ThomasCostello
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What to make of lopsided Ohio State women’s basketball win over Ohio University
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Coach McGuff’s Buckeyes broke a record against Ohio, but how does a 64-point win benefit Ohio State?
It’s ok to admit that non-conference basketball seasons are mostly boring. Subtract a couple of big-name opponents and the only thing getting fans to the conference schedule in one piece is the general excitement of a new season and counting the days until the next game against a side that brings a challenge.
If a Big Ten schedule release was accompanied by music, it would be a loud, exciting, marching band with games against new conference additions like USC and UCLA, and the tried and true rivalries against the Iowas and Indianas of the Big Ten’s old guard.
Ohio State women’s basketball’s non-conference schedule, however, would be accompanied by a sad trombone.
Outside of a game against a might-be-ranked Stanford on Dec. 20, it’s a slate of mid-majors whose most intriguing game element is likely a connection between the schools off the court. Wednesday, it was an in-state “rivalry” against the Ohio Bobcats of the MAC in which the Buckeyes hold a 24-1 record. The Buckeyes beat OU 106-42.
This is no offense to mid-majors whatsoever. The most exciting parts of the basketball season are often when squads not in a Power Four conference beat one of the big teams. Big meaning has more recruiting power and money.
However, until the game is played you never know how it's going to end up.
The Scarlet and Gray almost fell to one of the most consistent mid-majors in women’s basketball on Sunday. Belmont gave Ohio State their all, only to give up a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. OSU came back to win that one 67-63. It was a diamond in the rough in the early goings of the season.
In Athens on Wednesday, from the jump the Buckeyes didn’t look like a team that was interested in repeating that performance.
“We had played really hard Sunday versus Belmont, but we didn’t execute very well on either end of the floor,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “And so we wanted to, it was more of a mental thing with our execution, which I thought we were much better today.”
“Much better” is putting it lightly.
Ohio State outplayed the Bobcats in nearly every statistical category. The Buckeyes outshot Ohio 48.3 percent to 25.5 percent, hit 11 three-point shots compared to five for the home side, and had a total number of shots almost doubling the Bobcats 89-47.
Ohio did do one thing better, hitting more free throws, and with more efficiency, an issue that was key in the Buckeyes’ win Sunday when they shot 52 percent from the line, leaving 12 points on the free throw line.
That obviously didn’t matter on Wednesday, but it will down the road.
Away from missing free throws and everything clicked, but how does it help to beat up on a mid-major riddled with injury in the grand scheme of things?
It’s easy to discount the positives, even their own player did after the game.
“Yeah, so well, I was significant, not significantly, but somewhat bigger than most of the players on the other team,” said 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmilä. “So, I knew that that’s where I had my advantage so I just went for it.”
Lemmilä had a career-high 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the freshman’s fourth NCAA game. Despite height advantages, which give Lemmilä the chance to do things most NCAA players cannot do, the freshman was the shining example of how these games help.
Watch the Finnish center in the first three games of the season and, offensively, when Lemmilä received a pass or grabbed an offensive rebound, the follow-up shot was rushed. That resulted in a few misses going past the rim or high off the backboard, which then led to not getting the ball as much inside the paint.
That play started for Lemmilä Wednesday, but as the quarters moved on the center became more calm and confident. The game slowed down.
“Yeah, that’s something I’ve been trying to emphasize a lot and the coaches have been trying to get me to practice a lot,” said Lemmilä. “Practice being more intentional with my shots and being slower and more strong under the basket. So I think this was a great opportunity for me to practice that in-game in person.”
While Bobcat players aren’t 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts or Wisconsin star forward Serah Williams, Lemmilä and the Buckeyes’ had a strong rebounding performance. Size plays a role in rebounding, obviously, but it's also about timing, physicality, and — as cliche as it sounds — wanting it more.
Ohio State did all that in bunches with six of the nine available players grabbing at least five rebounds. Forwards Ajae Petty and Eboni Walker combined for 11 offensive boards.
The game also gave a chance for the Scarlet and Gray to adjust to an unwanted change to their roster since Sunday’s win — an injury to forward Cotie McMahon.
During practice this week, McMahon suffered a lower leg injury, which meant she was a bystander on the bench Wednesday, wearing a boot on her right leg. In her place, Kennedy Cambridge started alongside her sister Jaloni Cambridge for the first time in their college careers.
Cambridge scored four points in her first start as a Buckeye, but the minutes played build chemistry with the other three players who aren’t her sister.
Taylor Thierry has played in a lot of these types of games as a Buckeye. In her fourth season, Thierry started every game in the past two years with McMahon, never missing a start together until Wednesday. Thierry did what she always seems to do and she adjusted.
“She brings a lot of energy and just not having her on the court. I know how to step up as a veteran on the team, older person on the team,” said Thierry. “So just stepping up into that leadership role, I knew I had to take on a bigger responsibility since Cody was on the court.”
Thierry slid into a power-forward-like role and ended up leading the team in efficiency from beyond the arc. The senior hit three attempts to start the game but missed her fourth. Even so, it showed a team that is adjusting to any kind of adversity coming their way.
Through the non-conference schedule, there will be games like Wednesday. Maybe not ending with a 64-point margin of victory, but games where everything clicks for Ohio State and they run away with a win.
There will also be games like Sunday. Performances not necessarily hitting the mark and requiring the Buckeyes to claw out every possession, despite entering the game as heavy favorites.
These polar opposite performances make one thing about the Buckeyes clear — they’re young. Wednesday gave Ohio State players the confidence to reinforce their high ceiling.
“As I’ve told people, and hopefully didn’t create a self-fulfilling prophecy, that we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but with a lot of newcomers, we don’t look like the same as we looked maybe a year ago at this time with a bunch of veterans,” said McGuff.
“And so I think this team, it’s going to be, I don’t want to say slower developing, but for lack of a better term, it’s going to be a longer process throughout the year. But I do think we’ve got tremendous potential if we just stay focused on getting better.”
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
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
Coach McGuff’s Buckeyes broke a record against Ohio, but how does a 64-point win benefit Ohio State?
It’s ok to admit that non-conference basketball seasons are mostly boring. Subtract a couple of big-name opponents and the only thing getting fans to the conference schedule in one piece is the general excitement of a new season and counting the days until the next game against a side that brings a challenge.
If a Big Ten schedule release was accompanied by music, it would be a loud, exciting, marching band with games against new conference additions like USC and UCLA, and the tried and true rivalries against the Iowas and Indianas of the Big Ten’s old guard.
Ohio State women’s basketball’s non-conference schedule, however, would be accompanied by a sad trombone.
Outside of a game against a might-be-ranked Stanford on Dec. 20, it’s a slate of mid-majors whose most intriguing game element is likely a connection between the schools off the court. Wednesday, it was an in-state “rivalry” against the Ohio Bobcats of the MAC in which the Buckeyes hold a 24-1 record. The Buckeyes beat OU 106-42.
This is no offense to mid-majors whatsoever. The most exciting parts of the basketball season are often when squads not in a Power Four conference beat one of the big teams. Big meaning has more recruiting power and money.
However, until the game is played you never know how it's going to end up.
The Scarlet and Gray almost fell to one of the most consistent mid-majors in women’s basketball on Sunday. Belmont gave Ohio State their all, only to give up a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. OSU came back to win that one 67-63. It was a diamond in the rough in the early goings of the season.
In Athens on Wednesday, from the jump the Buckeyes didn’t look like a team that was interested in repeating that performance.
“We had played really hard Sunday versus Belmont, but we didn’t execute very well on either end of the floor,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “And so we wanted to, it was more of a mental thing with our execution, which I thought we were much better today.”
“Much better” is putting it lightly.
Ohio State outplayed the Bobcats in nearly every statistical category. The Buckeyes outshot Ohio 48.3 percent to 25.5 percent, hit 11 three-point shots compared to five for the home side, and had a total number of shots almost doubling the Bobcats 89-47.
Ohio did do one thing better, hitting more free throws, and with more efficiency, an issue that was key in the Buckeyes’ win Sunday when they shot 52 percent from the line, leaving 12 points on the free throw line.
That obviously didn’t matter on Wednesday, but it will down the road.
Away from missing free throws and everything clicked, but how does it help to beat up on a mid-major riddled with injury in the grand scheme of things?
It’s easy to discount the positives, even their own player did after the game.
“Yeah, so well, I was significant, not significantly, but somewhat bigger than most of the players on the other team,” said 6-foot-6 center Elsa Lemmilä. “So, I knew that that’s where I had my advantage so I just went for it.”
Lemmilä had a career-high 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the freshman’s fourth NCAA game. Despite height advantages, which give Lemmilä the chance to do things most NCAA players cannot do, the freshman was the shining example of how these games help.
Watch the Finnish center in the first three games of the season and, offensively, when Lemmilä received a pass or grabbed an offensive rebound, the follow-up shot was rushed. That resulted in a few misses going past the rim or high off the backboard, which then led to not getting the ball as much inside the paint.
That play started for Lemmilä Wednesday, but as the quarters moved on the center became more calm and confident. The game slowed down.
“Yeah, that’s something I’ve been trying to emphasize a lot and the coaches have been trying to get me to practice a lot,” said Lemmilä. “Practice being more intentional with my shots and being slower and more strong under the basket. So I think this was a great opportunity for me to practice that in-game in person.”
While Bobcat players aren’t 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts or Wisconsin star forward Serah Williams, Lemmilä and the Buckeyes’ had a strong rebounding performance. Size plays a role in rebounding, obviously, but it's also about timing, physicality, and — as cliche as it sounds — wanting it more.
Ohio State did all that in bunches with six of the nine available players grabbing at least five rebounds. Forwards Ajae Petty and Eboni Walker combined for 11 offensive boards.
The game also gave a chance for the Scarlet and Gray to adjust to an unwanted change to their roster since Sunday’s win — an injury to forward Cotie McMahon.
During practice this week, McMahon suffered a lower leg injury, which meant she was a bystander on the bench Wednesday, wearing a boot on her right leg. In her place, Kennedy Cambridge started alongside her sister Jaloni Cambridge for the first time in their college careers.
Cambridge scored four points in her first start as a Buckeye, but the minutes played build chemistry with the other three players who aren’t her sister.
Taylor Thierry has played in a lot of these types of games as a Buckeye. In her fourth season, Thierry started every game in the past two years with McMahon, never missing a start together until Wednesday. Thierry did what she always seems to do and she adjusted.
“She brings a lot of energy and just not having her on the court. I know how to step up as a veteran on the team, older person on the team,” said Thierry. “So just stepping up into that leadership role, I knew I had to take on a bigger responsibility since Cody was on the court.”
Thierry slid into a power-forward-like role and ended up leading the team in efficiency from beyond the arc. The senior hit three attempts to start the game but missed her fourth. Even so, it showed a team that is adjusting to any kind of adversity coming their way.
Through the non-conference schedule, there will be games like Wednesday. Maybe not ending with a 64-point margin of victory, but games where everything clicks for Ohio State and they run away with a win.
There will also be games like Sunday. Performances not necessarily hitting the mark and requiring the Buckeyes to claw out every possession, despite entering the game as heavy favorites.
These polar opposite performances make one thing about the Buckeyes clear — they’re young. Wednesday gave Ohio State players the confidence to reinforce their high ceiling.
“As I’ve told people, and hopefully didn’t create a self-fulfilling prophecy, that we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but with a lot of newcomers, we don’t look like the same as we looked maybe a year ago at this time with a bunch of veterans,” said McGuff.
“And so I think this team, it’s going to be, I don’t want to say slower developing, but for lack of a better term, it’s going to be a longer process throughout the year. But I do think we’ve got tremendous potential if we just stay focused on getting better.”
Continue reading...