles »
Continue reading...
Google Ohio State basketball's final stand: Can the Buckeyes actually make a Big Ten Tournament...
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Ohio State basketball's final stand: Can the Buckeyes actually make a Big Ten Tournament run? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State basketball's final stand: Can the Buckeyes actually make a Big Ten Tournament run?
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Think about Virginia, Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin if you want to feel good about the journey Ohio State basketball hopes it's about to embark on. In those games, some of them losses, the Buckeyes at least showed they're ...
Ohio State basketball Big Ten Tournament preview: Buckeyes have their backs against the wallLandof10.com
Ohio State wrestling | Buckeyes win Big Ten title, upsetting No. 1 Penn StateColumbus Dispatch
Men's hockey: Success at Wisconsin, in Big Ten tournament vital for Buckeyes' NCAA hopesOSU - The Lantern
247Sports -NJ.com -New Canaan Advertiser -SB Nation
all 577 news articles »
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State basketball's final stand: Can the Buckeyes actually make a Big Ten Tournament run?
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Think about Virginia, Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin if you want to feel good about the journey Ohio State basketball hopes it's about to embark on. In those games, some of them losses, the Buckeyes at least showed they're ...
Ohio State basketball Big Ten Tournament preview: Buckeyes have their backs against the wallLandof10.com
Ohio State wrestling | Buckeyes win Big Ten title, upsetting No. 1 Penn StateColumbus Dispatch
Men's hockey: Success at Wisconsin, in Big Ten tournament vital for Buckeyes' NCAA hopesOSU - The Lantern
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Google CJ Moore, a four-star WR from Oklahoma, includes Ohio State in his ... - cleveland.com
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CJ Moore, a four-star WR from Oklahoma, includes Ohio State in his ... - cleveland.com
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CJ Moore, a four-star WR from Oklahoma, includes Ohio State in his ...
cleveland.com
Moore is rated the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2018 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings.
4-star WR has Ohio State in his top 6Land-Grant Holy Land
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CJ Moore, a four-star WR from Oklahoma, includes Ohio State in his ...
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Moore is rated the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2018 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings.
4-star WR has Ohio State in his top 6Land-Grant Holy Land
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Google What To Watch: Can Buckeyes redeem themselves at B1G tournament? - 247Sports
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What To Watch: Can Buckeyes redeem themselves at B1G tournament? - 247Sports
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What To Watch: Can Buckeyes redeem themselves at B1G tournament?
247Sports
Because the Hoosiers defeated the Buckeyes 96-92 in the teams' lone meeting this past Saturday, IU got the 10th seed and an opening round bye. OSU will begin tournament play against 14th-seeded Rutgers (14-17, 3-15) tonight at 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
B1G Tournament 1st Round Preview: Rutgers v. Ohio StateOn The Banks (blog)
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What To Watch: Can Buckeyes redeem themselves at B1G tournament?
247Sports
Because the Hoosiers defeated the Buckeyes 96-92 in the teams' lone meeting this past Saturday, IU got the 10th seed and an opening round bye. OSU will begin tournament play against 14th-seeded Rutgers (14-17, 3-15) tonight at 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
B1G Tournament 1st Round Preview: Rutgers v. Ohio StateOn The Banks (blog)
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LGHL 4-star WR has Ohio State in his top 6
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4-star WR has Ohio State in his top 6
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes look to bring this Sooner State WR to Columbus.
Less is Moore
2018 wide receiver CJ Moore (Tulsa, OK / Union) released his top six on Tuesday evening — and that list included Ohio State. Moore, a four-star prospect, checks in at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds.
He fits the bill of the recent wide receivers the Buckeyes have brought in. Though they still covet speedsters, the staff has made an effort to get big bodies who are true outside receiving targets. Ohio State has been persistent throughout this process and have put themselves in a good position for the wide out from Oklahoma. The Buckeyes will continue to push for him over the next several months, as they must battle the likes of Ole Miss, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Oregon.
There is definitely legitimate interest on Moore’s part as he was last in Columbus, Ohio in late January for an unofficial visit. Ohio State would love to get Moore on campus sometime this spring or summer. Moore is currently a top 100 player and is rated the number three overall player in the state, according to 247Sports.
Harris makes an unofficial visit
Fellow 2018 wide receiver Meechi Harris (Xenia, OH / Xenia) was on campus yesterday for an unofficial visit and, according to reports, the visit went “well”.
Top southern-Ohio athlete @king_dj_sosa14 says #OhioState visit went well today, enjoyed talking to Urban Meyer VIP https://t.co/RQZSon2uvZ
— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) March 7, 2017
Harris saw his recruitment start to take off in February. He now holds 14 offers, which include Cincinnati, Michigan State, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Though those schools have offered, Ohio State has not. Harris is another athletic prospect who stands at 6-foot-2 and has a recorded 40-yard dash time of 4.44. From Xenia, Ohio, the belief is that if the Buckeyes offer, Harris will most likely end up in their class. However, recruiting is never that easy. Harris will most likely have to camp for an offer over the summertime and prove to the coaches, in person, that he is worthy of an offer being thrown his way. As of now, Harris is rated as the number 22 overall prospect in the state, according to 247sports.
Below is a highlight clip of Harris from Hudl.
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Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes look to bring this Sooner State WR to Columbus.
Less is Moore
2018 wide receiver CJ Moore (Tulsa, OK / Union) released his top six on Tuesday evening — and that list included Ohio State. Moore, a four-star prospect, checks in at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds.
He fits the bill of the recent wide receivers the Buckeyes have brought in. Though they still covet speedsters, the staff has made an effort to get big bodies who are true outside receiving targets. Ohio State has been persistent throughout this process and have put themselves in a good position for the wide out from Oklahoma. The Buckeyes will continue to push for him over the next several months, as they must battle the likes of Ole Miss, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Oregon.
There is definitely legitimate interest on Moore’s part as he was last in Columbus, Ohio in late January for an unofficial visit. Ohio State would love to get Moore on campus sometime this spring or summer. Moore is currently a top 100 player and is rated the number three overall player in the state, according to 247Sports.
Harris makes an unofficial visit
Fellow 2018 wide receiver Meechi Harris (Xenia, OH / Xenia) was on campus yesterday for an unofficial visit and, according to reports, the visit went “well”.
Top southern-Ohio athlete @king_dj_sosa14 says #OhioState visit went well today, enjoyed talking to Urban Meyer VIP https://t.co/RQZSon2uvZ
— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) March 7, 2017
Harris saw his recruitment start to take off in February. He now holds 14 offers, which include Cincinnati, Michigan State, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Though those schools have offered, Ohio State has not. Harris is another athletic prospect who stands at 6-foot-2 and has a recorded 40-yard dash time of 4.44. From Xenia, Ohio, the belief is that if the Buckeyes offer, Harris will most likely end up in their class. However, recruiting is never that easy. Harris will most likely have to camp for an offer over the summertime and prove to the coaches, in person, that he is worthy of an offer being thrown his way. As of now, Harris is rated as the number 22 overall prospect in the state, according to 247sports.
Below is a highlight clip of Harris from Hudl.
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Google Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented Quarterbacks - Scout
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Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented Quarterbacks - Scout
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Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented Quarterbacks
Scout
When the Ohio State football team had its first day of spring practice on Tuesday morning, the Buckeyes appeared to be well off at arguably the most important position in the sport. Four quarterbacks participated in various drills during the first hour ...
Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice247Sports
Ohio State football: Observations as Buckeyes begin spring practiceLandof10.com
Watch J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell at ...cleveland.com
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Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented Quarterbacks
Scout
When the Ohio State football team had its first day of spring practice on Tuesday morning, the Buckeyes appeared to be well off at arguably the most important position in the sport. Four quarterbacks participated in various drills during the first hour ...
Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice247Sports
Ohio State football: Observations as Buckeyes begin spring practiceLandof10.com
Watch J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell at ...cleveland.com
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Google Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching intern - cleveland.com
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Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching intern - cleveland.com
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Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching intern
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Brian Hartline was involved in Ohio State's practices while the Buckeyes prepared for the College Football Playoff by running routes as part of the scout team. Spring practice began on Tuesday, and Hartline was still around, this time ...
Former Ohio State WR Brian Hartline now a Buckeyes coaching internLandof10.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, IndianaWaiting For Next Year
Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented QuarterbacksScout
ESPN (blog) -247Sports
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Ohio State football: Brian Hartline working with Buckeyes as coaching intern
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Brian Hartline was involved in Ohio State's practices while the Buckeyes prepared for the College Football Playoff by running routes as part of the scout team. Spring practice began on Tuesday, and Hartline was still around, this time ...
Former Ohio State WR Brian Hartline now a Buckeyes coaching internLandof10.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, IndianaWaiting For Next Year
Buckeyes Are In A Good Spot With Four Talented QuarterbacksScout
ESPN (blog) -247Sports
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Google Ohio State reclaims final host seed - ESPN
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Ohio State reclaims final host seed - ESPN
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ESPN
Ohio State reclaims final host seed
ESPN
The Buckeyes and Blue Demons have eerily similar résumés, and the difference between 16 and 17 is infinitesimal. Ultimately, the Buckeyes got the nod for performing better in a slightly better conference, and their win over Maryland marks the best ...
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ESPN
Ohio State reclaims final host seed
ESPN
The Buckeyes and Blue Demons have eerily similar résumés, and the difference between 16 and 17 is infinitesimal. Ultimately, the Buckeyes got the nod for performing better in a slightly better conference, and their win over Maryland marks the best ...
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Google Top Oklahoma WR names Buckeyes among his top choices - 247Sports
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Top Oklahoma WR names Buckeyes among his top choices - 247Sports
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Top Oklahoma WR names Buckeyes among his top choices
247Sports
Union wide receiver CJ Moore visited Ohio State with his father for the Buckeyes' junior day on Jan. 28. Afterwards Moore told Bucknuts he had a great time and would definitely be back for another visit with the Buckeyes. This evening Moore took to ...
Ohio State football: Observations as Buckeyes begin spring practiceLandof10.com
Watch JT Barrett, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell at Ohio State's first spring practicecleveland.com
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Top Oklahoma WR names Buckeyes among his top choices
247Sports
Union wide receiver CJ Moore visited Ohio State with his father for the Buckeyes' junior day on Jan. 28. Afterwards Moore told Bucknuts he had a great time and would definitely be back for another visit with the Buckeyes. This evening Moore took to ...
Ohio State football: Observations as Buckeyes begin spring practiceLandof10.com
Watch JT Barrett, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell at Ohio State's first spring practicecleveland.com
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Google Ohio State football: Buckeyes enter spring practice with fewer question marks than last...
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes enter spring practice with fewer question marks than last year - Chronicle Telegram
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes enter spring practice with fewer question marks than last year
Chronicle Telegram
COLUMBUS — Despite losing a big chunk of the starting defensive backfield and two top receivers to the NFL Draft, Ohio State is in a far better place this spring than last. Going into spring practice last year, just six starters were returning from a ...
What teams will select Ohio State Buckeyes in 2017 NFL draft?EndZoneScore
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah: 'Ohio State is an NFL factory'Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes enter spring practice with fewer question marks than last year
Chronicle Telegram
COLUMBUS — Despite losing a big chunk of the starting defensive backfield and two top receivers to the NFL Draft, Ohio State is in a far better place this spring than last. Going into spring practice last year, just six starters were returning from a ...
What teams will select Ohio State Buckeyes in 2017 NFL draft?EndZoneScore
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah: 'Ohio State is an NFL factory'Landof10.com
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Google Irish Defeat Buckeyes in 16-13 Victory - Notre Dame Official Athletic Site
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Irish Defeat Buckeyes in 16-13 Victory - Notre Dame Official Athletic Site
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Irish Defeat Buckeyes in 16-13 Victory
Notre Dame Official Athletic Site
The Irish opened the game with an early 3-0 lead over the Buckeyes. Notre Dame and Ohio State -- clearly battling the wind and a handful of dropped passes -- executed their offense for much of the shot clock, limiting the number of possessions early on ...
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Irish Defeat Buckeyes in 16-13 Victory
Notre Dame Official Athletic Site
The Irish opened the game with an early 3-0 lead over the Buckeyes. Notre Dame and Ohio State -- clearly battling the wind and a handful of dropped passes -- executed their offense for much of the shot clock, limiting the number of possessions early on ...
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Google Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice - 247Sports
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Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice - 247Sports
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Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice
247Sports
We have photos from the first day of Ohio State's first spring practice session on Tuesday. There were nine early enrolling freshmen as well as JUCO transfer CB Kendall Sheffield (No. 10) on the field for the Buckeyes for the first time. Freshmen ...
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Watch: Buckeyes' RBs, WRs during first day of practice
247Sports
We have photos from the first day of Ohio State's first spring practice session on Tuesday. There were nine early enrolling freshmen as well as JUCO transfer CB Kendall Sheffield (No. 10) on the field for the Buckeyes for the first time. Freshmen ...
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Google Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, Indiana - Waiting For Next Year
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Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, Indiana - Waiting For Next Year
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Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, Indiana
Waiting For Next Year
The rollercoaster season for the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team ended the same way it has gone throughout with the valleys outnumbering the peaks. In the last week, the Bucks barely beat Penn State in Happy Valley, 71-70, and came up short ...
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Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Split against Penn State, Indiana
Waiting For Next Year
The rollercoaster season for the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team ended the same way it has gone throughout with the valleys outnumbering the peaks. In the last week, the Bucks barely beat Penn State in Happy Valley, 71-70, and came up short ...
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Google Ohio State commit Emory Jones 'blessed' by Alabama offer, Meechi Harris talks second...
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Ohio State commit Emory Jones 'blessed' by Alabama offer, Meechi Harris talks second Buckeyes visit since January - Landof10.com
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Ohio State commit Emory Jones 'blessed' by Alabama offer, Meechi Harris talks second Buckeyes visit since January
Landof10.com
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide are already busy looking for the guy who wants to take their spot. Ohio State has a commitment from 5-star Georgia prospect Emory Jones, the country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 ...
Ohio State offers Georgia DBLand-Grant Holy Land
Alabama offers Buckeye 5-star QB commit Emory Jones247Sports
Emory Jones, a five-star QB and Ohio State commit in '18, earns an Alabama offercleveland.com
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Ohio State commit Emory Jones 'blessed' by Alabama offer, Meechi Harris talks second Buckeyes visit since January
Landof10.com
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide are already busy looking for the guy who wants to take their spot. Ohio State has a commitment from 5-star Georgia prospect Emory Jones, the country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 ...
Ohio State offers Georgia DBLand-Grant Holy Land
Alabama offers Buckeye 5-star QB commit Emory Jones247Sports
Emory Jones, a five-star QB and Ohio State commit in '18, earns an Alabama offercleveland.com
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Google BH: 'The one that got away' | Cupp check - 247Sports
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BH: 'The one that got away' | Cupp check - 247Sports
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BH: 'The one that got away' | Cupp check
247Sports
'The one that got away' … We spoke with an Ohio State recruiting source who was obviously tuned in to the NFL Combine, to make sure anything the Buckeyes did well there was immediately turned into recruiting material for the program. While we spoke ...
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BH: 'The one that got away' | Cupp check
247Sports
'The one that got away' … We spoke with an Ohio State recruiting source who was obviously tuned in to the NFL Combine, to make sure anything the Buckeyes did well there was immediately turned into recruiting material for the program. While we spoke ...
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tBBC Speculating on Colin White’s Future
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Speculating on Colin White’s Future
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 04: Colin White #18 of Team United States celebrates his second period goal during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal game against Team Russia at the Bell Centre on January 4, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
If you’ve been reading Bruce Garrioch’s work over the past number of days, you have assuredly seen some of his writing detailing how Senators blue-chip prospect Colin White’s NCAA career may be nearing an end.
Even though the Senators’ second first round pick from 2015 (21st overall) is close to completing his sophomore year and is eligible to play two more seasons at Boston College, speculation persists that White will forego his final two years so that he can pursue a professional playing career.
Boston College’s season could end this weekend when the Eagles take on Vermont in best of three Hockey East quarterfinals.
The lingering question is whether he will join the Senators this season or when the team breaks training camp next fall.
Pointing to the additions of players like Tommy Wingels, Viktor Stalberg, Alexandre Burrows and yes, even Chris DiDomenico, Garrioch believes that these acquisitions and the return of a Bobby Ryan or Chris Neil from their respective injuries may congest the Senators’ roster to the point where there may be no room for White. Combined with the fact that the Senators are playing must-win games and that if White plays in more than nine regular season and/or playoff games, he will lose one year of eligibility off of his entry-level contract, Garrioch reasoned that these factors are convincing enough to believe that the Senators may be better off holding back White.
Although Ryan’s return will inevitably push someone off the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, it’s not like the bar is set very high for White to play on the fourth line where they could use his blend of speed and hockey IQ. He certainly should offer the Senators some offensive upside over the aforementioned Wingels or Chris Kelly, but Guy Boucher may be loathe to scratch Kelly considering how he leads Senators forwards in shorthanded ice time per game.
General manager Pierre Dorion improved the team’s depth without giving up any rosterable players (sorry, Curtis Lazar), but it remains to be seen how the fourth line will look once everyone’s healthy.
To this point in the season, the performance of the fourth line has left something to be desired and conceivably, if we’re looking at White trying to provide something more than what a Kelly or Wingels is offering, it’s not like the bar is set particularly high. Most importantly, it’s not as though the Senators are some dominant powerhouse team that can shun a potential upgrade simply on account of giving preferential treatment to its vets.
This team needs to play its best available talents and if that includes White, so be it.
Even if it means burning a year on his entry-level contract, I don’t know how much it will rear its head. It’s not like I expect him to produce enough offence where it adversely puts the Senators behind the eight-ball when his ELC expires. Perhaps most importantly, White will fall well short of the 40-game threshold that would “count as an accrued year of service counting towards the seven years required to become an unrestricted free agent“.
Tough Schedule Down the Stretch
It’s a good thing the Senators are picking up points against division rivals and building themselves a cushion to work with.
As some fans have noted, once the Senators return from their three-game road trip to Dallas, Arizona and Colorado, the team faces an incredibly difficult stretch of hockey to close out the month.
@6thSens is it ok to be sweating this skeddy upcoming a bit or will things be ok?
pic.twitter.com/7K8PwgyDVA
— James Speck (@jsizzle_279) March 7, 2017
Fortunately, the Senators’ margin for error is a little bit bigger than it could have been.
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T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 04: Colin White #18 of Team United States celebrates his second period goal during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal game against Team Russia at the Bell Centre on January 4, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
If you’ve been reading Bruce Garrioch’s work over the past number of days, you have assuredly seen some of his writing detailing how Senators blue-chip prospect Colin White’s NCAA career may be nearing an end.
Even though the Senators’ second first round pick from 2015 (21st overall) is close to completing his sophomore year and is eligible to play two more seasons at Boston College, speculation persists that White will forego his final two years so that he can pursue a professional playing career.
Boston College’s season could end this weekend when the Eagles take on Vermont in best of three Hockey East quarterfinals.
The lingering question is whether he will join the Senators this season or when the team breaks training camp next fall.
Pointing to the additions of players like Tommy Wingels, Viktor Stalberg, Alexandre Burrows and yes, even Chris DiDomenico, Garrioch believes that these acquisitions and the return of a Bobby Ryan or Chris Neil from their respective injuries may congest the Senators’ roster to the point where there may be no room for White. Combined with the fact that the Senators are playing must-win games and that if White plays in more than nine regular season and/or playoff games, he will lose one year of eligibility off of his entry-level contract, Garrioch reasoned that these factors are convincing enough to believe that the Senators may be better off holding back White.
Although Ryan’s return will inevitably push someone off the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, it’s not like the bar is set very high for White to play on the fourth line where they could use his blend of speed and hockey IQ. He certainly should offer the Senators some offensive upside over the aforementioned Wingels or Chris Kelly, but Guy Boucher may be loathe to scratch Kelly considering how he leads Senators forwards in shorthanded ice time per game.
General manager Pierre Dorion improved the team’s depth without giving up any rosterable players (sorry, Curtis Lazar), but it remains to be seen how the fourth line will look once everyone’s healthy.
To this point in the season, the performance of the fourth line has left something to be desired and conceivably, if we’re looking at White trying to provide something more than what a Kelly or Wingels is offering, it’s not like the bar is set particularly high. Most importantly, it’s not as though the Senators are some dominant powerhouse team that can shun a potential upgrade simply on account of giving preferential treatment to its vets.
This team needs to play its best available talents and if that includes White, so be it.
Even if it means burning a year on his entry-level contract, I don’t know how much it will rear its head. It’s not like I expect him to produce enough offence where it adversely puts the Senators behind the eight-ball when his ELC expires. Perhaps most importantly, White will fall well short of the 40-game threshold that would “count as an accrued year of service counting towards the seven years required to become an unrestricted free agent“.
Tough Schedule Down the Stretch
It’s a good thing the Senators are picking up points against division rivals and building themselves a cushion to work with.
As some fans have noted, once the Senators return from their three-game road trip to Dallas, Arizona and Colorado, the team faces an incredibly difficult stretch of hockey to close out the month.
@6thSens is it ok to be sweating this skeddy upcoming a bit or will things be ok?
— James Speck (@jsizzle_279) March 7, 2017
Fortunately, the Senators’ margin for error is a little bit bigger than it could have been.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State has begun preparing for another shot at the College Football Playoff
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Ohio State has begun preparing for another shot at the College Football Playoff
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have several key areas in need of work to make it back to the highest stage in college football.
“The passing attack clearly is the Buckeyes’ top priority this spring, and there really isn’t a close second.”
- Austin Ward, ESPN
Spring practice has begun, and that means football is back - at least, for the time being. Still, football in Columbus always means high expectations, and Urban Meyer is well aware of the task that lies ahead for Ohio State. The Buckeyes open the season against Indiana this fall and there’s plenty to be done before then for Ohio State to be ready. Returning starting quarterback J.T. Barrett means the Buckeyes are sure to be one of the top ranked teams in the country at the start of the season. And despite losing some stellar talent to the NFL draft, Ohio State is in the same position each season.
Some of the things that will be question marks this spring and during the early fall will be about the passing attack, how the Buckeyes can replace their defensive secondary stars, and even about some special teams in terms of kicking and punting. Last season downfield passing was a large part of the offensive struggle, and will need to be much improved in 2017. In the secondary, there will be three fresh faces to start the season as only Damon Webb returns from last season. Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley, and Marshon Lattimore headed to the NFL and are all likely to be taken higher in the first round of the draft. As for the kicking, if Sean Nuernberger can get healthy, he seems to be the obvious choice for placekicking. Losing Cameron Johnston will no doubt hurt though, and it’s up to Meyer to find a suitable replacement.
“The hole in the middle of the unit appears it will be filled by a familiar face. Chris Worley was working as the middle linebacker on the first day of spring drills.”
- Bill Landis, Cleveland.com
The spring practice opening for Ohio State means the depth chart has already begun to take shape early on. Bill Landis of Cleveland.com broke down what he saw on defense and who looks to be the starters. On the defensive line it was no surprise that Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis were the starters on the ends, while Dre’Mont Jones and Michael Hill anchor the middle. The biggest change at linebacker was the move to put Chris Worley at middle linebacker (he was outside last season), with Jerome Baker and Dante Booker returning to the lineup after missing much of 2016 due to injury.
The secondary showed the most significant change, for obvious reasons. At the cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Denzel Ward were on the first team with Erick Smith and Damon Webb at the safety spots. Some notable backups on defense included Nick Bosa, stuck behind two great defensive ends. Still expect to see plenty of Bosa during the season as there is usually quite a bit of rotation. Jalyn Holmes is also a backup on the line, while Justin Hilliard is the backup middle linebacker.
“[Biggest strengths on each Big Ten team] Ohio State - The pass rush.”
- Ari Wasserman, Cleveland.com
Continuing the breakdown of what appeared to be the depth chart, the offense looked much the same from previous seasons. J.T. Barrett is the unquestioned starter but the battle for backup quarterback continues. As of now, it appears Joe Burrow has it locked down with Dwayne Haskins and freshman Tate Martell fighting for the spot as well. Mike Weber returns after a 1,000-yard rushing season at running back and according to Wasserman, Demario McCall got some work at running back but also caught some passes and believes McCall is the favorite to replace Curtis Samuel at H-back, which makes sense given his explosiveness which he displayed in mop-up duties last season.
Some familiar faces returned at wide receiver with Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and K.J. Hill getting the most work. From left to right on the offensive line, it went Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Billy Price, Demetrius Knox, and Isaiah Prince. It will be interesting to see if Binjimen Victor can make a push for a starting spot this fall at wide receiver. He showed flashes last season in limited opportunities and has a great skill set and frame for the position.
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Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have several key areas in need of work to make it back to the highest stage in college football.
“The passing attack clearly is the Buckeyes’ top priority this spring, and there really isn’t a close second.”
- Austin Ward, ESPN
Spring practice has begun, and that means football is back - at least, for the time being. Still, football in Columbus always means high expectations, and Urban Meyer is well aware of the task that lies ahead for Ohio State. The Buckeyes open the season against Indiana this fall and there’s plenty to be done before then for Ohio State to be ready. Returning starting quarterback J.T. Barrett means the Buckeyes are sure to be one of the top ranked teams in the country at the start of the season. And despite losing some stellar talent to the NFL draft, Ohio State is in the same position each season.
Some of the things that will be question marks this spring and during the early fall will be about the passing attack, how the Buckeyes can replace their defensive secondary stars, and even about some special teams in terms of kicking and punting. Last season downfield passing was a large part of the offensive struggle, and will need to be much improved in 2017. In the secondary, there will be three fresh faces to start the season as only Damon Webb returns from last season. Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley, and Marshon Lattimore headed to the NFL and are all likely to be taken higher in the first round of the draft. As for the kicking, if Sean Nuernberger can get healthy, he seems to be the obvious choice for placekicking. Losing Cameron Johnston will no doubt hurt though, and it’s up to Meyer to find a suitable replacement.
“The hole in the middle of the unit appears it will be filled by a familiar face. Chris Worley was working as the middle linebacker on the first day of spring drills.”
- Bill Landis, Cleveland.com
The spring practice opening for Ohio State means the depth chart has already begun to take shape early on. Bill Landis of Cleveland.com broke down what he saw on defense and who looks to be the starters. On the defensive line it was no surprise that Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis were the starters on the ends, while Dre’Mont Jones and Michael Hill anchor the middle. The biggest change at linebacker was the move to put Chris Worley at middle linebacker (he was outside last season), with Jerome Baker and Dante Booker returning to the lineup after missing much of 2016 due to injury.
The secondary showed the most significant change, for obvious reasons. At the cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Denzel Ward were on the first team with Erick Smith and Damon Webb at the safety spots. Some notable backups on defense included Nick Bosa, stuck behind two great defensive ends. Still expect to see plenty of Bosa during the season as there is usually quite a bit of rotation. Jalyn Holmes is also a backup on the line, while Justin Hilliard is the backup middle linebacker.
“[Biggest strengths on each Big Ten team] Ohio State - The pass rush.”
- Ari Wasserman, Cleveland.com
Continuing the breakdown of what appeared to be the depth chart, the offense looked much the same from previous seasons. J.T. Barrett is the unquestioned starter but the battle for backup quarterback continues. As of now, it appears Joe Burrow has it locked down with Dwayne Haskins and freshman Tate Martell fighting for the spot as well. Mike Weber returns after a 1,000-yard rushing season at running back and according to Wasserman, Demario McCall got some work at running back but also caught some passes and believes McCall is the favorite to replace Curtis Samuel at H-back, which makes sense given his explosiveness which he displayed in mop-up duties last season.
Some familiar faces returned at wide receiver with Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and K.J. Hill getting the most work. From left to right on the offensive line, it went Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Billy Price, Demetrius Knox, and Isaiah Prince. It will be interesting to see if Binjimen Victor can make a push for a starting spot this fall at wide receiver. He showed flashes last season in limited opportunities and has a great skill set and frame for the position.
STICK TO SPORTS:
- This movie theater has a jungle gym for your kids while you watch.
- The Movie Tavern Grill Mill Run in Hilliard announced it will be closing permanently in April.
- If you’ve played Breath of the Wild, then you might know there’s fun to be had from ‘falling and dying.’
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