It's raining brackets here at Eleven Warriors Worldwide LLC; yesterday we announced our Heart of it All Classic, which is our quest to crown the greatest, most bad-ass Ohioan. (You probably won't be surprised to learn there's a litany of candidates from which to choose.)
We'll be opening two regions, the Arts and Business/Science, for public voting later today. (Meanwhile, somewhere in the catacombs of Marion, President Warren G. Harding is sharpening his battle axe as he plans to slay all the haterz out of the fightin' #12 spot in the History and Politics division on the morrow.)
In other bracket news, #6 Ohio State will take on in-state foe #11 Dayton in Buffalo on Thursday at 12:15 p.m. on CBS. (Kyle has a preliminary preview over here). Ohio State opened up as five-point favorites in Vegas.
We're also giving away an Evan Turner-signed basketball Evan Turner used to sink Michigan with a miracle buzzer-beater in the 2010 Big Ten tournament to the winner of our March Madness pool.
Oh yeah, did I mention spring football practice resumes tomorrow? It's going to be a good week.
SIBERT IS COMING. Ohio State lacked a consistent scoring threat this year, especially in the back-court. Where did some of the scoring go? Seventy miles west on I-70.
Here's Cleveland.com's Doug Lesmeries on Ohio State's inconsistent scoring hampering the Basketbucks — in January:
Jordan Sibert left Ohio State after the 2011-12 season, the playing time in his sophomore season having vanished. As much as Thad Matta has dealt with players leaving for the NBA, transfers have created almost as many roster holes. Guys like Eric Wallace, Anthony Crater, Walter Offutt and J.D. Weatherspoon have come and gone, deciding to move on after not getting much time in Matta's rotation, which can often not go very deep into the bench. Weatherspoon is now averaging 11 points for Toledo, but he's not as much of a shooter. He's more like Sam Thompson lite. The Buckeyes have guys like him.
Sibert was different. He got a chance and didn't take advantage of it. But he may be the guy whose departure hurts the most.
After sitting out last season as part of NCAA transfer rules, Sibert is the leading scorer for the 13-4 Dayton Flyers, shooting 47 percent from both the field and 3-point range.
Sibert ended the season shooting 44% from three-point range, and man would it have been nice to have him on the roster this year.
This has to be a dream scenario for Sibert. As the lower-seed and perennially in the shadow of Ohio State, there's zero pressure on Dayton going into the game. Dayton have five guys from Ohio (including two from Northland), all of whom I bet feel snubbed by Ohio State.
Worst yet for OSU, Syracuse likely looms on the horizon. Jim Boeheim and his zone defense are some of the worst things about college basketball, but unfortunately, I think they'd thump Ohio State by about 50.
NO. 3 TE COMMITS TO... NORTH CAROLINA!? You needn't be a recruitnik to know the name Chris Clark, the No. 3 tight end in the 2015 class and four-star recruit. The 6'6" TE from Avon Connecticut was pretty high up on Urban Meyer's wishlist. Unfortunately, a lot of other coaches wanted him.
Clark was scheduled to visit Ohio State this weekend, but yesterday he verbally committed to North Carolina. (Get a load of North Carolina's sweet high school-like trophy case.)
I am proud to say I have officially committed to North Carolina had to go with my heart this place feels like home pic.twitter.com/0ohEkYB2T2
— Chris Clark (@Clark8Chris) March 16, 2014
Here's our John Brandon's analysis of what this could mean for Ohio State's efforts:
Might see a stronger push for Jackson Harris, perhaps CJ Conrad is offered. Buckeyes in a good spot with [Hale] Hentges.
But you know what Urban Meyer says about early verbal commitments: All it means is that school is in the prospect's final three. There's still a long way's to go before Signing Day 2015, and doesn't North Carolina still have to answer for their academic fraud? (I'm #justsayin.)
OHIO STATE IN TORRANCE GIBSON'S TOP THREE. The No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 class, Torrance Gibson, has named his top three: Ohio State, Tennessee and Miami. He will visit Ohio State, Oklahoma and LSU over his spring break.
Here's what many say is the best dual-threat quarterback prospect since Terrelle Pryor in his own words:
You know, I expect it when I'm watching two obese people fight in a suburban mall on World Star, but hell, YOU DON'T FILM THINGS VERTICALLY. WHEN WILL PEOPLE GET THE MEMO!?
PSU IS HEATING UP. James Franklin continued his yeoman's efforts on the recruiting trail by adding four-star wide receiver Juwan Johnson to his already impressive 2015 class.
From 24/7:
"Basically it felt like home from the moment that I walked in," he said. "I felt the chemistry and the need that they had for me. I just loved everything about the college when I visited."
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior is the No. 55 recruit in the country and the No. 8 athlete nationally, according to 247Sports. He is the No. 2 player in the state of New Jersey.
Johnson chose the Nittany Lions over scholarship offers from Alabama, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia and others. His top five heading into the weekend consisted of the Nittany Lions, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Boston College.
I don't like seeing this kid spurning Ohio State (obviously) but I do like to see him staying in the Big Ten.
James Franklin won't be able to rely on the United States Postal service to get out of his date with Ohio State this year, but I'm all for other B1G programs stepping their game up like Michigan State. (Everyone except Michigan. I hope those bums stay mired in mediocrity — where they see just enough flashes of light to not shatter their false sense of hope — for the next six decades.)
THOSE WMDs. Funniest headline I've seen in awhile... I wouldn't even have been mad; that's amazing... How the Cowboys' Dynasty Died Late One Night Nearly Twenty Years Ago... Northwestern's new athletic facility will be pretty sweet... RT @Ramzy: This book was written 16 months ago... Brown County coroner accused of mishandling bodies, evidence... 5,000 words on professional bass fishing... Reaching My Autistic Son Through Disney Characters... #UTV!!!
