Tag: ohio state basketball

Ohio State Buckeyes only top-ten team in both basketball and football

After Week 12 in football and week 2 in basketball, the Ohio State Buckeyes sit as the NCAA’s only top-ten team in both sports.

After Week 12 in football and week 2 in basketball, the Ohio State Buckeyes sit as the university with the only top-ten team in both sports of the biggest revenue making sports.

It’s not easy to be elite at multiple sports.

The last time the Buckeyes held both teams in the top ten was February 12, 2017, after the university’s football program finished fifth in the final AP Poll and their basketball program slide into the No. 8 spot.

Overall, programs like Duke and Kentucky have outstanding basketball teams on a yearly basis; however, they struggle to compare to the rest of their conference in football.

On the other side, programs like LSU and Alabama typically can’t hold their own on the hardwood yet would easily put 60 points on most opponents in football.

For Ohio State, it just so happens to be one of the best teams in both sports this season, something you could argue comes along with Ohio State historically as well. Believe it or not, the Buckeyes are tied with the most Big Ten basketball titles in conference history, and are a top five program for Final Four appearances all-time.

On the gridiron, Ohio State is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation and has yet to even come close to losing. It has been beat down after beat down in 2019. With Justin Fields leading the way and Chase Young guiding the defense, the Buckeyes have looked invincible.

The Big Ten East division crown is going to all boil down to the Nov. 23 showdown with Penn State. The Buckeyes have already opened as double-figure favorites in that one, but the game must be played.

As for basketball, the Buckeyes recently put a 25-point beatdown on the then-10th-ranked Villanova Wildcats. They’re 3-0 and have moved up to No. 10 in the AP Poll, and No. 9 in the USA TODAY Poll.

Behind the strong play of third-year forward Kaleb Wesson and three terrific four-star freshman recruits, the Buckeyes are once again making Columbus known for its basketball.

All we hope for is sustained success as both programs look to be taking their talent level to new heights.

Ohio State moves up to No. 9 in latest USA TODAY College Basketball Poll

The Ohio State basketball team has moved all the way up into the top ten of the newly released USA TODAY College Basketball Poll.

The Ohio State basketball team is now a top ten squad twice over. It already checked in right at No. 10 in the AP College Basketball Poll, and now we also get word that it is No. 9 in the newly released USA TODAY College Basketball Poll.

The Buckeyes have had an impressive start to the season, starting out 3-0, with an impressive beatdown of then No. 10 ranked Big East foe Villanova in Columbus.

That victory, in combination with what pollsters and media experts have seen from the play and athleticism on the court in 2019-2020 has no doubt had an effect on the perception of this team. Early on, many felt Ohio State was a borderline top 20 team, now it seems a lot of folks are feeling a little more bullish on what kind of damage this team can do.

Here’s the complete top 25 according to USA TODAY:

1. Duke
2. Louisville
3. Michigan State
4. North Carolina
5. Kansas
6. Virginia
7. Maryland
8. Gonzaga
9. Ohio State
10. Kentucky
11. Oregon
12. Texas Tech
13. Seton Hall
14. Arizona
15. Villanova
16. Utah State
17. Tennessee
18. Auburn
19. VCU
20. Memphis
21. Xavier
22. Texas
23. Baylor
24. Washington
25. Colorado

Ohio State basketball jumps into the top ten of the AP College Basketball Poll

Ohio State is officially a top ten basketball squad after appearing in the top ten of the latest AP College Basketball Poll.

After staring out of the gate 3-0, including a dominating performance against then No. 10 Villanova at home, the Associated Press college basketball voters have taken notice of Ohio State.

The newest AP College Basketball Poll was just released Monday and Ohio State has moved all the way up into the top ten from No. 16 to No. 10. It’s the first time the Buckeyes have made it into the top ten since midway through Chris Holtmann’s first season.

The new No. 1 is Duke after Kentucky lost to unranked Evansville. Louisville checks in right behind Duke, with Michigan State, Kansas, and North Carolina rounding out the top five.

Ohio State is next in action against tonight (Monday) against Stetson.

Here’s the rest of the top 25:

1. Duke
2. Louisville
3. Michigan State
4. Kansas
5. North Carolina
6. Maryland
7. Virginia
8. Gonzaga
9. Kentucky
10. Ohio State
11. Oregon
12. Texas Tech
13. Seton Hall
14. Arizona
15. Utah State
16. Memphis
17. Villanova
18. Xavier
19. Auburn
20. Tennessee
21. Virginia Commonwealth
22. Texas
23. Colorado
24. Baylor
25. Washington

Ohio State moves way up in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology

ESPN resident NCAA college basketball bracketologist Joe Lunardi has released his new projections. He has Ohio State making a big move.

The Ohio State basketball team has had a great start to the 2019-2020 season. The win over Cincinnati at home to start the year was a significant one, but the whitewashing of No. 10 Villanova was a head turner.

There are still things to work on, and there have been some issues scoring at times early on in the season, but it looks like roles are starting to be defined, and this team is getting an identity.

And ESPN’s famed Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has taken note.

In the latest release of his bracket projections, Lunardi has Ohio State all the way up to a No. 2 seed. This is notable because before the season, the Buckeyes were showing up around a No. 5 or No. 4 seed, but it’s clear many — Lunardi included — are starting to believe this team can do some damage nationally.

Of course now, just three games into the season, does not a postseason resume make, but the ceiling of this year’s Ohio State basketball team might be a little higher than what anyone thought.

So where would you make travel plans if this were to come to fruition? Lundardi has the Buckeyes in the East bracket, playing in Cleveland against Northeastern. Duke is the No. 1 seed in that region.

Of course this will all change significantly, but we’ll keep tabs on where the experts believe this team is.

Watch: Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann talks Villanova and previews Stetson

Ohio State head basketball coach Chris Holtmann met with the media in Columbus Friday to discuss Villanova and to look ahead to Stetson.

Ohio State looked awfully impressive against the tenth ranked Villanova Wildcats Wednesday night, winning by a wide margin 76-51. There’s no doubt it was a head-turning victory. However, a season is not made by one impressive victory, and that’s no doubt that’s the message Holtmann is giving his team.

The head man in charge met with the local media Friday night to reflect upon the game against Villanova and to look ahead to the next opponent, Stetson.

We’ve got the entire press conference for you in case you didn’t catch it courtesy of the Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Facebook page. Holtmann discussed how laser focused his team was against Villanova, tried to temper expectations because of youth, looked ahead to Stetson and more.

Click on the below, watch — and get a listen. As a bonus, you can also catch questions posed to Danny Hummer and freshman E.J. Liddell at the beginning. Holtmann appears midway through the video.

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https://www.facebook.com/OhioStateMensBasketball/videos/2242103142747919/

Ohio State leapfrogs Nova, Kentucky in CBS Updated Top 25

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of a couple new freshman, and returning guys like Kaleb Wesson, are looking like a top ten team.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of three four-star recruits and Kaleb Wesson, have entered into the nation’s college basketball top ten. They do so on the back of a dominant effort against Villanova.

The Buckeyes, who had one of their best-recruiting classes of the decade coming into this season, opened up the preseason at No. 18. Now at No. 16, the Buckeyes are looking at a promising jump in the AP Poll.

For now, we’ll take a look at the Thursday edition of the CBS Sports’ updated top 25.

They have Ohio State at No. 10, jumping both Villanova and the former top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. However, in just a few short weeks, it’ll get its shot against the latter half of those programs.

CBS Sports’ columnist Gary Parrish had this to say on the Buckeyes impressive victory and terrific all-around start.

“OSU shot 60.0% from the field in Wednesday’s win over Villanova. Duane Washington was one of five Buckeyes to reach double-figures in points.”

Now 3-0, the Buckeyes are far past that concerning start against Cincinnati.

Also tallying a win over UMass Lowell, the Buckeyes entered their matchup with Nova confident with D.J. Carton starting to get acclimated to the speed of college basketball and Kaleb Wesson looking as dominant (and trimmed down) as ever.

Carton, Wesson and Washington Jr. led the Buckeyes against Nova, and it was an absolute show.

Now the Buckeyes will be preparing for Stetson this coming Monday. By then, we should officially be calling Ohio State a top-ten team one would think.