No. 25 Ohio State's Game-Winning 3 vs. Rutgers Shouldn't Have Counted, Big Ten Says
Dec 10, 2022
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 08: Tanner Holden #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game winning basket at the buzzer to defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on December 8, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Rutgers 67-66. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
The No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the unranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights 67-66 on Thursday night on a three-point buzzer-beater by Tanner Holden.
However, the Big Ten announced Friday that Holden's three-pointer shouldn't have counted, per NCAA.com's Andy Katz.
The Big Ten said in a statement:
"During regulation play, an OSU student-athlete passed the ball to a teammate who had drifted out of bounds and returned to the court to complete the game-winning shot. The action of stepping out of bounds and being the first player to touch the ball after returning inbounds constituted a violation of NCAA Rule 9, Section 3, Article 1. The play should have been stopped, and the ball ruled dead.
"The officiating crew that was on the court is one of the best in the country, but unfortunately missed the call. The Big Ten Conference takes officiating very seriously and has addressed the matter with both member institutions and the officiating crew. Additionally, the conference will be providing added education and rule reinforcement to our basketball officials."
Almost immediately after Holden hit the game-winning shot, Rutgers coaches and players were telling officials that the shot shouldn't count because Holden was out of bounds just before catching the ball.
"I thought it was (out of bounds) because it was right in front of me," Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said after the game, per NJ.com's Brian Fonseca. "... Again, I'm not sure about the sideline thing. I thought he clearly was, but again, I didn't see anything."
Considering Rutgers was up by two points when Holden caught the ball, a turnover would likely have resulted in a Buckeyes loss at Schottenstein Center.
Instead, Ohio State moved to 7-2 on the season, while Rutgers dropped to 6-3. Though it's early in the season, Rutgers could have used the conference victory.
The Buckeyes have had a solid season thus far, but they have lost each of their two games against ranked opponents, falling to No. 22 San Diego State on Nov. 21 and No. 15 Duke on Nov. 30.
Ohio State is back in action on Saturday against North Carolina, and they have a pretty tough January on tap with matchups against No. 4 Purdue, No. 13 Maryland, No. 17 Illinois and No. 14 Indiana.
The Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights will meet again on Jan. 15, and Rutgers will have revenge on its mind.
Bronny James Rumors: LeBron's Son Looking to Visit Ohio State amid Oregon, USC Buzz
Aug 24, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 05: Bronny James #0 and Amari Bailey #10 of Sierra Canyon HS celebrate after defeating Glenbard West HS at Wintrust Arena on February 05, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
LeBron James may have been an Ohio State Buckeye if the one-and-done NBA draft rule was in place when he went straight from high school to the sport's highest level.
Perhaps his son Bronny will be the one to don Scarlet and Gray.
According to Joe Tipton of On3, the younger James is "looking to visit Ohio State" and will "likely" make such a trip Sept. 3, when the football program plays Notre Dame in a highly anticipated primetime showdown.
Tipton reported LeBron also hopes to be in attendance.
The Buckeyes are far from the only ones recruiting Bronny, as Tipton listed USC, Memphis and Oregon as interested. LeBron was quick to shut down rumors that the Ducks were the favorites:
He hasn’t taken 1 visit yet and has only had a few calls with coaches and universities. When Bronny makes his choice you’ll hear it from him. #JamesGang👑 https://t.co/BBciKxl7m8
LeBron is from Akron, Ohio, and is a longtime advocate of the Buckeyes. He has attended football games in the past, consistently shouts the team out on social media and has provided apparel for the men's basketball team.
"If I would have had one year of college, I would have ended up down here in Columbus at Ohio State," James previously said (h/t Tipton). "No matter where I go in the world, I will always rock Ohio State colors."
He will certainly be rocking those colors if his son joins the team.
While the men's basketball program is often overshadowed by the powerhouse football team, head coach Chris Holtmann brought in the No. 8 class in the 2022 recruiting cycle and has the No. 4 group in 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Landing James, a 4-star prospect and the No. 40 player in the 2023 class, would only strengthen what is already a bright future.
And it surely wouldn't hurt the Buckeyes' chances if he were on campus to experience the environment at Ohio Stadium when the football team hosts Notre Dame.
No. 2 Villanova Survives No. 7 Ohio State's Upset Bid; Will Play Michigan in Sweet 16
Mar 20, 2022
Villanova's Collin Gillespie (2) works to get around Ohio State 's Jamari Wheeler (55) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
No. 2 Villanova will return to the Sweet 16 after surviving a 71-61 win over No. 7 Ohio State on Sunday.
Collin Gillespie had 20 points at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, avoiding a potential upset bid in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Villanova was seemingly in full control of the game early, leading by 11 points at halftime and as much as 15 in the second half.
The Buckeyes still kept the game within striking distance, eventually making a move with under 12 minutes left. A 15-5 run cut the deficit to two, putting pressure on the South Region's No. 2 seed.
It was enough for Villanova to pull out a close win in a game it never trailed.
Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell combined for 40 points for Ohio State, but it wasn't enough for the upset.
Villanova sometimes has trouble reaching the second weekend, but the squad is usually dangerous from that point on. Three of the last four trips to the Sweet 16 later featured a Final Four appearance, including two national championships.
The Wildcats will face No. 11 Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Collin Gillespie Leads Balanced Effort for Villanova
It wasn't the best game from Gillespie, who finished 5-of-14 from the field and 2-of-9 from three, but he came through at important times for the Wildcats.
The senior helped Villanova build an early lead with excellent individual ability:
The Collin Gillespie Game.#Buckeyes have no early answers for the veteran guard, who has 10 of Villanova's 17 points. Ohio State has 7 points, and it's looked that decisive through 8 minutes.
Gillespie outscored Ohio State for the first eight minutes of the game as Villanova quickly went up double digits.
The guard went quiet during the middle stretch of the game when his team held a double-digit lead, but he sprung back into action with clutch buckets down the stretch.
It was then Gillespie who drew extra attention in the post before kicking it out to Dixon for the key three-pointer.
Villanova had four players in double digits, including a strong showing by Jermaine Samuels. It was still Gillespie who made the key plays in the game's biggest moments, helping the Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16.
Ohio State Falls Short Despite Branham's Heroics
For much of the game, Ohio State simply seemed overmatched against an opponent that was better on both ends of the court.
Liddell did his part, but the squad needed a secondary scorer to even be competitive.
Branham apparently got the message, lighting it up in the second half to get his team back in the game.
Will say, Malaki Branham’s ability to create a shot from nothing against this Villanova team is basically the only thing saving Ohio State’s ass on offense right now. His hesitation game is terrific. Just has such an innate feel for how to get defenders off balance.
Branham and Liddell put up a fight in the second half, but there simply wasn't enough scoring depth.
Once Kyle Young left the game with an apparent head injury, Ohio State couldn't keep up on the scoreboard.
No. 15 Ohio State vs. No. 21 Kentucky Canceled Due to Buckeyes' COVID-19 Outbreak
Dec 16, 2021
Ohio State forward Zed Key is seen during an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Ohio State won 73-55. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Ohio State University announced Thursday that its scheduled men's basketball game against Kentucky on Saturday has been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests within the Buckeyes program.
The clash between No. 15 Ohio State and No. 21 Kentucky would have been part of the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
No. 4 UCLA and North Carolina are currently scheduled to play Saturday in the other CBS Sports Classic game. However, the Bruins' game against Alabama State on Wednesday was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, as head coach Mick Cronin had been previously ruled out for the contest because of protocols.
Stadium's Jeff Goodman and Fox 56's Nicole Hutchison reported the Wildcats and Tar Heels may wind up facing off:
Everything trending to Kentucky playing North Carolina Saturday in Las Vegas, sources told @Stadium.
Regarding the COVID-19 outbreak within the program, Ohio State said the following in a statement:
"The safety and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, staff and Ohio State community is the highest priority. All team related activities have been suspended and the players and staff will continue to be tested according to Ohio State protocols in consultation with the Big Ten Conference."
Ohio State also noted the "status of future games is to be determined."
The Buckeyes are off to an 8-2 start this season and have a 2-0 mark in Big Ten play, tying them with Michigan State and Illinois atop the conference.
Ohio State would have entered the game against Kentucky on a four-game winning streak, including victories over then-No. 1 Duke and then-No. 22 Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes are led by 2020-21 First Team All-Big Ten coaches selection E.J. Liddell, who is averaging 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.
Kentucky has also been playing well with a 7-2 record, although it lost its most recent game 66-62 to Notre Dame on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.
After head coach John Calipari's team disappointed with a 9-16 record and missed the NCAA tournament last season, it is looking the part of a tourney team.
Junior Oscar Tshiebwe has been the star for the Wildcats with 16.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest.
Ohio State's next scheduled game is home against UT Martin on Dec. 21, while Kentucky is slated to play next on Dec. 22 against Louisville at home.
Ohio State HC Chris Holtmann Donates $50K to Tornado Relief Fund
Dec 15, 2021
Ohio State's head coach Chris Holtmann reacts from the bench during an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Cincinnati. Xavier won 71-65. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Ohio State men's basketball head coach Chris Holtmann is doing what he can to help those who were impacted by the tornadoes in the Kentucky area ahead of his team's game against the state's flagship basketball program.
Kentucky Wildcats reporter Jerry Tipton noted Holtmann donated $50,000 to the relief fund.
The Ohio State coach has a connection to Kentucky after growing up in Lexington and Nicholasville, and he also encouraged Buckeyes fans to donate after having a conversation with Wildcats head coach John Calipari about different ways he could help:
Kelly McCleary, Holly Yan, Elizabeth Joseph and Claudia Dominguez of CNN reported at least 74 people in Kentucky died during a tornado outbreak that impacted eight different states. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said during a Monday afternoon news conference that more than 100 people were still missing.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats are scheduled to face each other Saturday in Las Vegas as part of the CBS Sports Classic.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski Says Ohio State 'Wore Us Out' in Upset Loss
Dec 1, 2021
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team play against the Citadel Bulldogs during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 22, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
credited Ohio State for a relentless effort that allowed the Buckeyes
to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit to upset the top-ranked Blue
Devils on Tuesday night.
"I thought they wore us out," Coach
K told reporters after the 71-66 loss in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. "We were
really worn out at the end. ... They're well-coached. They're
well-balanced."
The loss dropped Duke to 7-1 while OSU
improved to 5-2 on the 2021-22 season.
It was a tale of two halves for
Krzyzewski's group offensively. They made 18 of their 34 field-goal
attempts before halftime (52.9 percent), but just seven of their 31
shots in the second half (22.6 percent) to leave the door open for
the Ohio State comeback.
The Buckeyes took advantage, knocking
down five threes as part of a rally that improved their home record
to 4-0.
"I thought our ability to stay with
it was really important," OSU head coach Chris Holtmann told
reporters. "Players win games, and we had a number of guys make
plays down the stretch."
Zed Key led the offensive charge for
Ohio State with 20 points in 27 minutes. E.J. Liddell added 14
points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Cedric Russell chipped in
12 points off the bench.
"We really dug in on the defensive
side of things," Russell said. "It just felt good to come out on
top, especially at home."
Wendell Moore Jr. (17 points) and Paolo
Banchero (14), the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA
draft, paced Duke in the loss.
The Blue Devils were coming off their
biggest win of the season to date, an upset of then-No. 1 Gonzaga on
Friday. They also beat No. 10 Kentucky during their 7-0 start to the
campaign.
Duke has a couple weeks off following
the loss before returning to action Dec. 14 when it hosts South
Carolina State at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Ohio State is back in action Sunday
when it visits the Bryce Jordan Center to open Big Ten play against
Penn State.
Paolo Banchero, No. 1 Duke Upset by Unranked Ohio State Behind Zed Key's 20 Points
Dec 1, 2021
Ohio State's Zed Key, right, posts up against Duke's Mark Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Duke's reign atop the college basketball rankings will be short-lived.
The Ohio State Buckeyes stunned the Blue Devils on Tuesday night, 71-66 at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, closing the game on a 14-1 run in the final five minutes.
Ohio State's defense earned them the win, namely in a second half that saw Duke score just 23 points. But Zed Key was equally impressive, scoring a career-high 20 points to lead the Buckeyes.
That spoiled another solid performance from the pair of Wendell Moore Jr. and Paolo Banchero, though they couldn't prevent the Blue Devils from blowing a 13-point halftime lead.
The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 7-1 on the year, while Ohio State moved to 5-2.
Key Stats
Zed Key, OSU: 20 points
E.J. Liddell, OSU: 14 points, 14 rebounds, six assists
Malachi Branham, OSU: Eight points
Paolo Banchero, Duke: 14 points, five rebounds
Wendell Moore Jr., Duke: 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists
Jeremy Roach, Duke: Nine points
Ohio State Overcame Free-Throw Woes And Turnovers To Steal A Win
It's hard to beat most teams when you go 11-of-22 from the charity stripe, or commit 12 turnovers. Beating a team as good as Duke with those self-imposed errors is basically impossible.
But somehow, Ohio State prevailed. The Buckeyes had the home crowd behind them, and consistently got stops in the second half.
It wasn't pretty. They did it the hard way. But it was a huge statement win for an Ohio State team that was still smarting from two losses in its previous three games against Xavier and Florida.
Banchero And Moore Couldn't Quite Do Enough
Banchero made plenty of headlines with a 20-point first half against Gonzaga, so his effectiveness on Tuesday night—at least in the first half—was hardly a surprise. He's a special player, and only a freshman.
Moore, a junior, has more experience on this level, and when he hit a pair of tough buckets to end a Duke cold streak in the second half, it looked as though that experience was paying off.
I say this every game, but I cannot get over Wendell Moore's confidence change from his freshman year. It's, like, not even the same dude.
He's not taking that two years ago, or even last year... and he's not making it, either. (Especially not with two fouls...)
But neither Banchero or Moore came up big down in the clutch. Duke didn't make a bucket in the final 5:19 of the game, with the Buckeyes ending the contest on an 11-0 run. Banchero or Moore needed to end the run. Neither could.
What's Next?
Ohio State will travel to face Penn State on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Duke gets a longer break and is next in action on Tuesday, Dec. 14, when they host South Carolina State at 8 p.m. ET.
Greg Oden Rejoins OSU Basketball Coaching Staff as Graduate Assistant
Sep 1, 2021
DALLAS, TEXAS - JULY 31: Greg Oden #22 of the Aliens looks on during the game against the Trilogy during BIG3 - Week Four at the American Airlines Center on July 31, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for BIG3)
Former No. 1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden has joined the Ohio State coaching staff as a graduate assistant, according to Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch.
Oden had previously served as a student manager in 2016-17, but now he will have a bigger role under head coach Chris Holtmann in hopes of eventually becoming a full-time coach.
The 33-year-old discussed the opportunity:
I'm thankful, honestly, for coach Holt and his staff who have welcomed me in and given me this opportunity because that’s literally what I want to do is get into coaching. One of the toughest things to do is get your foot in the door, so for them to give me this opportunity while I'm able to actually get a Master's degree in sports coaching from The Ohio State University, which I would love, is something that's just amazing. I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm just so thankful and ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
Oden first came to Ohio State as the No. 1 recruit in the 2006 class. He led the Buckeyes to the national title game in his freshman season, earning first-team All-American honors while averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
The center became the first overall draft pick in 2007 ahead of Kevin Durant, but knee injuries derailed his career. He played just 105 career games before retiring in 2016.
After some time playing in the Big3, Oden is now set to begin his coaching career.
Report: 5-Star DL J.T. Tuimoloau Will Also Attempt to Play Basketball at Ohio State
Jul 6, 2021
One of the top football prospects in the 2021 class also plans to play basketball for Ohio State.
J.T. Tuimoloau reportedly hopes to join the Buckeyes basketball program after the football season ends, according to Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch. He spent time with men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann during his official visit and football coach Ryan Day is willing to make it work.
This comes after Tuimoloau announced his commitment to Ohio State on Sunday in a graphic that also featured him in a basketball uniform.
The defensive lineman is considered a 5-star prospect in football and the No. 3 overall player in the 2021 class by 247Sports composite rankings.
At 6'4½", 277 pounds, Tuimoloau has the size to make an immediate impact on the football field while his athleticism could make him an elite pass-rusher for the perennial national title contender.
Ohio State was the runner-up in the national championship game last season, and the school has proved it can send defensive linemen to the NFL, including recent stars like Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa.
On the basketball court, Tuimoloau could provide added depth for a team that earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament last season. The Buckeyes could again be a top contender in the Big Ten thanks to the return of E.J. Liddell to go with other young talent.
Tuimoloau has good footwork in the paint and could contribute down low for the Buckeyes:
AAU Boys 2018 Premiere Summer Showcase, Bellevue College 16U Seattle Rotary EYBL 56 E.WA Elite White 48 F 2021 USC Football Recruit Jaylahn Tuimoloau 6’6 PF Rotary EYBL Took over late W/ blks,rebs and sweet jump hook in the paint. @SeattleRotary1 pic.twitter.com/cx0SJUWPqo
