ThomasCostello
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Eboni Walker returns for final season, bringing depth in the paint
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Next up on player previews is a Buckeyes fan favorite who earned an extra season in Columbus
College basketball season is fast approaching, and Land-Grant Holy Land is getting you ready with a series of player previews. Before the season starts this fall, check back regularly for more player previews, schedule news, features, and more heading into the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball season.
When Ohio State women’s basketball steps onto the court for the 2024-25 season, it’ll be without a mainstay in the paint in Rebeka Mikulášiková. The Slovakian’s five years ended with three seasons as head coach Kevin McGuff’s starting big. With her gone, not only do new players fill in, but how the Buckeyes operate near the basket could change.
Part of that conversation is Eboni Walker. In two seasons in scarlet and gray, Walker’s roles on-court have changed seemingly month-to-month. As McGuff’s most experienced big, does consistent play join the conversation in Walker’s final NCAA season?
Name: Eboni Walker
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: Centennial High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2023-24 Stats: 2.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, .442 FG%, .000 3FG%, .769 FT%
To understand Walker’s 23-24 season, you have to go back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. On Feb. 8, 2023, Mikulasikova suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of a home victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Walker, who played off the bench up until that point, started the remaining 11 games of the season — even though Mikulasikova’s injury only kept the forward out for two games.
Walker started through the end of the conference season, all the way into the Big Ten Tournament championship game and the Buckeyes Elite Eight run. In the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, Walker had 15 points and seven rebounds, plus a heads up play on the final offensive drive, culminating in a Jacy Sheldon game-winning shot.
With Walker excelling for Ohio State, it meant there were questions surrounding who McGuff would choose to play in the paint for the 23-24 season. It went to Mikulasikova, and Walker’s role shrunk.
After appearing in 34 games in her first season, Walker had 23 appearances last season, without any known injuries. Walker’s lone start of the season came when Mikulasikova was out due to illness. In that game, Walker had a season high with 11 points and six assists. Plus six rebounds.
Even with that performance, Walker’s average minutes went from 15.5 to 10.4 and after one play late in the season, the forward was gone.
Against the Maryland Terrapins on Feb. 25, Walker led a fast break for Ohio State, ending with an attempted no-look pass that went out of bounds. On the sideline, McGuff was incensed. Walker never returned to the game, and wasn’t seen with the team again for almost a month.
At the Buckeyes NCAA Tournament selection show party on St. Patrick’s Day, Walker was sitting with her teammates. On the court, Walker returned but for only one minute, in the First Round win over the Maine Black Bears. Coincidentally enough, the substitution came soon after a section of the arena began chanting Walker’s name.
McGuff filed for an extra year of eligibility due to Walker’s lone season with the Syracuse Orange ending early due to injury. The NCAA approved the request, giving Walker one final season.
Walker’s a quick, mobile, big. With those skills, Walker’s effective at moving around larger forwards and centers or finding outlets when receiving the ball in the paint. It’s also the main way Walker crashes the boards.
While the forward doesn’t have a long-range shot (0-for-5 on three-point shots with Ohio State), Walker will stop and take midrange shots near the baseline. That makes the defense have to close in on Walker and potentially open up space behind them for surging teammates like Cotie McMahon or Taylor Thierry.
Even if the three isn’t there, McGuff’s quick movement down the court, especially on turnovers, means Ohio State has an advantage with Walker who can outrun Big Ten centers like Lauren Betts and Kendall Bostic.
Across the board, the Buckeyes are a younger team. That bodes well for Walker’s share of minutes.
The likeliest spot for Walker is coming in off the bench behind transfer forward Ajae Petty, playing a similar role to her first season with the Buckeyes. If injuries come into play, Walker is the de facto starter, unless McGuff gets creative with putting Thierry in the five position and bringing in one of his guards for a smaller lineup.
Ignoring the fact that the Big Ten starts this highlight package with a game that didn’t include Walker, or any of the two teams she’s played with in college basketball, the rest of the clips highlight the forward’s ability to make plays in the paint, find teammates and provide a spark for the Buckeyes on both sides of the court.
Miss a player preview? Click the links below to learn more about the 24-25 Buckeyes roster:
Madison Greene
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Next up on player previews is a Buckeyes fan favorite who earned an extra season in Columbus
College basketball season is fast approaching, and Land-Grant Holy Land is getting you ready with a series of player previews. Before the season starts this fall, check back regularly for more player previews, schedule news, features, and more heading into the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball season.
When Ohio State women’s basketball steps onto the court for the 2024-25 season, it’ll be without a mainstay in the paint in Rebeka Mikulášiková. The Slovakian’s five years ended with three seasons as head coach Kevin McGuff’s starting big. With her gone, not only do new players fill in, but how the Buckeyes operate near the basket could change.
Part of that conversation is Eboni Walker. In two seasons in scarlet and gray, Walker’s roles on-court have changed seemingly month-to-month. As McGuff’s most experienced big, does consistent play join the conversation in Walker’s final NCAA season?
Name: Eboni Walker
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: Centennial High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2023-24 Stats: 2.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, .442 FG%, .000 3FG%, .769 FT%
Last Season
To understand Walker’s 23-24 season, you have to go back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. On Feb. 8, 2023, Mikulasikova suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of a home victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Walker, who played off the bench up until that point, started the remaining 11 games of the season — even though Mikulasikova’s injury only kept the forward out for two games.
Walker started through the end of the conference season, all the way into the Big Ten Tournament championship game and the Buckeyes Elite Eight run. In the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, Walker had 15 points and seven rebounds, plus a heads up play on the final offensive drive, culminating in a Jacy Sheldon game-winning shot.
With Walker excelling for Ohio State, it meant there were questions surrounding who McGuff would choose to play in the paint for the 23-24 season. It went to Mikulasikova, and Walker’s role shrunk.
After appearing in 34 games in her first season, Walker had 23 appearances last season, without any known injuries. Walker’s lone start of the season came when Mikulasikova was out due to illness. In that game, Walker had a season high with 11 points and six assists. Plus six rebounds.
Even with that performance, Walker’s average minutes went from 15.5 to 10.4 and after one play late in the season, the forward was gone.
Against the Maryland Terrapins on Feb. 25, Walker led a fast break for Ohio State, ending with an attempted no-look pass that went out of bounds. On the sideline, McGuff was incensed. Walker never returned to the game, and wasn’t seen with the team again for almost a month.
At the Buckeyes NCAA Tournament selection show party on St. Patrick’s Day, Walker was sitting with her teammates. On the court, Walker returned but for only one minute, in the First Round win over the Maine Black Bears. Coincidentally enough, the substitution came soon after a section of the arena began chanting Walker’s name.
McGuff filed for an extra year of eligibility due to Walker’s lone season with the Syracuse Orange ending early due to injury. The NCAA approved the request, giving Walker one final season.
What to Expect
Walker’s a quick, mobile, big. With those skills, Walker’s effective at moving around larger forwards and centers or finding outlets when receiving the ball in the paint. It’s also the main way Walker crashes the boards.
While the forward doesn’t have a long-range shot (0-for-5 on three-point shots with Ohio State), Walker will stop and take midrange shots near the baseline. That makes the defense have to close in on Walker and potentially open up space behind them for surging teammates like Cotie McMahon or Taylor Thierry.
Even if the three isn’t there, McGuff’s quick movement down the court, especially on turnovers, means Ohio State has an advantage with Walker who can outrun Big Ten centers like Lauren Betts and Kendall Bostic.
Prediction
Across the board, the Buckeyes are a younger team. That bodes well for Walker’s share of minutes.
The likeliest spot for Walker is coming in off the bench behind transfer forward Ajae Petty, playing a similar role to her first season with the Buckeyes. If injuries come into play, Walker is the de facto starter, unless McGuff gets creative with putting Thierry in the five position and bringing in one of his guards for a smaller lineup.
Highlights
Ignoring the fact that the Big Ten starts this highlight package with a game that didn’t include Walker, or any of the two teams she’s played with in college basketball, the rest of the clips highlight the forward’s ability to make plays in the paint, find teammates and provide a spark for the Buckeyes on both sides of the court.
Other Player Previews
Miss a player preview? Click the links below to learn more about the 24-25 Buckeyes roster:
Madison Greene
Continue reading...