Three days without writing a Skull Session — the longest hiatus I've had since my blood-soaked War of the Five Skulls victory in March 2014 — felt like three months to me, D.J. Byrnes, the "writer" of this "article." (How does anyone sleep without first dispensing bad, typo-ridden #takes? I don't understand.)
Anyway, please bear with me as I work myself back into game shape. (And #shoutout to Nick for the covering fire; it was an honor to catch stray bullets from commenters who didn't realize the ol' switcheroo.)
BUCKEYES DROP PURDUE. It's Matta Season, y'all:
Double-checked Matta's home record in March. It is 13-0. 10-0 in Big Ten games, 3-0 in NIT. 12-0 in Schott, 1-0 in St. John Arena. #buckbk
— Bob Baptist (@BBaptistHoops) March 2, 2015
This team has been much more enjoyable to watch than last year's rendition, but they're still frustrating. There are large swaths of play where I'm like, "This team could cause a lil' ruckus in March, actually." But then other times I'm just like, "No."
So it's no surprise both Buckeye teams showed up in the 65-61 victory over a gang of surly train engineers. In even less shocking news, Patient 0 was the coal that fueled the victory.
From Tim Shoemaker of something called ElevenWarriors.com:
Falling down by double digits in the first half is nothing new for Ohio State. Coming back to win, however, is. The Buckeyes have trailed at halftime 11 times this season. They've only won three of those now after Sunday's victory over the Boilermakers.
But this one felt a little bit different. Perhaps it's because the calendar has now flipped to March and Ohio State — a team with five seniors — knows it is running out of time.
“I could get used to this; this is great," said freshman sensation D'Angelo Russell, who scored a game-high 28 points and helped sparked the Buckeyes' comeback with a second-half run. "Coach preached in shootaround that it’s March. Every win counts and any win can trigger a run and just getting this win on our home court is great."
It's going to be painful next year to watch D'Angelo Russell wallow in a team like the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers. (I know the new NBA CBA/TV deal is a reason for him to stay in school another year, but I just refuse to be taken hostage by false hope.)
I'd also rather punch a tree than discuss March Madness "Bracketology" — it's a pseudoscience more insufferable than adults who unrionically believe in Horoscopes — but here's the Big Ten Tournament bracket, IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY (spoiler: it doesn't):
Honestly, I just want Ohio State (or anyone, really) to blast Wisconsin back to Bo Ryan's vampire birth year (483 B.C.).
HAND OVER THAT JERSEY, SLAM. Two weeks ago, Slam Thompson labeled himself an "elite defender." I gave his development props, but you know what? He might be closer to that label than I thought.
Defensive prowess aside, there are rules to a feudal society, and the main one is THE KING GETS WHAT THE KING WANTS:
It may be time to suit up.... Sam, let me rock that 12 jersey #GoBucks
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) March 2, 2015
Remember when The Iron King, Cardale Jones, First of His Name, Poacher of Badgers, Controller of Tides, Slayer of Ducks, Troll Sultan, and 12th Son of Ohio, was seen by fans (Aside: NOT THIS ONE!!!!) as a petulant backup who was never going to scrape his potential?
Fast forward to now; if Cardale suited up for the Basketbucks, would anybody expect him to average less than 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists a game? I envision Jones having a silky post game akin to Boogie Cousins'.
SO ABOUT THAT OVERSIGNING. Remember when Urban Meyer was accused of oversigning? Well, unless he's the greatest manipulator in the word, some of that self-righteous anger might've been misplaced.
We knew Devan Bogard, Ron Tanner, and Armani Reeves were likely done, but yesterday it became official. All three are headed for a medical hardship waiver, which means they still get their scholarship, but they will no longer be listed on Ohio State's roster.
From Tim May of Dispatch.com:
“You always know it’s going to end someday,” said Tanner, a fourth-year junior backup safety from Eastmoor Academy. “You’ve really got to start preparing for it from the first day you start playing because, knock on wood, you never know what might happen.”
[...]
Reeves took the advice of team medical personnel and stepped away from playing. He will work with cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs as a student assistant this spring and in the coming season, but long-term, the communications major hopes to start a career in broadcasting.
Bogard has jumped into his role as a student assistant coach under strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti. He is working toward his degree in sport industry and certification.
Granted, I'm a homer, but nothing in May's article makes me think these young men are being pushed out the door or forced into early retirement.
A commenter told me he lost respect for me the last time I said this, but I still feel it to be true: If this is oversigning then I don't see the problem. It'd be asinine for a program that has title ambitions to roster players who physically can't contribute.
OH, OHIO STATE BE CHEATING. And while the "oversigning" accusation died a swift death yesterday, it doesn't mean Ohio State is running a squeaky clean program. (As someone who advocates cheating the NCAA at every turn, I couldn't be more elated.)
From Tim Moody of TheLantern.com:
Ohio State self-reported 47 minor Big Ten and NCAA rules violations in 2014, including one as the result of an accidental text sent by [wide receivers coach Zach Smith's] 4-year-old son.
OSU wide receivers coach Zach Smith’s son picked up his father’s cell phone when a recruit called on May 27, and accidentally sent an automatic text message in return. The university sent a letter of education to the football coaches after the incident in regards to NCAA texting rules and phone security.
The NCAA did not review the case as part of its interpretations philosophy, which allows for flexibility when reviewing rule violations.
You're god damn right, Zach Smith! WE BREED OUR CHEATERS EARLY AROUND HERE, BABY!
Pawning an illegal text off on your four-year-old is what makes Smith such an effective recruiter on the road; that's a great lesson in ingenuity for any of you future coaches out there.
This doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, though. For example, I'm repulsed by dipping, but I was disappointed Tom Herman didn't get rung up again for smuggling Skoal into the coaches box during games. (Or maybe he just upped his smuggling game? Hmm... I look forward to finding out the answer to this twenty years from now during the inevitable 30 for 30 on OSU's championship season.)
YOU'D PROBABLY HEAR SOME THINGS IN COLUMBUS. Technology has come a long way since the 1950s...
Paul Brown installed helmet radio in '50s, but police calls jammed signal. QB called time, told Brown Some guy just got stabbed on 5th Ave"
— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) March 1, 2015
The Browns routinely leave me feeling like I got stabbed in a brutal prison assault, so it's good to see that connection is over 50 years old.
THOSE WMDs. It's Not Crazy, It's Sports: The Subterranean Stadium... Burdened by debt to sports teams, Glendale eyes selling a library... Indonesia is Tupperware's sweet spot.... An updated hierarchy of needs... Anatomy of a Fake, Viral Story... Inside the Foster Care System: A Bleak Last Stop for Youths... The Most Billsian Headline of All-Time.
