The Eleven Warriors Web Report comes to you weekly from the Spectrum Sports studios in downtown Columbus, featuring our own Beau Bishop, Dan Hope and James Grega.
Bishop, anchoring this week's show from the Spectrum Sports studio in Cleveland, and Grega opened this week's show by previewing Ohio State's highly anticipated upcoming basketball game at Purdue on Wednesday night (8:30 p.m., BTN), as the Buckeyes prepare for a big challenge on the road.
The Buckeyes will go into that challenge without starting shooting guard Kam Williams, who remains suspended and will not make the trip, and Grega says he expects that to hurt Ohio State on the offensive end of the floor.
"This is a guy who gives you eight to 10 points a game, gets you a couple boards, a couple assists," Grega said of Williams. "He spreads the floor really well for this Ohio State team, and without him, you lose that floor spacing and you lose that extra boost offensively."
For the No. 14 Buckeyes (20-5, 11-1) to have a chance to upset No. 3 Purdue (23-2, 12-0), Grega says Ohio State needs "everybody to play their best game, especially on the offensive end."
"This is going to be their toughest road test of the year," Grega said. "I think you got to take that crowd out early, and if you don't, and if Purdue gets going early, Ohio State's in trouble."
In regards to the Ohio State football team, the big headline of the week to date is the potential departure of defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, who is expected to leave the Buckeyes for the New England Patriots, according to a report from Football Scoop's Zach Barnett. While that report has not yet been confirmed by the Patriots or Ohio State, Hope said he does not think that move would be made until after Wednesday's National Signing Day, as the Buckeyes look to wrap up their class of 2018.
Should Schiano end up leaving Columbus for Foxborough, Ohio State will have two vacancies to fill on its coaching staff, as the Buckeyes remain in the market for a new cornerbacks coach to replace Kerry Coombs.
"I think things will move pretty quickly after Wednesday," Hope said. "I'd imagine they've already been interviewing and narrowing down their list of candidates for the vacancy that they already have."
As for National Signing Day, Ohio State appears headed to finish with this year's No. 1 or No. 2 recruiting class, which could hinge on whether the Buckeyes land Tampa, Florida five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere on Wednesday morning.
For a more in-depth preview of Wednesday's Buckeyes vs. Boilermakers game and further discussion on how Ohio State could proceed forward if Schiano leaves, watch this week's Eleven Warriors Report on Spectrum Sports Mid-Ohio, which premieres at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
