Feb. 27, 2018 NoNo FreeFree PassesPasses OSU Expects Tough Road In B1G Tourney 2 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Cover Story

Buckeyes Preparing For B1G Tournament Run In NYC By Ryan McGlade a single-game school record in terms of percentage for a minimum of 10 attempts, One year after the Ohio State men’s besting its 76.5 clip (13 of 17) set at Iowa basketball team lost in the opening round in February 1996. In the rematch in Happy of the Big Ten tournament as the 11th Valley on Feb. 15, OSU was dominated seed to No. 14 Rutgers, this year’s squad by PSU, trailing by as many as 30 points Feb. 27, 2018 locked up the two-spot and a double bye. before losing 79-56. The Buckeyes head into postseason Regardless of whom the Buckeyes play, Publisher...... Frank Moskowitz play fresh off a thrilling 80-78 double-over- Holtmann, now in his seventh year as a Asst. Publisher...... Becky Roberts time win at Indiana on Feb. 23 in the collegiate head coach, said his group can’t Editor...... Tim Moody regular-season finale (see page 15 for the wish for the less perilous path because recap). Ranked 13th in the country, Ohio that simply does not exist in the confer- State (24-7, 15-3 Big Ten) had a chance ence tournament. Staff Writers of claiming a share of the regular-season “Northwestern was a close game Ryan McGlade conference crown for the first time since there,” he said. “Obviously, Penn State Garrett Stepien 2011-12, but No. 2 Michigan State (28-3, beat us twice and really man-handled us 16-2) edged Wisconsin on the road, 68-63, the last time they played us. But this time Intern on Feb. 25 to take the title outright and of year, all of the games are going to be sew up the top seed in the league tourna- pretty close. You’re going to have to play Joe Dempsey ment, which begins Feb. 28 at Madison well to win and advance from this point Square Garden in New York City. on. I’ve been fortunate to have a bye a few Design With an eye pointed toward what lies times, but the team we’re going to play Tim Moody ahead, first-year Ohio State head coach has played and won a game and is going Chris Holtmann said that, despite coming to be playing with some confidence. So up just short, he was pleased with how his we’re going to need to play well to beat Photographers initial regular season in Columbus went. them and advance. There’s no easy routes Sonny Brockway “We had a wonderful regular season, in this thing, and there’s no easy routes in Kevin Dye and I know we’ve got some great challeng- the NCAA Tournament. If you’re hoping Josh Winslow es ahead of us here in tournament play,” for that, you’re probably not in the right he said. “We’re looking forward to the mind-set.” next couple weeks.” Editorial Office Though the Big Ten tournament begins Rest For The Weary Columbus Sports Publications on the last day of February, Holtmann’s The Big Ten must hold its conference 1350 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 30 club will not take the floor until the quar- tournament one week sooner than it nor- terfinal round on March 2. Ohio State mally does because MSG has hosted the P.O. Box 12453 will await the winner of the 7-10 matchup Big East tournament during the usual Columbus, Ohio 43212 between Penn State and Northwestern, league championship week since 1983. (614) 486-2202 • (800) 760-2862 with PSU being the higher seed. With that, all Big Ten teams had to wrap If it were up to the Buckeyes, they’d up their full slate by the last weekend of On The Cover: probably want to face Northwestern. In February instead of the first weekend of the lone meeting between the two this sea- March. OSU head coach Chris Holt- son, OSU won, 71-65, on Jan. 17 at Allstate In that win at Indiana, which took an mann guided his team to the Arena in Rosemont, Ill., the Wildcats’ extra 10 minutes to decide, Keita Bates- two-seed for the Big Ten tour- adopted home for the 2017-18 campaign Diop logged a career-best 45 minutes nament. (Photo by Kevin Dye) while Welsh-Ryan Arena is being reno- while Jae’Sean Tate put in just under 40 vated. for Ohio State. Bates-Diop, a fourth-year On the other hand, Ohio State was junior, led all players with 24 points and Check Out Our Premium Website swept by Penn State in the season series. 14 rebounds for his 12th double-double www.BuckeyeSports.com The Nittany Lions won the first game, of the season. Tate, a senior, added 12 82-79, in Columbus on Jan. 25, shooting points, six assists and five boards. Bates- The next print edition of BSB 78.6 percent from the three-point line Diop paces OSU with 1,013 total minutes (March 10 cover date) will be (11 of 14), with the 11th make being played this season while Tate is third with Tony Carr’s banked-in triple at the buzzer. 936, two fewer minutes than junior point mailed March 6. Penn State’s barrage from distance set guard C.J. Jackson has played. Cover Story Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 3

KEVIN DYE R&R – Fifth-year senior guard Andrew Dakich (13) and OSU have a full week off ahead of the Big Ten tournament.

When Holtmann was asked in his press off before preparing for Northwestern and Though success in league tourneys has conference following the Indiana contest Penn State the last two days leading up to largely been elusive for Holtmann so far, what he was looking to accomplish in the tournament. he said he devotes little time to fretting the upcoming week the team had off, he “Obviously, we do have some tired over such struggles. didn’t hesitate to answer. legs,” he said. “I think we all saw that a “I have not put a whole lot of stock into “Rest,” he said. “They are exhausted. little bit with some of our guys, but every- it honestly,” he said. “We’ve had some We rode some guys. I didn’t want to play body does this time of year. We certainly really close games, some tough match- Keita Bates-Diop 45 minutes, but I kept have a couple guys that have carried a ups and we’ve played in overtime maybe saying, ‘Do I want to win? He’s going to major load, so hopefully this week will be once or twice. When I was at Gardner- have a few days off here.’ So we just rode good for them. Webb in the conference tournament, we him because we needed to. He needs rest “I think all of the coaches in the league are got a bye, won a game and then ran into in the worst way. like us, trying to get your guys healthy and a really hot team (Liberty) that ended up “And J.T. (Tate) literally just could not get your team playing as well as it can play.” winning the league tournament in the function, which is why I had to use one of finals. We played really well last year in the timeouts. It was for him because he Tough Sledding the Big East tournament, Xavier was just couldn’t move.” Conference tournaments have not been really hot and made some more plays The team did not get back to Columbus Holtmann’s strong suit to this point in his down the stretch. until early the following morning and had coaching career. Prior to coming to Ohio “I really don’t put a whole lot of stock that day off, Holtmann said during his State last summer, Holtmann spent three into it. There’s been one year at Butler portion of the Big Ten coaches telecon- years at Gardner-Webb followed by three that I would say I was really disappointed ference on Feb. 26. After a light practice years at Butler. In those six seasons, he com- with how we played. The other two years on Feb. 25, Holtmann said the squad went piled a 1-6 record in conference tournament I thought we played well, we just didn’t full-go the following day and had Feb. 27 games (1-3 at Gardner-Webb, 0-3 at Butler). quite finish.” 4 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Insider

of BSB, which is set to be mailed out Now Coombs is joining his former play- March 6. ers in the NFL, but it won’t be without a heavy heart as he departs Columbus. Coombs ‘Very Sad’ “I can tell you this, I am really sad to To Leave OSU be leaving such wonderful people that are Despite taking a new job this offsea- doing so many great, great things at Ohio son to coach under former Buckeye and State, and I want to thank you all very, first-year Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, very much for the experience that we’ve Coombs opted to join Buckeye Nation for had the last six years,” Coombs said. the Buckeye Cruise, where he took part in a Chalk Talk session – along with defen- Coombs Tips Pryor sive line coach Larry Johnson, director To Start At Safety of player personnel Mark Pantonio and Since Coombs is off to the NFL, he was retired staffer Stan Jefferson – on Feb. 25. able to talk pretty candidly about the play- When Coombs took the microphone, er personnel at Ohio State on the cruise. he admitted how much he’ll miss Ohio He weighed in on the safety battle, admit- State. ting that sophomore Isiah Pryor has the “The first thing I want to tell all of you inside track to start next to junior Jordan INSIDER is that if I came on the Buckeye Cruise Fuller next year, replacing departed two- for Cancer before this opportunity (with year starter Damon Webb. Buckeye Cruise the Titans) came along, I don’t know if “I would say that Isaiah Pryor has the Raises $3M I ever would have left,” Coombs said. fast track, but don’t count out (sopho- The 2018 edition of the Buckeye Cruise “The people here this week have been so more) Brendon White, who is an incred- for Cancer set the bar even higher by remarkable – your generosity, the way ible athlete who needs a little bit more hitting the $3 million mark in funds raised that you have treated my wife and my experience there,” Coombs said. “One of for cancer research this year. The thresh- kids and myself. The way you feel about those kids out of the corner room might old was crossed aboard the Serenade of Ohio State, it truly inspires you to want to go into the safety position. I told Urban, the Seas on Feb. 26, the final full day of be a better person. And I will forever be and we had a lot of long talks when I was the trip, as the ship made its way back to grateful for having been a part of Buckeye going through this process – the unit Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nation, and I mean that from the bottom room is in the best shape its been in since Needing a final push to hit the $3 mil- of my heart.” I’ve been there. We’re leaving them with lion mark, former Ohio State cornerbacks Coombs went on to say that there tremendous depth at the corner position, coach Kerry Coombs, who had joined was no one reason he chose to leave the great depth at the safety position, a great the Tennessee Titans as their secondary Buckeyes. He still cares strongly about coaching staff on defense.” coach earlier this year, took the stage on the program, the coaching staff, the play- Out of the cornerbacks, Coombs said the Buckeye Cruise as the master of cere- ers and the fans, but he couldn’t turn sophomore Amir Riep is the most likely monies, selling off a few last auction items. down the chance to take another step in to move over to safety – which has been The final push came by way of an auction his career. speculated about previously. He also said package that included two grandstand Head coach Urban Meyer admitted Jeffrey Okudah will go down as an all-time seats for the Kentucky Derby, among previously that he was shocked when great at Ohio State at cornerback. other amenities, which went almost imme- Coombs opted to move on, and Coombs Coombs also went out on a limb pre- diately for $10,000 despite the bidding himself seemed to indicate he was sur- dicting how Ohio State will fare in the opening up at half that number. prised by the decision. 2018 season: The $3 million raised this year sur- “I didn’t see this coming, to be honest “But I will tell you – I believe that Ohio passed a mark of $2.5 million raised on with you, and it went very, very fast,” he State will be in the national championship the 2017 cruise. The funds go toward the said. “And I will tell you that the reason game in 2019 and they will win the game,” Urban & Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer that I decided to do this is because I don’t he said. “The Buckeyes are in unbeliev- Research and The Ohio State University think I’m done growing yet. I’m 56 years able shape to be the best team in the Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur old, I’m a long way away from being done country next year.” G. James Cancer Hospital, better known with my career and I want to find out what as The James. I can do and what other things I might be Carpenter, Smith Expect The 2018 cruise departed Fort able to accomplish as part of a different Open QB Competition Lauderdale on Feb. 21, with stops in Key team.” On Feb. 23 during the Buckeye Cruise, West, Fla., and Labadee, Haiti. The ship Coombs spent six years at Ohio State a panel of Ohio State football greats took arrived back in Fort Lauderdale early on after joining Meyer’s staff in 2012. During to the ship’s decks to discuss a few top- Feb. 26. his time with the Buckeyes, Coombs ics surrounding the Buckeyes and the Buckeye Sports Bulletin was repre- coached four cornerbacks who went on state of college football. The panel includ- sented on the 2018 cruise by editor Tim to be drafted in the first round – Bradley ed four linebackers – A.J. Hawk, James Moody and staff writer Ryan McGlade. Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore and Laurinaitis, Bobby Carpenter and Matt A full recap of the festivities will be Gareon Conley. Denzel Ward is likely to Wilhelm – as well as running back Robert published in the March 10 print edition be added to that list later this spring. Smith. Insider Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 5

JOSH WINSLOW TAKING HIS SHOT – Sophomore Dwayne Haskins will be in the thick of the quarterback battle for Ohio State this spring.

The first topic at hand was the quar- “I’m not even going to bother with will broke down the things that might go into terback battle set to hit Columbus this or should right now because I believe the decision for the coaching staff. spring, and Smith and Carpenter both Coach Meyer when he says it’s wide “It depends on what kind of offense you weighed in. J.T. Barrett, a three-time team open,” Smith said. “Most of us have seen want to run,” Carpenter said. “Each of the captain and holder of nearly every pro- what Dwayne Haskins did, obviously, in guys has got a little bit of a different skill gram record a quarterback could set, is the Michigan game, a pressure environ- set, just depending on who they are and out of eligibility, so the Buckeyes will be ment, tough for a young kid to come in, what they’re all about. looking for a new signal caller this year. obviously, and perform well. But we’re not “Dwayne Haskins is more of a pocket Last season, Barrett’s backup was there day to day and we don’t see every passer. He’s a guy that can sit back there, Dwayne Haskins, who will be a third-year single snap, and that’s really where the has great touch on the ball, does a really sophomore in 2018. He’ll be joined in the decision is going to get made. good job delivering it. If they want to try quarterback battle by junior Joe Burrow “And I think that’s a good problem to to throw the ball a little bit more, he’s and redshirt freshman Tate Martell, each have. People always say if you have more probably going to be the guy. Joe Burrow of whom brings a slightly different skill than one quarterback that you don’t have a little bigger, more physical, in the mold set to the table. any. I think that’s nonsense in today’s of J.T. Barrett a little bit. And then you’re Although many feel Haskins has the game, especially with an offense like Ohio going to have Tate Martell, who’s young- leg up heading into spring practice, Meyer State’s and that Urban Meyer has had for er, doesn’t have quite as much experi- has refused to name a leader so far. so long. It’s always good to have more ence. A little bit more shifty, a little more Smith, for his part, feels like the best than one option, but who is that guy going explosive, pretty good arm. He’s not quite path forward will be an open competition, to be? I don’t know and I’m glad I don’t as tall. You’ll have to move him around and that’s what he expects to see this because I believe it’s wide open.” some if you want him to have the same spring. Carpenter agreed with Smith, and he success.” 6 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 OSU Football OSU Hits Home Run With Johnson Hire By Garrett Stepien “When they got Coombs, it was widely thought that he would recruit Cincinnati, When Kerry Coombs left Ohio State for Dayton and all of southwest Ohio. He the Tennessee Titans after six years on ended up being a great recruiter in head coach Urban Meyer’s staff, no one Detroit, of all places. saw it coming. From the players Coombs “So you’re either good at (recruiting) signed in the 2018 recruiting class all the or you’re not. (Johnson) is so personable way up to Meyer, who expressed shock and so hardworking and so honest – he’s Feb. 7 on National Signing Day when he going to be fine wherever they put him. said the news took his breath away, the He’s going to be one of the top recruiters move came as a significant surprise to the on this staff.” Buckeyes. While many considered Coombs Because of the fiery passion Coombs among the best recruiters on Ohio State’s brought as the special teams coordinator, staff, Johnson brings the same ability. cornerbacks coach and assistant coordina- “I thought Kerry did a great job in tor of the defense, OSU faced a tough task FILE PHOTO Cincinnati,” Parker said. “I don’t know if TAKING OVER – Taver Johnson (center) when it went through the search process was hired to replace Kerry Coombs as there are many people they could have for his replacement. cornerbacks coach. hired that could have done (replacing “I think it was one of those reactions Coombs) justice, but they hit the bull’s- where I was happy for him and I was assistant at Arkansas, coaching the line- eye on this one. really happy and excited for him because backers in 2012 and defensive backs in “Taver’s a great guy, a Cincinnati guy. he deserves it,” said Cincinnati Winton 2013. He spent 2014-16 as the defensive He’s a great guy who’s been around. I’ve Woods head coach Andre Parker. “I backs coach at Purdue. had a relationship with him as an assistant was shocked to see him go just because To go with his proven track record coach for a long time. He’s a trustworthy every time Kerry would come down (to on the field, Ohio State gets a top-notch guy. You can believe and hang your hat on Cincinnati), he’d stop by (Winton Woods) recruiter, replacing Coombs directly the things that he says. So I feel a whole, and always ask about my players. where his ties were strongest. whole lot better about that hire.” “He’d never string me or my players “I’ve obviously dealt with Taver and Beyond recruiting, Johnson includes a along. If he thought there was a shot (for talked with Taver many times,” said potential in-house promotion for co-defen- them to play at Ohio State), he would tell Fairfield, Ohio, head coach Jason Krause. sive coordinator down the road. players about what they needed to do and “I think it’s just a good hire again for “I think (Coombs and Johnson) are so forth. So that’s always good. He was an Ohio State, to have a guy who has roots very, very similar,” Green said. “I think actual worker.” in southwest Ohio. He’s just a guy who Taver’s an amazing recruiter and Kerry Despite the shock of Coombs’ depar- played in (in this area) when he went to Coombs was an amazing recruiter. Kerry’s ture, a home-run hire for Ohio State came Wittenberg. now coaching DBs in the NFL, so that next. On Feb. 13, the Buckeyes announced “So I think some of us coaches, high says a lot about his coaching ability, and the hire of 23-year veteran coach Taver school guys kind of appreciate that guy, Taver was the D-coordinator at Temple. Johnson as their 10th assistant. played Division-III level ball and he’s a Their defense got better under him, too.” Johnson, who was the OSU defensive grinder, a worker. So he obviously under- If Greg Schiano or Alex Grinch even- backs coach from 2007-11, returns to stands that part of the job, on and off the tually explores other coaching opportu- campus after spending the 2017 season as field. nities, look no further than Johnson as a defensive coordinator at Temple. Johnson “He instills that southwest Ohio feel, potential in-house replacement. will take over Coombs’ duties as corner- and he’s got a lot of relationships down “You’re getting a great recruiter, and backs coach, giving Ohio State a proven in this area. I think it’s a good hire, as far you’re getting a possible, almost like a third teacher and recruiter at the position. as getting someone rooted in southwest D-coordinator on that staff with Schiano “He’s just a good person,” recruit- Ohio back in that position.” and Grinch and now Taver Johnson,” ing analyst Bill Greene said of Johnson. While he originated in southwest Ohio, Greene said. “If Schiano would leave next “I don’t know anybody that’s ever met Johnson’s ties have a national reach after year and say Grinch would have success (Johnson) that doesn’t like him. I’ve never his recent coaching stops at Arkansas, and take a head-coaching job at a MAC heard a bad word about him from oppos- Purdue and Temple. school in two years, Taver Johnson could ing coaches who recruited against him, “(Johnson) can go anywhere, (Ohio be the D-coordinator at Ohio State. He’s coached against him. The kids that played State) can put him anywhere and he can qualified to be the defensive coordinator. for him at Ohio State just love the guy.” recruit nationally,” Greene said. “He is “So to get a guy that’s got Ohio roots Johnson mentored three consensus All- so, so personable and he works so hard. that can recruit like crazy and is a poten- Americans with the Buckeyes in Malcolm When he was at Ohio State the last time, tial coordinator – this is a huge win for Jenkins (2008), Kurt Coleman (2009) he ended up all over the state. It’s not so Ohio State to (although) you lose some- and Chimdi Chekwa (2010). After OSU, much what region you put him in – I don’t one like Coombs, you probably won’t miss Johnson spent 2012-13 as a defensive think he’s tied to a region. a beat.” 90276 92281 91787 Magnetic Notepad $4.99 4 Pack Logo Tattoos $2.99 Meyer vs. College 81225 Football By: Ben Axelrod, Black 16 oz. Mug $11.99 240 pgs. $14.95

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50004 50004 Stadium Gloves (top side) S-XL $35.00 8 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Football Recruiting 2019 3-Star QB Jones Set To Visit Ohio State Ohio State has yet to offer Baltimore St. Frances Academy three-star dual-threat quarterback Jalon Jones, but the way head coach Urban Meyer and his staff view the 2019 prospect would suggest the Buckeyes are more than interested in the one-time Mississippi State pledge.

RECRUITING OUTLOOK Ryan McGlade

Jones (6-3, 180) verbally committed to Mississippi State last July before he decommitted on Nov. 27, one day after it was officially announced that Dan Mullen had left the Bulldogs to become the head coach of another SEC school, Florida. Mullens’ interest in Jones did not waver after the move, though, as the Gators were the first to offer the No. 429 overall player and 10th-best dual-threat quarter- back in the 247Sports composite. Temple, Maryland and Ole Miss have also extend- COURTESY OF SCOUT.COM ed offers to Jones since he reopened his TAKING A LOOK – Baltimore St. Frances Academy three-star quarerback Jalon Jones recruitment. is scheduled to visit Ohio State on the weekend of March 3. Though the Buckeyes have yet to join Jones’ offer list, they have placed him quarterbacks room are fourth-year junior the recent wave of offers, no suitor is the squarely on their radar. Joe Burrow, redshirt freshman Tate clear-cut leader right now. “(Ohio State is) telling me that I am Martell and 2018 early enrollee Matthew “None of these schools are really stick- the ideal fit for their program and that Baldwin. ing out to me, and everything has hap- I’m one of their top prospects this year,” As for who will be next to join the depth pened pretty fast for me in the past few Jones told recruiting analyst Brian Dohn, chart, the Buckeyes have offered at least months,” Jacobs said. “I do want to take “and that they like all that I can offer to 10 signal callers in the 2019 recruiting some visits upcoming in the spring. After their team.” cycle to date. Though Jones is not one I take some visits and see some of these Jones also told Dohn that Meyer and of those 10, he knows exactly where he schools, I will have a better idea of what offensive coordinator and quarterbacks stands with the Scarlet and Gray. each of them has to offer me for what I’m coach Ryan Day are the coaches from “They wanted me to visit because they looking for.” Ohio State who are in the prospect’s ear really are considering me as the quarter- One of the institutions Jacobs plans to the most. In fact, Meyer and Day have back they want in 2019,” Jones said. “And visit this spring is Ohio State. insisted Jones come on a visit, which he is it’s Ohio State. I wouldn’t turn down a “I’ve been talking to Ohio State, and expected to do the weekend of March 3. chance to visit them ever.” Urban Meyer has been to my school “I hope to see all of the academic build- before,” he told Greene in mid-February. ings, the facilities and the whole campus,” 2019 In-State LB “I talked to him on the phone last week, Jones said. Expected To Visit OSU and I’ve also spoken to Coach (Tim) This isn’t the first time Meyer is Jestin Jacobs’ recruitment is only begin- Hinton. They want me to come to one of recruiting a quarterback from the state of ning to blossom, as the three-star line- their spring practices, and that’s some- Maryland, as he managed to flip Dwayne backer from Clayton (Ohio) Northmont thing I’m going to do.” Haskins, who starred at the Bullis School has seen his offer sheet expand to 15 Jacobs, the No. 587 overall prospect in Potomac, from the Terrapins prior to schools, some of which include Cincinnati, and No. 42 outside linebacker in the National Signing Day in February 2016. Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Northwestern 2019 class, added that he is taking the Haskins is set to battle for the starting and Purdue, over the last couple of recruitment process slowly but has a clear spot at Ohio State this spring as a third- months. understanding of what he’s looking for in year sophomore. Jacobs (6-3, 210) told Scout.com recruit- a college. Accompanying Haskins in the OSU ing analyst Bill Greene that, because of “I don’t think distance from home will Football Recruiting Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 9

Ohio State Verbal Commitments Pair Of 2019 Georgia Prospects Player in the class of 2019 who has issued a verbal commitment to play football Include OSU Among Top Choices at Ohio State. (Stars reflect 247Sports composite rankings.) In about a 48-hour window toward the end of February, two 2019 prospects who Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars High School hail from the state of Georgia mentioned Doug Nester OT 6-51/2 295 Huntington (W.Va.) Spring Valley the Buckeyes among their top options. On Feb. 19, Buford four-star offensive ٭ ٭ ٭ ٭ tackle Harry Miller took to Twitter to be a problem for me at all, and playing “I want to see what the school is like, announce that his top five included college football is a goal of mine so that what their practices are like, what their Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio won’t bother me at all,” the No. 26 recruit coaching staff is like,” Maguire (6-2, 215) State and Stanford. Two days later, Stone in the state of Ohio said. “What is going said. “I’ve talked to them a lot on the Mountain Stephenson three-star wide to make the difference for me will be the phone, but that only gets you so far. I receiver Deshon Stoudemire declared that relationships I form and what school fits think meeting them in person, seeing the the Scarlet and Gray along with Auburn, with what I want to study academically. campus and just seeing what I could be Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, “I think I will know the right school dealing with for the next four years of my Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee and when it feels like home to me.” life (is beneficial).” West Virginia were his top nine choices. Before venturing to Columbus, Closing in on 30 scholarship offers, Local 2019 DE Hearing Maguire plans on taking a trip to South Miller (6-4, 310) is the No. 63 prospect in From The Buckeyes Carolina the weekend of March 3 to check the country and 11th-best offensive tackle. In addition to Jacobs, Ohio State is out Clemson’s campus. Also this spring, He received an offer from Ohio State on keeping tabs on another 2019 in-state Maguire, the No. 421 player regardless June 1 and is scheduled to take his offi- prospect who plays on the defensive side of position and No. 27 outside linebacker, cial visit to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ of the ball in Westerville Central three-star is hoping to arrange trips to Alabama and spring game on April 14. He has been on defensive end Dontay Hunter II. Notre Dame. OSU’s campus at least twice already, both Hunter (6-5, 235) has not obtained “Right now, I am trying to take things in an unofficial capacity – the weekend of an offer from the Buckeyes but does slow, but I do have some schools I will be Sept. 9 for the Oklahoma game and the hold ones from schools such as Bowling looking at more heavily than others,” he weekend of Jan. 13. Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kent State, said. “Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, As for Stoudemire (6-1, 175), he gar- Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Alabama, those are some top schools I am nered an Ohio State offer shortly before Rutgers and Toledo. Of the schools that looking to get to.” Christmas but still has to yet to make his have offered, Hunter told Greene that As for official visits, Maguire said he first visit to Ohio’s capital. He is consid- Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and wants to take those during the upcoming ered the No. 990 overall prospect and No. Rutgers are the five that are standing out football season. 131 wideout in the 2019 haul. the most. “I’d like to get (to schools) during Hunter, who checks in as the No. game day,” he said. “I will probably be OSU A ‘Dream School’ 506 athlete in America and the 36th-best taking them in the fall.” For 2020 Florida LB defensive end, noted that Ohio State is Ohio State has had recent success one of several schools showing interest in OSU Among Midwest Powers recruiting prospects from Fort Lauderdale him, though. Targeting 2019 Michigan LB (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. One needs “I’m also hearing the most from Regarded as the eighth-best player in only to look at Joey and Nick Bosa as Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State,” said the state of Michigan, West Bloomfield proof. Hunter, the No. 20 overall prospect in standout Lance Dixon has the attention of The Buckeyes are going back to the the Buckeye State. “With Ohio State, I’ve some of the top programs in the region, as Sunshine State powerhouse program, been talking to them since I was a soph- Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, as they offered 2020 outside lineback- omore, and they’ve been watching my Ohio State and Penn State have all offered er Derek Wingo in mid-January. Wingo progress. They’re talking to me more and the four-star outside linebacker from the (6-2, 210), who is not yet ranked in the more as time goes on, and that offer would 2019 class. 247Sports composite, is being courted as be exciting.” Dixon’s latest offer from the aforemen- a tight end and quarterback as well. tioned schools came from OSU on Jan. 31. When it comes to OSU, though, Wingo 2019 Pennsylvania LB “They’re definitely just an all-time great not only has a fondness for the Silver Set To Visit Ohio State program and always compete for national Bullets, he’s had an admiration for the Keith Maguire, a three-star linebacker championships,” he said of the Buckeyes team as a whole for quite some time. out of Malvern (Pa.) Prep, told Dohn that in mid-February to recruiting analyst Allen “A school like Ohio State has always he has spoken to Ohio State linebackers Trieu. “That’s what I want to be around, a been my dream school,” Wingo told coach Bill Davis and Day on the phone winning team, so if they want to recruit recruiting analyst Corey Bender. “I have often enough. With that, the 2019 pros- me, I’m happy for it.” all the posters and jerseys, and I used to pect said it is time to converse with them Coming in at No. 278 overall and No. watch Ohio State’s defense be one of the and the rest of the OSU staff in person, 17 at his position, Dixon (6-3, 195) also best in the country. Their tradition and which he will do the weekend of March said he would likely produce a list of top the way they do things has always been 24, when he is expected to visit Columbus. schools in the summer. something I want to be a part of.” 10 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Men's Basketball Holtmann, KBD Earn Individual B1G Awards A year ago, Chris Holtmann was pre- was named to the All-Big Ten second much to win player of the year. It all paid paring Butler for the Big East tournament team by the coaches (more on that later), off.” while Keita Bates-Diop was recovering said Holtmann unquestionably earned the Bates-Diop, who also was a unanimous from season-ending surgery for a stress most prestigious conference honor a head first-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches fracture in his left shin. coach can attain. and media, is a fourth-year junior who “He deserves it,” Tate said. “There’s affects the game in multiple ways. He is nothing really that I can say other than second in the conference in scoring at he deserves it. He’s one of those guys 19.2 points per game (Penn State’s Tony COURT REPORT who is a real genuine coach. He means Carr is first with 19.9) and is tied for sec- Ryan McGlade what he says, and he just looks out for ond with PSU’s Mike Watkins in rebound- the best interest of all of our players. He’s ing at 8.9 boards per game (Minnesota’s very humble. Today when we found out Jordan Murphy averages 11.4). His 52 who made the teams or whatever, he left blocked shots are good for sixth in the In June, Holtmann was named Ohio himself out. Other coaches had to tell us league. State’s 14th head coach in school histo- he won coach of the year, and that just Bates-Diop never shied away from ry, and Bates-Diop was one of just seven speaks to how humble he is and how the big moments either. The Normal, players returning for the Buckeyes, who happy he is to coach us. It’s not about him Ill., native tallied 32 points and seven finished 11th in the Big Ten in 2016-17, and that’s why he deserves it the most.” rebounds in that triumph over Michigan posting a 17-15 overall record and 7-11 Holtmann guided OSU to a State. He then went for a dou- mark in conference play. 9-0 start in league play, the most ble-double (18 points and 11 With expectations low and the proba- wins to open a first season in rebounds) and made the bility of a gradual rebuild seemingly high, the Big Ten by a coach since game-winning put-back with Holtmann and Bates-Diop have helped 1923 when Sam Barry started 2.8 seconds remaining to take Ohio State defy the odds this season. 11-0 at Iowa. Sandwiched in the down Purdue. He also poured After leading the team to a 24-7 overall middle of that winning streak in a career-high 35 points in a ledger, which included going 15-3 in the for Holtmann was an 80-64 vic- 75-67 victory against Illinois on conference, Holtmann was named the Big tory over then-No. 1 Michigan Feb. 4 in Columbus. Ten Coach of the Year while Bates-Diop State at Value City Arena on Bates-Diop’s performance was named the Big Ten Player of the Year Jan. 7. That signaled the first this season, which has featured by both the league coaches and media on time the Buckeyes had knocked Keita Bates-Diop 12 double-doubles, has been Feb. 26. off a top-ranked team since their recognized nationally as well, Holtmann becomes the fifth Ohio State 49-48 home win over Wisconsin on Feb. as he is a member of the United States coach to earn the honor. Thad Matta, 25, 2007, the same year they reached the Basketball Writers Association Oscar Holtmann’s predecessor, received the national championship game. OSU added Robertson Trophy Midseason Player of award in 2006, 2007 and 2010. a second top-three victory to its résumé the Year watch list and is a Naismith While appreciating his fellow Big Ten when it edged No. 3 Purdue, 64-63, at Player of the Year and Julius Erving coaches for choosing him, Holtmann was Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., on Award candidate. quick to deflect credit to his entire staff. Feb. 7. The loss was the only blemish on Bates-Diop said he had an inkling he “Having the coaches, your peers, vote the Boilermakers’ 16-1 home record. and this team could have a remarkable is a really nice thing,” he said. “I think The 24 wins by the Buckeyes, who year but admitted he did not anticipate we’ve been really blessed. At times, I feel climbed to as high as No. 8 in the being named the conference’s player of like head coaches get too much credit. Associated Press poll this season but cur- the year. Now we get our fair share of blame too, rently sit at 13th, are the most accrued by “I knew I was going to be good,” he and that comes with the job. But I’ve got a first-year coach in the 119-year history of said, “but as the weeks went on, the sum- an outstanding staff and it’s a collaborative the program. No other Ohio State coach mer, then preseason started, we all kind effort, it really is.” garnered more than 19 regular-season of started forming these thoughts in our Holtmann has now won coach of the wins in his first year at the helm. The 15 head that we could be really good and I year awards in three separate leagues. conference victories this season are the could be pretty good this year for the Big He earned Big South Coach of the Year most since the team went 16-2 in league Ten.” in his final season at Gardner-Webb in action in 2011. 2012-13 when the Runnin’ Bulldogs went As for Bates-Diop, he is the sixth Buckeyes Recognized 21-13 after enduring losing seasons his Buckeye to win Big Ten Player of the Year On All-B1G Teams first two years there. He also claimed Big and the first since Evan Turner in 2010. As mentioned, Tate was named sec- East Coach of the Year honors last season “I was really excited because you put a ond-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and at Butler when the Bulldogs went 25-9 and lot of work in,” Bates-Diop said of his reac- received honorable mention from the advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tion when he heard the news. “Obviously, media. Freshman forward Kaleb Wesson Tournament. me coming off an injury season and a was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Jae’Sean Tate, a senior forward who rough couple years here, it meant so squad while fifth-year graduate transfer Men's Basketball Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 11

2017-18 Ohio State Men’s Basketball Statistics Through Feb. 23 Record: 24-7 (15-3 Big Ten) Rebounds Player G-GS Min.-Avg. FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off.-Def. Total-Avg. PF-FO A TO BS ST Pts.-Avg. Keita Bates-Diop 31-31 1013-32.7 220-455 .484 56-157 .357 99-127 .780 45-231 276-8.9 53-0 52 55 52 30 595-19.2 Jae'Sean Tate 31-31 936-30.2 159-284 .560 8-32 .250 63-106 .594 37-154 191-6.2 94-4 92 71 18 32 389-12.5 C.J. Jackson 31-28 938-30.3 129-304 .424 57-148 .385 70-86 .814 16-100 116-3.7 68-1 118 69 7 33 385-12.4 Kaleb Wesson 30-27 643-21.4 115-200 .575 4-13 .308 96-132 .727 71-86 157-5.2 85-5 31 30 21 16 330-11.0 Kam Williams 28-18 631-22.5 86-177 .486 35-80 .438 20-25 .800 5-51 56-2.0 26-1 17 16 2 14 227-8.1 Micah Potter 26-4 274-10.5 42-84 .500 4-15 .267 24-30 .800 29-40 69-2.7 37-1 10 11 10 4 112-4.3 Andrew Dakich 31-1 571-18.4 33-65 .508 14-30 .467 12-16 .750 11-42 53-1.7 31-0 66 33 1 26 92-3.0 Andre Wesson 31-5 553-17.8 30-76 .395 15-48 .313 12-17 .706 17-35 52-1.7 72-3 36 36 3 10 87-2.8 Musa Jallow 31-10 453-14.6 31-78 .397 11-43 .256 9-14 .643 15-32 47-1.5 48-0 27 29 4 16 82-2.6 Kyle Young 25-0 216-8.6 19-43 .442 1-10 .100 5-11 .455 19-21 40-1.6 19-0 4 9 3 7 44-1.8 Joey Lane 10-0 27-2.7 3-11 .273 2-7 .286 3-4 .750 0-4 4-0.4 4-0 2 2 0 1 11-1.1 Matt Lehmann 5-0 11-2.2 1-4 .250 1-4 .250 0-0 .000 1-1 2-0.4 1-0 1 1 0 0 3-0.6 Connor Fulton 4-0 9-2.3 0-2 .000 0-2 .000 1-2 .500 0-1 1-0.3 0-0 0 1 0 0 1-0.3 TEAM 34-41 75-2.5 2-0 7 Ohio State 31 6275 868-1783 .487 208-589 .353 414-570 .726 300-839 1139-36.7 540-15 456 370 121 189 2358-76.1 Opponents 31 6275 734-1765 .416 241-703 .343 356-509 .699 271-691 962-31.0 546-16 368 383 81 161 2065-66.6 guard Andrew Dakich was named Ohio this season, including the first start of week since 1983. With that, all of the Big State’s sportsmanship award honoree. his career on Senior Night vs. Rutgers Ten’s teams had to complete the 18-game Having started all 31 regular-sea- on Feb. 20. Averaging 18.4 minutes each conference slate a week earlier than usual. son games this season, Tate is OSU’s game, he has dished out 66 assists while Ohio State opened league play at second-leading scorer (12.5 ppg) and registering 26 steals. Wisconsin on Dec. 2 and followed that up rebounder (6.2 rpg), trailing only Bates- “I’m really excited for Keita, Jae’Sean with a home tilt against Michigan on Dec. Diop in both categories. Tate, a product and Kaleb, as well as our entire team,” 4. That was the first of three occasions in of Pickerington (Ohio) Central, is also Holtmann said. “We just told them (of the which the Buckeyes had only one day of second on the team with 92 assists and 32 awards) after practice, and it was a mob rest between two conference games. To steals. Junior point guard C.J. Jackson has scene. Going down the line with Keita, cap a stretch of five contests in 11 days, 118 helpers and 33 thefts. we had guys go crazy. We’ve known that OSU played Minnesota in New York at “I was really surprised to make second all year we’ve got something special with MSG on Jan. 20 before coming home team,” Tate said. “It’s just an honor to be those guys pulling for each other, but they to host Nebraska on Jan. 22. Nearly a on that with so many great guys in our were so happy for Keita, really happy for month later, the Scarlet and Gray played league. If you look at it, there were a lot of J.T. and really happy for Kaleb. They near- at Michigan on Feb. 18 only to come back guys left off it that I thought are top guys ly tore a couple of those guys’ ACL tack- to Columbus to face Rutgers on Feb. 20. in this league. I just thank my teammates ling them so we had to put a stop to that.” Holtmann’s club went 5-1 in those six and coaches around the Big Ten for vot- games, with the only loss coming to the ing for me.” Holtmann Supports Decision Wolverines in Ann Arbor, 74-62. A star on the prep level at Westerville To Avoid Condensed Schedule Despite the successful record in those (Ohio) South, Wesson has started 27 One and done has been attached to games, Holtmann said he is pleased games in his first year donning the scar- college basketball for quite some time Delany has decided to not condense the let and gray, averaging 11.0 points and now, as countless players have left for the schedule moving forward. 5.2 rebounds per outing. He notched the professional ranks after one season at the “I’m glad, I’m happy that he’s commit- first double-double of his collegiate career college level. But Big Ten commissioner ted to that,” Holtmann said after an 80-78 when he scored 10 points and collected 10 Jim Delany brought a whole new meaning double-overtime victory at Indiana on Feb. boards in the win over Illinois. to the phrase when he told the Chicago 23 (see page 15 for the recap). “I get the “This just shows the progress (I’ve Tribune on Feb. 23 that the conference whole idea of going to New York and play- made this year),” Wesson said of getting will no longer compact its schedule to play ing the tournament there, I understand recognized, “but I feel like there’s still a its postseason tournament in New York, that. But I think all the coaches would lot of work that needs to be done. That’s as it did this year. agree that it’s been a challenge to manage not where I want it to end. I don’t want Traditionally played in Chicago or your team.” that to be the peak of my career. I just Indianapolis, this year’s Big Ten basket- Delany thanked all 14 member schools need to keep putting the work in, and it ball tournament will be held in Madison for being accommodating this season so will show.” Square Garden for the first time from Feb. they could have their postseason event in Dakich, who is from Zionsville, Ind., is 28-March 4, which is one week earlier New York City. playing his only season in Columbus after than it normally takes place. The reason “I appreciate the sacrifices the teams spending his first four years at Michigan, the tournament was moved up a week on made, the impact it had on our students,” one of which he redshirted. A former the calendar is because MSG has been the Delany said. “It wasn’t good. It wasn’t walk-on for the Wolverines, Dakich has home of the Big East tournament during appeared in every game for the Buckeyes the conventional league championship Continued On Page 33 2018 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Feb. 28-March 4 • Madison Square Garden • New York Feb. 28 March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 Champion

(9) Wisconsin

Game 3 Noon BTN Game 7 (8) Maryland Noon BTN

(1) Michigan State (13) Illinois

Game 1 Game 11 5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. BTN CBS Sports Game 4 (12) Iowa 25 min. after Game 3 BTN Game 8 (5) Michigan 25 min. after Game 7 BTN

(4) Nebraska

Championship Game 4:30 p.m. CBS Sports TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (10) Northwestern

Game 5 6:30 p.m. BTN Game 9 (7) Penn State 6:30 p.m. BTN

(2) Ohio State (14) Rutgers

Game 2 Game 12 25 min. after Game 1 4:30 p.m. BTN CBS Sports Game 6 (11) Minnesota 25 min. after Game 5 BTN Game 10 (6) Indiana 25 min. after Game 9 BTN

(3) Purdue

14 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Men’s Basketball Buckeyes Roll Rutgers On Senior Night By Ryan McGlade “Sometimes when we get a start like that, Ohio State 79, Rutgers 52 we get this sense that it’s going to be easier Feb. 20, 2018 • Value City Arena; Columbus, Ohio After consecutive losses on the road, Ohio than in reality it will be, and it clearly wasn’t,” 1 2 F State got back on track with an emphatic Holtmann said of letting the visitors back into Rutgers (13-17, ,3-14) 27 25 – 52 Ohio State (23-7, 14-3) 32 47 – 79 79-52 win over visiting Rutgers before 15,620 the game. “Give Rutgers credit for that. We Rutgers Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts on Senior Night at Value City Arena on Feb. need to be better, and I need to make sure Omoruyi 14 2-5 0-0 1-3 0 1 4 20. our guys have a better understanding of that. Doorson 8 0-0 0-0 1-0 2 3 0 Sanders 33 6-15 0-0 0-3 2 1 12 Immediately following the game while I think we did some things in the last five to Williams 32 1-5 0-0 3-2 2 1 2 a portion of the crowd was still inside the eight minutes that allowed Rutgers to get Thiam 37 4-11 0-0 2-4 1 1 8 Sa 14 3-5 0-0 0-0 0 1 6 arena, first-year OSU head coach Chris back into it.” Dadika 11 2-2 1-2 0-0 2 0 6 Holtmann took time recognize the team’s With Wesson back on the floor at the start Bullock 7 0-1 0-2 0-0 0 1 0 Doucoure 21 1-3 1-3 1-2 1 1 3 three seniors – Jae’Sean Tate, Kam Williams of the second half, OSU extinguished any Downes 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 and Andrew Dakich – as well as graduated chance of a Rutgers comeback by opening Freeman 21 3-7 4-5 0-2 0 0 11 Totals 200 22-54 6-12 8-17 10 10 52 fourth-year junior Keita Bates-Diop. the frame on an 18-2 burst to grab a com- Percentages: FG: 40.7%. FT: 50.0%. 3-point goals: 2-12 “It was perfect that we got the chance manding 50-29 lead with 12 minutes left in (Williams 0-3, Thiam 0-5, Sa 0-1, Dadika 1-1, Bullock 0-1, Freeman 1-1). Team rebounds: 1. Blocked shots: 3 for our guys to celebrate with our fans,” the game. Jackson scored 11 of those points (Williams 2, Doorson). Turnovers: 10 (Freeman 4, Williams Holtmann said in his postgame press confer- by hitting a three and converting four jump- 2, Sanders, Thiam, Bullock, TEAM). Steals: 8 (Thiam 2, ence. “I really appreciate our fans for sticking ers in the lane, including a couple of nifty Doucoure 2, Omoruyi, Sanders, Williams, Freeman). around. We had a lot that did, and I think that floaters. Ohio State Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts Tate 34 4-6 0-0 0-10 3 2 9 means a lot for our players. I’d want to stick Ohio State’s lead swelled to as many as 30 Bates-Diop 29 3-11 0-0 0-8 2 0 6 around and listen to these guys, too, because points when junior guard Matt Lehmann, a K. Wesson 21 6-7 2-4 3-2 3 2 14 Dakich 22 1-2 0-0 1-1 2 1 2 I think they’re really special.” Columbus native who originally walked on at Williams 27 5-9 0-0 1-2 1 0 13 Holtmann started all four Senior Night West Virginia but transferred to Ohio State Potter 6 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 honorees, giving Williams, who had recently last summer, hit a three from the corner with Jallow 7 1-2 2-2 0-2 1 2 4 Jackson 23 8-12 0-0 1-1 1 0 18 served a three-game suspension, the nod for 28 seconds left to make it 79-49. Lane 3 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 3 the first time in six games and Dakich, who “It was a special night,” Holtmann said. A. Wesson 23 2-2 0-0 1-0 4 3 5 Young 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 spent four years at Michigan before coming “I give Rutgers a lot of credit because we Lehmann 2 1-1 0-0 1-0 1 0 3 to Columbus as a graduate transfer, the first knew it would be a grind-it game. They’re Totals 200 33-56 4-6 8-28 18 13 79 Percentages: FG: 58.9%. FT: 66.7%. 3-point goals: 9-23 start of his collegiate career. Freshman for- physical. I thought they really challenged us (Tate 1-2, Bates-Diop 0-4, Dakich 0-1, Williams 3-5, Jallow ward Kaleb Wesson was the only non-senior and made it difficult for us in the first half. 0-1, Jackson 2-6, Lane 1-1, A. Wesson 1-1, Young 0-1, Lehmann 1-1). Team rebounds: 1. Blocked shots: 4 (Tate, or non-graduate in the starting lineup. We responded better in the second half, but Bates-Diop, K. Wesson, Williams). Turnovers: 12 (Tate 3, Junior C.J. Jackson, the team’s typical I give Rutgers a lot of credit. Bates-Diop 2, K. Wesson 2, Jallow 2, Dakich, Williams, TEAM). starting point guard, led Ohio State (23-7, “It’s always nice to win on Senior Night. Steals: 4 (Bates-Diop, Dakich, Williams, A. Wesson). 14-3 Big Ten) with a game-high 18 points I’ve been on both ends of that, but as a coach Officials: Oglesby, Eades, Garrison. A: 15,620. on 8-of-12 shooting while Wesson added 14 you almost feel pressure. You want to win points, going 6 of 7 from the floor. Williams anyway, but you really want to win for these good Rutgers team. We wanted to make sure made the most of his final home game by seniors.” to send everyone off.” shooting 5 of 9 from the floor and 3 of 5 from Tate finished his final home game with Asked why he decided to participate in the three-point line to finish with 13 points nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, Senior Night festivities, Bates-Diop pointed to against Rutgers (13-17, 3-14). while Dakich scored the Buckeyes’ first field the fact that he had graduated in December Ohio State began the night shooting 8 goal of the contest for his only two points of with a degree in economics, refusing to tip of 11 from the floor, including triples by the night. his hand on whether he plans to turn pro. Williams on back-to-back possessions, to Bates-Diop, Ohio State’s leading scorer “It was mostly because I graduated build a 19-9 lead midway through the first for the season with 19.5 points per game at already,” he said of his participating in Senior half. the time, continued his unusual offensive Day and his plans for the future. “We have After a layup by Rutgers’ Issa Thiam made woes by scoring a season-low six points on not talked about it at all, and I’m not think- it 19-11, the Buckeyes scored 11 unanswered 3-of-11 shooting. He had gone 4 of 11 for 10 ing about it at all. We just talked about in points to expand their lead to 30-11 at the points in a 79-56 loss at Penn State on Feb. 15 the locker room how things can cloud your 5:41 mark. Tate started the stretch with two and 5 of 17 for 17 points in a 74-62 defeat at judgment and thoughts. Right now, the focus layups, Wesson had one of his own, Williams Michigan on Feb. 18. is winning. Now it’s Indiana (Feb. 23). Then hit his third three and Bates-Diop tossed in a Despite the off night, that did not stop the it’s the Big Ten tournament, then the NCAA layup to cap the spurt. Buckeye faithful from serenading Bates-Diop Tournament. We’re just trying to win games, From there, Rutgers closed the half on a with an “MVP” chant as he left the game in and that is what I’m thinking about.” 16-2 run to cut Ohio State’s lead to 32-27 at the closing minutes. Dominating inside, Ohio State outscored intermission. The Scarlet Knights did half of “Tonight was the perfect storm,” he said. the Scarlet Knights in the paint, 44-24, while their damage with Wesson out of the game, “We came off a couple losses, and being that collecting 36 rebounds to their 25. as he left at 4:39 with an apparent ankle it was Senior Night we obviously wanted to Rutgers was led by 12 points from Corey injury. get the win for additional reasons against a Sanders and 11 from Deshawn Freeman. Men’s Basketball Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 15

Jackson's Heroics Give OSU Double-OT Win By Garrett Stepien at the 10:22 mark to make it 19-12. After Ohio State 80, Indiana 78 (2OT) Robert Johnson countered with a jumper Feb. 23, 2018 • Assembly Hall; Bloomington, Ind. When the Ohio State men’s basketball to cut the lead back to five, Ohio State went 1 2 OT1 OT2 F Ohio State (24-7, 15-3) 33 30 7 10 80 team needed him the most, C.J. Jackson on a 7-0 run to push the margin to 12, the Indiana (16-14, 9-9) 33 30 7 8 78 stepped up to the challenge. biggest lead of the game for either team. Ohio State Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts As the seconds ticked off the game clock Bates-Diop had a three and Williams a pair Tate 40 6-10 0-0 2-3 6 4 12 Bates-Diop 45 9-24 4-7 3-11 4 2 24 in double overtime, the junior guard raced of layups to make the score 26-14 with 5:55 K. Wesson 33 5-7 2-4 2-3 0 5 12 up the floor and drilled a game-winning to go before the half. Jackson 44 5-13 0-0 1-2 2 3 13 three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to give No. Indiana responded with a 19-7 run in the Williams 40 7-13 0-0 0-2 0 0 15 Potter 9 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 0 4 16 Ohio State an 80-78 victory over Indiana last 5:33 of the first half and forced a 33-33 Jallow 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 on Feb. 23 in Bloomington, Ind. Despite a halftime tie. Johnson, Aljami Durham and Dakich 19 0-0 0-0 1-1 4 1 0 A. Wesson 18 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 5 0 best-punch effort from the Hoosiers (16-14, Josh Newkirk each had threes to fuel the Totals 250 33-69 8-13 14-27 16 21 80 9-9) on senior night at Assembly Hall, the Hoosier run. Percentages: FG: 47.8%. FT: 61.5%. 3-point goals: 6-18 (Bates-Diop 2-9, Jackson 3-6, Williams 1-3). Team rebounds: Buckeyes (24-7, 15-3) survived the upset “They battled possession after posses- 5. Blocked shots: 8 (Bates-Diop 4, K. Wesson 2, Tate, Potter). scare, clinching a second-place Big Ten sion,” Holtmann said of IU. “I don’t think Turnovers: 13 (Tate 4, Dakich 4, Bates-Diop, K. Wesson, Jackson, Potter, A. Wesson). Steals: 9 (Jackson 3, Bates-Diop finish in the process. either team wanted to give in.” 2, Tate, K. Wesson, Williams, Dakich). “Wow,” head coach Chris Holtmann said Ohio State came out strong in the second Indiana Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts when he sat down at his postgame press half with the first six points on a Williams Morgan 35 6-13 5-12 4-3 3 4 18 conference. “What a game. What a game.” dunk, a Bates-Diop jumper and a layup by McSwain Jr. 25 1-4 1-2 2-4 1 1 3 Johnson 43 6-16 3-4 0-3 4 1 17 Keita Bates-Diop contributed a game- Wesson, but the Hoosiers remained within Green 16 0-4 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 high 24 points, recording a double-double striking distance before they knotted the McRoberts 43 3-3 0-0 3-5 0 3 8 Durham 11 3-4 0-1 0-1 0 1 7 with 14 rebounds. Kam Williams went for score up at 48-48 on a layup by Durham with Newkirk 36 3-6 2-2 1-0 6 1 9 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while Jae’Sean 10:37 left in the second half. Smith 37 7-13 2-2 1-3 0 2 16 Hartman 4 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 Tate and Kaleb Wesson added 12 points The Buckeyes pushed the lead back to Totals 250 29-65 13-23 15-20 16 13 78 each. five three times, the last on a jumper by Tate Percentages: FG: 44.6%. FT: 56.5%. 3-point goals: 7-16 “It was a great team win in double over- to make it 59-54 with 6:27 to play, before (Morgan 1-3, Johnson 2-4, Green 0-1, McRoberts 2-2, Durham 1-1, Newkirk 1-3, Hartman 0-2). Team rebounds: time,” Bates-Diop said. “I don’t know how Indiana locked the score up again at 59-59 4. Blocked shots: 3 (Morgan 2, Newkirk). Turnovers: 12 else you want to go out on a great regular with 5:26 left in regulation. There were two (Morgan 4, Johnson 3, McSwain Jr., Green, McRoberts, Newkirk, SMith). Steals: 7 (Morgan 3, McRoberts 2, McSwain season.” more ties before a missed layup by Johnson Jr., Durham). Jackson, who nailed his third triple of the on the final possession forced overtime with Officials: Steratore, Boroski, Scirotto. A: 17,222. game for the win, posted 13 points on 5-of-13 the score knotted at 63. shooting in 44 minutes. “We’d like to have some possessions three-pointers, while the Hoosiers were His shot came mere seconds after Juwan back – I’m sure they would, too,” Holtmann 44.6 percent (29 of 65) from the floor and Morgan, who scored a team-high 18 points, said. “But at the end of the day, we were 43.8 percent (7 of 16) behind the three- scored the go-ahead bucket on a layup to able to stay with it and give ourselves a point arc. put Indiana in front of OSU by a 78-77 count chance.” Indiana, sparked by Smith’s 16, had a with 7.6 seconds left in the second overtime. In the first overtime, the Buckeyes took huge 32-4 margin in bench points. Potter “Just get the best shot possible,” Jackson a 70-68 lead on a Williams jumper with 1:39 was the only reserve to score for the said of his thought process on the final play left. However, the Hoosiers forced a sec- Buckeyes, notching four. of the game. “I knew where all of our guys ond overtime when OSU sophomore guard While No. 2 Michigan State (18-3, 16-2) were, position wise, and J.T. (Tate) was the Andre Wesson fouled Johnson and he made survived an upset bid by Wisconsin (14- trail man because he (inbounded the ball). both free throws with 7.8 seconds left to 17, 7-11) on Feb. 25 to secure the Big Ten “But I just felt like I had the best look that even the score at 70-70. regular-season title and the top seed in the we were going to get with the time left.” Moments before the game-ending conference tournament, Ohio State’s win When the shot splashed through the sequence, OSU pulled ahead for a 77-76 earned the No. 2 seed. net, the roaring 17,222 fans in attendance at edge when Bates-Diop got to the rim on Until the Buckeyes open their confer- Assembly Hall went silent. a layup with 58 seconds remaining. Justin ence tournament slate March 2 in New “That’s even better (than your own home Smith missed a layup for Indiana, but Ohio York, Ohio State has a much-needed break crowd going wild),” Jackson said with a State botched its ensuing possession when after the team finished its regular-season smile. “You dream of playing in venues like fifth-year senior guard Andrew Dakich mis- slate with four games in eight days. this when you’re younger. Just to have one handled a pass and it went for a backcourt “That’s definitely a part of it,” Bates-Diop of these moments like this, it’s unbeliev- violation with 16 seconds left. said of fatigue setting in for the Buckeyes, able.” Although the turnover gave Indiana the who went 2-2 down that stretch. “We’ve The Buckeyes jumped out to seven-point chance to make it 78-77, Jackson’s heroics played 30-something games now, so we’re leads twice in the first 10 minutes of the were enough to get Ohio State back in front at the end of the season. It gets tough. game, the first when Micah Potter hit a pair before the final buzzer. Everybody’s tired, but everybody’s played a of free throws to make it 17-10 at the 12:15 OSU shot 47.8 percent (33 of 69) from lot of minutes and a lot of games. So it just mark and then when Potter hit a bucket the field and 33.3 percent (6 of 18) on comes down to being mentally tough.” 16 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Women's Basketball

OSU Brings Momentum, Focus To B1G Tourney When the Ohio State women’s bas- ketball team heads to Indianapolis for the Big Ten tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Buckeyes begin their postseason journey with momentum on their side. After OSU ended its regu- lar-season slate Feb. 25 with an 89-64 win at Penn State, the Buckeyes had captured the program’s 16th Big Ten regular-sea- son title, its first outright championship since 2010.

DOUBLE DRIBBLE Garrett Stepien

While head coach Kevin McGuff and his team celebrated accordingly in the visiting locker room of the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa., after Ohio State’s win over the Nittany Lions (15-14, 6-10 Big Ten), the Buckeyes then quickly turned the page. “This is the best Big Ten season that I’ve gone through since I’ve been at Ohio State,” McGuff said. “There are just a lot of great teams. Every night is a well-pre- pared team because we have great coach- es and there are a lot of great players. So I’m very proud of the accomplishment because it has been such a competitive Big Ten season. “The same thing goes for the tourna- ment. Our first game, we’re going to play a great team. … It’s only going to get SONNY BROCKWAY tougher to advance. If we would win (the READY FOR THE POSTSEASON – Head coach Kevin McGuff guided the Buckeyes to tournament), we would have beaten three the top seed in the Big Ten tournament. really good teams. That’s not going to be easy to do. opponents to an average of 61.8 points. sizing continued improvement on Ohio “So it’s great to win the Big Ten regular The stretch included the best defensive State’s weaknesses, starting with the season, but certainly, if we were fortunate output of the campaign Feb. 21, when defense that has been inconsistent from enough to have a chance to win the tour- OSU allowed a season-low total in an 88-54 the start. nament, that would be a great accomplish- blowout of Northwestern. “That’s kind of my job, to make sure ment as well.” Stephanie Mavunga echoed what many we’re focused here in practice,” McGuff OSU (24-6, 13-3) finished its schedule of her teammates said over the final week said. “If we’re not focused on just the strong, winning eight straight conference of the regular season. The senior forward team in front of us, we’re really doing a games and 8 of 9 overall. The lone loss suggested that the increased intensity disservice. for Ohio State in that stretch came in non- in practices pushed the team to power “There are still areas we can continue conference play Feb. 11 at South Florida, through. to improve. So that’s where I want to make where the Bulls left the Buckeyes on the “The practices we’ve had the last sure our focus is.” wrong side of an 84-65 rout at the Sun couple of days have translated onto the With the top seed in the Big Ten tourna- Dome in Tampa, Fla. court,” Mavunga said. “We’ve definitely ment, which begins Feb. 28, the Buckeyes In its final four games, Ohio State had the most intensive practices we’ve secured a double bye. They play March 2 showed significant improvement on had all season.” at noon on BTN2GO against the winner of defense as the Buckeyes limited their McGuff acknowledged that, empha- the matchup between eight-seed Purdue Women's Basketball Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 17

2017-18 Ohio State Women's Basketball Statistics Through Feb. 25 Record: 24-6 (13-3 Big Ten) Rebounds Player G-GS Min.-Avg. FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off.-Def. Total-Avg. PF-FO A TO BS ST Pts.-Avg. Kelsey Mitchell 30-30 1069-35.6 249-540 .461 110-273 .403 125-147 .850 17-80 97-3.2 69-1 124 68 1 45 733-24.4 Steph. Mavunga 30-30 823-27.4 199-322 .618 0-2 .000 87-127 .685 130-188 318-10.6 81-4 20 46 71 33 485-16.2 Linnae Harper 30-30 938-31.3 192-409 .469 32-99 .323 36-49 .735 86-171 257-8.6 57-0 79 59 1 68 452-15.1 Sierra Calhoun 30-30 868-28.9 122-323 .378 66-188 .351 37-45 .822 21-96 117-3.9 45-0 40 35 16 27 347-11.6 Asia Doss 30-30 1026-34.2 86-256 .336 35-133 .263 34-45 .756 16-64 80-2.7 40-0 109 38 6 51 241-8.0 Alexa Hart 30-0 542-18.1 58-116 .500 5-21 .238 21-36 .583 33-59 92-3.1 61-1 26 31 25 11 142-4.7 Mak. Waterman 27-0 468-17.3 33-87 .379 5-14 .357 16-26 .615 36-69 105-3.9 62-2 35 31 14 22 87-3.2 Jensen Caretti 24-0 205-8.5 23-51 .451 9-19 .474 5-8 .625 6-23 29-1.2 19-0 14 17 8 6 60-2.5 Chelsea Mitchell 7-0 47-6.7 2-12 .167 1-3 .333 0-1 .000 2-5 7-1.0 4-0 1 9 0 1 5-0.7 Savitha Jayaraman 16-0 45-2.8 2-6 .333 0-0 .000 2-2 1.000 0-2 2-0.1 4-0 0 1 1 0 6-0.4 Karlie Cronin 17-0 44-2.6 0-6 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 2-6 8-0.5 6-0 2 10 1 1 0-0.0 TEAM 50-57 107-3.6 4 Ohio State 30 6075 966-2128 .454 263-752 .350 363-486 .747 399-820 1219-40.6 448-5 450 349 144 265 2558-85.3 Opponents 30 6075 803-1954 .411 230-663 .347 298-410 .727 377-826 1203-40.1 466-4 444 524 79 129 2134-71.1 (18-12, 9-7) and No. 9 Rutgers (19-11, 7-9), 2017. She enters the Big Ten tournament on the all-time scoring list. Southwest which takes place March 1. ranked second in the conference in scor- Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles (1997-01) OSU recorded double-digit wins in the ing, averaging 24.4 points in 30 games. ranks second after she compiled 3,393 regular season over both of its possible Iowa’s Megan Gustafson holds a slight career points, while Washington’s Kelsey opponents. Ohio State handled the Scarlet edge over Mitchell in scoring with an Plum (2013-17) holds the record with Knights in a 90-68 rout Feb. 8 followed 10 average of 25.3 points in 29 contests. 3,527 career points. days later by a 73-60 victory on Senior Day Mitchell is also the top distributor for against the Boilermakers. the Buckeyes, dishing out 4.1 assists per Team Trainer To The difference for the Buckeyes in game. She is shooting 46.1 percent (249 Leave For WNBA those two games, according to senior of 540) from the field, 40.3 percent (110 After Ohio State honored its five guard Kelsey Mitchell, was their extra of 273) on three-pointers and 85 percent seniors on Senior Day against Purdue, effort. (125 of 147) behind the free-throw line. the Buckeyes sent off a longtime member “That confident play – that ‘it’ factor – Mitchell has seven performances with 30 of their staff three days later. is really, really important for our team,” points or more in 2017-18, twice hitting Before Ohio State played Northwestern Mitchell said. “When it comes to talent, her season-high mark of 37. Feb. 21, the program recognized Chalisa talent is talent. Everyone has it. Every Mitchell, along with Mavunga, was Fonza for her 18 years as the team’s team and every program, across the board also named first-team All-Big Ten by the head athletic trainer. In a brief pregame (in the Big Ten), has it. coaches and the media. Fifth-year senior ceremony at Value City Arena, it was “But when it comes to the effort and guard Linnae Harper earned second-team announced that Fonza would be leaving outworking others, 50-50 balls and stuff honors in both votes while junior guard the Buckeyes at the end of the season like that, that’s what wins games.” Sierra Calhoun and senior guard Asia to become head athletic trainer of the Despite the recent results and the favor- Doss received honorable mention from WNBA’s Washington Mystics. able position in the conference bracket, the coaches. Fonza, who has managed the individ- McGuff is preparing his squad around Harper was also included on the all-de- ualized treatment and conditioning pro- the clean slate that comes with the post- fensive team, as voted by the coaches, grams for each Ohio State women’s bas- season. and Doss was Ohio State’s sportsmanship ketball player on a year-round basis, previ- “I think we feel good about what we’ve award honoree. ously worked a brief stint with the Mystics done here recently,” McGuff said. “But we as their head athletic trainer during the know that this time of year, we’re going Mitchell Passes Griner On summer of 2005. to play teams that have a great sense of All-Time Scoring List Prior to her arrival at Ohio State in urgency. We’re going to have to be at our As Mitchell scored a game-high 22 2000, Fonza was an assistant athletic very best. I think we’re just going to really points in Ohio State’s win at Penn State, trainer at Oklahoma State (1999-00). She focus this week on having a great week of she shot further up the list of all-time scor- worked with the football, men’s basket- practice and trying to be the best version ers in the history of Division I women’s ball, women’s basketball and golf teams. of ourselves when we show up in Indy.” basketball. After she graduated from Ohio State Mitchell’s 3,286 career points moved with her master’s degree in 1995, Fonza Mitchell Named her into third place, surpassing Britney became an assistant athletic trainer at B1G POTY Griner, who accumulated 3,283 career Cleveland State (1995-99). For the third time in her decorated points from 2009-13 at Baylor. Mitchell The Quincy, Ill., native graduated Ohio State career, Mitchell was named edged Griner on a three-pointer at the from Western Illinois with her bachelor’s Big Ten Player of the Year. 1:50 mark in the third quarter against the degree in 1992. Fonza is a member of the Mitchell previously earned the honor Nittany Lions. National Athletic Trainers’ Association as the conference’s top player in 2015 and Only two others sit in front of Mitchell and alumna of Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity. 2018 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Feb. 28-March 4 • Bankers Life Fieldhouse • Indianapolis Feb. 28 March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 Champion

(9) Rutgers

Game 3 Noon BTN2Go Game 7 (8) Purdue Noon BTN2Go

(1) Ohio State (13) Wisconsin

Game 1 Game 11 1:30 p.m. 6 p.m. BTN2Go BTN Game 4 (12) Northwestern 25 min. after Game 3 BTN2Go Game 8 (5) Iowa 25 min. after Game 7 BTN2Go

(4) Minnesota

Championship Game 7 p.m. ESPN2 TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (10) Michigan State

Game 5 6:30 p.m. BTN2Go Game 9 (7) Indiana 6:30 p.m. BTN2Go

(2) Maryland (14) Illinois

Game 2 Game 12 25 min. after Game 1 25 min. after Game 11 BTN2Go BTN Game 6 (11) Penn State 25 min. after Game 5 BTN2Go Game 10 (6) Michigan 25 min. after Game 9 BTN2Go

(3) Nebraska

20 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Women's Basketball OSU Finishes Home Slate Strong Vs. NU By Garrett Stepien points apiece. Calhoun did most of her Ohio State 88, Northwestern 54 damage from deep, compiling a 4-for-6 clip Feb. 21, 2018 • Value City Arena; Columbus, Ohio The Ohio State women’s basketball from three-point range. 1 2 3 4 F team sent its seniors out on top Feb. 18 Mitchell got Ohio State on the board 25 Northwestern (10-19, 3-12) 13 15 14 12 54 Ohio State (23-6, 12-3) 28 22 16 22 88 when they were honored at Value City seconds into the contest on a layup, and Northwestern Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts Arena prior to their double-digit win over the Buckeyes took off from there. Hopkins 39 0-2 1-2 1-4 2 2 1 Purdue, but the Buckeyes had one more They turned a 13-9 lead into a 28-13 Kunaiyi-Akpanah 32 10-21 3-6 8-6 0 0 23 Pulliam 38 6-15 3-4 2-2 3 1 15 home game on their regular-season slate margin by the end of the first quarter, Galernik 28 0-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Feb. 21 against Northwestern. going on a 15-4 run in the final 4:02 of the J. Hamilton 28 3-9 1-2 1-0 2 3 9 Pikiell 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 With the senior-day senti- opening period. Senior forward Wolf 25 2-6 0-1 2-4 3 1 4 ments out of the way, senior Alexa Hart, who had six points O. Hamilton 8 1-4 0-0 0-1 0 1 2 Totals 200 22-62 8-15 18-19 11 8 54 guard Kelsey Mitchell posted and two rebounds, started Percentages: FG: 35.5%. FT: 53.3%. 3-point goals: 2-6 a team-best 22 points on 9-of-16 the spurt on a layup. Calhoun (Pulliam 0-1, Galernik 0-1, J. Hamilton 2-4). Team rebounds: 6. Blocked shots: 2 (Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Pulliam). Turnovers: shooting, as Ohio State wiped capped the charge with the final 19 (Galernik 4, J. Hamilton 4, Hopkins 3, TEAM 3, Kunaiyi- out the Wildcats in an 88-54 rout points of the stanza on a triple Akpanah, Pulliam, Pikiell, Wolf, O. Hamilton). Steals: 5 (J. before a crowd of 4,774 at Value with 32 seconds left. Hamilton 2, Hopkins, Wolf, O. Hamilton). City Arena. Although OSU jumped out to Ohio State Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts By beating Northwestern take early command of the con- Mavunga 21 7-9 0-0 2-5 1 4 14 K. Mitchell 36 9-16 1-1 0-0 3 2 22 (10-19, 3-12 Big Ten), the test, McGuff wanted his squad Calhoun 25 5-7 0-0 0-1 3 0 14 Buckeyes (23-6, 12-3) inched to keep its foot down on the gas Harper 28 7-12 0-0 1-5 4 0 15 Doss 30 3-9 1-1 0-4 6 1 7 ahead of Maryland (22-6, 11-4) Kelsey Mitchell pedal. Jayaraman 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 for sole possession of first place “He was just saying we need Cronin 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Hart 19 3-4 0-1 1-1 1 0 6 in the conference. The Terrapins lost to focus,” said senior guard Asia Doss, Waterman 23 2-2 1-2 2-2 1 4 5 to Michigan (21-8, 10-6), 71-65, the next who posted seven points and dished out Caretti 14 2-4 1-1 0-4 0 1 5 Totals 200 38-63 4-6 7-24 20 13 88 night. six assists. “He was like, ‘You guys are Percentages: FG: 60.3%. FT: 66.7%. 3-point goals: 8-17 “The Big Ten is as good as it has been looking at the scoreboard, but I don’t (K. Mitchell 3-6, Calhoun 4-6, Harper 1-2, Doss 0-3). Team rebounds: 3. Blocked shots: 7 (Waterman 3, Mavunga, in a long time,” said OSU head coach really care about that. We gave up a lot of Calhoun, Cronin, Hart). Turnovers: 13 (Mavunga 5, K. Kevin McGuff. “It is really deep. We second-chance points. We need to box out Mitchell 2, Calhoun 2, Harper, Doss, Hart, Waterman). Steals: really have a lot of great teams. Every and rebound.’ ” 10 (Mavunga 4, Harper 2, Doss 2, K. Mitchell, Caretti). night has been a challenge, one way or The Buckeyes widened the lead in the Officials: Kantner, Zentz, Gulbeyan. A: 4,774. another. second quarter, when they outscored “So it is a great opportunity to be in the Wildcats by a 22-15 margin. OSU “At this time of the year, I’m just really this position this late in the season, but went up by 24 points before it ended the pushing them to get things right. As really what I want is our players to be able period in command of a 50-28 lead at you get to March and you try to play to focus on being very efficient and prac- halftime. your best basketball, that can ticing with great intensity, which should Mitchell had eight points in be the difference between a lead for us to being prepared for the next the frame, while Harper and win and a loss against good game.” Makayla Waterman had four teams.” While the team is locked in with the day- each. Ohio State shot 60.3 per- by-day mentality that McGuff described, The Buckeyes went up by as cent (38 of 63) from the floor fifth-year senior guard Linnae Harper many as 29 in the third stanza and 47.1 percent (8 of 17) on acknowledged what a regular-season Big on a Harper bucket at the 7:20 three-pointers. Ten title would mean for her class going mark that gave OSU a 59-30 Although the Wildcats main- forward into the conference and national lead, but the Wildcats reeled tained the edges in rebounds tournaments. off the next nine points to close (37-31) and second-chance “It would mean a lot,” said Harper, to 59-39 midway through the points (20-7), they were ulti- Asia Doss who had 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting. period. Mitchell capped the mately unable to get going “We’ve all (in the senior class) never had third-quarter scoring with a three that offensively against Ohio State. one before, so it would mean a lot to the gave Ohio State a 66-42 lead heading into Despite game highs of 23 points and team. Personally, I think it would give us the final 10 minutes. 14 rebounds (eight offensive) from a big boost of confidence coming up in the While Ohio State eventually took its Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Northwestern NCAA tournament a few weeks after that, largest lead of the game when it went up struggled to put points on the board, so it would be great to get there. 35, 88-53 on a Calhoun three with 1:07 shooting 35.5 percent (22 of 62) from “But like we said, we’re just focusing left in the game, McGuff wanted more the field and getting off only six shots on one game at a time, one practice at a consistency from his team earlier in the from beyond the arc, making three. time.” second half. The Wildcats’ 54 points were the few- Senior forward Stephanie Mavunga and “We had some mental breakdowns est by an Ohio State opponent this junior guard Sierra Calhoun added 14 on things we can control,” McGuff said. season. Women's Basketball Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 21 Buckeyes Beat PSU For Outright B1G Title By Garrett Stepien ble-double on 21 points and 14 rebounds. Ohio State 89, Penn State 64 Harper went for a double-double as well, Feb. 25, 2018 • Bryce Jordan Center; State College, Pa. Before the Ohio State women’s basket- with 17 points and 10 rebounds. 1 2 3 4 F ball team ventured to Penn State for its In addition to shelling out 20 assists, Ohio State (24-6, 13-3) 23 19 24 23 89 Penn State (15-14, 6-10) 12 15 13 24 64 final regular-season game, the Buckeyes led by Mitchell with six and Harper with Ohio State Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts pondered the idea of an outright Big five, the Buckeyes shot 48.6 percent (34 Mavunga 27 9-11 3-3 5-9 0 4 21 Ten title. Once the Buckeyes left State of 70) from the field and 45.5 percent (10 K. Mitchell 29 8-21 3-4 1-4 6 3 22 Calhoun 28 3-11 0-0 1-2 2 1 9 College, Pa., they had that conference of 22) on three-pointers. Their damage Harper 24 6-9 2-2 5-5 5 3 17 championship wrapped up after an 89-64 from downtown came on three triples Doss 30 2-8 0-0 0-2 4 0 4 Jayaraman 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 win over the Nittany Lions on Feb. 25. each from Mitchell, Harper and junior Cronin 3 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0 The win in front of 7,517 at the Bryce guard Sierra Calhoun, who pitched in Hart 21 2-3 0-0 0-3 1 0 4 Waterman 22 3-4 1-1 3-3 1 4 8 Jordan Center helped No. 14 OSU finish nine points, on a combined 18 shots from Caretti 13 1-2 2-2 1-0 1 0 4 the regular season with a 24-6 record and beyond the arc. Totals 200 34-70 11-12 18-30 20 16 89 Percentages: FG: 48.6%. FT: 91.7%. 3-point goals: 10-22 a 13-3 mark in Big Ten play. The Nittany After OSU fell behind 6-5 at the 6:59 (K. Mitchell 3-7, Calhoun 3-7, Harper 3-4, Doss 0-3, Waterman Lions fell to 15-14 overall and 6-10 in the mark of the first quarter, the Buckeyes 1-1). Team rebounds: 3. Blocked shots: 7 (Mavunga 4, Hart 2, Doss). Turnovers: 15 (K. Mitchell 3, Waterman 3, Calhoun conference heading into the Big Ten tour- reeled off six straight points to take an 2, Harper 2, Cronin 2, Mavunga, Doss, Hart). Steals: 8 nament, which was set to begin Feb. 28 in 11-6 lead. The spurt included a jumper by (Mavunga 2, Doss 2, Calhoun, Hart, Waterman, Caretti). Indianapolis. senior guard Asia Doss, who added four Penn State Min FG FT Reb. A PF Pts Going into the game, Ohio State had points and four assists, followed by con- Boykin 30 3-4 0-0 1-2 3 3 6 already clinched a share of the regu- secutive layups from Mavunga. Following Carter 34 4-16 0-0 0-1 4 3 8 Frazier 16 0-5 1-2 0-1 1 2 1 lar-season title after No. 13 Maryland Penn State’s answer on a jumper from Page 36 7-20 4-6 0-1 3 2 19 fell to Michigan, 71-65, on Feb. 21. The Jaida Travascio-Green, who had 17 points, Travascio-Green 34 6-11 1-2 1-2 1 2 17 Smith 12 2-2 2-2 1-3 0 3 6 Buckeyes shared it with the Terrapins Ohio State closed the period on a 12-4 run McDaniel 18 2-5 0-0 1-0 0 0 5 last season. over the final 3:51, giving the Buckeyes Williams 17 0-1 0-0 2-3 2 1 0 Breen 3 1-2 0-0 0-2 1 0 2 OSU defeated Northwestern took a 23-12 lead heading into the second Totals 200 25-66 8-12 12-17 15 16 64 the same day Maryland lost to the quarter. Percentages: FG: 37.9%. FT: 66.7%. 3-point goals: 6-20 (Carter 0-5, Page 1-4, Travascio-Green 4-7, McDaniel 1-3, Wolverines, and fifth-year senior guard Calhoun kept the offense flowing for Breen 0-1). Team rebounds: 8. Blocked shots: 3 (Boykin, Linnae Harper acknowledged the sig- OSU on a trey to make it 26-15 at the 8:37 Travascio-Green, Breen). Turnovers: 13 (Frazier 4, Page 2, Smith 2, Williams 2, Boykin, Carter, Travascio-Green). Steals: nificance of an outright regular-season mark. After Kamaria McDaniel responded 7 (Carter 3, Boykin, Frazier, McDaniel, Breen). conference championship. While the with a triple of her own, Ohio State ripped Officials: Enterline, Resch, Enlund. A: 7,517. program has seen plenty of success, off an 8-0 run and pushed its lead to 34-18 Ohio State’s previous solo title came at the 5:25 point. Mavunga started the Ohio State buried the Nittany Lions on eight years ago in 2010. charge on a layup, followed by an old-fash- a 13-0 run. Doss drained a jumper at the “(Winning the Big Ten regular-season ioned three-point play from junior forward 9:24 mark to spark the spurt, followed by a title) would mean a lot,” Harper said. “We Makayla Waterman. Mavunga finished it Calhoun triple and a pair of Mavunga free (in the senior class) have never had one off on another old-school three-point play throws. Harper added two layups, with before, so it would mean a lot to us and and a layup. a Mavunga layup sandwiched between our team. I think, personally, it would OSU eventually took a 42-27 advantage them, to give the Buckeyes a 79-42 advan- give a boost of motivation for the NCAA into halftime. tage with 6:41 left. tournament coming up a few weeks after “I thought (defensive intensity) was OSU took its largest lead of the game that.” very good,” McGuff said. “Even in the first when senior forward Alexa Hart’s layup When the opportunity subsequently half, I thought it was excellent.” put her team in front, 85-45, with 4:50 opened for OSU to cap its regular season The Lions shot just 30.3 percent (10 of remaining. atop the Big Ten standings with a win at 33) from the floor in the first half. After sophomore guard Jensen Caretti’s PSU, head coach Kevin McGuff watched Ohio State scored the first three buck- pair of free throws put Ohio State up 37, his senior-laden squad succeed in a con- ets out of the gates in the third quarter, for 89-52, with 2:57 left, the Nittany Lions vincing manner, earning the program’s a 7-0 run and a 49-27 lead at the 8:23 mark. closed out on a 12-0 run for the 89-64 16th trophy – the most in conference Mitchell came out with consecutive jump- final. They edged the Buckeyes by a 24-23 history. ers, followed by a Harper three-pointer. count in the fourth quarter. “We had really good practices,” McGuff The Buckeyes pushed ahead from there, PSU shot 37.9 percent (25 for 66) from said. “I think our kids were excited about eventually outscoring the Nittany Lions by the floor and 30.0 percent (6 for 20) from the opportunity to win a Big Ten champi- a 24-13 margin in the period, polished off long range. Teniya Paige paced Penn onship. We practiced the right way and by a Mitchell free throw with 44 seconds State with 19 points. came up here and played.” left to take a 66-40 cushion into the fourth “You want to win it playing the right While senior guard Kelsey Mitchell’s quarter. way,” McGuff said. “We did that today on game-high 22 points led the offensive After PSU got on the board first in the both ends of the floor. We get a reminder charge for Ohio State, fifth-year senior for- final frame with Alisia Smith’s pair of free of what we’re capable of when we play the ward Stephanie Mavunga registered a dou- throws to make it 66-42 at the 9:42 point, right way on both ends of the floor.” 22 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Men's Hockey Bucks Sweep Badgers Ahead Of B1G Tourney By Craig Merz Buckeyes Bruise Badgers Ohio State 6, Wisconsin 2 A forgettable first period led to a memo- Feb. 23, 2018 • Value City Arena; Columbus, Ohio The sixth-ranked Ohio State hockey rable third as the Buckeyes won the feisty 1 2 3 F Wisconsin 1 1 0 – 2 team took care of business by beating opener with a massive five-goal outburst Ohio State 0 1 5 – 6 Wisconsin 6-2 and 4-0 at Value City Arena in the 6-2 win over the Badgers before a First Period: UW: Weissbach (Zimmer, Kalynuk), on Feb. 23 and 24 and can now focus crowd of 6,650. 13:45. squarely on its best-of-three Big Ten quar- There was no way to predict that out- Second Period: OSU: Joshua (Stork, Gerard), 4:52. terfinal series vs. Michigan State from come watching the Buckeyes sleepwalk UW: Freytag (Baker), 16:26. Third Period: OSU: Laczynski (Jobst, Ege), 1:41 March 2-4. through the first 18 minutes when they (PP). OSU: Joshua (Joyaux, Lampasso), 2:22. OSU: All the games will be at VCA beginning trailed 1-0 and were outshot 14-3. Some Lampasso (Myer, M. Miller), 10:26. OSU: Laczynski at 7 p.m. rattling hits near the end of the stanza (Weis, Gerard), 15:51. OSU: Kearney (K. Miller, Jobst), OSU (21-8-5, 14-8-2-1 Big Ten) is 2-0-1 seemed to spark OSU because it fired 17:07. SOG: UW 38, OSU 34. PIM: UW 9-29, OSU 6-12. PP: in its past three games, allowing just three three more shots over the final two min- UW 0-3, OSU 1-5. Goaltenders (Saves): UW: Hayton goals, to claim second in the conference utes. (28); OSU: Romeo (36). behind Notre Dame. “We had one real good shift before the Att.: 6,650. Records: UW 14-16-4, 8-12-4-1 Big Ten; Forward Christian Lampasso, who was end of the first,” said OSU coach Steve OSU 20-8-5, 13-8-2-1 Big Ten. honored along with five other seniors Rohlik. “That kind of said, ‘OK guys, it’s before the second game and fittingly wake-up time.’ ” Ohio State 4, Wisconsin 0 scored twice vs. the Badgers, was ready Ohio State trailed 2-1 entering the third Feb. 24, 2018 • Value City Arena; Columbus, Ohio 1 2 3 F to look ahead to the “second season.” period before a power-play goal by soph- Wisconsin 0 0 0 – 0 “We still have six weeks to go,” he said. omore Tanner Laczynski – the first point Ohio State 0 3 1 – 4 “All the seniors and everyone on this team in six games for the team’s leading scorer First Period: No scoring. are looking forward. We know we have a – ignited the barrage. Second Period: OSU: Jobst (Kearney, Ege), 6:43. OSU: Jobst (Wiitala, Myer), 11:19 (SH). OSU: Lampasso good team. We know this isn’t the end. “Our guys decided we need to show up (Kearney), 12:29. We have the rest of the season to go. We and play,” Rohlik said. “(The first period) Third Period: OSU: Lampasso (Ege), 19:40 (EN). still have work to do.” was truly a period you’d like to forget.” SOG: UW 31, OSU 31. PIM: UW 4-8, OSU 2-4. PP: Still, the Buckeyes were able to reflect Laczynski and junior Dakota Joshua UW 0-2, OSU 0-3. Goaltenders (Saves): UW: Berry on their surprising season to date. They led the way with two goals apiece. Juniors (27); OSU: Nappier (31). Att.: 9,401. Records: UW 14-17-4, 8-13-4-1 Big Ten; were picked for fifth of seven teams in the Freddy Gerard and Mason Jobst added OSU 21-8-5, 14-8-2-1 Big Ten. conference’s preseason polls but are on a pair of assists each while junior Sean the verge of their second straight NCAA Romeo made 36 saves. on a rebound. Joshua tied it at 4:52 of the appearance. It was Romeo who kept the Buckeyes in second with a tap-in after a pinpoint pass “Over the course of the years I’ve the game until the offense got untracked. from the wall by senior Luke Stork. spent with the five other seniors, we’ve “Sometimes we’re not going to be at Wisconsin regained the lead, 2-1, at gone through a lot of battles together,” our best and you need a guy like that to 16:26 of the second on a goal by Matthew Lampasso said. “We’ve had our ups and step up, and he’s been doing that all year,” Freytag, but the Badgers were penalized downs. It all comes down to this – we Rohlik said. twice in the closing seconds of the middle were able to show the culture of Ohio The Badgers took the 1-0 lead at 13:45 stanza and OSU opened the third with a State.” of the first when Linus Weissbach scored two-man advantage for 1:47. OSU failed to score during the 5-on-3, but Jobst dangled from the right circle to the left then spotted Laczynski in front for the equalizer during the remainder of the power play at 1:41. Joshua made it 3-2 with a backhander at 2:22 for his 13th goal. Lampasso upped the score to 4-2 at 10:26 off an assist from sophomore defenseman Gordi Myer for his seventh goal. Laczynski was the recipient of a pass to the slot by senior Matthew Weis at 15:51 to make it 5-2 on his 14th goal. Junior Brendon Kearney notched his fourth goal at 17:07 to complete the scoring on Kyle Hayton, who stopped 28 shots. KEVIN DYE TOURNEY-BOUND – Freddy Gerard (15) and Ohio State earned a two seed for the Blanking Badgers Big Ten Tournament, pitting the Buckeyes against Michigan State on March 2-4. Freshman goaltender Tommy Nappier Men's Hockey Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 23

doesn’t play much because of Romeo, who from John Wiitala on a 3-on-1. Jobst has seventh in the conference, will be looking to is tied for ninth in the NCAA for save per- 16 goals. spring an upset in a venue that hasn’t hosted centage (.928) and is 12th in goals-against Lampasso upped the score to 3-0 at a postseason hockey game since 2005. average (2.06). But when Nappier does go 12:29, scoring just three seconds after the “It’s going to be fun for us because between the pipes he makes the most of it, Badgers’ power play ended, with Kearney most of the time Senior Night is the last stopping all 31 shots in the 4-0 rematch for picking up his second assist of the game. time you play at the Schott,” Lampasso his first career shutout. The Buckeyes killed all five Wisconsin said. “Due to the new schedule, we’ve “It makes it easy to play back there power plays for the weekend and own the got a chance to come back. We’ve got a when your team keeps the shots to the nation’s best penalty kill (.911). chance to play a pretty good hockey team outside and clears out the front of the “Sometimes special teams is the key coming into the barn.” net,” he said. to winning, and sometimes special teams Michigan State was 12-20-2 overall and Nappier is 4-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and can break your back,” Rohlik said. “When 6-16-2-1 in the Big Ten but has a penchant .956 save percentage. you can score basically two shorthanded for knocking off the big boys, such as a 4-3 “Every time we’ve called upon him, goals, it’s huge.” win at conference champ Notre Dame in he’s been phenomenal,” Rohlik said. “He’s There was no further scoring until 20 its last game on Feb. 24. in there every day working hard, and we seconds remained in the game, and the OSU took the first three games of the see where he’s at. He’s capable. I’ve got Buckeyes gave the crowd of 9,401 an season series vs. MSU – 4-1 and 5-3 in very good goaltenders right now, but he added treat when Lampasso was award- East Lansing on Jan. 5-6 and 4-2 at home deserved a chance to get in there, and he ed his ninth goal of the season when a on Feb. 2. But the Spartans are confident proved it again today.” Badger player threw his stick at the puck after a convincing 6-3 win the next night. Lampasso and Jobst each scored twice as it was headed toward an empty net. Michigan State’s physical play put the against the Badgers (14-17-4, 8-13-3-1), Buckeyes off their tempo game at times who finished sixth in the conference. Playoff Preview and they were able to frustrate OSU. There was nothing at stake in the regu- Senior Night was different. For the past The Buckeyes hope their unbeaten lar-season finale, and the game played like four seasons, the Big Ten’s tourney was streak is a sign of things to come. that, especially for Wisconsin. held in either Detroit or Saint Paul, Minn. “Going into the playoff you always want After Jobst opened the scoring at Under the new format all games are on to be on a roll, playing at your top level,” 6:43 of the second, the Buckeyes almost conference campuses. Jobst said. scored twice shorthanded on the same For Lampasso, Weis and fellow seniors MSU is led by Taro Hirose with 40 Wisconsin power play. As it was, they Matt Joyaux, Kevin Miller, Janik Moser and points (12 goals, 28 assists) and Mitchell got one when Jobst made it 2-0 at 11:19 Luke Stork, their “final” game at Value City Lewandowski, one of the top freshmen in of the middle period by converting a pass Arena wasn’t that because the Spartans, the country with his 33 points (19-14). 2018 Big Ten Men’s Hockey Tournament March 2-4, 10, 17 • Campus Sites March 2-4 (best-of-three series) March 10 March 17 Champion

(1) Notre Dame (2) Ohio State Time TBA GM 1: March 2, 7 p.m. BTN/ESPNU GM 2: March 3, 7 p.m. GM 3: March 4, 7 p.m. (4) Penn State (7) Michigan State GM 1: March 2, 7 p.m. Championship Game GM 2: March 3, 7 p.m. Time TBA GM 3: March 4, 7 p.m. BTN (3) Michigan TOURNAMENT (5) Minnesota GM 1: March 2, 7:30 p.m. CHAMPION GM 2: March 3, 7:30 p.m. GM 3: March 4, 7:30 p.m. Time TBA BTN/ESPNU (6) Wisconsin 24 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 OSU Baseball Buckeyes Go 2-2 In B1G/Pac-12 Challenge By Joe Dempsey

In a high-scoring weekend at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Surprise, Ariz., from Feb. 22-25, the Ohio State baseball game picked up two wins against Utah while falling to Oregon State, the nation’s second-ranked team, twice. The Buckeyes (5-3) opened proceed- ings with a 7-2 win over Utah on Feb. 22 before falling to the Beavers, 10-8, the following day. On Feb. 24, Ohio State held off Utah (0-6) in a 33-run game, 20-13, before losing to Oregon State (8-0), 6-1, on the final day of the trip.

Game 1: Ohio St. 7, Utah 2 Ohio State jumped out to a hot start and kept Utah’s bats in check to open the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge with a 7-2 victory over the Utes. The Buckeyes did not score a run after the first inning, but they didn’t need to. Dominic Canzone walked to begin the bot- tom of the first before Kobie Foppe and Brady Cherry singled to load the bases. Noah McGowan drew an RBI walk, end- ing Utah starter Riley Pierce’s day before he recorded an out. Jacob Rebar relieved Pierce with the bases loaded and walked Conner Pohl, allow- ing another Ohio State run. Tyler Cowles hit the ball up the middle and reached safely on a throwing error by Utah second baseman Oliver Dunn, scoring Cherry. With the bases still loaded, Dillon Dingler hit a fly ball to center, and McGowan scored from third. Canzone COURTESY OF OSU ATHLETICS came up for his second at bat of the first FIRST WIN – Lefthander Connor Curlis started and picked up his first win of the and ripped a two-out, two-run single up season in the Buckeyes' 7-2 victory against Utah on Feb. 22. the middle. Foppe connected on an RBI single, scoring the Buckeyes’ seventh run “I’m a little disappointed we didn’t add but lost 10-8 to No. 2 Oregon State after a of their big first inning. to it later in the game,” Beals said. “But defensive breakdown Feb. 23. Head coach Greg Beals liked what he our pitching staff did a great job.” Ohio State starting pitcher Ryan Feltner saw in the first inning in Surprise. Connor Curlis pitched 51/3 innings, scattered four runs on six hits and two “We had a huge first inning offensively allowing only four hits and one run while walks in six innings, receiving a no deci- and got some help,” Beals said. “They striking out five batters and improving sion and striking out six along the way. struggled with the strike zone early in the to 1-0. Austin Woodby relieved Curlis Oregon State jumped out to a 2-0 lead ballgame, but we got some big hits also to and allowed four hits and four walks but in the second inning on a two-out, two- extend that inning and stretch it out.” gave up only one run in two innings. Kyle run double by Zak Taylor. The Buckeyes Utah scored in the top of the fourth on Michalik threw two-thirds of a scoreless answered immediately in the top of the a two-out RBI double by Wade Gulden inning, including an important double third with an RBI double by McGowan fol- down the right field line. The Utes scored play. Thomas Waning pitched a scoreless lowed by a three-run shot by Pohl giving their second and final run on a two-out ninth and struck out one batter. Ohio State a 4-2 advantage. RBI single by Dunn in the sixth. The Beavers bounced back in the bot- Beals would have liked to see more Game 2: Oregon St. 10, Ohio St. 8 tom of the fourth with a pair of two-out offense but liked what he saw from his The Buckeyes held a two-run lead RBI hits, tying the game at 4. Ohio State men on the hill. heading into the bottom of the eighth took a 6-4 lead by scoring on sacrifice flies OSU Baseball Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 25

from Canzone and Cowles in the fourth Keirsey and Christopher Rowan, giving Griffan Smith allowed three runs in and fifth, respectively. the Utes a 6-4 lead. two innings and Michalik surrendered The Buckeyes outplayed the sec- The Buckeyes’ bats woke up again in three runs in one inning. Curtiss Irving ond-ranked Beavers most of the game the sixth inning, scoring seven runs on earned his first career victory with a outside of a forgettable eighth inning. seven hits. Canzone ripped a single up the scoreless eighth inning, and Waning Cadyn Grenier reached on an error middle for the first run. Cherry walked pitched a one-run ninth inning to finish by Cherry and advanced to second on with the bases load to score Bo Coolen. the game. a wild pitch by Ohio State reliever Seth McGowan then hit a two-run single to Kinker. Nick Madrigal was hit by a pitch left field, and Cowles hit a two-run single Game 4: Oregon St. 6, Ohio St. 1 and Trevor Larnach walked to load the to right. Ohio State batted around and Ohio State’s hot bats cooled off con- bases. Adley Rutschman hit a sac fly to Coolen walked with the bases loaded to siderably, and the Buckeyes fell 6-1 to center, making it 6-5. Michael Gretler hit push the lead to 11-6. Oregon State on Feb. 25. a ground ball to Pohl at third, who made The Utes wasted no time regaining Anderson ripped a two-out double off a nice play to get the force at the plate for their lead with a six-run seventh inning. Yianni Pavlopoulos in the first inning for the second out and prevented a run. Erick Migueles hit an RBI single before the Beavers’ first hit. Larnach drove him However, Jack Anderson singled to Tom and Gulden smacked back-to-back in with an RBI single to give Oregon State right, tying the game at 6. Taylor reached two-run doubles. Dunn reached on a field- a 1-0 lead. on another error by Cherry, which scored er’s choice, scoring Gulden and giving Errors doomed the Buckeyes in the Gretler to give the Beavers a 7-6 lead. Utah a 12-11 lead. second inning. Nobach led off the inning Then a single by Kyle Nobach scored After that tough seventh inning, Beals with a double, and then Taylor reached Anderson. Steven Kwan ripped a two-run said he liked the team’s resilient mentality base on an error. Ryan Ober got on by triple, giving Oregon State a 10-6 lead and demonstrated by its response. a fielder’s choice, and then Pavlopoulos ending Kinker’s outing after 12/3 innings “The thing I like more than anything struck out Andy Armstrong with the bases and six runs, all unearned. from our ballclub tonight was our willing- loaded for the first out. Kwan hit a two-run After surrendering the lead, the ness to play all night long and we contin- single, and Grenier followed with a two- Buckeyes’ bats did not go quietly in ued to battle,” Beals said. “We had a tough run double down the left field line. All four the ninth. McGowan singled to left and inning and lost the lead and got down, but runs were unearned, and the Buckeyes Pohl drove him in with his second long never got out and kept fighting and grind- trailed 5-0 after two innings. ball of the day, cutting the lead to 10-8. ing to get back in the ballgame.” The Beavers added to the their total However, the comeback stalled out and Canzone drove in the tying run in the in the fourth inning on an RBI double the Buckeyes lost, despite a three-hit day eighth inning on a fielder’s choice that by Lanach, pushing the lead to 6-0. The from McGowan and two homers and five scored Barnwell. With the game tied at 12, advantage was safe with Grant Gambrell RBI from Pohl. the Buckeyes exploded for an eight-run on the hill as he went seven scoreless “Obviously we are disappointed with ninth inning. innings, allowing only five hits and strik- the loss, and we played really good base- Barnwell walked with the bases loaded, ing out 12 Buckeyes for his first win of ball to put ourselves in position to win a scoring Pohl and giving the Buckeyes a the season. baseball game,” Beals said. “But in the 13-12 lead. Junior transfer Malik Jones Pohl scored the Buckeyes’ lone run in eighth inning we didn’t play clean.” came off the bench and hit a two-run sin- the ninth inning on a wild pitch. Cowles gle. Foppe extended the lead with a two- was the only Ohio State player with two Game 3: Ohio St. 20, Utah 13 run single of his own before Cherry ripped hits, and the team had only six hits on Ohio State defeated Utah 20-13 in a a two-run double. McGowan reached on the day. back-and-forth battle filled with offensive an error by Davis Delorefice, scoring Pavlopoulos went four innings, allow- firepower Feb. 24. Barnwell from third and pushing the lead ing six runs, two earned, eight hits and Ohio State got on the board first on to 20-12. two walks, while striking out three. Jake a sac fly by Cherry, scoring Canzone. Utah added another run in the bottom Vance struck out two in two scoreless McGowan hit his team-high third home of the ninth on an RBI single by Dunn but innings. Andrew Mango pitched a score- run of the season, a two-run shot that gave could not answer the Buckeyes’ ninth-in- less seventh inning, leaving two Beavers the Scarlet and Gray a 3-0 lead in the top ning outburst. stranded on base, and Irving tossed a of the first. McGowan finished with yet another scoreless eighth. However, a decent out- The Utes responded immediately in big day at the plate, going 5 for 7 with one ing by the pitching staff was not enough the bottom half with a sac fly by Rykker double, one homer and four RBI. Canzone to overcome the Buckeyes’ silent bats and Tom and an RBI groundout by Chandler went 4 for 6 with two RBI and three runs costly errors. Anderson, cutting the lead to 3-2. scored. Cherry drove in four runs, and Despite a tough day at the plate against Foppe pushed the lead to 4-2 in the Cowles was 3 for 6 with two RBI and two Oregon State, the Buckeyes hit .329 on second inning, driving in Jacob Barnwell runs scored. Coolen went 3 for 4 with an the weekend with seven Buckeyes hitting with a sacrifice bunt. Utah answered with RBI and one run scored. Dingler also had above .300. McGowan continued his hot another run in the bottom of the second two hits, representing one of six Buckeyes start to 2018, hitting .450 (9 for 20) on the on an RBI single by DaShawn Keirsey. who had a multihit game. weekend with three doubles, one homer, Keirsey added another RBI single in the On the mound for the Buckeyes, start- six RBI and five runs scored. The versatile fourth to tie the game at 4. Then Anderson ing pitcher Adam Niemeyer went four senior leads all of Division I baseball with reached on an error by Cherry that scored innings, allowing six runs, four earned. 19 RBI through seven games. 26 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 OSU Wrestling

Wrestling Bucks Hungry For B1G Redemption By Garrett Stepien fall against the Wolfpack’s then-No. 19 I’m aware through that. But I don’t look Michael Boykin. anymore.” In the final weeks of the Ohio State While Snyder remains ranked No. 2, On Feb. 20, McKenna was named Big wrestling team’s 2017-18 season, head his return to the winner’s circle came at Ten Wrestler of the Week. coach Tom Ryan said he believed the the right time. Ryan knows a rematch with “Right now, I’m just wrestling my best,” Buckeyes would bring sharper focus to the now-No. 1 Coon is imminent at the said McKenna, who is the highest-ranked their upcoming tournaments. conference tournament. Big Ten wrestler at 141 pounds. “I think if No. 2 OSU (14-1, 8-1 Big Ten) blitzed “(Snyder) is a bully,” Ryan said. “He that happens and I put together five great through the overwhelming is a 220-pound freak show that matches in March, then anything can majority of its dual slate, suffer- can bully anybody his size, and happen.” ing its lone loss of the campaign he’s shown that throughout the Throughout the rest of the weight class- in its second-to-last conference world. This guy (Coon) is 6-5, es, the Buckeyes have multiple chances to match Feb. 3 at No. 1 Penn 6-6 – was 315 (pounds) this make some noise at the conference cham- State (14-0, 9-0). summer – he’s big. So what’s pionships. From there, Ryan believes the However, as the flaws from beautiful about this, we feel, momentum can catapult his wrestlers into the 19-18 defeat against the is when you’re a superhero – the national tournament. Nittany Lions and the subse- when you’re Snyder-man – you “This season reminds me a lot of the quent 18-15 win at then-No. 4 need a villain. Every superhero year we won it,” Ryan said. “I’ve said that Michigan on Feb. 11 showed, needs a villain. before. We had some situations that came Ohio State has work to do. Tom Ryan “As excited as Kyle is about up in ’15 where we said, ‘How did that Before it shifts the focus to March 3-4, wrestling, helping the team, I think the reali- happen?’ when it heads to the Big Ten champion- ty is he felt something that he’s got to make “When you lose, you assess way more ships at Michigan State’s Breslin Center some adjustments on. He will make adjust- than when you win close. I think it’s made in East Lansing, Mich., the Buckeyes ments, we’re making adjustments in his us all better and stronger, and every can hit the reset button. In total, 80 auto- training and he’s making adjustments. I can ounce of me believes that there’s a bigger matic bids to the NCAA championships already see someone who worked incredibly plan in what’s happening.” during March 15-17 in Cleveland are on hard. Now he’s laser focused. So I believe, in Despite an injury-shortened season, fifth- the line. the end, that man will get his guy.” year senior 125-pounder Nathan Tomasello “We’re learning a lot about our team Moore, meanwhile, lost his second bout (7-1) takes his No. 4 ranking into the tour- late in the season,” Ryan said. “We faced of the season against N.C. State’s then-No. nament behind No. 3 Spencer Lee (Iowa) Penn State in a great environment and 7 Michael Macchiavello. It came after and No. 1 Nick Suriano (Rutgers). learned a lot. Then we faced Michigan. Moore’s bounce-back win at Michigan, At 133 pounds, No. 3 sophomore Luke We learned a lot more than I thought we where he earned a 17-6 major decision Pletcher (23-1) looks for revenge after No. would against Michigan. I think it was the over then-No. 12 Kevin Beazley. 2 Stevan Micic (Michigan) handed him most depressing victory over Michigan After the loss to Macchiavello, No. 4 his only loss of the season. since I’ve been in here (since the 2006-07 Moore (19-2) dropped three slots down No. 6 sophomore 149-pounder season), but we learned a lot. from the top-ranked spot he had held all Ke-Shawn Hayes (23-4) sits behind No. “If you learn a lot, it’s worth it. season. 2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) and No. 1 Unfortunately, I think all human beings “It’s been a little bit of a slow season for Zain Retherford (Penn State), while No. learn more when you lose than in a close me,” Moore said. “I think it’s presented 6 junior 157-pounder Micah Jordan (20- victory.” some challenges for me (more than) last 5) takes aim at No. 2 Michael Kemerer Upsets occurred in multiple weight year. Guys are obviously scouting you (Iowa) and No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State). classes for the Buckeyes in both of those because you’re one of the top guys now, No. 14 junior 165-pounder Te’Shan duals. Sophomore 197-pounder Kollin so that just presented a lot more problems Campbell (15-7) has an uphill battle Moore, then ranked No. 1, dropped his than I was maybe anticipating.” behind No. 11 Evan Wick (Wisconsin), first bout of the season in a 6-3 decision Others in the Ohio State starting lineup No. 10 Isaiah White (Nebraska), No. 9 against PSU’s unranked Anthony Cassar, have been hitting their stride, including Logan Massa (Michigan), No. 8 Nick while senior heavyweight Kyle Snyder junior 141-pounder Joey McKenna. Wanzek (Minnesota), No. 7 Richie Lewis fell for the first time in three years when After his 6-2 decision over N.C. State’s (Rutgers), No. 3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn he lost a 3-1 decision against Michigan’s then-No. 2 Kevin Jack, McKenna (12-1) State), No. 2 Alex Marinelli (Iowa) and then-No. 2 Adam Coon. Snyder was No. 1 shot up from No. 7 to No. 4 in the nation. No. 1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois). at the time. “I’ve been kind of flying under the radar In the 174-pound class, the top compe- The next week, though, OSU finished this season,” McKenna said. “Honestly, tition for No. 6 fifth-year senior Bo Jordan the dual season Feb. 18 with a 29-6 state- I don’t even care anymore. In my soph- (19-4) is expected to be No. 5 Myles ment at then-No. 6 N.C. State (15-2). omore year, I was all about the hype, Amine (Michigan) and No. 2 Mark Hall In the strong win over the 2018 ACC rankings, this and that. Honestly, I haven’t (Penn State). At 184 pounds, No. 2 Myles Champions, the second-ranked Snyder even looked (this year). People text me (8-1) notably delivered a 23-8 technical and tell me what I am, here and there, so Continued On Page 33 The Ohio State University Alumni Association GUIDE YOUR CAREER

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YOU’RE A BUCKEYE FOR LIFE 28 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Briefs Men's Track Wins 1st B1G Indoor Title Since '93 The Ohio State men’s track and field team (80), while tying Indiana for third in the com- Szerszen had 12 kills. Lewis’ Ryan Coenen took first at the indoor Big Ten champion- petition. led all players with 21, though, while the ships in Geneva, Ohio, on Feb. 23-24, giving home team finished with five team blocks to the program its first indoor conference title Men’s Swimming Takes just two for Ohio State. since 1993. The women’s team finished third 3rd At B1G Championships The Buckeyes returned to the court in out of 13 teams competing. The Ohio State men’s swimming and Chicago two days later against No. 8 Loyola On the men’s side, the Buckeyes diving team dived into the pool Feb. 21-24 in (12-3, 5-1) and started off strong with wins totaled 101.50 points at the Spire Institute, Minneapolis at the Big Ten championships, in the first two sets. Ohio State fell off from led by individual titles from senior Nick finishing third out of 10 conference teams there, however, losing three straight to suf- Demaline (shot put), senior Zack Bazile in the competition. The Buckeyes had a fer back-to-back losses for the first time this (long jump), senior Cole Gorski (pole final team score of 1,300.5, finishing behind year. The final set scores were 20-25, 15-25, vault) and junior Nick Gray (200-meter Indiana (1,658) and Michigan (1,617.5) at the 25-21, 25-23 and 17-15. dash) as well as a relay victory in the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. Ohio State pulled away late in the first 4x400 meter race. The third-place finish meant Ohio State set before leading throughout the second “I’m most proud of these seniors,” said has finished in the top three of the Big Ten set, but Loyola responded in the final three Karen Dennis, director of track and field and championships in each year over the past frames, which featured a total of 22 tie scores cross country. “Nick Demaline, Cole Gorski decade. and nine lead changes. The fifth set came and Zack Bazile are all seniors, and they got Leading the way for the Buckeyes was down to the final moments. Ohio State had us off to a great start Friday (Feb. 23). They sophomore Noah Lense, who set a program match point at 14-13 and 15-14. The Buckeyes are the ones who have bought into this pro- record of 1:40.83 while finishing second in had a service error from Hanes the first time gram. They have really motivated everyone the 200 butterfly on the final day of competi- around before a kill from Ricky Gevis allowed else. tion. The finish earned Lense a second-team Loyola to tie it at 15. From there, the home “And then I’m proud of the young ones. All-Big Ten nod. team scored the final two points as the match They really fought to the end. My coaches The 400 freestyle relay team finished sec- ended on a Jake Freeman ace. are amazing. They have put their heart and ond on the final day as well with a time Hanes and Szerszen each had prolific soul into this profession, and they want to of 2:50.12, the third-best readout in school days, with 21 and 20 kills, respectively, but see the best for these kids. For all of us to be history. The team consisted of freshman the Buckeyes were once again dominated at able to experience a victory like this is really Paul DeLakis, junior Matt Abeysinghe, soph- the net. Loyola had eight team blocks to just exciting.” omore Andrew Loy and junior Mossimo two for Ohio State. Dennis became the first woman in confer- Chavez, with each of the four earning sec- ence history to lead a men’s team to the Big ond-team All-Big Ten honors. OSU Softball Takes Win Ten title. Leading the women’s program, she Junior Brad Shannon was Ohio State’s Streak To 6 Games led the Buckeyes to indoor and outdoor titles sportsmanship award honoree. The No. 21 Ohio State softball team saw in 2011, an outdoor title in 2012 and an indoor its winning streak stretch to six games at title in 2015. Men’s Volleyball Loses the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas, Feb. Ohio State got off to a hot start on the first 2 Conference Bouts 23-24 with wins over Wichita State (twice) day of competition when Bazile won the long After a 4-0 start in the Midwest and Texas. The Buckeyes (11-1) also had a jump title with a leap of 8.04 meters, winning Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the game scheduled with Virginia Tech on Feb. by almost two feet. Demaline added his title Ohio State men’s volleyball team suffered 23, but it was canceled due to rain. with a throw of 20.33, a personal best and the conference road losses at the hands of Lewis With the game against the Hokies off, the third-best throw in program history. Gorski (Feb. 22) and Loyola (Feb. 24). The losses Buckeyes opened their slate in the Lone Star picked up his pole vault title with a clearance moved the Buckeyes to 11-4 overall and 4-2 State with a 4-3 win over Wichita State the of 5.28 meters. in the MIVA. afternoon of Feb. 23. Ohio State was trailing, The meet came down to the final event Ohio State, ranked fourth, traveled to 3-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh on the second day, when the foursome of Romeville, Ill., to face No. 9 Lewis (10-4, 4-1 when junior shortstop Lilli Piper blasted a sophomore Asa Burke, Gray, senior Drelan MIVA) on Feb. 22, falling in straight sets for two-run walk-off homer to give the Buckeyes Bramwell and freshman Andre Jeff took the its first conference loss (25-18, 25-22, 25-23). the win. Before Piper’s home run, freshman 4x400 relay in a time of 3:05.09. The gold was The Buckeyes fell behind, 1-0, in the first third baseman Niki Carver drew a walk to put good enough to keep Ohio State ahead of set and never took the lead throughout the the tying run on base. second-place Nebraska, which finished with frame, eventually seeing deficits of 10-4, 16-9 Piper and senior pitcher Shelby McCombs 93.5 points. Indiana was third with 86, while and 24-15. The final two sets were each con- each had a home run and two RBI while Penn State was a close fourth with 84 team tested while the Buckeyes even led, 20-19, in Carver finished with two hits, including a points. the third. Lewis eventually took a 24-22 lead, double. On the women’s side, senior Chantel Ray though, and the match ended on a service In the circle, junior Morgan Ray got the won her first Big Ten 60-meter hurdle title error from Ohio State redshirt freshman start but lasted just two innings, giving up with a time of 8.21, matching her personal opposite-side hitter Jake Hanes. two hits, two runs and three walks. She was best. The women finished with 75 team Hanes led the Buckeyes with 16 kills in replaced by McCombs, who finished the points, behind Minnesota (91.5) and Purdue the match while senior outside hitter Nicolas game with three hits, one run and five strike- Briefs Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 29

outs over fiving innings pitched to improve to and freshman forward Emma Maltais round- (7-4) win over Notre Dame’s No. 35 Alex 5-0 on the season. ed out the scoring. Lebedev. The following day, Ohio State again used Senior defenseman Dani Sadek and soph- The Fighting Irish picked up a win in the a seventh-inning comeback to pick up an omore defenseman Jincy Dunne each tallied next match as William Howells defeated 8-5 victory against the Longhorns (6-7) at three assists for the Buckeyes. Freshman sophomore Alex Kobelt (6-4, 4-6, 7-5). The McCombs Field. Texas scored five in the goalie Amanda Zeglen saved all 21 shots she Buckeyes closed out the match when No. 55 third to make it 5-2 before the Buckeyes faced. sophomore JJ Wolf came back to top No. 125 pulled within one in the fourth. In the top The next day, the Buckeyes built a 3-0 lead Richard Ciamarra 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. of the seventh, senior catcher Becca Gavin on goals from Field, Maltais and freshman hit a leadoff single before freshman Taylor forward Tatum Skaggs before the Mavericks Women’s Tennis Stevens picked up the first pinch hit of her got on the board late in the second period. Adds 2 Wins career with a single. The Longhorns then In the third, Field and Skaggs each scored After a lengthy layoff, the Ohio State intentionally walked Piper, loading the bases, again to sandwich a Minnesota State goal for women’s tennis team returned to the court before junior second baseman Emily Clark the final tally. Feb. 22 with a 7-0 win against Penn State in hit a grand slam on a full count to put the Boyle added three assists once again State College, Pa., before returning home to Buckeyes ahead for good. while Zeglen made 29 saves on 31 shots. beat Arizona State, 4-3, in Columbus three Piper scored three runs for the Buckeyes days later. Before the two matches, the with two RBI to lead the offense. In the cir- Men’s Golf Finishes No. 14 Buckeyes (5-1, 1-0 Big Ten) hadn’t cle, McCombs gave up five runs on five hits 10th In Puerto Rico played since a 6-1 win over Notre Dame on and two walks in five innings before being The Ohio State men’s golf team finished Feb. 4. replaced by freshman Skylar Hayward, who 10th out of 15 schools at the Puerto Rico The match against Penn State (4-4, 0-1) pitched 11/3 frames with one hit and no runs. Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, held marked Ohio State’s Big Ten opener, and Ray entered for the final 22/3 innings and Feb. 18-20, with a team score of plus-30 882. the conference slate got off to an exquisite allowed one hit and one walk with four strike- Clemson finished first with a plus-2 854 while start. The Buckeyes took an early 1-0 lead outs while improving to 5-1 on the season. Oklahoma was a stroke behind at 855. by winning the doubles point as the No. 15 In the second game of the doubleheader, In the final round, junior Daniel Wetterich team of redshirt freshman Shiori Fukuda and Ohio State faced Wichita State (6-7) again and fifth-year senior Josh Wick each tallied senior Anna Sanford won their match before and cruised to a 9-0 victory in just five innings. 2-over-par scores of 73 to lead the Buckeyes. freshman Emma DeCoste and sophomore The Buckeyes were ahead 2-0 heading into Wetterich’s day included three birdies and Danielle Wolf polished off their opponents the top of the fourth when they added seven an eagle as he finished tied for 34th overall at as well. more runs to put the game away. plus-8. Wick tied for 38th at plus-9. In singles, the Buckeyes swept the Piper was 3 for 3, including a double and a Ohio State’s highest individual finisher slate without losing a single set. Fukuda, triple, with three runs and an RBI. Senior first was sophomore Jed Coughlin III, who fin- ranked 64th, had the closest matchup, beat- baseman Ashley Goodwin went 2 of 3 with ished tied for 21st at plus-4. He fired a first- ing Frederikke Svarre, 7-5, 7-5. Ohio State’s two RBI while McCombs, who didn’t pitch in round score of minus-2 69 before closing the other ranked singles player, No. 72 senior the game, had two RBI as well. tournament with a 73 and a 75 on the final Olivia Sneed, beat Shannon Hanley, 6-1, 6-4. Ray started for the Buckeyes and moved two days. Sanford, DeCoste, freshman Mary Beth to 6-1 on the year after pitching four scoreless Hurley and Wolf won their singles matches innings while giving up two hits and two Men’s Tennis Knocks as well. walks and striking out five. Junior Kat Duvall Off No. 17 Notre Dame After returning home, the Buckeyes faced closed out the game with a strikeout in a The No. 3 Ohio State men’s tennis team a much stiffer test in the form of the No. 22 perfect fifth inning. improved to 11-1 on the season with a 5-2 Sun Devils (5-3). win over No. 17 Notre Dame (7-5) in South Ohio State once again spotted itself an Buckeyes Sweep Minnesota St. Bend, Ind., at the Eck Tennis Pavilion on early lead with the doubles point as Sanford In WCHA 1st Round Feb. 25. and Fukuda and Wolf and DeCoste again The No. 6 Ohio State women’s hock- The Buckeyes had a strong start to the picked up wins. ey team (23-9-4) advanced to the Western competition, picking up the doubles point In singles, though, things were much clos- Collegiate Hockey Association Final Faceoff with wins by the No. 10 duo of senior Mikael er than the match against the Nittany Lions. with wins against Minnesota State at the Torpegaard and junior Martin Joyce and the Fukuda got things rolling with a 6-3, 6-3 win OSU Ice Rink on Feb. 23-24. The Buckeyes unranked pairing of fifth-year senior Matt against IIze Hattingh of Arizona State before topped the Mavericks (5-28-1), 6-0, in the first Mendez and junior Hunter Tubert. the Sun Devils picked up consecutive wins. game before winning, 5-2, in the second. The Ohio State continued its strong play in First, Sasa Klanecek beat DeCoste (6-1, 6-4) wins set Ohio State up for a semifinal game singles, winning the first two matches to fin- before No. 107 Savannah Slaysman topped against Minnesota in Minneapolis on March ish. First, Joyce defeated Tristan McCormick Hurley (6-1, 7-6 (7-5)). 3 at 6:07 p.m. (6-1, 6-3) before No. 49 freshman John Sanford broke the 2-2 deadlock with In the opener against Minnesota State, the McNally topped Guillermo Cabrera (6-1, 6-4). an upset win against No. 84 Lauryn John- Buckeyes got on the board early and often, The Fighting Irish got on the board after that, Baptiste (6-4, 6-3) before Arizona State’s scoring three goals in the first period. Junior though, as unranked Matt Gamble defeated Tereza Kolarova edged Wolf (2-6, 7-5, 6-3). forward Maddy Field led the Buckeyes Ohio State sophomore No. 30 Kyle Seelig That left the match up to Sneed, who fought with a hat trick while junior forward Charly (6-3, 6-4). Torpegaard, ranked second, got back to defeat Nicole Fossa Huergo 5-7, 6-3, Dahlquist, junior defenseman Lauren Boyle the Buckeyes back on track with a 7-5, 7-6 6-2. 30 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Briefs

Men’s Lax Edges team recorded enough solid finishes to win Jessica Porvasnik at the same tournament Jacksonville In OT the matchup. in 2014. Lee followed that round with a 69 It took some extra time, but the Ohio State before again shooting 64 in her third attempt. men’s lacrosse team continued its undefeat- Fencing Team Wins Lee finished two strokes clear of ed start to the season with a 12-11 overtime MFC Championship Oklahoma’s Kaitlin Milligan and five strokes win at Jacksonville on Feb. 25. Competing in Columbus on Feb. 24-25, ahead of Nebraska’s Kate Smith. The The Buckeyes (4-0) trailed 9-6 after three the Ohio State fencing team finished first Sooners finished first in the team standings quarters before outscoring Jacksonville (2-3), at the 2018 Midwest Fencing Conference with a score of minus-25 839. 5-2, in the final frame to force overtime, Championships with a score of 1,590. The Sophomore Adeena Shears finished tied where sophomore attackman Tre Leclaire win marked the fifth straight conference title for ninth with a 5-under 211 after shooting scored his third goal of the game and 11th of for the Buckeyes. rounds of 74, 67 and 70. the season to give Ohio State the win. The No. 3 men’s squad finished with 810 Ohio State got on the board early with points, besting second-place Michigan by 75. OSU Women’s Lacrosse goals from senior attackman Colin Chell The trio of freshman William Gaziano, soph- Suffers 2 Losses and junior attackman Gale Thorpe at the omore Leon Cao and junior Nicola Sirito The Ohio State women’s lacrosse team hit 9:57 and 8:25 points in the first quarter. Both marched to the final against Chicago, where the road for games at Jacksonville on Feb. 23 scores were assisted by sophomore attack- they finished 5-1 to take the foil title for Ohio and at Cincinnati on Feb. 26 but came away man Lukas Buckley. State. In the épée and sabre competitions, the with losses in each contest. In Jacksonville, Jacksonville scored the game’s next five Buckeyes cruised on the way to the finals with the Buckeyes fell, 17-16, in overtime before goals, though, before OSU tied things up at a total of two losses – one in each competition. traveling to the Queen City and losing, 17-12. the 11:27 mark in the third quarter on fresh- In épée, freshman Matthew Comes, junior The road trip dropped Ohio State to 1-3 on man midfielder Jackson Reid’s second goal. Oliver Shindler, sophomore John Culpepper the season. The Dolphins responded with a three-goal and freshman Jack Bradford clinched the Against Jacksonville, the Buckeyes struck run before Chell scored his second with 3:13 title for Ohio State by beating Lawrence, first on a goal from senior attackman Lauren remaining in the third. 5-1. The group of sophomore Frank Ditullio, Sherry before Jacksonville (2-1) bounced The teams traded goals to open the fourth senior Andrew Herczak, freshman Matthew back to take a 2-1 lead. The Buckeyes eventu- before OSU picked up tallies from Thorpe Hayes, senior Hector Florencia and senior ally took an 8-6 advantage before Jacksonville and junior attackman Jack Jasinski to pull Frederik Koch won the sabre competition scored the final five goals of the first half and within one at 10-9. Jacksonville’s Jeremy with a 5-2 finish against Michigan. the first goal of the second to make it 12-8. Winston made it a two-goal game before On the women’s side, the fourth-ranked Sophomore midfielder Liza Hernandez, Leclaire scored with 1:34 remaining. He Buckeyes finished in second place behind who scored once in the first half, led a sec- added his second with two seconds on the Northwestern with a team score of 780. In ond-half charge, though, scoring four more clock before tallying again in overtime for sabre, Aleksandra Kolmykova, Joanne Chen, goals after the break to help the Buckeyes the win. Maddalena Bosetti and Sarah Merza were force overtime. Ohio State was trailing, 16-15, Jacksonville outshot the Buckeyes, 36-27, undefeated heading into the final before los- before junior attackman Sara Dickinson while Ohio State senior goalie Matthew ing to No. 9 Northwestern, 5-2. scored with two seconds left to force the Smidt made three saves. In foil, the Buckeye women fell to extra frame. Northwestern, 5-4, after the group of Camilla In overtime, though, Jacksonville’s Megan Women’s Gymnastics Rivano, Gabriela Cecchini, Alexa Laskaris Prescott scored with 2:00 on the clock to end Wins 3-Team Meet and Morgan Mzhen went undefeated in the the game. The Ohio State women’s gymnastics team early rounds as well. Hernandez finished with five goals while recorded a total score of 196.125 on Feb. junior midfielder Baley Parrott had three. 25 in Bowling Green, Ohio, to win a three- Women’s Golf Team Junior attackman McKayla Conti scored two team meet against Bowling Green (195.400) Surges To Finish 2nd goals and dished out two assists while Ohio and No. 24 Central Michigan (195.375). The After the first day of action at the State sophomore goalie Jill Rizzo made eight result made for the Buckeyes’ first ranked Westbrook Spring Invitational on Feb. 25 in saves. win of the year. Peoria, Ariz., the Ohio State women’s golf Against Cincinnati (3-1), Sherry tallied the “It was a loud and crazy environment this team stood third in the standings with a first goal once again before Parrott eventually afternoon and a great learning experience as team score of 559. A day later, the Buckeyes tied it at 2, but the Bearcats took over from we head down the stretch,” said Ohio State managed to jump one spot in the standings, there. Cincinnati ran off four straight goals head coach Meredith Paulicivic. finishing second out of the 15 squads com- to take a 6-2 lead that eventually grew to 9-5 The Buckeyes took first in vault (49.025) peting at the Westbrook Village Golf Club at halftime. and uneven bars (49.325) while finishing with a minus-24 840. The Buckeyes kept pace in the second second in balance beam (48.700) and floor The Buckeyes’ final team score was just half, but the push wasn’t enough as they exercise (49.075). two strokes shy of tying the program’s best were outscored, 8-7, after the break despite On uneven bars, Ohio State senior Alexis 54-hole finish, which came four years ago at ending the game on a 4-1 run. Mattern finished in a three-way tie for first the same outing. Senior attackman Molly Wood had four with a career-high score of 9.900 while soph- Ohio State junior Jaclyn Lee won the goals, while Sherry and Parrott each fin- omore Amanda Huang finished just off the tournament with a score of 19-under 197. She ished with two. Rizzo made six saves for the podium with a 9.875. That accounted for the opened the tournament with a 64, breaking Buckeyes, who were outshot, 33-29, and lost Buckeyes’ lone individual event win, but the the previous program record of 65 set by the ground ball battle, 24-22.

32 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Scoreboard

FOOTBALL WOMEN’S GOLF April 14 SPRING GAME, 1:45 p.m. Feb. 11-13 Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes, Calif., 17th/18 (922); Sept. 1 OREGON STATE, TBA; 8 RUTGERS, TBA; 15 vs. TCU at Arlington, Texas, TBA; 22 25-26 Westbrook Spring Invitational at Peoria, Ariz., 2nd/15 (840). TULANE, TBA; 29 at Penn State, TBA. March 16-18 Clover Cup at Mesa, Ariz.; 23-25 Clemson Invitational at Sunset, S.C. Oct. 6 INDIANA, TBA; 13 MINNESOTA, TBA; 20 at Purdue, TBA. April 14-15 LADY BUCKEYE SPRING INVITATIONAL; 20-22 Big Ten Championships at Nov. 3 NEBRASKA, TBA; 10 at Michigan State, TBA; 17 at Maryland, TBA; 24 MICHIGAN, Cincinnati. TBA. May 7-9 NCAA Regional; 18-23 NCAA Championships at Stillwater, Okla. BASEBALL MEN’S GYMNASTICS (5-3) Jan. 13 Rocky Mountain Open at Colorado Springs, Colo., 2nd/6 (404.450); 20 at (1) Feb. 16 Snowbird Classic at Port Charlotte, Fla., vs. UW-Milwaukee, W 11-7; vs. Canisius, Nebraska, L 411.750-404.150. W 6-4; 17 Snowbird classic at Port Charlotte, Fla., vs. Canisius, L 5-4; 18 Snowbird Classic Feb. 3 at (7) Michigan, L 411.850-410.650; 9 (7) PENN STATE, L 417.400-414.900; 15/17 at Port Charlotte, Fla., vs. UW-Milwaukee, W 13-3; 22 Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at Surprise, Winter Cup at Las Vegas, NTS. Ariz., vs. Utah, W 7-2; 23 Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at Surprise, Ariz., vs. (2) Oregon State, L March 3 Arnold Challenge at Ohio State Fair Ground, 1:30 p.m.; 10 at Stanford, 7 p.m.; 10-8; 24 Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at Surprise, Ariz., vs. Utah, W 20-13; 25 Big Ten/Pac-12 23 OKLAHOMA, 6 p.m. Challenge at Surprise, Ariz., vs. (2) Oregon State, L 6-1. April 6-7 Big Ten Championships at Ann Arbor, Mich., 7 p.m.; 7 p.m.; 20 NCAA Qualifier March 2 Cox Diamond Invitational at Pensacola, Fla., vs. Nicholls State, 3 p.m.; 3 Cox at Chicago; 21 NCAA Championships at Chicago, 7 p.m. Diamond Invitational at Pensacola, Fla., vs. Southern Miss, 4 p.m.; 4 Cox Diamond Invitational WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS at Pensacola, Fla., vs. Eastern Michigan, 11 a.m.; 9 Coastal Carolina Tournament at Conway, Jan. 6 at (6) UCLA, L 196.250-193.200; 13 at (5) Michigan, L 197.550-194.925; 19 at S.C., vs. High Point, 11 a.m.; 10 Coastal Carolina Tournament at Conway, S.C., vs. High Iowa, L 195.725-195.300; 27 MINNESOTA & ILLINOIS STATE, 1st/3 (196.775). Point, 11 a.m.; at Coastal Carolina, 3 p.m.; 11 Coastal Carolina Tournament at Conway, Feb. 3 at Rutgers with West Chester & Wisconsin-Whitewater, 1st/4 (195.850); 9 PENN S.C., at Coastal Carolina, 11 a.m.; 13-14 at UNC-Wilmington, 4 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 16-18 CSUN, STATE, W 196.200-196.025; 17 WESTERN MICHIGAN, W 195.725-193.900; 25 at Bowling 5:05 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 21 EASTERN MICHIGAN, 5:05 p.m.; 23-25 GEORGETOWN, Green, vs. Central Michigan, 1st/3 (196.125). 5:05 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 28 TOLEDO, 6:35 p.m.; 30-April 1 NEBRASKA, 6:35 p.m.; March 2 at Kentucky, 7 p.m.; 11 N.C. STATE & CENTRAL MICHIGAN, 2 p.m.; 17 Big 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m. Five Meet at East Lansing, Mich., 2 p.m.; 24 Big Ten Championships at Champaign, Ill., TBA. April 4 KENT STATE, 6:35 p.m.; 6-8 at Iowa, 7:05 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 2:05 p.m.; 10 OHIO, April 7 NCAA REGIONALS, 6 p.m.; 20 NCAA Championships at St. Louis, TBA. 6:35 p.m.; 13-15 at Penn State, 6:30 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 1 p.m.; 17 MIAMI (OHIO), 6:35 p.m.; MEN’S ICE HOCKEY 20-22 INDIANA, 6:35 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 27-29 MINNESOTA, 6:35 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; (21-8-5, 14-8-2-1 BIG TEN) 1:05 p.m. Sept. 30 RYERSON - Exhibition, L 7-4. May 2 at Ball State, 3 p.m.; 4-6 at Illinois, 7 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 8-9 CAMPBELL, 6:35 Oct. 6-7 at (12) Wisconsin, W 3-2; L 3-2; 13-14 RENSSELAER, T 1-1 (OT); T 1-1 (OT); p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 11-13 PURDUE, 6:35 p.m.; 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 15 at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.; 20-21 at Massachusetts, W 3-1; W 3-0; 27 ROBERT MORRIS, W 5-3; 28 at Robert Morris, 17-19 at Michigan State, 4:05 p.m.; 4:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 23-27 Big Ten Tournament at W 3-1. Omaha, Neb. Nov. 3-4 (10) NOTRE DAME, L 4-1; L 3-2; 10-11 at Connecticut, W 5-4; T 1-1 (OT); 24-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL at (17) Michigan, W 3-2; W 5-1. (24-7, 15-3 BIG TEN) Dec. 1-2 PENN STATE, T 5-5 (OT/SL); L 4-0; 8-9 (7) MINNESOTA, W 2-1 (OT); W 4-1; Nov. 5 WOOSTER (Exhibition), W 88-63; 10 ROBERT MORRIS, W 95-64; 12 RADFORD, W 29-30 NIAGARA, W 3-2; W 4-1. 82-72; 16 TEXAS SOUTHERN, W 82-64; 19 NORTHEASTERN, W 80-55; 23 PK80 Invitational Jan. 5-6 at Michigan State, W 4-1; W 5-3; 12-13 at (13) Penn State, L 5-2; W 5-1; 26-27 at Portland, Ore., vs. (17) Gonzaga, L 86-59; 24 PK80 Invitational at Portland, Ore., vs. (17) MICHIGAN, W 4-0; W 5-3. Stanford, W 79-71; 26 PK80 Invitational at Portland, Ore., vs. Butler, L 67-66 (OT); 29 BIG Feb. 2-3 MICHIGAN STATE, W 4-2; L 6-3; 9-10 at (1) Notre Dame, L 2-1; W 5-1; 16-17 TEN/ACC CHALLENGE vs. CLEMSON, L 79-65. at (10/9) Minnesota, L 2-1; T 1-1 (OT/SW); 23-24 WISCONSIN, W 6-2; W 4-0. Dec. 2 at Wisconsin, W 83-58; 4 MICHIGAN, W 71-62; 9 WILLIAM & MARY, W 97-62; March 2-4 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS vs. MICHIGAN STATE (best of 16 APPALACHIAN STATE, W 80-67; 19 THE CITADEL, W 94-65; 23 CBSSports Classic at New 3), 7 p.m.; 7 p.m.; 7 p.m.; 10 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals; 17 Big Ten Tournament Orleans vs. (5) North Carolina, L 86-72; 30 MIAMI (OHIO), W 72-59. Championship. Jan. 4 at Iowa, W 92-81; 7 (1) MICHIGAN STATE, W 80-64; 11 MARYLAND, WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY W 91-69; 14 at Rutgers, W 68-46; 17 at Northwestern (Rosemont, Ill.), W 71-65; (23-9-4, 16-6-4 WCHA) 20 Super Saturday - College Hoops & Hockey Doubleheader at New York, N.Y., vs. Sept. 26 SOUTH KOREAN OLYMPIC TEAM - Exhibition, W 8-0; 29-30 RPI, W 4-1; W 4-0. Minnesota, W 67-49; 22 NEBRASKA, W 64-59; 25 PENN STATE, L 82-79; 30 INDIANA, Oct. 6-7 at (4) Minnesota, W 3-2; T 5-5 (SW); 13-14 (5) MINNESOTA DULUTH, W 2-0; W W 71-56. 4-3; 20-21 at St. Cloud State, W 4-0; W 4-0. Feb. 4 ILLINOIS, W 75-67; 7 at (3) Purdue, W 64-63; 10 IOWA, W 82-64; 15 at Penn Nov. 4-5 at (1) Wisconsin, L 7-0; L 3-1; 10-11 MINNESOTA STATE, W 2-1; W 5-3; 17-18 State, L 79-56; 18 at (22) Michigan, L 74-62; 20 RUTGERS, W 79-52; 23 at Indiana, W 80-78 at Bemidji State, T 3-3 (SL); W 5-4; 24-25 at (9) Robert Morris, W 7-3; L 3-2 (OT). (2OT). Dec. 1-2 ST. CLOUD STATE, T 2-2 (SW); T 0-0 (SW); 15-16 at Mercyhurst, W 2-1.; L 6-4. March 2 Big Ten Tournament at New York vs. Northwestern OR Penn State, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5-6 PENN STATE, L 5-1; W 2-0; 12-13 (9) ROBERT MORRIS, W 5-0; W 5-2; 19-20 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (5/6) MINNESOTA, W 3-2; W 5-1; 26-27 at Minnesota Duluth, L 4-1; L 2-1. (24-6, 13-3 BIG TEN) Feb. 2-3 (1) WISCONSIN, W 1-0; W 3-1; 9-10 at Minnesota State, L 4-1; W 3-2; 16-17 Oct. 29 ASHLAND (Exhibition), W 110-80. BEMIDJI STATE, W 4-0; L 2-1; 23-24 WCHA FIRST ROUND vs. MINNESOTA STATE, W 6-0; W 5-2. Nov. 5 URBANA (Exhibition), W 135-54; 10 (10) STANFORD at St. John Arena, W 85-64; March 3 WCHA Final Face-Off Semifinal at Minneapolis vs. Minnesota, 6:07 p.m.; 4 12 Countdown to Columbus at Nationwide Arena vs. (9) Louisville, L 95-90 (OT); 15 IDAHO, WCHA Final Face-Off Championship at Minneapolis; 10 NCAA Quarterfinals; 16 NCAA W 99-56; 17 QUINNIPIAC, W 95-63; 19 WASHINGTON, W 85-76; 23 Play4Kay Shootout at Frozen Four Semifinal at Minneapolis; 18 NCAA Frozen Four Championship at Minneapolis. Las Vegas vs. Memphis, W 100-69; 24 Play4Kay Shootout at Las Vegas vs. FGCU, W 104- MEN’S LACROSSE 62; 25 Play4Kay Shootout at Las Vegas vs. (14) Stanford, W 94-82 (OT); 30 ACC/Big Ten (4-0) Challenge at (14) Duke, L 69-60. Feb. 3 at Cleveland State, W 13-6; 10 (20) BOSTON UNIVERSITY, W 15-9; 17 HOFSTRA, Dec. 3 MAINE, W 83-70; 6 at Florida, W 103-77; 15 DARTMOUTH, W 103-70; 17 at W 9-7; 25 at Jacksonville, W 12-11 (OT). Cincinnati, W 87-76; 28 at Nebraska, W 73-61; 31 INDIANA, W 85-70. March 2 Midwest Lacrosse Classic at Detroit vs. Marquette, 5 p.m.; 4 Midwest Lacrosse Jan. 4 MINNESOTA, W 91-75; 7 at (22) Michigan, W 78-71 (OT); 13 at Indiana, W 77-62; Classic at Detroit vs. Detroit Mercy, 2 p.m.; 10 TOWSON, 4 p.m.; 17 at Denver, 3 p.m.; 25 16 (19) MICHIGAN, L 84-75; 22 at (14) Maryland, L 99-69; 25 at (25) Iowa, L 103-89; 27 NOTRE DAME, Noon; 31 PENN STATE, 3 p.m. MICHIGAN STATE, W 78-62; 31 PENN STATE, W 94-64. April 7 at Johns Hopkins, Noon; 14 MICHIGAN, 11 a.m.; 22 at Maryland, 2 p.m.; 28 Feb. 3 at Wisconsin, W 68-55; 8 RUTGERS, W 90-68; 11 at (22) USF, L 84-65; 13 at RUTGERS, 4 p.m. Illinois, W 88-69; 18 PURDUE, W 73-60; 21 NORTHWESTERN, W 88-54; 25 at Penn State, May 3 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at Ann Arbor, Mich., TBA; 5 Big Ten Tournament W 89-64. Finals at Ann Arbor, Mich., TBA. March 2 Big Ten Tournament at Indianapolis vs. Rutgers OR Purdue, Noon. WOMEN’S LACROSSE FENCING (1-3) Jan. 5-8 Division I, Junior NAC at Virginia Beach, Va., NTS. Feb. 10 at (10) Navy, L 9-7; 16 DETROIT MERCY, W 20-5; 23 at Jacksonville, L 17-16 (OT); Feb. 3-4 Northwestern Duals at South Bend, Ind., NTS; 16-19 Junior Olympics at 26 at Cincinnati, L 17-12. Memphis, Tenn., NTS; 24-25 MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS, Men: 1st; Women: 2nd. March 9 at Binghamton, 4 p.m.; 11 vs. Massachusetts at Reading, Pa., 1 p.m.; 14 March 10 Regional NCAA Qualifiers at Cleveland; 22-25 NCAA Championships at State CONNECTICUT, 7 p.m.; 17 at Michigan, Noon; 22 RUTGERS, 7 p.m.; 28 ROBERT MORRIS, 4 College, Pa. p.m.; 31 PENN STATE, Noon. April 20-23 Division I National Championships at Richmond, Va. April 6 at Northwestern, 7 p.m.; 11 vs. Bucknell at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.; 15 MARYLAND, MEN’S GOLF Noon; 20 at Johns Hopkins, 5 p.m. Feb. 9-10 Big Ten Match Play Championship at Palm Coast, Fla., W 5-1/W 4-3; L 6-0/W SOFTBALL 6-0; 18-20 Puerto Rico Classic at Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, 10th/15 (882). (11-1) March 18-20 Linger Longer Invitational at Greensboro, Ga. Feb. 9 FAU “First Pitch” Classic at Boca Raton, Fla., vs. NIU, W 9-1 (6 innings); vs. April 14-15 Boilermaker Invitational at West Lafayette, Ind.; 21-22 ROBERT KEPLER Duke, W 5-2; 10 FAU “First Pitch” Classic at Boca Raton, Fla., at Florida Atlantic, W 10-1; INTERCOLLEGIATE; 27-29 Big Ten Championships at Baltimore. vs. NIU, W 10-2; 11 FAU “First Pitch” Classic at Boca Raton, Fla., vs. Boston University, May 14-16 NCAA REGIONAL; 25-30 NCAA Championships at Stillwater, Okla. W 3-2 (8 innings). 16 Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Raleigh, N.C., at N.C. State, L 5-4 (8 Scoreboard Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 33

innings); 17 Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Raleigh, N.C., vs. Louisville, W 6-5 (9 innings); at Championship at Seattle vs. (3) North Carolina, W 4-3; 25 at (17) Notre Dame, W 5-2; 28 N.C. State, W 5-4 (8 innings); 18 Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Raleigh, N.C., vs. Louisville, PENN STATE, 4 p.m. W 4-0; 23 Texas Invitational at Austin, Texas, vs. Virginia Tech, canceled (rain); vs. Wichita March 7 at Georgia, 2:30 p.m.; 13 at USC, 6 p.m.; 14 vs. Arizona State at Los Angeles, State, W 4-3; 24 Texas Invitational at Austin, Texas, at Texas, W 8-5; vs. Wichita State, 8 p.m.; 23 at Michigan State, 3 p.m.; 25 MICHIGAN, Noon; 30 at Minnesota, 7 p.m. W 9-0 (5 innings). April 1 at Wisconsin, 1 p.m.; 4 at Kentucky, 1 p.m.; 6 IOWA, 6 p.m.; 8 NEBRASKA, Noon; March 9 Louisville Slugger Invitational at Fullerton, Calif., vs. San Diego State, 4 p.m.; 14 ILLINOIS, Noon; 15 NORTHWESTERN, Noon; 20 at Indiana, 6 p.m.; 22 at Purdue, Noon; 10 Louisville Slugger Invitational at Fullerton, Calif., vs. San Jose State, 1 p.m.; at Cal State 26 Big Ten Tournament at Iowa City, Iowa, TBA. Fullerton, 3:30 p.m.; 11 Louisville Slugger Invitational at Fullerton, Calif., vs. UCLA, 1 p.m.; WOMEN’S TENNIS 13 at Loyola Marymount, 3 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.; 14 at CSUN, 3 p.m.; 16 Easton Invitational (5-1, 1-0 BIG TEN) at Fullerton, Calif., vs. Grand Canyon, 6 p.m.; at Cal State Fullerton, 11 p.m.; 17 Easton Jan. 19-21 Miami Spring Invite with Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), NTS; 26 ITA Invitational at Fullerton, Calif., vs. CSUN, 9 p.m.; 18 Easton Invitational at Fullerton, Calif., vs. KICKOFF WEEKEND vs. KANSAS, W 4-1; 27 ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Oklahoma, 1 p.m.; 23-25 at Indiana, 6 p.m.; 1 p.m.; 1 p.m.; 28 KENTUCKY, 6 p.m.; 30-April vs. WAKE FOREST, L 4-2 1 WISCONSIN, 6 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 11 a.m. Feb. 1 KENTUCKY, W 4-1; 4 NOTRE DAME, W 6-1; 22 at Penn State, W 7-0; 25 (22) April 6-8 at Rutgers, 3 p.m.; 1 p.m.; Noon; 11 PENN STATE, 5 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.; 13-15 ARIZONA STATE, W 4-3. at Northwestern, 4:30 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 1 p.m.; 17 OHIO, 5 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.; 20-22 MICHIGAN March 2 at Baylor, 5 p.m.; 4 at Texas, Noon; 7 NEBRASKA, 1 p.m.; 13 DAYTON, Noon; STATE, 6 p.m.; 2 p.m.; Noon; 27-29 MARYLAND, 6 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 1 p.m. BOWLING GREEN, 5 p.m.; 25 at Iowa, 1 p.m.; 30 MICHIGAN, 5 p.m. May 2 PITTSBURGH, 6 p.m.; 4-6 at Michigan, 6 p.m.; 1 p.m.; 6 p.m.; 10-12 Big Ten April 1 MICHIGAN STATE, Noon; 6 at Minnesota, 5 p.m.; 8 at Wisconsin, 1 p.m.; 13 at Tournament at Madison, Wis.; 18-20 NCAA Regionals; 24-27 NCAA Super Regionals; Indiana, 4 p.m.; 15 at Purdue, Noon; 20 ILLINOIS, 4 p.m.; 22 NORTHWESTERN, Noon; 26 Big 31-June 6 College World Series at Oklahoma City, Okla. Ten Tournament at Minneapolis, TBA. SWIMMING & DIVING INDOOR TRACK & FIELD Oct. 27 KENYON, Men: W 189-69; Women: W 185-73. Jan. 5 BUCKEYE CLASSIC, NTS; 12-13 Kentucky Invite, NTS; 20 Michigan Invite, Men: Nov. 3 DENISON, Men: W 200-90; Women: 201-92; AKRON (women only), W 184-109; 2nd/4 (146.50); Women: 1st/4 (150); 26-27 Columbia Challenge at New York, NTS. 9-11 Minnesota Diving Invitational at Minneapolis, NTS; 17-19 OHIO STATE INVITATIONAL, Feb. 2-3 Armory Invite at New York, NTS; Notre Dame Invite, NTS; 9-10 Iowa State Invite, Men: 2nd/9 (734.50); Women: 4th/12 (642); 29-Dec. 2 2017 AT&T WINTER NATIONALS, NTS; Vanderbilt Invite, NTS; 16 BUCKEYE TUNE UP, NTS; 23-24 Big Ten Championships at NTS; 30-Dec. 2 Total Performance Invitational at Gambier, Ohio, NTS. Geneva, Ohio, Men: 1st/12 (101.5); Women: T-3rd/13 (75). Jan. 5-6 at Kentucky, Men: W 210.50-178.50; Women: W 204-185; vs. Toledo (women March 9-10 NCAA Championships at College Station, Texas. only), W 331-54; 18 at Alabama, Men: W 168-132; Women: W 180-118; 20 MICHIGAN, MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Men: L 157-143; Women: L 176-124; VIRGINIA TECH, Men: W 207-93; Women: W 202-98; (11-4, 4-2 MIVA) RUTGERS (women only), W 239-61; 26-27 Shamrock Invitational at South Bend, Ind., Men: Jan. 6 NORTH GREENVILLE, W 3-0; 12 STANFORD, W 3-1; 13 (6) BYU, L 3-2; 18 Big Ten/ 2nd/5 (933.5); Women: 3rd/6 (735.5). Pac-12 Challenge vs. (13) USC at Los Angeles, W 3-1; 20 Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge vs. (2) Feb. 10-11 OHIO STATE WINTER INVITATIONAL, NTS; 14-17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS UCLA at Los Angeles, L 3-2; 25 SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.), W 3-0; 28 PENN STATE, W 3-0. (Women), 3rd/13; 21-24 Big Ten Championships at Minneapolis (Men), 3rd/10 (1,300.5). Feb. 2 at Charleston (W.Va.), W 3-0; 3 at George Mason, W 3-0; 8 BALL STATE, W 3-2; March 4 LAST CHANCE MEET (Men); 8-10 NCAA ZONE DIVING; 14-17 NCAA 10 FORT WAYNE, W 3-0; 15 LINDENWOOD, W 3-0; 18 QUINCY, W 3-0; 22 at (9) Lewis, L CHAMPIONSHIPS (Women); 21-24 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (Men). 3-0; 24 at (8) Loyola, L 3-2. MEN’S TENNIS March 2-3 at McKendree, 8 p.m.; 8 p.m.; 16 at Penn State, 7 p.m.; 17 at Saint Francis (Pa.), (11-1) 7 p.m.; 23 at Quincy, 8 p.m.; 25 at Lindenwood, 3 p.m.; 29 LOYOLA, 7 p.m.; 31 LEWIS, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 XAVIER, W 7-0; CLEVELAND STATE, W 4-0; 27 ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND vs. YALE, April 6 at Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.; 7 at Ball State, 7:30 p.m.; 14 MIVA Quarterfinals, TBA; 18 W 4-0; 28 ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND vs. NORTH FLORIDA, W 4-0; TOLEDO, W 5-0. MIVA Semifinals, TBA; 21 MIVA Finals, TBA; 27 NCAA Play-In Match, TBA. Feb. 3 (13) TEXAS, W 4-0; 9 (6) TEXAS A&M, W 4-3; 11 (11) FLORIDA, W 5-2; 16 May 1 NCAA Play-In Match at Los Angeles, TBA; 3 NCAA Semifinals at Los Angeles, TBA; ITA National Team Indoor Championship at Seattle vs. (20) Duke, W 4-0; 17 ITA National 5 NCAA Finals at Los Angeles, TBA. Team Indoor Championship at Seattle vs. (7) UCLA, L 4-1; 18 ITA National Team Indoor WRESTLING (14-1, 8-1 BIG TEN) Nov. 4 Princeton Open at Princeton, N.J., NTS; 11 Eastern Michigan Open at Ypsilanti, Mich., NTS; 12 ARIZONA STATE, W 31-12; 18 Findlay Open at Findlay, Ohio, NTS; 21 Continued From Page 11 THANKSGIVING THROWDOWN VS. CLEVELAND STATE, W 43-3; VS. KENT STATE, W 38-9. Dec. 1-2 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, 1st/46 (155.5); 10 vs. Indiana at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, W 26-9; 15 vs. Princeton at Newark, Del., W 39-0; 17 vs. Chattanooga at Atlanta, healthy. I thought starting (the conference schedule) early W 39-3. Jan. 5 at Maryland, W 45-3; 7 at Rutgers, W 29-11; 12 MINNESOTA, W 31-7; 21 (4) was OK, but if you look at our schedules (through the IOWA, W 22-12; 26 at Michigan State, W 35-12; 28 vs. Purdue at St. Paris, Ohio, W 35-7. years), we’ve been able to give everybody two-day prep Feb. 3 at (1) Penn State, L 19-18; 11 at (4) Michigan, W 18-15; 18 at (6) N.C. State, W (before games) in 99 percent of the cases. 29-6. March 3-4 Big Ten Championships at East Lansing, Mich.; 15-17 NCAA Championships “We won’t do it again this way, and I take responsibility at Cleveland. for asking the coaches. … If we can make it back to the Garden on a regular week, that’s great.” In addition to having one less week to finish the regu- Continued From Page 26 lar-season schedule, the Big Ten teams that qualify for the NCAA Tournament will be idle for roughly 10 to 14 days. Martin (24-1) looks for revenge against his only loss of the “There are positives and negatives (to the gap),” Delany season in No. 1 Bo Nickal (Penn State). said. “Teams can rest up, put new things in and practice With so many potential rematches against grapplers more. If we do well (in the tournament), everyone will be from Penn State, the result from the dual meet is fresh in OK with it.” the minds of wrestlers and coaches at Ohio State. Delany added that he still intends to bring the Big On a neutral mat at Michigan State, the Buckeyes get Ten, which predominantly consists of Midwest programs, their crack at redemption. to the East Coast cities of New York, Philadelphia and “If you’re competing, you want to win,” Ryan said. “You Washington, D.C., (where the conference tournament was want to be successful. That dual meet (at Penn State) obvi- held last year) for its postseason proceedings about 20 ously presented two teams that were a notch above the oth- percent of the time. The other 80 percent, he said, will be ers in the Big Ten. That was the battle of those two teams. hosted in Chicago and Indianapolis. In round one, we lost. The commissioner noted that he does not regret moving “So the dual meet always has great value, but can you the tournament to New York this year, saying: “I don’t look imagine if that dual meet determined who would be moving backward. … And I’m not overlooking the objective, which forward into the Big Ten championship match? The sting is to give the players and the teams and our fans there a would have hurt much longer had the loss cost us something chance to see the Big Ten in the Big Apple.” far greater. The cost was costly, but now we get round two.” 34 BSB Quickly Feb. 27, 2018 Opinion

Holtmann Achieves Success Earlier Than Most Most Ohio State basketball fans have season of 19-15. Williams stepped in for been surprised by how well the Buckeyes Eldon Miller, who led the Buckeyes to have done in the 2017-18 season. With a 19-14 mark and an NIT crown before almost no expectations, OSU finished sec- leaving for Northern Iowa after being fired ond in the conference, won all but three midway through the season. Miller came of its league games and stamped coach aboard after the Buckeyes reached a low Chris Holtmann as a major player in the of 6-20 in Taylor’s final season, and he national coach of the year discussion. made some improvement as the Buckeyes finished 9-18 (11-16 if you count games later forfeited by Minnesota). So, success after a coaching change THE FACTS MAN isn’t all that uncommon. Mike Wachsman To reach the heights the Buckeyes have under Holtmann, in his first season – something special.

It’s a far cry from the 17-15 mark put up Senior Sendoff by last year’s Buckeyes, the final group I had the good fortune to attend the to be led by Thad Matta. The calls for Buckeyes’ home finale against Rutgers, his job were growing, the success of the which turned out to be an easy victory. program appeared to be waning and the Truth be told, the outcome was never really top-notch reinforcements were not KEVIN DYE really in doubt and also wasn’t really the FAST START – Chris Holtmann was coming. So it made sense to go in another named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in reason for attending. direction. his first season at Ohio State. First and foremost was what kind of Most of the Ohio State hoops fan base ceremony there would be for Ohio State’s likely felt this season was going to be just the Buckeyes to .500 conference marks four seniors, and it lived up to the billing. a diversion until the start of spring football in their first seasons. Williams and Matta I have not seen a senior ceremony where – but a funny thing happened. OSU looked are also the only other first-year Ohio each member of the class got to speak to like a real team, started to gain confidence State coaches to reach the 20-win mark, the fans after the game, but that’s what and rolled off some high-profile victories but Holtmann blew past that by guiding Holtmann did, and it was a great move. over Michigan State and Purdue, both the Buckeyes to 24 victories this regular It made you really get to know a little bit predicted to be near the top of the league. season. about each one, and you came away with The choice of Holtmann was large- The fact that Holtmann helped the more respect for all four of them. ly praised, though a few out there felt Buckeyes improve this year shouldn’t Andrew Dakich, who finished his the Buckeyes should have gone after be terribly surprising – Matta was let go career in Columbus after transferring a bigger name – never mind that those because the team was underachieving, from the University of Michigan, joked bigger names wouldn’t have come to and many would say 17 wins really isn’t about getting one offer – from Quinnipiac OSU because it would have been a step a difficult mark to reach. Given the ques- – once he announced that he was leaving down from their current jobs. Unlike foot- tions about talent, it wasn’t a slam dunk the Wolverines, and thanked Holtmann ball, basketball doesn’t have that same that Ohio State would get to 17 victories, and the other seniors because “they didn’t cachet, that “I’ve gotta get there” appeal in but it also seemed like a relatively low bar have to take me, they didn’t have to accept Columbus. Oh, it’s a good job, and Matta to set. me. But they did.” Dakich isn’t an All-Big had the Buckeyes consistently among Holtmann’s plus-seven improvement Ten talent, but he was often the glue that the top 10 programs in America during is the best in OSU annals, just beating held the team together this season. his heyday. But this is a football school, Matta’s plus-6. Kam Williams certainly had his ups and no matter how successful Holtmann Matta restored the program to a Big and downs this year, something he noted becomes, that will never change. Ten contender after Jim O’Brien ran afoul when he said, “Coach didn’t give up on me How surprising has Holtmann’s first of NCAA rules, finishing out his career in and allowed me to reach my potential as year been? A look inside the numbers Columbus with a forgettable 14-16 cam- a player.” A native of Baltimore, Williams shows that he has reached heights paign. O’Brien had taken over for Ayers, said that Columbus has become a second achieved just once before by a first-year who also didn’t quite comprehend NCAA home and he will always appreciate the OSU coach in the modern era of college rules, after the Buckeyes went 10-17, and time he spent on the team, playing in front basketball. Dating back to the end of the had them in the Final Four in his second of Buckeye Nation. Fred Taylor era in 1976, Randy Ayers was season. Keita Bates-Diop, the Big Ten Player of the only OSU coach to post a winning Ayers stepped in after Williams left the Year and a potential first-round NBA Big Ten record in his first season at the suddenly to coach at Maryland, his alma draft pick, also talked about Columbus as helm (10-8 in 1989-90). Gary Williams mater, and had a bit of a rocky first cam- feeling like home, saying, “I came from (1986-87) and Matta (2004-05) each led paign, going 17-13 after Williams’ final a small town in Illinois, in the middle of Opinion Feb. 27, 2018 BSB Quickly 35

nowhere, but really found myself during are the only ones who knew about the To that end, my top choice would Troy my time at Ohio State.” With injuries a payments/dinners/loans, etc. Smith, still the best combination of run- thing of the past, Bates-Diop flourished It was a bit surprising to see Michigan pass that I have seen under center. He in Holtmann’s system, which allows play- State implicated on the report, and that’s was unflappable and played his best in ers more chances to get open thanks to said by someone who is a fan of Tom Izzo. the biggest games. Winning the Heisman screens and less thinking and more play- The school says it doesn’t believe Izzo had Trophy in 2006 certainly didn’t hurt. ing than under Matta. knowledge of wrongdoing and isn’t doing Though his numbers aren’t anything The last speech of the evening came anything at the present time. It should be great, Craig Krenzel would probably from Jae’sean Tate, and Holtmann had noted that the report and release is in its be next on the list. His face said “Aw, more praise for him than for anyone else. infancy, and there are sure to be more shucks,” but his play was big-time. He Holtmann said that Tate was like another details and names coming out in the near made the big plays when they were most coach on the floor and that he saw the future. needed, and though he wasn’t the greatest team as “his guys,” and he never wanted What wasn’t surprising was that Matta’s passer to come through Columbus, he will to let “his guys” down. That’s why you saw name was nowhere to be found in the always have a legacy for being the leader the effort every night. report. Long lauded for doing things “the of a national championship team. “I just love this team, love to play, right way,” Matta walked the walk when Cornelius Greene ran Woody Hayes’ and especially love to play for you, the it came to recruiting. Jared Sullinger even option attack as well as anybody, and he fans,” Tate said. “I grew up around this, mentioned on Twitter that Matta wouldn’t really wasn’t a bad passer – when Hayes and it’s always been a dream to say I’m a even lend him money to get a Gatorade. loosened the reins and let him throw. Buckeye.” So Matta appears to be safe. Go back and watch any of the Michigan I have liked Tate’s game for a while, Maybe the fact that Matta played by games or Rose Bowls, and you’ll see a even if it isn’t always smooth. He finds the rules had something to do with OSU’s player with a pretty good arm who could ways to get to the basket, is a willing recruiting drying up. He wasn’t willing make throws into a tight space. His run- passer and treats every loose ball as if it to play the games and jump through the ning ability is rivaled by only Rod Gerald, is his property. It seemed a bit ironic that required hoops to secure top-rated tal- at least to these eyes, and it’s a real testa- Tate is known as “JT” among coaches and ent, for which he should be applauded. I ment to his ability that Greene was named teammates – both football and basketball would much rather have my program win his team’s MVP when Archie Griffin was had leaders with that moniker. Maybe 20 games and be clean than win 30 and winning his second Heisman. that’s interesting only to me, but it’s an be dirty. John Calipari may disagree with Art Schlichter may have been infa- interesting sidelight. that, but the less the NCAA and the feds mous off the field, but he was definitely are poking around my program the better. a game-changer on it. He was the one Fundamental Change While the postseason fate of many responsible for the Buckeyes moving For years we have heard fans say – teams could be up in the air depending away from 3 yards and a cloud of dust – usually as a way to justify their hatred for on how quickly new details emerge, the though he was asked to run the option a the SEC – that all of the big-time powers Buckeyes are safely in the field of the 68. bit too much his first couple of seasons. are cheating. They pay players, they give The Feb. 25 Bracketology by CBS Blessed with the best arm of any OSU things to their families, what have you. Sports’ Jerry Palm had OSU as a four seed quarterback I’ve seen, Schlichter showed Though this is rarely proven, it’s also a in the East Region, facing Murray State that the Buckeyes weren’t going to be “be careful what you wish for” sentiment, in the first round in Boise, Idaho. Should dinosaurs and could move into the more because if the lid is blown off the top you Ohio State win that contest, it would face wide-open era of college football. might find yourself in trouble, too. Kentucky, and a win there would put it up That leaves J.T. Barrett to round out I mention this after the recent rev- against top seed Villanova. my top five. Certainly the most polarizing elation of corruption and malfeasance The Big Ten isn’t thought of very quarterback in OSU history, Barrett has in college basketball. A number of blue highly, as only the Buckeyes, Spartans, a few qualities that cannot be denied – he bloods were mentioned in a report done Purdue and Michigan are represented in ran Urban Meyer’s offense about as well by Yahoo! Sports, including Kentucky, Palm’s Bracketology, but once the games as it can be run, he’s tough and he just Kansas, Duke, North Carolina and UCLA. begin, conference affiliation and strength may be the best leader the Buckeyes Among the misdeeds were things as don’t matter. Winning games does, and have ever had. His passing was up and innocuous as agents paying for a meal Ohio State has proved it can do that. down, though it was good enough to set for a prospect – with no proof that the the school completion percentage record, player was signing with the agent or being Rating The Quarterbacks besting guys such as Schlichter and Bobby funneled to a school – to as egregious as BSB is currently running a poll that Hoying and Joe Germaine, who were all a coach being caught on wiretap mention- asks, “Who is the greatest quarterback superior quarterbacks in the traditional ing a $100,000 payment to a player. There in Ohio State history?” And it will be very sense of the word. Barrett’s second-half are varying degrees of wrongdoing in the interesting to see the final results. performance against Penn State in 2017 is report, and I don’t believe every program Everyone has a different idea of what still jaw-dropping, for both its timeliness mentioned should fire its coach. After all, constitutes great, but to me it’s the ability and precision passing. it is conceivable that the agents/represen- to run your team’s offense, win football Others considered were Hoying, tatives were acting on their own – even games and play big in the clutch. Putting Germaine, Braxton Miller and Rex Kern – if they had existing relationships with up numbers doesn’t hurt, but it isn’t the none slouches, but all with something that coaches – and that they and the players most important thing. put them just a notch below the top five.