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2023 NFL Draft April 27 - April 29

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Five QBs highlight top 10 in latest first-round projection from ESPN

2. CHICAGO BEARS: WR JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA, OHIO STATE
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Smith-Njigba solidified WR1 status with his performance in the Rose Bowl Game, a scintillating win for the Buckeyes over Utah. He finished the instant-classic matchup with 15 catches for 347 yards — a new single-game Rose Bowl record for receiving yards — and three touchdowns after already going over the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards during the regular season. The absence of future first-round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson gave Smith-Njigba the national spotlight all to himself and he took full advantage. Here, he reunites with former Ohio State teammate Justin Fields.

5. ATLANTA FALCONS: QB C.J. STROUD, OHIO STATE
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Stroud is the first quarterback off the board, ahead of Young. It is a debate that will only get more intriguing leading up to the start of the college football season. Stroud has the more prototypical NFL quarterback frame at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. Stroud threw for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns last fall during his first season as the Buckeyes' starter and is one of the best deep-ball throwers in recent years. Marcus Mariota is not thought of as the long-term answer in Atlanta, and while the team took Desmond Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, that should not stop them from taking a quarterback near the top.

22. Arizona Cardinals: OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...-for-2022-season-via-Athlon-Sports-189165679/

With the premium on QBs in the NFL I can't see the first QB going at #5, some team will likely trade up to get Stroud.
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SF David Lighty (Most Career Buckeye Wins, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket - France)

THREE-PEAT. David Lighty is claiming some hardware this summer, helping lead his team to the French League title for the third time in a row.

And of course, he's holding that trophy front and center.

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Lighty's squad has now won the league in 2019, 2021, and 2022 – a pandemic-separated three-peat. And he's been a key piece the entire time, winning the Finals MVP in 2019 and leading the team in minutes played during this season's finals.

There used to be this weird stigma that existed with players going to play overseas, and I think we're finally killing that – which is good because there's absolutely nothing wrong with balling out and being a star in France and Italy for a decade while comfortably making six figures a year.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...e-had-a-well-rounded-offensive-line-and-david
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1942 National Championship Team

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That pass had to be the 60 yard pass from Sarringhaus to Bob Shaw.

OSU-Michigan 1942: Paul Brown's Buckeyes, led by Les Horvath, take Wolverines, 21-7, to win Big Ten, national titles

Ohio scored its first touchdown on a 35-yard, three-play blitz in the second minute of the second quarter, with Les Horvath hurling a 10-yard scoring pass to Paul Sarringhaus.

All three of the Ohio touchdowns were by the air route on plays that the baffled Michigan defenders never did solve.

The second score was a terrific affair of 60 yards, with Sarringhaus hurling to end Bob Shaw, who raced 30 yards down the sideline.

This was in the third period. Michigan's only challenge came immediately after this. With the score 14-0, the Wolverines drove 64 yards and fullback Bob Wiese hammered over the line.

On the final Ohio touchdown, from 32 yards out, Sarringhaus reversed the aerial procedure of the second and hurled to Horvath, that brilliant 160-pound Clevelander, who sped over the line.

Entire article: https://www.cleveland.com/osu-michi...aul Brown's,, national titles - cleveland.com

Links with some information on he 1942 team:

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/1942_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/1942_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1942.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1942_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team
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Heisman Hopefuls

Heisman Trophy 2022: Top 10 candidates ranked for college football's biggest award by Athlon

1. CJ STROUD, QB - OHIO STATE

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It’s pretty simple, Stroud is the favorite because he's going into Year 2 in Ryan Day’s system. Stroud was outstanding in his first year as a starter in 2021 and he can only get better. His 2021 numbers included 4,435 passing yards, 44 touchdowns tosix interceptions, and a 71.9% completion percentage. He has no shortage of weapons, either. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back at wide receiver, running back TreyVeon Henderson roams the backfield and other receivers such as Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. step up to bigger roles in the wide receiver department. Put your money on Stroud to walk away with college football’s biggest individual award, Athlon predicts.

7. JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR - OHIO STATE
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Smith-Njigba benefits from playing with Stroud in Day’s offense. Despite being the No. 3 pass catcher on the depth chart behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson last year, Smith-Njigba put up big numbers and had the Rose Bowl of his life when the Buckeyes took out Utah. He is now the No. 1 option for Stroud in the passing game, with other talents such as Egbuka and Harrison Jr. lining up with him. He’ll draw more attention but it helps that he has other studs next to him. Smith-Njigba finished the 2021 season with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 16.9 yards per catch. He had 347 yards in the Rose Bowl.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...iggest-award-by-Athlon-189218543/#189218543_1
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'Semper Fi: Always Faithful' Camp Lejeune water contamination documentary (2/24 10pm)

I was flipping channels this AM and ran into a "legal helpline" infomercial about being referred to a law firm concerning the compensation for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims per a 2022 bill that came into law. FWIW, apparently legislation was just passed applicable to the Camp Lejeune water contamination:

Statement by President Joe Biden on Bipartisan Senate Passage of the PACT Act
June 16, 2022
As part of the Unity Agenda that I laid out in my State of the Union address, I called on Congress to make sure that veterans and their families and caregivers impacted by toxic exposures finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they earned and deserve. Today, the United States Senate answered that call by overwhelmingly passing the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022—the largest single bill in American history to address our service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances.

This bill will provide expanded access to health care and disability benefits for veterans harmed by certain toxic exposures, whether in the jungles of Vietnam or the mountains of Afghanistan. It will also let the Department of Veterans Affairs move more quickly and comprehensively in the future to determine if illnesses are related to military service, and it will offer critical support to survivors who were harmed by exposures, including from water contamination at Camp LeJeune. Importantly, the bill includes the tools and resources to ensure that the VA can effectively implement it.

Entire article: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing...on-bipartisan-senate-passage-of-the-pact-act/

Bill to provide compensation for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims heads to President Biden's desk
June 23, 2022
Legislation that would provide relief for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims is headed to President Joe Biden's desk.

On June 16, the Senate passed the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 by a vote of 84 to 14. It encompasses the Camp Lejeune Justice Act along with other legal matters pertaining to toxic exposures related to military service.

In March 2022, the House of Representatives voted 256 to 174 to pass the Honoring our PACT Act.

Entire article: https://www.wral.com/bill-to-provid...ims-heads-to-president-biden-s-desk/20344941/
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Indiana Pacers (official thread)

Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin calls out LeBron James: 'He's going to have to show me he's better than me'

Along with a rookie that raises the ceiling of the organization’s future, the Indiana Pacers apparently received a player with an unwavering level of confidence when drafting ex-Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin. Ahead of hearing his name called, Mathurin did not shy away from calling out one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball, LeBron James.

“A lot of people say he’s great,” Mathurin said in an interview with the Washington Post. “I want to see how great he is. I don’t think anybody is better than me. He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me.”

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...ztzepxblEQSn9oWR7GYiLdxGyhr-HzFlvz-Lyv7nkM538

Just sayin': The rookie should just shut up and play.
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LGHL Malaki Branham drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA...

Malaki Branham drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Connor Lemons
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The B1G Freshman of the Year is the first Ohio State first-rounder since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

With the 20th pick, the San Antonio Spurs select Malaki Branham, freshman guard from The ™ Ohio State University, in the 2022 NBA Draft.

After a freshman season where he garnered All-Big Ten honors as well as earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Branham not only became Ohio State’s first first-rounder in seven years, but also the first one-and-done player in seven years and the first one-and-done player of the Chris Holtmann era.


With the 20th pick of the 2022 #NBADraft, the San Antonio Spurs select … Malaki Branham

#PorVida | @SelfCreditApp pic.twitter.com/FKNj00DYY6

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 24, 2022

Branham averaged 6.3 points per game over the first 10 games of the season, capping that streak off with a zero-point dud against Wisconsin on Dec. 11 where he shot 0-2 from the floor. But after a well-documented COVID-19 pause in the program that lasted three weeks, Branham returned a completely different player.

On January 2nd, Branham blew up for a career-high 35 points in a road win at Nebraska while many of his teammates were still recovering from lingering effects of the illness. Branham averaged 17 points per game from that point on, providing an elite Robin to E.J. Liddell’s Batman.

Branham’s defense will need to improve at the next level, as will his body. At 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds he’s still slender, but will get bigger with the San Antonio training and conditioning staff.

But his assets far outweigh the knocks on his game. Branham shot north of 40% from three last season and showed the ability to attack the basket with either hand from either side. And that doesn’t even include his mid-range game, which may be the most refined part of his offensive toolbox. He’s not a main ballhandler, but Branham has shown the ability to read defenses and make the appropriate pass when he doesn’t have a clear lane to the basket.

And at 19 years old, he still could grow, both physically and mentally. He’ll become a smarter, more cerebral player with time, but he could also get bigger and taller once he gets to the league. To have all these physical tools at such a young age, it’s no wonder Branham shot up draft boards so quickly once the calendar flipped to 2022.

Last season’s 20th overall pick, Jalen Johnson, signed a four-year, $12.8 million-dollar contract with the Atlanta Hawks following the 2021 NBA Draft. Branham will likely sign a contract in that range.

Congratulations to Malaki on being drafted to the Spurs. We can’t wait to see you become successful at the next level!

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LGHL This or That: Which position group from Ohio State’s past could change the 2022 outlook...

This or That: Which position group from Ohio State’s past could change the 2022 outlook immediately?
Chris Renne
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s defense was historically bad in 2021. Taking one position group from the past to fix it is not easy, but the linebacker position is a solid place to start.

This week, Land-Grant Holy Land writers will be comparing current facets of Ohio State teams and comparing them to those of the past: Comparing THIS year’s Buckeyes to those of THAT other time. Welcome to LGHL’s “This or That.”

In the 2021 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes were historically bad defensively, and head coach Ryan Day made wholesale changes to the coaching staff because of it. For the Buckeyes, the defense was never able to find their footing under Kerry Coombs, and as an entire staff never seemed to gel together.

Combine that with a long list of new starters on defense in the secondary, linebacker room, and on the defensive line and the results speak for themselves. Now the Buckeyes have revived their staff with the addition of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and corners coach Tim Walton while keeping Larry Johnson on the defensive line. This should lead to a major turn around on momentum shift, as all three new coaches have had success at their past stops.

Even with full confidence in the new staff, some question marks remain on the defense. The Buckeyes are still fresh faced at linebacker, the defensive line doesn’t have a dominant force coming into the season, and the secondary is being reworked for the third time in under a year. That being said, if the Buckeyes could take one unit from the past to replace a current one, which one would have the most immediate impact?

If you take the 2014 linebacker unit and put it on this team, you answer the biggest question mark and guarantee marked improvement in 2022.

2014 Unit vs. 2022 Unit


In 2014, the Buckeyes had quite few question marks coming into the season. They needed to replace one of the best linebackers in school history in Ryan Shazier, but they had two talented players returning. They also had the benefit of continuity with Luke Fickell in his ninth year as a defensive coordinator at Ohio State. All these played a part in how well this unit performed on a year over year basis.

Looking at the 2014 unit first, they returned two starters in Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry at the position. Perry improved his production and Grant had another solid year as a senior. The emergence of Darron Lee (who changed positions from quarterback in high school) and freshman Raekwon McMillan took the group from solid to elite. The addition of those two players to the rotation made the group even better than the previous season.


When you look at the units from 2014 compared to 2021 there are some similarities. With hindsight being our greatest advantage though, we know exactly how 2014 turned out. This year, there is a lot of projection going into how much this unit will improve. Jim Knowles is in his first year with the program and has had success at other places, but rivaling that continuity makes this even harder to project.

Steele Chambers switched positions and had an immediate impact leading the linebacker unit in tackles. Tommy Eichenberg started the season off struggling, but developed weekly, culminating in a dominant second half in the Rose Bowl. They seem have the Darron Lee and Joshua Perry roles. C.J. Hicks comes in with a similar excitement to Raekwon McMillan, and if he can provide immediately this group will be a lot better off.


Looking at the stats, you can see that there was a definitive lack of production from last year’s unit compared to 2014. With zero 100-tackle players, this is the main reason for the switch to 2014’s unit. The Buckeyes struggled against the run against well coached teams as you can see by the tackle totals. The on holdover is two of the most productive players in 2014 put up zero stats. This shows that a group can be a surprise and become one of the best units in the country.

For the Buckeyes and fans everywhere, the questions heading into the year at linebacker are still the most pressing. By bringing in a savvy, explosive group of linebackers, one of the biggest questions is answered. Now, this doesn’t mean Ohio State can’t have great linebackers in 2022, but there is significantly less mystery involved.

Why the 2014 linebacker unit?


The main reasoning behind this switch is the known ceiling of the 2014 group. Ohio State’s linebacker room at the moment is all potential, and knowing their ceiling is incredibly difficult. Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg have a high floor, but can they play at the national championship level needed?

We saw an all-time great group emerge in 2014, and the defenses in the early Urban Meyer years were incredible — starting with the linebackers. Historically, Ohio State’s best teams are elite at that position and having an elite group like 2014, which won a national championship, that eliminates the run threat is a great place to start. If you have elite linebacker play it allows the rest of your defense to work freely. The group, on top of being elite, still has the athleticism all over to play in the more modern RPO based game.

Adding Darron Lee, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan, and Curtis Grant takes this defense back to the Silver Bullet level that is expected. Knowles just has to put the players in position and this group would give him the flexibility to help get the most out of the defensive line as well. Now with the coaches fixed, this group would guarantee a top-10 defense in 2022.

The 2022 group can still be awesome


Ohio State is looking at a group that is incredibly similar to the 2014 unit. You have similar paths to the position, a blue chip prospect looking to make an immediate impact, and some veterans who are looking to be tone setters. If you just look at the comparison on paper, the group should be capable of netting a similar result.

Eichenberg led the position group in tackles and did his best work late. Grant is a solid comparison to the past group, being a returning starter with solid production. Chambers moved to linebacker last year after starting his career as a running back, and ended up being one of the most exciting defenders on the defense. Hicks is a five star recruit who’s coming in and can have an immediate impact like Raekwon McMillan. Now they just need to find who will be their lead backer like Joshua Perry.

This group has an established floor, and with improvement other places, they should improve. Being in a new scheme will come with growing pains, but the 2014 team also lost early in the year to come back and win a championship. I’m not saying the Buckeyes are going to lose, but the success did not happen over night.

With as much returning production as the Buckeyes have, on top of the recruiting class in addition to transfer Deamonte Treyanum, this room brings potential. The gained experience should set them up for success in 2022. If they can find a way to reach the 2014 level, the Buckeyes can be playing in the middle of January.


Overall, the groups do have similarities, but the 2014 team was arguably the last group that truly met the standard set at Ohio State. If you add them to this roster, the remaining sense of doubt on this defense is gone.

The 2014 group had an incredibly high ceiling and it took time to get there, so there is reason to believe that under Knowles this team can reach theirs. The one issue that wasn’t mentioned is the question about general toughness. The 2021 group was pushed around and teams took advantage of the fresh faced group all season long. The 2014 group brings toughness in droves, and that tone being set alone would massively improve the defense.

Knowles will not have the luxury of the 2014 showing up, but he has the blueprint of what his defense should look like at Ohio State. The defensive line is loaded with potential and the secondary has a good mix of talent as well as experience. If the linebacker group can be tough, organized, and nasty Ohio State could end up with one of the best defenses in the country – much like 2014.

Even though the 2014 unit is not walking into the Shoe come September, this group can embrace the challenge to be the next great linebacker unit to win a national championship.

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LGHL Ohio State’s NBA Draft history by the numbers

Ohio State’s NBA Draft history by the numbers
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images

Tonight, two more Buckeyes will join the list of Ohio State players selected in the NBA’s annual event

Just a week removed for the Golden State Warriors becoming NBA champs for a seventh time in franchise history, the 2022 NBA Draft takes place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. While the last few editions of the draft haven’t had much for Ohio State fans to get excited about, this year a couple of Buckeyes should hear their named called in the first round by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell are poised to be the latest Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft. Over the years there have been quite a few Buckeye products that have been drafted in the annual event. To get Buckeye fans prepared for tonight’s draft, we dove inside the numbers.

53


Since 1947, Ohio State has had 53 players drafted in the NBA Draft. Jack Underman and Paul Huston were the first Buckeyes taken, with Underman being taken seventh overall, followed by Huston coming off the board with the next pick. Underman never played professionally, instead becoming an oral surgeon after college. Huston played one season for the Chicago Stags, averaging 3.6 points per game.

The last Buckeye to be selected in the NBA Draft was Keita Bates-Diop, who was selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 48th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bates-Diop just wrapped up his fourth season in the league, appearing in 59 games for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 5.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. Bates-Diop was the 14th Ohio State player to be chosen in the NBA Draft since 2000.

24


Almost half of the Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft have been first round picks (24 in total). Eight of those first round picks have come since the 2007 edition of the draft, which kicked off a stretch that saw at least one Ohio State player drafted in the first round in four straight years. If you include Jared Sullinger, who was taken with the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Buckeyes saw at least one player drafted in the first round in five of six years between 2007 and 2012.

The last Ohio State player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft came in 2015, when the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second overall pick. Russell joined Evan Turner as the only Ohio State players to be selected with the second overall pick in the draft, as Turner was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers just after John Wall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

1


Only one Ohio State player has ever been taken with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The Portland Trailblazers made Greg Oden the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Oden’s body didn’t allow him the chance to live up to the hype. Not only did Oden miss the 2007-08 season, he was only able to play in 105 games during his NBA career. It was obvious that Oden was a force on the floor, especially on the defense end, it’s just a shame we didn’t get to see him fully healthy during his time in the NBA.

26,395


There’s very little doubt on who is the best draft pick to ever come out of Ohio State is. John Havlicek was taken by the Boston Celtics with the ninth overall pick in the 1962 draft. During his 16 years in the NBA, Havlicek scored 26,395 points, which ranks 17th all-time in NBA history. Hondo scored more than 12,000 points more than Mike Conley, who has scored the second-most points amongst players drafted out of Ohio State.

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Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Along with his impressive point total, Havlicek also won eight NBA titles with the Celtics, and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1974, making him the only former Buckeye to earn that honor. The Martins Ferry product was a 13-time All-Star during his career, earned NBA All-First Team honors four times, and was included on the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team five times. Havlicek had his number retired by both Ohio State and the Boston Celtics.

12,942


Three picks before John Havlicek was taken in the 1962 NBA Draft, Jerry Lucas was selected as a territorial selection by the Cincinnati Royals. The Buckeye not only was part of the school’s 1960 national championship team, he led the NCAA in rebounding in 1961 and 1962.

After starting his career with the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL, Lucas joined the Royals for the 1963-64 season, winning Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 17.7 points per game and 17.4 rebounds per game. Lucas is still the only Ohio State product to win Rookie of the Year honors.

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Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

During his 11-year NBA career, Lucas would grab 12,942 rebounds, which ranks 17th all-time in the NBA. Lucas is the only Buckeye with over 10,000 career rebounds. The Middletown native averaged at least 15 rebounds per game in seven seasons, and had two years in which he eclipsed 20 rebounds per game.

1,363


Mike Conley was selected with the fourth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007 NBA Draft. While Greg Oden’s career was shortened due to injuries, Conley has been going strong in the NBA for 15 years. Even though he hasn’t been able to win a championship, Conley has been one of the best defenders in the league for years.

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Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Conley’s best season came in 2012-13, when he led the league with 174 steals. The high mark came during a five-year stretch where Conley recorded at least 100 steals in each of those seasons. In five other seasons Conley has been credited with at least 89 thefts. Conley is the only former Buckeye to record at least 1,000 career steals in the NBA.

1,605


One mark by a Buckeye in the NBA that will likely never be topped is the 1,605 blocks Herb Williams recorded during his career. Kosta Koufos has the second-most blocks by an Ohio State draft pick in the NBA, with his 506 rejections sitting just 1,099 behind Williams. Currently, the block total by Williams ranks 31st in NBA history. The Marion-Franklin grad was taken with the 14th pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 1981 NBA Draft

23


Ohio State draft picks have combined for 23 All-Star Game appearances. While that may seem like a high number, Havlicek and Lucas combined for 20 All-Star Game appearances during their incredible careers. Michael Redd, D’Angelo Russell, and Mike Conley are responsible for the other three All-Star Game appearances, with each player earning a trip to the annual exhibition.

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LGHL Column: Ohio State patented a word and that’s fine

Column: Ohio State patented a word and that’s fine
1ThomasCostello
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services, LLC

How manufactured shock at Wednesday’s announcement is exactly what it looks like.

On Wednesday, Ohio State landed another long-pursued prospect. It wasn’t yet another top-ranked wide receiver or a shot-blocking forward to give guard Taylor Mikesell more room to shoot. Instead, Buckeye officials landed an article of speech. This noun-defining word was a tough commitment to land, with Scarlet & Gray leaders first receiving a “no” from patent office civil servants in Sept. 2019. Now Ohio State owns a word, a commonly used word, and everything is fine.

Why is it fine? Scouring through endless social media threads and message boards tells a story of Ohio State flexing muscles of arrogance and making a decision based solely on making money. Both of those points are actually valid and correct, but isn’t that what today’s NCAA world is all about?

Although there’s little confusion between Ohio State University and Ohio University, its use has grown over decades of collegiate rivalry. Ohio State’s word has been used to differentiate themselves and give fuel to rivals. Now, it’s finally been elevated to a higher calling of a marketing chip.

Imagine you’re a fan of a competing conference university like Michigan or an SEC powerhouse like Alabama, and maybe you actually are a fan of one of those two sides. On June 8, Buckeye football coach Ryan Day announced an astronomical $13 million needed to keep a roster together in a post-Name, Image and Likeness world.

Also, every other year it seems like another outlet is warning of a doomsday NCAA scenario where a stretching financial bubble is about to burst, with subsequent responses that everything is fine. Owning a word gets Ohio State what every school, and every fan (consciously or subconsciously) wants: more money.

Ohio State has free reign to add this word to any and every piece of sports apparel produced from June 21, 2021 until Earth — or America — ceases to be. It removes any chance of small, non-Nike, clothiers from adorning this famous article. Speaking of swoosh, securing rights is their expertise. They single-handedly (footedly?) broke Olympic marketing with a golden pair of shoes for track star Michael Johnson at Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic games.

There’s also merit in Ohio State’s claim. After all, Scarlet & Gray apparel shops have featured clothing with this word for 15 years, as Ohio State’s 2019 claim for this word states. Expensive sweatshirt designer Marc Jacobs tried taking Ohio State’s word for a sweater, and lawyers for Columbus, Ohio’s landmark pounced.

More money also benefits NCAA athletics far beyond its most popular asset of college football. More money for a school means less cuts to soccer, field hockey and women’s programs.

So, banter will never cease in a connected and ceaseless world, but an elephant on a crimson shirt would get similar focus. Universities protect individual letters, so what’s wrong with adding a couple more?

If you haven’t stopped watching this billion-dollar industry that just recently allowed players to receive compensation for their involvement in these billions now, I doubt a word’s addition to a history of stuffing pockets will trigger a tipping point. If anything, this will only motivate other schools to pursue similar avenues.

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LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Talking NBA Draft with Ohio State Hoops’ Joe Gemma

Bucketheads Podcast: Talking NBA Draft with Ohio State Hoops’ Joe Gemma
justingolba
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Plus, rest in peace Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan.

Land-Grant Holy Land’s newest podcast, ‘Bucketheads’ takes you on a journey across the college basketball landscape every episode. The only basketball-focused podcast in the LGHL family of podcasts, co-hosts Connor Lemons and Justin Golba give the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes as well as all the other happenings in the college hoops world. ‘Bucketheads’ will be released every Thursday throughout the regular season and every other Thursday during the off-season.

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


For the 40th episode of the “Bucketheads” podcast, Connor and Justin talk a little bit about their memories of Caleb Swanigan and the adversity he overcame to make it big in college basketball and ultimately the NBA. Also, the guys talk about the 2022 NBA Draft and where they think Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell could wind up.

Plus, an interview with Ohio State social media guru Joe Gemma. Joe will have boots on the ground in New York for the draft, so we talked about what he’ll be doing at the draft as well as why teams need to draft E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham on Thursday night.

Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your music and podcasts.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Connect with Joe:
Twitter: @JoeDGemma and @OhioStateHoops

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Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota basketball forward Parker Fox to miss 2022-23 season with injury

Minnesota basketball forward Parker Fox will miss the 2022-23 season after suffering a severe right knee injury, the school announced. Fox incurred the knee injury during Monday’s practice session. This comes after the former Northern State transfer missed the entire 2021-22 season with a left knee injury.

"We're obviously disappointed for Parker, especially for how hard he worked to get back on the court this year," head coach Ben Johnson said in the release. "We're here to support him in any way we can as he moves forward in this recovery process."

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...to-miss-2022-23-season-with-injury-189088600/
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To Return to the Office, Or Not Return to the Office, That is the Question (Future of Work Thread)

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says, 'I'll get on my knees' and 'do whatever you want,' pleading with workers to return to the office
Bethany Biron
Jun 11, 2022, 2:14 PM
https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-begs-workers-return-office-2022-6
62a4c28da464ed0019582157

  • Howard Schultz, Starbucks' CEO, said he's been unsuccessful in getting employees back to the office.
  • The company offers hybrid and remote work options for eligible, non-retail staffers.
  • "I've pleaded with them," Schultz said at a New York Times event. He added, "Whatever you want."
Despite doing "everything" to get employees to return to the office, Starbucks' CEO said, they're not returning "at the level" he wants.

Speaking at The New York Times' DealBook policy forum in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Howard Schultz — who returned as interim CEO in April after Kevin Johnson stepped down from the role — said swaying staffers away from remote work and back to the office hasn't been productive.

"I have been unsuccessful, despite everything I've tried to do, to get our people back to work," Schultz, 69, said. "I've pleaded with them. I said I'll get on my knees. I'll do push-ups. Whatever you want. Come back."

He continued: "No, they are not coming back at the level I want them to. And, you know, we're a very collaborative, creative group. I realize I'm an old-school person, and this is a different generation."

Despite his frustration, Schultz has not mandated that corporate employees return to the office. Instead, the company has offered "flexible options for eligible, non-retail roles" in the form of hybrid and remote positions, Starbucks' website said.

"Hybrid workplace options depend on the individual role and are identified in our job postings," the website said. "Roles that do not have to be based in a specific location are labeled as 'remote' while roles that can be fulfilled in multiple locations, such as a combination of home and office, are indicated as 'hybrid.'"

A representative for Starbucks said the company didn't have further comment on Schultz's statements or the company's remote work policies.

Schultz's hesitancy to demand full-time office work runs counter to recent efforts among other executives, including Elon Musk, who told staffers to return to the office or resign, reports say. Musk, Tesla's CEO, has been openly critical or remote work, tweeting that employees who are against working in the office "should pretend to work somewhere else."

Schultz appeared to acquiesce to the idea of hybrid and remote work options and said at the DealBook event that though he personally went into the office at 7 a.m. and left at 7 p.m. regularly, flexible workplaces are now "the way it is."

"I think people will come back two to three days a week, and that's the way — that's the way it is," he said. "But the thing that I am evaluating is, what's the level of productivity? And, you know, it appears that people are working at home."
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OT Shane Olivea (All B1G, National Champion, R.I.P.)

For those interested. Kinda of sad actually.

Former NFL Player Shane Olivea's Cause of Death Revealed (yahoo.com)

According to documents obtained by E! News on June 21, the 40-year-old San Diego Chargers star died from "hypertensive heart disease," with the contributory cause of death attributed to "obesity." The former athlete's manner of death has been ruled as natural.
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Consitutionality of DUI Laws

MADD has long stopped being about drunk driving and, today, is essentially a religious neo-prohibitionist organization seeking to criminalize any social drinking. The day the limit was lowered to .08, their website was changed to start demanding a .05 limit. That's absurd. A small woman could literally be considered drunk after a single drink. For an average sized man, that's two.

And keep in mind that well over 90% of all drunk driving accidents and fatalities are caused by a repeat offender with a BAC well over a .1 limit.
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F Chris Jent (Former Assistant BBall Coach)

Los Angeles Lakers to hire Atlanta Hawks assistant Chris Jent as Darvin Ham's top assistant, sources say

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to hire Atlanta Hawks assistant Chris Jent as Darvin Ham's top assistant coach on his staff, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ham, a first-time head coach, made Jent a priority and recruited him hard after getting the Lakers job, sources told Wojnarowski.

Ham and Jent coached with the Hawks together in 2017-18 and Jent -- who played collegiately at Ohio State before playing briefly in the NBA as well as overseas -- also has ties to Lakers star LeBron James, having served as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2011.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ris-jent-darvin-ham-top-assistant-sources-say
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LB Justin Hilliard (2020 B1G Champ Def POG)

Former Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard suspended two games by NFL

Hilliard posted on his personal Twitter page that he was aware of the suspension, explaining that he was "informed by the NFL that I tested positive for a banned diuretic - Spironolactone (Canrenone). After investigation, it became clear that I mistakenly took my partner's prescription medication instead of my own anti-inflammatory prescription. I am well aware of the NFL's zero-tolerance policy, and I take full responsibility for having a banned substance in my body."

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...EUaHd22DMbjWFUFPGgzqTSOIa5UCibUuAu47rsUjRgUCw
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Ohio Bobcats (official thread)

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SET THE OHIO BOBCATS REGULAR SEASON WIN TOTAL AT … 6

There are too many good players on this year’s team to have a second straight clunker, but can the lines be better? Can the defense show up? Can the offense start to take over games with the ground attack like it used to?

The Bobcats are going to be better.

They should be able to get by Buffalo, Bowling Green, and Fordham at home. Right there that matches last year’s win total, and then throw in a likely win at Akron, a lean-win home date with Florida Atlantic, and enough 50/50 games against teams like Kent State and Ball State and Miami University to get to at least six wins.
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