June 19, 2013

Deja Craft: Buckeyes To Play In Fifth Straight B1G Championship

March 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

craftmsufallingFlashback to February 24th. The Buckeyes were trailing by six points at the half to the Michigan State Spartans in The Schott. Deshaun Thomas was struggling (1-for-8 shooting), and the Buckeyes needed another scorer to step up their game. Enter Aaron Craft, who scored 17 of his career high 21 points in the second half as he carved up the Spartan defense with patient but effective dribble penetration off the high ball screen. The Buckeyes would go on to win that game by a 68-60 count.

History does repeat itself sometimes. The Buckeyes trailed at the half once again (by one this time). Deshaun Thomas was off with his shot (4-for-13 shooting), and the Buckeyes needed a second scorer to help Thomas. Aaron Craft answered the bell once again in heroic fashion. Eighteen of Craft’s 20 points came in the back-and-forth second half, and the Buckeyes weathered an incredible seven minute field goal drought in the final seven and a half minutes of the game to hold on for a 61-58 victory and advance to the Big Ten Championship Game tomorrow afternoon in Chicago. [Read more...]

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Meltdown In Game’s Final Minute Spoils Deshaun Thomas Show

January 20, 2013 by 5 Comments

scottupsetWinning on the road in the Big Ten conference isn’t easy. Winning on the road in East Lansing is even more difficult.  The Buckeyes nearly did it on the back of Deshaun Thomas, who continued his march as the Big Ten’s best scorer with a 28 point masterpiece. However, Thomas didn’t get the shots in the final possessions for the Buckeyes, and Shannon Scott had an absolute brain cramp on the game’s final possession as the Buckeyes fell short against the Spartans 59-56 in a physical game of runs where a better overall team beat the best player.

This truly was a game of runs as the Buckeyes fell behind 13-2 and failed to score for nearly the first five minutes of the game. The Buckeyes uncharacteristically turned the ball over five times in that span and were quite characteristically missing shots. Then, a pair of threes fell from Thomas and Aaron Craft, and the Buckeyes joined the fray as they rattled off a 15-0 run of their own over the next seven minutes to quell the crowd. [Read more...]

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“You are completely screwed” – B1G Buckeyes

October 10, 2012 by 25 Comments

Let me get this out of the way: Coming into the game, I thought the Buckeyes were going to lose Saturday night. Yes, in the ‘Shoe, in Urban’s first home night game with all of the recruits looking on in front of a packed house. I did. I thought that Ohio State’s banged up line-backing corps did not match up well with a very mobile quarterback in Taylor Martinez in tandem with a very shifty and quick running back in Rex Burkhead. For the most part, I was wrong. Martinez was held to 40 yards rushing and aside from Burkhead’s 73-yard run, he too was held in check.

But 63 points!?!? Though I cannot remember the source, there was a comment on Twitter that made me laugh out loud: “After seeing the score, Jim Tressel woke up wondering how in the world Ohio State kicked 21 field goals.”

As hysterical as the comment was, it really made me think about the new era that this program has entered. Good, bad or indifferent, there is no arguing what Tressel did for this university over the past decade but his coaching style is the antithesis of Urban Meyer’s. A fundamentally sound team that was capable of hanging 63 on Nebraska would have never happened under Tressel’s watch. Though under that same watch, the holes in the defense would never happen either. Buckeye Nation is now staring at a very talented and exciting, young team in the face. We all have the joy of watching this team grow up before our eyes, but remember what comes with youth – stupidity. I am not talking about the tweet from Cardale Jones, but taking chances as a football team. So the growing pains will be there and for some of the impatient, it can be quite a roller-coaster complete with pictures at the end.

With great risk, comes great reward and as Andy Staples put it so eloquently in his article following the Buckeyes win in East Lansing “You are completely screwed.” He of course is talking about the Big Ten as a whole and Urban’s innate ability to previously recruit such talented individuals in a conference much superior to the Big Ten.

[Read more...]

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Urban Meyer Accuses Michigan State Lineman of Eye-Poking

October 1, 2012 by 17 Comments

The stories from this game just won’t end, will they? Two days ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Michigan State Spartans 17-16 in East Lansing.

Later that day, a report came out that MSU filed a complaint with the Big Ten accusing OSU of doctoring film tape to gain a competitive advantage.

Today, the contest’s latest complaint, again via the Detroit Free-Press, deals with some extra curricular activity by a Michigan State offensive lineman:

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said today at his news conference that OSU has turned in a video to the Big Ten in which a Michigan State offensive lineman appears to poke Buckeyes defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins in the eye at the bottom of a pile.

On the play, it appears Hankins has MSU’s Jack Allen by the facemask, then Allen or Travis Jackson puts his fingers in Hankins’ facemask.

MSU coach Mark Dantonio will address media Tuesday.

Here’s a YouTube video of the alleged play, in which it appears that highly-touted Buckeyes DT Jonathan Hankins is the victim of some unnecessary poking.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing more later on in the week about this case and much more. These two teams just don’t want to stop talking about each other.

[Related: Buckeyes Grab Big Ten Opener Behind Braxton, Front Seven]

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While We’re Waiting … End of a Tribe Blog, Avoiding ‘Redskins’ and Bad Browns Offense

October 1, 2012 by 13 Comments

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com

The “A Lazy Sunday” feature has been a regular read on my Sundays and a regular component of While We’re Waiting posts on Mondays for years now. This is a very sad way to end a very sad season for the Tribe. Everyone should pass along their thanks to Paul for running such a great site for so long, and for having the stomach to write about this awful season. Best of luck in your future journeys, sir:

“Though that title may lead you to believe that I’m finally going to weigh in on the dismissal of Manny Acta from Thursday, it actually refers to someone else exiting stage left, as I’ve decided to walk away from writing about the Indians on these Interwebs on a permanent basis. While I know that I took some ‘time off’ last off-season and there will be those that will only believe there will be permanence to this when they fail to see 3,000 words from these fingers flying at them every couple of days, the time for me to move on from this endeavor has arrived.” [Paul Cousineau/The DiaTribe]

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Wow. This was peculiar and intriguing to see a newspaper take a stand on this topic. Seems mostly inconvenient, however: “An interesting note from the public editor of The Kansas City Star on the paper’s policy of avoidance when it comes to the mascot of the NFL team from Washington: ‘[H]ere, I also agree very strongly with The Star’s longtime policy on this matter. I remain unconvinced by every argument I’ve ever heard that the name is not a racial epithet, plain and simple. …’” [Isaac Rauch/Deadspin]

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Hmmmm. Wasn’t the Browns offense like astronomically good in 2007? Lot of good that did us then: “There are all kinds of things the Browns have to improve upon – and kinds of players who must improve — if they want to start winning. You name it, and it has to get better. You name him, and, with one exception — kicker Phil Dawson — he has to get better. The list is endless. There are few things or people not on the list. But there’s one thing that, above all else, must improve. Without it, the improvement of all these other things and people doesn’t matter – not one bit. We’re talking about scoring – or a lack thereof. Until the Browns score more points more consistently, things won’t change in terms of wins and losses.” [Steve King/SportsTimeOhio]

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About the offense, this looks briefly at the topic of the Browns wide receivers thus far this season: “After Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, many people are noticing some semblance of what can be called progress. But the Browns continue to wallow in the painful world that is their current crop of wide receivers. Through four games, no Browns receiver has had more than 90 yards in a game (it was Mohamed Massaquoi against the Bengals), and no one has separated himself from the rest of the pack.” [Steve DiMatteo/Dawg Pound Daily]

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Today is October 1. That means basketball starts this month, hoorah! In that spirit, Cavs: The Blog continues its “10 things to like” series in focusing on that awesome coach of ours: “‘Camp Scott’ opens today, complete with the notorious trash cans for players to chunder into between laps if they show up out of shape. With an extension rumored to be in the works, it’s as good a time as any to look at why Scott appears to be the right guy to develop the Cavs now, and win with them in the future. You have to respect a coach who can whip out his phone and dial up a highlight like this (You’d think a basketball player named Purvis Short would be destined to be posterized, right?)” [Nate Smith/Cavs: The Blog]

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This was from Friday, but it’s never too late (or, really, since the season is still 4 weeks away, I mean early) to read about fantasy basketball! “Kyrie Irving is a fantasy stud who I think is worth a first-round pick in a 12-team league. … I don’t know who the third-best point guard is in fantasy. It might be Kyrie Irving and not Deron Williams. His ADP of 16.7 is actually too low; I am happy taking Irving ahead of guys like Al Jefferson and Andrew Bynum with bigger fantasy reps. His playing time will go up, his turnovers should be down, his assists will increase and he is almost certain to at least double his 73 three-pointers. What he did at 19, as a point guard, on a team offering him little or no help was remarkable.” [Bruce Wrigley/Sheridan Hoops]

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Oh viral GIFs are so much fun. The latest example? This gem from right after Saturday’s big Buckeyes victory. A random photographer lined up perfectly for a photobomb and also got the quintessential angle for a nice hello to the crowd. [Lost Lettermen via The Big Lead]

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Five takeaways from that 17-16 physical victory in East Lansing: “In what will likely turn out to be the 2nd most physical game the Buckeyes play all year, Meyer’s troops overcame a slew of in-game injuries and three Braxton Miller turnovers, escaping East Lansing with a 17-16 victory over a chippy Michigan State squad. The gutsy effort improved Meyer to 11-0 in conference openers and to 95-5 when leading at the half. As a program, the Buckeyes have now won four straight in East Lansing, improving to 14-5 up there overall. Hey Michigan, that’s how you’re supposed to treat your little brother.” [Chris Lauderback/Eleven Warriors]

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Box Score: (14) Ohio State 17, (20) Michigan State 16

September 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Urban Meyer’s first Big Ten conference game wasn’t easy or pretty, but it did go into the win column. Braxton Miller amassed 341 total yards and threw for one touchdown as the Buckeyes held MSU star running back Le’Veon Bell to 49 yards rushing in a 17-16 win at Spartan Stadium.  The Buckeyes and Spartans each scored on their opening drive, and that would prove to be the only scoring of the first half as OSU took a 7-3 lead into the break. After OSU fell behind 13-10 in the third quarter, Braxton Miller connected with Devin Smith for a 63-yard touchdown, and the Buckeyes would never relinquish the lead again. The front seven was able to get the defensive stops when they needed to, and Miller and running back Carlos Hyde combined to pick up the first downs required to run the clock out on the Spartans. The Buckeyes are a perfect 5-0, and they welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to The ‘Shoe next Saturday night.

 

Scoring Summary

1st QuarterOHST – MIST
12:09 Ohio State BuckeyesOHST TD Jordan Hall rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain (Drew Basilmade PAT) 7 – 0
8:50 Michigan State SpartansMIST FG Dan Conroy kicked a 35-yard field goal 7 – 3
2nd QuarterOHST – MIST
None 7 – 3
3rd QuarterOHST – MIST
11:09 Michigan State SpartansMIST FG Dan Conroy kicked a 50-yard field goal 7 – 6
6:47 Ohio State BuckeyesOHST FG Drew Basil kicked a 26-yard field goal 10 – 6
5:22 Michigan State SpartansMIST TD Andrew Maxwell passed to Andrew Maxwell to the left for 29 yard gain (Dan Conroy made PAT) 10 – 13
3:43 Ohio State BuckeyesOHST TD Braxton Miller passed to Devin Smith to the right for 63 yard gain (Drew Basil made PAT) 17 – 13
4th QuarterOHST – MIST
8:00 Michigan State SpartansMIST FG Dan Conroy kicked a 48-yard field goal 17 – 16

Passing

Ohio State Buckeyes Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int Rating
Braxton Miller 16 23 179 69.6 7.8 1 6 1 1 140.6
Michigan State Spartans Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int Rating
Andrew Maxwell 22 42 269 52.4 6.4 2 10 1 0 114.0

Rushing

Ohio State Buckeyes Rush Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Braxton Miller 23 135 5.9 20 0 2
Carlos Hyde 11 49 4.5 9 0 0
Jordan Hall 6 26 4.3 14 1 0
Corey (Philly) Brown 1 6 6.0 6 0 0
Michigan State Spartans Rush Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Le’Veon Bell 17 49 2.9 8 0 0
Larry Caper 1 2 2.0 2 0 0
Nick Hill 1 -3 -3.0 -3 0 0
Andrew Maxwell 3 -10 -3.3 0 0 0

Receiving

Ohio State Buckeyes Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Corey (Philly) Brown 12 84 7.0 24 0 0
Devin Smith 2 79 39.5 63 1 0
Jordan Hall 1 10 10.0 10 0 0
Carlos Hyde 1 6 6.0 6 0 0
Michigan State Spartans Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Le’Veon Bell 8 58 7.3 13 0 0
Keith Mumphery 4 50 12.5 20 0 0
Bennie Fowler 2 46 23.0 35 0 0
Tony Lippett 4 46 11.5 15 0 0
Dion Sims 2 36 18.0 19 0 0
Andrew Maxwell 1 29 29.0 29 1 0
Paul Lang 1 4 4.0 4 0 0

Kicking

Ohio State Buckeyes XPM XPA FGM FGA Lng Pct Pts
Drew Basil 2 2 1 1 26 100.0 5
Michigan State Spartans XPM XPA FGM FGA Lng Pct Pts
Dan Conroy 1 1 3 4 50 75.0 10

Punting

Ohio State Buckeyes Punt Avg Blk In20 TB
Ben Buchanan 4 45.8 0 1 0
Michigan State Spartans Punt Avg Blk In20 TB
Mike Sadler 5 59.6 1 4 0

Kick/Punt Returns

Ohio State Buckeyes KR Yds Avg Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
Devin Smith 2 21 10.5 21 0 2 16 8.0 16 0
Jordan Hall 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 7 7.0 7 0
Michigan State Spartans KR Yds Avg Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
Nick Hill 4 100 25.0 34 0 4 10 2.5 10 0

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Spartans Top Buckeyes in Big Ten Championship, Grab #1 Seed

March 12, 2012 by 1 Comment

As evenly matched as The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans proved they were in their first two contests, you just had a feeling that Sunday’s Big Ten Conference Tournament championship game was going to come down to the final moments. The game, one of the best since the Big Ten started their postseason tournament in 1998, did come down to the final minute. Draymond Green, the Big Ten Player of the Year, hit the key difference-making shot, a three over Deshaun Thomas with 1:35 remaining, as the Spartans captured the crown with a 68-64 win in Indianapolis. With the win, Michigan State grabbed the #1 seed in the West region, while the Buckeyes were sent to the East region as the #2 seed.

Many college basketball fans are already several rough draft brackets in, but this game was such an entertaining contest that it deserves its due attention. These two are are so familiar with each other that it was a struggle for the team’s respective stars to perform up to their standards. For much of the second half, the Buckeyes and Spartans simply traded punch for punch in a fastbreak slugfest. Several different players emerged as difference makers, and at the end of it, I couldn’t help but think that these two battle-tested teams have a good chance at making a deep tournament run. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Browns Plan B, Shelly Duncan Starting, Rubio Out For The Season and OSU’s Rematch with Sparty

March 11, 2012 by 2 Comments

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Good luck, Browns. No pressure or anything. “Yes, RG3 would have been a dynamic player at a position where the Browns desperately needs to improve if they want to compete. But he was not and is not the only option when it comes to solving the 13-year long quarterback conundrum.

First, there is free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. on March 13. PeytonManning is the biggest prize, but Browns have said they are not interested in his services.

They will look into Matt Flynn. Flynn only has impressed in two-career NFL starts under his belt in Green Bay. He is looked upon as the answer at the quarterback position for teams struggling in that area. The Browns surely fall in that category.

If Manning goes to Arizona, suddenly Kevin Kolb becomes available. Kolb did not have a great first season with the Cardinals, but he is considered a perfect fit in the West Coast offense.

There is still the draft, where quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill, Kirk Cousins andBrandon Weeden are options.

Finally, the third option resides: Stick with Colt McCoy.” [Don Delco/Orange and Brown Report]

[Read more...]

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Buckeye Basketball Brief: Michigan State stands in Bucks’ way to Big Ten Title

February 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

On Saturday, the Buckeyes suffered through their worst offensive display in the Thad Matta era, shooting just 26% as they stumbled on their way to a 58-48 loss to the Michigan State Spartans at Value City Arena. With their home winning streak of 39 straight history, what the Buckeyes are doing offensively is increasingly fooling no one, and what they’re doing on defense is now being dissected. In short, despite their talent and potential, the cracks are starting to show, and the Bucks are in danger of coming away with nothing in the Big Ten hardware category.

Former walk-on cult hero Mark Titus provided great inside information at Grantland into Thad Matta’s strategy when it comes to defending the pick-and-roll, and if there’s anything to take away, it’s that the Buckeyes change it up an awful lot on the defensive end. It’s no wonder that the communication required, the personnel on those high ball screens changing, and the opponents’ scouting reports are all mashing together inside some of the Buckeyes’ heads. The true weak spot for the Buckeyes is the four spot, because Deshaun Thomas does not defend the ball screens particularly well, and when he gets in foul trouble, Evan Ravenel has an even more difficult time because he is often guarding a smaller, more perimeter-oriented player. [Read more...]

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NCAA Hoops: Buckeyes fall to No. 6 in AP Poll

February 13, 2012 by 4 Comments

Following their loss to the Michigan State Spartans, the Ohio State Buckeyes fall to sixth-overall in the most recent release of the NCAA men’s basketball AssociatedPress’ Top 25 Poll.

Entering the week ranked third overall, the Scarlet and Grey barely topped the Purdue Boilermakers before having their 39-game home winning streak snapped by the Spartans — this was the second-longest such streak in the nation.

In said loss, Buckeyes center Sullinger had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but shot just 5-of-15 from the field and committed a career-high 10 turnovers. The game was marred by on-court complaining and arguing with the officiating crew after what many Buckeyes players deemed non-calls on the team’s second-year big man.

Ohio State is ranked behind Kentucky, Syracuse, Missouri, Kansas and Duke.

The Buckeyes (21-4) are now tied with Michigan State for first place in the Big Ten. It is assumed that the Buckeyes and Spartans will play for the Big Ten title when the two teams meet in East Lansing on March 4.

[Related: Halfway Through Big Ten, Buckeyes In Good Shape]

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Ohio State AD Gene Smith responds to recruiting allegations

February 3, 2012 by 13 Comments

From Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith-

“I am disappointed that negative references have been made about our football coaches, and particularly head coach Urban Meyer regarding recruiting. In our league appropriate protocol, if you have concerns, is to share those concerns with your Athletic Director (AD). Then your AD will make the determination on the appropriate communication from that point forward. The ADs in our league are professionals and communicate with each other extremely well. Urban Meyer and his staff have had a compliance conscience since they have arrived.”

[Related: Urban Meyer's Recruiting Prowess Upsets Big Ten Coaches]

(Source: Lori Schmidt)

 

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Urban Meyer’s Recruiting Prowess Upsets Big Ten Coaches

February 2, 2012 by 40 Comments

One hot summer’s day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.”- Aesop’s Fable The Fox and the Grapes

All Urban Meyer has done since agreeing to become Ohio State’s head coach is recruit. Whether assistant coaches or players, Meyer hit the ground running and never looked back. Not surprisingly, the coaches and schools that Meyer lured those recruits away from aren’t pleased with him. Some just happen to be more vocal about it- [Read more...]

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Time for a Reality Check for Buckeyes and their Fans

October 25, 2011 by 19 Comments

“A funny thing happened to Ohio State during its bye week: The Buckeyes became a contender.” [Associated Press]

Um, no they didn’t.

I saw a lot of similar sentiments on twitter following Michigan State’s last second win against Wisconsin. Buckeye players tweeted things like “Dear World, we are back”. Fans and writers alike started laying out the course of events that could transpire to get the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game.

Here’s the thing though- a Wisconsin loss did not make the Buckeyes suddenly better. Yes, the Buckeyes only lost to Michigan State by three points, but what short memories we must have if we don’t remember how badly the Buckeyes were out-played in that game. It was only a last minute, prevent defense inspired drive that kept Ohio State from being shut-out at home for the first time in an eon.

Just use the eye test for a moment. Is Ohio State the best team in the conference this year? Even the most loyal Buckeye supporters would have to realistically doubt that. [Read more...]

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Buckeye 12-Pack: The Michigan State Game

October 5, 2011 by 8 Comments

Each week after re-watching the Ohio State game I bring you my take-aways from the game in a little something I call the Buckeye 12-Pack…

The Buckeyes are now 3-2. Almost half the schedule has been played. At this point in the season, you have to wonder if certain areas can be fixed. Weaknesses become areas that other teams target instead of places the team improves greatly in. The two losses were to teams that are better than us, but really aren’t even title contenders. Mediocrity here we come!

No. 1- I have to get this off my chest. (These may be numbered, but they aren’t in order of importance just in case you were wondering.) J.B. Shugarts has made 27 starts as a Buckeye and I swear 127 false starts. How hard is it Shugarts? I’ve played every offensive line position. I can’t remember ever committing a false start. Maybe in practice. You know the count! How in the world does a senior continue to commit these dumb penalties? On twitter it’s a joke- there’s your ceremonial Shugarts false start. But the sad thing is that we not only expect it, we’ve come to accept that he’s going to commit at least one a game. Unbelievable. Ok, I’m done venting on that one. [Read more...]

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Ohio State Rebounds with Win Over Michigan State

February 16, 2011 by 1 Comment

The Ohio State men’s basketball team rebounded from its first loss of the season to defeat the Michigan State Spartans 71-61 last night at Value City Arena. 

It was the primetime game of the night in front of a sellout crowd, the third of the season, as Brent Musburger and Dick Vitale were in the house to call the game.  Coming off their first loss of the season and a subsequent fall from their number-one ranking, it was expected that the Buckeyes would respond at home with a victory over a Michigan State group that has been team turmoil in this entire season.

The preseason second-ranked Spartans had lost five of seven games coming into last night.  With a streak of embarrassing efforts against the bottom of the conference, it appeared that the train had gone completely off the tracks and they had given up on head coach Tom Izzo.  [Read more...]

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Buckeye Hoops Report: OSU Escapes Upset Scares as Schedule Toughens

February 4, 2011 by 2 Comments

Ohio State is 23-0 and off to its best start in the Big Ten in 50 years.  They continue on their course to the NCAA tournament and first weekend protected seed at Quicken Loans Arena.  They enter the toughest portion of their schedule this weekend with a top ranked target on their back.

Ohio State avoided an upset bid by a game Michigan team last night in front of what was the second sellout of the season at Value City Arena.  They trailed the Wolverines for much of the first thirty minutes before building an 8 point with about ten minutes to play.  They never relinquished the lead and went onto a 9 point victory to remain undefeated.  They now enter a brutal stretch of the schedule where they will play all 5 teams at the top of the conference consecutively over the next two weeks.

[Read more...]

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Breaking News: Tom Izzo Informs Michigan State Players He Plans To Take Cavaliers Head Coaching Position

June 9, 2010 by 169 Comments

Sources close to WFNY have informed us that Tom Izzo has told his players at Michigan State that he plans on taking the Cavaliers job.  Our sources have heard directly from players on the MSU team that Izzo informed them this week that he is planning on making the move up to the NBA level under the ownership of MSU grad Dan Gilbert.  We have also heard from a separate source that Izzo is holding off on announcing this until the end of the week, when his kids finish up school in the Lansing area.  While Izzo could always change his mind, we are comfortable reporting that he has in fact informed his players at Michigan State that he will be taking the Cavaliers job.

More details as we get them.

Update from Rick: We have three separate confirmations. Nobody at WFNY expects Izzo to announce a press conference immediately in response to this. He has his timing. We will stand by the story and wait it out.

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College Basketball Bullet Points: Butler and West Virginia in the Final Four

March 28, 2010 by 15 Comments

The Butler Bulldogs and West Virginia Mountaineers punched the first two tickets for the Final Four last night as the NCAA Tournament continues to wind down. Both teams pulled off the upsets of higher-seeded opponents to keep up with this March’s theme of anarchy and brackets explosion. With the Final Four scheduled for Indianapolis, it will also be a historical homecoming of sorts for the surprising Bulldogs.

Ohio State is out of the tournament now as well as the two other teams from the state in Xavier and Ohio. Despite that, there are still a lot of news-worthy items to discuss in relation to the ever-crazy college basketball world. Feel free to post your comments on the following or today’s schedule of games below. Tennessee takes on Michigan State at 2:20 pm while Duke plays Baylor at 5:05 pm, all on CBS:

  • So let’s get this straight: either Butler, Tennessee or Michigan State will play in the NCAA Tournament championship this season. Does that bother you? Does that make you want to destroy things? Yeah, that’s what I thought. [Read more...]

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    Cavs vs Magic Open Thread: Game #57

    February 21, 2010 by 174 Comments

    It is a great Sunday afternoon of basketball around the country including two of the most popular teams in the Northeast Ohio area. The #11 Ohio State Buckeyes look to avenge an earlier loss this week to Purdue with a road contest at 12:00 pm on CBS against Big Ten-leading #9 Michigan State 12:00 pm. Meanwhile, starting at 1:00 pm on ABC, the Cleveland Cavaliers continue their tough schedule post-All-Star Break with a road date against the #2 team in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic.

    Go ahead and take a look at my article about Evan Turner from yesterday as well as the recap from the Charlotte game on Friday. If that doesn’t get you fired up to see both teams playing better today, I’m not sure what will. The Cavaliers will be looking to see how well Antawn Jamison can perform against Rashard Lewis and the Magic. Head-to-head in their careers, Jamison has the clear upper-hand and the battle continues in what should be a playoff atmosphere at the Amway Arena.

    Keep your comments civil and be sure to read the commenting rules before you do. Below the jump are a number of different previews from around the Web:
    [Read more...]

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    Open Thread: Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines

    November 22, 2008 by 13 Comments

    Time: 12:00 PM EST
    TV/Radio: WEWS Ch. 5; WKNR AM/850, WEOL AM/930
    Weather: 29 degrees, partly cloudy, zero precipitation, winds at 6 MPH
    Line: Ohio State (-20.5)

    All season long, we have been doing these open threads for the Buckeyes.  The one I have been looking forward to the most is obviously this one, though I was hoping for some bigger stakes.  I’m not a fan of these sort of games where we play a team that has absolutely nothing to lose.  You have to assume that once a team loses to Toledo, that they just start looking ahead to the one game that matters most: this one.

    [Read more...]

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