The Weekender: Nobody Likes 11 A.m. Kickoffs, College Hoops Roster Movement Never Ends, Buckeyes Competing For Trophies

Hard Pass On Morning Kickoff

Some folks in Columbus already dislike noon kickoff times for big games. But the vast majority of folks in Columbus, it’s fair to say, would hate a kickoff before noon for a big game.

That’s the issue Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione has recently been dealing with.

Oklahoma’s home game against Nebraska is slated to kick off at 11 a.m. – in central time zone – on Sept. 18. Not fun. Behind the scenes, Castiglione has done everything he can to have it start later, but FOX gets to make the ultimate decision and chose to have it played in the early slot.

So...Castiglione let his feelings be known.

Statement from @soonerad on the OU-Nebraska football game: pic.twitter.com/p6fUJBwW5e

— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) May 27, 2021

If you ever don’t like a game time that a television network set, just know you’re not alone.

NCAA Championship-Seeking Buckeyes

Not all Ohio State sports have arrived in the offseason. Karen Dennis’ track and field team is looking to bring home some hardware in the not-too-distant future.

The NCAA championships for both the men’s and women’s teams will be held on June 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon, and a dozen Buckeyes athletes will be competing.

The representatives from Ohio State (eight women, four men):

• Adelaide Aquilla: Shot put, discus
• Anavia Battle: 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 relay
• Yanique Dayle: 4×100 relay
• Sierra Fletcher: 4×100 relay
• Alyssa Marsh: 4×100 relay
• Emma Nwofor: Heptathlon
• Divine Oladipo: Shot put, discus
• Sade Olatoye: Hammer throw, shot put
• Tyler Johnson: 400 meters, 4×100 relay
• Eric Harrison: 200 meters, 4×100 relay
• Kainnan Ramsey: 4×100 relay
• Adrian Curry: 4×100 relay

College Hoops Decision Galore

Over the past two decades, the NFL executed a strategy to make professional football a sport with a year-round following, and it has done so successfully. The NCAA hasn’t done so nearly as intentionally, but college basketball now has become a sport that needs to be followed closer than ever before in the several months following the end of the season.

Players are transferring at a remarkable rate and can go through the NBA draft process before being required to make a decision on whether to go pro or not just a few weeks before the draft takes place. Thus, even though we’re almost in June, there was plenty of roster movement in college basketball within the past week.

Some of the most notable decisions:

• Hunter Dickinson, Michigan’s star center, entered the NBA draft while retaining his collegiate eligibility. He joins Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell and Duane Washington Jr., along with Purdue’s Trevion Williams, in the draft pool. All can decide to stay in school if they pull their names out of the draft by July 7.
• Jerome Hunter, a Pickerington North graduate, announced his transfer from Indiana to Xavier. He joins what could be Travis Steele’s best team.
• Illinois center Kofi Cockburn plans to remain in the NBA draft, per Adam Zagoria of Zags Blog. He had declared for the draft but retained his collegiate eligibility.
• Makur Maker, a Howard center, declared for the NBA draft but will preserve his collegiate eligibility. He was a massive get as a five-star recruit playing for a historically Black college or university, though he only played two games last season due to a groin injury.

ICYMI

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Up Next

• Wednesday-Saturday, June 9-12: Ohio State qualifiers will participate in the men’s and women’s track and field NCAA championships
• Thursday, Sept. 2: Ohio State football opens its 2021 season at Minnesota
• Saturday, Sept. 11: Ohio State football hosts Oregon in its 2021 home opener
• Saturday, Nov. 27: Ohio State plays Michigan in The Game