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MotS&G 2018 Prospect Interview – Phil Jurkovec

2018 Prospect Interview – Phil Jurkovec
Ben Van Ooyen
via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The 2018 recruiting class is still almost two years away from signing their letters of intent, but it’s never too early for college programs to take a look at young players and make scholarship offers to top prospects. Ohio State will be without JT Barrett after the 2017 season, so the coaches will be looking to add another top notch signal caller in 2018. Phil Jurkovec from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania has already garnered the attention of the Ohio State Buckeyes and has received an offer from Coach Luke Fickell. He also speaks often with Urban Meyer and Tim Beck. In his sophomore season at Pine-Richland High School, Jurkovec passed for over 2,500 yards and ran for another 1,250, which led Coach Meyer to compare him to Alex Smith, the current quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and Urban’s former starter at Utah. Jurkovec analyzes the play of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and other NFL stars and tries to replicate their skills on the field.

It’s early in the recruiting process for 2018, and Jurkovec is in no hurry to commit. He says, “I’m not favoring any schools right now. I want to be able to visit as many schools as possibly before I commit” because “when I commit to a school, I want to be 100% committed.” Wherever he lands, Jurkovec expects to take on a leadership role immediately. “Ideally, as a quarterback, I would want to commit earlier than most so I could help develop that school’s recruiting class.” He currently holds offers from 11 schools, including Michigan State. The last Buckeye quarterback to come out of Pennsylvania was Terrell Pryor in 2008, and he certainly experienced pressure to play college ball in state. Jurkovec acknowledges the pressure, but he’s “willing to leave the state and [is] open to all schools no matter the distance.”

Most importantly, he is looking for a school with “a quality education and a competitive culture” that will help him develop into an elite athlete. Jurkovec writes, “It’s very impressive how many Ohio State players have gone on to play in the NFL. That just shows the Ohio State coaches’ ability to bring in top caliber players and develop them in college.” The threat of competing for a starting position doesn’t scare Jurkovec either; in fact, he embraces the challenge. “Most good programs have good depth at every position. I would not shy away from a school because of competition, but rather welcome it.” Jurkovec knows he’ll get competition in spades if he joins the Buckeyes. “I love the Ohio State offense,” he says, “The playmakers [the team] has now and will have in the future [are] really impressive, and the coaches put them in the right places to succeed.”

The recruiting process is just beginning for Jurkovec and his fellow 2018 prospects. He has his first official visit to Notre Dame this weekend, and he plans to visit Ohio State soon. Jurkovec loves college football and watches a number of teams, but he doesn’t have a favorite. This makes the selection process both easier and harder since he won’t be focused on a childhood favorite program. Jurkovec admits his life is about to get more hectic as recruitment heats up, but he tries to find balance in basketball and reading. No matter what, he’s grateful for the experience. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to get a free education and play major college football at some great universities,” he tells me.

Phil’s junior year gets underway at the end of the summer, and I wish him luck in his last two seasons in high school. I expect he’ll get a lot more offers over the next two years, and I’m sure Ohio State’s coaches and fans are looking forward to showing him all the Buckeyes have to offer.


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LGHL Watch Cardale Jones show his knowledge of the game on Jon Gruden's QB Camp

Watch Cardale Jones show his knowledge of the game on Jon Gruden's QB Camp
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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There are a lot of questions surrounding the Buckeye quarterback -- and Jon Gruden got some answers.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is making the rounds as he gets ready for the NFL Draft in late-April. As he does each Spring, former player and coach Jon Gruden is sitting down with the 2016 quarterback prospects ahead of the big day, to try and get a better understand of them as a player.

Everyone knows about Jones' personality off-the-field -- and on Twitter -- but the quarterback is much more game-smart than he is often given credit. In his first spot with Gruden, Jones talks about how he never threw from the laces in high school or college until he started seriously preparing for the NFL.


Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer is a stickler for fundamentals, and I can only imagine how he reacted upon seeing Jones intentionally avoid the laces in practice. However, he did learn the technique from his time playing for Ted Ginn Sr, which is about as good of a recommendation as Meyer would need to allow it.



Second impression on Cardale Jones at Gruden's QB Camp: good knowledge of the game. pic.twitter.com/WU5p6pcbVl

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@SandoESPN) March 17, 2016

These interviews should give NFL teams and scouts a better idea of where Jones is in his maturity, and could even improve his draft stock.

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BTN How to track the NCAA women’s postseason games

How to track the NCAA women’s postseason games
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Five Big Ten women’s hoops teams play their opening games of the 2016 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday and Saturday. Click the matchups in this post to go to the live game center pages for each game. On Friday, No. 4 seed Michigan State plays No. 13 Belmont at noon ET on ESPN2 followed No. 3 seed Ohio State playing No. 14 seed Buffalo at 2:30 p.m., also on ESPN2. Saturday’s games are No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 15 Iowa (1:30 p.m., ESPN2) No. 11 Purdue vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (1:30 p.m., ESPN2), and No. 9 Indiana vs. No. 8 Georgia
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LGHL NCAA Tournament 2016: March Madness Thursday TV schedule

NCAA Tournament 2016: March Madness Thursday TV schedule
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ohio State may be playing in the NIT, but there's loads of other exciting games to watch until their next game.

The stage is set, and 64 teams are heading into the first round of games for the NCAA Tournament. Thirty-two teams will take the court on Thursday, for the first full day of March Madness. Brackets can be ruined by mid-afternoon on Day 1, but don't worry, the Buckeyes will keep things interesting for you on Sunday -- when they play in the second round of the NIT.

Three No. 1 seeds will see game action on Thursday, so you don't want to miss a thing!

How to Watch


Every NCAA Tournament game is available on CBS and CBS' March Madness app. But, that's not all.

SBNation.com breaks down all the different ways to stream the games (especially for those pretending to work during games) below:


All NCAA Tournament games can be streamed online with NCAA March Madness Live. There's also an NCAA March Madness Live app for iOS, Android, Windows 10, Amazon, and Roku, so you can watch every game, even if you're not at home or near a TV. March Madness Live has also added Chromecast support this year, so there are more ways than ever to get the game onto the TV.

So many options.

The NCAA has provided a full breakdown of all Thursday's games, along with tip-off times, location and how to catch it on TV. Check it out, here.

And just in case, CBS also has a complete live schedule of all games and which TV network they'll be aired. You can see that, here.

Does LGHL have a bracket challenge?


Sure do! Hope you already signed up to take part in the annual Land-Grant Holy Land March Madness bracket, with the window closing just after noon ET.

Start your St. Patrick's Day off right, with back-to-back and overlapping basketball games and a nice green beer. You have at least three more days before the Buckeyes will attempt to give you another heart attack in the NIT, and might as well spend that time rooting for and against other teams.

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Google Ohio State Wrestling: Nathan Tomasello, Kyle Snyder Lead Buckeyes Into NCAA Championships -...

Ohio State Wrestling: Nathan Tomasello, Kyle Snyder Lead Buckeyes Into NCAA Championships - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Wrestling: Nathan Tomasello, Kyle Snyder Lead Buckeyes Into NCAA Championships
Scout
The Buckeyes will remain in the national championship conversation, however, because of their ability to plug in two of the best wrestlers in the country. At an event where a top-heavy lineup with a few elite guys is often better than having 10 ...
Big Ten champs Snyder, Tomasello set for NCAA tournamentColumbus Dispatch

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LGHL Some day a 16-seed will beat a 1-seed. Why not Florida Gulf Coast?

Some day a 16-seed will beat a 1-seed. Why not Florida Gulf Coast?
Cameron J. Kaiser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The school known for Dunk City might just be positioned to pull off what's never been done before in March Madness.

Someday, a 16-seed is going to beat a one-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Somehow, someway, it's going to happen. So, is that day upon us? After annihilating Fairleigh Dickinson by putting up the most lopsided First Four victory since its inception, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are riding a dominating paint presence into Raleigh to take on the top-seeded Tar Heels of North Carolina. Could this finally be the moment a one-seed goes down at the hands of a 16-seed?

For those of you that weren't living under a rock in March of 2013, you're surely familiar with FGCU's run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles stole America's hearts as the Cinderella of the tournament, earning the nickname Dunk City in the process. Their high-flying acrobatic dunks was a style rarely seen from such a low seed, and their free play allowed them to beat both Georgetown and San Diego State rather easily.

Well, FGCU is back in the Big Dance, but they don't feature the same fast-paced circus show that they gained national attention for. With their methodical offense and their suffocating defense, the Eagles of now are much better fundamentally than the Dunk City team. After serving as an assistant coach under Bill Self at Kansas for ten years, Joe Dooley is in his third season as head coach of the Eagles.

Since taking over after Andy Enfield departed for USC, Dooley has preached strong defense and limiting turnovers on offense. This season, Dooley's style was more apparent than ever as FGCU was the Atlantic Sun's best defensive team and was tied for the third best team in the conference for least amount of turnovers per game.

Now after dominating in Dayton, the Eagles, who were the first 15-seed to ever make it to the Sweet Sixteen, have a chance to accomplish a feat arguably even more impressive. Ever since the NCAA Tournament field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985, a 16-seed has never beaten a one-seed. Florida Gulf Coast would once again put its name in the history books in a big way if they're able to pull off the W over North Carolina.

While the Dunk City team was admittedly more exciting to watch, the FGCU of now is just as dangerous. Led by junior forward Marc-Eddy Norelia, a transfer from Tulane who's averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game, FGCU punishes opponents in the paint. Backed by junior Demetris Morant, a transfer from UNLV, and sophomore Antravious Simmons, a transfer from VCU, the frontcourt for the Eagles is deep and talented. As a starter, Morant represents a true Dunk City style player with his ridiculous leaping ability, but has developed a conventional post-up game under Dooley. Simmons on the other hand, who describes himself as a "banger" with his linebacker-like frame, comes off the bench and bullies his way under the basket. Can this trio match up with Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks? Well, if they stay out of foul trouble, they can definitely make things much more difficult than the typical bigs that mid-majors feature.

If FGCU is going to pull off the impossible against UNC, their bigs are going to have to continue to play huge. Despite the whole "North Carolina is a National Championship contender with a bunch of five-star recruits on its roster" fact, they're more similar to Florida Gulf Coast than you might realize. The majority of both of the teams' damage comes from inside the arc. In fact, both FGCU and UNC are in the top-five for percentage of points from two-pointers, with the Eagles at 61.2-percent and the Tar Heels at 61.9-percent. Neither team relies on three pointers, but if it comes down to a three-point shooting contest, the Eagles are shooting 34.6-percent compared to the Tar Heels' 31.4-percent.

While those numbers are all fine and dandy, North Carolina is still North Carolina, and Florida Gulf Coast is still Florida Gulf Coast. UNC usually has enough steam to make a tournament run on pedigree alone. So, how can the Eagles pull off what's never been done in March Madness history? Well, they're going to need a helluva lot of luck, and maybe even some divine intervention. Also, FGCU will have no choice but to knock down open three-pointers, because basketball.

However, this FGCU team is not your typical mid-major NCAA Tournament team, and that's why they could provide a worthy foe for North Carolina. Unlike other potential Cinderella teams, the Eagles don't rely on hot shooting from behind the long line. Instead, they're going to have guards like freshmen Zach Johnson and Reggie Reid pound the ball inside to Norelia, Morant, and Simmons, and let them go to work. The Tar Heels are the obvious favorite to win this game, as they should be, but it doesn't look like it's going to be a cakewalk. Still though, if Joe Dooley's Eagles can muscle up in the paint and knock down the trey when it's there, that, along with a few miracles, could possibly, maybe, be just enough to lift FGCU to the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history.

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Google Spring position battles to watch: Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN (blog)

Spring position battles to watch: Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Spring position battles to watch: Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN (blog)
Running back: The Buckeyes trusted Ezekiel Elliott to do just about everything required of a tailback, and maybe even a few more jobs on top of that. There's a chance Urban Meyer won't be able to replace the superstar with just one guy, but his offense ...

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LGHL Are the Buckeyes in prime position to land Fred Hansard as his decision looms?

Are the Buckeyes in prime position to land Fred Hansard as his decision looms?
Bret Favachio
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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With his decision right around the corner, let's take a look at where the Buckeyes stand with one of their top 2017 targets.

On Tuesday, '17 DT Fred Hansard revealed the news on his Twitter account that he would be announcing his collegiate decision on May 14th -- his birthday.

As things stand today, the 6'3, 305-pounder from Hun School in New Jersey holds offers from 30 programs including some of the nation's best. However, barring a change in his recruitment, Hansard knows his top schools and Alabama, Georgia, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, UCLA, and more are not included.

According to Tyler Donohue of Bleacher Report, the seven schools who are currently battling for the eventual pledge from Hansard are Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Tennessee.


"These schools showed me that I would be huge for their program and really I've built the best relationships with these coaches," - Hansard to Donohue.

Ohio State is a school that has been in this one for a while now. The Buckeyes offered the four-story defensive tackle back in May of last year and have had constant communication and interest in the Princeton (NJ) native. In fact, Hansard was on campus in late January for Ohio State's junior day event which he publicly raved about at the conclusion of the visit.

When discussing the head coaches who have personally worked to build a bond with him, Hansard unsurprisingly mentioned Urban Meyer, among others. The real good news for the Buckeyes here is that they are one of the programs that Hansard mentioned when talking with Donohue about upcoming trips.

While it's certainly not over yet, Ohio State has put themselves in a position to land another top tier defensive tackle for their 2017 recruiting class with Haskell Garrett being the other.

Another interesting storyline to follow in the recruitment of Hansard is that Ohio State has landed a prospect from the state of New Jersey in each of the last four classes now -- it's happened every year since the arrival of Urban Meyer and surely he would love to keep the trend going especially with Hansard. The most recent class that didn't feature a garden state prospect was 2012.

Hansard, who we mentioned is a four-story prospect, currently stands as the nations 148th best player. To go along with that, he's slotted as a top ten defensive tackle and the third best player in New Jersey.

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Google Are the Buckeyes in prime position to land Fred Hansard as his decision looms? - Land-Grant...

Are the Buckeyes in prime position to land Fred Hansard as his decision looms? - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Are the Buckeyes in prime position to land Fred Hansard as his decision looms?
Land-Grant Holy Land
The Buckeyes offered the four-story defensive tackle back in May of last year and have had constant communication and interest in the Princeton (NJ) native. In fact, Hansard was on campus in late January for Ohio State's junior day event which he ...
The Hurry Up: Fred Hansard Sets a Decision Date, Trenton Gillison Talking to Ohio State and MoreEleven Warriors
Fred Hansard, a four-star DT and Ohio State target, reveals ...cleveland.com

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Google Jones locks in visits to Spartans and Buckeyes - 247Sports.com

Jones locks in visits to Spartans and Buckeyes - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Jones locks in visits to Spartans and Buckeyes
247Sports.com
Gurnee (Ill.) Warren Township 2018 receiver Micah Jones will visit Michigan State on March 24 and Ohio State on April 9, his family tells 247Sports. Jones will also make his previously reported trip to Notre Dame this weekend. The 6-foot-4 1/2, 190 ...


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Google What Can The Ohio State Buckeyes Achieve In The 2016 NIT? - BT Powerhouse (blog)

What Can The Ohio State Buckeyes Achieve In The 2016 NIT? - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What Can The Ohio State Buckeyes Achieve In The 2016 NIT?
BT Powerhouse (blog)
There's no denying that this year's season didn't go quite as well as planned for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Most felt that it would be a rebuilding period, but that the team would ultimately be able to get right by the end of the year and use that ...


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Google Men's hockey / Big Ten tournament: Florida trip put Buckeyes on ... - Columbus Dispatch

Men's hockey / Big Ten tournament: Florida trip put Buckeyes on ... - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Men's hockey / Big Ten tournament: Florida trip put Buckeyes on ...
Columbus Dispatch
The Ohio State men's hockey team lost its first seven games and was still reeling when it went to Florida at the end of December.

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Chris Oats (LB Kentucky Wildcats)

Scout Profile
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HUDL Highlights

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Winton Woods HS (Cincinnati, OH)
Ht: 6'4''
Wt: 210 lbs
Class: 2018 (High School)

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BN $ - Kurelic's corner: Next Akers visit in the works, LB talks, more

Chris says he will likely be in Columbus next week during his spring break followed by a visit to FSU. Speaks often with Coach Coombs & tOSU is currently his favorite. Already holds offers from Sparty & Kentucky while hearing from Florida State, Pitt & West Virginia as well.

Google Buckeyes Look To Build From Difficult Season - Scout

Buckeyes Look To Build From Difficult Season - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Look To Build From Difficult Season
Scout
With the Buckeyes postseason fate finally determined, Ohio State and Thad Matta were finally faced with the harsh reality that the 2015-16 season has been a disappointment. When Ohio State was bounced from the Big Ten Tournament tournament by ...


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Google Buckeyes zip by Akron in overtime of NIT opener, 72-63 - Waiting For Next Year

Buckeyes zip by Akron in overtime of NIT opener, 72-63 - Waiting For Next Year
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes zip by Akron in overtime of NIT opener, 72-63
Waiting For Next Year
In front of just 4,698 (the Schottenstein Center holds 18,809), Ohio State made it closer than Buckeye fans wanted but eventually came away on top after 45 minutes of basketball with a 72-63 victory over the Akron Zips. Trailing 25-29 at halftime, the ...


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LGHL It may not be the NCAA Tournament, but the NIT means something for Ohio State basketball

It may not be the NCAA Tournament, but the NIT means something for Ohio State basketball
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


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The Buckeyes still have something to gain by competing in the NIT, and they recognize that.

"We couldn't overlook this game, it's another opportunity to get better. Postseason play for this team is a good thing."

- Marc Loving, via Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


It might not mean much to the average or casual fan of Ohio State basketball, but despite missing the NCAA Tournament, the experience gained in the NIT means a lot for the Buckeyes. Keita Bates-Diop wasn't able to play in the game due to an illness, which led to the first career start for Kam Williams. Williams was determined to make the most of his start, taking plenty of shots early for the Buckeyes. But Williams' performance mattered most in overtime, when he helped the Buckeyes pull away, before JaQuan Lyle sealed the deal.

The game wasn't pretty by any means, but the young group of Buckeyes who had been playing just seven players (six after Trevor Thompson fouled out) had to pull out a very close game in which they didn't exactly play great. That's a great learning experience, whether it comes in the regular season, conference tournament, NIT, or NCAA Tournament. As Landis points out, the loss of Bates-Diop put guys in positions that they hadn't experienced, the aforementioned Williams, and Mickey Mitchell getting more time. Thad Matta expects Bates-Diop to be back for second-round NIT action on Sunday, but the Buckeyes did decent in his absence.

"Welcome to life in the NIT, where having the higher seed doesn't guarantee you anything."

- Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Ohio State is set to play Florida in the second round of the NIT on Sunday against the Florida Gators. The Buckeyes, seeded third, will play host to the Gators, who are a No. 2 seed. Normally, the higher seeded team would play host to the lower, but the Gators home arena is being renovated. Had the Gators lost, the Buckeyes would have hosted North Florida. You have to consider that a pretty decent draw for the Buckeyes when you still get homecourt either way.

The Gators are 20-14 on the season, and should provide for a good game against the Buckeyes, as we have seen many times in the past on the basketball court. Florida currently stands at 37 in the KenPom rankings, compared to Ohio State's 66 ranking. The Buckeyes are expecting to have Keita Bates-Diop back, which should provide the Buckeyes with a spark that was missing from their opening round game against Akron. Hopefully the Buckeyes can carry the momentum from Tuesday, and take advantage of the unexpected home floor advantage.

"Free agency shook up the list of draft needs, both for teams who made a splash signing big-ticket players and those who lost starters in the past week."

- Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated


Burke's latest mock draft is out, and it features changes after free agency started in the NFL. In his March 3 mock, Burke had Joey Bosa to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4. In his latest, Bosa goes at No. 3 to the San Diego Chargers, not worrying about fit, and going with the best player available. Burke moved Noah Spence down from No. 11 to the Chicago Bears, to No. 12 with the Saints. Ezekiel Elliott, moved down three spots to the Miami Dolphins, after previously being projected to the New York Giants.

The biggest change of all came in that of offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Previously mocked at No. 30, Decker has found his way to the No. 16 spot, going to the Detroit Lions. Burke cites the team's efforts to bolster the defensive line, but desperately needing offensive line help, and Decker would be a permanent solution there. Darron Lee also made a big jump, from No. 24 to No. 17, placing him in Atlanta. The Falcons are thin at linebacker, and a fresh, quick body in the second line of defense would be big for them. Eli Apple fell out of the mock draft, but is mentioned as a possibility at No. 28 to the Chiefs.

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Google Buckeyes to host Florida in NIT second round - Cincinnati.com (blog)

Buckeyes to host Florida in NIT second round - Cincinnati.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes to host Florida in NIT second round
Cincinnati.com (blog)
Renovations at Florida's home arena will allow the third-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes, a winner against Akron on Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT, to host the second-seeded Gators in the second round on Sunday, even though the first three ...
Why is No. 3 Ohio State hosting No. 2 Florida in a second-round NIT game?cleveland.com
2nd Thoughts: AkronThe Buckeye Battle Cry
NIT: Ohio State tops Akron in overtimeNew Philadelphia Times Reporter

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tBBC 2nd Thoughts: Akron

2nd Thoughts: Akron
Ken
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Yeah, Thad knew they could do it…

Ohio State (21-13) overcame a listless first half to surge by University of Akron (26-9) 72-63 to move on to the 2nd round of the NIT. By listless, if you can’t sleep at night, watch the 1st half; you’ll be unconscious in no time. Both teams combined to shoot 21-62 from the floor, resulting in a total of 54 points. Unfortunately, Akron had most of those points, leading 29-25 at the half.

Thad had to juggle his lineup (again) after it was reported that Kieta Bates-Diop would not dress for the game. Off the bench came Kam Williams, to start his first “real” game at Ohio State. With Kam starting, this really shortened Thad’s bench.

It was good to see Marc Loving play an aggressive, effective game, especially this time of the season. I think Loving is more a “lead by example” type. That he did against Akron. I was glad to see JaQaun Lyle respond very well, too. Against MSU, JL did not have a good game; he knew it, we knew it and Thad sure as hell knew it. Against Akron, he provided a double-double along with some of the sharpest play you’ll see. His game-sense and anticipation led him to steal an Akron outlet pass and convert it to the tying score in regulation. His heads-up snap pass assist in the lane to Kam Williams at the 1:34 mark in overtime gave OSU a 68-63 lead, their biggest lead in the game to that point.

Viewing Experience

Aside from the final score, this game had some interesting numbers. For example:

  • Fatigue. Both team looked tired in the first half. This was Akron’s 4th game in 6 days. Since they were all tournament (Mid-American, NIT), Coach Dambrot couldn’t really “rest” anyone. These’ tired legs’ may have been cause for both teams’ so-so offensive performance and Akron’s 0-7 FG and 1-5 FT performance in overtime. The Zips had no zip at that point.
  • Free Throw Shooting. Akron is normally a 68% shooting team. Against Ohio State they shot 40% (8-20). Ohio State is normally a 68% shooting team. Against Akron they shot 91% (21-23). Both teams being out of character certainly worked to Ohio State’s favor.
  • Three Point Shooting. Akron is normally a 40% shooting team. Against Ohio State they shot 21% (9-42). Ohio State is normally a 34% shooting team. Against Akron they shot 24% (5-21). Ohio State shot “less worse” than Akron on far, far fewer attempts. This was a lot of empty possessions for the Zips. As I mentioned, above, this could have been a fatigue factor that really hurt Akron.
  • Close to the vest. Neither team really could separate themselves from the other until the very end of the game. In a two minute stretch near the end of the first half, Akron went on an 8-0 run to have a 7 point lead, but OSU scored the last 3 points (in :31) to pull within 4 points at the half. Ohio State finally pulled away with a 6-0 run over the last 2:33 in overtime to account for the final margin.

The Thad Matta Factor

Thad had his hand forced with KBD’s absence. He had to go “small” with Kam replacing Kieta. The option of going “big” with two centers on the floor for OSU is probably not a good option.

Whatever Matta told his team at half time needs to be bottled and saved. The team was flat and out of sync in the 1st half. The 2nd half was a different story; they were energized and amped up their intensity. It was just the right pep talk to have with the youngsters.

The Three Two One Magi:

With Tate’s injury and Bates-Diop’s illness.. and then there was one. We should thank Marc Loving for being a Gamer against Akron. He was on the court for 45 minutes; equaled only by Kam Williams. His 18 points and 13 rebounds were very instrumental in this game. But, then double-doubles typically are. Marc scored Ohio State’s first basket in the 2nd half and in overtime. Someone needs to break the ice and Loving came through.

Lineup Mix-n-Match:

“Bad” Mickey Mitchell looked excruciatingly bad in the first half. So bad, that despite a very short bench, he played only 8 minutes in the first half. He was 0-4 from the field (and looked bad doing it), had 1 rebound and 2 fouls. In the 2nd half, “Good” Mickey Mitchell showed up. His early offense ignited the Buckeyes to provide much needed energy and get them back in the game. In a 30-second stretch within the first two minutes of the half, Mitchell had a 3-pointer and a break-away dunk to pull OSU to within a point.

Kam Williams (6-16 FG, 3-10 3-PT, 5 rebounds and 1 steal) scored 18 points in a grueling 45 minutes. This was his first start and he made good use of it. He doesn’t provide the “length” of Bate-Diop, but he certainly provides the “pop” this team needed against Akron.

A.J. Harris had a fairly forgettable 20 minutes. He hit one 3-pointer and had a rebound. He did commit 3 turnovers, one of which was a pass to “no one in particular” on the Buckeye bench. Maybe he saw KBD sitting there, open.

JaQuan Lyle had a very productive game. In 44 minutes, he had 18 points (6-17 FG), 14 rebounds and 6 assists. He did have 5 turnovers, so no one is perfect. He was scoreless from 3-point range, but since he took only 3 shots that’s not a big deal. He was 6-6 from the FT line. That is a big deal. Good game, lad.

Ball Control:

The Buckeyes had 12 turnovers to Akron’s 8. The points-off-turnovers was nearly a push with Ohio State getting 8 points and Akron 6 points.

Ohio State did manage to take very late advantage of ball control. Trialing by 1 point with 3:36 remaining in regulation, the Buckeyes scored two baskets off Zip turnovers for their last points in regulation. The “killer” was JaQuan’s steal/layup at 2:18 to tie the game at 62.

Interior play, Center(s) of Attention:

Ohio State’s centers (Thompson, Giddens) had their hands full, in every conceivable way, against Akron’s Isiah Johnson. A few thoughts on Johnson..

  • At 6’10”, 295 lbs, Isiah is a post presence. To say the least. He used his size, surprisingly good athleticism to score 16 points and grab 12 rebounds.
  • In addition to being athletic (he took Giddens to the hoop), Johnson is reasonably fit; he played 38 of 45 minutes. That’s impressive.
  • He also contributed to OSU’s foul issues (Thompson 5, Giddens 4) that really could have put Thad in a bind.

This was a situation where Ohio State almost held serve at the center position. Compares to Johnson’s numbers, Thompson/Giddens combined for 15 rebounds but only 6 points. It’s OK when your team mates pick up the pace, but a combined 1-7 from the field doesn’t cut it.



Up Next…

The Buckeyes (210-13) will host University of Florida in the second round of the NIT. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 noon ET Sunday. Florida defeated North Florida 97-68 on Tuesday evening.



The post 2nd Thoughts: Akron appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL Tulsa wants to remind you that we're all-Hurricane tonight as they face Michigan

Tulsa wants to remind you that we're all-Hurricane tonight as they face Michigan
Luke Zimmermann
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


CdrbYzwUEAEO20n.0.0.jpg_large

Beat That Team Up North.

Tulsa, OK and Columbus, OH. They're both capital cities! ... Oh wait; they aren't?

Well, that's okay, Tulsa.

You probably don't have a lot in common with Columbus.

See, the college that occupies your city is in the NCAA Tournament and well, Ohio State had kind of a cruddy season.

That said, the Buckeyes did beat Michigan comfortably. And now it's the University of Tulsa's turn to do the same.

The official Tulsa Hurricane Twitter account knows well and good that the enemy of my enemy is my friend and on Wednesday afternoon, they leaned in hard to try and garner Ohio State respect and support. It just might work:


When in Ro❌e ... @OhioStAthletics pic.twitter.com/pZqMeJHsbN

— TulsaHurricane (@TulsaHurricane) March 16, 2016


Looks an awful lot like the official Ohio State account's handy work, but nobody ever said we were above collaborative pandering.

Ohio State fans were already rooting against the Michigan Wolverines. Now they might actually be rooting for Tulsa, too.

(h/t to Friend of the Holy Land Sam Laz)

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LGHL Ohio State men’s lacrosse loses 2 straight against ranked teams

Ohio State men’s lacrosse loses 2 straight against ranked teams
Meredith Hein
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes couldn’t overcome either of their top-15 opponents this week.

It has been a rough few days for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s lacrosse team. After losing a close, 8-5 match to No. 12 Hofstra Saturday in a well-fought defensive struggle, the Buckeyes fell to No. 9 Towson 10-9 last night in overtime.

Though the scoring started relatively early Saturday against Hofstra, with both Hofstra and Ohio State trading goals around the 12-minute mark in the first quarter, there was little scoring to be seen throughout the game. Hofstra found the back of the net twice more in the second quarter to bring the score to 3-1, before a Ryan Hunter goal brought the Buckeyes within one just before halftime.

Hofstra scored twice more early in the third quarter to go up by three goals as Ohio State struggled on attack. The Buckeyes finally found the net again on an Eric Fannell goal with 14 minutes remaining in the game, having gone more than a quarter without scoring. After another Hofstra goal, Hunter had his second goal of the day to keep the Buckeyes within two. However, Hofstra managed to tack on two more goals to bring the score to 8-4 with 5:40 remaining in the fourth. Austin Shanks would score once more to close within three, but the Buckeyes would come no closer.

Attackman Ryan Hunter led the Buckeyes in scoring with two goals Saturday. Tom Carey had 10 saves in goal, but shots were 36-28 in favor of Hofstra.

Things did not start any better for Ohio State Tuesday versus Towson, as the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter. The lead would extend all the way to 6-0, with the Buckeyes finally getting on the board with 39 seconds remaining in the first half on a Hunter goal. The five-score halftime deficit is the largest that Ohio State has faced this season.

Despite a quick score by the Buckeyes to start the third quarter, Towson would drop two more goals to go up 9-2 early on in the second half. However, the tide would quickly turn as Fannell would score three-straight goals to start closing the gap. Fellow attackman Carter Brown would continue the streak heading into the fourth quarter, scoring two more goals to bring the score to 9-7. With subsequent goals by atttackmen J.T. Blubaugh and Shanks, the Buckeyes managed to tie the game at nine-all, overcoming a seven-score deficit and taking the match to their first overtime contest of the season. Ohio State held Towson scoreless for nearly the entire second half, with the Tigers’ last goal coming with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Ohio State won the faceoff in the four-minute overtime period, but Blubaugh’s shot was blocked by Towson. With a turnover and penalty incurred by the Buckeyes, Towson controlled the ball for the remainder of overtime, ultimately scoring with 34 seconds remaining in the period to win the match by a score of 10-9.

Despite a strong defensive performance in the second half, the seven-score deficit was too much to overcome for the Buckeyes. Still, Carey managed a dozen saves on the day. Faceoff specialist Jake Withers was 16-of-22 on faceoffs, and Fannell’s three goals and two assists led the team in both categories.

With the losses, Ohio State has fallen to 5-3 on the season. The schedule does not get any easier for the Buckeyes, who are scheduled to play No. 1 Denver Saturday in Colorado before returning home to face No. 2 Notre Dame.

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Google WATCH: Future Buckeye Antjuan Simmons lays the wood - 247Sports - 247Sports

WATCH: Future Buckeye Antjuan Simmons lays the wood - 247Sports - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


WATCH: Future Buckeye Antjuan Simmons lays the wood - 247Sports
247Sports
Since Urban Meyer has been at Ohio State, and with a huge assist from assistant Kerry Coombs, the Buckeyes have recruited very well in...

and more »


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Google Buckeyes struggle in OT win over cold-shooting Zips - Youngstown Vindicator

Buckeyes struggle in OT win over cold-shooting Zips - Youngstown Vindicator
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes struggle in OT win over cold-shooting Zips
Youngstown Vindicator
Ohio State players said after getting bounced from the Big Ten Tournament that they were excited about playing in the NIT. That it was a chance to grow and get extra games. The Buckeyes didn't look like they had much excitement on Tuesday night.


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LGHL Urban Meyer wouldn't mind copying Michigan's Florida spring break trip

Urban Meyer wouldn't mind copying Michigan's Florida spring break trip
Nick Polak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


urban.0.0.jpg

Could we see the Buckeyes practice in Florida next spring?

In speaking with Sara Perlman of WUFT News on Tuesday, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer expressed his interest in holding spring practice in Florida in 2017, as Jim Harbuagh and the Michigan Wolverines did this spring.

Said practices drew a lot of attention to Harbaugh and Michigan, and while such an event is hardly a deal-breaker for recruits, it certainly didn't hurt to give many talented targets an easy chance to see the Wolverines practice.

Meyer admitted to seeing the benefits of the trip in speaking with Perlman.


Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer says he might pull a "Jim Harbaugh" and hold spring practices in Florida next year pic.twitter.com/IoZkGN8Dw0

— Sara Perlman (@saraperlman) March 15, 2016


If Ohio State did decide to do this, Meyer would of course be returning to familiar grounds, havnig coached the Florida Gators from 2005 to 2010. While it would surely draw the ire of SEC coaches, it could end up being a helpful recruiting tool (if the NCAA doens't disallow these transplant practices before then).

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Google OSU Buckeyes Pitch In To Help Flint Residents - WILX-TV

OSU Buckeyes Pitch In To Help Flint Residents - WILX-TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OSU Buckeyes Pitch In To Help Flint Residents
WILX-TV
Donations for Flint residents continue to pour in from around the country. The Buckeyes are now chipping in to help Flint. Students and staff from Ohio State University's College of Social Work will be dropping off more than 20,000 bottles of water ...


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