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Badgers roll past Buckeyes - Beloit Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Badgers roll past Buckeyes
Beloit Daily News
Wisconsin had no such troubles with the Buckeyes (10-7, 0-4), especially because the Badgers seemed to rebound everything they missed. Playing its third straight game without Keita Bates-Diop, who's out for the season with a stress fracture in his leg ...
Wisconsin thumps Ohio State, and Thad Matta and the Buckeyes have problemsYahoo Sports
4-star RB Cordarrian Richardson hoping to hear from Ohio State, Tyjon Lindsey sees Zach Smith and more on Jaylen ...Landof10.com
Buckeyes Blown Out By Wisconsin, 89-66FOXSports.com
Janesville Gazette -cleveland.com
all 129 news articles »

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HabaneroBuck said:

Nebraska takes offense at being compared to Ohio State at this point.

Wow, 69-41 at this point. I really wasn't taking the Thad must go stuff too seriously....but yeah, it's gettin' real.

EDIT: 73-41...are you kidding me? Can we go for a 40-point loss at this point? That would be epic.

Click to expand...

Yeah, Matta did great things in his first 7-8 years, but it looks like he's been on vacation for the last 4 years. Rarely does more than one player look like they want to win at a given time, and it's been like that since Sullinger and Craft left. Missing shots and getting out played is a talent issue, not putting in the effort on game day is a coaching issue. Not expecting a 2011 type year on a regular basis, but going above 500 would be nice.

Former Ohio State talent will be on display in the NFL’s Divisional Round this weekend
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ezekiel Elliott and Ryan Shazier headline Buckeyes still in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring.

“[Ryan] Shazier is the fastest inside linebacker in the league. He didn’t run the 40 at the combine because of an injury, but he ran an unofficial 4.36 at his Ohio State pro day...that speed and athleticism has allowed Shazier and Dupree to contribute to the defense in diverse ways.”

— Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


The divisional round of the NFL playoffs are happening this week. That means we’ll get to see former Ohio State Buckeyes in action. On the AFC side, Ryan Shazier will be donning the black and gold for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In an article by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo wrote about the recent draft hits the Steelers have had. Shazier came out of OSU in 2014, and was drafted amidst a two-year playoff drought for the Steel Curtain — something that doesn’t happen very often.

Since busting onto the NFL scene, Shazier has been one of the fastest players on the defensive side of the ball. This season, the former Buckeye has used his speed to be one of the defensive leaders for the Steelers. He’s within the top three defenders on the squad in the tackles and sacks category, and leads the Steel Curtain with three interceptions, as mentioned in the article.

When Shazier was at Ohio State, he displayed his playmaking ability – and it’s no wonder that he would become an NFL star. In the 2013 season, Shazier, a junior, contributed seven sacks, 144 tackles and four forced fumbles for the Buckeyes.

You can catch Shazier and the Steelers take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game was originally scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET, but due to forecasted storms in Kansas City, the time was pushed back.

“At the national championship, he’s proven it. At the professional level, he’s proven it. He’s not afraid of success. He wants it. He welcomes it.”

— Emmitt Smith on the success of Ezekiel Elliott, as reported by Jean-Jacques Taylor ESPN.com


On the NFC side of the divisional playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers. That means one thing: we get to see Ezekiel Elliott run the football.

The rookie sensation, who was named to the AP All-Pro team last week, has been setting defenses ablaze. His success on the gridiron was noticed by another former Cowboy great, Emmitt Smith.

In the article by Jean-Jacques Taylor, Smith notes watching Elliott make a jump cut against the Minnesota Vikings for 30 yards in the regular season. That’s just one of the highlight reel plays Elliott has made in his first season on the professional football circuit.

Walking into his first NFL playoff game — which will take place in the same venue where he helped Ohio State secure the first ever College Football Playoff -- at AT&T Stadium, Zeke has the honor of leading the NFL in both yards and carries. Additionally, the 1,631 yards Zeke collected this year broke Tony Dorsett’s 30-year-old Cowboys rookie rushing record.

Zeke’s tour de force brings up questions. For instance: how does one rush for those kind of numbers? Smith answered the question in the article by Taylor, stating that the “combination of vision, speed and power” helped paved the way for Elliott to menace defenses.

Smith knows what he’s talking about. The Cowboy running back was part of three Super Bowl wins for ‘America’s Team’ and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Smith also holds numerous NFL rushing records, too.

To see the next chapter in Ezekiel Elliott lore, the Cowboys face the Packers at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday.

“Despite the disappointing postseason, the Big Ten looks robust and ready to be a major force again next year and beyond.”

— Brian Bennett, ESPN.com


Pivoting back to the college gridiron, the Big Ten is trying to pick up the pieces after another disappointing year in the College Football Playoff. Even though the Big Ten representatives haven’t scored in the past two playoff appearances, and bundled with the fact the conference went 3-7 in this past session of bowl games, there is no need to hit the panic button.

ESPN.com’s Brian Bennett broke it down, and determined that the Big Ten is strong – and is getting more swole. Notably, the high priced and high profile coaches residing in the Big Ten have brought a fierce competition to the conference game. Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh are part of, arguably, the biggest rivalry in all of sports. James Franklin has reclaimed Penn State to national prominence and Paul Chryst has Wisconsin on the doorstep to becoming a playoff contender. Combined with the new hire of P.J. Fleck to Minnesota, the Big Ten now has a boatload of talented coaches all going in the same direction: conference suprecemy with a chance to win a national title.

Bennett makes a couple more great points that show the Big Ten’s strength: money and the ability to recruit. The Big Ten Network has been a nice source of revenue for the member schools, and the recruiting trails now go all across the country in search for the next star. If you want read Bennett going more in-depth on the Big Ten, you can see his article here.

Stick to sports


• Ohio State is getting an urbanized Target that will feature a CVS and Starbucks.

• Man sends $1,000 worth of pennies to the DMV.

• State senator proposes bill to hold colleges accountable for athletic department deficits.

• House sets path for health care reform.

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Ohio State AD Gene Smith replacing Barry Alvarez on College Football Playoff selection committee
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The OSU AD will have a busy fall.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith’s undergone a bit of a 180 in the minds of many OSU faithful.

After famously clumsily handling the tattoo-for-bartering scandal resulting in the firing of Jim Tressel and costing Ohio State’s 12-0 team a potential national title shot, the return for glory of the OSU football team under Meyer and the rise of the wrestling program helped buy a lot of political capital back in Smith’s favor amongst the fanbase.

While his legacy is probably firmly cemented in the positive now, OSU partisans will have another data point of interest to add to Smith’s body of work while OSU AD: College Football Playoff selection committee member.

According to ESPN’s CFP beat writer Heather Dinich, Smith is replacing outgoing Wisconsin AD (and former head football coach) Barry Alvarez. Smith once helmed the NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection committee, resulting in a ballot that drew near universal ire and some criticism from college hoops hardcores.

A few negative opinions from years ago aside, the former Notre Dame football player clearly knows his gridiron, and should be an asset to a committee that could only stand to benefit from some new backgrounds, opinions, and ideas. Smith should be one of at least three new members as former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice are also rotating off the committee along with Alvarez.

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Thad Matta's Buckeyes May be Bad, but That Doesn't Mean They Have to be Boring - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Thad Matta's Buckeyes May be Bad, but That Doesn't Mean They Have to be Boring
Eleven Warriors
In the late-80s, early-90s slice of life dramedy The Wonder Years, Columbo's grandson navigates life through a funhouse mirror version of America in the 1960s, resulting in a lot of synth-backed montages where he Learns A Lesson about friendship or ...


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Ohio State AD Gene Smith to be named to CFP selection committee - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State AD Gene Smith to be named to CFP selection committee
ESPN
Smith, who has been the Buckeyes' athletic director since 2005, is held in high regard throughout collegiate athletics. Smith spent five seasons on the NCAA men's basketball committee, and served as its chair for the 2010-11 academic year. Smith, a ...

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Skull Session: Torrance Gibson's Parting Shot, Buckeyes on the Big Board, and Eddie George's Dieting Secrets - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Skull Session: Torrance Gibson's Parting Shot, Buckeyes on the Big Board, and Eddie George's Dieting Secrets
Eleven Warriors
Cleveland Heights' Jaylen Harris, the top receiver in Ohio, will commit at 10 a.m. ET. I like the local team's chances in this derby. The men's basketball team lost to Wisconsin. (I typed this with the Bucks down 30 with eight minutes left in the ...
Ohio State football | Torrance Gibson to transfer to CincinnatiColumbus Dispatch
Torrance Gibson transfers from Ohio State to Cincinnati247Sports
Former Buckeye WR Commits to UCDown The Drive (blog)
Land-Grant Holy Land -Scarlet and Game -ESPN.com
all 26 news articles »

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BREAKING: Buckeyes land No. 1 WR in Ohio, Jaylen Harris commits - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BREAKING: Buckeyes land No. 1 WR in Ohio, Jaylen Harris commits
247Sports
21 as a Buckeye commitment. “I told coach (Urban) Meyer I was coming a couple days ago,” Harris said. “He was definitely happy. Coach Meyer, coach (Tony) Alford, coach (Zach) Smith, the whole staff was happy.” And that includes new Ohio State offensive ...

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2017 WR Jaylen Harris commits to Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Another four-star BOOOOOOOM!

Ohio State’s recruiting class for the ages just picked up commit No. 19.

Four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris has committed to the Buckeyes. Harris, out of Cleveland Heights, is the sixth ranked recruit in the state of Ohio. He’s also the 28th ranked wideout nationally, and the 178th ranked prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite.

Even with Harris’s commitment, Ohio State remains (barely) behind No. 1 Alabama in the 247Sports’ Composite team rankings, but still has a much higher average rating per player than the Crimson Tide.

Harris joins five-star Trevon Grimes and four-star Columbus-area athlete Brendon White as the wide receivers in the Buckeyes’ 2017 class. White was seemingly destined for the defensive side of the ball, but a recent tweet seems to indicate that White will play wide receiver for Ohio State. Harris’s commitment again gives the Buckeyes three wideouts in its current recruiting class after four-star wideout Tyjon Lindsey recently decommitted from Ohio State.

At 6-5, Harris gives Ohio State another tall, outside, potential deep threat option, something the team has struggled to find since Devin Smith left for the NFL. Amid a sea of speedy slot types, it pays to have a few more traditional options.

Earning a large amount offers during the recruiting process, Harris picked the Buckeyes over Penn State, Michigan State, and other high major programs. For a while, it appeared Ohio State might not have room for a third wideout, but the internal math must have finally evened out, and another talented Ohio high school player will remain in the Buckeye State.

The Buckeyes now have commitments from five of the top six players in the state of Ohio. That seems pretty good to us.

Highlights

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BM5: Gibson 'always a tease'; Booker to middle 'backer? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Gibson 'always a tease'; Booker to middle 'backer?
247Sports
The college football season has come to a close. As part of our year-end review of Ohio State's 2016 season, we will be counting down the 20 most important contributors to the Buckeyes this year. We will release one per day until we reach the top spot.
Skull Session: Torrance Gibson's Parting Shot, Buckeyes on the Big Board, and Eddie George's Dieting SecretsEleven Warriors
Ohio State football | Torrance Gibson to transfer to CincinnatiColumbus Dispatch
Former Buckeye WR Commits to UCDown The Drive (blog)
Land-Grant Holy Land -Scarlet and Game
all 28 news articles »

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Ohio State coaches hit the road after dead period ends
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are back on the trail before National Signing Day 2017.

If it seems like Ohio State is always in the headlines for something, it’s because it’s true. The Buckeyes never seem to have a slow day in the world of sports news. Lately, for every negative Ohio State related headline considering a decommit, coaching change, etc., there’s been a counter story that brings what seems like even better news than imagined. The same was true again yesterday as the Ohio State coaching staff was back on the road since the dead period ended at midnight. As Urban Meyer always says, “the future is bright in Columbus”.

Back to the well?


When Ohio State rolled into Brooklyn, N.Y. a few short years ago, they were at Erasmus Hall High School in full pursuit of Curtis Samuel. Fast forward a couple of years and that same Curtis Samuel is now a Buckeye football alumni headed to the NFL in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft. What seemed like the start of a beautiful relationship between the Buckeyes and Erasmus Hall continued when 2016 Ohio State recruiting class commit Jahsen Wint gave his pledge to the Buckeyes.

Yesterday, that relationship may have once again went back to well when Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano made a stop at Erasmus Hall and extended an offer to current native, and 2018 prospect, Aron Cruickshank.



Aron, listed as an “athlete” projects to be a receiver at the next level and could be a Samuel clone in the making. With his 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, he may not have the size many may covet, but his speed and athleticism on the field is what separates him from the rest of the pack. Currently, Cruickshank has three offers from the likes of Michigan, Syracuse and most recently Ohio State, but with the two best recruiting schools in the Big Ten extending their hat into the ring, it’s only a matter of time before others do the same.

There’s plenty of time before Aron makes a final decision on his college of choice, but with two former Erasmus Hall players currently with Ohio State ties, the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer may have found the start of a very key pipeline in the Empire State. NFL-bound star Curtis Samuel sure seems to think so.

Actually, back to the state


Another New Jersey native picked up an offer from the Scarlet and Gray. Class of 2018 safety Shayne Simon was the recipient. Simon took to Twitter to tell the great news.


Simon currently has 11 offers, according to 247sports. Ohio State isn’t the only Big Ten school vying for the three-star; Michigan and Penn State have thrown their hat into the ring for the Jersey City, N.J. prospect.

As more information, visits, and everything in-between comes up with Simon, Land-Grant Holy Land will keep you posted.

Are we finally ready?


What a last couple of days it has been in the world of Ohio State recruiting. With the decommitment of Tyjon Lindsey and the craziness surrounding his decision, the confusion of what really happened is garnering some serious attention. Ohio State lost out on Lindsey, but good news may come— and help regain the ground lost to Alabama for the No. 1 recruiting class for 2017.

With some light shed on the Jaylen Harris sweepstakes, a final decision is nearing and nearing fast. Thought to be a Buckeye lock for his entire recruitment now, Harris took to twitter to let everyone know that his next tweet would be crucial as it would be an announcement on where he will school.


The Buckeyes have a great receiver in the class in Trevon Grimes, and recently moved fellow 2017 commit Brendon White to the receiver corps. With the departure of Lindsey, the receivers room wants to add some much needed depth. Insert Jaylen Harris (hopefully) and the Buckeyes may have found their answer.

Harris, a Cleveland, Ohio native is no stranger to the Ohio State program as he has made numerous visits. However, Harris has extended his recruitment much longer that many expected. Due to Lindsey seemingly out for good, is Harris now ready to pledge his commitment to Ohio State? Who knows. However, Urban Meyer and Zach Smith have to feel good about where they stand for Harris.

Being from Cleveland, staying home and playing for the beloved Buckeyes brings some serious pressure. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Harris could be a serious complement to Grimes and be key forces in bringing back the vertical passing game to the Buckeye offense. Time will only tell and it could be as soon as today.

OSU makes stop in Indiana


Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano headed to Brooklyn, but they weren’t the only ones on the trail. Kerry Coombs and new linebacker coach Bill Davis headed west of Columbus to Indiana as they made a stop to see current OSU linebacker pledge Peter Werner at Cathedral High School in Mount Vernon.


While Werner may have been the main target to check in on, Coombs and Davis wasted no time as they also checked in on Markese Stepp, a current Notre Dame running back commit for the 2018 class. Stepp, a 6-foot, 205-pound bruiser has been committed to the Irish since June, but that doesn’t stop top programs from checking out the eighth best running back in the country, per 247sports.


The Buckeyes 2018 running back situation seems golden with an early pledge from Florida four-star Brian Sneed. On top of that, the Bucks seem to be a strong leader for in-state star Jaelen Gill, too. However, if Ohio State can pluck Werner from Notre Dame, maybe they’re thinking the same for Stepp.

Make way for Day


No time was wasted yesterday as Bill Davis wasn’t the only new Buckeye coach to hit the road recruiting. Yesterday, new quarterback coach Ryan Day hit the trail as he headed to Georgia to check in on current 2018 quarterback pledge Emory Jones.

At first, some may have worried that the departure of Tim Beck may have a negative effect on future Ohio State QBs currently committed, but after reports and quotes from Jones himself, all seems to be just fine. If anything, with Day’s NFL experience, that may appeal greatly to the prospects Ohio State pursues.

While Day builds his relationship with Jones, it’s important to remember that Joey Burrow, Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell all remain in the QB room for the Buckeyes. Oh, and J.T. Barrett is also there. A truly loaded unit, Jones will be next in line as the five-star is currently ranked by 247sports as the top dual threat QB in the 2018 class and a top 25 prospect at any position in the country. Urban Meyer couldn’t have given more to Coach Day, but with the Ohio State’s exceptions, results must be produced.

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Replacing the Buckeyes' departed cornerbacks - CBS sports.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Replacing the Buckeyes' departed cornerbacks
CBS sports.com (blog)
It won't be easy, but Ohio State is used to replacing corners and defensive back is one of the deepest positions on the team's depth chart. Along with the talent already enrolled, the Buckeyes have some incoming players who could compete for snaps ...
Buckeyes CB Lattimore will enter NFL draftESPN
Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore delcares for NFL Draft: Six Buckeyes leaving early for proscleveland.com
Ohio State football | Marshon Lattimore third defensive back to leave earlyColumbus Dispatch
247Sports -Landof10.com
all 40 news articles »

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Ohio State raises the bar with recruiting cakes - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State raises the bar with recruiting cakes
ESPN (blog)
When a football recruit takes an official visit to a college campus, it has come to be expected that a cookie cake will be waiting for him in his hotel room along with other snacks and beverages. And since everything in college football recruiting ...

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Wisconsin thumps Ohio State, and Thad Matta and the Buckeyes have problems - Yahoo Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wisconsin thumps Ohio State, and Thad Matta and the Buckeyes have problems
Yahoo Sports
The Buckeyes were dismantled by Wisconsin Thursday night in Madison, 89-66. Ohio State's first-half performance gave the game away by halftime. Only four Buckeyes scored before the break. As a team, they put up just 84.4 points per possession.
Ohio State recruiting: Will the Buckeyes' 2017 class be able to match the legacy of the 2013 class?Landof10.com
Badgers blast OSU BuckeyesChannel3000.com - WISC-TV3
UW MEN'S HOOPS: Badgers blitz Buckeyes to get back on winning trackBeaver Dam Daily Citizen
Scarlet and Game -Janesville Gazette
all 74 news articles »

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Hubbard expects to take leadership role for Buckeyes in 2017 - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Hubbard expects to take leadership role for Buckeyes in 2017
247Sports
NOTE – Our staff had access to various Ohio State team members before and after the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. We will share some of those interviews in the days ahead, including this interview with defensive end Sam Hubbard. The result of the 2017 Fiesta ...

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Sens selling structure, but is anyone buying it?
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

It’s the 2016 hockey offseason.

Consider the circumstances: the newly appointed GM’s organization has won one playoff series in the last nine years and having missed the playoffs for the third time in its last four seasons. His organization’s internal budget precludes him from papering over mistakes or outbidding other organizations for free agents who represent upgrades over players who are already in place.

Pierre Dorion is tasked with the responsibility of selling the status quo while simultaneously creating optimism in this fan base.

Rather than make the kind of wholesale changes, Dorion shitcanned Dave Cameron and replaced him with Guy Boucher – selling fans on Boucher’s work ethic, communication skills, diligence and attention to detail.

In Travis Yost’s latest for TSN.ca, he points out that the Senators are back in the familiar position of fighting for a playoff spot despite the fact that the team has cut the number of goals it has allowed down.

Yost questioned whether Boucher’s system or coaching is effective because the neutering of the offence has essentially worked against the club. Not only did Yost emphasize its impacts on the first pairing, but he lamented the performance of the team’s second pairing that was supposed to be buoyed by the addition of Dion Phaneuf last season.

Essentially Yost’s article has opened the door for people and companies to take a closer look at how the Senators have performed through the first half of the year:


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Mining through the data, it became clear that despite the structural changes that have been made on the ice, the Senators are still on the wrong side of some important metrics.

Season CF60 CA60 CF%
20072008 55.29 52.40 51.34
20082009 51.82 53.50 49.21
20092010 55.70 51.40 52.01
20102011 54.36 54.67 49.86
20112012 60.89 55.52 52.31
20122013 62.97 54.35 53.67
20132014 63.03 57.24 52.41
20142015 56.68 56.11 50.25
20152016 53.25 58.98 47.45
20162017 53.92 59.15 47.69



According to Corsica.Hockey’s team data, the Senators are giving up more five-on-five Corsi events against per 60 this season (59.15) than they have in their previous nine.

The statistical resemblance to last year’s numbers is transparent, but does that similarity extend across other metrics?

Season SCF60 SCA60 SCF%
20072008 8.70 8.18 51.56
20082009 7.72 7.64 50.27
20092010 8.94 7.92 53.02
20102011 8.27 9.02 47.85
20112012 8.58 9.04 48.70
20122013 8.11 7.87 50.76
20132014 8.05 8.83 47.68
20142015 8.64 7.37 53.95
20152016 8.00 8.30 49.10
20162017 8.30 8.20 50.30

Despite getting the discrepancy in Corsi events, Ottawa’s still slightly on the right side of the scoring chance data. The number has regressed considerably since the beginning of the year however, and maybe Ottawa’s recent struggles can help be explained by this change in luck.

The numbers however aren’t too far off last season’s marks.

Season SF60 SA60 SF%
20072008 30.36 29.61 50.62
20082009 28.42 28.79 49.68
20092010 29.84 27.04 52.46
20102011 29.62 29.98 49.69
20112012 31.81 30.94 50.69
20122013 33.06 30.34 52.15
20132014 33.67 33.88 49.85
20142015 29.82 32.19 48.09
20152016 27.74 32.26 46.24
20162017 28.70 30.25 48.68

Like each of the past three seasons, Ottawa’s a sub-50 SF% team. Although the Senators have enjoyed a slight uptick in their shots for per 60 and a decrease in the opposition’s shot attempts per 60.

Season GF60 GA60 GF%
20072008 2.74 2.50 52.27
20082009 2.09 2.37 46.82
20092010 2.33 2.73 46.01
20102011 1.95 2.74 41.55
20112012 2.53 2.42 51.12
20122013 1.99 1.97 50.34
20132014 2.51 2.69 48.31
20142015 2.40 2.26 51.53
20152016 2.29 2.27 50.17
20162017 2.08 2.25 48.09

While their goals allowed metric has essentially held true these past three seasons, the Senators are scoring less at five-on-five than they have in the past, but they’re also still shooting at a comparable rate to last season. Hopefully that means that some improved luck can help fill the net a little more in the second half of the season.

Across those metrics however, the Senators don’t appear to be too different from previous iterations.

Through 39 games last season, the Senators allowed 114 goals while scoring 108 (note: both totals do not include shootout game-winners). Through 39 games this season, the have tallied 96 goals while allowing 101 goals to the opposition.

So why the big discrepancy between in terms of goals allowed between the two seasons?

You don’t have to look any further than the team’s historical performance on the penalty kill.

GA60
20072008 7.18
20082009 6.61
20092010 5.55
20102011 5.78
20112012 6.78
20122013 4.11
20132014 7.02
20142015 6.09
20152016 9.22
20162017 5.81

From HockeyAnalysis.com’s data, the Senators gave up a disproportionate amount of shorthanded goals last season relative to their recent history. This year, it’s been the quite the contrast. The Senators are giving up 3.4 fewer goals per 60 minutes of shorthanded ice time which makes for a sizable improvement in the goals column.

What’s interesting about the penalty kill is the Senators are still giving up a significant volume of Corsi events per 60 (101.6 this season to 102.5), fewer shots of the opposition’s shots are hitting the net and when they are, the goaltenders are doing a better job of stopping them.

GA60 SA60 Sv%
20152016 9.22 59.20 87.65
20162017 5.81 47.00 84.44

I’d have to really watch the penalty kill units to see what’s accounting for this discrepancy. Maybe the Senators are simply doing a better job congesting the shooting lanes, blocking shots or forcing bad ones. It could be a luck-driven thing or hell, maybe after leading the league with 17 shorthanded goals last season, the coaching staff has emphasized a more conservative approach.

Taken together, there’s enough statistical evidence here to make management leery of buying too heavily into the idea that Boucher’s structure has significantly impacted this team or that Boucher can get considerably more from this group.

More than anything, the numbers and eye test should affirm that this roster needs significant change for this team to reach another level.

Garrioch’s Latest

According to Garrioch’s latest for Postmedia there is a belief that teams have inquired on Bobby Ryan’s availability. “There is a sense a couple of teams, looking for scoring, have kicked tires on Ryan at various times this season but it’s a big commitment money-wise.”

Although Ryan’s NMC only precludes the forward from being sent to the American Hockey League, Garrioch does not believe it’s likely that Las Vegas will want to absorb Ryan’s entire contract through the expansion draft. Instead, he puts forth Chris Wideman’s name as a player that Vegas would be interested in.

Finally, during his first period intermission appearance during tonight’s Senators/Penguins broadcast, Garrioch indicated that Clarke MacArthur would undergo a rigorous three-hour baseline test in the next day or two. Provided MacArthur can clear that hurdle without any setbacks, he could then be cleared medically to return.



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Looks like he decommitted from Tenn in late Nov.
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No. 18 Wisconsin crushes Ohio State for 16th straight home win
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

No. 18 Wisconsin bounced back from a weekend loss by demolishing Ohio State Thursday, 89-66. The loss dropped the Buckeyes to 0-4 in Big Ten play.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2017 final score: Buckeyes get blown out in Madison 89-66
Brett Ludwiczak 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 struggles to open up Big Ten play continue as they are no match for Wisconsin.

Ohio State remained winless in conference play as they didn’t really challenge Wisconsin in Madison, losing 89-66. The Badgers were able to earn their 16th straight win at the Kohl Center, and dropped Thad Matta to 2-9 in Madison during his time at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes showed a little bit of fight early, recovering from an early 16-7 deficit with a 7-0 run to pull within two. Things went downhill from there as Wisconsin finished up the first half with a 29-11 run to go into the break with a 45-27 lead. Bronson Koening led all scorer after the first 20 minutes with 15 points, while Nigel Hayes added 11 points. JaQuan Lyle was Ohio State’s leading scorer in the first half with 10 points.

Wisconsin picked up where they left off to start the second half, with Vitto Brown hitting two three-points early on to extend the lead to 24 points. Bronson Koening followed that up with a couple three-pointers of his own, and registered his 13th career game with at least four three-pointers.

The rest of the second half the Badgers continued to overwhelm the Buckeyes, extending the lead to more than 30 points on a number of occasions. The blowout victory for Wisconsin was even more impressive considering guard Zak Showalter saw limited minutes due to foul trouble, and Ethan Happ had a tough night shooting the basketball. If the Badgers continue to play this way the rest of the year, they’ll be a tough out not only in the Big Ten Tournament, but also the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin dominated Ohio State in the paint, holding a huge rebounding advantage over the Buckeyes. The Badgers grabbed 14 offensive rebounds in the first half, giving them plenty of points in the paint and second-chance points. Wisconsin’s defense gave Ohio State fits, which has become a common theme when the Buckeyes visit the Kohl Center. Ohio State was ice cold from the field, which only added to Wisconsin’s lead getting out of hand.

Koening finished with 21 points to pace the Badgers in the victory, while Nigel Hayes added 15 points, and Vitto Brown was the third Wisconsin player in double-figures with 12 points. Wisconsin shot just under 50% from the field, and drained 12 of the 22 three-pointers they attempted.

Ohio State’s leading scorer was JaQuan Lyle, who finished with 13 points. Trevor Thompson narrowly missed a double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Kam Williams did most of his scoring in the second half when the game was already decided, adding 12 points in the losing effort. Ohio State did their best to contest Wisconsin’s shots, registering 10 blocks, with four of those being credited to Thompson.

Ohio State will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they return to Value City Arena for a 1:30 p.m. ET tip against Michigan State. The game against the Spartans can be seen on CBS.

Here’s what we learned:


1) Ohio State is in a lot of trouble going forward. Expectations were high for the Buckeyes heading into the season with their top-six leading scorers from last year returning, but it looks like Ohio State will miss the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The injury to Keita Bates-Diop has really hurt the Buckeyes, as not only is Ohio State without the talents of the junior forward, but it also shortens the bench.

The effort from Ohio State early on wasn’t bad, it was just clear that Wisconsin is a much better team at this point. With a game against Michigan State on Sunday, things are likely to get worse before they get better. It’s hard to find many wins for the Buckeyes the rest of the year in conference play, especially considering the starters will likely be on fumes by the end of the year due to the short bench that Ohio State has now due to transfers and injuries. It’s going to take a miracle for Thad Matta to see his streak of 11 straight seasons with at least 10 regular season wins in the Big Ten to continue.

2) Trevor Thompson is playing really good basketball, but he isn’t getting much help. The center has been the most consistent Buckeye this year, and he has been even better since being inserted into the starting lineup. The problem is, Thompson doesn’t have much support in the paint. When Thompson gets into foul trouble or needs a breather Thad Matta brings on Micah Potter, but the freshman doesn’t give Ohio State the same spark that Thompson is able to bring to the floor.

Wisconsin was able to exploit Ohio State’s lack of an inside presence, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds in the first half. Jae’Sean Tate does his best to play well above the 6-4 that he is listed at, but it just wasn’t enough against a Wisconsin team that has talented bigs like Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ. Had the Buckeyes not Daniel Giddens and Mickey Mitchell decide to transfer Wisconsin might have not had quite of an easy go at it on the inside, but all Thompson and Ohio State can do is try and get through the season and hope that reinforcements are on the way.

3) Madison has been a house of horrors for the Buckeyes lately. Coming into the game Ohio State had failed to reach 60 points in six of their last eight trips to Madison, but this was the most thorough beatdown the Buckeyes have suffered at the Kohl Center in quite some time. Last year Ohio State was able to crack the 60 point barrier, but it still wasn’t enough as the Badgers won 79-68.

With the way Wisconsin was shooting tonight, even some of the best teams in the nation would have a hard time keeping up with the Badgers. Bronson Koening continued his hot shooting of late, burying Ohio State with an avalanche of three-pointers. The one Buckeye who does seem to like playing in Madison despite the losses is JaQuan Lyle, who scored 27 points in the loss last season. With a 2-9 record at the Kohl Center, Thad Matta has to be hoping he doesn’t have to make another trip to Madison anytime soon.

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Departing Buckeyes say goodbye - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Departing Buckeyes say goodbye
247Sports
Another season is in the books for the Buckeyes, and that means another group of Ohio State stars will be moving onto the next phases of their life, following their careers in Scarlet and Gray. Some players will be graduating and getting jobs in the ...

and more »

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Ohio State football will find a new identity with departed players and new coaches
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After a 31-0 loss in the Fiesta Bowl, changes needed to be made.

“Since [the Fiesta Bowl] Urban Meyer has hired new offensive coordinators who have to figure out how to score touchdowns without the Buckeyes’ best all-around offensive player and top wide receiver from 2016.”

Mitch Stacy, Associated Press


Having to replace talented players is nothing new for Urban Meyer, but he hasn’t faced a makeover quite like this. Last year Ohio State was forced to replace players like Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Thomas, and Braxton Miller on offense, but he had his offensive coaching staff returning. So far this year Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown have announced their intentions to go pro, while assistants Tim Beck and Ed Warinner have left for jobs with other schools. Not only does Ohio State have to replace talented players in the passing game, but they also have to try and reinvent themselves on offense. Meyer made a strong hire by bringing in former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson to be his offensive coordinator.

It isn’t just on the offensive side of the football where Ohio State has plenty of questions to answer. Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell left to become Cincinnati’s head coach, leaving Greg Schiano with the defensive coordinator duties. Also, for the second straight year the Buckeyes will have to replace a lot of talent in the secondary, with Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley, and Marshon Lattimore all leaving for the NFL Draft. Ohio State has plenty of incoming defensive back talent, but it remains to be seen how long it will take them to be able to fill the vacant spots in the secondary. Even with the losses, the Buckeyes are still going to be a favorite to return to the playoff next year, because they have the majority of their defensive line and linebackers returning to try and do their part to pick up the slack for the inexperienced secondary.

“Like when the ball is in the air, you’ve got to go attack, you’ve got to go get the ball. We need to make some plays downfield, catch the ball. But that’s going to come. We’ve just got to keep working to get better.”

Ohio State wide receiver Binjimen Victor via Tim May, The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio State fell short in their run for their second national title in three years, and one of the areas where blame could be placed is with the wide receivers. After having the luxury of receivers like Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, and Jalin Marshall over the last couple years, the Buckeyes didn’t have a wide receiver really make a name for himself this year. Ohio State’s top two receivers from this year, Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown, both recently declared for this year’s NFL Draft, meaning the Buckeye offense will still be searching for a go-to receiver as they head into the 2017 season.

It’s not all doom and gloom for Ohio State in the passing game though, as there are a number of young receivers who have the potential to be playmakers going forward. Even though he had just four catches during the year, true freshman Binjimen Victor showed glimpses of his potential late in the year. Wide receivers K.J. Hill and Parris Campbell each could contribute more with another year under their belt. Now that Kevin Wilson is in the fold as offensive coordinator, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Ohio State’s receivers dramatically improve next year, and getting those receivers more comfortable is going to be a goal for head coach Urban Meyer as he looks to retool the Buckeye offense.

“We’ve played some games without him so it wasn’t anything. I don’t want to say major because it is major, but just sort of injuries happen and you just literally move forward. It’s what we’ve got and we go with it.”

Ohio State basketball head coach Thad Matta via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


After missing the NCAA Tournament last year, many were expecting Ohio State could return to the big dance this year since they had their top-six scorers from last year’s team returning. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan so far this year, with the Buckeyes losing their first three games in conference play. Not that Ohio State hasn’t been competitive, as only two of their six losses this year have come by 10 points or more. With games against Wisconsin and Michigan State on deck, things for Ohio State could get even worse before they get better.

What has hurt Ohio State this year is junior forward Keita Bates-Diop was never really healthy. Bates-Diop suffered a stress fracture in his shin during the summer, and then injured his ankle early in the year against Providence. The injuries forced Bates-Diop to miss five games, and he was never the same in his return before it was announced following the loss to Purdue that he would be lost for the rest of the season. The loss of Bates-Diop puts even more pressure on players like Jae’Sean Tate and Marc Loving, while also shortening a bench that wasn’t that deep to begin with. More could be asked of freshman Andre Wesson, but he might not be ready to contribute since he is only averaging 8.8 minutes per game this year. If something doesn’t change quickly for the Buckeyes, it could be a second straight year having to settle for an NIT bid.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Restaurant Week in Columbus is almost here.
• The Columbus Zoo is offering free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• The design concept for the Dublin branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library has been unveiled.
• Premiere dates for the new seasons of The Americans and Archer have been announced.
• Nick Saban has probably already offered a scholarship to this 14-pound baby.

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New identity for Ohio State in 2017? - FOXSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


New identity for Ohio State in 2017?
FOXSports.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Since Ohio State's drubbing by eventual national champion Clemson in the College Football Playoff, coach Urban Meyer has hired new offensive coordinators who have to figure out how to score touchdowns without the Buckeyes' ...
Ohio State Recruiting: Re-ranking the Buckeyes class of 2012Landof10.com
Former 5-star recruit CB Kendall Sheffield commits to Ohio StateESPN
Ohio State football | Buckeyes pick up junior college transfer defensive backColumbus Dispatch
Bleacher Report -OSU - The Lantern -cleveland.com
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Hubbard expects to take leadership role for Buckeyes in 2017 ... - CBS sports.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Hubbard expects to take leadership role for Buckeyes in 2017 ...
CBS sports.com (blog)
Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard has some big goals for the Buckeyes as he plans to return in 2017.


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