Thursday Skull Session

Ohio State isn't playing games with these students today! (School is open as of this writing.)

If I were still in school, you could bet your bottom dollar I'd have a #hot #take about this, but then again, I would've solved this problem on my own by skipping class.

The students braving some Oregon Trail-like conditions to get to class... well, they're the future tycoons of the world.

(BTW: Anybody else excited for tonight's season premiere of History Channel's Vikings? It's been too long since I've watched Ragnor Lothbrok break somebody's rib cage open with an ax.)

URBAN LIKES HEUERMAN MORE THAN TIMMY? This would be praise I didn't see coming (the second tweet, that is):

I really like Jeff Heuerman. He's better than his 2014 numbers. Injuries, need to be a blocker factored in.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 18, 2015

Fun fact on Jeff Heuerman: Ohio State folks told me he's Urban Meyer's favorite player all-time. Including Tim Tebow.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 18, 2015

Meyer glows about Tebow; that's a bromance that might rival the one-sided bromance I have for King Dolodale.

On one hand, it would shock me to learn Tim Tebow was no longer the apple in Meyer's eye, but on the other, I wouldn't be surprised to learn Heuerman is the one that usurped the former Heisman winner.

If true, then I guess that shows you how much focus Urban Meyer places on off-the-field stuff these days. (That doesn't mean Heuerman wasn't effective on-the-field for Ohio State, just that his numbers pale in comparison's to Tebow's.)

ARE THE BUCKEYES LEANING ON PATIENT 0 TOO HARD? In a season plagued with inconsistency, D'Angelo Russell has been a consistent shining light.

That's why, when I saw a Twitter buddy complaining about the lack of Ohio State games this week, I reminded him Silk Russell could use some rest. That was even before I saw this from Blake Williams of OhioState.Scout.com:

The freshman is also tops on the team in minutes per game, logging 33.3 minutes of court time per contest. In the Big Ten he is playing even more, averaging 36.4 minutes in 13 conference games, the fourth most of any player in the league and the only freshman in the top 10 in the conference.

“We’re watching it from the standpoint of trying to get him a blow in the first half and a blow in the second half,” head coach Thad Matta said. “Are we cutting back his practice? Not really, we may hold him back on a couple defensive things or whatever.”

While Russell’s excellence has been consistent this season, in recent games he has struggled with his shooting for the first time this year. In his last four games Russell has shot 40.4 percent from the floor (below his season average of 46.6 percent) and has really struggled from distance, hitting just 30.8 percent of his three-point attempts compared to a 43.1 percent mark for the season.

Russell's also been suffering from cramps (although nobody knows anything about the cause of cramps).

Matta's in a tough place here. Ohio State isn't 100% booked into March Madness yet, and Russell is clearly his best player. I'm no coach, but I doubt Matta's plan going into this year was to rely on 40 minutes a night from a freshman, no matter how talented.

Sadly, I don't think Matta has any choice right now but to max that card out. With Russell, Ohio State will always have a shot in any game, but despite what his highlight reel might tell you, Russell is still only a freshman. I know #teens have renowned recovery abilities, but that doesn't mean I feel any better about watching those tires burn.

SLAM FANCIES HIS DEFENSE. I agree Sam Thompson's defense has made massive strides during his time in Columbus. Would I describe it as elite? Well, that's almost the quintessential question of our times, isn't it?

From Justin Breen of DNAinfo.com:

"I think I'm a pretty elite defender, a versatile defender, and I think I've made many improvements," Thompson said. "I go out there and try and do what I can do. Whether I'm recognized as just a dunker, it doesn't matter to me, as long as we win basketball games."

Thompson and [his former AAU coach, Mike] Irvin believe the former will be selected in the 2015 NBA draft. Irvin said he's always thought Thompson had first-round talent.

"I think Sam will do better in the NBA than in college," Irvin said. "His game is better equipped for the NBA. His potential is through the roof.

Sam Thompson's draft stock would quintuple if he somehow develops a jumpshot/reliable three-pointer between now and the NBA draft. If that doesn't happen, it would seem I'm not as high on Sam's NBA prospects as his AAU coach.

A CENTURY OF DOMINANCE. Lot of ballers in this graphic from Ohio State:

I don't think it's possible to truly appreciate 100 years of dominance unless you're at least 75 years old. I'm 28, which already feels like an eternity. A century of ballin'? That's awesome (and I mean awesome in the biblical sense).

HAPPY TRAILS, BUCK. Crack those FourLokos and hold 'em in the air, y'all, because Columbus lost a boss hog yesterday.

From Mandie Trimble of WOSU.org:

Columbus residents and leaders have lost a political legend. Former Columbus Mayor Dana “Buck” Rinehart died Wednesday after a battle with cancer. Rinehart is remembered as an “energetic,” “enthusiastic” man who propelled the city into a renaissance.

[...]

Rinehart helped expand the zoo, he brought a short-lived auto race downtown and an exhibit to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the new world. Rinehart recalled his cheerleading during an appearance last year at the Columbus Metropolitan Club.

“ Whether it was the zoo, or the race or the 1992 celebration or ameriflora or anything like that,” he said. “I was pushing for all of that, all of that. I wanted Columbus to come out of its shell.”

I saw last night on the news, Rinehart was instrumental in making 670 a real life thing. 670 is a damn fine highway.

A commenter pointed out last week Rinehart dreamed big for Columbus when nobody else did, and as a proud resident of this fine city, I'm also an indebted beneficiary to Rinehart's vision and work.

With that said: This Loko is for the man they called Buck!

LET'S CAST A HATEFUL EYE NORTH OF THE BORDER. My No. 1 fan and former student, Brian Cook of MGoBlog, wrote a "damning" blow-by-blow of every "misstep" Dave Brandon ever took. It made for an entertaining read, but ultimately, I remain unconvinced; I still think Dave Brandon was extremely good for Michigan.

Regardless of that tiff, however, here's Jameis Winston, petty Floridian crimelord and Heisman Trophy winner, pimping Michigan after receiving some pre-NFL Draft tutelage from Jim Harbaugh (via SB Nation):

On Harbaugh: "It was a blessing to meet a guy like that. It was an honor to meet him. All of his accomplishments, and the type of coach that he is, I wish I could have played for him."

On Facilities: "These guys don't know how blessed they are to have this kind of facility. I mean, Florida State, we're a very prestigious school, we have nice stuff, but we don't have this. I'm sorry, I love Florida State. Go 'Noles till the day I die, but they're so much [more] advanced than us."

("I wish I could've played for him." I wonder how Winston's chief enabler, Florida State's Jimbo Fisher, reacted when he read that quote.)

Bryce Petty raved about Harbaugh too and, more notably, Michigan's facilities. (What, exactly, was Michigan's excuse to losing to Rutgers, again? Because it just got worse.)

Hatin' aside, it looks like Harbaugh got what he wanted out of this exchange; touché to him.

Unfortunately for Ohio State fans, their coach is going to have to rely on a more blunt/old school approach with kids who could actually play for him: