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It was time for Thad Matta to go, but don’t lose sight of what he built at Ohio State
Grant Freking via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The end shouldn’t be forgotten—and neither should be the considerable heights the Buckeyes reached under Matta.

It feels strange penning a coaching obituary for a man who has five Big Ten regular-season championships and a pair of Final Fours on his resume before his 50th birthday—and yet here we are. So much negativity consumed the last few months of Thad Matta’s tenure—the embarrassing season-ending loss to Rutgers, the departures of David Bell, JaQuan Lyle and Trevor Thompson, and the shocking decommitment of top recruit Darius Bazley—that Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith decided enough was enough with his men’s basketball program at its recent nadir.

On and off the court, the Buckeyes had lost their way. In the past 5 seasons, the product on the floor gradually went from Elite 8 contender to missing the NIT; the product off the floor consisted of mass exoduses and negative recruiting revolving around the health of Matta. To make matters worse, the Buckeyes struggled getting the best talent in the state—which is really weird when you actually unpack its meaning. The flagship university of Ohio, with one of the best athletic departments in the country and a head coach who has trekked squads deep into March, had problems finding ways for Mr. Ohio, the basketball star in each recruiting class, to attend the school in the heart of the Buckeye State. Compared to what Urban Meyer is doing with football, making it a goal to keep Buckeye State talent from hopping out of state, it’s a conundrum to why Matta couldn’t get the future to commit to OSU.

Of course, basketball is a different animal than football in terms of roster size and scholarship allotments. And though Ohio State hoops does own its fair share of success and nostalgia, it does not retain some of the monikers—“powerhouse”, “bluebood”, etc—many associate with collegiate greatness. And that’s curious in a sense, because for a (mostly concurrent) half-decade or so, Ohio State basketball was an elite program—and Matta was the driving force behind that surge.

From 2010-13, the Buckeyes won at least a share of three Big Ten regular season crowns; appeared in four Big Ten Tournament title games (prevailing three times); and reached four Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and a Final Four. There’s an argument to be made that Matta had two of the best recent college basketball teams that didn’t win the NCAA Tournament. The Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.-fueled 2006-07 team finished 35-4, swept the Big Ten and lost just twice after the new year, with one of those defeats a loss in the national championship game to a historically-good Florida Gators squad. The 2010-11 squad, powered by been-there seniors and stud freshman Jared Sullinger, started 24-0 en route to a 34-3 finish. The unit swept the Big Ten’s regular season and postseason titles before a shocking trip-up on a last-second shot by Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight in the Sweet 16.


That run of sustained success could happen again in a shorter spurt, but the next Ohio State coach is unlikely to match Matta’s longevity. By stealing Oden and Conley Jr. out of Indianapolis, the Buckeyes caught lightning in a bottle with a young coach who happened to form a once-in-a-lifetime recruiting connection from his days as Butler’s head man, while Indiana was floundering in the final years of the Mike Davis era.

There is a blueprint for success at Ohio State, and while some of the names being thrown out for the job are ridiculous, there is a reason Smith should be aiming high in his search for Matta’s successor. To highlight some of the reasons Matt Brown noted in his spirited pitch for the Buckeyes’ opening, Ohio State is backed by LeBron/Nike’s considerable financial might, they practice in a new facility, the Big Ten is annually one of the sport’s top conferences and most of the games are on television. Once things stabilize with the program, the Buckeyes will be in the NCAA Tournament on an annual basis and should contend for conference titles every few seasons.

The Buckeyes would be wise to select a coach who works in a similar way to Matta when he was rolling from 2010-13. Sure, Matta convinced a handful of elite prospects (Oden, Conley Jr., D’Angelo Russell) that had no business playing college hoops at a football school to come to Columbus, but Matta was at his best when he focused his recruiting efforts on Ohio and the Midwest, and then cherry-picked from the national scene. Toward the end, Matta and his staff lost their way chasing the shiny national kids while local stars like Caris LeVert, Vince Edwards, Esa Ahmad and others wound up elsewhere.

The end was unfortunate and ugly, but Ohio State could do a whole lot worse than try to hire the next Thad Matta.

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Thad Matta's Ohio State legacy: The greatest coach in Buckeyes history - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Thad Matta's Ohio State legacy: The greatest coach in Buckeyes history
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes had just beaten No. 1-ranked and previously unbeaten Illinois on a Matt Sylvester 3-pointer with 5 seconds left. My dad had somehow scored tickets for the Ohio State men's basketball team's biggest game of the year. That had previously ...
What's next for Ohio State basketball after Thad Matta's firing? Buckeye Talk Podcastcleveland.com
Matta Out as Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball Head CoachWaiting For Next Year
Helwagen Chat: Wide receivers stepping up; who follows Matta?247Sports
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -East Grand Forks Exponent
all 54 news articles »

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Former Ohio State OT Taylor Decker undergoes shoulder surgery
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft pick was sidelined during OTAs.

Taylor Decker, one of the Ohio State Buckeyes who helped make history as part of the impressive 2016 NFL Draft class, is now sidelined for most of the offseason. It was reported early Tuesday that the offensive tackle underwent shoulder surgery, after suffering an injury during practice. There was no timetable for his return immediately released.

The second-year player is coming off a solid rookie season, where he played every offensive snap for the Lions as the starting left tackle -- the only player for the team, along with quarterback Matthew Stafford, to line-up for 100 percent of snaps in 2016. He allowed just 4.5 sacks over 16 games, played 1,037 snaps and earned six penalty flags (three holds and three false starts) in his first year in the league.

“I was impressed, obviously, with his physical ability, it jumps out the screen at you, but his mental makeup and his ability to move on from the negatives and find areas of weakness in his game and improve them, he did a heck of a job for us this year,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said of Decker.

Decker is expected to be a big contributor for the offense in the coming years. This latest setback could keep him out for most of training camp, but hopefully the tackle is able to make it back to the field in time for preseason.

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Elite O-tackle target to discuss Buckeyes today with coach - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Elite O-tackle target to discuss Buckeyes today with coach
247Sports
The Buckeyes have a commitment from one of the country's top offensive tackle prospects in Max Wray. They are also the big Crystal Ball favorite to land the country's No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in Jackson Carman. But the staff is looking to sign ...


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BTN announces first three weeks of 2017 football schedule
BTN Communications via Big Ten Network

BTN today announced its schedule for the first three weeks of the 2017 college football season, featuring 16 non-conference matchups that include the defending Big Ten Champion Penn State Nittany Lions as well as Michigan and Wisconsin teams that finished last season ranked in the Associated Press top 10. BTN kicks off the season on Thursday, August 31, at 7 p.m. ET when P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers host Buffalo at TCF Bank Field. Four games follow on Saturday, Sept. 2, including a matchup between Iowa and Wyoming that will pit Butkus Award finalist Josey Jewell and the

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Best of Week 8: Michigan at Penn State will be a big one
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Six games dot the docket as the season inches toward the midway point. And all eyes will be on Michigan’s trip to Penn State in a huge East Division tilt. The Wolverines have won the last three meetings vs. the Nittany Lions, including a 28-16 victory in Beaver Stadium in 2015.

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Ohio State basketball was hosting a Louisville transfer when the Thad Matta news broke
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes move quickly.

Ohio State’s decision to part ways with basketball coach Thad Matta was swift. It was reported by 247Sports that the team was hosting a prospective Louisville transfer, Jay Henderson, along with coach Rick Pitino when the news came down. Adam Jardy later confirmed the report that the Buckeyes were hosting a recruit.

Matta and Pitino are well-known friends, so it’s tough to say what the news will mean for Henderson and his interest in the program. The Buckeyes need to add more bodies to the roster, and quickly, and the first step could be a Big Ten legacy — Henderson’s father played basketball for Penn State from 1986-1990.

Henderson was a walk-on guard for the Cardinals, and announced his decision to transfer in early-May. He was with the team for two seasons and earned playing time in 27 total games, 10 his first year and 17 in 2016. In those 27 games, he went 6 of 23 field goals (26.1%), 4 of 11 in the paint (36.4%), 2 of 12 from the arc (16.7%), and 4 for 4 free throws, scoring 18 total points. He also claimed five each of rebounds, assists and steals, in addition to eight personal fouls.

The 6’4, 180-pound guard is still hoping to reclaim some of his success from high school, where he attended Lake Highland Prep in Orlando. He was honored twice on the state all-tournament team, ranked among the top 25 prospects from Florida as a senior and scored over 1,100 points in his final three season at Lake Highland Prep. Henderson led his high school team to two Florida Class 4A state championships, scoring 15 points with seven rebounds in the his second straight title win in 2014.

Coming out of high school, Henderson had offers from schools like Purdue, Dayton, Seton Hall, Florida State, and Stanford but ultimately chose to walk-on at St. John’s. He didn’t end up playing ball his freshman year, with a plan to join the team for his sophomore season... the best laid plans. St. John’s ended up going through a coaching transition in 2014-2015, and Henderson no longer had a spot on the roster.


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Emory Jones misses Elite 11 cut, Tyreke Smith pops in at Ohio State, and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Emory Jones misses Elite 11 cut, Tyreke Smith pops in at Ohio State, and more
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes now have two defensive ends already committed (Brenton Cox and Andrew Chatfield) and there's little doubt that teams recruiting against them will try and impress upon him that the “need” isn't as great for his services in Columbus as they ...
Kurelic: OSU to welcome in top 2019 QB; back in Virginia; more247Sports
The Hurry Up: Four-Star Linebacker Talks Decision While Defensive End Commit Visits AlabamaEleven Warriors
Ohio State Recruiting: Number 2 Ranked Class Loaded On DefenseScarlet and Game

all 42 news articles »

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Thomas discusses decision to leave OSU off top seven list - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Thomas discusses decision to leave OSU off top seven list
247Sports
... ordering info and comments on Undisputed Champions, our recap magazine of Ohio State's 2014 national championship run. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!


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Helwagen Chat: Wide receivers stepping up; who follows Matta? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Helwagen Chat: Wide receivers stepping up; who follows Matta?
247Sports
Also, if we do miss on White and Teague stays committed to Georgia, who would be the next option the Buckeyes look at for RB? Helwagen: OK getting to work on this now ... Gary Housteau has an interview coming with Tavion Thomas ... he said Ohio State ...


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Twitter: Ohio State basketball family reacts to Thad Matta’s dismissal
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Soon after Ohio State announced Thad Matta's run as Ohio State men's basketball coach was over, effective immediately, on Monday afternoon, those he coached went to social media to react to the news.

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Wi-Fi coming to an Ohio State venue near you - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wi-Fi coming to an Ohio State venue near you
247Sports
Have you ever been at an Ohio State sporting event, be it football or basketball, and attempted to use your phone only to find out you don't have cell service? It's a problem many Buckeye fans have run into and no one these days wants to be without 4G.

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Five candidates that have a real shot at becoming the next Ohio State basketball coach
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Okay fine, six.

On Monday, Thad Matta was released as head coach of the Ohio State basketball program. Now, the Buckeyes are on the clock to find a new head coach.

With Archie Miller now at Indiana, that’s one potential Matta successor off the board. Luckily, there are a handful of other names that have popped up on the coach search.

5 reasonable guys in the running to be the next OSU basketball coach

Chris Holtmann — Butler


It would seem wise for the Buckeyes to go back to the same wells for their next head coach. Like Matta, Holtmann has done a nice job at making the Butler Bulldogs not only a tournament team, but a tourney team that makes a run in March.

This past season, Holtmann’s Bulldogs marched to the Sweet 16, before being toppled by the eventual national champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Over the course of three seasons at the helm of the Big East power, Holtmann has produced a commendable 70-31 record -- and hasn’t finished below 4th place in the conference.

Butler is a great place for a coach to make a name for themselves. Matta used his success at Butler to make the leap to Xavier — and then to Ohio State. Brad Stevens, who now is the coach of the Boston Celtics, took the Bulldogs on a magical journey that included two Final Four appearances.

It wouldn’t be too surprising if the Buckeyes actually went back and pulled Holtmann out of the friendly confines of Hinkle Fieldhouse, and into a new friendly confines within The Schottenstein Center.

Chris Mack – Xavier


Like Holtmann, don’t be surprised if the Bucks retraced their steps to find their next head coach. Xavier was a place Matta coached at before, so it would make sense to go back and look to see if they possess the next Ohio State head coach, right?

Chris Mack is the one currently in the HC chair for the Musketeers — and he’s done such a good job that he’s popped up on the Buckeyes radar. Whether in the Atlantic-10 or Big East, Mack made sure Xavier was a team to be reckoned with. Sweet 16 appearances are the norm for the Musketeers, but Mack exceeded the norm this past season — Xavier reached the Elite 8 for the first time since 2008.

However, getting Mack out of the Cincinnati area may be tough. Mack played college basketball at Xavier, so that means the Buckeyes would need to make a deal so sweet that it breaks the loyalty between Xavier and Mack. While OSU has the resources, getting Mack might be easier said than done.

Mick Cronin – Cincinnati


Like Mack, the in-state factor comes into play with Mick Cronin. Cronin is the man in charge of the Cincinnati Bearcats, and a jump to the flagship school in the Buckeye State would make sense.

Cronin has reached the NCAA Tournament in seven consecutive seasons. In the past season, the Bearcats reached the 30-win plateau — making Cronin a hot commodity in college basketball.

UNLV has tried to get Cronin out of Cincinnati, but to no avail. Like Mack, Cronin played college basketball at Cincinnati. Even though Ohio State is a premier landing spot for any coach, pulling a coach away from their alma mater is a tall order.

However, Thad Matta’s alma mater was Butler, and he left them for Xavier. So, anything is possible.

Billy Donovan — Oklahoma City Thunder


Maybe the best person to take over is someone who has beaten you?

Billy Donovan beat Thad Matta in 2007 for a national championship. A year after that, Donovan won another title. The Florida Gators reached new heights with Donovan roaming courtside. In the 19 seasons as head coach, Donovan and his Gators went to the Final Four on four separate occasions, and won the SEC regular seasons on four separate occasions.

Now, Donovan is in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and has an MVP candidate on his squad in Russell Westbrook. Even though the Thunder were bounced in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs, Donovan at least got the team to postseason play.

Before all the head coaching jobs, Donovan spent his playing days at Providence and was coached by Rick Pitino, who is now at Louisville. As a player for the Friars, Donovan went to the 1987 Final Four.

Getting to Final Fours and being part of good basketball teams is something Donovan can do well. When Donovan was flourishing as head coach at UF, Urban Meyer was doing the same on the football field with the Gators, too. It could be a coaching reunion in Columbus — much to the dismay of Gator Nation.

Tom Crean — Formerly of the Indiana Hoosiers


Tom Crean has success in the college basketball world; he’s won Big Ten regular season titles at Indiana, and took Marquette to the Final Four in 2003.

Indiana dumped Crean at the end of the 2016-17 season, and got Archie Miller — who was once thought to be the Buckeyes’ next coach. The reason for Crean’s departure from the Hoosiers is tied to performance, which has been all over the place for the past five seasons. Since 2012-13, Crean has won two Big Ten regular season titles and reached the Sweet 16 on two occasions. Also in that timespan: Indiana has finished in 8th, 7th and 10th in the Big Ten standings. The nail in Crean’s IU coffin came after the Hoosiers lost to Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT.

Unlike the other coaches, Crean is available. There’s no contract to buyout; all the Buckeyes have to do is pay the man. The added juiciness of getting Crean comes from the fact that he’s an in-law to John Harbaugh. When Crean was coaching at IU, Harbaugh made the way to Bloomington, Ind. for games. If Crean were to go to OSU, would Harbaugh do the same?

That added dimension would be fascinating to see.

And one more bonus name that’s popped up a few times

Buzz Williams — Virginia Tech


There’s another name that’s popped up on a few potential coaching candidate lists that could also be a potential home run, Buzz Williams.

Williams has experience mining the midwest when he coached at Marquette from 2008 to 2014, before unexpectedly jumping to Virginia Tech. He’s already worked to rebuild a moribund Tech program, taking them back to the NCAA Tournament, and has battled the Buckeyes for recruits a few times on the trail.

He’s young (44). He’s got a big personality. He has experience turning around programs and is a great recruiter. He’ll be expensive to pry out of Blacksburg, but Ohio State has the money to go after a big name here.

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What's next for Ohio State basketball after Thad Matta's firing ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What's next for Ohio State basketball after Thad Matta's firing ...
cleveland.com
Doug, Ari and Bill break down the news of Thad Matta's firing and what's next for Ohio State.
Matta Out as Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball Head CoachWaiting For Next Year
Skull Session: A Goodbye to Thad Matta, Buckeyes Old and New in ...Eleven Warriors
Buckeyes, Thad Matta parting ways after 13 seasons – Page 1 ...East Grand Forks Exponent
The Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 17 news articles »

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Ohio State’s top basketball commit remains committed to program
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State’s top 2018 commit is still a Buckeye despite Thad Matta’s sudden departure from the basketball program.

The Ohio State basketball program is actively searching for a head coach for the first time in 13 years, following Thad Matta’s sudden departure Monday. Recent recruiting woes played a major role in Athletic Director Gene Smith’s decision to move away from the Matta era, along with a decline in on-court success. Both were direct results from Matta’s health problems.

However, despite the surprising departure, Ohio State’s top commit in the 2018 recruiting class has confirmed he is still a Buckeye.

Four-star shooting guard Dane Goodwin (Columbus, OH / Upper Arlington) spoke with Ryan McGlade of BuckeyeSportsBulletinOnline.com and reaffirmed his commitment to the program, saying that despite the big changes, nothing has changed.


The news that Goodwin remains committed to the program is critical as the future of the Buckeyes’ basketball program is mostly up in the air.

Along with Goodwin, the Buckeyes have also been able to secure a commitment from small forward Justin Ahrens (Versailles, OH / Versailles). The three-star SF has yet to publicly reaffirm his commitment, but it would be a surprise if he were to not take the same stance as Goodwin.

Buckeye basketball recruiting will be interesting to follow for the time being, as it will be up to the assistant coaches to lure talent to a recovering program.

Emory Jones missed the Elite 11 cut


This past weekend, the top quarterback prospects in the 2018 recruiting class were in Los Angeles competing in the prestigious Elite 11 camp. The annual event brings together two dozen of the country’s best QBs to partake in skills challenges. The top 12 performers are then selected to participate in Nike’s The Opening camp later this month.

Ohio State five-star QB Emory Jones (Franklin, GA / Heard County) participated in the weekend’s events, but Monday morning we learned he did not make the cut.


Jones has received rave reviews from other summer camps, but he struggled at time this weekend, ultimately leading to the missed opportunity. While it is an obvious disappointment that Jones will not be one of the 12 QBs participating in The Opening Finals in Oregon this year, it doesn’t mean that he is not one of the top QB’s in his draft class.

Ranked as the No. 2 dual-threat QB by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Jones has impressed the college football landscape throughout his recruitment. He is coveted by seemingly every college football program in the country, and teams like Alabama, Tennessee and Oregon have continued to recruit him, despite his commitment to Ohio State.

Speaking more to Jones’ potential, while participating in Ohio State camps last summer, the Georgia native was seen by some as the top incoming Buckeye QB, outshining the likes of both Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell.

Jones may have had a subpar showing last weekend, but his overall body of work bodes extremely well for Ohio State and Buckeye Nation should be thrilled he is a strong commit to the University.

Key Ohio State target sets USC visit date


One of the Buckeyes’ most important recruiting targets in the 2018 recruiting class is offensive tackle Jackson Carman (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield). The five-star OT is seen as one of the best offensive line prospects across all major college football recruiting databases. The 247Sports Composite rankings has him listed as the No. 1 OT prospect in the country and the No. 12 overall recruit.

Carman’s Ohio roots has had him pegged as an Ohio State favorite for the majority of his recruitment, but he has been making sure to see what the other top college football program’s in the country have to offer. Because of this, the Buckeyes’ hold as Carman’s top school has been slightly fading.

After a recent successful visit to Clemson, many believed the Tigers could now be in the driver’s seat and now we know he will soon be making a trek across the country to visit USC.

It is expected that Carman will leave Los Angeles with the same feeling he had following his Clemson visit. This all means that Ohio State will have to continue to diligently recruit Carman in order to secure a commitment from him.

Quick Hits

• Top safety prospect BJ Foster unsurprisingly, picked Texas over Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and TCU.
• Elite DB prospect Patrick Surtain Jr.’s father said both are impressed with Urban Meyer.
• USC will be hosting a camp this summer, along with seven Big Ten teams.

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Ohio State basketball: Thad Matta out after 13 seasons coaching Buckeyes - Akron Beacon Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Thad Matta out after 13 seasons coaching Buckeyes
Akron Beacon Journal
COLUMBUS: Thad Matta is out as Ohio State's basketball coach, with the Buckeyes having missed the last two NCAA Tournaments amid an exodus of players. Matta, who has coached the team for 13 seasons, also cited his health at a news conference ...
'A long, strange trip': Thad Matta out as Ohio State coachWYFF Greenville

all 54 news articles »

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Texas, Herman win out over Ohio State, others for 5-star Foster - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Texas, Herman win out over Ohio State, others for 5-star Foster
247Sports
While the Buckeyes were one of his other top choices, his Crystal Ball read 100% Texas as he announced his choice. He had a final five of Texas, Ohio State, TCU, LSU and Michigan. The Buckeyes have had plenty of success recruiting the state of Texas ...

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Matta Out as Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball Head Coach - Waiting For Next Year
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Matta Out as Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball Head Coach
Waiting For Next Year
In April, as axes fell across the college basketball landscape, the relative quiet at Ohio State led many to assume that Matta would receive one more year on the Buckeyes bench; one that would immediately start with him on the hot seat. Today proved ...


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Vitale says forget Miller/Smart – lobbies for Crean to Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Vitale says forget Miller/Smart – lobbies for Crean to Buckeyes
247Sports
But Vitale has his candidate saying the Buckeyes should go after former Indiana head coach Tom Crean. A waste of time thinking Sean Miller / Shaka Smart r interested in Buckeyes job / get real go after @TomCrean https://t.co/gtHG3jcAXZ. — Dick Vitale ...


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Recruiting struggles force Matta out as Buckeyes' coach - Ironton Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Recruiting struggles force Matta out as Buckeyes' coach
Ironton Tribune
But the Buckeyes hit a rough patch the past two seasons. After finishing 21-14 and losing in the second round of the NIT in 2015-16, four out of five members of his 2015 recruiting class transferred. The Buckeyes limped to the end of this season, and ...

and more »

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Kurelic: OSU to welcome in top 2019 QB; back in Virginia; more - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: OSU to welcome in top 2019 QB; back in Virginia; more
247Sports
1) On May 9 the Buckeyes offered a scholarship to Allen (Texas) 2019 quarterback Grant Tisdale. They have also offered Tisdale's 2019 wide receiver teammate Theo Wease. Both are very interested in the Buckeyes and both plan to visit Ohio State. In fact ...


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Did Ohio State wait too long to let go of Thad Matta?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Our latest podcast breaks down Thad Matta’s departure, and what’s next for the basketball program.

After 13 seasons, 337 wins, five Big Ten titles, two Final Fours, and countless other accolades, Thad Matta is out as head coach at Ohio State. After an early morning email about a press conference involving Matta and athletic director Gene Smith prompted reports that Matta would coach the 2017-18 season, the two jointly announced that the legendary coach would be stepping down immediately.

It’s no doubt an interesting decision on multiple fronts, given Matta’s legacy in Columbus, as well as its timing. After the Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight season, Smith gave Matta what appeared to be a vote of confidence heading into the offseason.

On this edition of The Hangout in the Holyland, Matt Brown and Colton Denning discuss whether they think Smith waited too long in making his decision, why the Buckeyes may regret not moving sooner, and hiring now-Indiana head coach (and former Matta assistant) Archie Miller.

The guys also discuss some of their favorite memories of the Matta era, why he deserves all the credit for building up the expectations of a once-mediocre program, and early thoughts on who the Buckeyes might target in their coaching search.

You can find the podcast on our iTunes page, and we strongly encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

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Ohio State is still a very good basketball job
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Here’s hoping Ohio State doesn’t forget about that when they look for a new coach.

You could be forgiven for feeling down about this Ohio State coaching search.

The timing is all wrong, and the Buckeyes missed out on the obvious candidate, Archie Miller, who will now face the Buckeyes every season, making sure fans don’t forget what could have been. Ohio State’s roster is in shambles, with virtually no depth at point guard or center, and without enough scholarship bodies to even play five on five in practice.

That’s all true. But there’s one truth Ohio State fans and administrators would do well to remember.

This is still a really good job.

It’s a really good job in large part because of Thad Matta, who did nothing but win (well, except that last year) in Columbus. A pair of Final Fours. Five Big Ten regular season titles. Three Elite Eights. And most importantly, raised the expectations enough so that two consecutive seasons without making the NCAA Tournament was no longer acceptable. Lots of folks didn’t care about OSU hoops before Matta. They care enough to demand change now.



But Ohio State is a solid job beyond just that recent success. This is one of the largest athletic departments in the country, one capable of paying $3 million, or more, to the right basketball coach, and giving them every resource, from fancy practice facilities to LeBron merchandise, that you could ever want. It’s located in Columbus, a city that produces an underrated amount of prep basketball talent, and in Ohio, a state that produces quite a bit. Without leaving Ohio or a connecting state, there’s enough talent to build quite a basketball team.

TV access? Ohio State hoops will be on ESPN, FOX, FS1, BTN, you name it. Tournament access? You’re in one of the best conferences in the country, but one that isn’t so top-heavy that you couldn’t make a run at winning the dang thing. Home gym? Sure, when Ohio State stinks, Value City Arena has all the charm and energy of an airplane hangar, but when the Buckeyes are good, the place can rock as hard as anywhere else in the conference.

It isn’t a basketball-first school, and never will be. But maybe that isn’t a bad thing, since the microscope and the pressure won’t be what it will be at a place like Indiana. What else could you want?

The timing is going to make this tricky, but Ohio State should remember that it’s Ohio State when it’s time to make those calls. Swing big. Call former Akron assistant coach Shaka Smart. Call Billy Donovan. Call Fred Hoiberg. Call Buzz Williams. Call Gregg Marshall. Lose Mike Brown’s phone number. Don’t answer his texts.

Will Ohio State get one of those guys? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe Ohio State doesn’t pull the trigger on Thad Matta, right now, if they don’t already have something in the works, or at least, a primary target.

If the Buckeyes swing and swing and swing and miss, and end up with say, Steve Forbes, while Archie Miller is cutting down nets, Gene Smith’s mostly excellent legacy at Ohio State will get a significant tarnish. But if they can secure a bigger name, then this entire awkward operation can be salvaged.

There are other solid candidates further down the list. Chris Mack or Chris Holtmann could be excellent coaches at Ohio State, in my humble opinion. But if you’re going to make a drastic move, letting one of the best coaches in the country go after it’s too late to do anything to the current recruiting class, it better be to make a big, bold move.

Ohio State should look to make one, and it isn’t crazy to expect one. There’s a lot to like about this job, even with the struggling roster. Jeff Goodman agrees, saying “and it shouldn't be difficult to lure someone with a strong resume.” Gregg Doyel at the Star went even further.


I’m not sure if I’d go quite that far, but that’s the right attitude to have.

This is a good gig. Let’s hope Ohio State gets somebody that demonstrates that. He’ll have some awfully big shoes to fill.

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