Anyone have a link to the spring game?

I was flipping around channels waiting for the Masters to start and ran into a channel called the Stadium Channel (on WOW it was on 139). The East Orange Renegades were playing the Old Bridge Hawks:



The American 7s Football League (A7FL) is a semi-professional traveling league in the United States which plays a seven-man version of Gridiron football it calls American 7s Football. Launched in 2015, its games are played without football helmets or other protective equipment.

It's kind of like: what if the guys from machine shop, warehouse, and/or local bar that played in an adult softball league on Friday night decided to play football.

About A7FL

About American 7s Football League
The American 7s Football League® (A7FL) has pioneered a familiar yet completely new format for America’s most popular sport: 7-on-7 football without helmets or hard shell pads. A7FL’s unique gameplay retains the toughness that fans crave while focusing on action-filled performances by its athletes. American 7s’ thrilling highlights and compelling content attract fans of all ages and drive a new younger audience of consumers while generating tens of millions of views. Founded in 2014 by CEO Sener Korkusuz and President Ryan DePaul, the Spring league (April-July) recently added UFC® Co-Founder David Isaacs to its ranks and has grown to 32 teams in 4 divisions with over 600K social media followers and partnerships with Eleven Sports, Facebook Watch, Twitch and WAVE.tv.

Athletes generally range from 18 to 30 years of age, must be 18 to play, and must sign an injury waiver. The A7FL field size is 100 x 37 yards and does not utilize the field goal posts. The narrower field width increases the pace of the action with fewer men on the field making for vicious hits while the 100-yard length maintains the grind. The quarterback has 4 eligible targets with 2 down linemen. Offenses can run bone or pistol, and there are no blitz restrictions for the defense.

History
The idea for an organized no helmets no pads football league popped into A7FL co-founder Ryan DePaul’s head late in 2002. His high School football days were over – he had to quit college football due to concussions – and he just wanted to keep playing the game he loved but in a safer format so he was playing pickup games of tackle football anywhere he could find them. In late 2005 he began to develop the format and rules for 7 on 7 no pads no helmets full contact football.

Entire article: https://www.a7fl.com/about-a7fl/

Apparently it has been going on for several years now:

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Seven on seven tackle football, with no helmets or pads. Well, it's interesting; however, don't think I could be a regular fan. Is anyone on Buckeye Planet actually a fan and follows this this league?

Height: 6'6
Weight: 185

Ohio State lands Wright State transfer Tanner Holden (credit 11 Warriors)



Yesterday Ohio State presumably founds its short-term replacement for Branham in Tanner Holden from Wright State. Holden averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as an All-Horizon League performer in 2021-22. He looked really good in the limited games I saw of him.

I went to Wright State for a year before transferring to Ohio State, so I find this pretty cool. Hopefully he enjoys the change of scenery from Beavercreek to Columbus as much as I did. Seems like a really nice pickup and much needed.

Chris Holtmann has hired Jack Owens as an assistant coach. Pretty much his resume:



Entering his fifth season at the helm of the Miami University men’s basketball program, head coach Jack Owens boasts a veteran roster that returns 99 percent of its scoring and 98 percent of its rebounding from a season ago and also returns all five starters.

Update: In 2021/2022 he went 14-18, five year record at Miami was 70-83 overall, 37-54 conference.

In his four seasons with the RedHawks, Owens has led Miami to 56 wins, most in a four-year span since 2009-12, and a berth in the 2018 CBI.

In 2020-21, the RedHawks recorded their first winning season since 2009. Miami earned a berth in the eight-team Mid-American Conference Tournament as the RedHawks advanced to the quarterfinal round for the fourth time in the last six years, including three of the last four MAC Tournaments. Miami clinched its MAC Tournament berth with three games remaining on its regular-season schedule. It was the second time in the last four years Miami was the No. 7 seed in the tournament, its highest seeding since the 2011 tournament. Dae Dae Grant also earned All-MAC honors as a sophomore.

Under Owens' guidance last season, Miami set a program record for three-pointers in a game with 18 at Central Michigan (Feb. 23, 2021) and set season program records for free-throw percentage (.776) and fewest turnovers (249).

The RedHawks continued the momentum they experienced at the end of the 2019-20 season when Miami upset No. 5 seed Buffalo on the road in the opening round of the 2020 MAC Tournament and was playing some of its best basketball of the season before COVID-19 brought the campaign to an abrupt halt during the MAC Tournament. For the third-straight year, the RedHawks had a player land on the MAC All-Freshman Team as guard Dae Dae Grant earned a spot in 2020. In 2018-19, Owens led Miami to 15 victories and saw several of his players earn awards, including guard Mekhi Lairy who earned a spot on the All-MAC Freshmen Team.

Despite being hired in April 2017, Owens quickly showed his recruiting prowess by bringing in six new players to join the roster and saw immediate results. He led Miami to 16 wins in 2018 and a berth in the College Basketball Invitational. It was the RedHawks’ most victories and first postseason appearance since 2011.

The 2018 CBI appearance continued a collective pattern of success for Owens as his teams have advanced to postseason play in 14 of the past 20 seasons and went on to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the past 15 years, including four trips to the Sweet 16. He has also helped secure several top recruiting classes, produced NBA talent and developed some of the nation’s top players.

Prior to joining Miami, Owens spent the past nine seasons on staff at Purdue University, three as an assistant coach and the last six as its associate head coach. During his time the Boilermakers recorded 209 wins (23.2/year), including 27 during his final year (2016-17 season) to help Purdue win a Big Ten Regular Season Championship.

In Owens’ nine seasons with Purdue, the Boilermakers made the NCAA Tournament on seven occasions, advancing to the Sweet 16 three different times.

Owens has helped produce five NBA draft picks, including AJ Hammons and Robbie Hummel and multiple professional basketball players. In 2017, he helped guide Caleb Swanigan to national attention, he was named one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation’s top player.

Owens arrived at Purdue after a five-season stint as an assistant at Southern Illinois. In 2003-04, Owens was part of a Southern Illinois team that went 25-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In the next four seasons at SIU, Owens helped guide the Salukis to three more NCAA Tournament berths, a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, a Missouri Valley Conference title and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.

Prior to joining SIU, Owens served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois, during the 2002-03 season, and spent the 2001-02 campaign as an assistant at Barton County Community College, which reached as high as No. 2 in the national polls during the season. Owens began his coaching career as an assistant at Howard Community College during the 2000-01 season, serving as the team’s interim head coach for a portion of the year.

The Indianapolis native began his collegiate playing career at Murray State, and played a season at Howard Community College before playing two seasons at Eastern Illinois. While at EIU, Owens averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 assists per game as a senior, earning honorable mention All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. He also served as team captain during his final campaign, and garnered team MVP and Outstanding Defensive Player honors. During the 1999-00 season, Owens remained a part of the Eastern Illinois program as a student assistant coach.

Owens and his wife, Kamilah, have three daughters, Alanah, Aniyah and Anyah.

Entire article: https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jack-owens/315

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Owens_(basketball)

Butler fires LaVall Jordan: Bulldogs move on from coach after posting 14-18 record in fifth season



Butler announced Friday that it is firing coach LaVall Jordan after five seasons on the job. The Bulldogs finished 14-18 (6-14 Big East) this season, marking the program's second straight losing campaign. Jordan, 42, is a former Butler guard who played key roles on NCAA Tournament teams for the program in 2000 and 2001.

"After a thorough evaluation, I have come to the decision that a change in the leadership of our men's basketball program is needed," Butler athletic director Barry Collier said. "These decisions are never easy, but are incredibly more difficult when it impacts a high-character Bulldog who has represented our university so well for many years. I want to thank LaVall for his dedication to our program, and we wish him and his family all the best moving forward."

Jordan's firing comes late in the 2022 coaching change cycle, at a time when nearly every other significant position that came open has already been filled. The timing is attributable to the fact that Jordan's buyout figure dropped Friday, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

Butler reached the 2018 NCAA Tournament under Jordan's direction in his first season after taking over for Chris Holtmann, who left for Ohio State. The Bulldogs never returned to the Big Dance during his tenure, however. Butler's 2020 team was on track for a bid with a 22-9 record before the event's cancellation due to COVID-19.

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...h-after-posting-14-18-record-in-fifth-season/

Another guy that may be interested in one of the assistant coaching jobs at Ohio State.

April Fools.

Kinda. The thread title is a joke (which I'll change later), but Spring has come here in GA (with trees flowering):









And I thought of starting a thread about hiking, trees, plants, gardening, etc.

I know we have some green thumbs here based on some of the comments about using spices/herbs from a home-garden in the food thread. Also there are some people who seem to live/lived in remote places and might have some good hiking stories and photos.

At the very least, @Thump could post some anti-environment propaganda.

And yes, I know I could've just started a thread about this topic, but I couldn't resist some low-effort, April Fools-themed shit posting.

Reacts Survey: Share your thoughts on the future of the Ohio State men’s basketball team
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

How important is Malaki Branham’s decision to stay or go? What do you need to see from Chris Holtmann in 2022-23?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Each week we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.


Click here to vote if viewing on a mobile device.

Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

As we head into the Final Four weekend with the Ohio State men’s basketball team definitively not involved, we are in a bit of a reflective state here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Earlier this week, Justin Golba looked at five off-season questions that will determine how the 2022-23 season will go for Chris Holtmann’s squad; not it’s your turn.

In the latest Land-Grant Holy Land edition of SB Nation Reacts, we have a pair of questions that we want you to answer about what you think about the future of the men’s basketball team as we head into the offseason.


We also want to get your thoughts on this weekend’s Final Four. We want to hear what you think about the all-blue-blood semifinals, the chances of Coach K going out a champ, and the first-ever Duke vs. UNC Final Four matchup.

Continue reading...

Zed Key will be vital to the success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State men’s basketball team next season
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State are hoping Key takes a big leap in year three | Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

In order to reach their ceiling, the Buckeyes need “vintage” Zed Key in 2022-23.

Take a trip with me, folks... all the way back to 2021. Don’t worry, we’re not really going back. But this mental getaway won’t cost you any gas money, so indulge me.

It’s Christmas time, or New Year’s Eve, and all of us Ohio State basketball fans are excited for the upcoming slate. The program’s Covid pause is over, and the team gets Nebraska on Jan. 2. No problem, the Buckeyes will sweep that season series easily. Then they will roll over Indiana and Northwestern, before taking on Wisconsin. Sure, the Badgers are scrappy, but OSU already defeated them once — and they were projected to finish in the bottom half of the league. Put us down for another season sweep. Our guys should roll into Purdue on Jan. 30 with a stranglehold on the conference.

Well, you know what they say about the egg coming before your chickens hatch. One minute you’re daydreaming about cutting down nets, and the next, you’re catching an open hand from a fresh prince named Reality.


Ohio State was on the receiving end of a few slaps during Big Ten play — nine of them to be exact. All nine of their conference losses came after Jan. 5, and while there are a myriad of reasons (or excuses) as to why the Buckeyes struggled, specifically down the stretch, it is fair to say that injuries played a significant role.

Zed Key was one of the players who missed time, and even when he returned from his ankle injury, he did not look right for the entirety of March. Key’s absence or inability to play at 100 percent health coincided with significant struggles for OSU. The Buckeyes went 5-4 in his last nine games played, and 1-2 in the three February/March games he missed.

Key’s level of play was trending down prior to his injury; the ankle issue only exacerbated his late-season woes. But if Ohio State is going to bounce back and perhaps reach that elusive Sweet Sixteen, they will need the big man from Bay Shore at the peak of his powers. When he is on, Key is an effective low post banger and rebounder, with sneaky defensive chops. Despite playing primarily below the rim at 6-foot-8, he can be a double-double guy and third scoring option for the Buckeyes, as well as the interior defender they need.

Early season victories against Duke and Wisconsin are prime examples of how Key can impact winning. Against Final Four-bound Duke, Ohio State’s starting big man put up a career-high 20 points on 15 shots (also a career high). He was often guarded by Mark Williams, the Blue Devils’ best defender and a potential lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Key was not intimidated, and took it to the 7-footer on multiple occasions.


Less than two weeks later, he bodied Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl of Wisconsin, using his strong frame effectively. It was a more subdued scoring performance (13 points), but the soon-to-be OSU junior was hyper-efficient from the field and added nine rebounds by out-muscling certain Badgers. Key also did not turn the ball over in either game, proving to be the second-most important player in each of those victories. He led all Buckeyes in scoring against Duke, and picked up the slack for an injured Malaki Branham versus Wisconsin. As Key went, so did Ohio State.

To insinuate that Key was the captain that steered the ship is a little misleading, so let me pump the brakes on that. The Buckeyes’ success clearly hinged on the play of Branham and E.J. Liddell. But, Key did play at a very high level in both of the team’s signature victories. By the same token, he also performed poorly — or not at all — in a few of their closest (yet winnable and high-profile) defeats.

Key was plagued by foul trouble against then-ranked Florida, playing less than 20 minutes in the Fort Meyers Tip-Off. He was rendered almost completely useless at Purdue — again, due to foul trouble. The Boilermakers had massive size on the front line, but Key was limited to 12 minutes and a single point against them. He was also a non-factor in late losses to TTUN and Villanova, but that was almost exclusively due to injury.

To say that the results would have been any different had Key played well in those losses would be completely without merit. It would also be incredibly unfair to a key (no pun intended) contributor for this Ohio State team — past, present, and immediate future. Bashing Zed is not the intent here, in any way, shape, or form. To the contrary, referencing his ups and downs is meant to highlight the floor and ceiling of this team, and to stress just how important he is to their success.

With Liddell and Branham playing at a high level this season, OSU was still able to win a number or games in which Key was a minor contributor... but they were at their best when he was at his best. When he (Key) was not available or performing as a tertiary option, the Buckeyes struggled. This was especially true down the stretch.

Next season, Key could be asked to shoulder even more of the load down low! Kyle Young and Joey Brunk are gone, as is Liddell, who also spent considerable time in the post. Felix Okpara, part of Ohio States 2022 recruiting class, will join the team, but he is light on experience and light in general (210 pounds). Coach Holtmann will surely be scouring the transfer portal, but Key is currently the only proven big on the roster.

Alie Skowronski/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The recruiting part is done, but Holtmann still has plenty of work to do in building his roster for 2022-23

Who knows how the offseason will play out, but if say Justice Sueing and/or Seth Towns are being asked to battle for rebounds in ’22-23, the Buckeyes will struggle immensely on the glass. If Key is the only post option on offense, the team would be forced to rely heavily upon perimeter shooting, which was... not great recently. Let’s just say that Key needs help on the front line, but his own health and consistency are also of the utmost importance.

Not to put much too much on Key, but Ohio State likely needs a solid campaign from him if they want to be a top-10 or top-15 team next season. And some of the pressure he could face should also be put on the coaching staff. The OSU roster is not, and has not been, loaded with bigs. The staff had the luxury of Young for five seasons, but added minimal size beyond Key. Okpara has a very high ceiling, but he might take time to develop.

The basketball Buckeyes face many unknowns going into next season, but Key is one guy they should be able to count on. He has flashed potential as a second or third option, but Holtmann and his future teammates don’t need 20 and 10 on a nightly basis. They would prefer consistent energy and production, along with the passion and enthusiasm he always brings to the court.

Continue reading...

Five-star CB from Florida adds Ohio State offer
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Desmond Ricks | Parker Thune, 247Sports

The Buckeyes dished out their latest schloarship offer to the top-ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class.

Head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State had their sights set on the Sunshine State on Tuesday as they sent out their latest offer. Plus, one of the top quarterbacks in the class is set to make his way to Columbus this weekend.

Ricks adds Buckeye offer


Ohio State went to a familiar territory for the latest offer that was sent out on Tuesday. The program dropped an offer to 2024 five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks, a Virginia native that attends IMG Academy (FL).


The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is now up to 33 scholarship offers as a prospect and has the top programs in the country battling for his services. Among the schools that have already offered the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American include Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and many more.

Ricks is currently projected to wind up in Tallahassee to suit up for Seminoles at the next level, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball. However, the Buckeyes are hoping to throw a wrench into things and pair the elite defensive back with newly hired cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Sunshine State standout currently stands at the top in his class rankings across the board, which comes as no surprise when looking at the teams in pursuit of the former track star.

It is worth mentioning that the Buckeyes have had success in recent years with IMG Academy prospects. Ohio State has added Malik Barrow, Lejond Cavazos, Tyler Gerald, Isaiah Pryor, Taron Vincent, and Marcus Williamson from the Ascenders program in previous classes.

Moore set to visit OSU


From one elite prospect to another for the Buckeyes. According to a tweet from Eleven Warriors' Garrick Hodge, 2023 five-star quarterback Dante Moore of Martin Luther King (MI) is planning to make a stop to Columbus this weekend to visit Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have been in pursuit of Moore dating back to June of last year when they initially offered the Detroit native. The visit this weekend will not be the first trip to see Ohio State for Moore as the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder was in town this past October to watch the contest between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.


Moore is presently pegged as the No. 6 overall prospect in this year's class and the third highest graded quarterback. While Ohio State is likely running behind in the race for Moore, if they find a way to reel in the Michigan standout it would come as a major win with Moore being the top-ranked player in the state.

Quick Hits

• 247Sports' Allen Trieu casted a Crystal Ball prediction on Tuesday in favor of Ohio State for four-star safety Malik Hartford of Lakota West (OH). Trieu joins 247Sports analysts Bill Kurelic and Steve Wiltfong in expecting the fourth-best prospect from Ohio to ultimately chose the Buckeyes.
• According to Eleven Warriors, four-star defensive lineman AJ Hoffler of Woodward Academy (GA) knows that Ohio State (and Clemson) will receive one of his official visits. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder was on campus this past weekend checking out his "dream school" and spent plenty of time with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

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Play Like a Girl podcast: If you gave an Oscar for March Madness...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Plus, etiquette for rescinding retirement gifts and how to keep your brackets going all year round.

On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:


Welcome back! This week combined two of Meredith and Jami’s favorite things: brackets and award shows. What better way to recap the chaos of the first two weeks of the NCAA Tournament than with an Academy Awards of sorts? From Best Original Score to a Lifetime Achievement Award we don’t even have to guess at, there’s been plenty of Oscar-worthy performances en route to the Final Four.

And if you’re sad that the season of bracket-making is behind us, never fear: Jami and Meredith offer tips on other things you can bracket, including vacation destinations and french fry dipping sauces.


Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @jamiurich

Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein

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You’re Nuts: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

For many people, anybody that went to Ohio State is a villain. That sort of thing comes with the territory when you have one of the biggest and winningest athletic departments in the country. Fans of opposing teams will go so far as to think that Kirk Herbstreit or Joey Galloway are villains because they now work for ESPN, or others are going to look at athletic director Gene Smith as a villain because his job is to do all he can to maximize exposure and revenue for the Ohio State athletic department.

Then again, if you’re not hated, then you’re not doing something right. Nobody is passionately hating Nebraska basketball or Maryland football. Do you want to know why? Because they are usually parked at the bottom of the conference. If anything, people feel sorry for them. What fun is it to kick the losers while they are down? Well, there is an exception with Michigan. There is no wrong time to want to see the Wolverines fail. Michigan went 10 years in between wins against Ohio State on the football field and Buckeye fans still hated Michigan’s guts.

By this point, you are probably wondering where we are going with this. Meredith was on a trolley on St. Patrick’s Day and mentioned she was an Ohio State fan, which prompted someone to say, “I hate Aaron Craft!”. While to Ohio State fans, Aaron Craft is this adorable figure with the most pinch-able rosy red cheeks, to opposing fanbases it felt like Craft was at Ohio State for two decades torturing their team on a yearly basis. We are looking for other Buckeyes that we love but everyone else looks at as villains.

Today’s question: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s answer: Evan Turner


I know, this answer probably seems super lazy since Turner’s nickname is, “The Villain”. Could I have gone with someone like Woody Hayes? Sure, but I was also like -7 years old when he coached his last game, so I didn’t really get to appreciate how much Ohio State fans loved him, and everyone else hated him. Buckeye football teams have been great over the last 25 years, there just isn’t one player that I feel is disliked quite like Turner.


Whenever Turner is mentioned, the first thing Ohio State fans (as well as Michigan fans) are going to think of is the game-winner he hit against Michigan in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament. That alone should be enough for Turner to never have to buy a drink in Columbus ever again. Turner opened up his 2009-10 season by becoming the first Big Ten player since 2001 to record a triple-double, and only the second Ohio State player to ever accomplish that feat, with Dennis Hopson being the other. Not only would not only win Big Ten Player of the Year that season, he was also named National Player of the Year before declaring for the NBA Draft and being selected with the second overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

For those who aren’t Ohio State fans, it probably feels pretty easy to hate Turner. Not only did Turner have this funny voice which sounded a bit like he was huffing helium before he talked, even teammate Mark Titus had a bit of a feud with Turner during their time at Ohio State. If Turner was getting under Titus’ skin, imagine what he was doing to opposing fanbases. Fortunately Buckeye Nation won’t have to worry about the beef escalating, as Turner and Titus buried the hatchet before Turner’s jersey was retired in 2017.

Meredith’s answer: Aaron Craft


As Brett alluded to in his intro, when it comes to Buckeye villains, there’s really no one who comes close to Aaron Craft. While he was (and is) beloved by Ohio State fans the world across, there’s no love lost once you cross the border out of Buckeye Nation.

The most poignant example of the villainy of Craft came in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the West Region and were facing No. 10 Iowa State.

Craft would finish with 18 points on the night, but none were more critical than his three-pointer with the game tied and a half second left on the clock to secure the win for Ohio State in regulation. The shot was a dagger in the heart of Iowa State fans. The West had been a wild region that year with upsets galore, with four of the top seeds — Ohio State the lone exception — falling in the opening weekend.

Iowa State had mounted a furious comeback after being down by as much as 13 late in the game, and the Cyclones had momentum, especially when it came to shooting beyond the arc. The shot by Craft (which he made over 6-foot-7 Georges Niang) was like getting beat by their own medicine.

Moreover, Craft was a 30% three-point shooter on the season. He hadn’t attempted a three-point shot before his game winner. It also doesn’t help that the shot itself was, simply, awkward. In short, his winning shot from range was unexpected.

Even today, Iowa State fans hold the Ohio State basketball program in contempt. We’re approaching a decade since Craft’s shot, but his name still elicits groans among Cyclone nation.

But the thing is, it’s not just Iowa State. Recently, a friend who cheers for Tennessee shared that Volunteer fans also hang onto their dislike of Craft for his role in an illegal barbecue hosted by then-coach Bruce Pearl in 2010. For the record, Craft was seen in a photograph at said event, which ultimately led to Pearl’s termination.

Living in the bubble of Ohio State fans, it’s hard to see what the vitriol against Craft is all about, but on the outside, I suppose it makes sense: He’s an aggressive defender; he’s undersized; he shouldn’t be that good — it’s probably annoying to opposing teams and fans. Moreover, when someone like that is the one who puts the dagger on what should have been a Cinderella season, it’s easy to label that the villain origin story.

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Five questions for the Ohio State men’s basketball team this offseason
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What are the main question marks the hoops team have to address this season?

After defeating Loyola-Chicago and then falling in the round of 32 to the now final four bound Villanova Wildcats, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball teams season is now over.


With April approaching and March Madness basically in the rearview mirror, it is time for the hoops team to start thinking about the future. What will the roster construct look like? When will the freshman be impact players? Which one of the nearly 1,000 transfers in the portal should the coaching staff target? All of these are questions that need to be answered as head coach Chris Holtmann and his staff face an important season coming up.

The difference between Ohio State being a top-five team in the conference again and having a rebuilding season comes down to how they handle the next six months, as is the case with a lot of teams.

Here are the five main questions the staff and team must answer if they want next season to be a productive one.

Who comes back?

Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

First of all, for the Buckeyes, they could be facing a max exodus. The Buckeyes have nine seniors in the program and have already lost E.J. Liddell to the draft and could lose star freshman Malaki Branham as well, although that decision is likely far down the road. They have five freshmen coming in, but that still leaves possibly five or six spots to fill.

The problem that the staff could face is preparing for all potential outcomes. Justice Sueing and Seth Towns have a year of eligibility left that they could utilize, but even if the two seniors and Branham all decide to return, the bucks could still have three spots to fill.

However, they might not get all of these answers for a couple of months and the transfers in the portal are not going to sit around and wait. The staff now has the tricky job of juggling decisions with their current guys with trying to get commitments from some of the top transfers, none of whom will be on the market for too long.

Additions from the transfer portal

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As mentioned above, the transfer portal is becoming an increasingly important way that teams reload their rosters after the season and once their recruiting classes are official. One of the big questions that coaches face since there are so many players in the portal is do they go after straight-up talent or do they try to pick pieces to fit on their team? Last season, Ohio State picked up needed pieces, but all in all, minus a few solid moments, the transfers they brought in underperformed.

So do the Buckeyes go after needed fits again or just elite talent like an Andre Curbelo? The Illinois transfer is not the best fit to what the Buckeyes likely need next season, but he is one of the top overall talents in the portal and is a high-risk, high-reward guy.

Personally, I want them to get some serious talent and figure out how to make it work from there. Let the coaches do their job with the best possible players.

Coaching changes

Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chris Holtmann has put together a phenomenal coaching staff during his time at Ohio State and it has shown with the attention that his assistants have gotten from other schools. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, this season that attention was more than just attention. Holtmann’s right-hand man and top assistant coach Ryan Pedon has moved onto greener pastures, accepting his first head coaching job at Illinois State and first-year assistant coach Tony Skinn is heading back to the DMV to be an assistant coach under Kevin Willard at Maryland.

There are still some great coaches on the staff and Holtmann has done a particularly good job of replacing assistants in the past, but Pedon leaves the biggest hole that he has ever had to fill. The Buckeyes love Jake Diebler and Holtmann has been vocal about wanting to add Greg Oden to the staff full time once he graduates. Look for the Buckeyes to make some sizable coaching additions over the next few months.

Other conference team questions

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Even though there were questions all season about how good the teams in the Big Ten actually were, there was no denying the conference’s individual talent.

Guys like Keegan Murray, Johnny Davis, Jaden Ivey, E.J. Liddell (sad), Hunter Dickinson, and Kofi Cockburn are all going to be heading to the NBA Draft; also B1G teams are losing some of their old guys like Jordan Bohannan, Brad Davison and Kyle Young (again, sad).

The league will likely look a lot different come fall, especially with most of the top teams losing their best talent. The transfer portal and incoming freshmen should play a huge role this season, likely benefitting the Buckeyes since they have the top recruiting class in the conference.

Incoming freshman class

Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes have one of their best-recruiting classes coming to Columbus in a long time, but they will be put to the test immediately. As mentioned above, if Branham, Sueing and/or Towns come back, there will be less pressure on these guys to perform immediately, but if those three all move on — which they could — multiple freshmen will need to play 20-25 minutes at least as soon as they step foot on campus.

Freshmen playing right away can be a good or a bad thing. This is a great class overall, but none of these guys are five-star, top-tier recruits. Malaki Branham was fantastic this season, but it even took him 10-12 games to really get his feet wet. The Buckeyes will need to add some veterans from the portal if Sueing and Towns do not come back and/or aren’t able to contribute right away, otherwise, it will be tough to expect much from the freshmen early on.

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Column: Harry Miller shines spotlight on mental health discussion in collegiate athletics
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Harry Miller’s retirement statement and message on Good Morning America brought attention to an alarming problem in the college sports world.

On March 10, Harry Miller announced that he was medically retiring from football. This was not a result of a physical injury, as he made this decision citing mental health reasons. His message has been shared all over the world, and it is an extremely important one. The current state of college athletes’ mental health needs to be addressed, and cannot be ignored anymore.

Miller might be the person you least expect to hear struggling with mental health issues. He was a starter on the Ohio State football team. He carries a 4.0 GPA as a student in the College of Engineering. After the NIL laws were passed, he raised money to help kids in Nicaragua. Based on all of this, it sounds like he is thriving, right?

That is where the problem lies. It is never okay to make assumptions about how a person is doing mentally. In reality, Miller revealed to head coach Ryan Day that he had planned to take his own life prior to the start of last season. Day immediately put him in contact with mental health professionals to give him the necessary support.


Miller is yet another example that athletes are just people. He said that he has received hateful messages, that other athletes have even gotten death threats... and for what? Dropping a pass? Missing a block? Not making a tackle? This goes way beyond football, or any sport for that matter. Football is not who these kids are, it is what they do. The majority of these athletes won’t even go on to play professionally. There is more to their lives than a sport.

A tragic story that happened just in the past month is the death of star Stanford goalkeeper, Katie Meyer. The soccer captain, who was a National Champion and destined to have a great future in the sport, took her own life on March 1. Based off her social media, one would never suspect that she was struggling.

People have become way too good about hiding how they’re truly feeling. College athletes aren’t the exception. These men and women need to know that their value doesn't come based off their athletic performance or their grades. Yes, they need to be checked on. More resources need to go toward ensuring athletes’ mental well-being.

The pressure that athletes have placed on them is insurmountable and totally uncalled for. Kids as young as middle school are being pushed to their limits in order to earn a scholarship. Once they get to college, they’re already burnt out and struggling after basing their whole lives off of their athletic success.

Enough is enough. When student-athletes say that they are struggling, they need to be heard and supported. This problem cannot be swept under the rug any longer. The old rule of how athletes are tough and should push aside their feelings is outdated and frankly, idiotic. The weight of the world is on these kids shoulders, and they need to be relieved.

Words are impactful. Coaches and other team members need to realize how much they can impact a player. Athletes need to know that they are supported no matter if they succeed or fail. Fans and those on social media must keep this in mind too. At the end of the day, sports are just a game. They aren’t life or death, so athletes shouldn’t be treated as if they are.


Resources need to be redirected to keeping multiple mental health professionals on every sports team, and providing any support possible. Perhaps teams can scale back a bit on the 10 different uniform combinations and wild locker rooms for a more important cause. I’m all for spoiling athletes — they deserve it after their hard work. But, mental health must come first.

We are all in this race called life. Let’s not make it harder on anyone than we need to. I’m so thankful that Harry Miller is still with us today, and had the bravery to go public about his mental health battles. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but quite the opposite. The strength it takes for one to admit he/she needs support is admirable.

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for March 29, 2022
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

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

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

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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On the Gridiron


Ohio State’s Evan Pryor hopes to have ‘big role’ as redshirt freshman with Buckeyes
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Are Ohio State’s second-year defensive linemen about to take over?
- Tom Orr, Buckeye Scoop

How healthy Taron Vincent can build off breakout Rose Bowl for Buckeyes ($$)
- Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Transfer safety Tanner McCalister is officially a Buckeye...


Jack Sawyer plans on making “huge jump” ahead of sophomore season at Ohio State
- Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

As Ohio State’s young defensive line arrives, Tyler Friday’s veteran voice returns
- Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Ohio State spring football notes: Why Tyleik Williams should play more, what separates Marvin Harrison Jr. ($$)
- Bill Landis, The Athletic

Mitchell Melton earns Silver Bullet of the Day on Monday...


Tyleik Williams has dropped 40 pounds, feels much quicker
- Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

College football top 25 rankings: One game every team has circled in 2022
- Brad Crawford, Bucknuts

Kyion Grayes ready to join loaded wide receivers room
- Coby Maeir, The Lantern

On the Hardwood


Senior guard Taylor Mikesell to return to Ohio State for 2022-23 season
- Thomas Costello, LGHL

Chris Holtmann promotes assistant Jake Diebler as staff undergoes makeover
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Ohio State sophomore guard Kateri Poole enters transfer portal
- Braden Moles, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

A 6-foot-7 former four-star transfer interested in Ohio State...

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Olympic Recap: Ohio State with national champions galore
- Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Women’s Tennis: Ratliff continues dominant freshman season
- Kyle Bucklew, The Lantern

Wrapping up the historic season for the Ohio State women’s hockey team
- Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL

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Ohio State adds a ton more spring visits
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes again add to their spring visitor list, as well as offer a rising 2025 Georgia linebacker.

We may be months off from Ohio State’s next football season, but football never stops for the Buckeyes as there is always work to do on and off the field. The team is in the thick of spring practices, and is seemingly playing host to multiple blue-chip prospects every week. This trend continued Monday, as the Buckeyes added more future visits for this spring, and also sent out an early offer to a 2025 Georgia linebacker.

Ohio State’s spring visitor list is huge


April is one of the busiest months in the Ohio State football schedule — despite no games taking place. The team has already completed multiple spring practice sessions and more will continue this month.

Midway through the month, the Buckeyes will host their annual Spring Game and will play host to a large group of recruits. The weekend creates one of the greatest recruiting landscapes in the nation, with tens of thousands of Buckeye faithful showing up to cheer on the team months before the regular season begins.

The Spring Game is always a spectacle and because of the massive size of the recruiting event, prospects from around the country are already planning visits to Columbus for that weekend, as well as other weekends. On Monday, another handful of recruits announced plans for visits this month. Below are some of those recruits:

Five-star ATH Quinton Martin


Class: 2025
Hometown: Belle Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon
Size: 6-foot-2 / 180 pounds
Offers: Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Pitt, West Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, etc.

Four-star ATH Rodney Gallagher


Class: 2023
Hometown: Uniontown, PA / Laurel Highlands
Size: 5-foot-10, 160 pounds
Offers: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Pitt, Louisville, Houston, Iowa State, Texas, etc.

Three-star LB S’Maje Burrell


Class: 2023
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX / North Crowley
Size: 6-foot-1, 215 pounds
Offers: Ohio State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Arizona State, Florida, Florida State, USC, Houston, Utah, etc.

OT Mason Short


Class: 2025
Hometown: Evans, GA / Evans
Size: 6-foot-7, 280 pounds
Offers: Louisville, Minnesota, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern

Ohio State offers freshman LB


Ohio State is one of the best in the nation when it comes to recruiting. The team is consistently bringing in top-tier talent every year, and one of the reasons why the program has been so successful in getting blue-chip prospects to commit is its ability to build relationships early in the recruiting cycle.

The Buckeyes were able to once again do this Monday, as the team offered one of the most talented high school freshmen in the country in 2025 Georgia linebacker Zayden Walker.

While only a freshman, Walker has already started racking up an impressive offer sheet that now boasts teams like Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and NC State. He has also been able to complete unofficial visits with both Georgia and Florida State. Being from SEC country, Ohio State will need to get multiple visits for them to stand a chance.

While it will be tough for the Buckeyes to pry Walker out of the south, establishing a relationship with him this early in his recruitment should help them remain contenders for a large portion of his recruitment, if not all of it.

Walker has not yet received a star ranking from 247Sports, but when recruiting databases start ranking the 2025 class, expect Walker to be near the top.

Quick Hits

• 2023 four-star safety and Ohio State priority target Joel Aguero showed Ohio State some love on Monday. Aguero is currently favored to commit to Georgia, but Ohio State has made him one of their top defensive targets and hosted him on a visit recently that seems to have left quite an impression on him and his family.

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Senior guard Taylor Mikesell to return to Ohio State for 2022-23 season
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

After being on the fence between returning and declaring WNBA draft eligibility, Mikesell chose another year in Scarlet & Gray

Monday afternoon, with just hours until the cutoff to declare for the WNBA Draft, Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell made it official. The Ohio native has decided to exercise her extra year of eligibility and will return to the Scarlet and Gray for the 2022-23 season.


There was speculation that the senior might make the jump to the professional ranks following the best season of her collegiate career. After all, the shooting guard is a finalist for the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award for the best shooting guard in the nation and was at, or near, the top of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA throughout the season.

In 32 games, Mikesell averaged 18.625 points per game totaling 596 points on the year. Both are career highs after playing two seasons with the Maryland Terrapins and a third with the Oregon Ducks before joining the Buckeyes.

Mikesell also had her highest percentage shooting season in four years, hitting 48.2% on field goals and 47.5% from beyond the arc. The Ohio-native received word of her eligibility to play in Columbus just three days before the season began last fall. Mikesell’s eligibility was crucial, averaging the second-highest points per game total on the Ohio State roster.

With her addition for the 2021-22 season, an Ohio State side that lost two forwards to the transfer portal and their starting point guard to a season-ending injury added a much-needed, prolific scoring threat. Mikesell’s 2021-22 campaign turned into individual and team accolades.

Throughout the season, Mikesell received three Big Ten Honor Roll recognitions for her outstanding play. At the end of the campaign, the B1G coaches and media named Mikesell to the All-B1G First Team. The biggest hardware though was Ohio State’s regular-season B1G Co-Championship; an unexpected achievement with the Buckeyes behind Maryland, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Michigan Wolverines in the AP Poll for the entire season.

The threat that Mikesell presented opposing defenses opened things up for her teammates, especially her backcourt mate Jacy Sheldon. The guard led Ohio State in scoring on the season with 19.7 points per game. Also, it relieved pressure from other OSU starters like Rebeka Mikulasikova who started all 32 games after starting just one during her first two seasons with Ohio State.

With Mikesell’s announcement, the Buckeyes have gotten a shot of adrenaline going into the offseason. Mikesell’s return makes Ohio State a destination for potential transfer targets too. The Scarlet and Gray were three points away from reaching their first Elite Eight since 1993, on a team that head coach Kevin McGuff heralded as the most fun he’s had coaching in 20 seasons.

Ohio State will lose senior forwards Braxtin Miller and Tanaya Beacham, but outside of their graduation-induced exits, the Buckeyes bring back much of the core that helped them hoist the championship trophy this season.

If that chemistry and sense of fun continues into the 2022-23 season, it should be an interesting year of competition in the B1G.

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College Football Bowl Ties, Affiliations For Each Conference 2022-2023

Big Ten Bowl Tie-Ins, Affiliations
The Big Ten Champion will automatically go to the Rose Bowl if it’s not selected for the College Football Playoff. If the top Big Ten team is in the CFP, the highest-ranked available team is in the Rose.

The Big Ten alternates with the SEC between the Las Vegas Bowl (2021, 2023, 2025) and Duke’s Mayo Bowl (2020, 2022, 2024). This year, the Big Ten is expected to go to the Duke’s Mayo after Wisconsin played in the Las Vegas last season.

On other note, the San Francisco Bowl against the Pac-12 that was canceled over the last two years due to COVID issues isn’t a sure-thing to come back in 2022.

1. Rose Bowl vs Pac-12
Highest-ranked available Big Ten team, if it’s not the Big Ten Champion.

2. Vrbo Citrus Bowl vs SEC

3. Outback Bowl vs SEC

4. Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Pac-12

5. TransPerfect Music City Bowl vs SEC

6. New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC

7. Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big 12

8. San Francisco Bowl vs Pac-12

9. Quick Lane Bowl vs MAC

Entire article: https://collegefootballnews.com/202...-affiliations-for-each-conference-2022-2023/3

Memphis men's basketball team facing multiple NCAA violations

Memphis is reportedly facing four Level I and two Level II NCAA violations stemming from an 18-month investigation into the Tigers' men's basketball program.

The Daily Memphian obtained the notice of allegations and an amended notice of allegations from the Independent Accountability Resolution Process investigation. An infractions case involving former Memphis center James Wiseman was the first case accepted by the IARP in the spring of 2020.

Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway is the only person named in the notice of allegations, according to the report. It says Hardaway was involved in at least one of the Level I violations and the two Level II violations. The NCAA alleges Hardaway "failed to demonstrate that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance within the men's basketball program."

The Memphis Commercial Appeal, which also obtained the documents, reported that the investigation extended beyond Wiseman.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...sketball-team-facing-multiple-ncaa-violations

Al Michaels will be on Amazon now. He signed a three year deal for $10 mil/year. He will be joined by BP’s favorite Buckeye - Kirk Herbstreit (wtf??), who will also still do gameday. Al Michaels will also do a playoff game for NBC.

Mike Tirico will take over for Michaels on NBC. Herbie’s deal is rumored to be 8 figures.

Troy Aikman and Joe Buck will be doing MNF on ESPN. Aikman signed a five year deal worth $90 mill. Haven’t seen the details of Buck’s contract, but it is said that they’re paying them around $30 mill/year for the pair of them.

Firstly, why is Amazon sinking $20 mill/year into Thursday Night Football’s announcers? Insanity.

Secondly, more than half the country is living paycheck to paycheck and these dudes can all go get fucked.

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He's a 320 lbs. 6'7" OT at St Edward HS in Lakewood OH.
https://247sports.com/player/ben-roebuck-46127618/

Is C.J. Stroud participating in Ohio State football’s Pro Day?



The Ohio State football program will host its annual Pro Day on Wednesday, and it could provide an early look at a potential 2023 NFL Draft prospect.

C.J. Stroud won’t be eligible for the draft for another year, but on Wednesday, he’ll serve as the quarterback for wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

Former OSU quarterback Cardale Jones will join Stroud in the Pro Day. Jones threw for 2,322 yards and 15 touchdowns in 23 games during his career from 2013-15 before being taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. His brightest moment came during the 2014 season when he stepped in as the third-string quarterback and led the Buckeyes to a national title in the first year of the College Football Playoff.

Entire article: https://www.cleveland.com/buckeye-t...cipating-in-ohio-state-footballs-pro-day.html

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11 Players To Participate In Ohio State's Pro Day On Wednesday

The former Buckeyes will have another chance to impress general managers, coaches and scouts before the draft.

Ohio State’s Pro Day typically draws more than 100 representatives from all 32 teams.

Ohio State’s Pro Day will begin at 11 a.m. It will not be broadcast live by any networks, though ESPN and NFL Network will likely be in attendance.

Entire article: https://www.si.com/college/ohiostat...s-to-participate-in-pro-day-on-wednesday-2022

Here's what they did at the NFL Combine:

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Ohio State's 2022 NFL Combine results

https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...lave-Garrett-Wilson-Thayer-Munford-184019475/

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Ohio State vs Villanova Game Preview, How To Watch
Date: Sunday, March 20
Game Time: 2:40 pm
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
How To Watch: CBS
Records: Ohio State (7 seed, 20-11)
Villanova (2 seed, 27-7)
Region: South

Ohio State vs Villanova: What’s Going To Happen
It’s not just that Ohio State got back a few key pieces and played great at times against Loyola. It’s that it seems to have one massive chip on its shoulder.

Not to get too psychoanalytical about this, but the NCAA Tournament is always about nerves. If you watched over the last few days, you could easily tell the players and teams that simply weren’t their normal selves.

What helps get past that? An angry attitude, and after everyone seemed to pick Loyola, Ohio State got awfully surly. Now the Buckeyes have the personnel, the talent, and the chip on its shoulder to keep this going.

Villanova will have its moments from three, but get ready for one of the more physical games yet from the Buckeyes.

The Wildcats will score from the outside, but there won’t be enough happening inside.

Ohio State vs Villanova Prediction, Lines
Ohio State 66, Villanova 65
Line: Villanova -5.5, o/u: 132
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Entire article: https://collegefootballnews.com/202...ion-game-preview-ncaa-tournament-second-round

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Ohio State vs. Villanova
ESPN BPI projection: Villanova by 7 points (77.1% win probability)

After the most impressive defensive performance of the season during a win over Loyola Chicago, the Buckeyes try and catch lightning in a bottle again at the end of the floor against NCAA Tournament mainstay and favored Villanova.

Ohio State’s women’s hockey team eyes first trip to NCAA title game
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Justin Berl/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

The Buckeyes will take on Yale on Friday night in a Frozen Four semifinal with a trip to Sunday’s title game at stake.

The dream season for Ohio State’s women’s hockey team continues on Friday when they take on Yale in one of the Frozen Four semifinals at Pegula Ice Arena in State College, PA. The Buckeyes earned their third Frozen Four appearance in program history when they outlasted Quinnipiac on Saturday in Columbus, earning the victory thanks to a goal a couple minutes into the second overtime of the game by Clair DeGeorge.

Saturday’s contest against Quinnipiac started out on a familiar note for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes gave up the first goal of the game, marking the third game in a row that Ohio State has faced an early deficit. After Quinnipiac scored 8:26 into the first period, Ohio State responded with less than a minute left in the period. The Buckeyes took advantage of the power play, as Riley Bergman netted her fourth goal of the season to even the score.

Ohio State would again benefit from having an extra skater early in the second period. Clair DeGeorge scored her first goal of the game and 14th goal of the season at the 4:30 mark of the second period. The lead wouldn’t last long though, as Quinnipiac tied the game just over two minutes after the goal from DeGeorge.

The game would go into the third period tied before Sophie Jaques found the back of the net for the 21st time this season 2:05 into the period. The Buckeyes would hold that lead for most of the third period but Quinnipiac not only used a power play, but they also pulled their goalie to get an extra skater on the ice. The 6-on-4 advantage allowed the Bobcats to force overtime when they scored at the 18:38 mark.

The teams would go through the first 20-minute extra session with no goals before the Buckeyes secured their trip to the Frozen Four thanks to DeGeorge’s second goal of the game. The game-winner came on Ohio State’s 77 shot of the game. By comparison, Quinnipiac only was able to put 22 shots on goal. The goal by Ohio State was the 170th of the season by the Buckeyes, which is the most in the country.

Now Ohio State will try and earn their first championship game appearance, but to get there they’ll have to defeat the Yale Bulldogs, who are making their first-ever Frozen Four appearance. In fact, this was the first time that Yale has ever made the NCAA Tournament. To get to the Frozen Four, the Bulldogs defeated Colgate 2-1 in overtime. Yale got a bit of revenge on Colgate after the Raiders defeated the Bulldogs the previous week in the ECAC Championship Game.

The Buckeyes and Bulldogs have met three previous times, with Ohio State holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The past meetings don’t mean a whole lot though, as the first came in 1999 and the other two were back in 2005. The Buckeyes will hope to have the same type of success against Yale as they did against Quinnipiac, who they also hadn’t played in over 10 years.

Ohio State will look to Sophie Jaques to continue to lead them in their quest for the program’s first national title. With her goal on Saturday, Jaques recorded her 59th point of the season, tying Emma Maltais for the most in a season in program history. The skills Jaques has shown on not only the defensive end, but the offensive end as well is what has made the Buckeyes so tough to slow down.

Even though she wasn’t tested nearly as much as her counterpart in goal on Saturday, Amanda Thiele made the big saves when she had to against Quinnipiac. Thiele enters Friday’s game with a 16-3 record this year. The goalie from Michigan has a .940 save percentage this year, with a 1.29 goals-against average. The three goals Thiele allowed against the Bobcats were the second-most she has allowed in a game this season.

Ohio State and Yale will drop the puck on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Pegula Ice Arena in State College. Unlike on the men’s side where Ohio State and Penn State are conference foes, the women’s team plays in the CHA. Neither Ohio State or Yale played Penn State this year, so this will be their first trip to the arena in the 2021-22 season. The winner will move on to Sunday afternoon’s final to play the winner of Northeastern and Minnesota-Duluth

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Instant Recap Podcast: Ohio State takes down Sister Jean’s Loyola-Chicago
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Survive and advance.

Following every Ohio State football and select basketball games, LGHL will be bringing you an instant recap and analysis breaking down the game and previewing what’s next for the Buckeyes.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


Contrary to popular belief amongst Ohio State followers, the No. 7 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes are moving on in the NCAA tournament after taking down No. 10 seed Loyola-Chicago Ramblers 54-41 on Friday afternoon behind a surprising and impressive defensive effort from Ohio State

The “Bucketheads” podcast co-host Justin Golba gives his thoughts and analysis on the game at hand and what he saw from the Buckeyes at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.

Also, what comes next for the Buckeyes? They will face the winner of No. 2 Villanova and No. 15 Delaware on Sunday at a time to be determined.

Sorry, Sister Jean.


Connect with Bucketheads
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Justin Golba
Twitter: @Justin_Golba

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