April 28th, 2015.
DARRON LEE AS OSU'S BEST PLAYER. Remember last year when we were wondering who would fill Ryan Shazier's shoes? Those were quaint times.
From Kevin Ryan of 247Sports.com:
Ohio State all-everything defensive lineman Joey Bosa gets all the headlines, but the coach we spoke with picked a different Buckeyes defender as the best player his team faced last season. Lee is a former high school quarterback who has found a home at linebacker with the national champion Buckeyes. He was third on the team in tackles with 81, and was second to Bosa with 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Lee also had two interceptions, broke up five passes, added five quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles and recovered another fumble. Lee had a breakout year as a redshirt freshman last season and will be a big part of the OSU defense in 2015.
And here's what that Big Ten coach had to say:
"He's the best player on that team, and it's not even close. He's so explosive. If he's not making every tackle, he's in on every play, and he's a phenomenal blitzer."
There's a reason they call Darron Lee the Manimal, but it surprises to hear somebody say he's the best player on the roster, and that "it's not even close." (Lee had his best conference game, statistically, against Minnesota Michigan, by the way.)
I'm not sure who I'd say is the "best player" on the team — it's an ambiguous, bordering on bankrupt, phrase — but I don't think it'd be Darron. That said, if he continues his current trajectory, he could be a Top 10 NFL pick this time next year.
And I know OSU's linebacking corps is set for the foreseeable future, but Tyrese Johnson-Fisher is only 14-years-old and might be the next Darron Lee.
Via @EricArnoId:
GET WELL SOON, MIKE CONLEY. Mike Conley suffered a facial fracture after being injured by Portland's C.J. McCollum on Sunday night. He underwent surgery early yesterday morning, but Memphis needs 48 hours to figure out the timeline, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo.com.
Conley could be out for a week to a month, and early returns from last night's game didn't sound promising:
Damn Mike Conley, they had to go in his eye... Hope he recovers to full health.
— Quis (@Quis_Da_Realist) April 28, 2015
The description of Mike Conleys surgery from Lewis Johnson made me physically uncomfortable.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) April 28, 2015
Kosta Koufos: YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE!!!! In case you need a refresher to Koufos' legendary OSU career:
OHIO STATE DAY... IN YANKEE STADIUM? Hot crackers! I didn't know letting Rutgers join the conference would lead to magnificent benefits like this:
From Yankees.com:
The New York Yankees are pleased to welcome The Ohio State University alumni, students, faculty and fans to Yankee Stadium for a special day on Friday, May 8. Come out for a great game and support National Championship winning head coach Urban Meyer as he throws out the ceremonial first pitch.
Facetiousness aside: I don't like the Yankees or New York City as much as the next thinking man. However, you're planning to attend — I ate a Taco Bell breakfast once so I can't cast too much hate on questionable life decisions like attending a baseball game in 2015 — you could choose worse attire than this shirt.
BONJOUR, JAQUAN LYLE. Welcome to the team, sir:
It's official! JaQuan Lyle flashes a big smile with Coach Mahoney after signing his NLI to play at @OhioStAthletics! pic.twitter.com/3N1x0uM65u
— IMG Academy (@IMGAcademy) April 27, 2015
It's funny how the peanut butter cookie crumbles. Thad Matta threw a 2014 scholarship down amongst JaQuan Lyle, D'Angelo Russell, and Tyus Jones. Russell ended up in Columbus, Lyle committed to Louisville then Oregon, and Jones headed to Duke.
Then something happened.
From Bill Landis of cleveland.com:
A mix up with the NCAA left Lyle one-half credit short of enrolling at Oregon. So the Indiana native played a season of post-graduate ball this year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Meanwhile Russell, the guy who jumped at Matta's offer first, was flourishing in Columbus.
As it became more and more clear that Russell's college career was going to end after ones season, Matta knew he needed a guard. One that could run the show, distribute the ball but also take over and be the go-to scorer if needed. Something he didn't quite have in the 2015 recruiting class he had signed in November.
Matta knew who to call.
Watching Lyle's highlights (yes, I know they're called highlights for a reason), it's evident he could be a good one. Hopefully he sticks around for at least two years, but I know how dangerous that can be in this day and age.
Regardless, we still need Lyle's meniscus to act right.
BASEBALL STILL BLAZING. Here's something that hasn't happened since 2010:
Buckeyes crack the national polls! #GoBucks No. 23 - @CBNewspaper No. 25 - @BaseballAmerica No. 25 - @d1baseball No. 25 - @USATODAYsports
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioState_BASE) April 27, 2015
For more on the baseball team's blinder, Intern Kevin has you covered.
THOSE WMDs. R.I.P. Jason Whitlock... Startup pride emerges in the Buckeye State... Junk food plated as high-end cuisine... When keeping it real goes wrong... Hedge Fund Returning 17% on Sports Bets Moving to Europe... Via @Jill_Yuricich: #Shoutout to Duck Yim.
