Good morning Buckeye faithful and welcome to your Tuesday Skull Session.
How about that rookie Jared Sullinger yesterday? The Ohio State product amassed 20 points and six rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It is great to see that Buckeye fans are so supportive of Sully, even if it was just a summer league game. Nonetheless, it doesn't matter where he is playing; it does matter how well he is playing while there, though.
Playing for an older Celtics squad in the NBA, there is no doubt that Sullinger can be brought in to contribute and provide some energetic, young legs to play alongside the veterans on the team.
But before Sullinger even starts thinking about playing time in the real games, he needs to prove a lot of critics wrong by continuing to dominate the competition in the summer league. Judging by his stand out performance yesterday, I can not see this being an issue for Sully.
It is only one game, but it could be the start of Sullinger giving a lot of NBA GMs nightmares about not drafting him. Keep it up, #7.
LISTS ON LISTS. Three OSU football players were named to the Maxwell Football Club's 2012 watch lists, according to an Ohio State press release yesterday.
Quarterback Braxton Miller, defensive lineman John Simon, and defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins were the Buckeyes named to the lists.
Miller was named to the Maxwell Award watch list. The Maxwell Award is awarded annually to America's most outstanding college football player. Miller is one of eight sophomores on the 65-player list.
Simon and Hankins were named to the Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik Award is presented to college football's most outstanding defensive player.
Semifinalists for the awards will be chosen by October 29. After the semifinalists are selected, three finalists will be selected on November 19. Finally, the winners will be awarded on December 6.
B1G GAME RANKING. Tom Dienhart of the Big Ten Network will be ranking all 96 Big Ten football games over the next few days and started with games 80-96 yesterday.
The Buckeyes have two games ranked in the lower 16 slot of games: one against Purdue and one against UAB. Dienhart has OSU against UAB at #91 on his list, and I honestly can not complain. UAB, a conference U.S.A. team coming off a 3-9 season, should not be too much of an exciting game for the Buckeyes.
However, I find it curious why Purdue at OSU at #81 is ranked so low. Purdue has won two straight contests against the Buckeyes at home but has lost eight straight against Ohio State in Columbus. Purdue could be a sleeper to win the Leaders Division next season, and the Buckeyes will be a tough matchup for any team this season.
This game on October 20 in Columbus will be a big game for Purdue. If they hope to shock many and win the Leaders division, it will be crucial for the Boilermakers to pull off the win in Columbus. This game could be exciting if Purdue is able to play tough. However, Purdue could fold under pressure and lose their ninth straight in the Shoe since 1988.
Jerry Lucas (11) balling with Team U.S.A. BIG TEN ON THE WORLD STAGE. Current Brooklyn Nets point guard and former Illinois basketball player Deron Williams could become the first Big Ten player to win two gold medals for basketball in the Olympics.
Williams and former Buckeye Michael Redd were members of the 2008 team that defeated Spain to reclaim basketball Olympic glory to the U.S.A. Brent Yarina of the Big Ten Network also lists other notable Big Ten players to participate on Team U.S.A. in his article above.
Michigan State's Magic Johnson captured Olympic gold in 1992. Indiana's Steve Alford helped win gold in 1984 with former Indiana head coach Bob knight helping to lead the team to victory. Indiana's Isiah Thomas made the squad in 1980, but Team U.S.A. did not play that year due to the U.S.'s protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
Two other OSU players also made impacts on past Team U.S.A. squads: Bill Hosket in 1968 and Jerry Lucas in 1962. Both players were able to capture Olympic gold with their teams.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: JIM HEACOCK. Jim Heacock spoke with the Columbus Dispatch last Sunday about what he has been doing since being replaced at Ohio State.
Heacock stated he needed a break from coaching and has been enjoying his time away from the game. The former OSU defensive coordinator under Jim Tressel and Luke Fickell has been taking up an old hobby of his: horseback riding.
But while Heacock is okay with leaving Ohio State, the coach with 41 years of experience says that he is not retired. He claims his time away from college football is more of a "sabbatical" than anything else.
Hopefully, the coach who gave Urban Meyer his first paid coaching job at Illinois State in 1988 is able to find a worthwhile position where he can coach.
LOS LINKS. Prince Fielder wins the Homerun Derby... Enjoy Ohio State day on the Big Ten Network... OSU 2013 basketball recruit receives high praise... Everett Withers joins the world of Twitter... Michigan's drug policies.
