Ohio State puts clamps on Loyola-Chicago for 54-41 win in NCAA Men’s Tournament
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In a tough, defensively focused matchup, the Buckeyes won an extremely important game for the future of the program.

After losing four of their final five games of the season, including their first game in the Big Ten Tournament against Penn State, Ohio State (20-11, 12-8) was in the very least glad to have a full week off to get healthy. The Buckeyes were playing without a full deck of cards for several weeks, as Kyle Young (concussion), Zed Key (ankle), and Meechie Johnson (ankle) had all missed multiple games recently due to injuries. Additionally, expected starter Justice Sueing (groin/abdominal) has missed 29 straight games, and Seth Towns (back) was ruled out for the season in February.

On Friday, Chris Holtmann’s squad took a big step in the right direction to get healthy with Young, Key, and Johnson all being cleared (Johnson was cleared for the Penn State game but didn’t play) to play in today’s opening-round NCAA Tournament game against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.

With Loyola being one of the worst rebounding teams in the NCAA Tournament, getting both Young and Key back in time for today’s game was crucial to give the Buckeyes a chance at what many people would call an upset. The betting line heading into the game was even — despite Ohio State being the higher seed — and just 52% of all Tournament Challenge brackets on ESPN had Ohio State beating the lower-seeded Ramblers.

Chris Holtmann went with a starting lineup of Jamari Wheeler, Malaki Branham, Gene Brown, E.J. Liddell, and the new guy Young at center; Zed Key came off the bench. First-year Loyola head coach Drew Valentine went with a starting five of Hilliard-native Braden Norris, Lucas Williamson, Tate Hall, Chris Knight, and Aher Uguak.

The Buckeyes got absolutely nothing going against Loyola-Chicago’s elite defense early on, with only two Liddell free throws showing up on the scoreboard by the first media timeout. Loyola’s guards were jumping passing lanes left and right, anticipating where Ohio State was going with it and affecting the Buckeyes’ ball movement. Just over four minutes into the game, the Ramblers led 5-2.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Buckeyes tied it up 11-11 by the under-8 timeout. Over the first 12 minutes, Ohio State shot 29% overall besting Loyola’s 28%. Both teams’ defenses were on point, but it’s no surprise that Loyola’s defense came to play. What was surprising was how connected OSU was on that end of the floor early in this game.


The Buckeyes carried a filthy 23-18 lead into halftime thanks to some impressive defense as well as 10 points from Branham, who led all scorers in the first half. The Buckeyes held Loyola to 23% shooting overall and held their two leading scorers to 2-of-10 combined shooting. Liddell had four points in the first half, but they were all at the free-throw line. Loyola did a great job walling him off and making it difficult to even get shots off.

The Buckeyes opened the second half on a 6-0 run, including Liddell’s first two buckets of the game. Valentine was forced to call a timeout at the 17:24 mark with his team trailing, 29-18. By the first media timeout at the 14:17 mark, Ohio State had opened up a 33-23 lead.

Ohio State pushed their lead to 14 at one point, but the Ramblers got a few buckets and were able to make it 37-26 by the under-12 media timeout. Johnson had a huge three, Liddell was starting to get it going, and the Buckeyes continued to force pretty much everyone except Norris into taking some very difficult shots.


Loyola was able to get the deficit down to single digits several times, but they couldn’t string enough buckets together to come back against an Ohio State defense was at its absolute best. When the final buzzer sounded, the Buckeyes had wrapped up a 54-41 opening-round victory over the Missouri Valley Conference Champions.

Loyola-Chicago was led by Norris’ 14 points on 5-13 shooting. Liddell paced the Buckeyes with 16 points and 10 rebounds. OSU led for the entire second half and never let the Ramblers get closer than eight points.


If you somehow weren’t around this afternoon to catch Ohio State’s big opening-round victory over Sister Jean’s Ramblers, here are a few key moments and plays that sent the Buckeyes straight to the second round:

Kyle Young with a dad dunk


Trailing 5-2 coming out of the first media timeout, Young received a dime pass from Branham on the left block and slammed it home, cutting the Ramblers’ early lead to one point and giving him his first bucket in 17 days. Young scored five of Ohio State’s first nine points and really kept his team afloat early on.

Young finished with nine points and seven rebounds over 35 minutes.

Schwieger gives Loyola the lead, Branham answers


Tied 9-9 with 7:38 remaining in the first half, Loyola’s Ryan Schwieger escaped on a fast break and laid it up, giving the Ramblers a two-point lead. On the ensuing Ohio State possession, Branham went solo and hit a step-back jumper near the free-throw line, tying it back up 11-11 with 7:13 to go until halftime.

Schwieger finished with eight points and six rebounds over 22 minutes.

Norris triple cuts it to three


Hilliard-native Braden Norris started the day 0-3 in the shooting department, but he got a clean look from the corner directly in front of Ohio State’s bench at the 4:45 mark of the first half and buried it. That triple cut Ohio State’s lead from six to three points, once again making it a one-possession game.

Branham FTs make it a nine-point lead


With just over two minutes left in the first half, Malaki Branham was bumped on a drive-by Lucas Williamson, and the foul was called on the floor. It was Loyola’s seventh, putting the Buckeyes in the bonus. Branham knocked down both FTs making it 23-14 Buckeyes — their largest lead of the game to that point.

Branham went on to finish with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals over 28 minutes.

E.J. sees one drop (finally)


After being held to four points on zero made shots in the first half, Liddell scored back-to-back buckets for the Buckeyes early in the second half, to push his team ahead by 11 points at the 17:24 mark. When Loyola called timeout, the Buckeyes held a 29-18 lead.

Liddell finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks over 35 minutes.

Meechie with a massive triple


Between injuries and inconsistent play, Johnson’s time on the floor has been pretty sporadic lately. He’d scored a combined two points over his last five games, and had not hit a three-pointer since February 21 against Indiana. Tonight, with Ohio State leading by an even 10 points, Johnson canned a three from right in front of Chris Holtmann to extend the Buckeyes’ lead to 36-23 with 13:38 remaining in the game.

Johnson finished with those three points and a rebound over 15 minutes.

Hall cuts the lead to single digits


The Ramblers spent much of the second half trailing, but with 10:48 remaining Hall was able to create space between himself and Liddell, stepping back and nailing a three-pointer just behind the line (it was reviewed, and confirmed a three later on). The Ohio State lead was cut to eight points, 37-29.

Hall finished with three points and two rebounds over 19 minutes.

Branham pushes the lead to 14, Norris answers


Just before the final media timeout, Branham slashed his way to the baseline and scored on a floater, giving Ohio State a 48-34 lead. But on the very next possession, Norris hit a Dirk-like stepback jumper from the free-throw line, getting Loyola back within a dozen. Ohio State led 48-36 at the final media timeout with 3:57 remaining.

Up Next:


Ohio State (20-11, 12-8) advances to play the winner of No. 2 Villanova and 15-seed Delaware, who play on Friday afternoon in Pittsburgh. The game time and channel for Ohio State’s second-round game are still to be announced, but the game will once again be played in PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

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Column: Today is a must-win game for Chris Holtmann, but not in the way you might think
Matt Tamanini 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

With a top-five recruiting class, he’s not going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean another first round loss won’t have major implications.

I think that we’ve made it pretty clear over the years that we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are big fans of Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann. Speaking for just myself, I think that he is a very good coach, but equally importantly, I think that he is a great human being (please don’t make me regret putting that in print someday in the future, Coach).

Now, of course, I don’t think that being a great human being on its own should merit a coach’s continued employment. I do think that it matters to a not-insignificant degree, but that’s not what I’m here to argue with you about today. In fact, I don’t think that I’m here to argue with you at all, because, despite my genuine affection and appreciation for Holtmann, I think that things have become fairly clear for his tenure leading the men’s basketball program.


Today’s game against the No. 10 Loyola-Chicago is not a must-win for Holtmann to keep his job. He is bringing in the nation’s fifth-best recruiting after this season, and that alone warrants another year — or most likely two — at the helm for the Buckeyes, and given the transfer rate in men’s college basketball, if you don't understand why, I’m not sure that we have much else to discuss.

However, today’s game is still monumentally important for his tenure with the Buckeyes for other reasons. All season-long, Holtmann has been praising and thanking the fans that have shown up to the cavernous and ill-planned Schottenstein Center. He has credited them with providing support, motivation, and appreciation during some of the season’s most important moments. And while I think the Nuthouse is going to continue to do that no matter what, I am concerned about the rest of the Ohio State fanbase and how they would react should Holtmann’s Buckeyes get bounced by a double-digit seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years.

Given what we’ve seen from a subsection of OSU fans on Twitter over the years, and especially this season, it’s safe to say that a certain percentage of Buckeye Nation is not exactly 100% behind Holtmann. Now, normally, I tend to dismiss the loudest and most negative of our Buckeye brethren as just a glass-half-empty vocal minority, but this feels different to me.

Rather than the calls to fire Holtmann coming from the same venomous accounts that I easily mute and move on from, it feels like the apprehension about his stewardship of the program has begun to take hold amongst the not-perpetually-mad-online portion of the OSU population. And that’s where a game like today’s can be concerning.

I believe that some of Holtmann’s NCAA Tournament disappointments can be chalked up to bad luck; be they injury, matchup, or COVID-related, and that very well might come into play today, depending on whether Zed Key and Kyle Young are able to contribute at the levels that OSU needs them to.

But be it an excuse or a reason, the problem is that blaming “bad luck” can only explain away so much. So, since we expect Key and Young to both be active for the game — thanks to reporting by The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy — if they play, even if not nearly 100%, I can’t see a certain percentage of OSU fans giving Holtmann yet another year of the benefit of the doubt. And unfortunately, I think that percentage is larger than anyone would like.

And while that won’t impact his job status, especially given Ohio State AD Gene Smith’s not-so-subtle defense of his coach on Twitter earlier this week, it very well might have an impact on his ability to be the best leader of the program.


Having a city like Columbus, and a fanbase like ours, behind you, is a big deal for a coach and their team. And while it is always dangerous to compare anything at Ohio State to the football program, even on a smaller scale for men’s basketball, we know the levels of fervor that Buckeye fans are capable of. If Holtmann loses a large swath of the fans due to another one-and-done tournament appearance, I think it could have multiple, significant impacts on the program.

You notice that I did not describe a potential loss to the Ramblers as an upset. That’s because DraftKings Sportsbook has the Ohio State-Loyola game as a pick ‘em. So, despite the Buckeyes being the higher seed, from the more dangerous conference, with one of the best players in the country, the oddsmakers think this game is a coin flip. Now, that surely has at least something to do with the uncertainty surrounding Key and Young, but I don’t think that this gambling distinction will assuage Buckeye fans’ feelings should a loss come to pass.

So, if a large number of fans further check out on the men’s basketball Buckeyes, how will that impact the vibe around the program? Will there be less of a buzz about Bruce Thornton, Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle Jr., Brice Sensabaugh, and Bowen Hardman joining the team? Will that lead to them seeking greener pastures if their freshman campaigns don’t go according to plan?

If the MBB team loses a noticeable amount of fan support, will that hamper Holtmann’s ability to capitalize on his 2022 recruiting success? Will prospects be concerned that the coach in Columbus might not be there for the long haul if they commit?

Heck, does Holtmann get frustrated by the constant questioning from the fans (and trust me, if you’ve listened to his press conferences, it’s pretty clear that — while he won’t come straight out and say it — he hears it, and it bugs him) and decide to go find a program that might be more receptive to his leadership?

A fanbase’s loss of faith can be crippling for a coach in ways large and small. It eats away at the foundation of the program from both the outside and the inside. It can put an abrupt end to any momentum that the team has, it can cast doubt on everyone associated with the program, and — most damagingly — it can create ill-feelings all around.

Trust me, we do not want a 2022-23 season with “Should Chris Holtmann be fired?” as one of the major storylines, we don’t want to see the coach’s resentment boiling up during pressers, and we don’t want to see recruits distancing themselves from Ohio State because they can’t be certain if the coaches recruiting them will even be there for their freshman seasons.

Of course, in sports, winning is the greatest elixir of all. Win today against one of the most beloved — and widely picked — programs in recent tournament history, and it buys you some time. If you don’t, go into the offseason with questions from fans flying around from every direction and deal with the consequences that those questions bring along with them.

I like Chris Holtmann, I would like him to remain the coach at Ohio State for many years to come, so for that reason, today’s game is a must-win in my book.

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Five things to know about Ohio State’s first round NCAA Tournament opponent Loyola-Chicago
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Some fun facts about Ohio State’s upcoming NCAA Tournament opponent.

It’s that time of year. The madness of March is back, and this year’s Ohio State Buckeyes unit has made the NCAA Tournament once again — this time as a No. 7 seed. Chris Holtmann’s team has not had a ton of success in the postseason tourney, memorably losing to Oral Roberts a year ago to suffer an immediate exit. They’ll be looking to right the ship this time around, but it will be no easy task, as the Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago stand in their way.

Opponents get significantly more unfamiliar now that conference play has come to an end, but many Ohio State fans are probably at least somewhat aware of Loyola-Chicago thanks to their Cinderella run to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. But that was then and this is now, so who exactly are this year’s Ramblers? Let’s learn a few things about the Buckeyes’ first round opponent.

1) America’s favorite nun is back


Part of what made Loyola-Chicago’s miracle run even more special was not what was going on the court, but who was on the sidelines for it all. Sister Jean stole America’s hearts as a Ramblers super-fan. The now 102-year-old nun is an an American religious sister of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and also the chaplain of the Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball team. This year, she will be back on the sidelines for the Ramblers in the NCAA Tournament, hoping to bring more of the good fortune she seemingly brought the team both in 2018 and 2021.

Sister Jean first became a star after Loyola-Chicago upset Miami in the 2018 tourney. Her popularity only continued to grow as the team went on to defeat Tennessee, Nevada and Kansas State to advance to the program’s first Final Four since 1963. The Ramblers would eventually fall to Michigan in that Final Four game, but the legend of Sister Jean had been born. She would return in 2021, and Loyola-Chicago again came away with a massive upset over No. 1 seed Illinois to advance to the Sweet 16. Sister Jean will be in the house on Friday, and Ohio State fans will be hoping the magic has worn off by now. No offense, Sister.

(Fun Fact: Sister Jean is older than Ohio Stadium, which broke ground in 1921 — two years after she was born!)

2) A (somewhat) familiar face


Today is St. Patrick’s Day, but we are talking about Valentines.

During those previous two runs in the NCAA Tournament, Loyola-Chicago was led by head coach Porter Moser, who was the headman of the program for 10 years from 2011-21. It was a slow start for Moser with the Ramblers, but after winning the CBI in 2014-15, things started to get going. A 32-6 season in 2017-18 resulted in both regular season and tournament titles for Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference, and ended with that aforementioned Final Four run. That campaign started a streak of four-consecutive winning seasons for the Ramblers and a trio of conference titles, and Moser would go on to take the Oklahoma job at the start of this season.

This season, Loyola-Chicago is led by Drew Valentine. If his name and appearance are somewhat familiar, that is because he is the older brother of Denzel Valentine, a former AP Player of the Year at Michigan State who once hit a game-winning three-pointer over Ohio State — on Valentines Day, no less — in 2015. Previously a grad assistant for the Spartans under Tom Izzo and an assistant coach for his alma mater Oakland, the elder Valentine was hired by the Ramblers at 29 years old, becoming the youngest head coach in Division I basketball. He was previously on staff from 2017-21 as an assistant.

In his first year at the helm, Valentine led his team to a 25-7 record and an MVC Tournament title. Now, he will be looking to win his first NCAA Tournament appearance as head coach and follow in the footsteps of his younger brother by defeating Ohio State.

3) MVC magic


This was the last season for Loyola-Chicago playing in the Missouri Valley Conference, as it has been announced they will be joining the Atlantic 10 as of this July. The Ramblers first joined the MVC back in 2013, coming over from the Horizon League. Since becoming a member, Loyola-Chicago has earned at least a share of the regular season title three times, and landed the conference’s auto bid to the NCAA Tournament by emerging victorious in ‘Arch Madness’ — aka the MVC Conference Tournament — thrice (2018, 2021, 2022).

While the MVC isn’t exactly known as a basketball powerhouse, the conference has had a tremendous amount of success in the NCAA Tournament over the last decade. In eight off the last night brackets, a Missouri Valley Conference team has won a first-round game, with a 11-3 mark overall in the first round during that timeframe. The league has also done quite well for itself in the following rounds, with a pair of Sweet 16 runs (2021 Loyola-Chicago, 2015 Wichita State) and the MVC’s only two trips to the Final Four in the modern era (2018 Loyola-Chicago, 2013 Wichita State).

With the Ramblers the only member of the MVC in this year’s tourney, Ohio State will be looking to put an end to that streak.

4) Ohio ties


As a school based in Chicago, it is no surprise to see much of the talent on this year’s Loyola-Chicago team comes from around the Midwest. Five players on the roster are from within the Illinois borders, including leading scorer Lucas Williamson, who hails from the school’s backyard in Chicago. A trio of players come from Indiana, while Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska have one representative each. Senior forward Aher Uguak is from Canada, which I’m told is the Midwest of the north. Even head coach Drew Valentine is from Michigan.

The one player on the team out of the great state of Ohio is a good one. Junior guard Braden Norris is a native of Hilliard, Ohio. The team’s second-leading scorer, Norris averaged 10.3 points per game this season while averaging a team-high 3.9 assists per game. A Hilliard Bradley High School product, Norris began his collegiate career at Oakland before transferring to Loyola-Chicago after one season. Ohio State was one of the many teams to reach out to him during his time in the transfer portal, but did not end up offering him a scholarship. Norris played against both Justin Ahrens and Kyle Young when they were all in high school.

Norris will likely be playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after being overlooked by the hometown school, and as the team’s leading three-point shooter, he will be one to look out for come Friday.

5) The Office


Loyola University Chicago, founded in 1870, is a private school in — you guessed it — Chicago, Illinois. It is actually a relatively large university, spanning six campuses across the Chicago metropolitan area and enrolling approximately 17,000 students. Despite its size, there aren’t all that many super famous Loyola-Chicago alumni. They get to lay claim for Wal-Mart CFO Thomas Schoewe and McDonalds corporate chairman Michael R. Quinlan, but I wouldn’t exactly call those guys ‘famous’. You may know of Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, and you’re even more likely to know Shams Charania, NBA insider for The Athletic.

All of these guys are very successful Loyola-Chicago alumni, but the most famous of all is far and away Leslie David Baker, or as you know him, Stanley from The Office. Before landing the gig on one of the world’s most popular TV shows, Baker earned a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and went on to get an M.S. in human services administration from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Ironically enough, Baker played an office worker in commercials for OfficeMax to make some extra cash while working on his Masters — a sign of things to come! Overall, Baker played the character of Stanley Hudson in 188 episodes of The Office from 2005-13.


Ohio State will play in the very first game to begin the Friday slate, tipping off against Loyola-Chicago at 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS. As of the time this was written, the game is currently a pick-em on the DraftKings Sportsbook, meaning that the odds are even for either team to win. The over/under is set at 133 points.

The Vegas odds agree — this should be a good one!

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Ohio State Football (twitter site) identified their 8 top plays for the 2021 season:

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I went back 25 pages and didn't see a Kentucky thread so I'm creating one. After all, they are the winningest program in college basketball history.

They are now also the most recent 2 seed to get bounced by a 15 seed in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Thank you, Saint Peter's.

Xavier basketball parts ways with coach Travis Steele, Sean Miller reported as potential candidate to watch

"BREAKING: Xavier and head coach Travis Steele have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately," Broering tweeted. "Xavier will start a national coaching search immediately."

Jeff Borzello reported Wednesday that Sean Miller, a former Xavier head coach in his own right, will be a “name to watch” moving forward.

Miller most recently coached at Arizona for 12 seasons before he and the university parted ways ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. The last three years of his tenure with the Wildcats were mired by allegations of recruiting violations and they even served a postseason ban in 2020-21 despite finishing the year 17-9.

Arizona last made the NCAA Tournament under Miller during the 2017-18 season after going 27-8 and winning both of the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament championships. Arizona went under investigation after a federal probe regarding corruption among NCAA schools. The situation stems from former Wildcats staffer Emanuel “Book” Richardson who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to steer Arizona players to sports agent Christian Dawkins.

According to multiple reports, Richardson spent three months in prison for accepting bribes. Miller has been on record stating that he has not paid any prospects to attend his program. He maintained that he never will engage in that activity.

“I have never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative to come to Arizona,” Miller has said previously. “I never have and never will.”

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-..._te3NSkJunYZ5FDPyINmoHwgEKFNX821uoMcy3dbTvBBc

Ohio State to host rising 2023 safety
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 five-star safety Carnell Tate via Andrew Ivins of 247Sports

Plus, an update on a priority five-star wide receiver target for the Buckeyes in 2023.

With spring in the air, the Ohio State football team is in full force with spring practices and recruiting. On Monday, the Buckeyes learned they will be playing host to a rising 2023 safety later this month, and one of their top wide receiver targets will soon make a big announcement.

2023 safety to visit Ohio State


The Ohio State football team is now in week two of its spring practices, and with this comes recruiting visits. Ohio State’s spring visitor list seems to grow as each day passes, and this was the case Monday as one of the teams newest safety targets announced he would be visiting with the Buckeyes later this month.

Three-star S Jayden Bonu (Hillside, NJ / St. Peters Prep) has seen his recruitment take off in the last few months, including receiving an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes last December. On Monday he announced he would be visiting Ohio State the weekend of March 25-26.


Bonsu may only be a three-star prospect, but his offer list says otherwise. Since the end of his junior season of play, he has received scholarship offers from the likes of Ohio State, Clemson, USC, Miami, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arkansas and Alabama. Because of his impressive offer sheet, if he builds upon his junior season this coming fall, he should easily make a massive jump in the recruiting rankings.

The visit to Ohio State will be his first to Columbus and one of his first visits in his recruitment. Although, it will not be his first, as he has already made trips to Penn State and Michigan State.

Bonsu seems to be leaning towards staying in Big Ten country, but this could easily change as he begins to take more visits in the coming months. If the upcoming visit goes as well as planned, Ohio State could make a push as a legitimate contender in his recruitment.

Bonsu is the No. 33 safety in the 2023 recruiting class and is the No. 367 overall recruit. He is also the No. 7 recruit out of New Jersey.

Carnell Tate to soon break some “Big news”


Ohio State has had 2023 five-star wide receiver Carnell Tate (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) as one of their top priorities for the majority of his recruitment. The Buckeyes offered him in April of 2021, and since then the team has been viewed as a favorite to land him.

Since the offer, Tate has made multiple visits to Columbus, cementing them as a contender. However, they are not alone, as Notre Dame has also developed a strong relationship with him. It appears that the two have separated themselves from the field, as they were the only two schools with a prediction cast in their favor in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions. That is until Monday afternoon, when Notre Dame insider Tom Loy flipped his prediction from the Irish to Ohio State, putting both of the current predictions in their favor.

It seems like Ohio State is still slightly ahead of the Irish. We will soon learn more into his mindset, as he took to Twitter saying he will be releasing some “big news” later today.


In the Tweet, Tate referenced Hayes Fawcett, who is known for some of the best recruiting graphics in the game. Because of this, we can either expect the news to be a commitment or more likely a cut down from his top 10 schools list. If Tate is going to cut his top schools today, expect both Ohio State and Notre Dame to make the cut.

Tate is the No. 3 WR in the 2023 class and is the No. 21 overall prospect. He is also the No. 7 prospect from the talent-rich state Florida.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State made the cut for 2023 three-star linebacker S’Maje Burrell on Sunday. Included in his top 11 are Ohio State, Florida State, Baylor, Utah, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, Tennessee, USC and Ole Miss.

• Ohio State 2023 OL verbal commit Joshua Padilla finished as the state runner-up in his final wrestling match last weekend. The skills he has learned from the sport directly translates to the football field, which is why he is one of the top at his position.

• Ohio State 2022 five-star safety signee Sonny Styles is not just impressive on the gridiron, but also on the hardwood. He led this impressive series of plays last weekend, helping lead Pickerington Central to the Ohio State final four.

• Five-star OL Francis Mauigoa released his top 13 on Twitter on Monday night, and the Buckeyes were one of the teams to make the cut for the 6-foot-6, 325-pound IMG Academy standout. Mauigoa is currently the No. 2 OT and the No. 8 overall player in the 2023 class.

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Ohio State softball is having its best start in years
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Graduate left-hander Lexie Handley winds up for a pitch. | The Ohio State University Athletic Department

The Buckeyes’ softball team has had a tremendous beginning to their season, and they’re just getting started.

I might be a little biased, but I think I have the best sports beat for The Lantern, Ohio State’s student news outlet. I am the softball beat reporter this season, and it has been so much fun to cover this team! The Buckeyes (13-3) are off to their best 16-game start since 2018.

I’ve talked to a lot of the girls on the team, and the overall theme I’m getting from them is that this year’s team is different. They have gelled together tremendously and get along with one another really well. This type of camaraderie may have been missing in the past, and could be the key to their success this year.

The Buckeyes scored big time in the transfer portal during the offseason, receiving graduate left-handed pitcher Lexie Handley and senior outfielder Jaycee Ruberti. The 24-year-old Handley has quickly become the ace of the pitching staff, and being a southpaw is certainly not something you see everyday, which is an added benefit.

Handley has a 1.81 ERA in 61 innings pitched, amounting to a 6-2 record on the season. She is simply dominant in the circle, racking up 73 strikeouts so far, including multiple double-digit strikeout outings.

Not to count out the other members of the pitching staff, sophomore righties Allison Smith and Emily Ruck have had strong starts to the season as well, posting 1.91 and 1.66 ERAs, respectively. Additionally, Ruck pitched her first collegiate no-hitter on Sunday against UMass in a five-inning mercy rule win. I would expect to see her get some more innings as the season goes on.

Jaycee Ruberti has a team-leading .378 batting average, including reaching base safely in 10 of her 12 at-bats in the four games this past weekend. Another senior outfielder who is leading the way for the Buckeyes is Meggie Otte. She has a .273 average and team-leading 18 RBIs with a .542 slugging percentage, and is an absolute star in centerfield.

One last senior I want to mention is corner infielder Niki Carver. She hit three home runs in the four-game weekend stretch, and currently has 21 home runs for her career — the most on the active roster.

While there are some veterans that have performed really well to start the season, there are a couple of freshmen to be highlighted as well. Kami Kortokrax, a Columbus native, has started every single game at shortstop, and has done quite well. She has a .911 fielding percentage and a .235 batting average— pretty dang good for a freshman! Outside of her stardom on the field, she has also amassed a large following on TikTok (@kamikortokrax), where she has 55.7K followers and over 3.4 million likes!

Another first-year worth mentioning is Melina Wilkison. Usually the designated hitter, Wilkison has had an extremely hot start offensively. She has a .300 batting average and has been very reliable to put the ball in play, with only five strikeouts in 40 at-bats.

All of these Buckeyes and more are being led by head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly. She is in her 10th season coaching Ohio State, and has a 280-172-1 record during her time with the program. Her winning percentage entering the season, .612, is the best of any coach in program history.

All of these statistics are truly impressive, and shows what a talented roster this team has. Personally, I think the best thing about this team is how much fun they’re having. While only a few games having been live-streamed so far, between watching those and talking with the players, they are genuinely excited to go out on the field and play with each other every day, and that could make all the difference this season.

The Buckeyes are currently on their spring break road-trip in Florida. They play against UCF Tuesday at 6 p.m., and it will be live-streamed on ESPN+. I encourage you to tune in!

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You’re Nuts: Perfect landing spots for Wilson, Olave
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Where would the former Buckeye wideouts be best suited?

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: The perfect NFL teams for Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson

Josh’s Take:


First and foremost, I believe Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave will each find future success, regardless of when and where they are drafted. Maybe this is me being a homer, but I think both former Buckeyes are supremely talented, and it is impossible to argue that either is/was simply a flash-in-the-pan. Their college careers were far more impressive than Terry McLaurin’s — the most recent Ohio State WR turned NFL stud — and I think they can find similar success to that of Scary Terry, sooner rather than later.

Both Wilson and Olave have games predicated on all-around skill and technique, rather than size and/or speed (although they both have plenty of the latter). This should give them an advantage in their pursuit of NFL glory, and I’m excited to see what each can do at the next level.

When I was deciding on an ideal landing spot for each of these guys, I tried to consider all real and meaningful factors... So, in other words, I wasn’t going to put either of them on my Cincinnati Bengals just for fun. My thought process revolved around draft position, team need(s), current WR situation, etc. I quickly eliminated both former Buckeyes as top-10 candidates, but after that, I found a ton of potential fits that I liked. No need to look any further, Gene, these are two mock draft picks that are guaranteed to hit.

Garret Wilson — No. 18 to the New Orleans Saints

Two things: 1) I was surprised I had Wilson falling this far, and 2) I refuse to wish Cleveland upon a player I intend to root for. I promised myself I would keep emotion out of this, but I could not forecast Wilson to the Browns at No. 13, even though I like the potential fit. So I have him ending up in New Orleans, with approximately 15 other former Buckeyes.

I mentioned earlier that I eliminated both Wilson and Olave as potential top-10 picks. Well, that is because I eliminated all wide receivers as potential top-10 picks. This class is absolutely loaded, but each team I looked at had bigger needs at the top of the draft. Will I be surprised if one or two pass catchers goes in the first 10-12 picks? No, because it is a ridiculously-talented group. But the Falcons and the Giants were the teams I viewed as being the most “WR-needy”, and both of those clubs are more than a pass catcher away from contention.

The WR draft started at No. 13 for me, and I was definitely intrigued by the Browns. Yes, they just traded for Amari Cooper, but it seems as if Jarvis Landry is on his way out. Cleveland needs another stud at WR, and Wilson qualifies. However, I think USC’s Drake London is the first guy off the board at that position. He is a 6-foot-5 bully with skill, and I’m sure multiple teams will fall in love with his game. He might also be better suited for Baker Mayfield’s game, which is not rooted in accuracy. London is a big target, and Mayfield might need the whole, actual city to land an accurate pass in. A WR who shares the name is a start.

The New Orleans Buckeyes, ahem, Saints are the big winners here. For years, they have needed a running mate for Michael Thomas, and now they can pair him with yet another former Buckeye. Not only that, Wilson could be a great complement to Can’t Guard Mike. Thomas has primarily been a possession guy and a killer with the slants. Wilson could play outside and be New Orleans’ homerun threat. Match made in heaven. Put it on the board.

Chris Olave — No. 28 to the Green Bay Packers

Here is another potential fit that I love, and a similar situation to that of the New Orleans Saints. The Packers needs a WR to play opposite their star (Davante Adams in this case). They have tried again and again... Oh, wait, they have seemingly never tried to draft a stud WR for the mercurial Aaron Rodgers. Olave could be a perfect fit, and exactly what they have been looking for.

What does Rodgers look for in a WR? Look back at the history, and pretend we can read his mind. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Adams were/are cerebral players, with expert footwork and route-running ability. They are also physically gifted, but work with me here. Chis Olave is not a one-dimensional burner, nor is he a physical freak a la Calvin Johnson. The Ohio State record-setter is a skilled technician with speed to burn. He could make an already-potent Green Bay offense even more dangerous.

I think Olave will be a great complementary wide receiver. Maybe he becomes a legitimate No. 1, but I don’t see it happening right away. In Green Bay, he would get an opportunity to develop and learn from one of the best in the game, making him a greater threat down the road. I wrestled with choosing New England or Las Vegas here, but settling in as Adam’s partner in crime seemed like a perfect scenario.

There you have it, Gene. Take it to the bank. Two Ohio State wide receivers in the first round, in two ideal situations. No matter which teams end up with these former Buckeyes, I can almost guarantee that we will be watching both make plays for years to come.

Gene’s Take:


Like Josh, I think both Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are destined for success at the next level. Brian Hartline has done a tremendous job both recruiting and developing wide receiver talent at Ohio State, and this year’s duo of Buckeyes entering the NFL Draft are the prime example. Wilson, a five-star stud out of Texas, was everything he was projected to be as a prospect and more. Olave, a low three-star prospect, blossomed into one of the best wideouts in program history during his time in Columbus. Now, both will be collecting a large paycheck come April.

Garrett Wilson — No. 13 to the Cleveland Browns

While Josh shied away from putting that Browns evil on Wilson, I will not do the same. Their recent acquisition of Amari Cooper doesn’t bother me all that much, as like Josh said it seems like Jarvis Landry will likely be playing elsewhere in 2022. However, the need at wide receiver for Cleveland isn’t the main reason that I’m pegging Wilson to make the two-hour trek up north, and it has to do with the other in-state NFL team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

I think the Browns should look to follow the same system that turned the Bengals from a perennial bottom-dweller to a playoff team, and that is matching a stud collegiate wide receiver with his college quarterback. We’ve seen how much success was created with Joe Burrow throwing the rock to his former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. Baker Mayfield is not the answer at QB, but with an especially weak draft class at the position this year, I think the Browns will wait until next season to try and fine their next franchise quarterback. That is where Garrett Wilson comes in.

If the Browns were to draft Wilson this season, they could then match him with his college quarterback by taking C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud was tremendous in 2021, and with a similar campaign this year for the Buckeyes, he would easily be one of the top quarterbacks in next year’s draft. An offense with the built-in chemistry of Stroud and Wilson while also tossing Cooper and guys like David Njoku and Nick Chubb into the mix would be a deadly combination. It may not be the best for him in year one having to attempt to catch passes from the inaccurate Mayfield, but it would pay off in the long run.

Chris Olave — No. 22 to the Las Vegas Raiders

It is no secret that the AFC West is going to be a juggernaut offensive in 2022. Patrick Mahomes has his army of speedy wide receivers in Kansas City, Justin Herbert is an up-and-coming star for the Chargers, the Broncos just landed Russell Wilson from Seattle, and the Raiders... have Darren Waller. Las Vegas could certainly look to add some firepower in this year’s draft, and they could easily add Chris Olave to help Derek Carr compete in what should be a very high-flying division.

The Raiders will obviously be without Henry Ruggs, whose DUI case will almost certainly end his NFL career, and outside of Waller there aren’t a ton of super dangerous pass-catchers on the roster. Hunter Renfrow has been a reliable target for some time now, and it looks like Bryan Edwards could be a solid player moving forward, but the team could really use a guy to take the top off of opposing defenses. You know who was really good in college at taking the top off opposing defenses? Chris Olave.

I think Olave will likely be the third wide receiver taken in this year’s draft, behind Wilson and Drake London — who I think will likely end up in Cleveland and New Orleans, in neither order. Olave is a terrific route runner and has a knack for getting behind opposing DBs for big plays. With Waller and Renfrow excelling moreso underneath, Olave could be Carr’s go-to deep threat when the Raiders need big gains. I like the fit, and I think this selection would work out swimmingly for everyone involved.

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I-70 Basketball Podcast: Men’s and women’s Selection Sunday edition
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

In this episode we discuss which B1G teams made the Men’s and Women’s March Madness Tournaments

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


It’s Selection Sunday, which means it is officially March Madness! Nine Big Ten teams made the men’s tournament, led by No. 3 seeds Purdue and Wisconsin. Six teams made the women’s tournament, led by No. 2 Iowa. Dante and Jordan have much more faith in the Ohio State women making a run versus the men. Despite having nine teams in the tournament, the guys are predicting that up to six could lose during the first weekend. Can the Iowa women’s basketball team make a run to the finals? Jordan is hoping for a Caitlin (Curry) Clark showdown versus UConn’s Paige Bueckers.

The Big Ten tournament has wrapped up with Iowa beating Purdue, 75-66. It’s been a banner year for the Hawkeyes, as the football team also won the West Division and earned a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. College Football has slowed down, but the NFL never stops. The guys get into the Russell Wilson trade, Tom Brady’s return to football and the rest of the news that broke this week.

In their weekly pitstops, Jordan discusses Kent State making the Mid-American Conference basketball championship game only to be blown out by 20 points after having four players suspended for a social media video dissing Akron. Dante talks about the ridiculous number of NBA players dropping 50+ points in games this March.


Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216

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Column: Are issues plaguing Ohio State’s men’s basketball team even fixable at this point?
Connor Lemons 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

The Buckeyes had four months to address holes in their game. At this point, what you see is what you get.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock Thursday night during Ohio State’s 71-68 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament’s opening round, Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann stood at the scorer’s table, furiously jotting down notes on a slip of paper that he brings with him to post-game press conferences. His team had a halftime lead against an inferior opponent, but an absolute breakdown on defense allowed Penn State to roar back to life like a lion and swipe the victory away from the broken Buckeyes. Just like how it happened against Michigan last week at home — on Senior Day, against their rivals.


This is the bleakest Ohio State’s basketball program has felt since Holtmann took over in 2017. The Buckeyes carried a lengthy losing streak into the 2021 Big Ten Tournament as well, but ripped off four-straight wins in as many days and nearly won the entire thing. This season, that didn’t happen. Instead, the opposite took place — they got bucked from the horse on the very first evening.

These recent losses have mostly followed the same script — not to a tee, but you can see similarities. Against Maryland and Nebraska, the Buckeyes trailed at halftime and never caught up. Their defense was so porous it wouldn't allow for the offense to cut into any deficit. A six-point hole felt like 16. A dozen or more felt untouchable. In those games, the Buckeyes were never in control.

Against Michigan and more recently against Penn State, Ohio State had a lead at the break. It was seven against the Wolverines, and nine against the ‘Nits. In both cases, Ohio State’s aggressive, connected defense that they played in the first half dissolved by the second half, giving way to a big run and eventually a loss. And once they fall behind by a few points, they simply cannot get enough defensive stops to keep up. On Thursday night, Penn State shot 61% in the second half, scoring on 22 of their 30 offensive possessions.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Is there a disconnect at halftime? Are the Buckeyes letting their guard down with a slight halftime lead? Teams make adjustments against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes in turn are not adjusting back. Or maybe the adjustments just aren’t working. Ohio State is not building 20-point leads on teams and epically collapsing, but right now it feels inevitable that when it gets to crunch time, the Buckeyes’ defense will let them down.

That’s not where you want to be in mid-March.

The Buckeyes have next four days off, and then will tango with the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon (12:15 pm E.T.). Loyola Chicago (25-7, 13-5) is a top-40 offense in the nation and a top-25 defense. They earned their bid to the big dance by winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, holding all three of their opponents under 60 points in the process. They held regular season-champ Northern Iowa to 43 points and under 30% shooting in the championship game to top it all off. Their star guard, Lucas Williamson, was the MVC defensive player of the year. This Rambler team guards well, and is peaking at exactly the right time.


Ohio State, on the other hand.... not so much.

The Buckeyes have some very real, debilitating problems that may not be fixable at this point in the season. Problems that, historically, mean this team will not be making any type of extended run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Some of these things are completely out of their control, but other issues have presented themselves throughout the season, and simply have not been addressed.

First of all, the Buckeyes are beat up. And with all due respect, the “Every team has injuries!” crowd can put a sock in it. There is being a little bruised, and there’s missing five key players, two of whom have missed a combined 58 games. Here’s the current injury report:

• Kyle Young (concussion) has missed the last three games, and is questionable for Friday’s NCAA Tournament game.
• Zed Key (ankle) has played a total of seven minutes over the past four games while recovering from an ankle injury sustained Feb. 27 at Maryland. He is questionable for Friday's NCAA Tournament game.
• Meechie Johnson (ankle) has not played since spraining his ankle against Michigan on March 6. It sounds like he was a healthy DNP against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.
• Justice Sueing (abdominal/groin) will miss his 29th-consecutive game Friday when Ohio State takes on Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament. It is unlikely that he will play this season.
• Seth Towns (back) missed the entire season following off-season back surgery

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The two injuries that are killers for Ohio State are Young and Key. Key is their starting center, and Young often plays a hybrid four/five role off the bench. Key provides another big body and a high-percentage shooter in the paint. Young comes in behind Key typically, but with both of them out, Joey Brunk has been forced into playing 25-30 minutes per game —something he rarely has had to do in his collegiate career. Ohio State has no depth down low, and nobody beyond Brunk to lean on.

Sueing is not a new injury, but his ability to score and grab rebounds was never replaced by the current roster. Sueing averaged nearly six rebounds per game last season, and Ohio State desperately needs that right now. They also need a reliable third scorer so that E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham do not have to play 40 minutes each night. Unfortunately, Sueing will not be available this season (it appears).

At some point, we have to acknowledge that Chris Holtmann has no more cards left to play. When you’re already asking 48-year-old Joey Brunk to play 31 minutes per game, and your bench is so unproductive that your two star players are forced to play 38 minutes per game, there are no more rabbits that the head coach can pull out of his hat. Holtmann needs all of his players at his disposal, but heading into the NCAA Tournament, he’s down about 1⁄3 of his roster.

But now let’s get into the stuff that was fixable!

First and foremost, this team stinks on defense. They reek like chicken you tossed in the trash two nights ago and forgot you left in there. Their defense is downright rancid. Ohio State is No. 131 in defensive efficiency this season according to KenPom. Only 12 teams in the tournament field are worse: Davidson, Miami, Norfolk State, Akron, Jacksonville State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Longwood, Colgate, Delaware, Bryant, South Dakota State and Wright State. Every single one of those teams are a 10-seed or worse in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State is a 7.


The Buckeyes allowed Penn State — the 13th-most efficient offense in the Big Ten — to score on 22 of their 30 possessions Thursday night, and on 12 of their final 14. This helped them erase a nine-point deficit and defeat the Buckeyes in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Nittany Lions shot an astounding 60.1% from the floor in the second half, a mark you’d expect from only the most elite of all the elite offenses. Nope, it was just Penn State.

Ohio State’s losses to Maryland, Nebraska, and Michigan had a very similar feel to them. When the Buckeyes have their backs against the wall and are in need of a stop, they simply can’t do it. Each time they cut Maryland’s lead down to three or four points, the Terrapins went down and scored at the other end. When Ohio State rallied to cut Michigan’s lead from 13 to four in the closing minutes of their senior day tilt, they let Moussa Diabate get free for a wide open dunk to seal the deal. Same with Nebraska, and of course, Penn State.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

There are simply too many defensive liabilities on the current roster to ever trot out a starting five that cannot be targeted in some way, shape, or form. Jimmy Sotos is a weak, susceptible defender, as is Cedric Russell. Eugene Brown was fantastic early in the season, but recently has been getting burnt guarding the ball more often than not. Joey Brunk has given Ohio State some quality minutes offensively, but defensively he’s slow-footed and isn’t disciplined on shot fakes and pivots (the same moves he utilizes on the other end, oddly enough). Jamari Wheeler has been a shadow of his Penn State self. He has been acceptable, but not elite — not what Ohio State thought they were getting. Justin Ahrens is picked on whenever he is on the floor. Branham is improving, but his slight frame makes him easier to blow by when guarding a bigger guard or wing. Need I go on?

Chris Holtmann has repeated over and over, “We need to be more connected on defense.” and, “We are not operating as well as we could be defensively.” The problem is, it’s mid-March. This team is not suddenly going to learn how to not let guards blow by them, or communicate well on switches. Their ball-screen defense is not going to drastically improve by Friday. At this point, it is what it is.

The Buckeyes will have to win in spite of all this, because one week of practice will not prompt a 180 in that department. Chris Holtmann said it best after Ohio State’s loss to Nebraska on Mar. 1:


And the second major issue... defensive rebounding.

The Buckeyes are 10th in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding, averaging 25.5 per game. They are 12th overall in rebounds in the Big Ten with 34.4 per game. Several times this season — but especially down the stretch — teams broke Ohio State by corralling so many of their own misses. Even when Ohio State played solid defense and got a stop, the opposing team would shoot a long three, and it would clang back to them. Or they would miss a layup, but a Buckeye didn’t box out and their opponent was able to tip the miss back in.

Allowing a ton of offensive rebounds doesn’t just tire you out on defense, it keeps the ball out of your hands on offense. To use a football term, it allows your opponent to control the time of possession. It’s very difficult to build a lead — or cut into a deficit — when the ball is never in your hands.

Here are some offensive rebounding performances by Ohio State’s opponents this season:

• Michigan - 13
• Maryland - 11
• Illinois - 12
• Iowa - 20
• Purdue - 15
• Northwestern - 16

Similarly to the defense, this isn’t something that can suddenly be fixed. For starters, Justice Sueing and his 5.5 rebounds per game are not coming back this season. Young and Key are questionable to play this week. On top of missing some of their biggest guys, this team just isn’t good at controlling the glass. Is it coaching? Perhaps. Is it the size of the guys they have healthy? Sure! But I don’t see this as an issue that one week off can suddenly fix.

They only allowed Penn State to grab six offensive rebounds in the Big Ten Tournament. That’s a very good showing, and they’ll have to continue that trend if they want to make any sort of run in the NCAA Tournament.

The thing that frustrates so many Ohio State fans about this team in particular is that the same issues keep popping up, and when the team is asked about it, they hear the same old song and dance. At this point, the Buckeyes will have to win — and defy historical trends — in spite of their downfalls. Ohio State’s major ailments are personnel-based and fundamental in nature, which will not be fixed by Friday afternoon.

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247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Highlights
Twitter: @vizzina2



School: Birmingham (AL) Briarwood Christian
Class: 2023 (high school)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 207 lbs

On Thursday, Ohio State welcomed four-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina of Briarwood Christian (AL) to campus for a visit. In the end, the 6-foot-4, 207-pounder departed Columbus with an offer from Head Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes in hopes of potentially adding him to the quarterback room of Corey Dennis when all is said and done.

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March Madness Round of 64 matchup from Pittsburgh, PA.

Selection Sunday. Time to Dance.

Goldman Sachs’ CEO demanded all employees return full-time to the office. Only half showed up
BY GEOFF COLVIN
https://fortune.com/2022/03/11/goldman-sachs-return-to-work-employees-david-solomon/

Fighting a strong trend toward hybrid work, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has repeatedly insisted that employees return to the office full-time, leaving no doubt that he views remote work as a temporary aberration.

But on the day the investment banking giant reopened its U.S. offices in February, after shutting down during the Omicron wave, just 50%, or about 5,000 of the building’s 10,000 workers, returned to its New York headquarters, despite receiving more than two weeks’ notice.

In early March, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has been on a dogged mission to bring office workers back to the city, hosted a town hall meeting for the bank’s employees. While the internal gathering was closed to press, Adams later told the media that Goldman had just a “couple of thousand employees” working in person—a far cry from a full return to the office.

Such a vertiginous drop in attendance would have signaled serious trouble for Solomon’s campaign, but a Goldman spokesperson provided Fortune with different numbers. Recent in-person attendance at the bank’s HQ has averaged 60% to 70% over the course of a week, the spokesperson said, close to its occupancy last fall before the Omicron shutdown. At the time, some 8,000 workers trekked into the office at least one day a week. The firm did not provide comparable pre-pandemic data, when the numbers were surely higher.

A growing share of employees will likely return to Goldman’s offices as the pandemic subsides. Solomon believes in-person interactions are essential to the bank’s apprenticeship culture. The company’s operating model, which Solomon refers to as “the ecosystem of the firm,” includes hiring some 3,000 new college graduates every year, who learn from experienced bankers and build networks face-to-face. The experience also encourages teamwork, which is central to the firm’s culture. None of that happens, Solomon believes, if remote work becomes the new normal.

The effect of remote and hybrid work on career growth—and on firm performance—remains to be seen. Some of Goldman’s Wall Street rivals, notably JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, are also taking hard-line stances on bringing employees back to the office. Others, including Citigroup and UBS, believe the pandemic has changed the working world for good, and they view hybrid work as a powerful attraction for top talent.

The verdict on Solomon’s initiative will not be clear for months or perhaps even years. As the war of workplace strategies plays out, office occupancy rates won’t be the numbers to watch. As always, market share, growth, and profit will reveal the winners and losers.

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This sure ain't good....

Army football player among hospitalized after cadets OD on laced-cocaine in Florida



An Army football player was among those hospitalized in Florida after several West Point cadets overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine at an Airbnb party house, according to the US Military Academy.

An official told the Associated Press that another football player was also at the house but was not hospitalized. None of the names were released, and the official could not give the hospitalized player’s condition.

Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Gollan also told the AP that of the six victims, two were in critical condition on ventilators, two were in stable condition, one was in good condition and one victim was released.

Also on Friday, authorities made an arrest in the overdoses.

Wilton Manors Police confirmed the arrest but did not identify the suspect or provide additional details, according to WSVN.

West Point officials said they were investigating the incident Thursday, and did not identify the students.

The six New York cadets — all men in their early 20s — had been partying at a house north of Fort Lauderdale on their spring break, neighbors said.

Entire article: https://nypost.com/2022/03/12/flori...ion-to-west-point-cadets-od-on-laced-cocaine/

I'm guessing that West Point has a ZERO tolerance for this and all the cadets involved will have their appointment to the academy revoked. With that being said, I do hope everyone fully recovers and gets any and all the professional help they might need.

Anyway Army will probably be down 2 football players, etc.

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LGHL Reacts: Share your thoughts on Ohio State’s Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament chances
Matt Tamanini 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

Who do the Buckeyes need to have healthy to make a run in the B1G Tournament?

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.

The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off today in Indianapolis, as the No. 12 Northwestern Wildcats will face off against the No. 13 Nebraska Cornhuskers. After flailing down the stretch, the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes will open their postseason on Thursday at roughly 9 p.m. ET against the winner of today’s matchup between No. 11 Penn State and No. 14 Minnesota.

So, as we head into the tournament season, we wanted to see what the Land-Grant Holy Land readers thought about what the Buckeyes needed to see in order to turn things around in the B1G Tournament.

Share your thoughts and we will let you know the results later in the week.


Click here to vote if viewing on a mobile device.

Related Survey: Who will play in the Big Ten Tournament championship?


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

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for March 9, 2022
Matt Tamanini 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


LET’S F*CKING GO!


Ohio State will be without 10 players for spring practice
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Practice Report: New Numbers, New Positions
Patrick Mayhorn, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Buckeyes Will Put More on C.J. Stroud’s Plate in 2022, Jim Knowles Says Ohio State’s Defensive Talent is “Impressive to Me”
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Practice Report: Ohio State has new faces, possibilities as spring practice kicks off
Jeremy Birmingham, LettermenRow

Sights and Sounds: Buckeyes burst back into action at first spring practice
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Doesn’t matter where he lines up, no one’s going to be able to guard him either way.


Seen and heard at Ohio State spring practice: Piecing together the picture in Jim Knowles ‘safety-driven’ defense (paywall)
Bill Landis, The Athletic

Ohio State Receiver Kamryn Babb is Fully Healthy, Expected to Impact Buckeye Offense in 2022
Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

Stroud, Quarterbacks Leading Charge for Buckeyes in Spring Practices
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Ohio State’s Starting Offensive Line for 2022 Already Coming into Focus, But Depth Remains a Question Mark
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

That’ll Play!


What’s up with Ohio State football’s Jordan Hancock, Jakailin Johnson and Jack Sawyer: Spring defense questions
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State football spring practice defensive notes: What’s up with Kourt Williams, Cade Stover, JT Tuimoloau?
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com

Column: “Mentor” Perry Eliano could propel Buckeyes recruiting efforts in secondary
Bret Favachio, Land-Grant Holy Land

How did former Ohio State players fare at the 2022 NFL Combine?
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


E.J. Liddell earns another first-team All-Big Ten nod
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s Malaki Branham named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Justin Ahrens receives Sportsmanship Award
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Happy International Women’s Day!


Women’s Basketball: Season Not Over for Buckeyes Yet as Momentum Built in Tournament Loss to Indiana
Casey Smith, The Lantern

Chris Holtmann Getting “A Ton of Calls” About Assistant Coaching Vacancy, Says Jake Diebler Will Assume Some of Ryan Pedon’s Responsibilities
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Check out who LGHL’s Connor Lemons Voted For!


You’re Nuts: What is your favorite mascot from a team likely headed to the NCAA Tournament?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Wrestling: Olympic Dreams Drive Boykin Beyond Ohio State Wrestling Room
Mick Walker, The Lantern

Men’s Swimming and Diving: Crawford, Fielding Lead the Buckeyes on Day 2 of Zone Championships
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Golf: Wallin Claims First Title at Colleton River Collegiate
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Hockey: Preston and Riedell, Senior Class Award Finalists
Ohio State Athletics

And Now for Something Completely Different...


THE VILLAIN IS MAKING DEALS!

Meadowlark Media Launching Content Studio With NBA Stars Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

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Four-star linebacker from Louisiana has "special day" at Ohio State
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Tackett Curtis | 247Sports

The Buckeyes hosted a top priority defender on Tuesday and it looks like things went well.

It was a busy Tuesday for Ohio State, as the football team kicked off spring practice to begin gearing up for the upcoming season. The program also played host to many visitors, including a blue-chip linebacker and another that became the latest in-state prospect to land an offer from the Buckeyes.

OSU visit a "great time" for Curtis


Despite not offering until just two months ago, Ohio State looks to have a priority target at the linebacker position in four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis of Many (LA).

The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder certainly looks to have the attention of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The program has already sent the new hired assistant out to Louisiana twice in recent months to check in on the blue-chip defender, and on Tuesday they had the opportunity to impress the Louisiana standout on a visit to campus.


As mentioned above, Curtis described the stop to Ohio State as a "great time." Curtis also mentions that it was a "special day" for him and his family.

While the Buckeyes looked to have jumped into the picture later than others, you have to feel like their recruiting efforts have them very much in the mix for Curtis. Nonetheless, Ohio State will have their work cut out for them if they want to ultimately add Curtis to the fold as Curtis also holds offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, and many more.

Curtis is currently pegged as the No. 62 overall prospect that the 2023 class has to offer. He also holds the No. 6 spot at both the linebacker position and in the state of Louisiana as a whole.

Reese grabs Buckeye offer


After taking what seemed to be a brief hiatus from a former pipeline school for the Buckeyes, Ohio State has their eyes set on another prospect that suits up for Ted Ginn Sr. on Friday's.

That prospect is none other than 2023 three-star linebacker Arvell Reese of Glenville (OH) as the Buckeyes dropped an offer to the Cleveland native after he and teammate Bryce West, who also has an offer from Ohio State, visited on Tuesday.


Reese is 6-foot-3, 212-pounder that has accumulated a rather impressive offer sheet thus far. Aside from his scholarship opportunity from the Buckeyes, Reese also holds offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, USC and more.

The latest in-state target for the Buckeyes comes in as the No. 40 highest graded player at the linebacker position. Reese is also knocking on the door of the Top 10 in Ohio as he is slotted at No. 11 in the state as of now.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State welcomed 2023 four-star wide receiver Bryson Rodgers of Wiregrass Ranch (FL) to campus on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder currently falls just outside of the Top 300 overall in the class and is slotted as a Top 50 pass catcher.
• Another prospect that made a stop in Columbus for the Buckeyes kickoff to spring practice was in-state wide receiver Javien Brownlee of Northmont (OH). 247Sports is the lone recruiting service to grade the Clayton native, and currently pencils him in as a three-star prospect.
• Making his way to Ohio from Connecticut for a mid-week Buckeye visit was 2024 defensive lineman Jerod Smith of The Loomis Chaffee School (CT). Smith, much like Brownlee, is graded exclusively on 247Sports so far, but lands at No. 8 at his position and is inside their early Top 75 players.

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How did former Ohio State players fare at the 2022 NFL Combine?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Seven Buckeyes entered Lucas Oil for the 2022 scouting combine with a mix of different results.

The 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Combine in Indianapolis Ind. is in the books and the seven former Buckeyes in attendance can now move on to the next step in the process. After a week of non-stop evaluation both physically and mentally, we now have another piece to add to the draft puzzle.

For these players that have spent their collegiate years working to put the best performances possible on film, one week can change how the entire NFL perceives them, so the pressure was on.

The seven Buckeyes in Indianapolis this year were Haskell Garrett, Thayer Munford, Chris Olave, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Jeremy Ruckert, Tyreke Smith, and Garrett Wilson. This group has a mix of draft projections that are all over the map, and every player had a lot to gain by putting on a strong showing.

For the players, the week started with medicals, moved to interviews, and finished with on-field testing. After the six-day event, we are going to take a look at how each player fared.

Chris Olave (Projected 1st Round):


Chris Olave set the internet ablaze Thursday night when he clocked in an unofficial 4.26 second 40-yard dash time. After the NFL released official times, that time was deemed inaccurate, and he was given an official 4.39 seconds, which is still a blazing time.

For Olave, there were questions about whether or not he was a top-end athlete, but with his numbers in Indianapolis, those questions should be put to rest.


The other question regarding Olave was his more slender frame. In Indy, the WR weighed in at 187 pounds, which should answer some of those questions. Given that he is just a tad over 6-feet-tall, those questions about his size should be moved on from.

Olave made a lot of money at the combine and as the new mock drafts are released this week, I expect to see him climb into the middle of the first round.

During the Combine’s press availability, Olave said his brother grew up a fan of the Raiders and he’d love to end up in Las Vegas; so look out at pick No. 22.

Garrett Wilson (Projected 1st Round):


Garrett Wilson was the other part of Ohio State’s dynamic duo of receivers to head to the Combine and has been the WR1 for many outlets in the lead-up to the NFL Draft. Wilson went into the week with little to prove and a lot to show off which started when he clocked in 4.38 40-yard dash time.

This week was all about confirmation for Wilson, but he did in fact want to prove a point to certain doubters. ESPN’s Matt Miller said in a tweet that Wilson lacked elite traits.


After posting an elite 40-yard dash time, Wilson went to Twitter calling out the doubters and proved that he was the elite athlete that anyone with two working eyes and half a brain could have seen on film.

The projected first-round receiver showed even more explosiveness with his jumping numbers with a 10’3” broad jump and a 36” vertical jump. These numbers were not a surprise (perhaps outside of the 40-time), but if there were any unanswered questions about his physical ability, Wilson answered them.

For the former Buckeye receiver, the only other question left to be answered is how early he goes on draft night.

Nicholas Petit-Frere (Projected 2nd-3rd Round):


After quietly being one of the most productive offensive linemen for two seasons at Ohio State, Nicholas Petit-Frere showed that he has the athleticism needed to be an NFL left tackle. The two questions surrounding Petit-Frere were his size and strength. NPF was able to answer one of those two questions by weighing in at 316 lbs. and measuring in at 6-foot-5, with an above-average arm length of 33 5/8”, solidifying that he has ideal size.

Testing-wise, NPF did not bench press and did not participate in the 3-cone drill or 20-yard shuttle. He did clock in at 5.14 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which ranks in the middle of his position group, as was also the case with his 24.5” vertical jump.

Seen as the more athletic of the two Ohio State offensive linemen available in the draft, there are still some questions left about how his game might translate to the NFL. As NPF prepares for Ohio State’s pro-day and the other upcoming stages of the pre-draft process, the interview components very well might prove to be significant in separating himself from similar tackles in the class.

Thayer Munford (Projected 4th-5th Round):


Arguably the Buckeye with the most to prove in the draft process, Thayer Munford went to Indianapolis with his lasting impression being Aidan Hutchinson bull-rushing him in the snow. Coming into the league with a chip on his shoulder shouldn’t be a problem, and his experience should add some value for NFL teams. Being a player who played multiple positions, the interview portion was going to be a significant aspect in this draft process.

When it comes to the physical aspect, Munford certainly looks the part with measurements coming in at 6-foot-6 and 329 pounds. Having the size to play both inside and outside should increase his value as he moves into the next steps of the process.

Where he could have improved was his 40-time, which clocked in at 5.39, which came in at the lower end of his position group. Munford also tested below average in his vertical jump at 22”, which highlights some of the explosiveness issues evaluators have talked about.

For Munford, his pro-day should provide him ample opportunities to improve on those numbers. Unfortunately, Munford left Indy with a lot of the same questions that he came into town with.

Jeremy Ruckert (Projected 2nd-3rd Round)


The former Ohio State tight end did not participate in on-field drills due to an injury sustained in the bowl game. As many of the Buckeye faithful know, the use of tight ends in Ohio State’s offense is inconsistent at best, which is why the NFL was hoping to see how he did in the drills.

Ruck did answer some media questions regarding his usage in the Buckeye offense, saying, “If you play tight end at Ohio State you are doing every single job and you make an impact in every single way.” Ruckert measured in at 6-foot-5 and at 250 pounds, which is the prototypical size for the position.

In a loaded tight end class with no clear-cut front runner, Ruckert could have cemented himself among the top players at the position with a solid weekend and answered those questions with a solid performance. Unfortunately, he was unable to due that thanks to a plantar-fascia injury.

However, Ruckert did participate in the bench press portion of testing. He fared well with a total of 19 reps, out-pacing the current front runner at the position in Greg Dulcich. With a lot to still be answered, Ruckert’s pro-day will be even more important as the draft approaches.

With the TE projecting as one of the more athletic at his position, the strength numbers shown were enough to answer at least some of the questions about his strength, which will be important when it comes to blocking in the run game.

Haskell Garrett (Projected 4th-5th Round):


Had Haskell Garrett entered the draft following the 2020 season, he likely would have been one of the most buzzed-about interior defensive linemen, especially given all of the intangibles that were front and center during that season.

However, after returning for one more campaign at Ohio State, questions popped up after an up-and-down season. The two challenges that Garrett faced in his evaluation were not being consistently strong, and not being an every-down defensive tackle. Garrett is explosive off the snap, and he tested well for his size; running a 5.02 official 40-time and his vertical was solid for the position at 24” especially considering he weighed in at 297 pounds.

From a measurement standpoint, the former Buckeye has the makeup of a typical 3-technique defensive tackle, and his athleticism for the position is above average. The unfortunate aspect for Garrett is that he — and all the other defensive tackles — had to watch Jordan Davis put on an absolute display of athleticism at 340 pounds.

Overall, Garrett should leave Indianapolis happy with his performance as it solidified his mid-round projection and should net him plenty of suitors come draft weekend.

Tyreke Smith (Projected 3rd-4th Round Pick):


The Buckeye defensive end went to the NFL Combine with little noise surrounding him, and few questions being asked about what he brings to the league. An explosive edge-rusher at Ohio State, he never fully put it all together in his four years. Coming to the combine was an opportunity to show that he has a lot to offer NFL teams.

The one question that was being asked as he headed to Indianapolis was just how explosive could he be? As an athlete, I think he answered that question posting a 36” vertical jump and 9’9” broad jump which ranked in the top-10 in both categories. Add in his 4.86 40-yard dash time answered the remaining physical questions.

Smith participated in linebacker drills and drew a lot of excitement from NFL people with how well he was moving. With his weight coming in at 253 pounds, and working out with the linebackers at the combine, he seems to fits the profile of a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker.

Smith’s athleticism brings a ton of value to the table and his combine should solidify him going in round 3. Overall, if he can improve even more on these numbers we can see Smith lock himself into being a day 2 draft selection.


Overall, the seven Buckeyes who traveled to the NFL Scouting Combine all had successful weekends in their own rights. The majority of them tested well and NFL teams were excited for all seven players who attended. Despite not all of them exceeding expectations, all seven solidified their current standing or improved upon it this past weekend.

As these former Buckeyes look to build on this step of their evaluations, their pro days will gain even more importance with the players being the center of attention that day. We will also get to see the performances of some other Buckeyes who were not invited to Indianapolis for the combine, so the next step will be exciting as the draft continues approaching.

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You’re Nuts: What is your favorite mascot from a team likely headed to the NCAA Tournament?
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 David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

Even though we are just under a week until the brackets are revealed, we have a pretty good idea of the majority of the teams that we’ll see in this year’s NCAA Tournament. A fun way to pick your brackets is by basing your choices each matchup on what mascot would win between the two teams. While in the case of a Stanford against Wisconsin matchup the choice may be easy, things might not be so cut and dried when the Kentucky Wildcats play the Memphis Tigers.

Today we’re not going to be asking what mascot would help you win your bracket, but we do want to know which mascot is the best amongst teams likely for this year’s NCAA Tournament. Don’t try and tell us you are going with Benny Beaver from Oregon State since the 3-27 Beavers still technically have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament because they could win the PAC-12 Tournament. We will accept a selecting the Xavier Musketeer since the Big East team from Cincinnati is currently on the bubble.

One mascot that is off limits for this exercise is Brutus Buckeye. We all know that Brutus is automatically the best mascot in the country, so there is no point in allowing him to be picked for our little game today. Also, if you pick the Michigan Wolverine, you are automatically a loser today since skunk bears are definitely not cute or feared.

Today’s question: What is your favorite mascot from a likely headed to the NCAA Tournament?

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: Purdue Pete


There certainly are some interesting mascots that will likely be involved in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The first one that was interesting to me was San Francisco’s “Don”. Had it turned out that the mascot was just some mafia mob boss, then I wouldn’t have had to look any farther for my choice. Unfortunately, San Francisco’s mascot isn’t going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.

Another option that fell just short is whatever Western Kentucky’s mascot is. It’s like if they took the body of Cookie Monster and gave him the red coloring from Elmo. All I know is that this thing scares the heck out of me. Unfortunately at 19-12 heading into the Conference USA Tournament, the only way the Hilltoppers will be able to bring their garbage can shaped mascot to this year’s Big Dance is by winning their conference tournament.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

All that to say, I’m going with Purdue Pete. Look at that mascot, he’s a physical specimen. He gets points for wielding a sledgehammer, too. My favorite overall mascot in sports in Timber Joey of the Portland Timbers, mainly because he gets to use a chainsaw at Timbers home matches. I’m all for giving mascots props and tools. I just wish there was a way that Brutus Buckeye had a cool item that he could always have with him to add to his lore.

Another reason I love Purdue Pete is because he is downright terrifying but also hilarious. Pete has got those big eyes like he was just working on some rails of a different kind before the game. Add in the giant Jay Leno-esque chin and the hilarity has hit its peak. Then again, Purdue Pete was pretty much standing above Ohio State’s grave laughing at the Buckeyes in 2018 after what the Boilermakers did to Urban Meyer’s team in West Lafayette.

Meredith’s answer: Friar Dom

Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If I were a fan of the team not in the Big Ten, the answer to this question would be none other than Brutus Buckeye (no, obviously I’m not biased at all). Brutus is unique and absurd enough (a giant nut?) that it’s impossible to not be entertained by his antics.

But I’m already a fan of Brutus and maybe a little biased, so I’m going to go with Friar Dom of Providence.

Though considered by some to be among the creepiest mascots in the NCAA (false, Big Red of Nebraska is much creepier), Friar Dom, I find, to be one of the more charming human-like mascots — even if he is missing his teeth. It doesn’t hurt that his mascot buddy is a dalmatian (or that the original mascot of Providence was a live dalmatian), nor that they’re trying to bring Taylor Swift into their brand.

However, my own bias might be at play even with Father Dom. I had the good fortune to attend a First Four game in Dayton a few years ago featuring Providence, and couldn’t stop watching at the dancing monk (who, I later learned, was Father Dom). He enthusiastically danced the sprinkler to “When the Saints Go Marching in.” What’s not to love?

Then again, apparently he scares the children. At least he’s iconic

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Buckeyes host the team up north on Senior Day, with a chance to put a serious dent in their NCAA Tourney hopes.

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Izzo’s guys visit Columbus with both teams sorely looking for a win. Sparty has lost 6 of 8, although one of those wins was against Purdue.

Class of 2022 preferred walk-on....

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