This year, Ohio State organized the first "Buckeyes on the Blacktop" event. Members of the men's and women's teams participated in a skills competition, three-point contest and slam-dunk contest in front of dozens of fans.
The vibe was undoubtedly unique, held outdoors on the courts outside Morrill and Lincoln Towers by the RPAC. It would be a surprise if the school didn't revive it in the future. Considering the day, time and locale, it's obvious the event is a device to drive student interest in the team.
As Urban Meyer would say, though, everything is about recruiting. Less hectic in hoops but even more magnified because of roster limitations. So, if the blacktop event can be used as a selling point for recruiting, it will be – and it falls early enough in the calendar where coaches aren't completely consumed by practice and the beginning of the season.
It wouldn't be without precedent. Traditional college basketball powerhouses hold tipoff events and welcome a hoard of recruits to watch Drake introduce their head coach while surrounded by candles and sipping red wine, or whatever nonsense goes on at these things.
It also takes on other forms, such as Kansas' "Late Night in the Phog" and Duke's "Countdown to Craziness." It shouldn't come as a surprise the three aforementioned events are on different days. That way, recruits can attend all of them.
If "Buckeyes on the Blacktop" catches on at Ohio State and the staff can conveniently pair it with an important home football game, it would be the biggest basketball recruiting weekend of the calendar year. Not too much unlike Duke, Kansas or Kentucky.
Louisville SCandal Affecting Ohioans
ESPN broadcasted the salacious details repeatedly over the past three days. Unfortunately, the current college athletic climate being what it is, Louisville paying women to entice recruits to attend the school isn't exactly surprising. It should be, and that's part of the problem with college sports.
As The Nation's Dave Zirn said, the Louisville program conditioned kids to treat women like commodities. That's all too common for athletes. In one of the rare times which we'd all prefer the NCAA not to be completely toothless, it appears they'll drag this situation out for over a year. So, we're left wondering if any substantial punitive measures will arise from it.
We know current Buckeye JaQuan Lyle was involved. According to Ohio State, his compliance with the NCAA means there won't be any impending issues. Considering the speed at which the NCAA operates, it might not affect many on Louisville's current roster.
Recruits that were not involved in the scandal may be wary. Garfield Heights' Frankie Hughes is not one of them. Amidst the media frenzy, Hughes committed to play for Rick Pitino anyway.
"I talked to the kid and wanted to see what he was thinking," Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson told ESPN.com. "He said, 'Coach, it's two sides to every story. I want to go to Louisville and play for Coach Pitino and I believe in Coach Pitino.'"
The Cardinals' other 2016 pledge is V.J. King, formerly of St. Vincent-St.Mary High School in Akron. He's still committed and planning on signing, according to Scout.com's Evan Daniels. That hasn't stopped the constant rumors surrounding his status.
Still Waiting on Simmons
A bit of news broke last week which may reveal which way Kobi Simmons is leaning – or, at least, how Ohio State feels he's leaning.
The Buckeyes offered Tyson Carter in August and appeared to be recruiting him pretty heavily. He even set up a visit for the Penn State game – along with commits Dane Goodwin, Micah Potter and Kaleb Wesson.
Right before he was scheduled to make the trip from Mississippi to Ohio, we learned he canceled his visit:
2016 guard Tyson Carter will not visit Ohio State this weekend as planned, source told @CBSSports. 6-4 PG had GREAT July period.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 16, 2015
This doesn't mean a Simmons commitment is forthcoming. The family doesn't want to set a concrete timetable for it, the latest being "early November, maybe" according to ESPN.com.
Until then, enjoy his latest mixtape:
