Ohio State men lose to Rutgers 68-64 in overtime, drop fourth-straight game
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Both teams played tough on the defensive end in the latest installment of this growing rivalry.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-7, 2-4) fell to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-5, 5-2) in what was a battle from the beginning at the RAC Center, home of the Scarlet Knights. The two teams went back and forth throughout the second half leading to a bonus five minutes of overtime basketball. Ultimately, the Scarlet Knights pulled out the victory, earning a 68-64 victory. The loss was the fourth-straight for the Buckeyes, who haven’t won since New Year’s Day in Evanston, Ill. against Northwestern.

In the first matchup, the Buckeyes won a last-second buzzer-beater from almost half-court in what ended up being a controversial finish as it seems Holden might have stepped out of bounds and not established himself fully back in bounds before touching the ball.

Buckeye freshman Brice Sensabaugh entered the game as the Buckeyes' leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game. Justice Sueing adds 14.8 points per game and Zed Key entered the game averaging 12.3 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game.

For Rutgers, Cam Spencer entered the game averaging 13.5 points per game and Cliff Omoruyi averages a double-double at 13.2 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game.

This one got off to a sluggish start, much to the favor of Rutgers as they enjoy playing those types of games, and both teams started 0-for-6 from the field. Rutgers's Caleb McConnell got the scoring started on a fast break layup and a back cut for a layup that gave Rutgers a 4-0 lead with just over 15 minutes left.


The Buckeyes brought in Zed Key and Brice Sensabaugh early off the bench and Key provided a spark early, scoring four quick points and two rebounds. Tanner Holden added a quick five points off the bench and the Buckeyes went on a 15-0 run to take a 15-4 lead.


Rutgers answered with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the Buckeye lead to 15-11. The Buckeyes have struggled shooting the three-pointer in recent contests, but over the first 12 minutes in this one, they were 4-for-7 with threes from McNeil, Sensabaugh, and Holden.

Rutgers got a three from steady guard Paul Mulcahy and at the under-8-minute media timeout, the Buckeyes led 20-14.

Both teams hit another scoring drought, as neither team scored for almost three minutes. Cam Spencer hit a three-pointer in the corner to break the drought and cut the Buckeye lead in half.

After some more missed shots, the Buckeyes were able to take a 23-20 lead into the half at the RAC Center.

Tanner Holden and Zed Key led the way for the Buckeyes in the first half, with Holden scoring seven points off the bench and Zed Key recording six points and five rebounds.

For Rutgers, Caleb McConnell had six points and Cam Spencer had five points.

To start the second half, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell was whistled for an early technical foul and the Buckeyes scored the first points of the half at the free throw line from Sean McNeil.

Rutgers big man Cliff Omoruyi also picked up an early third foul and had to go to the bench just one minute into the second half.

After the teams traded buckets, the Buckeyes got a third three-pointer from Sean McNeil to take a 33-32 lead.

Justice Sueing got a bucket to give the Buckeyes the lead back at 35-34, but two free throws from Cliff Omoruyi made it 36-35. Rutgers would take a 38-35 lead, but the Buckeyes answered with a 9-0 run and five straight points from Sensabaugh to make the score 44-38. Rutgers answered with a quick 5-0 run of their own and cut the Buckeyes' lead to just one with just over nine minutes left in the game.


Rutgers was able to get to the line at an efficient rate in the second half, shooting 14-for-14 from the free throw line in the first 14 minutes of the second half.

Bruce Thornton knocked down a floater in the lane for the Buckeyes to give them a 46-45 lead. Both teams continued to trade buckets and an offensive rebound and putback from Felix Okpara gave the Buckeyes a 53-52 lead with 5:10 left in the game


Two free throws from Sensabaugh gave the Buckeyes a 55-53 lead with just under four minutes remaining.

A Rutgers jumper tied the game at 55-55 at the under-4 media timeout.

A lob and dunk by Mulcahy to Omoruyi gave Rutgers a 57-55 lead and forced an Ohio State timeout with 1:44 left in the game.

Sensabaugh tied the game at 57 with 40 seconds left in the game and after two missed baskets by Sensabaugh and Spencer, we were treated to some free basketball.

Ohio State was 0-1 in overtime after a loss to North Carolina at Madison Square Garden and Rutgers had not played an overtime game yet.


To start overtime, Sean McNeil picked up his fifth foul and had to take a seat for the rest of the game. One free throw from Rutgers and an offensive rebound and putback from Key gave Ohio State a 59-58 lead.

Rutgers led 60-59 with 1:50 left in overtime when Brice Sensabaugh was fouled shooting a jumper. He made both and gave the Buckeyes a one-point lead. Sensabaugh also recorded his second career and second straight double-double.

Cliff Omoruyi gave Rutgers the lead after a layup on the other end.

Marwot Mag drilled a three-pointer for Rutgers after a Buckeyes miss to make the score 65-61. Justice Sueing missed a three-pointer for Ohio State to pretty much end it.

Rutgers won 68-64.

Ohio State was led by Brice Sensabaugh and Sean McNeil, who finished with 20 and 11 points, respectively. Zed Key also finished with 11 points. Sensabaugh added 10 rebounds.

Rutgers was led by Cam Spencer, who finished with 21 points. Marwot Mag added 14 points.

Sinking ship


The Buckeyes came into this one on a three-game losing streak and just 1-3 in the month of January. After starting 2-0 in the conference with wins over Rutgers and at Northwestern, The Buckeyes lost to Purdue, Maryland, and Minnesota, the last-place team in the conference, at home.

The Buckeyes lost by two to Purdue, by three to Minnesota, and held a halftime lead against Maryland.

Uniforms for the Buckeyes


The Buckeyes have worn a series of different uniforms this season, but this choice was one that was made intentionally. The Buckeyes wore their home white uniforms with the script “Buckeyes,” a kit they have only worn once this year.

They wore these uniforms against Rutgers in their first game and the decision to do it again this time around, even though they were on the road, was an intentional one, according to the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy.

Buckeye dominance


Even though Rutgers has been a pain to most Big Ten teams, the Buckeyes have had success against the Scarlet Knights. Ohio State is 11-4 against Rutgers all time, 7-0 at home and 4-2 at the RAC Center, which is pretty impressive considering it is one of the harder places to play.

Chris Holtmann came into this contest 7-2 against Rutgers.

New starting lineup


For the first time this season, the Buckeyes rolled out a starting lineup of Bruce Thornton, Isaac Likekele, Sean McNeil, Justice Sueing, and Felix Okpara. This was their fifth different starting lineup of the season and a lineup that has not been used since the Buckeyes' fifth game of the season when they played Texas Tech in the Maui Invitational.

Buckeyes leads at the half


Ohio State held a 23-20 lead at the half in what was a pretty bad first half if you like offense. The Buckeyes came into this one 10-3 when leading at the half this season and 1-1 in Sunday games.

Foul trouble


Cliff Omoruyi and Cam Spencer picked up two fouls in the first half for Rutgers, forcing the Scarlet Knights to play small ball and Zed Key to advantage, recording some easy baskets and rebounds down low.

Omoruyi also picked up his third foul immediately in the second half and had to sit on the bench up until just under 14 minutes remaining in the game.

For Ohio State, Zed Key and Sean McNeil picked up three fouls each early in the second half and Key picked up his fourth foul with seven minutes remaining in the contest.

First-half shooting struggles


It was not a pretty first half of basketball, as Ohio State led 23-20 and both teams shot the ball at under 30 percent from the field. The Buckeyes were just 8-for-31 from the field and 4-for-10 from three after starting 4-for-7. Rutgers was just 8-for-28 from the field in the first half and 2-for-11 from three-point range.

Tanner Holden enjoys playing Rutgers


It has been an adjustment for Wright State transfer Tanner Holden so far, as he went from a 20-point per game scorer at Wright State to a role player with the Buckeyes. However, against Rutgers so far this season, he hit the game-winning three in the first contest and led the Buckeyes in scoring in the first half in the second meeting with seven points. He would finish with seven points on 3-for-6 shooting.

Up Next:


Next for the Buckeyes in the Big Ten is a road date with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. The Buckeyes are 19-4 in 23 all-time meetings against Nebraska and are 8-1 at Nebraska.

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We’ll talk about this later: What do Stetson Bennett and Tommy Boy have in common?
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.

Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?

When Kirby Smart’s son came crying to the Georgia head coach after the Bulldogs won their second-straight national title last Monday, distraught that quarterback Stetson Bennett was going to leave the program, Smart’s response was the slap in the face we all needed:

“He’s 25 years old. He’s got to go. He’s got to leave.”


Yes, because Stetson Bennett was born in the same year as Lamar Jackson.


There’s nothing wrong with taking a little extra time to graduate, and who doesn’t love a good victory lap. But to quote Tommy Boy:

Tommy: You know a lot of people go to college for seven years.

Richard: I know, they’re called doctors.


We can make the obvious comparisons between Bennett and Tommy, or even Van Wilder, but the character he’s probably most akin to is Chloe from Pitch Perfect, who intentionally failed Russian lit three times to remain with the Barden Bellas.


Bennett, who first came to Georgia as a walk-on in 2017, kept coming back to Athens to remain with his beloved Bulldogs.

Anyway, kudos to Bennett for sticking around. But the coach said it best — he’s really got to go.

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Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Rutgers: Game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes will try and snap a three-game losing streak when they take on Rutgers this afternoon in New Jersey.

After a strong start to the new year with an easy win at Northwestern, Ohio State has fallen on hard times, losing three-straight games. Following a heartbreaking loss to Purdue last week, the Buckeyes lost at Maryland last Sunday, and on Thursday were upset by Minnesota, who were winless in Big Ten play entering the game.

Now Ohio State will have their work cut out for them if they want to end their losing streak, as they travel to New Jersey to take on Rutgers this afternoon.

Even though the Buckeyes got Zed Key back on the court on Thursday after he was injured a week before against Purdue, it wasn’t enough to propel Ohio State to victory against the Golden Gophers. Key came off the bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds in 30 minutes on the floor. Key was one of five Buckeyes to reach double figures in scoring in the loss.

Ohio State started slow on Thursday night, but were able to shake the cold start to the game off to go into the halftime break trailing Minnesota by just a bucket, 37-35. The Buckeyes couldn’t capitalize on the finish to the first half, finding themselves trailing the Golden Gophers 64-53 with just over five minutes left. Chris Holtmann’s team turned up the defensive pressure to close the game, not allowing Minnesota to hit a field goal in the final five minutes.

Brice Sensabaugh was able to tie the game at 67 when he hit two free throws with eight seconds to go. Unfortunately for Buckeye fans, Bruce Thornton committed a ‘foul’ with one second left in the game, which led to Ta’lon Cooper splitting a pair of free throws. Adding more salt to the wound, the Big Ten come out on Friday and said the foul wasn’t one that should have been called.

Leading Ohio Sate in scoring in the loss was Sensabaugh, who finished with 18 points. The freshman also had 10 rebounds, which earned the forward his first double-double as a Buckeye. Along with Sensabaugh and Key, Justice Sueing scored 13 points, Sean McNeil netted 11 points, and Thornton added 10 points. Sensabaugh is Ohio State’s leading scoring this season, averaging 16.8 points per game.

Preview


Ohio State and Rutgers met last month in Columbus, with the Buckeyes earning a thrilling 67-66 victory thanks to a Tanner Holden three-pointer at the buzzer — which was the first walkoff winner for Ohio State since Evan Turner hit a buzzer-beater against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. The first contest between these teams was tight, with the final 13 minutes seeing the score not greater than a one-possession game.

Rutgers led 65-62 with eight seconds left before Bruce Thornton hit two free throws to make it 65-64. The Scarlet Knights split a pair of free throws to go up 66-64 before Holden’s memorable game-winner. Zed Key led Ohio State with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Cliff Omoruyi finished with 16 points to lead Rutgers in the loss.

The Scarlet Knights are coming of a 65-62 win on Wednesday night at Northwestern. The victory gave Rutgers their sixth win in seven games, with the only loss during that span coming against Iowa. Rutgers looked to have the game in control, leading 52-43 with just seven minutes to go before the Wildcats reeled off a 10-0 to take the lead. The Scarlet Knights regrouped, and Cam Spencer hit what would be the game-winning three-pointer with 15 seconds left to give Rutgers a 63-62 lead. Spencer finished with a team-high 23 points.

Not only did Spencer lead Rutgers in scoring last game, he is averaging 13.5 points per game, just edging out Cliff Omoruyi, who is scoring 13.2 points per game. Spencer is also a threat on the defensive end, averaging 2.5 steals per game, which leads the Big Ten and is seventh in the country. The Scarlet Knights have one of the stingiest defenses in the country, with the 56.5 points per game they are allowing ranking fourth in the country.

Even though their history is rather brief, Ohio State holds an 11-4 edge in the all-time series with Rutgers. The gap has closed a bit recently, though. Not only was the first matchup this year decided by just a point, last year’s contest saw the Buckeyes fall 66-64 in New Jersey. Ohio State was in control of the game before the Scarlet Knights finished the contest on a 10-0. Over the last four years it has been extremely difficult for opponents to leave Jersey Mike’s Arena with a win, as Rutgers is 52-10 at home since the start of the 2019-20 season.

Leading the charge by the Scarlet Knights to national respectability has been Steve Pikiell, who is in the middle of his seventh season as head coach. After coming to the school from Stony Brook, Pikiell has amassed a 110-96 record. If the Scarlet Knights can earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament this year, it’ll mark the first time in school history Rutgers has made the tourney in three straight years. The last time the Scarlet Knights made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years prior to making the tournament last year was 1975-76.

A fun matchup down low is going to be Zed Key against Cliff Omoruyi. The first meeting between the teams saw Key and Omoruyi combine for 38 points and 22 rebounds. Omoruyi is pretty much automatic if he gets the ball close to the rim, as he is leading the Big Ten with 39 dunks this year. The junior from Rutgers will be looking to break a recent slump that has seen him fail to reach double figures in scoring in each of the last three games.

Three Rutgers players have started all 17 games this season, with the trio being Spencer, Omoruyi, and Mawot Mag. The other two spots in the starting lineup have been shuffled at times. Aundre Hyatt has been available for all 17 games, starting nine of those contests. Paul Mulcahy has played in 13 games, starting 11 of those contests, while Caleb McConnell has 11 starts in his 12 appearances. Mulcahy came off the bench in the first meeting with the Buckeyes, as it was his second game back after missing four games early in the year. In Wednesday’s game, Hyatt came off the bench for the Scarlet Knights.

Prediction


Sometimes Ohio State does their best work when their backs are against the wall. This would certainly be one of those times. The Buckeyes have to play with some urgency so they don’t fall even farther behind in the Big Ten standings. Trying to snap a losing streak isn’t exactly a position you want to be in when traveling to Rutgers, where the Scarlet Knights are so tough at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

One positive for the Buckeyes is they are starting to get a little healthier. Not only did Zed Key return after missing the Maryland game with a shoulder injury, Ohio State has been able to get more minutes from Issac Likekele and Eugene Brown III recently. Likekele missed about a month with a personal matter, while Brown was sidelined at the beginning of the season with concussion symptoms.

While Likekele and Brown won’t blow you away with their stats, they do a lot of the little things that the Buckeyes will need to do to earn some wins in the conference, as well as in March.

As great as it would to predict a Buckeye win here, Rutgers is a little too tough at home. This is going to be another game where both teams scratch and claw for everything. Unfortunately, this time the Scarlet Knights earn the victory.

Until Ohio State proves they can win on the road in tough Big Ten environments, it is going to be hard to trust this team. Chris Holtmann’s team fights hard, but like a number of other games this year, they fall just short.


ESPN BPI: Rutgers 66.5%
Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network

LGHL score prediction: Rutgers 66, Ohio State 62

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No. 3 Ohio State beats Nebraska 76-67
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

The Buckeyes never had a deficit, bending but never breaking to the Cornhuskers

The Ohio State women’s basketball team entered Saturday’s game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers following six days off from conference competition. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side took that time to improve on weaknesses and rest up for the rest of the Big Ten calendar. Ohio State took what they learned and beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska, beating Nebraska 76-67 and never having a deficit in the process.

Starting at the tip, the Buckeyes looked prepared for the challenge. Guard/forward Taylor Thierry took the jump instead of the usual Rebeka Mikulášiková going up for the first possession. The Buckeyes won the jump and went up 6-0 quickly.

Facilitating on those points was forward Cotie McMahon. The freshman looked up for the challenge of a tough Nebraska home environment. McMahon had two assists on the first three baskets, and had three total in the quarter, plus a block and a lot of intensity.

McMahon’s passing was crisp, finding open teammates as she went to the basket and drew in defenders, then sending it off to a teammate. The forward had no turnovers in the first quarter and only had one moment she’d like to have back. Center Alexis Markowski hit a layup in the paint over McMahon, but that just egged the freshman on.

In the following offensive possession, McMahon took the ball to the rim herself, through the defense, and hit the layup and a free throw after Markowski knocked the player over in the process.

Unfortunately for the Scarlet & Gray, the forward had to go to the bench following a fall on defense. Going up against forward Isabelle Bourne, backing into the Nebraska player, Bourne abandoned the spot in the paint and McMahon fell, turning her ankle in the process.

Even so, Ohio State played a strong quarter. Guard Taylor Mikesell hit two threes, and Mikulášiková added one of her own and the Buckeyes were up 25-12 after 10 minutes.

McMahon didn’t return in the second quarter immediately, after getting checked out on the bench. It didn’t slow down the Buckeyes. Ohio State outscored Nebraska 9-7 through a confident Mikulášiková.

By the halfway point of the second quarter, the Slovakian had nine points and five rebounds. After a few tough outings, where the forward looked frustrated, she was a different player on Saturday. Mikulášiková played like she did to start the season: Making moves in the paint, hitting impressive layups and hitting shots despite the 21/22 Freshman of the Year Markowski being her shadow.

The post belonged to Mikulášiková the entire first half, scoring a then-game high 13 points. However, Nebraska wasn’t totally out of the conversation.

Out of the second quarter media timeout, the Cornhuskers were down 17 points. Nebraska outscored the Buckeyes 13-6 to end the second quarter, led by nine by Markowski. Although the center started the game slowly, Markowski found space and shots in the second quarter.

Everything was working for the Nebraska native. On a Buckeyes defensive possession, it looked destined for a Nebraska shot clock violation. At the final moment, with a player in her face, Markowski took an awkward two-handed shot and it went in as smooth as a wide open look.

That basket cut the Scarlet & Gray’s lead to 10 entering halftime, with Ohio State up 42-32.

The second half is usually good to the Buckeyes, but thats when the Scarlet & Gray are either down or playing a tough first half. Up 10 points, the Buckeyes came out and Nebraska didn’t get that same intensity they had in the first half. The Cornhuskers adjusted to Ohio State and put up a fight of their own.

Nebraska scored the first six points of the second half. The Buckeyes continued to try and let Mikulášiková score in the paint but Nebraska adjusted, double and triple-teaming the big. The Cornhuskers cut Ohio State’s lead to three and forced a timeout by the visitors.

Coach McGuff’s side hit two threes out of the timeout, but Nebraska wasn’t letting them turn into scoring runs. Also, the Buckeyes helped the Cornhuskers with fouls. After not getting to the free throw line once in the first half, Nebraska hit 5-for-6 free shots halfway through the third quarter.

That also put McMahon in foul trouble with three early in the third quarter plus substitute guard Hevynne Bristow earning four on top of three turnovers. It meant Ohio State needed to go further into their bench to try and hold off Big Red.

Ohio State didn’t allow their lead to go down any further in the third quarter, despite Nebraska’s best chances. When the Cornhuskers hit a shot, the Buckeyes responded. Even as McMahon picked up a fourth foul, forcing a trip to the bench, everyone had a moment to push the lead back to double-digits.

Mikulášiková did it by moving back to a shooter role, instead of attacking the paint. The Slovakian went 3-for-4 shooting, plus making her only three attempt, leading Ohio State with nine points in the third quarter.

Guards Rikki Harris and Thierry added layups that quieted the home Nebraska crowd, and even though Mikesell was quiet in the third, missing both shot attempts, the Buckeyes increased their lead back up to 12 points going into the fourth quarter.

Nebraska’s momentum slowed towards the end of the third quarter, but lost it in the fourth. Early in the quarter, Bristow returned to the court and made a game-changing block. With guard Maddie Krull beating the guard, going to the basket, Bristow used her wingspan to stop the shot and then get the ball and turn it into points.

That play put Ohio State up 15 points and the rest of the way was managing the lead. There weren’t big runs to expand it but smaller bouts of scoring that Nebraska couldn’t replicate.

Ohio State returns to Columbus 18-0, defeating the Cornhuskers 76-67

Mikulášiková’s Confidence Returns


After averaging 19.8 points in the first eight games, with every game ending in a Mikulášiková double-digit scoring performance, the forward dropped off a bit. Her points per game average shrunk to 13.8, with only two double-digit games in the subsequent nine games.

In those games, the forward lacked confidence and seemed down on herself for not keeping up that intense play that she didn’t have until this season. On Saturday, the early season Mikulášiková returned.

The forward hit shots in the paint when Nebraska went one-on-one. When Nebraska shifted to a stronger paint presence, she stepped back to make longer distance shots. Mikulášiková led the Buckeyes on the day with 25 points and was the reason the Buckeyes are still undefeated.

Winning Without Turnovers


In all but one game this season, Ohio State’s had the ability to turn teams over at least 20 times per game. Against Nebraska, the Buckeyes won without all the steals and forced turnovers, which is a plus.

Ohio State’s usually plays the math game, knowing that if they had more possessions than the other team, they’d have a good chance to win. Even without the turnovers, the Buckeyes used their half court defense and forced bad shots by Nebraska.

In fact, Nebraska outscored Ohio State in points off turnovers, a rarity for the Buckeyes.

What’s Next


Ohio State returns home for two matches at the Schottenstein Center. The first comes Thursday, against the Northwestern Wildcats for the last game between the two teams in the 22/23 regular season. Ohio State took the first game 81-48.

Then, on Monday, Jan. 23, the first of two ranked match-ups in a week, starting with the No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes. It’s one of three marquee home games for the Scarlet & Gray remaining this regular season, and a matchup between the two co-champions of last season’s Big Ten regular season title.

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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ben Johnson, Chris Holtmann, Ohio State players discuss Minnesota’s upset win
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chris Holtmann was a man of few words following the worst loss during his tenure at Ohio State.

Throughout the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


Following Ohio State’s worst regular-season loss in over six years, we spoke to Minnesota head coach Ben Johnson, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann, plus Buckeyes Isaac Likekele and Sean McNeil in the post-game press conference.

Johnson gave Ohio State credit for being a “tough, gritty team” that knows how to make tough shots. He praised his team’s play lately, and told them that if they continued to play the way they have been, the wins and losses will work themselves out.

Neither Likekele or McNeil had much to say, repeatedly describing Ohio State’s mistakes as “fixable” and saying they need to get back to work on Friday to fix them. McNeil mentioned that he felt the Buckeyes didn’t play with nearly enough energy, “Like we didn’t want to be out there.”

Holtmann had his shortest post-game interview of the season, by far. He said that aside from the fight his team showed in the final minute, there were no positives to take from this game. He also said that if guys didn’t show up with energy or weren’t ready to play, that was something he would need to address.


Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

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No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Nebraska: Game preview and prediction
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers face off in a game of one team exceeding expectations and another having trouble meeting them.

Saturday afternoon is another interesting matchup within the Big Ten. This time, it isn’t the No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball team against another program at the top of the standings. On paper, its Ohio State versus an unranked Nebraska Cornhuskers team, but looks may be deceiving.

It’s a game between exceeding and failing to meet expectations, but for Nebraska there won’t be better motivation to get on the right track than a trip west to take on Ohio State.

Preview


Last season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers won their first 12 games, becoming the surprise team in the Big Ten before conference play got going. While that undefeated clip didn't last, Big Red improved on their 2020-21 season record of 13-13, and matched records with the Indiana Hoosiers who were at one point a top contender to win the regular season B1G title.

That strong play never got Nebraska onto the AP Top 25, but that changed this season. The Cornhuskers began the season at No. 22, and weren’t able to hide under the radar anymore. What’s followed is a year that’s been interesting for Nebraska.

After playing two smaller non-conference teams, the Cornhuskers began to slip. Against the No. 20 Creighton Blue Jays, Nebraska fell by 26 points, and four days later lost to the Drake Bulldogs, 62-80.

Since their fall, it’s been inconsistent for head coach Amy Williams’ team. On one game day, the Cornhuskers are losing by over 30 points to the Virginia Tech Hokies, and days later beating a ranked Maryland Terrapins team away from home. Then, last week Nebraska lost to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and scored just 45 points in the defeat.

While Ohio State has a tough quarter or two on occasion and finds a way to bounce back, Big Red goes cold some nights and hot on another. Which side will the Buckeyes see on Saturday?

Nebraska’s led by Australian international guard Jaz Shelley and 2021-22 Freshman of the Year, forward Alexis Markowski. Shelley leads the team in scoring with 14 points per game, and her 112 assists are best for third in the conference.

Shelley is dangerous in the half court. The guard can look off defenders and send a no-look pass or make moves to get past defenders herself. It’ll be a challenge for Buckeyes point guard Rikki Harris to go one-on-one with Shelley.

Last season against the Buckeyes, Shelley scored 14 points and had five assists in a 70-80 defeat. What bodes well for Ohio State entering Saturday is Shelley’s form’s dipped slightly. In the last three games, the guard has 15 combined points. In that was a zero point performance in their loss to the Scarlet Knights.

Opposite the talented guard is Markowski, Nebraska’s center from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Markowski did to the Buckeyes last year what many bigs have done over the past two seasons. In only 23 minutes, Markowski scored 24 points and grabbed 15 boards in the Cornhuskers defeat. If not for getting into foul trouble, it might have been more. Markowski exposed the Buckeyes lack of interior presence as a freshman, and she’s getting better.

She’s a center who goes strong inside the paint, but has enough touch to shoot from deep. So far this season, Markowski already has 15, compared to 21 all of last season. Also, in her sophomore year, she’s improving in her rebounding grabbing 1.4 more per game than last season.

Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jaz Shelley (left) and Alexis Markowski (right) are a formidable duo when they’re hitting their shots

This season, the Scarlet & Gray haven’t done well against bigs, so Markowski and Big Red carry that as a distinct advantage. Another positive for Nebraska is playing on their home court — a formidable college atmosphere.

“Tough place to win,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “They have a great fan base so we know that it will be a really difficult game for us.”

Overcome the crowd noise, like the Buckeyes did in Louisville, and the sixth player of the home audience could be negated. Nebraska used it to their advantage on Wednesday, when they welcomed the Penn State Nittany Lions to Cornhusker country.

The Nittany Lions pressed the Cornhuskers — similar but not as intense as the Buckeyes’ press — but Penn State missed shots because of good Nebraska defense. The Cornhuskers got through the press and won 80-51. Is now the time the home side finds that needed consistency and move an impressive conference win’s momentum into the weekend?

Projected Starters

Lineup Notes

• Guard Rikki Harris is averaging 5.4 assists per game since stepping into the point guard role on Dec. 21.
• Guard Taylor Mikesell is 46 points away from 2,000 points scored in her NCAA career.
• Ohio State is 3-4 against the Cornhuskers in Lincoln.

Lineup Notes

• Markowski’s 9.4 rebounds is second in the conference behind Illinois’ Kendall Bostic.
• Nebraska is another tough defensive opponent for Ohio State, sitting second in the conference with 60.6 points allowed per game.
• Center Maggie Mendelson is a 6-foot-5 17-year-old dual sport athlete. The Utah native finished her freshman season with Nebraska volleyball before joining the Cornhuskers in the last six games.

Prediction


The rest is going to help the Buckeyes for Saturday’s game. The bye week didn’t bring back guard Jacy Sheldon from her foot injury, but small knocks had a chance to heal for the remaining players on the bench, and gave the Scarlet & Gray time to work on the intensity needed to sustain their play throughout 40 minutes.

Nebraska will start the game off strong, feeding off the crowd, but not have the same luck stopping the Buckeyes as they did the Maryland Terrapins to start Big Ten play.

Ohio State’s press will kick in during the second quarter and force turnovers, turning them into points.

How to Watch


Date: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Pinnacle Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
Television: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fox Sports with a Big Ten Network subscription

LGHL Prediction: 83-71 Ohio State Buckeyes

Big Ten Homestand


After Saturday’s game, the Buckeyes return to Columbus for their first homestand of the Big Ten calendar. Up first are the Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday, Jan. 19, but eyes are all on Monday, Jan. 23. That’s when guard Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes come to Ohio State for a main event-like game and atmosphere.

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Cotie McMahon’s rare trait helping propel the No. 3 Ohio State women’s basketball
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

When the Buckeyes needed help, the freshman stepped in.

Motivation is a tricky thing. For NCAA athletes, it isn’t too tough to come by, especially at a school like Ohio State, who’s athletic’s department rivals any other school in the country.

Coaches push motivation, rivalries amplify it and players find it on their own. For the Ohio State women’s basketball team, freshman forward Cotie McMahon is using it in a way that’s helped put the Buckeyes in position for their best season in team history.

For a program that dates back to the mid-1960s (1899 if you look back to student-organized teams), no team has done what the current Buckeyes are doing right now. The Scarlet & Gray are 17-0, ranked third in the nation and, frankly, it doesn’t make sense.

Without their two starting point guards, the Buckeyes were in a tough place. Jacy Sheldon’s foot injury has left her off the court since Nov. 30, and Madison Greene’s season-ending knee injury on Dec. 20 forced a wedge in the roster. Enter McMahon.

“With Madison (Greene) being out and Jacy (Sheldon), I just felt like T.Mike (Taylor Mikesell) can’t do it all by herself,” said McMahon. “She’s a huge part of our scoring aspects, so I felt like it’d be the perfect opportunity for me to gain confidence and kind of step in and do what I’m capable of doing.”

This motivation to step into the second scorer role didn’t come from a coach’s order. It came from McMahon.

Since the start of December, McMahon has averaged 16.3 points per game, including a 30-point game against the USF Bulls where Ohio State desperately needed offense, coming back from an 18-point first-half deficit to win in overtime, off a McMahon assist in the final 15 seconds of the game.

Sunday, when Ohio State was down 17 points to the Illinois Fighting Illini, McMahon went on a solo seven-point run to cut the lead down to 10 points. It took less than a minute of the clock draining off the scoreboard. Behind those performances is a unique trait for a freshman.

“Her effort and intensity is kind of rare for somebody that young,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “It usually takes people a while to kind of build those habits but that’s been a big part of her progress is how hard she plays and how hard she practices.”

McMahon represents the type of team that McGuff is building. Its not one that features top-10 ranked high school stars, although McMahon was in ESPN’s top-25 for the 2022 graduating class. The team features players who play fast but also fit the family-like environment McGuff and his coaches are trying to build.

The forward is playing hard and exudes a personality that fits the unique chemistry of the Ohio State Buckeyes. McMahon speaks her mind and sticks up for her teammates. Take for instance the trip to San Diego, potentially playing the Oregon Ducks, the former team of Mikesell, in the second game.

Instead of the cleaned up athlete response, McMahon went with the truth, saying they wanted Oregon and that they wanted it for Mikesell. Ohio State ended up beating then No. 16 Oregon 84-67, with Mikesell scoring 25 points. Now, McMahon’s impact is alongside Mikesell’s. An impact with scoring, intensity and the ability to turn the game on a dime.

“The team expects that out of me,” said McMahon. “So I just gotta do it.”

Ohio State needs the play of McMahon to continue, especially with Sheldon still out, but there might be a silver lining through the injury.

The Buckeyes are winning and McMahon is improving while Sheldon is away, which can reap benefits as tournament time approaches. If McMahon’s maturation as an NCAA player continues at its current rate and Sheldon returns to play like she did before her injury, It makes an already dangerous Buckeyes team downright scary.

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Three Thoughts on the 2023 early enrollee position groups
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State may receive an early influx of talent from specific groups.

As difficult as it may seem for some people, Ohio State has already welcomed in 11 of the 20 recruits that were signed in December 2022. These players will get the benefit of participating in the winter workouts, spring practices and the Ohio State Spring Game.

I realize that I wrote about three specific early enrollees back in December, and I was mistaken about Kayden McDonald. McDonald was not listed by Ohio State in its press release as an early enrollee.

Below are Three Thoughts on the 2023 early enrollee position groups, as there are specific units that may have opportunities to contribute sooner than others for the 2023 season.

1. The Secondary

Cornerback Jermaine Matthews is one of the players I did identify as a possible early contributor in my December article. Another player who enrolled early who may also be able to contribute in 2023 is classmate Malik Hartford, who is listed as a safety.

Both players, as well as incoming Syracuse transfer safety Ja’Had Carter, will have ample opportunities to rise up on the depth chart. The Ohio State secondary is in a state of flux, and with starting roles available, could see themselves in the two-deep, provided they seize the chances given them during the winter and spring sessions.

2. The Wide Receivers

Talk about the rich getting richer. Ohio State passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline pulled in another group of talented wide receivers. Noah Rogers, Bryson Rodgers, and Carnell Tate are early enrollees.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming are all set to return in 2023. While there are other talented wide receivers on the roster, the opportunities for these three wide receivers is there to position themselves into the playing rotation, as Hartline has shown a willingness to play young pass-catchers, provided they have demonstrated that they are ready.

3. Offensive Line

Three offensive linemen, all from the state of Ohio, have enrolled early. Luke Montgomery, Josh Padilla, and Austin Siereveld are all ready to begin competing for spots on the two-deep depth chart, under the watchful eye of Ohio State associate head coach for offense/offensive line coach Justin Frye.

Realistically, this position group has the furthest to go for possibly playing extensive minutes in 2023. Traditionally, Ohio State prefers to redshirt their offensive linemen, giving them opportunities to get stronger and better acclimated to the college game. On the other hand, with the departures of offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, and Luke Wypler to the NFL, there may be an opening for these offensive linemen to make a move on the depth chart.

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CMic said:

Guessing Teddy wouldn't be in favor of the current targeting or roughing rules.
Oh well, thanks to Teddy for saving football.

Click to expand...

Maybe not. From what I have read in bits of his autobiography, he was somewhat progressive for the time in certain ways imo. Maybe the CTE science might’ve swayed him towards it.

I am confident that he would not have been a fan of the inconsistent way in which the targeting rules are enforced. Of that, I am nearly certain.

You’re Nuts: Which former Ohio State men’s basketball player should’ve stayed one more year?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Alexa, play “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash.

To be honest, the sky is falling for the Ohio State men’s basketball team right now. They have lost three in a row to Purdue, Maryland and now Minnesota, and they have to fix things fast if they want to stop this train from derailing — if it has not already.

But, in this week’s iteration of ‘You’re Nuts’, we will avoid talking about that, and instead do some NBA Draft talk and debate which former Ohio State men’s basketball player should’ve stayed one more year.

To recap, last week we debated whether or not we thought Ohio State freshman Brice Sensabaugh was a sure fire one-and-done player for the Buckeyes.


With the overwhelming majority of the vote at 77 percent, Connor won with him saying that yes, Sensabaugh is gone. Justin got the other 23 percent of the vote by saying not so fast my friend (he probably is gone though).



Here are the updated standings after 83 of these things.

After 83 weeks:

Justin- 36
Connor- 34
Other- 9

(There have been four ties)


So now, let’s jump into this week’s topic.

This week’s question: Which former Ohio State men’s basketball player should’ve stayed one more year?

Connor: LaQuinton Ross

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State has a handful of players selected in the NBA Draft over the past decade — six, to be exact. They’ve also had a handful of players enter the NBA Draft and not be selected over the past decade — five, to be exact. Everyone always has an opinion on whether a player should return for another year of college basketball when they leave early, but it’s typically tough to tell if it was actually the wrong decision until the following year.

Early departures can sometimes look bad for a program, but ultimately open up a role for a younger player to snatch up and thrive in that wouldn’t have happened if the older player had stayed.

While this prompt isn’t limited to the last decade, I chose LaQuinton Ross, who played at Ohio State from 2011-2014. During his three seasons, he averaged 10.6 points and 4 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.2% overall and 36.4% from three. As a junior, he averaged 15.2 PPG, 5.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game for an Ohio State team that went 25-10 overall, 10-8 in Big Ten play, and ultimately lost to Dayton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (yup, that team).

That Ohio State team was offensively challenged — to put it lightly — and Ross was the leading scorer by a wide margin. He was thrust into the role of go-to guy a year before he was probably ready to be the go-to guy, and, in my opinion, also entered the draft one year too early.

The following year’s team was anchored by the future No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, D’Angelo Russell. However, Russell’s next-best offensive options were Sam Thompson and a sophomore Marc Loving — not the deepest roster in Ohio State history.

The 2014-15 Buckeyes went 24-11 overall, 11-7 in the Big Ten, and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Arizona, 73-58. Russell was held to nine points on 3-19 shooting. Ohio State’s lack of quality options were glaring against the Wildcats, and having a senior Ross there would have been a huge asset if he didn’t declare for the 2014 NBA Draft and go undrafted.

Would he have been drafted the following year? I’m not sure, but he also didn’t go as a junior.

Justin: Daequan Cook

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Daequan Cook is a name that will forever live in Ohio State basketball lore for helping the Buckeyes get to a national championship in 2006-07, but is a guy that probably should have stayed in Columbus for a little bit longer for his sake.

If you are reading this and do not know who Cook is or just don’t remember, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

Cooks was apart of the famed “Thad Five” of the 2006 freshman class, alongside Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Othello Hunter and David Lighty. One of the best recruiting classes in the country and in the history of the program, and Cook was a big part of that.

Oden was the crown jewel of the class as the top recruit in the country, but Cook was also a five-star prospect. He was the No. 14 overall player and No. 2 shooting guard in the nation coming out of Dunbar High School in Dayton.

Cook was solid in his freshman season for the Buckeyes, but at times was overshadowed by the dynamic duo of Oden and Conley. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and one assist per game in just under 20 minutes per contest off the bench. He played in all of the Buckeyes 39 games and started in one.

Along with Oden and Conley, Cook declared for the NBA Draft after the season, and he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 21st pick. Cook played his first three seasons with the Miami Heat.

Cook had a decent NBA career, playing for seven seasons with four different teams. He also enjoyed seven seasons of overseas professional basketball success.

The main reason I think he would have benefitted in coming back to school is he would have been their top or second go-to scorer the next season. The Buckeyes lost Oden, Conley, and Ron Lewis the previous season and only had two double-digit scorers on the team in 2007-08 in Jamar Butler and freshman Kosta Koufas. Cook would have been a 30 minute plus per game a night guy and with his scoring prowess, easily could have averaged 15-17 points and shown he can be the go-to scorer on a Big Ten team.

He could have been a lottery pick the following season but more importantly, been able to polish and sharpen his offensive toolbox a little bit more to prepare for the league.

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HenryMuto said:

Not my week Kentucky (I know no one here cares) loses at home to the worst SEC at home quad 4 loss to NET 263 team and now Ohio State loses to worst Big 10 team at home quad 4 loss to NET 241 team.

Not my year.

Click to expand...

then why do you post it?

Column: Smacking the panic button on the Ohio State men’s basketball team
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

After you lose to Minnesota at home, all options should be on the table.

In college basketball, a “bad loss” is one that a team needed to win, no ifs, ands, or buts. A “bad loss” does not typically refer to the way a team loses, because you can point out a bad loss before it happens. “If team A beats team B tomorrow night, that would be a very bad loss for them.”

When you’re considerably better than another team, your only option is to beat them. Anything less is, you guessed it, a bad loss.

The Ohio State men’s basketball team (10-6, 2-3) suffered a bad loss this past weekend on the road at Maryland. It was only by seven points on the road, but the Terrapins (11-5, 2-3) have tumbled from their early season perch. Kevin Willard’s first Maryland team looks like an NCAA Tournament bubble team, or perhaps an NIT candidate. They’re not horrid, but they are a team this Ohio State team needed to handle on the road.

They did not. Bad loss.

Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports

And then on Thursday night, the Buckeyes welcomed the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-8, 1-4) to Columbus. Minnesota was the easiest remaining game on Ohio State’s schedule — the Gophers' best win was over California Baptist and their worst loss was to Nebraska at home just a few days ago. Minnesota had yet to taste victory in the Big Ten before Thursday, losing to Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska so far. After a 70-67 victory over the Buckeyes last night, they’re officially on the board — and Ohio State is spiraling.

That’s two bad losses.


The short-term repercussions of these two losses are obviously how they impact the Buckeyes’ chances of winning their first Big Ten title in 12 years. At 2-3, they’re now two games behind first-place Purdue with 15 to play. Last season’s conference champion went 15-5. To match that, Ohio State would need to win 13 of their final 15 games, which includes road trips to West Lafayette, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Bloomington, and Piscataway.

But the long-term impacts of losing a game to Minnesota are much more damning. Losing to a team as poor as Minnesota (No. 174 KenPom, No. 245 RPI, No. 241 NET) will single-handedly drop Ohio State a seed line (or two) in the NCAA Tournament. If the Buckeyes go on an incredible run and finish in the top two or three in the Big Ten — which seems unlikely now, but mathematically still very possible — they will still be seeded lower than where you’d typically expect the Big Ten runner-up to be. Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament resume has shackles around its ankles from this point on. There’s no overlooking that egregious loss because that loss is not going to sweeten with time — Minnesota is one of the worst Big Ten teams of the past decade.

But let’s stop talking about NCAA Tournament seeding. At this point, even making the tournament is no longer a given for this defensively-inept Ohio State team.

As has been the case for most of Chris Holtmann’s teams, this year’s squad typically gets it done on offense. They were the most efficient offensive team in the nation on Thursday afternoon, and even after the debacle we saw a few hours later, they’re still the third-most efficient team on offense in the country, averaging 1.18 points per offensive possession.

Defensively... it’s a whole different story. Not only is Ohio State a poor defensive team, but there are also times when it looks like they’re regressing on that end of the floor. What good is being a great offensive team when you’re giving it up at the other end immediately after? What good is being a great offensive team if you can’t stop your opponent from grabbing their own misses and scoring right over the top of you? What is the point of being a great offensive team if you’re incapable of getting two defensive stops in a row, and therefore building any kind of lead?


The puzzle pieces Chris Holtmann and his staff have are the ones they have to fiddle with for the next eight weeks. The way they’re currently configured isn’t leading to the best results, so it may be time to push the puzzle on the ground and start putting it together differently. Namely, the freshmen.

Brice Sensabaugh is going to be a first-round NBA Draftee in a few months, but it’s not due to his defense. While Sensabaugh has been opening eyes with his creativity on the offensive end, Holtmann has been unable to hide him on defense. It’s not like baseball, you can’t stick your worst player in rightfield and hope to hide him out there — when Brice is on the floor, he is a target. We saw it against Maryland over the weekend, and we saw it against Minnesota — when he is on the floor, teams are attacking him. NBA scouts may not care, but that matters in college.

Bruce Thornton is going to go down as one of the great point guards in Ohio State history when all is said and done — I truly believe that. The poise and level-headedness he has shown to this point have been something else. He has not played “like a freshman” this season.... until the last few games. Over the last four games, Thornton is averaging 7.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 turnovers per game. He’s shooting 30.3% overall during that stretch — which Ohio State has lost three of four — and is playing 28.4 minutes per game. Holtmann talked about it last year with Malaki Branham — the freshman wall. Branham never hit it. Thornton seems to be running into it right now, and he may need a brief reset.

Meanwhile, there are veterans on this team right now who could — and should — slide in and relieve the aforementioned freshmen of some of those heavy minutes. Isaac Likekele — while not a scorer, has a 13:3 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last five games. The full-court press does not seem to phase him. Handsy guards who are hoping to get away with contact don’t seem to phase him. Sometimes layups phase him a little bit, but at least he’s steady with the rock.

Tanner Holden has scored over 1,500 points in his collegiate career and became the bona fide “sixth man” when Likekele stepped away from the team for a few weeks. Holden is shooting 50% overall thus far and 50% from three-point range. He’s also shown that he can — at the very least — hold his own defensively, for the most part, which is something Sensabaugh struggles with at times. Feel free to throw Gene Brown in as well — at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, he is Ohio State’s most versatile piece to move around defensively. He’s a puzzle piece you can slot in nearly anywhere.


The bottom line is this: Ohio State plays four of its next five games on the road. As losers of three consecutive games — including to one team ranked lower than Vermont — the coaching staff cannot run out the same lineup, same game plan, and use the same answers after another loss. It’s time to mix it up. Allow the transfer portal additions that you added over the off-season to make an impact and let your star-studded freshman class become a star-studded second line if that’s what is necessary.

Perhaps something like this for the Rutgers game:

G - Isaac Likekele
G - Sean McNeil
F - Tanner Holden
F - Justice Sueing
F - Zed Key

The season isn’t over. In fact, it’s just getting started. The ship has by no means sunk, but the panic button is on the desk as we speak — and it is being smacked to smithereens.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for January 13, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

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On the Gridiron


Buckeyes linebacker Tommy Eichenberg to return for fifth season
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

What Tommy Eichenberg decision to return means for Buckeyes (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

I wonder who will be throwing to these two guys next season:


Column: One word explains why C.J. Stroud hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft yet
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

NFL Draft decisions already shaping Buckeyes plans for next season
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Column: Looking at the importance of Ohio State’s key draft decisions
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Dropped from as high as No. 2 late in the season, but still promising about even more defensive changes to come:


Once he’s healthy, Henderson wants to show he’s best RB in the country
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Does Ohio State have an offensive line problem heading into the offseason?
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State has to find the right motivation to get back to the top in 2023
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

On the Hardwood


Ohio State men continue to spiral, falling to Minnesota at home 70-67
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State loses to Big Ten bottom-feeder Minnesota at home
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


Three Points as Buckeyes fall at home to hapless Minnesota (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

What happened to Ohio State after taking the lead against Minnesota?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Minnesota upsets Ohio State: Controversial foul call in final second helps Gophers earn first Big Ten win
Raymond Lucas Jr., 247Sports

Buckeyes Made too Many Mistakes to Blame Minnesota Loss on Controversial Foul Call: “It Was Our Worst Offensive Game of the Year”
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Very cool!


Ranking the top five comebacks of the Ohio State women’s basketball 2022-23 season
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: Kayla Fischer Selected 16th Overall in NWSL Draft
Ohio State Athletics

Congrats, Cap!

And now for something completely different...


Little something to lighten the mood after the basketball game last night.


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Column: One word explains why C.J. Stroud hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft yet
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Will C.J. come back to Columbus in 2023? I have no idea, but if he does, there really can only be one explanation.

Look, I’m not here to get anyone’s hopes up unnecessarily, but what started out as a possibility the size of an ant has grown to be a gigantic elephant in the room when discussing the ever-evolving Ohio State football roster for the 2023 season. We know that Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Luke Wypler are all heading to the NFL, but the one guy that seemed like the biggest slam dunk of all to forgo his remaining eligibility has thus far remained as silent as a mouse, to continue to animal allusions.

Now, I am historically on the side of individuals making the right decisions for themselves, even when their decisions do not line up with the ones I would make were I in their shoes. Take the aforementioned elephant, Ohio State’s two-time Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud. If I were currently being projected to be AT WORST the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft, as much as I bleed scarlet and gray and love the institution of higher education on the banks of the Olentangy with every fiber of my being, there would not be a team of wild horses strong enough that could keep me from making my desire to be a pro known to anyone and everyone; especially NFL GMs.

Apparently, that is just one of many differences between C.J. Stroud and me, because clearly, he has more than money on his mind. College players have until Monday, Jan. 16 to make their intentions known and officially declare for the draft; at this point roughly one hundred underclassmen have already publicly entered the draft process, not counting the seniors who still had redshirt or COVID eligibility remaining. But why hasn’t Stroud, who is projected to be the first or second quarterback taken? If the current mock drafts are correct (and they rarely are at this point) and Stroud sticks in the top four, he would be locked into no less than a projected $36.7 million over his four-year rookie contract, including a roughly $24 million signing bonus. Why in the world has C.J. not posted a sentimental graphic thanking Buckeye Nation for the best three years of his life, but telling us that he’s leaving Columbus to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a professional football player?

Well, if I had to guess, it’s because of pride; and not the “goeth before the fall” type, but rather the type where someone places tremendous value in their name and legacy and the mark that they leave on the things, people, and places that mean the most to them. The type that would be hurt knowing that — even though he was a two-time Heisman finalist and climbed to the upper echelons in the record books of one of the most storied college football programs in the country — he was 0-2 against his rival, won zero Big Ten titles, and never raised a national championship trophy.

From where I am sitting — admittedly a bazillion metaphorical miles away — that’s the only reason that I can imagine that could cause Stroud to hesitate to make his NFL declaration. We have seen countless players over the years who love Ohio State, treasure their time in the program, and hold the brotherhood close to their hearts opt to head to the NFL early; so something has to be making him hesitate other than just the good vibes that being a Buckeye can bring, right? Pride and legacy might just be the answer.

Also, despite all of the complaints surrounding Ohio State’s standing in the Great NIL War of 2023, the risks associated with delaying the millions of dollars that an NFL contract would inevitably bring might be mitigated to some degree by Stroud’s ability to make millions of dollars while still being a college player. Obviously promoting car dealerships, semi-shady collectives, and other various businesses from across Central Ohio won’t equal what an NFL signing bonus would be, but would it be enough to make staying in Columbus worth it? That’s something that only C.J. can decide for himself.

There is obviously tremendous risk in not jumping to the NFL at this point for Stroud; not only are there the obvious injury concerns that could befall any player at any level at any time, but as eye-popping as an NFL contract is, you know what is even more life-changing? An established, starting quarterback’s second NFL contract, and the only way to get to your second contract is to start playing under your first.

I’ve already told you that if I were in Stroud’s position, I would have already declared, signed with Drew Rosenhaus or Rich Paul, and moved into a beach house in southern California to train for the combine; but I am not C.J. Stroud and C.J. Stroud is not me. He is a deeply religious young man and, clearly, there are things weighing on his heart far more heavily than the pursuit of money.

If the two-time reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year returns for a fourth season as a Buckeye, Ohio State would immediately become the national championship favorite, as no other contender (unless you count USC as a contender) would be returning a Heisman-level starting quarterback. So, of course, as a fan, I would love to see No. 7 run it back one more time. But as a dispassionate observer, I might think Stroud foolish for not getting while the getting’s good.

C.J. Stroud is going to be paid to play football in 2023 (either directly or indirectly) one way or the other, so the true question that the quarterback has to answer is, “Are the zeros at the end of the check enough to erase the heartache caused by leaving so many goals unfulfilled in Columbus?”

Only Stroud can answer that question for himself, but whatever he does eventually decide will undoubtedly be the right decision for him.

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Buck Off Podcast: The End of Year Award Show and Tommy Eichenberg is back
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chris and Jordan wrap up the 2022 season with their end of season award show.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to host our end of season award show highlighting some of the best moments from the 2022 season.

We start the episode with a discussion about Tommy Eichenberg’s big decision to return to Ohio State, and how that is beneficial for the Buckeyes heading into year two of Jim Knowles’ defense. We also discuss why having a talented player returning far outweighs potential from other guys that has not been seen in game action yet.

Then we get into Kevin Warren’s decision to leave his role as Big Ten Commissioner to be the president of the Chicago Bears. Our talk dives into the impact Warren had on the Big Ten, and why his tenure was a resounding success.

After the news and notes, we get into our end of season award show, looking at the best and worst from 2022.

In the first half, we get into the worst from the 2022 Ohio State season. This includes the most painful moment and the player we will not miss who left for whatever reason. Then we discuss our worst takes, as well as some of our favorites we saw this season.

Once we get through our Razzies, we get into our Oscars. We discuss the team MVP, the team MVP not named C.J. Stroud, and our favorite moments of the year, among a few others. During it all, our normal tangents come into play, so if you expect structure, you’ll be disappointed.

Then, to close out the show, we give our best takes from the season. And we wanted to say thank you to all who have listened this season, interacted with us, and made another year covering Ohio State so fun.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Buckeyes offer in-state 2024 running back, a former commit enters the portal
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Sam Williams-Dixon | 247Sports

Ohio State sends out latest offer to an in-state 2024 running back target.

In-state running back grabs Ohio State offer


Without a running back being signed in the 2023 class, the Buckeyes are still in solid shape thanks to their depth. Players like Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, Dallan Hayden, and even Evan Pryor all remain in the running back room, which has certainly softened the blow.

While the roster is fine for the coming season, position coach Tony Alford knows the 2024 class can’t go like 2023. At least one running back will be needed, and there’s talk that the Buckeyes could look to even bring in two guys in this next cycle with the departures that very well may happen after next season. At any rate, work needs to be done.

Right off the bat, the Buckeyes have already offered a solid number of players at the position in this 2024 cycle, and their own back yard of in-state players is a fertile recruiting ground the staff can focus on. The name that most notably comes to mind is Cincinnati Moeller product, Jordan Marshall, as he’s the eighth best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Certainly a priority for Alford and company, Marshall isn’t the only Ohioan to see interest, as earlier this week the Buckeyes offered another in-state back.

Taking to Twitter to announce the news on Wednesday evening, Sam Williams-Dixon shared that Ohio State has offered. A Millersburg, Ohio native, Williams-Dixon is currently listed as the No. 539 player nationally, the 41st best running back and the 21st best player in Ohio for the 2024 cycle according to the 247Sports Composite. No stranger to the coaches, Williams-Dixon has been a name the staff has kept an eye on, and his efforts have earned himself his latest and biggest offer to this point.

Schools such as Penn State, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and others have already thrown their name into the mix, but the Buckeyes now in the fold should further the domino effect of large programs paying close attention. As mentioned, likely two running backs in this class is the goal for the staff. While you typically always go for the home run addition of a top national back, the Buckeyes may elect to keep this situation close to home and court two of their targets who are within the state lines.

Quick Hits

• The name Jaheim Singletary should certainly ring a bell if you follow Ohio State recruiting. The one-time five-star defensive back in the 2022 class was once committed to Ohio State, and gave the Buckeyes the ideal cornerback when it comes to pedigree and measurables. Rescinding on his pledge and flipping his commitment to Georgia in late November of 2021, the coaches were faced with the tough reality of losing an elite talent, and obviously would have loved to keep him in the fold.

Fresh off the end of his first year in school, Singletary has seen his name be in the headlines, as it was made known on Thursday that it looks as if he plans to enter the transfer portal not even a full year into his Georgia career. While it has yet to happen, the signs trend to this being the case, and the thought here is wondering if the Buckeyes would be in the mix considering their lack of depth at the position and their previous relationship with Jaheim.

It’s hard to predict what could happen with so many variables being up in the air, but seeing the staff shy away from the portal last year at the cornerback spot didn’t really do anything positive for this year, so maybe their plan for this offseason is different. Only time will tell, but the fact of the matter is cornerback continues to be a need — and a need that has to be addressed soon. Interest in a one-time Ohio State commit would be new ground to tread, but could be worth it.


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Ohio State men continue to spiral, falling to Minnesota at home 70-67
Connor Lemons 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

That was an ugly 40 minutes of basketball.

It’s tough to categorize any particular Big Ten game as a “must-win” in early January, but following a disheartening 80-73 loss to Maryland last weekend, Thursday night’s game against the last-place Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-8, 1-4) certainly qualified as one.

The Buckeyes (10-6, 2-3) were viewed as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten just one week ago. Three losses later, they’re probably closer to the NCAA Tournament bubble than they are to cutting down nets at the end of the season. Beating a terrible Minnesota team that’s in the middle of a rebuild wasn’t going to change that, but losing to that same Minnesota team could certainly make things much more dire.

Thus, a “must-win” game.

And wouldn’t you know it, things are suddenly much, much worse! Things started out slippery for Ohio State against the Golden Gophers Thursday night and never quite got back on track, as Minnesota pulled out their first Big Ten win of the season, 70-67.

With Zed Key still dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered against Purdue last week, Gene Brown drew his first start of the season. Alongside Brown was Bruce Thornton, Sean McNeil, Brice Sensabaugh, and Justice Sueing. Second-year head coach Ben Johnson rolled with a starting five of Taurus Samuels, Ta’Lon Cooper, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Jamison Battle, and Dawson Garcia.

The Buckeyes were finding open looks early on but missed several bunnies which prevented them from taking control early. Minnesota took an 11-6 lead into the first media timeout at the 14:21 mark, with four different Gophers scoring over the first five-plus minutes. Sensabaugh in particular struggled early on, hitting one of his five shots over the first five minutes.

The Golden Gophers only shoot 33% as a team from long range, but to their credit, they knocked a handful down early. Minnesota used most of their early possessions up by swinging the ball around the perimeter until someone finally took a shot, and it worked for a while! Minnesota held a seven-point lead at the under-12 timeout, 19-12. The Gophers knocked down three of their first six triples — one each from Battle, Cooper, and Samuels.


Minnesota was not able to pull away, but they also didn’t loosen the grip they had over the Buckeyes in the waning moments of the first half, as they held a 33-29 lead at the under-four timeout. Garcia was proving to be especially troublesome for the Buckeyes, as he was pivoting and moving quicker than both Okpara and the slightly-compromised Key.


McNeil was fouled shooting a three-pointer with 59 seconds to go in the half and knocked down all three free throws to tie the game briefly, but Cooper hit a fading baseline shot with two seconds remaining on the shot clock to retake the lead, 37-35. That was our halftime score as well, with the last-place Gophers heading to the locker room with a lead. Garcia had 12 first-half points for Minnesota. McNeil had nine first-half points for OSU.

Ohio State took their first lead in over 26 minutes with Brice Sensabaugh’s and-one layup with 13:05. The freshman sat out the first several minutes of the second half because he was a defensive liability, but he converted a three-point play to give Ohio State a 51-50 lead. Ohio State led 2-0 early and then trailed for the next 26:02 until Sensabaugh’s bucket.

However, Minnesota scored a quick seven points over the next 2:23 to take a 57-51 lead, and Chris Holtmann was forced to call a timeout with 10:38 remaining. Ohio State went scoreless on their next two possessions, and Cooper knocked down another three with nine minutes remaining to give them their biggest lead of the game, 60-51.


Minnesota continued to play stout defense on the Buckeyes, repeatedly forcing them into tough, isolation situations. The Golden Gophers held a 64-56 lead at the final media timeout with 3:47 left in the game.

The Buckeyes strung together back-to-back buckets courtesy of Sueing and McNeil to make it 64-60 with two minutes remaining, but they simply weren’t able to get the defensive stops they needed in the closing minutes to pull off a comeback, falling to the worst team in the Big Ten, 70-67.

If you weren’t around tonight to see Ohio State’s third consecutive loss, here are a few moments and plays that were key in Minnesota’s decisive win on the road:

Key checks in early off the bench


After missing one game with a shoulder injury suffered against Purdue, Key checked into Thursday night’s game at the 17:05 mark and immediately scored a bucket over Ola-Joseph. Ohio State was clearly trying to ease Key back into the action against a team they thought they’d likely beat, but that’s not exactly how the game script played out with Minnesota leading for most of the first half.

Battle gives Minnesota an early six-point lead


After Key got Ohio State back within three points, Battle connected on a three-pointer from the right wing to put Minnesota back up, 14-8 with 13:34 left in the first half. Battle shot nearly 37% from long range last season, but this year he’s struggled, hitting just 33% of his three-pointers.

Holden brings down the house, but Garcia answers


With 8:49 left in the first half and Ohio State down 21-15, Tanner Holden slammed a ferocious dunk down off the feed from Isaac Likekele as he was being fouled by Samuels. Holden hit the free throw to make it 21-18 Ohio State, the closest they were since it was 8-6.

However, Minnesota answered with five straight points — all from Garcia — to go back in front, 26-18.

Finally, some defense


Trailing 33-29 towards the end of the first half, Minnesota was hoping to extend the lead a bit more before the under-four timeout. However, the lineup of Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Sueing, Sensabaugh, and Key was able to force a shot clock violation to keep the deficit at four points with 3:41 left to go until halftime.

McNeil ties it up, but Minnesota heads to the locker room with a lead


Trailing 35-32 with 59 seconds left until halftime, McNeil was fouled on the elbow by Jaden Henley, resulting in three free throws. McNeil knocked down all three to tie the game for the first time in over 16 minutes, 35-35.

However, on the ensuing Minnesota possession, Cooper spun took a fadeaway jumper from near the baseline, and canned it, giving his squad a two-point halftime lead.

Sensabaugh’s and-one bucket gives Ohio State their first lead in over 26 minutes


Still trailing 50-48 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game, Sensabaugh missed a driving layup on the left side, but corralled his own miss, put it back up, and was fouled by Garcia. Sensabaugh hit the free throw as well, giving Ohio State their first lead since it was 2-0 Buckeyes.

Garcia cleans up his own mess, puts Minnesota back up by six


Following Sensabaugh’s and-one that gave Ohio State the lead, Minnesota scored seven consecutive points to go back in front, 57-51. Garcia missed a layup with 10:43 remaining, but he was able to grab his own miss and score to put his team back up by six points.

Payne gives Minnesota their first double-digit lead of the game


Already leading 62-53, Pharrel Payne scored over the top of Key with 5:15 left in the game to put the Gophers up 64-53 — their largest lead of the evening. It was yet another possession where Ohio State played defense for 28 seconds, but couldn’t stop a basket in the final two or so seconds of the possession.

Sensabaugh scores five straight to tie it up


Down 67-62 with 31 seconds remaining, Sensabaugh canned a triple from the corner to make it 67-65. Ohio State took 13 seconds to foul on the ensuing possession, but Samuels bailed them out and missed the front end of the one-and-one.

Ohio State grabbed the rebounds and barreled down the court. The ball wound up in Sensabaugh’s hands, and he was fouled by Cooper. Sensabaugh hit both, tying the game at 67 with 8 seconds remaining.

Likekele blocks Cooper, but is whistled for a foul with 1.7 seconds remaining


On Minnesota’s final possession, Cooper drove to the basket but was blocked by Likekele. The crowd cheered so loud that few people heard the whistle, as Likekele was called for a foul on the play. Cooper split the free throws to put Minnesota up 68-67 with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Up Next:


Ohio State (10-6, 2-3) has two days off before traveling to New Jersey for their rematch with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-5, 4-2) on Sunday afternoon. The Buckeyes won the first game between these two teams, 67-66, on December 8. It was not without controversy, however, as the Big Ten announced the next day that Tanner Holden’s game-winning three-pointer should not have counted.

The Scarlet Knights are looking like one of the best teams in the Big Ten thus far, and are coming off a 65-62 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night.

The Ohio State - Rutgers game will tip off at 2:15 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

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Ranking the top five comebacks of the Ohio State women’s basketball 2022-23 season
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes have made a habit out of coming back from double-digit deficits, so its about time they get ranked

The Ohio State women’s basketball team is No. 3 in the nation and one of three remaining undefeated teams in the country. If you haven’t jumped headfirst into watching the games this season, we feel sorry for you, and ask the question, “What are you waiting for?” Also, if you’ve been looking at scores alone it looks like the Scarlet & Gray have traveled a fairly easy road, but that’s far from the truth.

Here are the top five performances where Ohio State’s fought back from 10 points or more to win, starting last week.

No. 5: Ohio State at Minnesota (83-71)


On New Year’s Eve, the Buckeyes fought back from an early eight-point deficit against a team despised by Ohio State fans everywhere — the Michigan Wolverines. It was a marquee victory because both teams were ranked, and the Buckeyes were on a three-game losing streak to the Maize & Blue before the win.

With that win in the Scarlet & Gray’s back pocket, their next game brought them to a less challenging, unranked, Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota started four freshmen and a sophomore, against a veteran Ohio State team. With under four minutes in the third quarter left, the Buckeyes were down 10, and couldn’t find their scoring stroke.

The Buckeyes went off. Ohio State began the fourth quarter scoring 14 unanswered points on their way to the win, outscoring Minnesota 28-10 in the final 10 minutes. Minnesota’s young team looked gassed in the final quarter, not able to go up against a well-conditioned visiting side. It led to fouls in which Ohio State picked up eight of those 28 points to end the game.

No. 4: Ohio State vs. Tennessee Volunteers (87-75)


Seeing the first game of the year so low on this list might be a surprise. After all, it’s the historic Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball program. A legacy only overshadowed by the UConn juggernaut. It was a game versus the then No. 5 Vols that brought the Schottenstein Center to life. This game is fourth for good reason though.

Tennessee looked like the better team for over two quarters. Although center Tamari Key went to the bench early in the first quarter for the Vols, after earning two quick fouls, the Volunteers led Ohio State by six after the first quarter, increasing that lead to 12 with less than three minutes left in the second.

Ohio State cut the lead to eight before halftime and the Taylor Mikesell show took over. The guard scored 15 points in the third quarter, and 20 overall in the second half. Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side demoralized a Vols side that featured key transfers, who looked more like a college all-star team.

Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Taylor Mikesell (24) in her 25-point performance over the then No. 5 ranked Tennessee Volunteers

The reason this game is lower is because of what happened next. Tennessee lost all of their six games against ranked opponents and lost Key for the season due to blood clots located in her lungs, which thankfully were found before they caused serious injury.

Jordan Horston and Tennessee are still 12-6 on the season, now in SEC play in a conference that’s extremely top-heavy in the standings. They’ll likely make the NCAA Tournament, but their value is down significantly, sitting outside of the AP top 25.

No. 3: Ohio State at Louisville Cardinals (97-77)


It’s weird seeing Louisville on here for much of the same reason as Tennessee. The Cardinals are usually a lock for top-5 in the country and when they were announced as the final ACC/B1G Challenge opponent before the in-season “tournament” is scrapped, it was another game that the Buckeyes were underdogs.

Louisville slip a little before Ohio State came to Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 30. They dropped down to No. 16 in the polls after losses to South Dakota State and Gonzaga, and a close win against Belmont University. Against the Buckeyes though, Louisville came to play — at least for the first half.

The Cardinals went up 14 points halfway through the second quarter and kept an eight-point lead going into the half. Guard Jacy Sheldon returned for this game, after missing two due to the start of her current lower leg injury, but was playing through injury. Also, four-time B1G Freshman of the Week Cotie McMahon was benched early in the game, with McGuff opting for experience to get back into the game.

Substitute guard Rikki Harris had her flu game that night... well it was actually just a cold, but still. Harris didn’t know if she would play at all, because she couldn’t breathe out of her nose and had trouble running. What Harris did was play 19 minutes with 10 rebounds, six assists, and five points.

Ohio State University athletic department
Rikki Harris played a big role, under less than ideal circumstances, in Ohio State’s win over Louisville.

In 13 game minutes, Ohio State wiped away the lead and surged to a 21-point lead late into the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes had runs of 14 and 11 points in the fourth quarter, causing a mass early exodus of fans out of the KFC Yum! Center.

Louisville, like Tennessee, eventually left the top 25 after losing to Middle Tennessee State in the next game.

No. 2: Ohio State vs. University of South Florida (88-86/OT)


Now, this game isn’t on here because it's against a big conference opponent or a matchup between ranked teams. This game defies logic.

The Buckeyes traveled to the San Diego Invitational before Christmas weekend. The four-team tournament featured an initial game against USF Bulls, with the winner facing the victor of the Oregon Ducks and Arkansas Razorbacks.

Ohio State had Oregon on their minds, with Mikesell’s former team, and some complicated history, controlling the narrative. The Buckeyes went 18 points down in this game, lost point guard Madison Greene for the season with a knee injury late in the fourth quarter, and allowed the Bulls' 6-foot-4 Cameroonian forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu to control the game.

Mendjiadeu had 34 points and 17 rebounds, with 11 points coming from the free-throw line. With one minute left in overtime, ESPN win probability metrics gave Ohio State a 1.3% chance of winning, down 86-80, and you already know what happened.

Substitute forward Eboni Walker hit a jump shot in the paint. McMahon hit one of two free throws to bring it to three, and guard/forward combo Taylor Thierry grabbed an offensive rebound on the second free throw attempted. Mikesell hits a three-point shot within a few seconds to tie the game with 15 seconds remaining.

Then, Walker comes up big for a second time in the overtime, blocking a shot by guard Elena Tsineke, with McMahon and Thierry going on the break. It was an unbelievable ending, but not unbelievable enough to be number one on the list.

No. 1: Ohio State vs. Illinois (87-81)


It isn’t recency bias getting this game number one on the list. This result had it all. The Illinois Fighting Illini shocked the Big Ten this season, beating a ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and entering Columbus with a 14-2 record, after winning seven total games last season.

Forward Kendall Bostic and guard Genesis Bryant were as dangerous on the court as the hype surrounding their performances of late. Bostic was unstoppable for the Illini, scoring a career-high 27 points and adding 15 rebounds, an eerily familiar trend to number two on this list.

Bryant hit 15 points in the first half after the NC State transfer was named B1G Player of the Week two weeks in a row. Illinois’ shots were falling, they were outrebounding Ohio State and the Fighting Illini were in high spirits, and rightfully so.

That momentum stayed with Illinois into the third quarter, where the Buckeyes are known to come out of the halftime locker room on fire. Instead, a 10-point halftime lead swelled to 17 points with 6:56 remaining.

Ohio State responded with a 25-8 run to end the quarter. Freshman McMahon started the comeback with a seven-point run by herself. Mikesell added eight points of her own and the Buckeyes were tied going into the fourth quarter. It took McGuff’s team 4:40 off the game clock to wipe away the deficit.

Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cotie McMahon (32) didn’t have her highest NCAA scoring game of her career, but it was arguably her best performance.

The Buckeyes never went down again, beating Illinois 87-81.


Now, Ohio State travels to a tough Nebraska Cornhuskers home environment against a team who entered the season with high expectations but are having trouble reaching them. For the Buckeyes, they’re hoping they don’t have to add any more games to this list.

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In the portal.

Column: Looking at the importance of Ohio State’s key draft decisions
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

With the draft decision deadline approaching rapidly and the transfer window closing, we’re starting to get clarity on Ohio State’s 2023 roster.

The deadline to declare for the NFL Draft for eligible players is Jan. 16, and many Ohio State Buckeyes have already announced their decision. With the first transfer window period closing in a less than week, the Ohio State roster is all but confirmed with a few decisions still on the horizon.

Looking at the level of importance of each decision will give a first look at the roster next year, and we can dive into how much these decisions will impact the Buckeyes entering the 2023 offseason. There are significant shoes to fill, and the expectations won’t change for Ohio State — who was a field goal away from playing for a national championship.

The Buckeyes have already gotten some significant news in some surprise returnees, but the losses they are taking are at key positions.

Key Draft Departures


Ohio State has had four players forego eligibility and leave the program. The remainder of the players on the way out either aged out or transferred. Either way, they don’t fit the criteria of this article, which is players who had a decision to make and would have made a significant impact if they returned.

Paris Johnson Jr.


Paris Johnson Jr. was always a long shot to return, and his talent was recognized early by draft experts as well as NFL talent evaluators. Starting two years on the line, Johnson was named a consensus All-American at offensive tackle. Turning down first round money to return is not something anyone should be asked to do, but that still doesn’t change the fact this leaves arguably the biggest hole on the roster to fill.

Why this is important: Replacing offensive linemen of Johnson’s caliber is hard enough, and to add to that, the position he played is most connected to protecting the quarterback. With a new quarterback starting next year, this loss means there will be new starter responsible for protecting the QB’s blindside. That is not the most ideal situation.

Dawand Jones

On the other side of the line was right tackle Dawand Jones, who was also an All-American tackle in his own right. Coming into Ohio State, Jones was ranked 1043rd in the country by the 247Sports Composite. His development into elite college linemen happened an unforeseen rate by everybody involved — except probably Jones himself.

As a projected Day Two pick in the Draft, Jones could have come back and helped his stock by potentially switching sides. The other side of that coin is returning and hurting the respectable draft grades.

Why this is important: Jones being ahead of schedule in his development means he’s leaving a year early. Now Ohio State has to replace both tackles, with limited experience behind them due to the number of snaps both Jones and Johnson Jr. played. The Buckeyes will be testing their new starting tackles in a trial by fire.

Josh Fryar played 231 snaps – most coming as an extra lineman – and Zen Michalski played 79 snaps. Both players will have a huge opportunity, but will also have big shoes to fill.

Luke Wypler


This decision was seen as a surprise from most, but Luke Wypler is still heading to the NFL. The 5th rated center according to PFF and Day-2 projected pick by most draft experts had another solid year starting for the Buckeyes. Once again, Wypler was ahead of schedule, starting a year earlier than expected due to some unforeseen circumstances. Holding his own, he retained the job and excelled this year.

Why this is important: Losing three offensive linemen out of the four who could have stayed puts a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to develop a unit that can maintain the standard. Looking at Wypler’s decision, the line looks a lot different with the middle three set. Now the Buckeyes have to fill in holes at the three most crucial positions on the offensive line.

Ronnie Hickman

This decision should not come as a surprise, since Hickman was one of the youngest players to walk at Ohio State’s senior day. Hickman had a solid career and was the most consistent safety for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons. Losing him is not necessarily the most significant loss, but replacing his level of consistency mounts a challenge.

Hickman’s NFL Draft range will depend a lot on testing and how much positional versatility he can bring to the table. He is not a sideline to sideline guy, and he does not have the ball hawk nature, but in a zone heavy scheme he can be a solid fit.

Why this is important: Hickman’s decision is important because there are a lot of questions in the back end with both him and McAlister moving on. The Buckeyes added Ja’Had Carter from Syracuse, who can play in the Adjuster role that Hickman did. The question then turns to who fills out the remaining two safety slots, and how consistent can they be.

There is youth in Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles, and there is still a decision for Josh Proctor and Lathan Ransom, as both could return. The Buckeyes have a lot to think about with the safeties moving forward.

Returnees


On the other side of the decisions, the Buckeyes have three guys coming back who were key contributors in the success of the 2022 team. The Buckeyes had some big decisions made before the bowl games, so those names will not be included here, but the three below will have be looking to improve with another year while also having a similar impact.

Cade Stover


Stover had his moments of excellence, which included hurdling defenders, stretching out for a touchdown, and making his share of catches. Don’t go read any of my articles detailing Ryan Day’s excessive use of Stover in key moments; This is a positive article.

Stover needs to improve on his blocking in space and consistency in the passing game, but he showed he can be a No. 1 tight end. Adding him to the mix with the three headed monster at receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming, and the next starter at quarterback should be in good hands.

Why this is important: Stover brings much needed boost to the tight end room for new tight end coach Keenan Bailey. Bailey will have a player who can be utilized in a multitude of ways and one who will set the standard for the rest. This takes a ton of pressure off the young tight end in Joe Royer, who can be a secondary option, and Gee Scott Jr. will have the Spring to take some more steps to solidify himself with less pressure as well.

Matt Jones


The one returning offensive linemen will most likely be asked to play center and use his wealth of experience to help lead an inexperienced group. Jones played consistently this season, but after suffering an early injury was often the weak link of a strong five on the line. In the run game, Jones will want to show he can be a consistent blocker in space and at the second level. This is also an opportunity potentially to get film at center which would add value to him as a player.

Why this is important: Justin Frye has a huge year in front of him, and having a leader in Jones back will pay dividends. If Ohio State lost all four draft eligible linemen, starting from scratch could lead to some early growing pains. Many of those will still occur, but at least the anchors are there in Jones and returning left guard Donovan Jackson. With all the other returnees at receiver and running back, the pressure will be up front to keep the offense playing at the same level.

Xavier Johnson

Using his sixth year, Johnson gives Ryan Day a Swiss Army knife type weapon to go along with all the other tools in the garage. Johnson had an inconsistent role in the offense this year, playing receiver, running back and also manning kick off return duties for the second half of the season. When he played he was magic, and that is something that will make the offense that much more dangerous.

Why this is important: When you look at key moments in Ohio State’s season, Johnson was a part of quite a few of them. His role probably won’t be expanded, but he definitely warrants his share of touches in a game. Even if his role doesn't result in more consistent usage, having a player that can be trusted in a variety of roles has immense value.

Still Waiting


These players aren’t here to keep your hopes up, but as of writing this article they have yet to make a decision on their futures. One of these guys seems like a reasonable returnee, while the other would come as a huge surprise. The talent and leadership combination would make Ohio State early title favorites – even with the remaining questions on the roster.

Tommy Eichenberg

Eichenberg got my All-American vote on this year’s FWAA ballot, and he was a tackling machine who was at times an eraser of opponents running game. Getting a second year of film has already raised his draft stock, and not many would blame him for professionalizing. That being said, if he chooses to return the defense will have two anchors in the middle. Getting back a leading tackler is not a small win, and Eichenberg seems to be the type of player who wants to right his wrongs.

Why this is important: Ohio State would return six key players in their defensive front, likely making them one of the best units against the run. In year two of Jim Knowles, having back the two starting linebackers will make Knowles even more dangerous in what he can do with the front-six. If Eichenberg leaves, Cody Simon has experience and C.J. Hicks is a blue chip prospect who can bridge the gap. But the return of Eichenberg would mean the world to a defense that needs as many consistent players as possible.

Josh Proctor/Lathan Ransom

These two are paired together. Proctor fell out of favor throughout the season, but still has an athletic upside most players could not dream about. Ransom was Knowles’ favorite player, but had a rough stretch in the final two games. If both guys return, they add experience and physicality to the room, and it seems like both will probably be back. Ransom excelled in the Bandit role, but once again struggled in man coverage, which means he could shift over to Adjuster.

Why this is important: Safety was a position of strength for 90 percent of the season, and returning players is not a bad thing especially with how much youth is in that group. In a year where Sonny Styles, Kye Stokes, and others can play key roles, having a baton passing could make the growth easier for those young guys.

C.J. Stroud

Don’t scoff — he has not made a decision yet!

This would be absurd if Stroud did return with the receiving group that is also coming back. Stroud is a definitive first round caliber quarterback, and will almost certainly head to the NFL. If he did return, Ohio State would be definitive national title favorites, Stroud would be the Heisman favorite, and would also likely walk away with every passing record in Ohio State’s record book.

Stroud would also have the opportunity to rid the one albatross on the his resume with a win against the rival up north. He’s probably going to declare, but the last time I was this sure, Chris Olave announced he was coming back.

Why this is important: There is nothing but faith in Ryan Day’s ability to develop a quarterback, but having a sure thing is always better than traversing the unknown. It is unlikely, and the quarterback room at Ohio State is definitely talented enough to continue the new tradition of Ohio State having first round picks at the position. Stroud returning would be crazy, but until he decides slim possibility remains.


Ohio State has already lost a significant chunk of their roster due to eligibility and players leaving in the transfer portal. With both deadlines approaching rapidly, the roster for the spring is likely going to be finalized here shortly. The key decisions remaining can change the outlook of the team significantly.

The departures on the offensive line are the most worrying. Needing to replace both tackles and the center is no small task, especially given the recruiting misses of the prior position coach. Add to the mix a new quarterback, and all those weapons at the skill positions mean very little until we get the answers about those other two position groups.

On defense, the Buckeyes return most of their key contributors outside of Tommy Eichenberg, who still has to decide. If the Buckeyes get Eichenberg back, year two under Knowles can be even more dangerous.

With the few key decisions remaining, we can finally start diving into what Ohio State will look like next year. Once we get those answers, it will be full steam ahead into preparing for the 2023 season.

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dragurd said:

Pssh Saban would slap a GA into next Tuesday if they gave someone locker room material without running it by him first.

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I don’t get the issue. They are the highest ranked 2-loss team in the final AP poll.

Err… They are the highest ranked 2-loss team in the final AP poll who didn’t appear in the championship game.

Err… They are the highest ranked 2-loss team in the final AP poll who didn’t appear in the CFP semis.