Ohio State men’s basketball vs. Wisconsin: 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


Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes will try and shake off Tuesday’s tough loss to Purdue when they hit the road to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a battle of ranked Big Ten foes this afternoon.

Ohio State saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night in Columbus when they couldn’t close out Purdue. The Buckeyes led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Purdue never stopped fighting. The Boilermakers were able to sweep the regular season series with the Buckeyes when Jaden Ivey hit a game-winning three-pointer with five seconds to go. Ivey finished with 15 points off the bench for Purdue.

In the loss to Purdue, Duane Washington Jr. hit six three-pointers and finished with a team-high 21 points. The junior recorded his 800th career point in the loss, and currently sits at 802 points as a Buckeye. Washington has now scored at least 20 points in three of his last five games, and is leading Ohio State with 15.7 points per contest.

Washington wasn’t the only Buckeye to reach a milestone in the loss to Purdue. E.J. Liddell pulled down his 200th career rebound, and finished the game with seven boards to go along with his 11 points. Liddell is now just nine points away from reaching 400 career points. The sophomore forward sits behind Washington with 14.1 points per game and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game this year.

Preview


To get back on the winning track, Ohio State will have to earn a win against a team that has had their number lately. The Buckeyes have dropped three straight games to Wisconsin, and is 73-88 all-time against the Badgers, including a 30-47 mark against Wisconsin in Madison. At least the Buckeyes have had a little success against the Badgers when both teams have been ranked, with Ohio State holding an 8-4 edge in those contests.

This will be the third straight road game that Ohio State will be taking on a team ranked in the top-15. The Buckeyes defeated Rutgers two weeks ago when the Scarlet Knights were ranked 15th in the country. Ohio State then defeated the 14th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini last Saturday in Champaign. Now Wisconsin enters this game ranked 10th in the country.

Ohio State could receive a big boost today if guard C.J. Walker is able to return to the court. Walker has missed the last four games while dealing with a hand injury. In Walker’s absence, Justice Sueing has taken over as the main ballhandler for Ohio State. Even though the Buckeyes have gone 3-1 in Walker’s absence, the offense will likely flow a little better with a veteran point guard back in the mix.

The possible return of Walker to the starting lineup could send Justin Ahrens back to the back. The junior sharpshooter has stepped up while Walker has been on the sidelines, and is hitting 50% of his three-point attempts this season. Ahrens has attempted 64 three-pointers this season, and just two field goals from inside the arc. On Tuesday night, Ahrens hit three three-pointers and finished with 12 points, which marked the third straight game that Ahrens has scored at least 11 points.

Ohio State will be taking on a Wisconsin team that is sitting ahead of them in the Big Ten standings. The Badgers enter today’s game having won four of their last five games. Oddly enough, Wisconsin’s only three losses this season have come against Michigan, Maryland, and Marquette — all teams that start with M. The Badgers are getting close to their 14th season of at least 20 wins in the last 15 years.

The last time Wisconsin took the court was on Wednesday night, where we saw the Badgers easily handle Northwestern 68-52 in Madison. Wisconsin led 41-34 at half, and then really turned up the defensive pressure, allowing just 18 points in the second half. Tyler Wahl scored a career-high 14 points to lead the way for the Badgers, while D’Mitrik Price added 12 points. Wisconsin did a great job of sharing the basketball, dishing out 14 assists on their 24 made field goals.

Ohio State will be going up against a familiar foe today, as former Buckeye Micah Potter is one of the key Wisconsin big men. Potter spent the first 59 games of his college basketball career, starting 16 games for Ohio State before deciding to transfer out of the program. During his time in Columbus, Potter averaged 4.1 points per game for the Buckeyes. Since then Potter has upped his game, and is scoring 12.1 points per game this year while grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. The senior from Mentor has failed to reach double figures in the scoring column in just three games this season.

A fixture for Wisconsin over the last half-decade has been D’Mitrik Trice. The fifth-year senior guard is currently leading the Badgers with 14.8 points per game, which is a career-high. Today will be Trice’s 128th career game and 93rd career start for Wisconsin. The Buckeyes have done a good job at holding Trice in check over the years, only allowing the Huber Heights native to score more than 10 points once in six games between the schools. Trice really picked up his production around Christmas, scoring at least 20 points four times in a five-game span.

Along with Trice and Potter, expect to hear plenty from Wisconsin’s Brad Davison. The senior is essentially Wisconsin’s version of Aaron Craft. While Davison might not quite be at the same level as Craft was when the latter was with the Buckeyes, he is tremendous at making life miserable for opponents. Last year Davison was even suspended for a game after striking Iowa’s Connor McCaffery in the groin. Davison has averaged at least 9.8 points per game in each of his four years with the Badgers, and has started 108 games.

Prediction


Ohio State seems to perform their best this year when their backs are against the wall, and that will certainly be the case today against Wisconsin. Last Saturday not many gave Ohio State a chance against Illinois, but the Buckeyes were able to build a lead against the Fighting Illini and hold off a late charge from the home team.

These days it is extremely tough to get a win in Madison. The Badgers have won 18 of their 19 games at the Kohl Center, and over the last 15 years Wisconsin is 143-27 at home in Big Ten games. Dating back to 2001, Ohio State has lost 13 of their last 16 trips to Madison. Last year Wisconsin secured a regular season sweep of the Buckeyes with a 70-57 win in Madison in February.

The return of C.J. Walker to the lineup would be huge for Ohio State’s chances in this game, but it still might not be enough. Not only will the Buckeyes have to contend with the size Wisconsin will throw at them with Potter, Wahl, and Nate Reuvers, but they’ll also have to contend with the experience in the backcourt that Wisconsin has with Trice and Davison.

Even if Ohio State doesn’t win this game, the sky isn’t falling. The key for the Buckeyes will be to at least stay competitive here. If Ohio State can keep things close in Wisconsin, they can compete anywhere with any team in the Big Ten. A win would be great for Ohio State for Big Ten and NCAA Tournament seeding purposes, but a loss won’t ruin their season.

Ohio State is going to need to be at their best if they want to take down the Badgers in Madison. The Buckeyes are getting better with Ahrens getting more time on the floor, Meechie Johnson getting his feet wet in the college game, and Seth Towns continuing to build up his playing time. Ohio State just isn’t quite to the level Wisconsin is at yet. There’s no shame in losing to the Badgers on their home court, especially with how loaded the Big Ten is this year.

ESPN BPI: Wisconsin 65.3%
4:00 PM ET
TV: CBS

LGHL Score Prediction: 67-62 Wisconsin

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Can Ryan Day work his magic in the transfer portal again this offseason?
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Who could the Buckeyes target if they want to add some playmakers to the roster?

In his first two seasons in Columbus, Ryan Day has brought in some massive additions to the Ohio State roster via the transfer portal. Guys like Justin Fields, Jonah Jackson, and most recently Trey Sermon have made huge contributions as Buckeyes after coming in from elsewhere. With many big names looking for a new home this offseason, Day and his staff will once again have the opportunity to perhaps make a splash in what has become the college football equivalent of NFL free agency.

While it isn’t entirely clear whether or not Ohio State is looking to add new players via the portal this year, there are a number of guys with links to the program who would have a chance to make an instant impact should they wind up in Columbus. The Buckeyes lost a handful of key guys at the conclusion of the 2020 season, and there is certainly reason to consider making a move to shore up some important positions heading into 2021.

Here are a few of the names to keep an eye out for moving forward...

Jalen Green (Cornerback, Texas)

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Green intercepts a pass against Oklahoma State

Just this week, Longhorns defensive back Jalen Green entered the NCAA transfer portal. A former five-star prospect in the Top247, Green was the No. 6 cornerback and the No. 47 player overall in the 2018 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound DB played in nine games at Texas this past season, recording 14 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and a pass breakup. A veteran of 30 games played in Austin, Green fell out of favor in the rotation a bit in a new scheme under defensive coordinator Chris Ash in 2020.

Ohio State has some prior history with Green, as the program had gone after him hard during his original recruitment. Originally recruited by Kerry Coombs, the Texas native had the Buckeyes in his top five schools as he neared his college decision, but the departure of Coombs to the NFL muddied that relationship and aided in his eventual commitment to the Longhorns instead. Now, with Ohio State searching for answers in the secondary, it isn’t entirely out of the question that the two sides would seek a reunion.

Palaie Gaoteote IV (Linebacker, USC)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most intriguing players in the transfer portal is linebacker Palaie Gaoteote. A former five-star prospect in the 2018 class, Gaoteote was the No. 1 ILB and No. 15 player overall in the cycle. He has had some brilliant flashes at USC, starting five games as a freshman in 2018 with 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, but injuries have severely hampered his Trojans career. A pair of ankle injuries limited Gaoteote to just seven games as a sophomore, and he played in only two contests in this past shortened PAC-12 season after suffering a concussion in the win against Arizona.

Reportedly Gaoteote has significant interest in Ohio State, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he is the cousin of Buckeyes defensive tackle Haskell Garrett. In addition, a quick look at his Twitter page shows that almost all of his likes in recent weeks are of Ohio State-related posts. Especially at a position where Al Washington is losing all three starting members of his unit, adding a player with the upside of Gaoteote would be a huge boost to the linebacker core in 2021. However, he is not the only transfer LB on the Buckeyes’ radar.

Henry To’o To’o (Linebacker, Tennessee)

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Another guy who falls in that category is Tennessee transfer Henry To’o To’o. Amid all of the chaos happening within the Vols program, the star linebacker elected to enter the transfer portal this past Wednesday. The No. 3 OLB and the No. 44 player overall in the 2019 class, the former four-star prospect led Tennessee with 68 total tackles this season to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pick-six. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound veteran of 22 starts in two seasons in Knoxville was the Vols’ best defensive player in 2020, and he will be highly sought after in the transfer market.

While schools like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon and USC appear early to be some of the likely land spots for To’o To’o, don't count out Ohio State just yet. According to Lettermen Row, there have been preliminary discussions between the Buckeyes and the California native, and they expect there to be further conversations in the coming days. None of the linebackers on Ohio State’s current roster have any previous experience as starters on a Power 5 defense, and so adding someone like Gaoteote or To’o To’o could be massive for a unit full of question marks in 2021.

Elias Ricks (Cornerback, LSU)

Gainesville Sun-USA TODAY NETWORK

I was hesitant to throw this one in at all, because Ricks has not yet officially entered his name into the transfer portal, but there has been some smoke that it is a move that could be coming, and if it does become a reality it likely means great things for Ohio State. The former five-star prospect was the No. 2 cornerback and No. 14 overall player in the 2020 class, and the Buckeyes recruited him hard. Even after his commitment to LSU, Ohio State continued to attempt to flip him for months unsuccessfully. If he were to take his talents elsewhere, OSU and USC would be at the top of his list.

They were right in trying to flip the California native, as Ricks was one of the nation’s top cover corners in 2020 as a freshman. In his first year with the Tigers, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound DB hauled in four interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns — with five pass breakups. A freshman All-American, Ricks would instantly become the best player in the Ohio State secondary should he decide to leave Baton Rouge. However, as previously stated, nothing is official, and until his name does pop up in the portal, we should assume he will remain at LSU.

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Podcast: Breaking down the impact of Ohio State departures, returns
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Russell Costanza-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Olave and Haskell Garrett coming back are huge, but how will the rest of the roster shake out for 2021?

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


On today’s episode, I chat with Land-Grant Holy Land co-managing editor Gene Ross about the biggest news of the week: which Buckeyes are heading to the NFL and which Buckeyes are coming back for another year in Columbus.

We look at how Chris Olave’s return impacts the wide receiver room and what him being back can tell us about C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller’s — and Kyle McCord’s for that matter — potential to lead the 2021 Buckeyes back to the College Football Playoff.

We also discuss the potential for true-freshman Jack Sawyer to make an impact on the defensive line this fall, while also breaking down what we think the linebacker and defensive back rotations will look like.

Finally, we do a quick run around the draft potential for the Buckeyes now headed to the NFL. Where will players like Justin Fields, Shaun Wade, Tommy Togiai, and Trey Sermon end up at the next level?


Connect with Gene Ross
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23 / @HolyLandPod

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

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buckeyebri said:

If they do one about having to get up multiple times to go to the bathroom I will lose my shit....

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Wouldnt losing your shit come under the heading of NOT getting up to go to the bathroom?

Login to view embedded media Hey, Wisconsin....

“IT'S OHIO STATE.” Mookie Cooper sure isn't the first highly-touted player to transfer out of Ohio State without ever playing a snap, and realistically, he won't be the last. But by all accounts, it seems to be one of the most drama-free departures I've seen in a while.

Based on how his former coach, Arnold Britt, explains his situation, it seems everyone involved understood the roster situation with no ill-feelings, but Mookie just couldn't wait around.

The Buckeyes would eventually kick off a shortened season and reach the College Football Playoff championship game, but Cooper didn’t crack a loaded rotation at receiver. Late in the year, Cooper realized his path to playing time might take longer than he expected, Britt said, especially with how the Buckeyes only played a small core of wideouts. In OSU’s eight games this past season, only three receivers played more than 300 snaps — and all three would return in 2021, including fellow St. Louis native Jameson Williams.

“I told him, ’It’s Ohio State. Not to knock any other schools, but they had a hell of a recruiting class,’” Britt said. “He could wait until his junior year because none of those guys in the Ohio State (receiver) room deserved to lose a starting spot.”

If Cooper stayed, Britt was concerned Ohio State might ask him to gain weight and move to running back. Otherwise, playing time could be sparse.

“And he hasn’t touched the field in two and a half years,” Britt said. “That’s not gonna sit well.”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...w-he-couldnt-wait-to-play-and-seth-towns-isnt

Years pass and you forget how really good he was (or was too young to remember).

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Yes please.

Didn't get my usual game alert and missed this one. Seems like it slipped away much like the NW game... two games now where we should have pulled it out and it makes a big difference in the grand scheme of things. But I guess you could also look at the Illinois game from the outside looking in and think we got away with one there, and to some extent the ND game earlier in the year, so maybe it all equals out. This conference is tough and deep as hell, I suppose these types of losses will happen. Big opportunity on Saturday to right the wrong.

LordJeffBuck said:

Donated 10 boxes

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Thank you!

Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:

Recruits are buzzing about it.

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Like flies on shit

I think that, realistically, if Ohio State can win a championship every 10 years, I'll be happy.
I think if you break any 10-year period down, based on the last 20 years, we can hope/expect to see this:
1-2 national championships,
1-2 losses in championship games (3 total national championship games, with 1-2 wins)
3 more years with losses in first round of playoffs (assuming our current 4-team playoff format)
2 years where the Buckeyes are >right there<. Maybe they lost to Purdue or Iowa or Michigan State or Oklahoma and they're ranked 5-6.
2 years where the luck was with the other guys all year, for who knows what reason. The Buckeyes get 3-4 losses and finish ranked 10-15 or so.

Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then

Chimdi Chekwa and Bryant Browning are opening a Pit BBQ Grille location in Clintonville, plus a stall at North Market Bridge Park:

https://www.dispatch.com/story/busi...-open-latest-pit-bbq-clintonville/6613415002/

Ice storm pics for the win.

Young man looks good in the playoffs. Not sure what the medical staff saw almost 6 years ago but he proved them all wrong. Good for Jamel.

Here's who played how many snaps in the CFP CG and entire season of 2020:

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Buckeye86 said:

Well, upon further review, he’s not even a starter. So I’d say that yes, the backup OLB () is not the focus of their defensive schemes.

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So a backup NFL LB was a starting DT at tsun?

The Reload: Quarterback
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The combination of the current group of Ohio State quarterbacks and the incoming freshman over the next two seasons helps Coach Day and Coach Dennis build toward the future of the program. They certainly have the talent at their disposal, but even that could be put into jeopardy with a surprise return from Justin Fields. Let’s say he leaves and what do we have left? Who is available to make some noise? Who will come in in the future?

Jack Miller III and C.J. Stroud the understudies to Justin Fields in the 2020 season and they have had their moment when called upon. When games were out of play, they were put in and when each got their shot, the electricity was evident for each. Jack Miller III was the first of the pair to be thrust into the game against Nebraska. He had no pass attempts but carried the ball twice for 23 yards and a score. C.J. Stroud on the other hand played in the Michigan State game and carried the ball once for a 48-yard scamper for six. Both will have a leg up on the incoming players, but even their talent is notable.

Joining Miller and Stroud in the summer, Kyle McCord and is another player that will show up and add to the competition within this position group. McCord, according to 24/7, is a quarterback from Pennsylvania is the #25 overall player in the nation, the third-best quarterback and oh, he’s one of the five five-star players that is coming in. Spicy, but having competition never hurt anyone, especially at a blue blood school like Ohio State.

Looking into the future, we have Quinn Ewers currently committed. Obviously, he is a 2022 recruit and the McCord of the class that will hopefully add to the QB room. He is a big-time player that will be playing in the Texas State Championship Game and he is one of the few players to have a perfect grade of 1.000 on the 24/7 composite. It is still a long way until he signs, but he looks like a gunslinger, and imagine if he is fully developed under Coach Day.

Each of these quarterbacks brings a diverse set of skills. It is up to Coach Day to develop them as men and as players, and the competition this spring will be a storyline to watch. It’ll be a three-way deadlock and the competition will be fierce to be “the man” at Ohio State.

The future at Ohio State is bright. There is no taking away from that. The reload is here. Buckle up.

#GoBucks




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Silver Linings, Onto The Future
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The offseason is usually a rough time for me, but being able to continue writing about the Ohio State Buckeyes puts my mind at ease. The passion I have and the sheer love for the team prevents me from walking away and here I am talking about the future of the program.

Players will often take some time to make up their minds about their future and here we are in limbo for the time being. Fields, Olave, Fields, Wade and the majority of the linebacking core are likely to leave but the greatest mystery would be to see who stays.

Now, when we find out whoever does stay, it’ll be interesting to see the attrition process play itself out too. Younger players with no shot at being “the guy” for their respective positions—let’s see how mentally tough they are and if they can be patient. This is probably the most interesting part of the year where anything can happen leading up to the annual spring game.

While you can’t bet on the Buckeyes in Ohio just yet, there is optimism in 2021. Sports betting legislation is in the works. If you can’t wait and are in the Michigan area, sports betting in MI is going live this week. You can wager on all the Buckeyes futures bets on DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM, Lineups has the latest news and reviews if you don’t know which book to use.

Anyway, this team should look different this year and the future is too bright to discount the efforts and the strives it took to have a season. These kids are here for our entertainment and for their future. Do not blur the lines. Being able to not let wins or losses dictate our lives is a blessing and for me, I’m just happy that I have found that silver lining in this.




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


Photo courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

The basketball Buckeyes are looking to make a BOOM of their own Saturday on the road vs Illinois.

Boasting back-to-back conference wins, No. 21 Ohio State (10-3, 4-3) will now hit the road to take on the No. 14 Illinois Fighting Illini (9-4, 5-2). Saturday’s game against the Illini represents perhaps their biggest challenge thus far, as Illinois entered the season No. 8 in the AP Poll. They have since lost four games and slipped to No. 14, but make no mistake, Illinois is a national championship-caliber team. They are the type of team Ohio State must conquer if they want to make the leap from a good program to a great program.

During their 81-71 victory over Northwestern, Ohio State took control early and never looked back, leading by nine at halftime and never surrendering the lead after that. Northwestern was able to cut the deficit to just one point late in the second half, but Ohio State answered with a Justin Ahrens three-pointer and finished the game on a 14-5 run to close it out.

Illinois, on the other hand, is coming off a head-scratching 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday. Illinois turned the ball over just nine times, which is an improvement over their 13.5 turnovers that they averaged coming into the game. The Illini were better than the ‘Terps in nearly every counting stat imaginable, but were doomed by a less than efficient night from their star point guard, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu, who enters today’s game averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, scored 23 points on 9-of-23 shooting. The other nine guys who played for Illinois combined for 38 shots. Not great!

Preview


As a unit the Buckeyes are undersized, with 6-foot-8 Kyle Young playing the five for Chris Holtmann. However, Ohio State has several guys falling in that 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-8 range, which gives them the flexibility to switch constantly, throwing different bodies at opposing bigs until they find something that works (or they find nothing that works and the opposing center eats them alive — that happens sometimes too).

Ohio State has struggled mightily to defend opposing big men this season, getting beat up and taken advantage of by the likes of Dylan Laszewski (17 points, 9 rebounds), Trevion Williams (16 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists), and Liam Robbins (27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists). It won’t get any easier Sunday when the Buckeyes stare down future first-round pick Kofi Cockburn, who is averaging 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Cockburn — who along with Dosunmu passed up the 2020 NBA Draft to return to Illinois — was included in nearly every mock leading into the NBA Draft. Standing at exactly 7-feet tall and 285 pounds, the Jamaican-born sophomore is the exact type of player Ohio State has struggled to defend all year — except bigger and better. Cockburn is averaging three offensive rebounds per game and is shooting 69.2% from the floor, so Ohio State cannot afford to give the Illini big man second chances.

What makes this Illinois team even tougher to defend are all of the options Cockburn can defer to if he faces a double team. In addition to Dosunmu (22.4 PTS), Trent Frazier (8.4 PTS), Andre Curbelo (9.3 PTS), and Adam Miller (9.3 PTS) are all dependable scoring options whose point totals are a reflection of their lack of scoring opportunities, not their talent. Illinois averages 83.3 points per game this season, second behind only Iowa in the Big Ten conference. They also average 13.5 turnovers per game, which is second in the conference as well.

To go on the road and author one of the season’s biggest upsets, the Buckeyes will need to follow Maryland’s script from last weekend. They will need to double team — and sometimes even triple team — Cockburn in the post, forcing him to defer to a teammate. Cockburn is subpar moving the basketball, and had a key turnover in the closing minutes during their loss to Maryland, when the Terrapins brought three defenders to him in the post. A panicked Coburn passed the ball wide of an open Dosunmu and directly into the Maryland bench for a turnover. The Buckeyes cannot be afraid to commit multiple defenders to Cockburn. If he is able to pass to the perimeter and Illinois converts, Ohio State will have to live with it.

The Buckeyes will need to mix in some full-court and three-quarter court pressure when Illinois is bringing the ball up, which is not something Chris Holtmann’s teams have done much of since he arrived in Columbus. While Ohio State’s defense is most effective when they’re able to get set, Illinois’ offense is far less efficient when they’re forced to pass several times just to get the ball past half court in the allotted 10 seconds.

Dosunmu’s 2:1 assist to turnover ratio is less than stellar, and as a unit Illinois turns the ball over more than everyone in the conference other than Michigan State. The Buckeyes have to create opportunities for themselves off turnovers to have a chance, and this will be made more difficult if both CJ Walker and Jimmy Sotos are out.


Finally, Ohio State needs to dominate the offensive glass, which is something they have been stellar at thus far, despite their size disadvantage. Their 11.5 offensive rebounds per contest ranks fourth in the B1G, just ahead of Illinois’ 10.8 per game. Yes, even with no center, Ohio State is pulling down more offensive rebounds than the team with the 7-footer. Young, Zed Key, and E.J. Liddell have all pulled down 20+ offensive rebounds this season, and they’re going to need to continue that trend Saturday for the Buckeyes to hang with the Illini.

Prediction


Ohio State is 2-3 on the road this season compared to 8-0 when playing at home or neutral site. Conversely, Illinois is 6-1 at home this season and Ohio State has not won in Champaign since the 2015-2016 season. So the home/road splits certainly aren’t friendly to the Buckeyes.

However, one advantage Ohio State may have is familiarity. The Buckeyes bounced Illinois on the final day of the regular season last year when they beat them 71-63 in Columbus on March 5, 2020. While Ohio State’s roster went through a pretty massive turnover, Illinois’ core stayed the same with Dosunmu, Cockburn, and Frazier all returning. Ohio State grabbed 16 offensive rebounds in that game and forced 14 Illinois turnovers, overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit and winning on senior day. Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes have plenty of film from that game they can review and implement a similar game plan as they did in the second half of last year’s victory.

In the end, I think the combination of Cockburn + Illinois' B1G-best three-point shooting (41.2%) is going to be too much to handle, especially on the road. Ohio State can’t afford to fall behind early like they did against Purdue and Minnesota, or else this one could get out of hand.

ESPN BPI: Illinois 68.1%
12:00 PM ET
TV: FOX

LGHL Score Prediction: 82-71 Illinois

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Buckeyes future is… BRIGHT
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

When the Big Ten’s fall season fell apart, the thought of Ohio State playing in the national championship seemed like an imagination.

Coach Ryan Day, Justin Fields, and the Buckeyes fought hard for this season and made it a reality. Fields started a #WeWantToPlay petition which received 250,000 signatures and it took off from there.

That’s all this Buckeye team wanted, a chance. On Sept. 16, when the Big Ten announced a season will take place in October, they got just that.

The Buckeyes ran with the opportunity and didn’t disappoint. This team faced more obstacles then imagined throughout the year. They faced COVID difficulties from week 6 of the season until the end but didn’t stop the fight.

This team was doubted from the start and proved all the doubters wrong winning the Big Ten championship, beating Clemson in the Sugar Bowl championship, and finished the historic season with a heartbroken national championship loss to one of Alabama’s most talented teams we’ve seen in years.

Looking ahead

Leaving (accepted senior bowl invite or most likely to enter draft.): Justin Fields, Wyatt Davis, Shaun Wade, Chris Olave, Trey Sermon, Jonathan Cooper, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Marcus Williamson, Drue Chrisman, Justin Hillard.

POSSIBILITY of returning: Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett, Pete Werner, Sevyn Banks, Nick Petit-Frere, Jeremy Ruckert, Tyreke Smith.

2021-2022 Season

The Offense

The Quarterback Battle…during the offseason will be as competitive as it gets. CJ Stroud and Jack Miller will be looked at as the front runners for the job heading into the season, but incoming 5-star freshman Kyle McCord may add a three-way race to be the Buckeyes next quarterback.

• CJ Stroud: Class of 2020 (4 star, #2 QB, #42 overall)
• Jack Miller: Class of 2020 (4 star, #13 QB, #334 overall)
• Kyle McCord: Class of 2021 (5 star, #3 QB, #25 overall)

Offensive Line…remain dominant. Nick Petit-Frere, Matthew Jones, Harry Miller, Dawand Jones, and Paris Johnson Jr. will be a force up front.

Running Backs…competition will be interesting. The Buckeyes will have Master Teague, Miyan Willams coming back, but incoming #1 ranked, 5-star running back TreVeyon Henderson will add some fuel to that competition.

Wide Receivers…loaded. Garrett Wilson will be returning for his junior season and looks to have a Heisman type of year. He has the talent and ability to put up record-breaking numbers for this Buckeyes offense next season. The WR core will also bring back Jameson Williams and stud freshmen Jaxon Smith-Njiba and Julian Fleming. The Buckeyes also bring in the #1 and #8, and #15 WR’s in Emeka Egbuka, Jayden Ballard and Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Defense

D-Line…dominant and ready. The D-line will consist of Tyreke Smith (if returns), Taron Vincent, Jerron Cage, Zach Harrison, Tyler Friday. Along with these five, Incoming freshman Jack Sawyer (ranked #4 in the country) will make an immediate impact for the defense.

Linebackers…will consist of some new faces but will be poised for a big year: Dallas Gant, Craig Young, Cody Simon, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Secondary…improved and prepared. Sevyn Banks and Josh Proctor will be returning and looking for a strong offseason translating it into next fall. Cornerback Cameron Brown will be back after suffering a Torn Achilles against Penn State early in the season. Along with these three true freshman Lathan Ransom showed his star potential to be a stud for this secondary.

The Buckeyes will also have the #3 and #4 ranked cornerbacks in the country coming in (Jakailin Johnson, Jordan Hancock).

The 2021 Recruiting Class: according to 247sports

• Jack Sawyer, DE (#4 player, #3 pos)
• Emeka Egbuka, WR (#9 player, #1 pos)
• Donovan Jackson, OG (#17 player, #1 pos)
• TreVeyon Henderson, RB (#24 player, #1 pos)
• Kyle McCord, QB (#25 player, #3 pos)
• Jakailin Johnson, CB (#47 player, #3 pos)
• Mike Hall, DT (#49 player, #4 pos)
• Jayden Ballard, WR (#66 player, #8 pos)
• Jordan Hancock, CB (#67 player, #4 pos)
• Evan Pryor, ARB (#81 player, #2 pos)
• Reid Carrico, LB (#84 player, 5 pos)
• Marvin Harrison Jr, WR (#91 player, #15 pos)
• Ben Christman, OG (#124 player, #6 pos)
• Tyleik Williams, DT (#161 player, #12 pos)
• Andre Turrentine, S (#167 player, #9 pos)
• Denzel Burke, ATH (#191 player, #8 pos)
• Jantzen Dunn, S (#202 player, #12 pos)
• Zen Michalski, OT (#318 player, #23 pos)

Early 2022 Recruiting Class look: according to 247sports

• Quinn Ewers, QB (#1 player, #1 pos)
• Jahiem Singletary, CB (#10 player, #5 pos)
• Caleb Burton, WR (#14 player, #1 pos)
• Gabe Powers, LB (#33 player, #2 pos)
• C.J. Hicks, LB (#38 player, #3 pos)
• Dasan McCullough, ATH (#54 player, #6 pos)
• Jyaire Brown, CB (#123 player, #13 pos)
• Tegra Tshabola, OT (#138 player, #15 pos)
• Benji Gosnell, TE (#265 player, #12 pos)

Future is bright.




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MOTSAG Sign Off: Thank You Guys
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

The season has come to a heartbreaking close and give props to these young men that made it happen. Making it to the title game in the manner in which this Buckeye team did is an achievement in its own—and they deserve the praise through the highs and the current low.

The Buckeyes were outmatched and it only took a half to see that. There are few silver linings in this story, but they are left with another question-filled offseason. Who will be leaving, who will be retuning, who will transfer in or out, which coaches will leave or come in—a lot can be said after this crushing defeat at the hands of Alabama.

Whether it was due to poor preparation or poor game planning, there is no reason to abandon ship just yet. Yes, the Buckeyes were whooped with everyone watching but what is another lesson for Coach Day? Or even Coach Coombs? I have no insight as to what will or won’t transpire in the future but this looks to be a turbulent offseason for the players, coaches and us fans.

I am not one for handing out trophies during situations like this but I think Fields deserves a huge pat on the back after fighting until the end. Yes, we had injuries and Covid issues but there is no excuse. We were hit hard with injuries right off the bat and it hurt this team and it only got worse as the depth along the defensive line was lacking, just like the pressure or the lack of tackling.

Regardless, great season, great players, great memories. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this missable year go by. Always behind you guys.

Go Bucks.




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Ohio State vs. Alabama national championship key player matchups: by Mike Scharf
Mike via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

We are officially one day away from the 2021 National Championship between Ohio State and Alabama. Both the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide are coming off dominant performances in the CFP semifinals and are prepared for the biggest game of the year.

Both teams are led by star players in key positions, and the outcome will come down to these players and the matchups that present themselves on both sides of the ball.

The four key matchups for Monday night are seen below:

Trey Sermon vs Dylan Moses

Trey Sermon has been rolling and making a name for himself this postseason dominating on the ground in the Big Ten championship and CFP semifinals rushing for a combined 524 yards and 3 touchdowns. The ground game has been near perfect for Sermon and this Buckeye offense but come Monday the biggest threat to the Tide may be Sermon in the pass game. Sermon had 61 receiving yards on 4 catches against Clemson and will look to be more of a factor in this aspect against this Alabama defense.

This is when the matchup with Alabama’s star linebacker Dylan Moses comes into play. Moses has been dominant stopping the run as he has 38 tackles this season but has struggled in pass coverage as of late.

Look for the Sermon-Moses matchup in open field — with Sermon taking full advantage of it. —

Devonta Smith vs OSU’s Secondary

Coming into the biggest game of the year, everyone knows how dominant Heisman winner Devonta Smith has been all year. Smith can beat you in more ways than one — catching, handoffs, punt returners — He’s the real deal.

The Buckeyes are known to have highly talented defensive backs. Their best this season is Shaun Wade. Wade flourished in the slot last year, while coming back this season to play on the outside to prove he’s capable of playing both positions. Although Wade has not been as solid on the outside this season, he’s still a Thorpe Award semifinalist and has all the tools to be a factor in this matchup.

The matchup will be an interesting one — I expect to see the Buckeye secondary to show more zone and focus more help containing Smith whereas leaving him on an island could lead to success for the Tides offensive game plan.

Chris Olave vs Patrick Surtain

SEC Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain has been locked down all season, and not many quarterbacks throw his way.

The 6-foot-2 junior recorded 32 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one interception this season.

With that being said, Chris Olave is the real deal. Buckeye Nation saw how valuable Olave is as he missed the Big Ten championship against Northwestern, and the Buckeyes found struggles opening up the pass game in a 22-10 victory.

Olave was available in the CFP semifinal against Clemson and didn’t disappoint as he had 6 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In a short season for the Buckeyes, Surtain will be Olave’s toughest matchup thus far and the two will be in a battle all game.

If Justin Fields finds trouble throwing Surtain’s way, look for Garrett Wilson to have a monster game on the other side for the Buckeyes.

Najee Harris vs OSU’s Defensive Line

Along with Devonta Smith, Najee Harris has been a working force for the Crimson Tide offense. Harris has 1,387 yards and 24 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

With more COVID issues swirling around the Buckeyes program, we are not sure who is suiting up for game time.

But — Zach Harrison, Jonathan Cooper and Haskell Garrett are players we expect to see. Look for these three to control the line of scrimmage against the Tides front and contain Harris from making explosive plays.

If the Buckeyes defensive line can contain Harris and apply pressure on quarterback Mac Jones, look for this team to find success Monday night.

These are two of the best programs in the past century we’ve seen in College Football.

The stage is set. The matchups will be exciting. A champion will be crowned.

Ohio versus the world.




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