Ohio State will hold its second spring practice today. Luke Fickell, Greg Schiano, Ed Warinner, and "select linebackers, safeties, and tight ends" will be made available to media at approximately 11 a.m.
Eric, Birm, and Tim will be on hand. Follow them for timely updates, and be be sure to check Eleven Warriors Worldwide (URL in the toolbar) throughout the day for the full rundown.
BASKETBUCKS KICK OFF B1G TOURNAMENT. Junior Marc Loving caught a lot of flack from media and fans during the regular season, so it's only right he now holds the key to the Buckeyes' B1G tournament success.
From dispatch.com:
In the first 15 games of the Big Ten season, Loving was averaging 11.5 points per game and had slipped behind Tate for the team lead. In the three games without Tate -- all against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally -- Loving averaged 21.7 points a game while shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from three and 79.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, after Loving scored 21 points in Saturday’s regular-season finale at the Breslin Center, called him “a hell of a player.”
[...]
Loving has scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He had five 20-plus scoring games this season and scored a career-high 27 points against Illinois in the second conference game of the season.
If Loving is to propel Ohio Stat to an unexpected tournament title, it would require a level of consistency from him we haven't seen throughout his career. Yet, Thad Matta is a certified B1G tournament wizard.
It makes you think for sure, but I'm not about to put rent money on a Buckeye run. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked by an Ohio State loss to Penn State.
Looks like March Madness came early this year, y'all!
HAUSMANN'S PITCH. Ohio State was stuffed with talent at every position last season. This season, opportunities are abound across the board.
Tight end is a unit without a proven starter. Marcus Baugh is a guy looking to put everything together. Rashod Berry, last year's No. 3 tight end, is now a defensive lineman.
If things were different, four-star 2016 tight end signee Jake Hausmann may not have ended up in Columbus.
From cleveland.com:
That Hausmann was so prepared should be a credit to [Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller coach John] Rodenberg, who has learned over the years of running one of Ohio's top prep football programs to urge his players to be as educated as possible.
Hausmann took it to an entirely new level.
"I think a lot of kids kind of get trapped where they go to a program and it's really loaded up with talent and a lot of guys in front of them," Hausmann said. "If they go, and there are six guys in front of them, it's possible they wont play until their junior or senior year. My biggest goal was to play as early as I can, so I made sure that wherever I went was going to be kind of down on guys."
Nothing wrong with that outlook; there's no substitute for live-action training.
It will be interesting to see who emerges as the leader of that unit, though there's no doubt that Hausmann means there is a shortage of depth number–not quality–in Ed Warinner's room. Marcus Baugh has been highlighted by the coaching staff on multiple occasions in the last few months as really emerging, so AJ Alexander, Hausmann and fellow incoming freshman Luke Farrell are all in the mix for a lot of playing time this fall.
BOONE TO MINNESOTA. Tilt of the cap to former Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone. He went undrafted in the 2009 draft, put some alcohol demons behind him, and forged a multiyear NFL career at one of the game's most brutal positions.
Boone, still only 28, is leaving the San Francisco 49ers (the team that saved his career) for the Minnesota Vikings.
From sfexaminer.com:
MINNEAPOLIS — A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a four-year contract with former San Francisco 49ers left guard Alex Boone.
The person spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the signing.
The 6-foot-8, 300-pound Boone brings feistiness and experience to an unsettled offensive line, the top offseason need for the Vikings. Boone switched from right to left guard last year, when new Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano supervised San Francisco’s tight ends.
The good news is Boone is now in the same division as Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, whom Boone said in 2013 he'd like to "punch in the face."
WELCOME TO CLASS, MCSHAY. WE'RE ON PAGE 12. ESPN draft guru Todd McShay is making a list and he's checking it twice:
Been watching Ohio State tape for about a week now, finalizing reports. 14 prospects w/ "draftable" grades, including 11 in top-75 overall
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 9, 2016
Only 14 draftable players? Further proof of ESPN's bias against Ohio State.
ILLINI 8-4, GET EXCITED! This article features one of the best ledes I read this week.
From fightingillini.com:
The hiring of Lovie Smith as head football coach has sent Fighting Illini fans into a frenzy. In the last 48 hours, the Fighting Illini Ticket Office has sold over 2,000 new season tickets for the 2016 football season. The popular I Fund Family 4-Pack – which included 4 season tickets and a $50 I Fund membership for $249 – are sold out, but there are still many ways for Fighting Illini fans to jump on board.
Those poor, poor children. Is nobody in Illinois thinking of the children?
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