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2024 TX LB Justin Williams (Georgia Verbal)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
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HUDL Highlights
Oak Ridge (Conroe, TX)
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 205 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
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Rivals Profile
On3 Profile
HUDL Highlights
Oak Ridge (Conroe, TX)
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 205 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
Login to view embedded media
LGHL Buck Off Podcast: Biggest offseason questions Ohio State’s roster, Brian Hartline the OC, and more
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Buck Off Podcast: Biggest offseason questions Ohio State’s roster, Brian Hartline the OC, and more
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Chris and Jordan are back to get into Ohio State’s roster questions and what to expect from the Buckeyes.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to get into our biggest questions so far this offseason for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
We start the episode with a discussion about some of the national stories that we’re not excited to see coming into the offseason, and the already overzealous respect for some teams that don’t deserve it. After this, we discuss the landscape of college football in the offseason.
Once we get through the opening, the conversation turns to Ohio State’s roster and where our concerns lie ahead of Spring Practice. This talk goes from least concern to most concerned back to least concerned, and no we don’t discuss the receivers here because there is no concern.
After the break, we get into the defensive side of the roster. This conversation starts with a discussion about why the defensive backs aren’t the biggest group of worry. We also talk about the most disappointing group over the last four years for the Buckeye defense
Our last topic gets into our feelings around the offseason promotions on the coaching staff. We take a look at Brian Hartline being promoted to offensive coordinator, which leads to a discussion about the balance between staff experience and youthful new ideas.
To close out the show, we give our final thoughts about expectations this upcoming season.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Chris and Jordan are back to get into Ohio State’s roster questions and what to expect from the Buckeyes.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to get into our biggest questions so far this offseason for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
We start the episode with a discussion about some of the national stories that we’re not excited to see coming into the offseason, and the already overzealous respect for some teams that don’t deserve it. After this, we discuss the landscape of college football in the offseason.
Once we get through the opening, the conversation turns to Ohio State’s roster and where our concerns lie ahead of Spring Practice. This talk goes from least concern to most concerned back to least concerned, and no we don’t discuss the receivers here because there is no concern.
After the break, we get into the defensive side of the roster. This conversation starts with a discussion about why the defensive backs aren’t the biggest group of worry. We also talk about the most disappointing group over the last four years for the Buckeye defense
Our last topic gets into our feelings around the offseason promotions on the coaching staff. We take a look at Brian Hartline being promoted to offensive coordinator, which leads to a discussion about the balance between staff experience and youthful new ideas.
To close out the show, we give our final thoughts about expectations this upcoming season.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes dish out four new offers on Thursday
- News
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Buckeyes dish out four new offers on Thursday
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
It’s offer season on the recruiting trail as new ones are going out left and right.
When it comes to Ohio State football offers, the coaching staff is calculated with their efforts. The Buckeyes are fairly selective and really don’t send out a large quantity of offers to prep prospects compared to some other staffs. Doing their homework ahead of time, Ryan Day and company offer the guys they feel they have a legitimate shot at landing, and do what it takes when the scope is narrowed in on the top players they’re after.
Lately, offers have been going out seemingly everyday that passes, and Thursday was much of the same as another handful of Ohio State offers were sent out. Getting right to it, here’s the list of guys who were next in line to hear from the Buckeyes on the recruiting trail.
Ohio is always going to be the top priority for Ohio State recruiting efforts. Keeping the best at home for their college career has been what the Buckeyes have always wanted, and that’s likely never going to change. With the amount of talent Ohio produces each cycle, it only makes sense to see the coaches fight to keep their guys home. Though the state may not produce as many elite players as they once did, it’s still a talented enough region to help the Buckeyes every year with recruiting needs.
The staff stayed close to home for one of the offers sent out when they became the next school in line to offer Cleveland native, Marquise Davis. A 6-foot, 195 pound running back in the 2025 class, Davis is a Cleveland Heights product, and is certainly no stranger to the Buckeyes and what Ohio State means to the people in his city. Unranked by 247Sports right now, it’s still early for the prep sophomore, as his recruitment hasn’t totally blown open yet.
Still, Davis holds double-digit offers, and schools such as Michigan State, Penn State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and others lead the way. Ohio State now in the mix looks to cause a domino effect of other top suitors to enter the race, and with running back a need in the future cycles, a player right in Ohio is ideal for this coaching staff moving forward when thinking of the 2025 class.
Staying on the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State took some time to attend to the trenches and offered their latest offensive line target yesterday as well. On the receiving end, Texas native Max Anderson took to social media to share the latest update in his recruitment. A 6-foot-5, 300 pound tackle, Anderson is already pretty well known, as he is currently the No. 163 player nationally and the eighth best offensive tackle in the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite.
Looking at an offer list of 20 schools, the top programs such as Alabama, Penn State, LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and several more confirm the rankings he is listed with. Position coach Justin Frye was hired not only to develop talent, but to be a difference maker on the recruiting front, and landing a tackle like Anderson would be a major win for the Buckeyes as top national targets at the position haven’t been where Ohio State sees a lot of their recruiting success.
The 2023 class with mainly Ohio native linemen was a solid class, but if the Buckeyes really want to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt, the offensive line is where it starts. Looking at the current roster in Columbus, offensive tackle is the spot being talked about arguably more than any other because of the lack of depth there, and if that sends any message, it means 2024 needs to be a class where the wins are plentiful.
As mentioned, the offensive side of the ball wasn’t where all the attention was focused on Thursday, as a pair of offers were sent out to defensive prospect as well. First up, four-star linebacker Justin Williams got the good news from the Buckeyes — and rightfully so with his long list of impressive accolades.
The 6-foot-2, 205 pound Texas native is the No. 54 player nationally, the fourth best linebacker, and the seventh best player from the Lone Star State per the 247Sports Composite. Having an offer list of over 30 schools to his name already, and from programs such as USC, Auburn, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame, Florida, and tons of others, the only surprising feat here is wondering why the Buckeyes are just now getting into the thick of things.
The Buckeyes have a long tradition of recruiting the state of Texas very well, and with Jim Knowles being a linebacker coach at heart, an offer to any player at the position is a stamp of approval from the boss on that side of the ball. As it stands now, Oregon is the lone selection on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and with his plans to visit there this weekend, it does look as if the Ducks have the upper hand.
However, Ohio State wasn’t the only school to offer today, as Justin announced Alabama, Oklahoma, and Utah also did the same, so maybe this gives him reason to slow the process down a bit and really hear out every school’s best pitch.
Last but not least, the defensive secondary was once again a topic of importance as another defensive back offer was sent out to five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. A Texas native, it doesn’t take long to recall the cornerback success the Buckeyes have had with Texas products.
The 2025 defensive back is already one of the top players in the country as he is the No. 25 player nationally, the second best corner in the class, and the third best player in Texas per the 247Sports Composite grades. Hailing from the prep power, North Shore in Houston, Devin’s ranking is further solidified considering the schedule he sees as a high school prospect, but having nearly 30 offers to his name also doesn’t hurt.
Schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a host of others were earlier to the party than Ohio State, but the track record for the Buckeyes in Texas overall should get them caught right back up to speed.
Much like the offensive line, cornerback is going to be a theme for a while until elite depth is plentiful again. Making Texas a priority is a no brainer regardless of the year, but going after a top player like Sanchez won’t be easy, as every top school in the country would love to have him in the fold. Thankfully, Perry Eliano and his Texas ties can help here even if he’s the safeties coach. It never hurts to crossover when it comes to having a connection.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
It’s offer season on the recruiting trail as new ones are going out left and right.
When it comes to Ohio State football offers, the coaching staff is calculated with their efforts. The Buckeyes are fairly selective and really don’t send out a large quantity of offers to prep prospects compared to some other staffs. Doing their homework ahead of time, Ryan Day and company offer the guys they feel they have a legitimate shot at landing, and do what it takes when the scope is narrowed in on the top players they’re after.
Lately, offers have been going out seemingly everyday that passes, and Thursday was much of the same as another handful of Ohio State offers were sent out. Getting right to it, here’s the list of guys who were next in line to hear from the Buckeyes on the recruiting trail.
Pair of prospects on offense land OSU offers
Ohio is always going to be the top priority for Ohio State recruiting efforts. Keeping the best at home for their college career has been what the Buckeyes have always wanted, and that’s likely never going to change. With the amount of talent Ohio produces each cycle, it only makes sense to see the coaches fight to keep their guys home. Though the state may not produce as many elite players as they once did, it’s still a talented enough region to help the Buckeyes every year with recruiting needs.
The staff stayed close to home for one of the offers sent out when they became the next school in line to offer Cleveland native, Marquise Davis. A 6-foot, 195 pound running back in the 2025 class, Davis is a Cleveland Heights product, and is certainly no stranger to the Buckeyes and what Ohio State means to the people in his city. Unranked by 247Sports right now, it’s still early for the prep sophomore, as his recruitment hasn’t totally blown open yet.
Still, Davis holds double-digit offers, and schools such as Michigan State, Penn State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and others lead the way. Ohio State now in the mix looks to cause a domino effect of other top suitors to enter the race, and with running back a need in the future cycles, a player right in Ohio is ideal for this coaching staff moving forward when thinking of the 2025 class.
Staying on the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State took some time to attend to the trenches and offered their latest offensive line target yesterday as well. On the receiving end, Texas native Max Anderson took to social media to share the latest update in his recruitment. A 6-foot-5, 300 pound tackle, Anderson is already pretty well known, as he is currently the No. 163 player nationally and the eighth best offensive tackle in the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite.
Looking at an offer list of 20 schools, the top programs such as Alabama, Penn State, LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and several more confirm the rankings he is listed with. Position coach Justin Frye was hired not only to develop talent, but to be a difference maker on the recruiting front, and landing a tackle like Anderson would be a major win for the Buckeyes as top national targets at the position haven’t been where Ohio State sees a lot of their recruiting success.
The 2023 class with mainly Ohio native linemen was a solid class, but if the Buckeyes really want to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt, the offensive line is where it starts. Looking at the current roster in Columbus, offensive tackle is the spot being talked about arguably more than any other because of the lack of depth there, and if that sends any message, it means 2024 needs to be a class where the wins are plentiful.
Defensive prospects also see Ohio State get in the mix
As mentioned, the offensive side of the ball wasn’t where all the attention was focused on Thursday, as a pair of offers were sent out to defensive prospect as well. First up, four-star linebacker Justin Williams got the good news from the Buckeyes — and rightfully so with his long list of impressive accolades.
The 6-foot-2, 205 pound Texas native is the No. 54 player nationally, the fourth best linebacker, and the seventh best player from the Lone Star State per the 247Sports Composite. Having an offer list of over 30 schools to his name already, and from programs such as USC, Auburn, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame, Florida, and tons of others, the only surprising feat here is wondering why the Buckeyes are just now getting into the thick of things.
The Buckeyes have a long tradition of recruiting the state of Texas very well, and with Jim Knowles being a linebacker coach at heart, an offer to any player at the position is a stamp of approval from the boss on that side of the ball. As it stands now, Oregon is the lone selection on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and with his plans to visit there this weekend, it does look as if the Ducks have the upper hand.
However, Ohio State wasn’t the only school to offer today, as Justin announced Alabama, Oklahoma, and Utah also did the same, so maybe this gives him reason to slow the process down a bit and really hear out every school’s best pitch.
Last but not least, the defensive secondary was once again a topic of importance as another defensive back offer was sent out to five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. A Texas native, it doesn’t take long to recall the cornerback success the Buckeyes have had with Texas products.
The 2025 defensive back is already one of the top players in the country as he is the No. 25 player nationally, the second best corner in the class, and the third best player in Texas per the 247Sports Composite grades. Hailing from the prep power, North Shore in Houston, Devin’s ranking is further solidified considering the schedule he sees as a high school prospect, but having nearly 30 offers to his name also doesn’t hurt.
Schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a host of others were earlier to the party than Ohio State, but the track record for the Buckeyes in Texas overall should get them caught right back up to speed.
Much like the offensive line, cornerback is going to be a theme for a while until elite depth is plentiful again. Making Texas a priority is a no brainer regardless of the year, but going after a top player like Sanchez won’t be easy, as every top school in the country would love to have him in the fold. Thankfully, Perry Eliano and his Texas ties can help here even if he’s the safeties coach. It never hurts to crossover when it comes to having a connection.
Continue reading...
LGHL No. 2 Ohio State women drop second-straight in 78-65 loss to No. 6 Indiana
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No. 2 Ohio State women drop second-straight in 78-65 loss to No. 6 Indiana
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
A dismal third quarter plagued the Buckeyes in another tough loss on Thursday night.
There wasn’t a lot of time for the No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball team to dwell on Monday’s loss to the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes. The 19-1 Buckeyes looked to go back to adding numbers to the left side of that record, but against another tough opponent in the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers.
Making things more difficult was the venue: Bloomington, Indiana’s Assembly Hall. The Scarlet & Gray couldn’t overcome a tough Hoosiers team, trading their 19-game winning streak for a two-game losing streak, falling to Indiana 78-65.
The Buckeyes were again without guard Jacy Sheldon. Still recovering from a foot injury, and not playing since Nov. 30, the guard watched from the bench.
The atmosphere inside the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall was at a decibel the Buckeyes likely haven’t heard all season in front of a crowd that filled the entire lower bowl of the historic basketball venue. The crowd got loud on every Hoosiers make, let out piercing boos when Ohio State got a call go their way, as well as some language not suitable for repeating at Land-Grant Holy Land.
From the jump, the Scarlet & Gray were a motivated unit. It began on defense, with the first Hoosiers possession ending in a miss and putting the Buckeyes on offense, and they made history.
Specifically, guard Taylor Mikesell made history. The guard from Massillon, Ohio hit a layup to score her 2,000th point in her impressive NCAA career.
The Buckeyes followed the graduate senior’s lead. Freshman forward Cotie McMahon scored the way she usually does — attacking the basket. McMahon scored six points halfway into the opening quarter all from the paint, while also hitting two free throws.
With six minutes of the first quarter done, the Buckeyes were up 14-8. It happened with strong half court defense and stopping the Hoosiers in transition. After the media timeout though, Indiana turned things around.
The Hoosiers went on a nine-point run, led by six points from forward Mackenzie Holmes and a free throw and layup by point guard Grace Berger. On the Buckeyes’ offensive side of the court, the shots falling earlier in the quarter weren’t there, and they hit foul trouble early.
Both underclassmen role players McMahon and Forward Taylor Thierry picked up two fouls apiece, sending Thierry to the bench. At the end of the first quarter, Indiana cleared the deficit and went up one point, up 17-16.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes went up a point quickly, but it was a seesaw affair between the two sides, with the Hoosiers and guard Yarden Garzon putting the home side up three.
Then McMahon took the game over. The freshman scored nine of the next 15 points, with Indiana only having four of them. McMahon did it by attacking the basket. At one point, she scored a layup, scored a second layup plus a free throw, and then on defense came down and blocked guard Chloe Moore-McNeil.
Mikesell showed off her passing skills on a second-quarter fastbreak possession, cutting the Indiana defense to only where McMahon could grab the ball and hitting the layup. Mikesell did some scoring too, scoring eight points on 4-for-5 shooting. A quiet, yet efficient, first half.
Overall, it was the McMahon and Holmes show. McMahon matched Indiana’s forward for scoring in the first half, scoring 18 points each. Through McMahon’s work, and the Buckeyes holding Indiana to 39.4% shooting, the visitors pushed their lead back up to six, eventually going into halftime up 36-32.
After all the energy and excitement of the first half, the second half started with more of a whimper. Both sides struggled to hit shots early, but as the game found its footing again, the Hoosiers pushed forward, but not without some hustle by Ohio State.
Garzon made a three that cut the Buckeyes lead down to one, and moments later she had a golden opportunity to put Indiana back in the lead. The Scarlet & Gray gave the ball away at the top of the arc, and Garzon was all alone running down the court on the fastbreak.
Not giving up on the play was Mikesell, who rushed the guard and hit the ball out of Garzon’s hands before she could attempt the layup. It kept Ohio State’s lead, but only momentarily.
Indiana then went on an 11-point run, and it was with points from deep and no Holmes getting on the scoreboard. Through a Buckeyes timeout, the Hoosiers kept it going and surged ahead to a five-point lead.
Ohio State did themselves no favors, shooting 14.3% halfway through the third quarter and giving the ball away twice. The Hoosiers were getting the crowd back on their side the whole time, meaning the Buckeyes needed to fight six players.
The inside game that worked so well for Ohio State in the first half was met with triple teams in the paint, and the Buckeyes took too long to adjust. Indiana ballooned their lead up to 11, their highest of the game to that point, as part of a 17-0 run.
Making matters worse, Thierry picked up a fourth foul and a seat on the bench. The third quarter quickly erased Ohio State’s strong first half.
Ohio State ended the third quarter down 59-42 — a 21-point swing in 10 game minutes. The Buckeyes were outscored 27-6 in the second-worst quarter of the season for the team after scoring only five in one quarter against the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 21.
To start the fourth quarter, the Scarlet & Gray needed to cut down a 17-point deficit, a tall task against the veteran Hoosiers. Before long, the Buckeyes trimmed it down to 10, thanks to Mikesell starting to take and hit three-point shots.
The Buckeyes started scoring 11 of the first 14 points of the fourth quarter. Then Ohio State would give up a layup and foul on Holmes, taking away the momentum they desperately needed, but the Scarlet & Gray kept battling.
Indiana’s lead got down to as little as eight, but they could never make up the entire deficit.
Cotie McMahon Continues Big Games
Despite the defeat, McMahon again had an impressive game. The forward kept attacking the basket and getting points and trips to the line. Unfortunately, it was only McMahon making things difficult for much of the game for the Hoosiers defense.
At the end of the third quarter, McMahon was the only Buckeye in double figures, scoring 21 points. McMahon ended the night scoring 21 points with three boards and an assist. In the fourth quarter, with 4:50 left, McMahon picked up her fifth and final foul, and received a kind “bye” ovation from the record Assembly Hall crowd of 10,455.
The Buckeyes’ first half showed a team who learned from their lessons against Iowa, but they created all new lessons in the second half. Ohio State had six turnovers and were outscored in points off turnovers, 13-0.
Now, after two losses in a row, a road to a conference title is much rockier, and the Buckeyes all the sudden find themselves needing a lot of help.
Ohio State heads back to friendlier confines, and a slightly less difficult opponent, when they welcome the Purdue Boilermakers to the Schottenstein Center. It’s a Sunday matinee tipoff of 1:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on BTN+.
The Buckeyes will then travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday night before going into another hostile environment Sunday, Feb. 5, against the No. 10 Maryland Terrapins.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
A dismal third quarter plagued the Buckeyes in another tough loss on Thursday night.
There wasn’t a lot of time for the No. 2 Ohio State women’s basketball team to dwell on Monday’s loss to the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes. The 19-1 Buckeyes looked to go back to adding numbers to the left side of that record, but against another tough opponent in the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers.
Making things more difficult was the venue: Bloomington, Indiana’s Assembly Hall. The Scarlet & Gray couldn’t overcome a tough Hoosiers team, trading their 19-game winning streak for a two-game losing streak, falling to Indiana 78-65.
The Buckeyes were again without guard Jacy Sheldon. Still recovering from a foot injury, and not playing since Nov. 30, the guard watched from the bench.
The atmosphere inside the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall was at a decibel the Buckeyes likely haven’t heard all season in front of a crowd that filled the entire lower bowl of the historic basketball venue. The crowd got loud on every Hoosiers make, let out piercing boos when Ohio State got a call go their way, as well as some language not suitable for repeating at Land-Grant Holy Land.
From the jump, the Scarlet & Gray were a motivated unit. It began on defense, with the first Hoosiers possession ending in a miss and putting the Buckeyes on offense, and they made history.
Specifically, guard Taylor Mikesell made history. The guard from Massillon, Ohio hit a layup to score her 2,000th point in her impressive NCAA career.
The Buckeyes followed the graduate senior’s lead. Freshman forward Cotie McMahon scored the way she usually does — attacking the basket. McMahon scored six points halfway into the opening quarter all from the paint, while also hitting two free throws.
With six minutes of the first quarter done, the Buckeyes were up 14-8. It happened with strong half court defense and stopping the Hoosiers in transition. After the media timeout though, Indiana turned things around.
The Hoosiers went on a nine-point run, led by six points from forward Mackenzie Holmes and a free throw and layup by point guard Grace Berger. On the Buckeyes’ offensive side of the court, the shots falling earlier in the quarter weren’t there, and they hit foul trouble early.
Both underclassmen role players McMahon and Forward Taylor Thierry picked up two fouls apiece, sending Thierry to the bench. At the end of the first quarter, Indiana cleared the deficit and went up one point, up 17-16.
To start the second quarter, the Buckeyes went up a point quickly, but it was a seesaw affair between the two sides, with the Hoosiers and guard Yarden Garzon putting the home side up three.
Then McMahon took the game over. The freshman scored nine of the next 15 points, with Indiana only having four of them. McMahon did it by attacking the basket. At one point, she scored a layup, scored a second layup plus a free throw, and then on defense came down and blocked guard Chloe Moore-McNeil.
Mikesell showed off her passing skills on a second-quarter fastbreak possession, cutting the Indiana defense to only where McMahon could grab the ball and hitting the layup. Mikesell did some scoring too, scoring eight points on 4-for-5 shooting. A quiet, yet efficient, first half.
Overall, it was the McMahon and Holmes show. McMahon matched Indiana’s forward for scoring in the first half, scoring 18 points each. Through McMahon’s work, and the Buckeyes holding Indiana to 39.4% shooting, the visitors pushed their lead back up to six, eventually going into halftime up 36-32.
After all the energy and excitement of the first half, the second half started with more of a whimper. Both sides struggled to hit shots early, but as the game found its footing again, the Hoosiers pushed forward, but not without some hustle by Ohio State.
Garzon made a three that cut the Buckeyes lead down to one, and moments later she had a golden opportunity to put Indiana back in the lead. The Scarlet & Gray gave the ball away at the top of the arc, and Garzon was all alone running down the court on the fastbreak.
Not giving up on the play was Mikesell, who rushed the guard and hit the ball out of Garzon’s hands before she could attempt the layup. It kept Ohio State’s lead, but only momentarily.
Indiana then went on an 11-point run, and it was with points from deep and no Holmes getting on the scoreboard. Through a Buckeyes timeout, the Hoosiers kept it going and surged ahead to a five-point lead.
Ohio State did themselves no favors, shooting 14.3% halfway through the third quarter and giving the ball away twice. The Hoosiers were getting the crowd back on their side the whole time, meaning the Buckeyes needed to fight six players.
The inside game that worked so well for Ohio State in the first half was met with triple teams in the paint, and the Buckeyes took too long to adjust. Indiana ballooned their lead up to 11, their highest of the game to that point, as part of a 17-0 run.
Making matters worse, Thierry picked up a fourth foul and a seat on the bench. The third quarter quickly erased Ohio State’s strong first half.
Ohio State ended the third quarter down 59-42 — a 21-point swing in 10 game minutes. The Buckeyes were outscored 27-6 in the second-worst quarter of the season for the team after scoring only five in one quarter against the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 21.
To start the fourth quarter, the Scarlet & Gray needed to cut down a 17-point deficit, a tall task against the veteran Hoosiers. Before long, the Buckeyes trimmed it down to 10, thanks to Mikesell starting to take and hit three-point shots.
The Buckeyes started scoring 11 of the first 14 points of the fourth quarter. Then Ohio State would give up a layup and foul on Holmes, taking away the momentum they desperately needed, but the Scarlet & Gray kept battling.
Indiana’s lead got down to as little as eight, but they could never make up the entire deficit.
Cotie McMahon Continues Big Games
Despite the defeat, McMahon again had an impressive game. The forward kept attacking the basket and getting points and trips to the line. Unfortunately, it was only McMahon making things difficult for much of the game for the Hoosiers defense.
At the end of the third quarter, McMahon was the only Buckeye in double figures, scoring 21 points. McMahon ended the night scoring 21 points with three boards and an assist. In the fourth quarter, with 4:50 left, McMahon picked up her fifth and final foul, and received a kind “bye” ovation from the record Assembly Hall crowd of 10,455.
Losing Streak
The Buckeyes’ first half showed a team who learned from their lessons against Iowa, but they created all new lessons in the second half. Ohio State had six turnovers and were outscored in points off turnovers, 13-0.
Now, after two losses in a row, a road to a conference title is much rockier, and the Buckeyes all the sudden find themselves needing a lot of help.
What’s Next
Ohio State heads back to friendlier confines, and a slightly less difficult opponent, when they welcome the Purdue Boilermakers to the Schottenstein Center. It’s a Sunday matinee tipoff of 1:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on BTN+.
The Buckeyes will then travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday night before going into another hostile environment Sunday, Feb. 5, against the No. 10 Maryland Terrapins.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: It’s time to get real about the Ohio State men’s basketball team
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Column: It’s time to get real about the Ohio State men’s basketball team
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The men’s basketball team has become a broken record at this point, and a drastic change is looking like it is needed.
For the last couple years, it felt like I was constantly defending Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann when people were trying to say the Buckeyes needed to move on and bring someone else in to coach the team. To those people that I laughed at, or asked them to name a realistic candidate to bring in as the successor to Holtmann, I am sorry.
It has become obvious that the current Ohio State men’s basketball coach isn’t the man for the job. This isn’t anything against Holtmann. While I’ve never actually met Holtmann, he seems like a great guy. It’s obvious that he cares about his players and Ohio State. Unfortunately, that isn’t winning the Buckeyes any games, which in the end is the only thing that matters.
It’s not like Holtmann and his staff aren’t trying. This year they recruited Brice Sensabaugh and Bruce Thornton, who were two highly-touted recruits. Along with those two, veterans Isaac Likekele, Sean McNeil, and Tanner Holden came to Columbus via the transfer portal. Even with all those pieces, something just isn’t clicking for Ohio State.
After replacing Thad Matta, it didn’t take long for the Ohio State community to fall in love with Holtmann, as the Buckeyes went 25-9 and make it to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament before losing to Gonzaga. Not only did Holtmann lead Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament, he got a late start in his first year on the job since he wasn’t hired until June, a couple months after the normal college basketball coaching carousel ends.
Imagine what Holtmann could do with a full year on the job!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24385876/usa_today_19667740.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Unfortunately since then, Ohio State hasn’t won more than 21 games in a season in the four full years since. With 10 regular season games left after Tuesday night’s loss at Illinois dropped their season record to 11-9, it doesn’t look likely that the Buckeyes will even hit 20 wins this year, unless they turn things around in a hurry, and find a way to make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament.
Even though the names on the roster change, it feels like seasons under Holtmann have become predictable at this point. Ohio State will post a pretty good non-conference record, which includes a win or two over teams that they probably shouldn’t have beaten, which inflates excitement about the team heading into Big Ten play. Then at some point in the middle of the conference schedule, the bottom falls out for the Buckeyes.
Aside from his first year at the school, there is a stretch of games after the calendar turns where the Buckeyes lose four straight, or five of six games, forcing the team to take a hard look at themselves. Even two seasons ago, Ohio State lost their final four games of the regular season, but their seeding for the NCAA Tournament was propped up because the Buckeyes made it to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game, losing to Illinois in overtime.
While Ohio State has made it to the NCAA Tournament in every season under Holtmann, aside from the 2019-20 season when COVID-19 cancelled the big dance, things there have become predictable. The Buckeyes have been able to reach the round of 32 on three occasions in their four NCAA Tournament appearances under Holtmann, but then they end up getting bounced before the Sweet Sixteen.
Then there is the 2021 NCAA Tournament, when Ohio State was a two-seed and wound up getting upset by Oral Roberts in the first round. That loss stings the most out of any game the Buckeyes have dropped under Holtmann.
I know it’s not all Holtmann’s fault, since college athletics are changing in every sport. The transfer portal and NIL have drastically changed how teams recruit and allocate their resources. It’s even tougher in college basketball since not only can players leave for the NBA after one season, now you are seeing more and more top talents not even step foot in college because they are deciding it is a better decision to play in the NBA’s G-League before entering the draft.
That just means coaches have to change and evolve more now than ever. I’m not getting the feeling this is happening with the Ohio State men’s basketball team. At this point it feels like every season has turned into the same for the Buckeyes, all that is different is the roster and results are jumbled just a little bit each year. Pretty much when the schedule is released these days you can expect about 20 wins for Ohio State and probably an early exit in the NCAA Tournament.
Even though Buckeye football is still king in Columbus, I remember the days when it wasn’t crazy to expect the men’s basketball team to have a shot at making the Final Four.
If there was ever a time for urgency from Ohio State, it has to be now. The Big Ten is already a meat grinder of a conference, and it’s only going to get tougher when UCLA and USC are added. The Buckeyes have to find a way to make some huge splashes. Bringing Malaki Branham and Brice Sensabaugh to Columbus has been great, but Ohio State needs even bigger fish if they ever want to be a serious contender for a national championship.
I have just lost all confidence that a run like that is possible under Chris Holtmann.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The men’s basketball team has become a broken record at this point, and a drastic change is looking like it is needed.
For the last couple years, it felt like I was constantly defending Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann when people were trying to say the Buckeyes needed to move on and bring someone else in to coach the team. To those people that I laughed at, or asked them to name a realistic candidate to bring in as the successor to Holtmann, I am sorry.
It has become obvious that the current Ohio State men’s basketball coach isn’t the man for the job. This isn’t anything against Holtmann. While I’ve never actually met Holtmann, he seems like a great guy. It’s obvious that he cares about his players and Ohio State. Unfortunately, that isn’t winning the Buckeyes any games, which in the end is the only thing that matters.
It’s not like Holtmann and his staff aren’t trying. This year they recruited Brice Sensabaugh and Bruce Thornton, who were two highly-touted recruits. Along with those two, veterans Isaac Likekele, Sean McNeil, and Tanner Holden came to Columbus via the transfer portal. Even with all those pieces, something just isn’t clicking for Ohio State.
After replacing Thad Matta, it didn’t take long for the Ohio State community to fall in love with Holtmann, as the Buckeyes went 25-9 and make it to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament before losing to Gonzaga. Not only did Holtmann lead Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament, he got a late start in his first year on the job since he wasn’t hired until June, a couple months after the normal college basketball coaching carousel ends.
Imagine what Holtmann could do with a full year on the job!
Unfortunately since then, Ohio State hasn’t won more than 21 games in a season in the four full years since. With 10 regular season games left after Tuesday night’s loss at Illinois dropped their season record to 11-9, it doesn’t look likely that the Buckeyes will even hit 20 wins this year, unless they turn things around in a hurry, and find a way to make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament.
Even though the names on the roster change, it feels like seasons under Holtmann have become predictable at this point. Ohio State will post a pretty good non-conference record, which includes a win or two over teams that they probably shouldn’t have beaten, which inflates excitement about the team heading into Big Ten play. Then at some point in the middle of the conference schedule, the bottom falls out for the Buckeyes.
Aside from his first year at the school, there is a stretch of games after the calendar turns where the Buckeyes lose four straight, or five of six games, forcing the team to take a hard look at themselves. Even two seasons ago, Ohio State lost their final four games of the regular season, but their seeding for the NCAA Tournament was propped up because the Buckeyes made it to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game, losing to Illinois in overtime.
While Ohio State has made it to the NCAA Tournament in every season under Holtmann, aside from the 2019-20 season when COVID-19 cancelled the big dance, things there have become predictable. The Buckeyes have been able to reach the round of 32 on three occasions in their four NCAA Tournament appearances under Holtmann, but then they end up getting bounced before the Sweet Sixteen.
Then there is the 2021 NCAA Tournament, when Ohio State was a two-seed and wound up getting upset by Oral Roberts in the first round. That loss stings the most out of any game the Buckeyes have dropped under Holtmann.
I know it’s not all Holtmann’s fault, since college athletics are changing in every sport. The transfer portal and NIL have drastically changed how teams recruit and allocate their resources. It’s even tougher in college basketball since not only can players leave for the NBA after one season, now you are seeing more and more top talents not even step foot in college because they are deciding it is a better decision to play in the NBA’s G-League before entering the draft.
That just means coaches have to change and evolve more now than ever. I’m not getting the feeling this is happening with the Ohio State men’s basketball team. At this point it feels like every season has turned into the same for the Buckeyes, all that is different is the roster and results are jumbled just a little bit each year. Pretty much when the schedule is released these days you can expect about 20 wins for Ohio State and probably an early exit in the NCAA Tournament.
Even though Buckeye football is still king in Columbus, I remember the days when it wasn’t crazy to expect the men’s basketball team to have a shot at making the Final Four.
If there was ever a time for urgency from Ohio State, it has to be now. The Big Ten is already a meat grinder of a conference, and it’s only going to get tougher when UCLA and USC are added. The Buckeyes have to find a way to make some huge splashes. Bringing Malaki Branham and Brice Sensabaugh to Columbus has been great, but Ohio State needs even bigger fish if they ever want to be a serious contender for a national championship.
I have just lost all confidence that a run like that is possible under Chris Holtmann.
Continue reading...
LGHL Visiting Locker Room: Previewing Ohio State women’s game against No. 6 Indiana with Crimson Quarry
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Visiting Locker Room: Previewing Ohio State women’s game against No. 6 Indiana with Crimson Quarry
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The site dedicated to Hoosier sports talks about Thursday’s big matchup in Bloomington
For the second time in four days, both the Ohio State and Indiana women’s basketball teams find themselves in a ranked matchup. After a Buckeye defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes and a Hoosier win against the Michigan Wolverines, the two top-10-ranked sides battle in Assembly Hall.
To catch up with how the 22-23 season has gone for the Hoosiers, Land-Grant Holy Land asked L.C. Norton from The Crimson Quarry. Norton answered questions about the return of Grace Berger, the sheer dominance of Mackenzie Holmes, and who else to look out for Thursday night.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Last season, the Indiana Hoosiers lost center Mackenzie Holmes, and this year it was guard Grace Berger. After missing a chunk of time, how’s Berger been since her return to the lineup and overall how’s the guard done acclimating to the point guard role?
LGHL: The Buckeyes are known for their press, and it hurt them Monday with Iowa’s Monika Czinano getting pass after pass behind the backline of the Ohio State defense. How have the Hoosiers done this year against the press?
LGHL: On the topic of centers, Holmes is on a historic run this season. According to HerHoopStats, she’s on pace to become only the 10th player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and eight rebounds per game, on top of hitting at least 60% of shots inside the three-point line. Is Thursday another game where Holmes will make the night another one to forget for the Buckeyes or is there a way she can be stopped?
LGHL: In the preseason, you mentioned freshman guard Yarden Garzon as someone who could get a few minutes for a coach who isn’t known to play a freshman. Garzon stepped into a starting role at the beginning of the year and hasn’t lost it. What’s been so impressive about the international to earn such high respect from Teri Moren?
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The site dedicated to Hoosier sports talks about Thursday’s big matchup in Bloomington
For the second time in four days, both the Ohio State and Indiana women’s basketball teams find themselves in a ranked matchup. After a Buckeye defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes and a Hoosier win against the Michigan Wolverines, the two top-10-ranked sides battle in Assembly Hall.
To catch up with how the 22-23 season has gone for the Hoosiers, Land-Grant Holy Land asked L.C. Norton from The Crimson Quarry. Norton answered questions about the return of Grace Berger, the sheer dominance of Mackenzie Holmes, and who else to look out for Thursday night.
Land-Grant Holy Land: Last season, the Indiana Hoosiers lost center Mackenzie Holmes, and this year it was guard Grace Berger. After missing a chunk of time, how’s Berger been since her return to the lineup and overall how’s the guard done acclimating to the point guard role?
LGHL: The Buckeyes are known for their press, and it hurt them Monday with Iowa’s Monika Czinano getting pass after pass behind the backline of the Ohio State defense. How have the Hoosiers done this year against the press?
LGHL: On the topic of centers, Holmes is on a historic run this season. According to HerHoopStats, she’s on pace to become only the 10th player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and eight rebounds per game, on top of hitting at least 60% of shots inside the three-point line. Is Thursday another game where Holmes will make the night another one to forget for the Buckeyes or is there a way she can be stopped?
LGHL: In the preseason, you mentioned freshman guard Yarden Garzon as someone who could get a few minutes for a coach who isn’t known to play a freshman. Garzon stepped into a starting role at the beginning of the year and hasn’t lost it. What’s been so impressive about the international to earn such high respect from Teri Moren?
Continue reading...
