I'm not enough of a conspiracy theorist to seriously suggest or believe that last night's game was rigged by the officials to give Michigan State a quality win and boost its NCAA Tournament résumé.
... but if that's actually what was happening, I'm not sure the game would have looked all that different.
But hey, Joe Lunardi still has Bucks as a No. 1 seed so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 26, 2021
Word of the Day: Espy.
LET 'EM KNOW, MEL. Justin Fields is tumbling down folks' mock drafts for no real reason beyond that NFL Scouts are refusing to actually do their jobs, and Mel Kiper Jr. has had enough.
The famed draft prognosticator took to the airwaves to give an impassioned defense of the most accurate and efficient quarterback in the draft, basically calling out NFL scouts for sucking.
Don't come for Justin Fields in front of @MelKiperESPN pic.twitter.com/FNe0FnK3uv
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 25, 2021
I've always been more of a Todd McShay guy, but Kiper may have just moved up on my NFL Draft Personalities big board after that.
THE BATTLE WITHIN. Yesterday I shared with y'all the first part of a three-part series on DJ Carton's mental health battle in which he and his family revealed that he battled depression that caused him to lose 25 pounds during his time at Ohio State and that he hadn't eaten in four days before the last game he played as a Buckeye.
Before things got better, they got darker.
After that Northwestern game, DJ informed Chris Holtmann that he needed to take a break from basketball to focus on his mental health. Shortly after, Holtmann called DJ's mother to inform her that DJ was meeting with a therapist and that he was suicidal.
DJ's bounced back and is now on the other side of a very dark place and able to share his story. His experience can undoubtedly help others who may be going through something similar, but it also helps people on the outside realize that there's a human under the jersey and that some things are much bigger than basketball.
FRIENEMIES. Chris Holtmann and John Beilein are good friends, and they're allowed to be these days with Beilein no longer employed by Holtmann's archrival. But just because Holtmann's cool with Beilein doesn't mean he's cool with Michigan.
In a brief sitdown for the network formerly known as BTN, Holtmann and Beilein talked about a variety of things including the rivalry on the hardwood – and Holtmann's aversion to a particular letter of the alphabet.
I just have to say, I'm extremely glad Beilein is no longer at Michigan because I tried drumming up reasons to hate the guy for years and I've still got absolutely nothing.
DEFINITELY NOT A DENIAL. Last month, Gene Smith's name was thrown out as a potential candidate for the open Pac-12 commissioner position. At the time, Smith was quick to say that those were only rumors and he had not been contacted for the job – but it sure sounds like he would like to be.
In talking with @OSU_AD Gene Smith I asked about interest in @pac12 Commissioner's job & though he loves OSU & still has much to do here, admitted majority of grand kids live out west and wife Sheila is from Vancouver. Hiring process in infant stages, may heat up in March.
— Clay Hall (@claywsyx6) February 25, 2021
If he really is trying to angle for this gig, I can't blame him for even a single second. That would be a gigantic pay raise, a bigger and more high-profile job, and it would be closer to his family – the weather wouldn't be bad, either.
But they'd still have to offer him the job. Or at least show a little legitimate interest.
VINTAGE AARON CRAFT. Turns out, Aaron Craft has always been extremely Aaron Craft.
A little throwback from AAU days. @ACraft4 dives on a loose ball with us up 25+. @JdSpoon24 with the incredible finish.... one of my favorite teams to be apart of!!! Incredible chemistry. pic.twitter.com/WGHTMkiJTK
— Jared Sullinger Sr. (@Jared_Sully0) February 25, 2021
It's probably for the best that intramural sports are canceled at Ohio State this year.
SONG OF THE DAY. "SICKO MODE" by Travis Scott.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. Someone has found the actual hill in Windows XP's iconic wallpaper... The former CIA chief claims Lee Harvey Oswald was instructed by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to assassinate John F. Kennedy... How to remember a disaster without being shattered by it... A mom who makes $150,000 a month from OnlyFans says a Catholic school expelled her sons because of her page... Scientists are casually building Earth's twin... How chalk made England...
