Here's a hot #take to keep the doctor away today: If Ohio State isn't playing, the NCAA Tournament is trash. The only way I'm watching Duke–Yale is if the loser is forced to shutter its doors.
No, it's all about the women's team this year. It's a No. 3 seed that hosts No. 14-seeded Buffalo in the luxuriously-appointed St. John Arena at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
The women are hoping for the return of senior guard Ameryst Alston after she sprained her right wrist two weeks ago in the Big Ten tournament.
From dispatch.com:
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Alston said. “I’m making progress every day, just taking it day by day. It’s looking good.”
In the minutes of practice open to the media, Alston stayed near center court and dribbled with both hands. She tried to play but couldn’t use her right hand in the conference semifinals.
“We haven’t had her in exactly with everything we’re doing in practice,” coach Kevin McGuff said. “She has been doing a lot of things on the side with conditioning, handling the ball and making plays. I would say we’re still really cautiously optimistic.”
The good news is Ohio State won't need Alston to be 100 percent for Buffalo.
The bad news is UCONN lurks as the nation's No. 1, but if the Buckeyes pull off that upset I've already decided we're busting out the news sirens.
This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:
- America's forgotten war: Marlo Stanfield vs. Avon Barksdale.
- Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, best of The Wire Part 3.
- Omar Little pays a visit to Prop Joe's clock shop.
MORE OF THIS GUY CARDALE JONES. Cardale Jones filmed his upcoming appearance on Jon Gruden's QB Camp. ESPN released various clips throughout the day on SportsCenter.
In one, Dolo explained how rapid training with Ted Ginn Jr. left him without time to find the laces, so he came to prefer throwing that way. (That has since changed.)
Later, Dale explained Ohio State's cadence and why the QBs do all their slapping. Afterwards, ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick broke down criticism Jones faces:
By implication this means North Dakota State runs a more NFL-ready offense than Ohio State. (Or at least it did in 2015.) This might make some fans mad, but me? I'm just here for the wins.
As for Jones' "stick–to–itiveness" I do concede his body language wasn't great during the season, but I do think the muddled result of #QBgeddon set him back after his coaches tried to jam a square peg through a round hole. (Noah Brown will show in 2016 why his loss in 2015 was a bigger deal than people thought too.)
I can't wait to watch it play out. I'm intrigued to see where he lands (as long as it's not Pittsburgh), but it's going to be good to know he'll put some money in his pocket regardless.
I GUESS MY INVITE GOT LOST IN THE MAIL. It would appear Japanese steakhouses fueled Ohio State's men's basketball team's deep runs into the 2010, 2011, and 2012 NCAA tournaments.
From cleveland.com:
Lauderdale, Evan Turner, David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Jared Sullinger and other old teammates frequent the Japanese steakhouses with regularity when reunited in Columbus. They spent plenty of time at the establishments during their college tenures, too, in between Big Ten battles and trips to the NCAA Tournament.
"If food and restaurants are what we argue about, then I'd say our friendship is pretty solid," Lauderdale said.
Each summer, the group reconvenes in Columbus. Turner and Sullinger return from Boston, where they play for the Celtics. Others journey back to the United States for their off-season.
I disagree, Dallas. If you only argue about food and restaurants, are you really even friends? Maybe I'm conditioned by my circle of friends, which is a small cabal of sinister haters with bile in their hearts and poison on their tongues.
That said, Thad should take his team to a Japanese Steakhouse before Sunday's game against Florida.
PRAYERS TO THE HERBSTREITS. The world got a little bit worse on Thursday as Jim Herbstreit, captain of the 1960 football team and father to Kirk, passed at 77.
From dispatch.com:
Jim Herbstreit had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a couple of years ago, according to his son, but he “died suddenly this morning,” Kirk Herbstreit told The Dispatch. “It’s a tough day for my family and I.”
Alzheimer's terrifies me. I couldn't imagine watching a loved one suffer through it. At least he's in a better place.
THOSE WMDs. Flamethrowers: A new weapon in the war on weeds... How paying off all my debt changed my life... The Mexican actress who dazzled El Chapo... Kudzu, the vine that nearly ate the South... Ever wonder why you look good in the mirror but bad in photos?
