OSUWBB: Ohio State Outlasts WVU 88-81
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(Photo courtesy The Columbus Dispatch)

Coach McGuff is amazed with what he saw.

The 3rd seed Ohio State Buckeyes (25-7) host 6th seed West Virginia Mountaineers (25-9) in a 2nd round game. The rode tenacious defense when their offense stalled and the hot hand of Kelsey Mitchell’s 43 points to edge by West Virginia, 88-81.

Kelsey Mitchell’s 45 points powered the Ohio State win. But it was their defense that kept them in the game for the periods when their offense went cold. I know it’s hard to imagine an offense going “cold” when you score 88 points, but there were stretches in the 4th quarter when OSU could not buy a basket.

For a notoriously poor rebounding team, Ohio State performed beyond expectations (mine at least) by out rebounding Nebraska 43-38. Of these, 14 were offensive rebounds, which indicated that OSU was aggressive at both ends of the floor.

The Buckeyes placed five players in double figures. Alexa Hart led the way with 18 points, followed by Shayla Cooper (16), Kelsey Mitchell (16), Ameryst Alston (16) and Asia Doss (13). Shayla had the distinction of pulling a double double with her 11 rebounds and Alexa Hart came close to is with her 9 rebounds.

Meanwhile West Virginia shot 41% (28-69) from the field, 31% (5-16) from 3-pt range and a paltry 64% (9-14) from the line. They grabbed 38 rebounds, 14 of them offensive.

West Virginia had one player in double figures, Jessica Shepard who led the Mountaineers with 20 points and 8 rebounds.

1st Half

A ‘neer FG by Bria Holmes one minute into the game was quickly countered by a Shayla Cooper trey to give the Buckeyes an early 3-2 lead. A WVA field goal at the 4:46 mark gave them a 14-10 lead. The quarter ended on an OSU shooting drought with West Virginia holding a 21-15 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. Ohio State’s last points were at the 3:39 mark. Meanwhile, WVA managed to score 4 points; thankfully OSU’s defense kept them in the game.

The Buckeyes shot 31% in the quarter; the Mountineers 38%. Ohio State was out-rebounded 17-8.

In the 2nd quarter, Ohio State ran out to a 9-0 run to take a 24-21 lead. WVA tied it :18 later. OSU gathered itself to go on a 8-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 32-24 lead. The run was powered by 5 Kelsey Mitchell points within a sixty second span. After an Ohio State turnover at the 4:19 mark, West Virginia went on a 13-2 run to grab a 37-34 lead with 1:41 remaining in the half. Then, a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pt’er at the :42 mark tied the game at 39 all. That would close out the scoring; halfway through the contest the game was tied at 39.

As you’d guess with two uptempo teams, the first half was highlighted by quick scoring runs and counter-runs. If you briefly lost focus, the other team would quickly take advantage of it.

Ohio State was led by Kelsey Mitchell (20 pts) and Shayla Cooper (8 pts, 3 rbs). Asia Doss had 4 rebounds and Ameryst Alston had 4 points off the bench.

Both teams picked up their offensive efficiency in the second quarter. For the half, Ohio State shot 47% from the field (14-30), 75% (6-8) from 3-pt and 71% (5-7) from the free throw line. They had 11 rebounds (0 offensive), 5 assists and 6 turnovers.

West Virginia was led by Bria Holmes (13 pts) and Tynice Martin (10 points). The 6’5″ Lanay Montgomery had 10 rebounds.

For their part, West Virginia shot 47% from the field (15-32), 36% (5-14) from 3-pt and 100% (4-4) from the free throw line. They had 24 rebounds (6 offensive), 8 assists and 14 turnovers.



2nd Half

The Buckeyes held a 67-60 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter, thanks to a late quarter Buckeye surge. At the 8:17 mark, it was tied at 41 apiece. Less than 2 minutes later, Ohio State held a 50-41 lead; this was powered by an Asia Doss 3-pt FG sandwiched between 4 Kelsey Mitchell FT’s. A mini-WVA surge brought the Mountaineers to with three points, 54-51 at the 3:31 mark, but 6 consecutive Mitchell points backed up by two Alston FT’s moved OSU’s lead to 62-51; finally a double digit lead. Two free throws by Makala Waterman ended the scoring for the quarter with the Buckeyes holding a 67-60 lead.

In the 4th quarter, the Buckeyes missed their first two FG attempts, but WVA’s Teana Muldrow hit a 3-pt’er to pull the Mountaineers within 4 points, 67-63 at the 9:41 mark. Ohio State gradually stretched out its lead until the 6:42 point, when a Cait Craft 3-pt’er gave the Buckeyes a double digit lead 75-65. It was Cait’s only second basket of the game, and she picked a good time for it.

At the 4:41 timeout, OSU held a 77-68 lead and the ball. However, Ohio State went cold. Craft’s FG was the last they scored until Shayla Cooper’s layup at the 1:41 mark as the Mountaineers pulled to within 3, 78-75. Cooper’s FG got OSU to the 80 point mark, but a Jessica Morton FG pulled WVU to within 3 points 80-77 at the 1:16 mark.

Three free throws (2 -Mitchell, 1-Craft) moved OSU to a 83-79 lead with :25 remaining. Then, a Mitchell steal on an inbound pass and break-away layup gave OSU an 85-79 lead. A Muldrow field goal with :07 remaining pulled WVA to within 86-81. Two Shayla Cooper free throws closed out the scoring for the game, ending it 88-81.

Ohio State was led by Kelsey Mitchell (45 pts) and Shayla Cooper’s double-double (15 pts, 10 rbs). Asia Doss (7 pt, 5 asst) and Alexa Hart (6 pt, 6 rbs) had good looking line scores.

Ohio State’s shooting fell off in the 2nd half, as they ended the game shooting 37% from the field (26-70), 53% (10-19) from 3-pt and 79% (26-33) from the free throw line. They had 37 rebounds (13 offensive, all in the 2nd half, 9 assists and 9 turnovers.

West Virginia was led by Bria Holmes (21 pts), and Tynice Martin (16 points), Teana Muldrow (15) and Jessica Morton (12). The 6’5″ Lanay Montgomery had 10 rebounds, all in the first half.

For their part, West Virginia shot 48% from the field (31-65), 41% (9-22) from 3-pt and 77% (10-13 from the free throw line. They had 46 rebounds (13 offensive), 13 assists and 27 turnovers. That is a lot of possessions to give up.



Up Next

Ohio State ply the winner of the Arizona-Tennessee game, played later today. The Sweet Sixteen game will be in Sioux Falls, SD. Of all places…

The post OSUWBB: Ohio State Outlasts WVU 88-81 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Kelsey Mitchell's 45 points lead Ohio State to first Sweet 16 since 2011
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kelsey Mitchell broke another record as the Buckeyes outlasted the Mountaineers, 88-81.

The record books at Ohio State continue to be assaulted by Kelsey Mitchell. The sophomore guard broke the program record for an NCAA tournament game with 45 points in a hard-fought 88-81 win against West Virginia on Sunday at St. John Arena.

With the win, the Buckeyes have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011 and will play the winner of Sunday night's game between second-seeded Arizona State and seventh-seeded Tennessee next Friday.

Senior Bria Holmes ended her career as a Mountaineer with a 21-point effort that gave her exactly 2,000 points in her four years.

Also of note, senior Ameryst Alston, who has been nursing a wrist injury since the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, got on the floor and looked much closer to healthy. Alston scored just six points, but gave the team a visible lift.

Mitchell, junior Shayla Cooper, and senior Cait Craft each hit a three-pointer early, but Ohio State found itself trailing 17-13 at the midway point in the first quarter. Holmes scored her team's first five points, and the Mountaineers did a nice job of keeping the Buckeyes off the offensive glass.

Ohio State went the final 4:40 of the frame without a field goal, shooting just 31 percent from the floor. West Virginia, behind seven points from Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tynice Martin, held a 21-15 lead.

In the second quarter, Mitchell powered the Buckeyes to a 9-0 run, scoring six points in quick succession. A three from Holmes ended the Mountaineers scoring drought, though, and the game was knotted up, 24-24, with six and a half minutes remaining in the half.

After the media timeout, Alston got her first shot to drop in sixteen days. The senior from Canton McKinley High School helped spark a 17-4 run as Ohio State claimed a 32-24 lead with just over four minutes to go.

Holmes got it going to close out the quarter and West Virginia used a 13-2 run to move back in front, but a layup and a deep three by Mitchell sent the teams to the locker room all tied up, 39-39.

Mitchell led all scorers in the game's first twenty minutes with 20 points on an efficient 6-for-11 from the floor. Holmes paced the Mountaineers with 13 of her own.

The Buckeyes' full court defensive pressure began to pay dividends in the third quarter, as West Virginia turned the ball over and struggled to score. Mitchell got into the paint seemingly at will, scoring eight quick points as Ohio State began the second half on an 11-2 run to take a 50-41 lead.

A 10-4 run for the Mountaineers, punctuated by a three-pointer from the wing by Alexis Brewer, trimmed the lead to 54-51. Once again, Mitchell got to work, though, scoring six straight points. By the end of the third quarter, the Cincinnati native had already filled up the stat sheet to the tune of 37 points, tying the program's single game NCAA tournament record. The Buckeyes headed to the final quarter with a 67-60 advantage.

A free throw with 8:25 remaining in the game gave Mitchell the record. A no-look dime on the next possession to Craft for a corner three put Ohio State up 75-65. West Virginia continued to battle, though, and a corner three from Teanna Muldrow capped a 10-3 run to make it 78-75 with less than three minutes remaining.

The final three minutes were a mad scramble, with both teams pressing to finish strong. A key turnover by the Mountaineers with 20 seconds remaining, their 27th miscue of the game, gave Mitchell a breakaway layup to ice things.

Continue reading...

Kelsey Mitchell’s 45 points lead Ohio State past West Virginia
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Kelsey Mitchell had a day to remember Sunday afternoon. The Ohio State star poured in an eye-popping 45 points, the fourth-most in NCAA tourney opening weekend history, to lead Ohio State to an 88-81 victory over West Virginia. With the win, the Buckeyes advance to the Sweet 16, their first regional semifinal appearance since 2011. Harris reached 45 points, thanks to 18 made free throws, which ties for the most in NCAA tourney opening weekend annals; she also added five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Mitchell’s output accounted for 55 percent of Ohio State’s scoring, on a day in

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Florida: 3 things to know from OSU's 74-66 loss
Grant Freking via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Once again, Florida ends the season of an Ohio State athletic team. Bummer.

Doomed by shaky defense and hit-or-miss effort, Ohio State's 2015-16 season came to a close Sunday afternoon with a 74-66 defeat at the hands of the visiting Florida Gators.

The Buckeyes (21-14), playing their second straight game without Keita Bates-Diop (illness), trailed by one at halftime but laid an egg for most of the second half. Freshman point guard A.J. Harris spurred a late surge, but the Gators failed to wilt.

Florida (21-14) awaits the winner of No. 1 Monmouth (28-7) and No. 4 George Washington (24-10) on Wednesday. Third-seeded Ohio State, which staved off sixth-seeded Akron in a 72-63 overtime win on Tuesday, were the hosts on Sunday despite being the lower seed because No. 2 Florida's O'Connell Center is being renovated.

The Gators -- playing without John Egbunu (thumb surgery), the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder -- started fast, blazing to a 9-0 start, which forced a timeout by the Buckeyes with 16:18 on the first half clock. Florida's lead reached 14 points before Ohio State woke up, cutting the lead to six points midway through the first half.

The Buckeyes' halfcourt offense continually struggled to create anything of substance -- an unsurprising development given the absences of Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate (shoulder), the team's second and third-leading scorers -- but the defense stiffened, as the Gators scored just four points over the last 5:37 of the first half. The crowd came alive after Harris secured a defensive rebound, outraced Florida down the floor, and missed a layup but was bailed out by a tip-dunk by Daniel Giddens.

At half, the Gators led by just one (31-30) after a 9-0 run by the Buckeyes to close the first 20 minutes. At the break, Marc Loving led all scorers with 12 points. JaQuan Lyle had nine points and six rebounds. Florida's balanced effort (six players scored) was paced by KeVaughn Allen's seven points. The two teams combined to miss 16 of their 22 3-point attempts.

The second half began much like the first, which the Gators carving up the Buckeyes' defense. Three consecutive conversions at the rim pushed Florida's advantage to 37-30. More bad/lackluster defense from Ohio State aided another strong stretch from the Gators, and when Thad Matta burned a timeout with 15:46 remaining, the visitors were ahead 43-32. The Buckeyes began the half missing their first four shots and turning the ball over four times.

Florida continued to net easy shot after easy shot, with the lead ballooning to 16 halfway through the second stanza on a layup by Dorian Finney-Smith. Harris' shocking baseline throwdown over Kevarrius Hayes offered some inspiration and trimmed the lead to 60-49 at the under-8 timeout. Harris' two free throws pulled Ohio State within seven with just over four minutes, but Florida answered with a three from Kasey Hill. The Gators were up 68-61 following a Loving triple with 75 seconds left, and closed the game out by hitting their final six free throws. The loss was the first in seven tries for Matta in the NIT.

Loving led all scorers with 20 points, his fourth 20-point outing in the Buckeyes' final six contests. Lyle added 19 points and 11 boards. Finney-Smith notched 16 points and 12 rebounds. Hill had 15 points.

3 things we learned


1. Get well soon, Keita Bates-Diop. Ohio State's offense has been bad all season, but it looks even worse without Bates-Diop, who had 22 double-digit scoring games this season. And without Bates-Diop again on Sunday, quite a few Buckeyes looked like they were playing with tired legs. Against Akron, Loving and Kam Williams (in his first start) played full 45 minutes. Lyle played 44 minutes. Mickey Mitchell (26) set season-high in minutes, and Giddens (27) came within one of his season-high to help account for the loss of KBD's 31.5 minutes per game.

2. The Big Ten's shaky weekend continued. It's been an uneven four days for the Big Ten. No. 5 Purdue blew a 13-point lead late in the second half and fell in double overtime to No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock. National title favorite Michigan State fell to 15th-seeded Middle Tennessee State in one of the more shocking upsets in tournament history. Fifth-seeded Maryland escaped No. 12 South Dakota State in spite of a handful of late-game brain farts, including fouling the Jackrabbits twice on 3-point attempts inside the game's last 63 seconds. No. 7 Iowa survived No. 10 Temple in overtime despite allowing Temple to tie the game with 2.1 seconds left in regulation following a foul on a Temple 3-point shot. No. 6 Wisconsin edged Pittsburgh 47-43, becoming the first team in 13 years to win a NCAA Tournament game despite not scoring at least 50 points. No. 11 Michigan blew a 12-point halftime advantage and lost to No. 6 Notre Dame.

On the bright side, No. 5 Indiana, the Big Ten's regular-season champions, took care of business against Chattanooga before outlasting border rival Kentucky on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16.

3. A trying season finally reached its conclusion. Ohio State looked half-exhausted, half-disinterested on Sunday. Perhaps that should not have been a surprise showing from a young team. The season was an agonizing struggle at times, but everyone (should) be back for the Buckeyes, so the future remains bright. Next year is a critical one for everyone involved with the program.

Continue reading...

Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes season ends with 74-66 loss to Florida in second round of NIT - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes season ends with 74-66 loss to Florida in second round of NIT
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes got off to slow starts to begin both halves, failing to bring the energy to match Florida's despite getting the higher-seeded Gators in their home building. That led to another loss for Ohio State to a top-50 program. Ohio State's season ...
Matchup to Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida GatorsBT Powerhouse (blog)
2016 NIT – Florida Gators at Ohio State Buckeyes: How to watch, channel, time, game pickOnlyGators.com
Florida Up Next For Buckeyes In NITScout
Alligator Army -Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports
all 35 news articles »

Continue reading...

Watch Ohio State’s 5-foot-9 A.J. Harris posterize Florida
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

At 5-foot-9, A.J. Harris isn’t a regular when it comes to the highlight-reel dunk. But, as he proved Sunday afternoon, the Ohio State freshman sure is capable of doing so. Harris penetrated for a powerful one-handed posterizing dunk in Ohio State’s season-ending NIT defeat to Florida. The highlight came in a loss, yes, however it’s worthy of recognition. “He’s 5-foot-9 and he dunked on the entire state of Florida!”‘ ESPN color commentator Dan Dakich said. Watch Harris’ posterizing slam in the tweet above. *** We’ve seen Harris flash his athleticism before.Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Gone Viral

Continue reading...

A 5'9 Ohio State guard dunked so hard on Florida they almost had to forfeit
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


"OH MY .... HE'S 5'9!"

Ohio State's attempt to win another NIT Tournament is probably not going to happen.

Despite closing the first half well, the Bucks have been totally flat in the second.

Though the Florida Gators seem almost certain to advance, the Buckeyes got one silver lining late in the second half.

Down 11 with under 8 minutes to go, 5'9 Buckeye point guard A.J. Harris completely disregarded that a Florida forward had a family and may have sent him back to Gainesville in a body bag:

Continue reading...

Ohio State football | No quarterback controversy now; Barrett is No. 1 - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | No quarterback controversy now; Barrett is No. 1
Columbus Dispatch
Barrett burst onto the scene for the Buckeyes as a redshirt freshman in 2014, when he was named the starter after Braxton Miller suffered a shoulder injury 12 days before Ohio State's season opener. The starting quarterback seat was flipped again ...


Continue reading...

Five Big Ten stars win 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships crowns
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

With Penn State wrestling’s fifth NCAA title in the last six years Saturday, the Big Ten has claimed the last 10 national crowns. [ MORE: View full NCAA brackets | View final team standings ] Incredible, right? Four Big Ten teams (Iowa – 3; Minnesota – 1; Ohio State – 1; Penn State – 5) have contributed to the conference’s dominant streak, and, to no surprise, it was all Big Ten in the latest NCAA Wrestling Championships, this one at Madison Square Garden. In addition to the Nittany Lions claiming the conference’s 10th straight crown, the Big Ten put six

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Florida 2016 live game updates: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes seek revenge on the Gators as they meet in the second-round of the NIT.

While it's certainly not the NCAA Tournament championship game, the Ohio State Buckeyes will look to get revenge on the Florida Gators when they visit Columbus Sunday afternoon. Both teams are coming off of wins against in-state foes from the first round, and trying to earn a chance to play the winner of top-seeded Monmouth, and fourth-seeded George Washington.

The Buckeyes have home court on their side, thanks to $65 million renovations being done at Florida's O'Connell Center. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes will be shorthanded, as they are without forward Jae'Sean Tate, and will also miss Keita Bates-Diop for a second game due to an illness. With Bates-Diop out, expect Kam Williams to fill that void.

Florida knocked off North Florida in their first-round NIT game, but will be without 6'11 center John Egbunu, the team's leading rebounder who had season-ending thumb surgery on Thursday. The team will rely on Dorian Finney-Smith to step up for the Gators on the glass. The Gators should still find themselves at an advantage, only being down one man as opposed to two. Look for them to capitalize on that.

You can follow our tweets below, and be sure to like us on Facebook if you haven't done so already.

Tweets by @Landgrant33

Go Bucks.

How to watch


Game date/time: Sunday, Mar. 20 at 12 p.m. ET

Location: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio

TV: ESPN

Online Stream: WatchESPN

Radio: 97.1 The Fan

Continue reading...

Ohio State men’s lacrosse falls to No. 1 Denver, 15-6
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes couldn’t bounce back in Colorado Saturday.

The woes continue for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s lacrosse team, as they dropped a third-straight game against No. 1 Denver Saturday in Colorado. The two teams had last faced each other in the second round of the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse tournament last year, which Denver would go on to win before starting their 2016 campaign at 7-0.

The Buckeyes kept the game close for the majority of the game through the third quarter, even holding the lead through much of the second quarter. Ohio State got a quick start against the Pioneers, scoring just over a minute into the game on a goal by attackman Austin Shanks. Fellow attackman Eric Fannell added another score before Denver took over, adding five-straight goals on a streak that extended through the end of the first half, ending the second quarter leading 5-2.

The Buckeyes would find the back of the net twice more to start the third quarter on two more goals, both assisted by Shanks, drawing within one of the Pioneers with a score of 5-4. The score would remain similarly close throughout the third quarter, but attackman J.T. Blubaugh would score Ohio State’s last goal less than two minutes into the final quarter to come within three. Denver would control the rest of the game, adding six more goals to their total for a final score of 15-6.

After two outstanding defensive performances last week, the Buckeyes were not able to effectively halt the Pioneers Saturday. Goalie Tom Carey had six saves on the day after recording a 12-save game earlier in the week. Shots were 33-21 in favor of Denver, who also won 16-of-25 faceoffs. Six different Buckeyes scored in the game, with Shanks leading in overall points with one goal and three assists.

Ohio State now sits at 5-4 on the season with the loss, and is scheduled to play No. 2 Notre Dame Saturday in Columbus.

Continue reading...

Bucket Madness: Busted brackets and why Buckeyes keep rising - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bucket Madness: Busted brackets and why Buckeyes keep rising
247Sports
A chance encounter with a Buckeye that made a very famous play ... * Why the Buckeyes remain relevant while other blueblood programs cannot ... * Which college coaches are true 'icons' right now ... What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the ...


Continue reading...

College baseball | Buckeyes defeat Hofstra - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College baseball | Buckeyes defeat Hofstra
Columbus Dispatch
Ronnie Dawson had a tying RBI single and Troy Kuhn followed with the winning two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Buckeyes (10-6-1) to a 4-2 victory over Hofstra (5-13) at Bill Davis Stadium. Adam Niemeyer pitched seven strong ...
Ohio State's Dawson racks up 10 total basesThe Newark Advocate

all 6 news articles »

Continue reading...

Matchup to Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Matchup to Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators
BT Powerhouse (blog)
The Buckeyes and Gators both rely heavily on freshmen and sophomores, with the majority of starters for both being underclassmen. However, they both are led by an upperclassmen forwards. For Ohio State, junior Marc Loving has had an interesting career ...
Florida Up Next For Buckeyes In NITScout
2016 NIT – Florida Gators at Ohio State Buckeyes: How to watch, channel, time, game pickOnlyGators.com
Will Keita Bates-Diop play vs. Florida?cleveland.com
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports
all 23 news articles »

Continue reading...

OSUWG: Mountain View Intercollegiate
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(Team photo and tournament information courtesy of Ohio State Athletic Department.)

The OSUWG team has reason to smile.

Before we get started, I want to congratulate Katja Pogacar for being honored as Big Ten Golfer of the Week last week. Well done.

This week the Ohio State Women’s Golf (OSUWG) team teed it up for the he Mountain View Golf Club in Tuscon, AZ. The course is 6,277 yards long and plays to a par of 72. This is a three round (54 hole) event where the format is ‘play five count four’, where a school fields 5 players, and the low 4 scores for each round are counted. Each school may have a player play as an ‘individual’.

The fifteen team field is comprised of: Colorado State, #7 Georgia, #16 Iowa State, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, #48 Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota, #22 Missouri, New Mexico State, #44 Ohio State, #43 Purdue, San Jose State, Texas State, UTSA and Wyoming. Six of the fifteen teams are Golfstat Top-50. This is a competitive field.

The five players participating in the team portion for the Buckeyes were: Katja Pogacar, Jaclyn Lee, Jessica Porvasnik, Niki Schroeder and Rio Watanabe. Zoe-Beth Brake competed as an individual. After an event off, Rio is back in the starting lineup. This has been pretty much the go-to lineup this Spring.

Overall


Ohio State finished in 7th for the tournament, thanks to another well-balanced team effort in the final round. For the second consecutive event, this was a well managed, all hands aboard team effort, particularly the (relatively) mistake-free 3rd round. The Buckeyes had their best team round of the event on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to bump them up in the standings. It was one of those days when nearly all the team scores were clustered and it was tough to make a move on your competitors.

For the 2nd straight event, Katja Pogacar had a Top Ten finish. Her 217 (-1) placed her in a tie for 9th position. Congratulations, well done.

Below is the Buckeye round by round scoring:

Par 72 Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Total
Team 292 298 290 880
Katja Pogacar 72 74 71 217
Jessica Porvasnik 74 72 73 219
Rio Watanabe 76 76 70 222
Niki Schroeder 72 76 76 224
Jaclyn Lee 74 76 77 227
Zoe-Beth Brake (I) 77 76 73 226



1st Round

The Buckeyes opened play with a team score of 292 (+4), placing them in 6th position. The Buckeyes were led by Katja Pogacar and Niki Schroeder with both players shooting 72 (E). Jessica Porvasnik and Jaclyn Lee each shot 74’s (+2). Returning to the lineup, Rio Watanabe shot a 76 (+4). In the Individual category, Zoe-Beth Brake had a fairly steady round of 77 (+5).

Katja began her round on the 10th hole and strung together 7 consecutive pars before bogeying the next two holes. She finished with a strong with 3 birdies to give her -2 on the back nine and her even par round.

Niki began her round on the par-5 11th hole with a birdie (always a good way to start a round), and stood at -2 (!) through 12 holes of play until a triple bogey 7 put the brakes on her round. However, she did birdie the next hole and finished even par for the day. Niki’s 4 birdies tied for the team lead for the round. If not for the 5th hole…

Jessica also began her round on the 11th hole. She bogeyed two of her first four holes, then settled into her rhythm with 3 birdies, 3 bogies and 6 pars to complete her round of +2.

Jaclyn began her round on the 10th hole and, like Niki, played 17 solid holes of opening round golf. She recorded 2 birdies and 14 pars, but was tripped up with a triple bogey 8 on the par-5 5th hole.

Rio began her round on the par-4 12th hole. It was an uneven round; running consecutive bogeys interspersed with birdies. However, she did stabilize her round by playing her last 7 holes in 1-under par.

Zoe-Beth began her round on the 16th hole. Although she didn’t record a birdie, and tripped over a double bogey, her round was steady with 14 pars.

As you might also expect from this first round, the team play was comprised of some bogeys (18), a good many pars (54), a lot of birdies (16) and, unfortunately, two triple bogeys.

That took care of a pretty solid first round for the Buckeyes. It featured a lot of birdies/pars and very few (2) “uh-oh” holes. The encouraging aspect was this was a well managed round of team golf. Now, on to the afternoon round…

2nd Round


In the opening day’s afternoon round the Buckeyes unfortunately couldn’t get anything going in their early holes of play. They shot a team score of 298 (+10) that dropped them from a spot to 7th position. The Buckeyes were led by Jessica Porvasnik 72 (E) and Katja Pogacar 74 (+2). Jaclyn Lee, Niki Schroeder and Rio Watanabe all shot 76 (4). In individual competition, Zoe-Beth Brake shot a 76 (+4).

For the afternoon round, the players had the same pairings and the same starting holes as the 1st round.

Jaclyn had a solid +1 though 9 holes, stumbled with three consecutive bogeys, then righted her ship by closing with six consecutive pars.

Jessica started slowly with bogeys on her three of her first five holes, then played her next 13 holes in 3-under par. Interestingly, this is how she played her 2nd round in her previous tournament. After a slow start a very good finish.

Niki couldn’t get any traction, bogeying two of her first five holes, strung together four pars, then bogeyed three of the next four holes. However, she did close strongly by playing her final four holes in 1-under par.

Katja rolled along by playing her first 10 holes in +1 to par. She bogeyed two of her next three holes, but closed her final five holes in a well played 1-under par.

Rio had a fairly uneventful round with 5 bogeys. However, she was the only team player to record a birdie on holes #10-#18. Despite a slow start, she did finish her last 12 holes in +1.

Zoe-Beth had an interesting round. She started her round birdie/bogey, then double bogeyed two of her next five holes. She closed her round by playing her final 11 holes in even par. Even though she was the only Buckeye on the course to have double bogey on her card, she also was the only one to have 3 birdies. Nothing bland about her game, at all.

As you might guess, the team play was comprised of quite a few bogeys (21), a lot of pars (62) and few birdies (7). There were no scores higher than bogey, so although the birdies weren’t there, this was a clean round for the Buckeyes.

A good morning round, a so-so afternoon round. Day one is in the books.

3rd Round


This round started much better than the previous round. Within the first two hours (or so) of play, he Buckeyes already had more birdies (9) than their entire 2nd round. The ‘birdie machine’ slipped a gear during the following two hours (or so) and OSU could record only 4 more birdies. But, they (Rio) get trap an eagle. Ohio State’s round of 298 (+18) kept them in 7th place. The Buckeyes were led by Rio Watanabe 70 (-2) and Katja Pogacar 71 (-1). Jessica Porvasnik shot a 73 (+1) and Niki Schroeder 76 (+4) to complete the team scoring. Jaclyn Lee rounded out the day with a 77 (+5). Zoe-Beth shot a 73 (+1) in Individual play.

The 3rd round had stretches of streaks:

Jaclyn could not get untracked on Saturday. She bogeyed 4 of her 7 opening holes and closed with bogies on 3 of her last 4 holes. She did have a mid-round stretch of 7 holes where she was -2.

Jessica was -1 through her first five holes, had a four hole flurry where she was +2, then settled in to complete her last nine hole in even par, highlighted by a birdie on her last hole, for her score of one over par.

Niki was +1 after her first 6 holes, played her next 6 holes in even par, but bogeyed 3 of her final 6 holes.

Katja was -1 after her first 5 holes, then scored 2 more birdies and 2 bogeys to finish at 1 under par.

Rio seemingly made good use of her week off by absolutely lighting up her closing stretch of holes. She was even par through 12 holes, then played her closing 6 holes in -2, punctuated by an eagle 2 on the par-4 7th hole (her 17th hole of the day)

Zoe-Beth had an interesting feel to it. She began her round with 6 consecutive pars. So far, so good. She then played her next 5 holes in one over par, without scoring a par. In that stretch, she had back-to-back birdies, then back-to-back bogeys. If you want excitement, follow Zoe-Beth around the course.

The third round team play was comprised of a few birdies (13), a good many pars (55), a several bogeys (22) and an eagle.

Thoughts


This tournament featured a well-played opening round, a second round that drifted up a bit, and a very well played closing round. Most of the teams (11 of the 15) scored higher in the 2nd round than the first. In the final round, 8 of 15 teams scored better than in their second round. Ohio State’s final round score (+2) was 4th best.

Sifting through the chaff, here is a “what happened” snap-shot. They played the par 3’s relatively not-so-hot, scoring an average of 3.30 strokes per hole, a total of +18 to par; ranking them 13th of the 15 teams. They played the par 4’s very well, to an average of 4.09 per hole, +13 to par, ranking them T-4th. In a pleasant turn, they played the par 5’s to an average of 4.97, -2 to par, ranking them 4th. For their third consecutive tournament, they’ve played the par-4’s really well. They improved their par-5 scoring significantly.

In terms of team play “to par” scoring, Ohio State recorded 170 pars, ranking them 11th. They recorded 36 birdies, placing them T-4th and they recorded one (Rio) eagle. This is the third consecutive tournament where the Buckeyes have played quite well in terms of recording pars and very well in birdie scoring. The Buckeyes are trending in the right direction.

Rio, and the team seemed to benefit from her week off. After two opening rounds in he mid-70’s, she kicked her game into gear with a team best 70 (-2) to lead OSU’s best round of the tournament. Well done.

Up Next

The team next tees it up April 3rd-5th in Napa, CA for the Silverado Showdown. I hope they take some time to schedule a winery tour.

Go Buckeyes!



Swing Thoughts



While I was waiting for the 3rd round to be completed, I ran across this photo from the Ohio State women’s golf web site. I just want to point out a couple of things. First, notice the full arm extension; this is a free-wheeling swing. Second, look at the position of the right hand; it is fully released, but not ‘over-released’ (the back of the hand is vertical, not “on top” of the club. Third, the body rotation; the right shoulder has rotated under her head and (likely) still on-plane from her take-away. Finally, her hips have already cleared (opened up to face the target), allowing the upper body/arms to accelerate through impact. This is a very good swing.




The post OSUWG: Mountain View Intercollegiate appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

How to watch Ohio State vs. Florida: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It doesn't mean nearly as much, but Ohio State faces Florida in the postseason once again.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face the Florida Gators in Columbus after coming off of a first-round NIT game against the Akron Zips that took an overtime to decide the winner. The Buckeyes saw good scoring nights from Marc Loving, JaQuan Lyle, and Kam Williams, who made his first career start, pouring in 18 points. The Buckeyes are hoping to have forward Keita Bates-Diop back from an illness, but Thad Matta would not promise that Bates-Diop would be available for the game. "(He's) OK," Matta said via the Columbus Dispatch. "Still don't know if he'll be able to go on Sunday. Hasn't done a whole lot with us, so who knows."

If Bates-Diop is not able to go again for the Buckeyes, expect Kam Williams to make another start. As previously mentioned, the trio of Loving, Lyle, and Williams was strong for the Buckeyes, especially down the stretch in overtime against the Zips. Williams came up with huge buckets, and Lyle sealed the deal at the free throw line.

Loving has been strong of late, scoring at least 18 points in four of the past five games for the Buckeyes. If he's able to have another solid performance, it would be monumental for the Buckeyes, who played just seven players against Akron. Loving will undoubtedly need help from the likes of Williams and Lyle.

The Florida Gators head to Columbus fresh off of a first-round NIT win against the in-state North Florida Ospreys. The Gators had a much easier time with their in-state foe than the Buckeyes did, knocking off the Ospreys 97-68 in Jacksonville. This game should have been a home court advantage for the Gators, but thanks to renovations at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, the higher-seeded Gators will be the visitors Saturday evening.

Florida had a pretty balanced game scoring wise against the Ospreys, with six players in double figures. They shot 16-of-32 from three-point range, assisted on 23 of 35 made baskets, and came up with 13 steals. North Florida is 190 in the KenPom rankings, whereas Ohio State is 71, so don't expect necessarily the same results in this one. This is not like the Florida teams that Ohio State has faced in the past.

That's not to say that they aren't good, though. The Gators are 20th in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, which could be a huge advantage for them considering how Ohio State could be playing just seven players, and has offensive struggles already as it is.

The Gators similar to that of the Buckeyes, had their ups and downs this season. They came away with a win against No. 9 West Virginia at the end of January, just as the Buckeyes came away with a win against No. 4 Kentucky in mid-December. So what we have is a pair of teams that showed they can compete at a high level, but it just doesn't come every night. Hopefully we see those highs Sunday afternoon.

Numbers to know

12


The Buckeyes and Gators have faced each other 12 other times since 1949-50. Of course, the Gators got the one that mattered most (not that we'd like to discuss), but the Buckeyes hold an 8-4 advantage. They will look to make it nine, and advance in the NIT, where they already have 19 wins.

1-3


Ohio State is 1-3 on the year in games that start at noon. Those three losses came to UConn, Maryland, and Michigan State. While Florida is certainly not up to the standards of those three teams, maybe there's something to the Buckeyes and noon games. Florida is 1-1 in their two noon games this season, with one of those wins coming over then-No. 9 West Virginia.

72


The Gators boast a 2-9 record when their opposition scores 72 points. The Buckeyes have scored 72 in 16 of their 34 games this year, a pair of those coming against Michigan State and Kentucky. That might be hard to come across if they're going to be shorthanded, but all it takes is a complete game from the Buckeyes. It just might come a little bit tougher this time around.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

JaQuan Lyle


Simply put, the Buckeyes are better when Lyle is on his game. The freshman from Evansville, Indiana, has had a rollercoaster of a season, but is one of the most important players on the Buckeyes squad. His 18 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists were key in the Buckeyes win over the Akron Zips. The 14 rebounds were probably more important than any other stat, with Keita Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate sidelined. Lyle can do it all, and if he has a big game against the Gators, the Buckeyes have a great chance Sunday of coming away with a win.

Kam Williams


Williams could be making his second-career start for the Buckeyes Sunday. His first came against Akron in the Buckeyes first-round NIT game, and he certainly made the most of it. Williams took plenty of shots early, and knocked down some bigs ones in overtime. They'll need a similar performance from him against Florida, since they are likely to be shorthanded once again. His 18 points were just four off of his season-high. With a little confidence boost against Akron, there's not a terrible chance Williams can top that performance against Florida.

Florida

Dorian Finney-Smith


Finney-Smith is the senior leader for the Gators. He leads in the stats sheet for the Gators as well, averaging 14.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Standing at 6'8, the combination of him, along with 6'11 sophomore center John Egbunu could be a big problem for the Buckeyes down low. The pair lead the Gators in points and rebounds, so expect to see Thad Matta make good use of Daniel Giddens to counter the size difference. If Finney-Smith and Egbunu are on their games, that could present a huge problem for the Buckeyes.

Chris Chiozza


The sophomore guard is the best distributor of the basketball for the Gators. Standing at 6'0, the Memphis, Tennessee, native won't kill you with his scoring, but will be a piece that the Buckeyes certainly need to focus on if they want to stop Florida's offense. Outside of Chiozza, nobody on the Gators is going to kill you with their passing ability. Kasey Hill used to be that guy, but he's seen less playing time this season. Chiozza will be one of the defensive focuses of the Buckeyes early on, who should be able to counter him well with the help of JaQuan Lyle.

How to watch


Game time: 12 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Radio: WBNS-FM 97.1

Streaming: WatchESPN

Continue reading...

Women's basketball | Buckeyes, facing Mountaineers, counter lack of size with speed - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Women's basketball | Buckeyes, facing Mountaineers, counter lack of size with speed
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes (25-7) have spent most of the season countering height with an up-tempo style that can turn games into blurs that would impress the Flash. In a second-round game of the NCAA Tournament today at St. John Arena, third-seeded Ohio State will ...
Fairmont grad Waterman contributing for BuckeyesMyDaytonDailyNews
2nd-round game vs. Buckeyes personal for WVUThe DPost
Buckeyes try to regain control as NCAA Tournament opensUSA TODAY
Scout
all 114 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ten Questions with Elizabeth Campbell
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


I am pleased this week to bring Elizabeth Campbell one of the premier stars for the past two seasons for The Ohio State University Women’s Volleyball team to our session of Ten Questions. In the past we have written of her superiority in the heat of battle, along with including her in the growing list of Making the List. Elizabeth was gracious enough to allow us to take a look into her world.

This appears as a standard question, though I find importance in it; specifically because there just may be a young lady somewhere reading this that finds kinship in your response and the key in this is it may be a motivational tool for her … so now the question – When was it that you found volleyball, or was it volleyball that found you, and was the competitive spirit born at the same time?


My parents helped find volleyball for me the summer before seventh grade. The local high school team offered a summer camp for middle school girls, and my parents saw it as the perfect opportunity to get me to try something new. I, however, did not want to go one bit. After all, I considered myself a basketball player exclusively. After a few days of my parents nudging me to go to volleyball camp, I started to really like it. I thank my parents for helping me fall in love with such a great sport that has brought me so many friendships and opportunities.

Being from North Carolina and having been a Duke Blue Devil what triggered you to transfer to The Ohio State University?


Duke had been my dream school since I was nine years old making my decision to transfer one of the hardest, yet best things I have done in life so far. Ultimately, I wanted to play in the BIG 10 (the best volleyball conference in my opinion) against teams that were competitive every match. In the BIG 10, every match is tough. After visiting a couple of schools I fell in love with THE Ohio State University. I liked the idea of playing for such an athletic power- house of a school. I liked that the coaching staff and the program pushed me hard day in and day out to improve and compete. I also connected well with a few of the girls on my initial visit.

This past season – your Senior Year – you earned All-Northeast Region honors from the AVCA along with your second in a row (your Junior year prior) All-Region performance. In your career as a Buckeye you have had 19 double-doubles. Notices of hard work are always nice … how important are these accolades for you?


Everyone likes the recognition. Still these accolades are not as important to have personally. I think that whenever a team has a player that receives these kinds of awards, it shows the hard work and success of the team. One cannot earn these kinds of awards without the help of their teammates and coaches (and family!!!). It is ALWAYS a team effort and a team award in my opinion.

I understand you graduated this past December … welcome to being an Alumna. What are you most proud of in your time as an Ohio State Athlete?


In my time as an Ohio State Athlete, I am most proud of the relationships and friendships that I established. I think that I surrounded myself with people that challenged and pushed me not only to become a better athlete but also a more confident and better person. My friends, teammates, coaches, and trainers were all part of making me who I am today. I am proud to have met such great people that helped me develop as a strong and kind woman.

I feel every student at The Ohio State University has that special spot where they yearn for either quiet time, or even positive interaction. Did you have such a spot – and if so where was it?


On campus I enjoyed studying at the “athlete study hall” called Younkin. There I would get my studies done as well as converse and interact with friends. However, if I wanted quiet time, I would head to the Panera on south campus, put my headphones in, and get to studying. I enjoyed the warm environment as well as the coffee!

What element of the game do you feel is the key to your success and is it the same as what you enjoy the most?


I love volleyball because of how much you need each teammate to be successful. It is one of the purest team sports! I believe having that understanding and celebrating each play and each teammate is the key to my success and what I enjoy the most. It’s the best feeling knowing you got the dig to help your teammate score or celebrating your teammate getting a sick block. It pumps you up as a competitor and pumps your teammates up as well.

Who is your favorite Ohio State Athlete of all-time – it can be anyone from any era?


The Ohio State University is an athletic powerhouse with many celebrated and famous athletes. When you walk around our arena or any other athletic facility on campus there are pictures, awards, and recognitions from college, Olympic, and professional levels. It would be hard to select just one as a favorite. However, Jesse Owens is one of the best. It’s not just his Olympic achievements. But also the trials and tribulations he endured (especially racism) on his path to worldly success.

Do you have a worst moment on the court that you’d like to share?


In my first match of my senior season, the opponent sent over what appeared to be an easy ball. However, the ball was sent over the net at about 30 feet in the air. It went so high that it came down on our side less than a foot from the net. It was such a terrible angle to have to play the ball that I did not know how to play it. I passed it straight into the net and it fell to the floor. The opposing team’s crowd laughed at me. That was my worst moment because I should have just jumped up and hit the ball! Complete brain lapse.

Finish the sentence …. “Everyone seems to think I like …”


Everyone seems to think I like to get kills more than anything. This is not true. I love getting digs or blocks. My favorite thing about volleyball is shutting someone down and taking away their strengths.

Please tell your fellow Buckeyes what you love about The Ohio State University and what it means to you to be a Buckeye?


What I love the most about The Ohio State University is the fan base. I love being in an airport on the other side of the country and hearing “O-H…!” or “Go Bucks!!” There are Buckeyes all over the world that support the school as well as the athletics program. Buckeyes are so proud of their university and that’s what makes it such a great and happy place to be!

I would like to thank Elizabeth for the time she allowed us to answer our Ten Questions. Taking time from her – I am certain – hectic schedule was nice. Elizabeth is now an Alumnus of the Greatest University in the World – The Ohio State University – and we wish her complete success in whatever and wherever she decides to go. Please stay in touch with us Elizabeth here at tBBC. Buckeye Nation is interested in your march.

The post Ten Questions with Elizabeth Campbell appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Two Buckeyes claim exhilirating wins to wrestle national titles - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Two Buckeyes claim exhilirating wins to wrestle national titles
ABC6OnYourSide.com
NEW YORK -- Buckeyes Myles Martin and Kyle Snyder saved the best for last, winning NCAA titles Saturday night on the biggest stage. Martin was supposed to redshirt this season but won 11-9 over Penn State freshman Bo Nikal with a stunning six-point ...


Continue reading...

BTN LiveBIG: Basketball bonanza!
Brian Summerfield via Big Ten Network

The men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments just began, and we’ve already seen plenty of surprises. For the Big Ten, some of those have been pleasant (Indiana) and others not so much (Michigan State). But no matter how far the women’s and men’s basketball teams in the conference go in the tourney (and even if they didn’t make it this season), their supporters can take pride in how people associated with those programs perform off the court. This round-up of LiveBIG stories with a b-ball bent shows off the Big Ten’s talent waaaayyyy beyond the arc: Quinn Buckner Helping Hoosiers

Continue reading...

WVU women to face Buckeyes in NCAA tournament - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


WVU women to face Buckeyes in NCAA tournament
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
The Buckeyes are making their 23rd appearance in the tournament. ... Ohio State was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally this year, but dropped to No. 9 after losing three out of its last four games before the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia finished with ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Ohio State wrestlers Martin, Snyder win national championships; Buckeyes finish third - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State wrestlers Martin, Snyder win national championships; Buckeyes finish third
OSU - The Lantern
After a poor showing that resulted in the Buckeyes dropping three of five matches on Friday, OSU bounced back for an undefeated final day to finish third overall. On top of the undefeated third showing on Saturday, the Scarlet and Gray captured 174 ...
Two Buckeyes claim exhilirating wins to wrestle national titlesABC6OnYourSide.com
Ohio State Wrestling: Nathan Tomasello, Kyle Snyder Lead Buckeyes Into NCAA ChampionshipsScout
Wrestling Recap: Five Buckeyes Advance to Quarterfinals on Day 1 of NCAA ChampionshipsEleven Warriors

all 8 news articles »

Continue reading...

Kyle Snyder Wins Heavyweight Title
Patrick Jones via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Most 19 year old college sophomores are just finally adjusting to college life and figuring out where they’ll spend their Saturday nights. Not Kyle Snyder. Snyder, only 19, is the youngest world champion in the history of wrestling and is now on the cusp of his first national title in a scarlet and grey singlet. In his way…defending champ and number 1 seed Nick Gwiazdowski. Gwiazdowski and Snyder both enter their finals match in the heavyweight division undefeated and have never faced each other.

The first period was scoreless for the first two minutes as each wrestler exchanged shots but neither were able to finish and score.

Gwiazdowski chose the down position to start the second period and got up and out to take a 1-0 lead. Snyder then got taken down with 1:30 to go in the second to go. Down 3-0, the Buckeye heavyweight was able to escape before the end of the second to cut the lead to two.

Snyder began the 3rd period from the down position and escaped to make it 3-2. Snyder would get in on an ankle pick but the returning champ would turn it against him and take Snyder down once again to take a 5-2 lead. Snyder would get a takedown with :16 seconds to go to tie the match and send the match into overtime.

In the overtime period, Gwiazdowski shot in and Snyder adjusted and re-shot and scored the takedown to win his first national title 7-5 and add to the legend that is Ohio State sophomore Kyle Snyder.

The post Kyle Snyder Wins Heavyweight Title appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State's Kyle Snyder wins NCAA wrestling championship
Dan Vest via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State's Kyle Snyder ends his senior season as an undefeated NCAA champion.

He wasn't even supposed to wrestle for Ohio State this season. Fresh off of an offseason world championship in freestyle wrestling, Kyle Snyder was supposed to take a redshirt in 2016 to focus on the Olympic trials. Halfway through the season he changed is mind, and now the Ohio State sophomore has another item to add to his ever-expanding list of accolades: NCAA Champion.

To earn his first NCAA championship, Snyder had an incredibly tall mountain to climb in the form of NC State's Nick Gwiazdowski. Gwiazdowski, a junior, is a two-time NCAA champion who brought an 88-match win streak into the match. He also outweighed Snyder, the lightest heavyweight in the tournament, by about 30 pounds. Still, Snyder was just months removed from wining a senior world championship at 19 years old against the toughest wrestlers Russia, Iran, and the rest of the world had to offer, so there was no clear favorite. The match was arguably the most-anticipated of the weekend, and it lived up to the hype.

Gwiazdowski drew first blood earning the matches' first two takedowns and a 5-3 lead. Trailing by that same 5-3 margin late in the third, Snyder landed a takedown of his own with about 19 seconds left and rode out his opponent to force overtime. In overtime it took Snyder 25 seconds to land a takedown off of a counter-attack and seal the dramatic victory.

Next up for Snyder, the Olympic Trials and possibly the Olympics. At 20 years old Snyder already has a career's worth of accomplishments. The scary part? He's just getting started.

Continue reading...

Florida Up Next For Buckeyes In NIT - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Florida Up Next For Buckeyes In NIT
Scout
It may not have been obvious early in Ohio State's 73-62 overtime win over Akron, but the Buckeyes are looking to make the most of their NIT opportunity. They proved that by gutting out an overtime victory over the MAC regular-season champion Tuesday ...
Will Keita Bates-Diop play vs. Florida?cleveland.com
All-Time Ohio State-Florida Hoops Series (OSU Leads, 8-4)Eleven Warriors
What To Watch (NIT Edition): Florida at Ohio State247Sports

all 14 news articles »

Continue reading...