The Thunder will be playing without Russell Westbrook for the first time since drafting him when they take on the Rockets in game 3. Is this good or bad for the Thunder, Rockets, and players involved?
WINNERS:
Kevin Durant:
Durant becomes THE man in OKC now and will not have to defer to Westbrook. The best part is Durant has no pressure. If OKC loses, Westbrook's injury will be used as a scapegoat. If Durant wins, he gets all of the credit for carrying Oklahoma City. The person with something at stake here appears to be Westbrook. But, if Westbrook wins in this situation, that means the Thunder lose without him.
James Harden:
James Harden immediately benefits. This series now becomes Harden v. Durant. And if he wins, he takes down his former team AND the Thunder get questioned for dropping him. Even if he can't take down the Thunder by himself, if another team does, the lack of Harden on the Thunder will still be questioned.
The Rockets, The Rest of the West:
The Thunder lose a premier point guard. The rest of the west have a much better chance of beating the Thunder now, plain and simple.
Skip Bayless:
Skip Bayless has been the biggest critic of Westbrook. Now, he has a win-win situation. If they win without Westbrook, he hits jackpot. If they lose, he can say the Thunder would be fine if they kept Harden, which he has said all year. Everyone hates it when Skip gloats, and either way he covers his tracks.
The Losers:
Kevin Durant:
KD loses his wingman. A tough blow and he will have to deal with increased defensive pressure in his direction.
The Thunder:
Obviously, the Thunder will miss Westbrook.
ESPN Viewers:
Don't watch First Take when Skip Bayless is on. Just change the channel. Save the aggrevation.
Prediction:
The Thunder survive a thrilling series with Houston. If Westbrook is missed for significant time, OKC will leave home early, potentially to the Clippers. In the grand scheme, this doesn't matter as Miami would match up well with OKC in the finals either way. It is Lebron's title to lose and this just makes the road easier.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
LA Lakers should amnesty Kobe
Kobe Bryant has been the face of the Lakers franchise since the trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat in 2004. Kobe won 3 championships with Shaq and 2 more after his departure. When Dwight Howard was brought to LA, the Lakers received a lot of media hype and drew comparisons to the Miami Heat. However, this season has been a complete disaster for the Lakers. Their improved play, especially after the all-star break, has the Lakers right in the playoff hunt (1 game up on Utah for 8 seed with 2 games to go, don't own tiebreak). Kobe Bryant has since torn his achilles, possibly in due to large part of his playing time. The 34 year old in his 17th season had been averaging over 45 minutes a month in April. Now the Lakers must try to complete this season and make the playoffs without him.
Sometimes, a good thing must come to an end. In this case, I think it is time for the Lakers to say good bye to Kobe Bryant. Let's go over the facts. The NBA has an amnesty clause that helps teams get salary relief and the Lakers have their amnesty sitting in their back pocket. Kobe Bryant will be entering the last year of his contract next season and is scheduled to make over $30 million. Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are both free agents next season and the Lakers would be smart to re-sign at least one of the two. If the two play well together and put forth a solid effort in the playoffs together, it may be smart to build around the two big men. How would they build around them? It would be easy with the 30 million dollars in cap space that would open by dropping Kobe.
Sentimentally, amnestying Kobe Bryant could be the worst possible PR move in NBA history. The Colts dropped Peyton Manning in a similar spot and he led Denver to an AFC west championship the next season. However, the Colts are poised to be a threat in the future behind Andrew Luck. Worst case scenario for the Lakers would be Kobe coming back at the same level he was at and joining a new team. However, Kobe does not have many seasons left and next season could be his last one. It is time to move toward the future. The future is building around Dwight Howard. Fans might be outraged by the move, but winning would heal the heart of Lakers fans.
Sometimes, a good thing must come to an end. In this case, I think it is time for the Lakers to say good bye to Kobe Bryant. Let's go over the facts. The NBA has an amnesty clause that helps teams get salary relief and the Lakers have their amnesty sitting in their back pocket. Kobe Bryant will be entering the last year of his contract next season and is scheduled to make over $30 million. Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are both free agents next season and the Lakers would be smart to re-sign at least one of the two. If the two play well together and put forth a solid effort in the playoffs together, it may be smart to build around the two big men. How would they build around them? It would be easy with the 30 million dollars in cap space that would open by dropping Kobe.
Sentimentally, amnestying Kobe Bryant could be the worst possible PR move in NBA history. The Colts dropped Peyton Manning in a similar spot and he led Denver to an AFC west championship the next season. However, the Colts are poised to be a threat in the future behind Andrew Luck. Worst case scenario for the Lakers would be Kobe coming back at the same level he was at and joining a new team. However, Kobe does not have many seasons left and next season could be his last one. It is time to move toward the future. The future is building around Dwight Howard. Fans might be outraged by the move, but winning would heal the heart of Lakers fans.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Ohio State Vs. West Virginia/Marshall Baseball Recap
Ohio State played 2 home games this week at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes played a game versus each team and took a way a victory in each game, improving to 21-10 on the season.
Tuesday night the Buckeyes took down the Mountaineers 9-0. The Buckeyes turned in an all-around team effort. Defensively, CF Joe Ciamacco had a tremendous diving catch and the Buckeyes also turned 2 double plays. Starting pitcher Brett McKinney threw 5 scoreless innings to earn the win and improve his record to 3-3. McKinney struck out 6 Mountaineers in the outing. Jaron Long, David Fathalikhani, Greg Greve, and Trace Dempsey each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Offensively, the Buckeyes pushed across 9 runs behind a 2-hit effort from Ciamacco and a 2-RBI effort from Brad Hallberg. The Buckeyes received a great deal of help from West Virginia as the Mountaineers combined for 5 errors as a team. In fact, West Virginia pitchers were charged with only one earned run.
The Buckeyes won 5-0 against the Marshall Thundering Herd. The Buckeyes jumped ahead early by gaining a 4-0 lead in the early innings before a lengthy weather delay due to lightning. Starter Jake Post went 5 scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Post retired his last 10 batters faced (4 strikeouts) and now has 11 scoreless innings pitched at home. Once again the Buckeyes bullpen came through with 4 scoreless innings, 1.1 from Ryan Riga, 0.2 from David Fathalikhani, and an inning a piece from Tyler Giannonatti and Trace Dempsey. Ciamacco collected 2 hits for the Buckeyes once again and stole his 13th bag of the season. Freshman Jacob Bosiokovic had a clutch 2 RBI double to give the Buckeyes a comfortable lead in the first inning. For Marshall, Isaac Ballou reached base in his 23rd consecutive game by collecting 3 hits for the Thundering Herd.
The Buckeyes will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend for a 3-game series with the Cornhuskers.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Ohio State Home Opening Series vs Michigan State Recap
Ohio State baseball had a rough weekend against the Michigan State Spartans this past weekend (March 29-31). The Spartans (2-1 in conference) took 2 of 3 from the Buckeyes (4-2 in conference) at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. Friday, the Buckeyes led for most of the game due to a strong outing from starting pitcher Jaron Long. However, a 2-RBI double from Spartan DH Cam Gibson tied the game at 6-6 in the 8th innning. Trace Dempsey was brought in to face the next batter and threw 2 wild pitches in the sequence, allowing 2 runs to score to complete a 4-run 8th for the Spartans, who went on to win 8-7.
The Buckeyes put on a strong performance on saturday afternoon, continuing an impressive offensive series. The Buckeyes won 8-3, improving their record to 13-2 when leading after 6 innings. However, the Spartans provided the offense in the rubber game on sunday, winning 7-2. Spartans Right Fielder Jimmy Pickens homered for the second time in the series. The Buckeyes are 1-5 when scoring less than 3 runs. Shortstop Kirby Pellant and DH/Catcher Greg Solomon were two bright spots in the series. Pellant went 6-12 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 R while Solomon went 5-10 with a triple, 1 RBI, and 1 R.
Looking ahead to two intrastate games in the middle of the week, many players are performing at high levels. Pellant has reached in 14 consecutive games, 1B Brad Hallberg in 13 straight, and LF Tim Wetzel in 10. CF Joe Ciamacco has gone 11 for 11 on his steal attempts to this point of the season, improving his career total to 27 for 27. Kirby Pellant improved his average to above .400. RF Pat Porter collected a double and 2 hits in each of the 3 games vs Michigan State, leading the team with 10 multi-hit games on the season. In all, the Buckeyes hit .325 over the weekend.
Ohio State pitching has also been a bright spot, currently sitting 2nd in the Big Ten in team ERA. Ohio State's rotation of Jaron Long, Brad Goldberg, and Brian King have averaged over 6 innings per start and have a combined 2.42 ERA. Goldberg has allowed 2 earned runs of less in each of his last 8 starts. Closer Trace Dempsey leads the Big Ten with 7 saves and has posted a 0.68 era while striking out 14 batters this season. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 10 innings pitched, but his wild pitches did cost the Buckeyes on friday night. David Fathalikahni has not allowed a run over his last 8 appearances as well. The Buckeyes pitching staff has been strong when it matters most, as opponents are hitting just .198 with runners on base.
The Buckeyes put on a strong performance on saturday afternoon, continuing an impressive offensive series. The Buckeyes won 8-3, improving their record to 13-2 when leading after 6 innings. However, the Spartans provided the offense in the rubber game on sunday, winning 7-2. Spartans Right Fielder Jimmy Pickens homered for the second time in the series. The Buckeyes are 1-5 when scoring less than 3 runs. Shortstop Kirby Pellant and DH/Catcher Greg Solomon were two bright spots in the series. Pellant went 6-12 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 R while Solomon went 5-10 with a triple, 1 RBI, and 1 R.
Looking ahead to two intrastate games in the middle of the week, many players are performing at high levels. Pellant has reached in 14 consecutive games, 1B Brad Hallberg in 13 straight, and LF Tim Wetzel in 10. CF Joe Ciamacco has gone 11 for 11 on his steal attempts to this point of the season, improving his career total to 27 for 27. Kirby Pellant improved his average to above .400. RF Pat Porter collected a double and 2 hits in each of the 3 games vs Michigan State, leading the team with 10 multi-hit games on the season. In all, the Buckeyes hit .325 over the weekend.
Ohio State pitching has also been a bright spot, currently sitting 2nd in the Big Ten in team ERA. Ohio State's rotation of Jaron Long, Brad Goldberg, and Brian King have averaged over 6 innings per start and have a combined 2.42 ERA. Goldberg has allowed 2 earned runs of less in each of his last 8 starts. Closer Trace Dempsey leads the Big Ten with 7 saves and has posted a 0.68 era while striking out 14 batters this season. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 10 innings pitched, but his wild pitches did cost the Buckeyes on friday night. David Fathalikahni has not allowed a run over his last 8 appearances as well. The Buckeyes pitching staff has been strong when it matters most, as opponents are hitting just .198 with runners on base.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
NL Central Preview
The NL Central will certainly miss the Houston Astros. Here's how the teams stack up entering 2013:
Class of the Central: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have won two of the last three division titles and seem poised to win another as the season begins. The Reds acquired Shin-Soo Choo from the Indians to bolster their lineup. He will make the move from RF to CF for the first time in his career. The rest of the lineup is the same young core- Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart- with MVP candidate Joey Votto and all-star Brandon Phillips. The Reds made the decision to keep the "Cuban Missile" Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen as their closer. As a result, they enter 2013 with the same rotation as last season- Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake. The Reds performed impressively without Votto last season, which means this team certainly has the potential for 100 wins if they can stay healthy.
Model of Consistency: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals continue to play baseball at a high level no matter what lineup they throw out on the field. The Cardinals will be without Chris Carpenter (injury) and Kyle Lohse (free agency) in their rotation. However, St. Louis is continuing to reload rather than rebuild, with young studs Jon Jay, Allen Craig, Matt Carpenter, Pete Kozma, and NLDS hero Daniel Descalso. Highly touted prospect Oscar Tavares will likely join the roster after the all-star break as well. The Cardinals will have to deal with inconsistent pitching (especially from their bullpen) and will rely heavily on Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and Jaime Garcia to carry them on a playoff run. This team could challenge the Reds for the title if its pieces together, but this seems more like a wild card team than a division winner.
Outside looking in: Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee was able to muster 83 wins in their first season without Prince Fielder. The Brewers will start this season without Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum in their rotation. However, they signed Kyle Lohse to replace Greinke and have a young repertoire of young pitching with Marco Estrada, Chris Narveson, and Mike Fiers anchoring their underrated rotation. Milwaukee's bullpen was miserable last season and blew many games in the late innings. Francisco Rodriguez (3 for 10 in save oppurtunities) was allowed to walk but John Axford (35 for 44) will return as the closer after a disappointing season (5-8, 4.67 ERA). A big storyline that could impact the success of the Brewers this season is the status of their star LF and 2011 MVP Ryan Braun. If Braun is suspended, this team is not deep enough to overcome his loss. The Brewers will start the season without Corey Hart and will have SS Alex Gonzalez playing 1B in his absence. This is a solid under the radar team that may find itself in the playoff hunt come September, but it seems like a lot has to go their way for that to happen.
Is this the year?- Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh almost ended their streak of losing seasons, but a late season collapse had them sitting at 79-83. This year, Pittsburgh will try to get on the winning side behind superstar CF Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates brought in veteran C Russell Martin to work with their new rotation. The Pirates have an interesting rotation of A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jeff Locke, and Jonathan Sanchez. If each pitcher performs at a top level, this team is good enough to win 82 games this year. Contributions from Neil Walker, Garrett Jones, and Pedro Alvarez in help of McCutchen are also critical. However, it seems like too much needs to go right for Pittsburgh and they may be headed toward a 21st consecutive season without an above .500 win percentage.
Is this THE year?- Chicago Cubs
The lovable losers from the north side of Chicago have not won a world series since 1908. 105 years later, is this team ready to compete for a title? Quick answer- no. The Cubs have a lot of work to do in all facets of their game. The good news for the Cubs is they did not lose any significant players from last season. However, this team had 61 wins last season. Anthony Rizzo needs a huge season for the Cubs to move in the right direction. Barring a trade, Rizzo will be protected by Alfonso Soriano, who seemed to had made some good adjustments to his swing last season, tallying over 100 RBI from the cleanup spot. The Cubs brought in 4 starting pitchers to add depth to their rotation, the biggest name being Edwin Jackson. I doubt this team does much damage in this division, but the Cubs appear to be heading in the right direction with the way that their prospects played in spring training. This team is still a few years away.
Class of the Central: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have won two of the last three division titles and seem poised to win another as the season begins. The Reds acquired Shin-Soo Choo from the Indians to bolster their lineup. He will make the move from RF to CF for the first time in his career. The rest of the lineup is the same young core- Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart- with MVP candidate Joey Votto and all-star Brandon Phillips. The Reds made the decision to keep the "Cuban Missile" Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen as their closer. As a result, they enter 2013 with the same rotation as last season- Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake. The Reds performed impressively without Votto last season, which means this team certainly has the potential for 100 wins if they can stay healthy.
Model of Consistency: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals continue to play baseball at a high level no matter what lineup they throw out on the field. The Cardinals will be without Chris Carpenter (injury) and Kyle Lohse (free agency) in their rotation. However, St. Louis is continuing to reload rather than rebuild, with young studs Jon Jay, Allen Craig, Matt Carpenter, Pete Kozma, and NLDS hero Daniel Descalso. Highly touted prospect Oscar Tavares will likely join the roster after the all-star break as well. The Cardinals will have to deal with inconsistent pitching (especially from their bullpen) and will rely heavily on Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and Jaime Garcia to carry them on a playoff run. This team could challenge the Reds for the title if its pieces together, but this seems more like a wild card team than a division winner.
Outside looking in: Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee was able to muster 83 wins in their first season without Prince Fielder. The Brewers will start this season without Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum in their rotation. However, they signed Kyle Lohse to replace Greinke and have a young repertoire of young pitching with Marco Estrada, Chris Narveson, and Mike Fiers anchoring their underrated rotation. Milwaukee's bullpen was miserable last season and blew many games in the late innings. Francisco Rodriguez (3 for 10 in save oppurtunities) was allowed to walk but John Axford (35 for 44) will return as the closer after a disappointing season (5-8, 4.67 ERA). A big storyline that could impact the success of the Brewers this season is the status of their star LF and 2011 MVP Ryan Braun. If Braun is suspended, this team is not deep enough to overcome his loss. The Brewers will start the season without Corey Hart and will have SS Alex Gonzalez playing 1B in his absence. This is a solid under the radar team that may find itself in the playoff hunt come September, but it seems like a lot has to go their way for that to happen.
Is this the year?- Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh almost ended their streak of losing seasons, but a late season collapse had them sitting at 79-83. This year, Pittsburgh will try to get on the winning side behind superstar CF Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates brought in veteran C Russell Martin to work with their new rotation. The Pirates have an interesting rotation of A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jeff Locke, and Jonathan Sanchez. If each pitcher performs at a top level, this team is good enough to win 82 games this year. Contributions from Neil Walker, Garrett Jones, and Pedro Alvarez in help of McCutchen are also critical. However, it seems like too much needs to go right for Pittsburgh and they may be headed toward a 21st consecutive season without an above .500 win percentage.
Is this THE year?- Chicago Cubs
The lovable losers from the north side of Chicago have not won a world series since 1908. 105 years later, is this team ready to compete for a title? Quick answer- no. The Cubs have a lot of work to do in all facets of their game. The good news for the Cubs is they did not lose any significant players from last season. However, this team had 61 wins last season. Anthony Rizzo needs a huge season for the Cubs to move in the right direction. Barring a trade, Rizzo will be protected by Alfonso Soriano, who seemed to had made some good adjustments to his swing last season, tallying over 100 RBI from the cleanup spot. The Cubs brought in 4 starting pitchers to add depth to their rotation, the biggest name being Edwin Jackson. I doubt this team does much damage in this division, but the Cubs appear to be heading in the right direction with the way that their prospects played in spring training. This team is still a few years away.
NL East Preview
With the MLB beginning its new season within the next week, we dive into a preview of the upcoming year. We start with the NL East.
Favorite: Washington Nationals
The Nationals had the best record in the majors last season with 98 wins. They enter 2013 as the favorite to win the NL East. It is hard to bet against the Nationals when they did not lose any of their key starters. Kurt Suzuki was brought in to be the man behind the plate. They also added Denard Span to their outfield, which is a strong unit with a healthy Jayson Werth and Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper. The Nationals almost lost their first basemen but were able to retain Adam LaRoche. The Nationals also added Dan Haren to their rotation, joining Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Gio Gonzalez. A big storyline for this season will be whether or not Strasburg is on an innings limit. Last season, Strasburg was shut down before the post season and the Nationals lost in the NLDS to St. Louis. Strasburg's arm is still a concern due to his enormous potential. Strasburg threw 100 more innings in 2012 than in 2011. This year's goal is 200 innings (plus 30 more in playoffs) meaning that he could throw anywhere from 40-50 more innings in 2013 than 2012. Given his age, it would not be a surprise to see the Nationals limit Strasburg again. Expect the Nationals to be near the top of the National League with their strong bullpen (and new closer Rafael Soriano) and to be a threat in the postseason. Shutting down Strasburg, though, could cost them a shot at a title (again).
Top Contender: Atlanta Braves
The Braves spent the offseason dealing. They boosted their outfield with the additions of both Justin and BJ Upton to join Jason Heyward (and an underrated pick up of Reed Johnson as well). This outfield meshes together nicely with a ton of young talent on the team, like Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman. Pitching-wise, their bullpen is weaker than Washington's. However, they have a more complete rotation with Tim Hudson, Mike Minor, Paul Maholm, Mike Minor, and Julio Teheran. Like their lineup, it is a great mix of veterans and young talent. Plus, Craig Kimbrel is arguably the best closer in the game sitting in their bullpen. The Braves could challenge the Nationals for the division crown, but both teams should be in wild card hunt should they miss out on the division title.
Muddled Middle: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had a dissapointing season in 2012, but they were able to play solid baseball in the second half of the year. Philadelphia brought in Michael Young to play 3B and bring veteran leadership to the club. This team will need a big season from their young outfield, especially Domonic Brown, who is having an incredible spring in his return from injury. Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee remain at the top of a solid rotation. Jonathan Papelbon returns as the closer. The Phillies are a quality club and good bounce back seasons from Ryan Howard and Chase Utley could lead the Phillies to exceed expectations. However, this team is on the outside looking in as the season begins.
Headed in the Wrong Direction: New York Mets
It looks like Mets fans will be in for a long season. The lone bright spot on the roster is David Wright, who can only take this team so far. Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, and the rest of the supporting cast will probably not be enough for the Mets to be a contender. This team is clearly in rebuilding mode, especially after trading away Cy Young Winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto. This team could be competitive, but no one expects this team to make a playoff push. The Mets appear to be a couple of years away from being on level with Atlanta and Washington.
Simply, Just a Mess: Miami Marlins
Last offseason the Marlins went on a huge spending spree to fill their new stadium in Miami. The fans were excited and they became a trendy team around the country. The Marlins have Giancarlo Stanton, one of the best young players in the game, to anchor their lineup. Veterans Juan Pierre and Placido Polanco signed with Miami this offeason. However, this team went on a complete fire-sale, dumping salary to the Blue Jays by trading Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, John Buck (later a part of the Dickey trade) and Emilio Bonifacio. This team is easily the worst team in the National League as the season begins and have a long way to go to compete in this division.
Favorite: Washington Nationals
The Nationals had the best record in the majors last season with 98 wins. They enter 2013 as the favorite to win the NL East. It is hard to bet against the Nationals when they did not lose any of their key starters. Kurt Suzuki was brought in to be the man behind the plate. They also added Denard Span to their outfield, which is a strong unit with a healthy Jayson Werth and Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper. The Nationals almost lost their first basemen but were able to retain Adam LaRoche. The Nationals also added Dan Haren to their rotation, joining Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Gio Gonzalez. A big storyline for this season will be whether or not Strasburg is on an innings limit. Last season, Strasburg was shut down before the post season and the Nationals lost in the NLDS to St. Louis. Strasburg's arm is still a concern due to his enormous potential. Strasburg threw 100 more innings in 2012 than in 2011. This year's goal is 200 innings (plus 30 more in playoffs) meaning that he could throw anywhere from 40-50 more innings in 2013 than 2012. Given his age, it would not be a surprise to see the Nationals limit Strasburg again. Expect the Nationals to be near the top of the National League with their strong bullpen (and new closer Rafael Soriano) and to be a threat in the postseason. Shutting down Strasburg, though, could cost them a shot at a title (again).
Top Contender: Atlanta Braves
The Braves spent the offseason dealing. They boosted their outfield with the additions of both Justin and BJ Upton to join Jason Heyward (and an underrated pick up of Reed Johnson as well). This outfield meshes together nicely with a ton of young talent on the team, like Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman. Pitching-wise, their bullpen is weaker than Washington's. However, they have a more complete rotation with Tim Hudson, Mike Minor, Paul Maholm, Mike Minor, and Julio Teheran. Like their lineup, it is a great mix of veterans and young talent. Plus, Craig Kimbrel is arguably the best closer in the game sitting in their bullpen. The Braves could challenge the Nationals for the division crown, but both teams should be in wild card hunt should they miss out on the division title.
Muddled Middle: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had a dissapointing season in 2012, but they were able to play solid baseball in the second half of the year. Philadelphia brought in Michael Young to play 3B and bring veteran leadership to the club. This team will need a big season from their young outfield, especially Domonic Brown, who is having an incredible spring in his return from injury. Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee remain at the top of a solid rotation. Jonathan Papelbon returns as the closer. The Phillies are a quality club and good bounce back seasons from Ryan Howard and Chase Utley could lead the Phillies to exceed expectations. However, this team is on the outside looking in as the season begins.
Headed in the Wrong Direction: New York Mets
It looks like Mets fans will be in for a long season. The lone bright spot on the roster is David Wright, who can only take this team so far. Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, and the rest of the supporting cast will probably not be enough for the Mets to be a contender. This team is clearly in rebuilding mode, especially after trading away Cy Young Winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto. This team could be competitive, but no one expects this team to make a playoff push. The Mets appear to be a couple of years away from being on level with Atlanta and Washington.
Simply, Just a Mess: Miami Marlins
Last offseason the Marlins went on a huge spending spree to fill their new stadium in Miami. The fans were excited and they became a trendy team around the country. The Marlins have Giancarlo Stanton, one of the best young players in the game, to anchor their lineup. Veterans Juan Pierre and Placido Polanco signed with Miami this offeason. However, this team went on a complete fire-sale, dumping salary to the Blue Jays by trading Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, John Buck (later a part of the Dickey trade) and Emilio Bonifacio. This team is easily the worst team in the National League as the season begins and have a long way to go to compete in this division.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
East Region
We are about an hour away from the tip-off of the tournament! One more region to breakdown: the East. The East favorite is Indiana. Indiana was the preseason number 1 in the rankings and really have not done much to disappoint. Their lineup features breakout player Victor Oladipo, national player of the year candidate and Big Ten defensive player of the year, to complement their star post player Cody Zeller. Zeller is one of the most athletic big men currently at the college level. Indiana is actually my selection to win the entire tournament because I feel that are the most complete team in the country. However, they have lost 3 of their last 6 games. The Big Ten is the best conference and I think despite these losses, Indiana will matchup better with the teams in this region. Statistically, Indiana has the best offense in the nation.
Hurricane Miami:
One team that stands in the way for a trip to Atlanta is Miami. Despite their inexperience, Miami's coach Jim Larranaga has been here before. Larranaga took a far less talented George Mason team to the final 4. Shane Larkin leads a lethal attack for Miami. Miami's key to the tournament is to stay humble. This season they had some dominant performances, including key victories over Duke and North Carolina. However, they have slipped up a couple of times this season, losing to weak Wake Forest and Georgia Tech teams. Since those losses, Miami has not lost and won the ACC tournament. If they can stay humble and embrace the underdog role, Miami is a legitimate title contender.
The Rest:
I don't really see much competition besides the top 2 in this region. Marquette and Syracuse are out of the Big East and they do have some potential. Both teams are rather inconsistent, though, and I don't see either sustaining a run. Brad Stevens took Butler to back-to-back championship games in recent memory and has a solid leader in Rotnei Clarke (Clarke will be playing in his first NCAA tournament game though). I expect a lot of mediocrity in this bracket with very little upsets.
Verdict:
Indiana wins a battle with Miami. Both cruise relatively easily to the elite 8.
Hurricane Miami:
One team that stands in the way for a trip to Atlanta is Miami. Despite their inexperience, Miami's coach Jim Larranaga has been here before. Larranaga took a far less talented George Mason team to the final 4. Shane Larkin leads a lethal attack for Miami. Miami's key to the tournament is to stay humble. This season they had some dominant performances, including key victories over Duke and North Carolina. However, they have slipped up a couple of times this season, losing to weak Wake Forest and Georgia Tech teams. Since those losses, Miami has not lost and won the ACC tournament. If they can stay humble and embrace the underdog role, Miami is a legitimate title contender.
The Rest:
I don't really see much competition besides the top 2 in this region. Marquette and Syracuse are out of the Big East and they do have some potential. Both teams are rather inconsistent, though, and I don't see either sustaining a run. Brad Stevens took Butler to back-to-back championship games in recent memory and has a solid leader in Rotnei Clarke (Clarke will be playing in his first NCAA tournament game though). I expect a lot of mediocrity in this bracket with very little upsets.
Verdict:
Indiana wins a battle with Miami. Both cruise relatively easily to the elite 8.
South Region
Moving to the other side of the bracket now, the South Region starts in Kansas City. Kansas had an eventful season in conference play this winter. Kansas suffered its first 3 game losing streak in over a decade, including an embarrassing loss to TCU. Coach Bill Self had some angry remarks about the team after the game. Self said this was the worst Kansas team since Dr. Naismith (the inventor of basketball) was at Kansas. The turning point of the season was an overtime win at Iowa State on February 25. Self had a discussion with Elijah Johnson before the game and his senior delivered, leading Kansas with 39 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kansas starts 4 seniors with one of the most talented freshmen in the country, Ben McLemore. However, Kansas has suffered a series of upsets in recent years. It is tough to trust this team.
Loaded Competition:
This region is loaded. 2 Seed Georgetown is led by player of the year candidate Otto Porter. An alarming stat: Georgetown is 247th in the nation in scoring offense. Georgetown has won 13 of its last 15, though, including impressive wins against Syracuse (twice), Louisville, Marquette, and Notre Dame. Georgetown has an impressive resume but their offense could go dry and cause an early exit.
3 seed Florida is the computer favorite to advance out of this region. Nate Silver, who correctly predicted the 2012 Presidential election, used a computer formula to determine likely champions (attached at bottom). Surprisingly, Florida came out of the projection as the third most likely team to win the championship! I don't buy the strength of the SEC this season and Florida has yet to win a game by less than 10 points this season. A champion has to win close games in March.
4 seed Michigan and 5 seed VCU both pose gigantic threats to Kansas as well. Michigan has likely player of the year, Trey Burke, in addition to an athletic lineup. They really are their own problem. Michigan has the most talented lineup in this region. Yet, Michigan slipped up this season to Penn State and couldn't close the deal against Indiana, costing OSU, MSU, and themselves a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Michigan followed that up with a disappointing loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Like the elite teams, Michigan is good, but its hard to say how good. VCU is more talented than the team that Shaka Smart took from the play-in game to the final 4 as an 11 seed. It is hard to ignore the Rams in this region.
The Rest of the Region:
UNC is a threat as an 8 seed. Roy Williams has a new 4-guard lineup that is clicking. A potential Roy Williams matchup against Kansas would be a great game to watch. 9 seed Villanova had 3 upsets against top 5 teams (Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown) and also had a victory over Marquette. They could also be a threat in this region. 11 seed Minnesota out of the Big Ten is another team that many like, including Las Vegas; Minnesota is the favorite in their matchup vs 6 seed UCLA.
The Verdict:
My gut says Georgetown survives the group of death. Don't be surprised to see Kansas, Michigan, VCU, Florida, or even UNC or Villanova in Atlanta though.
Nate silver's projection: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1575342-nate-silvers-ncaa-tournament-formula-arrives-to-solve-march-madness
Loaded Competition:
This region is loaded. 2 Seed Georgetown is led by player of the year candidate Otto Porter. An alarming stat: Georgetown is 247th in the nation in scoring offense. Georgetown has won 13 of its last 15, though, including impressive wins against Syracuse (twice), Louisville, Marquette, and Notre Dame. Georgetown has an impressive resume but their offense could go dry and cause an early exit.
3 seed Florida is the computer favorite to advance out of this region. Nate Silver, who correctly predicted the 2012 Presidential election, used a computer formula to determine likely champions (attached at bottom). Surprisingly, Florida came out of the projection as the third most likely team to win the championship! I don't buy the strength of the SEC this season and Florida has yet to win a game by less than 10 points this season. A champion has to win close games in March.
4 seed Michigan and 5 seed VCU both pose gigantic threats to Kansas as well. Michigan has likely player of the year, Trey Burke, in addition to an athletic lineup. They really are their own problem. Michigan has the most talented lineup in this region. Yet, Michigan slipped up this season to Penn State and couldn't close the deal against Indiana, costing OSU, MSU, and themselves a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Michigan followed that up with a disappointing loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Like the elite teams, Michigan is good, but its hard to say how good. VCU is more talented than the team that Shaka Smart took from the play-in game to the final 4 as an 11 seed. It is hard to ignore the Rams in this region.
The Rest of the Region:
UNC is a threat as an 8 seed. Roy Williams has a new 4-guard lineup that is clicking. A potential Roy Williams matchup against Kansas would be a great game to watch. 9 seed Villanova had 3 upsets against top 5 teams (Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown) and also had a victory over Marquette. They could also be a threat in this region. 11 seed Minnesota out of the Big Ten is another team that many like, including Las Vegas; Minnesota is the favorite in their matchup vs 6 seed UCLA.
The Verdict:
My gut says Georgetown survives the group of death. Don't be surprised to see Kansas, Michigan, VCU, Florida, or even UNC or Villanova in Atlanta though.
Nate silver's projection: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1575342-nate-silvers-ncaa-tournament-formula-arrives-to-solve-march-madness
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
West Region
The breakdown of the NCAA tournament continues with coverage of the west region. The favorite of this region is actually the 2 seed, Ohio State. OSU is an easy team to figure out. If DeShaun Thomas gets hot and the role players complete their jobs effectively (Craft penetrating, Smith and Ross shooting, Thompson chipping in with his athleticism, Williams playing solid down in the post) then this team probably will not lose. However, they can find other ways to win. Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott are both 1st-team Big Ten defenders that set the tone for the rest of the team. While OSU may struggle to score, their defense can keep them in games and produce some offense in the transition game. If Ohio State does lose, it will be because Thomas goes cold and the lack of a second scorer prevents the Buckeyes from scoring enough points.
Threats to Ohio State:
1 Seed Gonzaga is tough to figure out. Gonzaga went undefeated in West Coast Conference play, including three victories over play-in game winner St. Mary's. Kelly Olynyk is an athletic 7 footer who can score from anywhere on the floor. He has terrific ball handling skills for a big man due to a growth spurt in high school (he used to be a guard). Gonzaga has not lost since a meltdown in the final seconds at Butler on January 19. They also lost on the road to Illinois back in December. Every other game has been a W for Gonzaga, the most impressive of which is their road win at Oklahoma State. Gonzaga is very untested, clearly, and it is really tough to gauge just how good this Gonzaga team is this year. The tournament will show us if Gonzaga is deserving of their number 1 ranking in the latest AP poll.
3 Seed New Mexico is a team that flew under the radar this season. New Mexico went 13-3 in an underrated Mountain West conference before winning the conference tournament. 4 of the 5 New Mexico losses were to tournament teams, with the 5th loss being on the road to Air Force after the conference title was clinched. Guard Tony Snell has been hot lately, averaging just under 20 points per game over his last 5 games. Expect coach Steve Alford to get Snell involved in the offense heavily.
The Rest:
This region features many interesting teams. 4 Seed Kansas State failed to beat Kansas this season but looked pretty good versus the rest of their schedule. Wisconsin is a trendy 5 seed. The Badgers went 4-0 against Indiana and Michigan (3-0 on road/neutral court) and also were the last team to beat the buckeyes, winning by over 20 points at home. The Badgers are hard to figure out with a great defense, and avery streaky offense. The team seems poised for a deep run, but could lose to 12 seed Ole Miss. The Rebels won the SEC tournament with a comeback victory led by Marshall Henderson. Henderson is an incredibly outspoken leader for the Rebels, who has publicly stated he is ready to carry Ole Miss in this tournament much like Steph Curry carried Davidson. Henderson is one of the most hated players in the game, but he is also one of the most talented, so watch out for Ole Miss. 11 Seed Belmont also has a solid group of four seniors leading them, creating potential for complete chaos in this region.
The Verdict:
OSU returns to the final 4. Gonzaga and Wisconsin suffer early exits and New Mexico runs into a hot Buckeye team (if Belmont doesn't take care of New Mexico first). Expect a lot of chaos in this region and potentially a wild elite 8 run for a team like Ole Miss, if Henderson can deliver on his promise.
Threats to Ohio State:
1 Seed Gonzaga is tough to figure out. Gonzaga went undefeated in West Coast Conference play, including three victories over play-in game winner St. Mary's. Kelly Olynyk is an athletic 7 footer who can score from anywhere on the floor. He has terrific ball handling skills for a big man due to a growth spurt in high school (he used to be a guard). Gonzaga has not lost since a meltdown in the final seconds at Butler on January 19. They also lost on the road to Illinois back in December. Every other game has been a W for Gonzaga, the most impressive of which is their road win at Oklahoma State. Gonzaga is very untested, clearly, and it is really tough to gauge just how good this Gonzaga team is this year. The tournament will show us if Gonzaga is deserving of their number 1 ranking in the latest AP poll.
3 Seed New Mexico is a team that flew under the radar this season. New Mexico went 13-3 in an underrated Mountain West conference before winning the conference tournament. 4 of the 5 New Mexico losses were to tournament teams, with the 5th loss being on the road to Air Force after the conference title was clinched. Guard Tony Snell has been hot lately, averaging just under 20 points per game over his last 5 games. Expect coach Steve Alford to get Snell involved in the offense heavily.
The Rest:
This region features many interesting teams. 4 Seed Kansas State failed to beat Kansas this season but looked pretty good versus the rest of their schedule. Wisconsin is a trendy 5 seed. The Badgers went 4-0 against Indiana and Michigan (3-0 on road/neutral court) and also were the last team to beat the buckeyes, winning by over 20 points at home. The Badgers are hard to figure out with a great defense, and avery streaky offense. The team seems poised for a deep run, but could lose to 12 seed Ole Miss. The Rebels won the SEC tournament with a comeback victory led by Marshall Henderson. Henderson is an incredibly outspoken leader for the Rebels, who has publicly stated he is ready to carry Ole Miss in this tournament much like Steph Curry carried Davidson. Henderson is one of the most hated players in the game, but he is also one of the most talented, so watch out for Ole Miss. 11 Seed Belmont also has a solid group of four seniors leading them, creating potential for complete chaos in this region.
The Verdict:
OSU returns to the final 4. Gonzaga and Wisconsin suffer early exits and New Mexico runs into a hot Buckeye team (if Belmont doesn't take care of New Mexico first). Expect a lot of chaos in this region and potentially a wild elite 8 run for a team like Ole Miss, if Henderson can deliver on his promise.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Midwest Region
It's the time of the year that everyone dreams of- Christmas! Well, not exactly. It is time for March Madness though as we start to kiss winter goodbye and move on to summer. Here are some tips for your bracket pool as we dive into the midwest region.
Louisville:
Louisville is the number 1 overall seed and is coming off a title win in the final Big East tournament. Louisville is an experienced team that reached the final four last season before falling to Kentucky. They are a favorite due to strong leadership in their backcourt from Russ Smith and Peyton Siva. Gorgui Dieng leads an impressive interior defense and is a strong rebounder averaging 9.9 RPG. Since suffering 3 straight losses in late January, Louisville has won 13 of 14 (with the loss occurring @Notre Dame in 5OT) and 11 straight. Rick Pitino is an experienced coach and Louisville is a legitimate contender for a championship.
Standing in the way:
Duke and Michigan State are obvious threats to Louisville in this region. Duke has only suffered one loss since the return of Ryan Kelly. They went undefeated in non-conference play and suffered 4 road losses in ACC play in addition to their loss to Maryland in the ACC tournament. Coach K will have the Dukies well-rested and refocused for a tournament run. They have something to prove this year as well, coming off a loss to Lehigh in last season's tourney as a 2 seed. Good news for Louisville: no team has ever won a national title after losing its first game in its conference tournament.
Michigan State has the Big Ten freshman of the year in Gary Harris leading the Spartans into the tournament. The Spartans can also expect production from their two big men down low in Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix. Keith Appling is their most experienced player. However, Appling has disappeared in Michigan State's four biggest games this season. One stat worth noting: Tom Izzo owns a 35-13 record in the NCAA tournament.
The rest:
Saint Louis has been very impressive out of the A-10, winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles. They have won 15 of their last 16 games. Oklahoma State has played Kansas tight this season and has one of the best players in the region in point guard Marcus Smart. The 6 seed Memphis went undefeated in conference play and 7 seed Creighton returns to the tournament with the nation's 2nd leading scorer, Doug McDermott (23.1 PPG). The 8-16 seeds in this region are probably the weakest of the field, but 12 seed Oregon is a team to look out for. The Ducks started the season hot and seem to be on the right track after winning the Pac-12 tournament this past weekend.
Verdict:
I like the upset. I like Duke to advance out of this bracket, but it is because I expect Louisville to stumble against Saint Louis. Louisville is one bad game from Peyton Siva away from an early exit. Duke advances to Atlanta by playing every game as the favorite.
Next up: West Region
Louisville:
Louisville is the number 1 overall seed and is coming off a title win in the final Big East tournament. Louisville is an experienced team that reached the final four last season before falling to Kentucky. They are a favorite due to strong leadership in their backcourt from Russ Smith and Peyton Siva. Gorgui Dieng leads an impressive interior defense and is a strong rebounder averaging 9.9 RPG. Since suffering 3 straight losses in late January, Louisville has won 13 of 14 (with the loss occurring @Notre Dame in 5OT) and 11 straight. Rick Pitino is an experienced coach and Louisville is a legitimate contender for a championship.
Standing in the way:
Duke and Michigan State are obvious threats to Louisville in this region. Duke has only suffered one loss since the return of Ryan Kelly. They went undefeated in non-conference play and suffered 4 road losses in ACC play in addition to their loss to Maryland in the ACC tournament. Coach K will have the Dukies well-rested and refocused for a tournament run. They have something to prove this year as well, coming off a loss to Lehigh in last season's tourney as a 2 seed. Good news for Louisville: no team has ever won a national title after losing its first game in its conference tournament.
Michigan State has the Big Ten freshman of the year in Gary Harris leading the Spartans into the tournament. The Spartans can also expect production from their two big men down low in Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix. Keith Appling is their most experienced player. However, Appling has disappeared in Michigan State's four biggest games this season. One stat worth noting: Tom Izzo owns a 35-13 record in the NCAA tournament.
The rest:
Saint Louis has been very impressive out of the A-10, winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles. They have won 15 of their last 16 games. Oklahoma State has played Kansas tight this season and has one of the best players in the region in point guard Marcus Smart. The 6 seed Memphis went undefeated in conference play and 7 seed Creighton returns to the tournament with the nation's 2nd leading scorer, Doug McDermott (23.1 PPG). The 8-16 seeds in this region are probably the weakest of the field, but 12 seed Oregon is a team to look out for. The Ducks started the season hot and seem to be on the right track after winning the Pac-12 tournament this past weekend.
Verdict:
I like the upset. I like Duke to advance out of this bracket, but it is because I expect Louisville to stumble against Saint Louis. Louisville is one bad game from Peyton Siva away from an early exit. Duke advances to Atlanta by playing every game as the favorite.
Next up: West Region
The Miami Heat are on Fire
Last night at The Garden, the Heat extended their winning streak to 23 games by beating Boston 105-103. In a game where nearly everything went right for Boston, Miami was still able to win. With their comeback win last night, Miami has reached its final checkpoint before chasing down the '71-'72 Lakers win streak of 33 games. Entering the contest, Miami had beaten its opponents by an average of 11.7 points per game. This game went far differently.
Jeff Green exploded early in the game, powering the Celtics to an early lead. He helped lead the C's on a 17-0 run to close out the first quarter. Miami trailed by 12 at the end of the first period. Boston had won 11 straight at home (all since Rondo's injury), and 10 straight at home in the regular season against the Heat, including 5-0 since LeBron James joined Miami. It was all going Boston's way. They held this early lead throughout the game, leading by 13 with 8:00 left in the 4th quarter. Since Paul Pierce was drafted, the Celtics were 316-2 when leading by that margin with eight minutes or fewer remaining. On the flip-side, LeBron's teams went 2-105 in such games.
The Heat would not be denied. LeBron hit a pull-up jumper to give the Heat the lead and Paul Pierce missed at the buzzer to clinch the game. The Heat overcame a deficit of 17 points, the largest deficit they faced during the streak. LeBron had 37 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds; he was the first player to put up those numbers at the Celtics since Scottie Pippen in 1995. He also leads the NBA with 4 games of at least 30 points and 10 assists. Miami also withstood a career night from Jeff Green, who finished with 43 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists (the first player to hit those benchmarks since, ironically, LeBron James in 2010).
What does last night mean? The Celtics had a career night from Jeff Green and a lead that they had only blown two times in the past 15 seasons. Yet, Miami still was able to find a way to win. This begs the question: Can they keep streaking? The quick answer is yes. The Heat have a cakewalk through the rest of March playing Cleveland, Detroit, Charlotte, Orlando, Chicago, and New Orleans before a meeting at San Antonio to close the month. LeBron James is clicking and the league's frontrunner for MVP continues to make highlight reels on a nightly basis. The heat also have outscored their opponents by 70 points in the final 5 minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime during their win streak. With all these factors in play, the safe bet is that the Heat will still be streaking come April. If you have been betting on the Heat all along, you are a very happy individual right now. If you started with $100 on the Heat winning their first game of the streak and let it ride for all 23 games, you would have a paycheck of $55,500 sitting on your desk.
(facts and figures taken from @BleacherReport and @espnstatsinfo on twitter)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Women's Volleyball Team Says Goodbye to Four Great Seniors
The Ohio State Women's Volleyball Team loses four key contributors for next year.
Mari Hole, an outside hitter from Oslo Norway, will never be forgotten in Columbus. Not only was she Ohio State's best player for two years but she could go down as one of the greats, if not the greatest, in program history.
They call her an outside hitter, but Hole could have been dominate with any role on this team. I am continuously impressed by her ability on the defensive side. Not only is she talented but she is a hard worker, always showing off even more hustle than her teammates, which isn't an easy task.
Hole finished her senior year with 548 kills, 48 assists, and 18 aces on offense. Defensively the Norwegian had 326 digs and 56 total blocks.
Along side Hole's All-American banner in St. John Arena is another banner with the name Emily Danks. Danks is a truly fun player to watch, especially from the service line. She will go down as Ohio State's best server ever as she broke the school's ace record mid-way through Big Ten play.
While she had hot and cold streaks throughout the year Emily Danks was always important and a big part of Ohio State's success this year.
Danks finished the season with 327 kills, 33 assists, and 50 (!) aces. The outside hitter from Round Rock, Texas also added 178 digs and 93 blocks (1st on the team, more than any middle blocker).
Amanda Peterson was Ohio State's usual setter, and she may be my favorite player form this year's squad. While there were times when she saw her self on the bench in favor of Taylor Sherwin, Peterson was a steadying force for the Buckeyes.
Out of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Peterson finished her final season in Columbus with 1,022 assists, 106 kills, and 14 aces. She also chipped in with 237 digs and 53 blocks.
Mariah Booth is the final senior from this team. Will over-aggressive at times, Booth is a player that Ohio State will miss. When she is on Booth is one of the most dangerous middle-blockers around. Very athletic and aggressive, in my opinion Booth was underutilized during the season.
Out of Kennesaw, Gergia, Booth had a productive senior year. She tallied 241 kills, 11 assists, and 6 aces along with 66 digs and 85 total blocks.
Thanks Seniors!
Mari Hole, an outside hitter from Oslo Norway, will never be forgotten in Columbus. Not only was she Ohio State's best player for two years but she could go down as one of the greats, if not the greatest, in program history.
They call her an outside hitter, but Hole could have been dominate with any role on this team. I am continuously impressed by her ability on the defensive side. Not only is she talented but she is a hard worker, always showing off even more hustle than her teammates, which isn't an easy task.
Hole finished her senior year with 548 kills, 48 assists, and 18 aces on offense. Defensively the Norwegian had 326 digs and 56 total blocks.
Along side Hole's All-American banner in St. John Arena is another banner with the name Emily Danks. Danks is a truly fun player to watch, especially from the service line. She will go down as Ohio State's best server ever as she broke the school's ace record mid-way through Big Ten play.
While she had hot and cold streaks throughout the year Emily Danks was always important and a big part of Ohio State's success this year.
Danks finished the season with 327 kills, 33 assists, and 50 (!) aces. The outside hitter from Round Rock, Texas also added 178 digs and 93 blocks (1st on the team, more than any middle blocker).
Amanda Peterson was Ohio State's usual setter, and she may be my favorite player form this year's squad. While there were times when she saw her self on the bench in favor of Taylor Sherwin, Peterson was a steadying force for the Buckeyes.
Out of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Peterson finished her final season in Columbus with 1,022 assists, 106 kills, and 14 aces. She also chipped in with 237 digs and 53 blocks.
Mariah Booth is the final senior from this team. Will over-aggressive at times, Booth is a player that Ohio State will miss. When she is on Booth is one of the most dangerous middle-blockers around. Very athletic and aggressive, in my opinion Booth was underutilized during the season.
Out of Kennesaw, Gergia, Booth had a productive senior year. She tallied 241 kills, 11 assists, and 6 aces along with 66 digs and 85 total blocks.
Thanks Seniors!
Ohio State Women's Volleyball: MVP and Breakout Player
After covering Ohio State Women's Volleyball all season, two players stood out above the rest for me. One of them I would call the team's MVP (and it's not close) and the other is the team's breakout player of the year (in my opinion).
Starting off with the obvious, Mari Hole was far and away the most important and most talented player on this team. She consistently brought astounding performances in all aspects of the game. Not only was she Ohio State's most dangerous outside hitter, but Hole was also Ohio State's best passer in 2012. While Davi DiSalvatore picked up more digs, it was Hole who truly carried the defense at times.
This senior should absolutely be an All-American selection, it would be the second year in a row.
Now, onto the team's breakout player of the year.
Kaitlyn Leary truly stepped it up, especially towards the end of the season. While Hole and Danks got the headlines it was Leary who improved the most. When Emily Danks struggled (at least by her standards) towards the end of the year, Leary came in and was a dangerous second option behind Hole. At times she was even the first option.
Leary's impact on this year's team was truly summed up in the teams NCAA Tournament opening victory over Notre Dame. Leary finished the match with 16 kills and 0 errors.
Watch out Big Ten, Ohio State may be losing Danks and Hole but Leary is looking like a budding All-American as well.
Ohio State Women's Volleyball: NCAA Tournament Round 2
After an impressive Tournament opening sweep of Notre Dame, Ohio State matched up against Kentucky in the second round. That is especially unfortunate considering that Kentucky was hosting in Lexington, giving them a home court advantage.
Even still, the Buckeyes came out firing as they picked up a 25-18 first set win. Unfortunately it was all downhill from there. The Buckeyes fought to a 24-26 loss in set two before being demolished for the next two sets, 15-25 and 18-25. This match brought their season to an end but it was still an impressive run for the squad.
In the last match of her Ohio State career Mari Hole did what she could, picking up 18 kills but also making a few mistakes with 9 errors. Kaitlyn Leary continued her late season surge with 14 kills while Mariah Booth added 9. Emily Danks wasn't as effective as normal, she only had 6 kills on a measly 22 attempts, although she did add 2 service aces.
Amanda Peterson had 40 assists, but they came on 99 total attempts. Mari Hole also picked up 12 digs while Davi Disalvatore led the D with 16 digs.
For the Wildcats, Lauren O'Conner led the way with 16 kills. Alexandra Morgan and Whitney Billings chipped in with 10 kills each. Kentucky came up with only 15 hitting errors for the match which may have been the difference maker. Ohio State had 23.
The service line was another measuring stick of how this match progressed. Ohio State had only 4 aces compared to 8 service errors while Kentucky picked up a whopping 10 aces to go with 9 errors.
The Buckeyes finished their season with a 23-11 overall record after going 13-7 in the Big Ten Conference.
Even still, the Buckeyes came out firing as they picked up a 25-18 first set win. Unfortunately it was all downhill from there. The Buckeyes fought to a 24-26 loss in set two before being demolished for the next two sets, 15-25 and 18-25. This match brought their season to an end but it was still an impressive run for the squad.
In the last match of her Ohio State career Mari Hole did what she could, picking up 18 kills but also making a few mistakes with 9 errors. Kaitlyn Leary continued her late season surge with 14 kills while Mariah Booth added 9. Emily Danks wasn't as effective as normal, she only had 6 kills on a measly 22 attempts, although she did add 2 service aces.
Amanda Peterson had 40 assists, but they came on 99 total attempts. Mari Hole also picked up 12 digs while Davi Disalvatore led the D with 16 digs.
For the Wildcats, Lauren O'Conner led the way with 16 kills. Alexandra Morgan and Whitney Billings chipped in with 10 kills each. Kentucky came up with only 15 hitting errors for the match which may have been the difference maker. Ohio State had 23.
The service line was another measuring stick of how this match progressed. Ohio State had only 4 aces compared to 8 service errors while Kentucky picked up a whopping 10 aces to go with 9 errors.
The Buckeyes finished their season with a 23-11 overall record after going 13-7 in the Big Ten Conference.
Ohio State Women's Volleyball: NCAA Tournament Round 1
When the Ohio State Women's Volleyball season ended, I was certainly hoping the OSU would get a chance to host in the NCAA Tournament. Even after dropping the season finale at home to Michigan, I though that this team had proven they deserved a chance to have a home court advantage. Not only was the team very good all season long, but the fans at St. John provided one of the best atmospheres in Women's Volleyball on a regular basis.
Alas, Ohio State did not get a chance to host and found out they were headed to Lexington, KY where they would be taking on Notre Dame in Round 1.
No matter what, you can't take a tournament game for granted and Ohio State did not. The Buckeye women came out in dominating fashion winning the first set 25-16. Ohio State then completed the sweep with set wins of 25-21 and 25-17.
Just as she has all season long, Mari Hole played well for the Buckeyes as she put down 14 kills compared to only 4 errors. The real star, though, was Kaitlyn Leary. Leary finished the match with 16 kills and no errors, which is truly astounding. Mariah booth chipped in with 9 kills while Emily Danks did her part, putting down 8 with 0 errors.
Amanda Peterson had 42 assists and Davi DiSalvatore picked up 13 digs.
Alas, Ohio State did not get a chance to host and found out they were headed to Lexington, KY where they would be taking on Notre Dame in Round 1.
No matter what, you can't take a tournament game for granted and Ohio State did not. The Buckeye women came out in dominating fashion winning the first set 25-16. Ohio State then completed the sweep with set wins of 25-21 and 25-17.
Just as she has all season long, Mari Hole played well for the Buckeyes as she put down 14 kills compared to only 4 errors. The real star, though, was Kaitlyn Leary. Leary finished the match with 16 kills and no errors, which is truly astounding. Mariah booth chipped in with 9 kills while Emily Danks did her part, putting down 8 with 0 errors.
Amanda Peterson had 42 assists and Davi DiSalvatore picked up 13 digs.
Ohio State Women's Volleyball: Regular Season Review
The Ohio State Women's Volleyball team has wrapped up their season, and what a year it was. The Buckeye women wrapped up regular season play with a 22-10 overall record, they went 13-7 in the conference. This included a 7-6 record at home and an 11-2 mark on the road.
To review the season's exploits we can start with the season opening Sports Imports DC Koehl Classic at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes opened play vs. Houston, winning 3-0, the next day Ohio State played twice, beating Toledo 3-0 before dropping the tournament championship to Oregon, 2-3.
The next week, the Buckeyes traveled to College Park for the Maryland Invitational. They opened up tournament play with a 3-0 victory against Binghamton. On the first of September Ohio State captured the tournament victory two wins, a sweep of Seton Hall and a 3-2 win against Maryland in the finale.
After College Park the team looked towards Bowling Green, KY for the WKU Tournament. Ohio State got another title as they won all three of their matches. Opening the tournament the Buckeye Women picked up a big 3-2 win against then #10 Dayton. OSU then beat IUPUI 3-1 before closing out Western Kentucky with another 3-1 win.
Ohio State's last pre-season tournament was the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup in Houston, Texas. The Buckeyes picked up two losses at this tournament but still won their last game. Geoff Carlston and his team opened play with a 0-3 loss to Pepperdine before falling to Florida State 1-3. The Buckeyes closed the tournament on a high note with a 3-1 victory against Houston.
From their Big Ten play finally got under way with the Buckeyes opening their regular season in dominating fashion, beating Iowa 3-0 at home. After that the Buckeyes fell to Nebraska (1-3) at home before traveling to Minnesota and dropping their second straight (0-3). The Women took a four game winning streak into the Purdue game after wins over Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, and Indiana. The Buckeyes again dropped two straight, both at home, with a 1-3 loss to Purdue and an 0-3 loss to Penn State. The Buckeyes won their next four games, over Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin, then lost to Minnesota yet again. That loss marked a short blip before another four game winning streak, the Buckeye Women then closed their season with two straight losses, one at Penn State before dropping the season finale at home against That Team Up North.
To review the season's exploits we can start with the season opening Sports Imports DC Koehl Classic at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes opened play vs. Houston, winning 3-0, the next day Ohio State played twice, beating Toledo 3-0 before dropping the tournament championship to Oregon, 2-3.
The next week, the Buckeyes traveled to College Park for the Maryland Invitational. They opened up tournament play with a 3-0 victory against Binghamton. On the first of September Ohio State captured the tournament victory two wins, a sweep of Seton Hall and a 3-2 win against Maryland in the finale.
After College Park the team looked towards Bowling Green, KY for the WKU Tournament. Ohio State got another title as they won all three of their matches. Opening the tournament the Buckeye Women picked up a big 3-2 win against then #10 Dayton. OSU then beat IUPUI 3-1 before closing out Western Kentucky with another 3-1 win.
Ohio State's last pre-season tournament was the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup in Houston, Texas. The Buckeyes picked up two losses at this tournament but still won their last game. Geoff Carlston and his team opened play with a 0-3 loss to Pepperdine before falling to Florida State 1-3. The Buckeyes closed the tournament on a high note with a 3-1 victory against Houston.
From their Big Ten play finally got under way with the Buckeyes opening their regular season in dominating fashion, beating Iowa 3-0 at home. After that the Buckeyes fell to Nebraska (1-3) at home before traveling to Minnesota and dropping their second straight (0-3). The Women took a four game winning streak into the Purdue game after wins over Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, and Indiana. The Buckeyes again dropped two straight, both at home, with a 1-3 loss to Purdue and an 0-3 loss to Penn State. The Buckeyes won their next four games, over Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin, then lost to Minnesota yet again. That loss marked a short blip before another four game winning streak, the Buckeye Women then closed their season with two straight losses, one at Penn State before dropping the season finale at home against That Team Up North.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Ohio State Women's Volleyball (Nov. 2-4)
It was an up and down weekend for the Ohio State Women's Volleyball team. They came into the weekend playing extremely well, having beaten #4 Nebraska earlier on.
On Friday they came out firing, blowing away Wisconsin through the first two sets. The third set was a different story, the Buckeyes lost all of their momentum and fell 23-25. That was in stark contrast to the first two sets which they won 25-16 and 25-15. The women came out in the fourth set and still hadn't regained that momentum, it was tight all the way through. Ohio State ended up sneaking out with a 30-28 set victory and a 3-1 match victory.
Mari Hole had 15 kills to lead the Buckeyes, Kaitlyn Leary added 14, and Emily Danks chipped in with 12 kills. Davi DiSalvatore came up with an impressive 31 digs and Amanda Peterson pitched in with 37 assists and 9 kills. For the Badgers, Julie Mikaelsen led the way with 13 kills and Alexis Mitchell added 10.
Today, Sunday November 4th, Ohio State took on Minnesota in a matchup of top-15 teams. The Buckeyes are ranked 15th nationally while the Golden Gophers are 10th.
Mari Hole tied a career high with 26 kills in what looked like it was going to be an Ohio State sweep. The Buckeyes took the first two sets (25-23, 25-21) before falling in the third 27-25. It only got worse from there as the Ohio State squad was smashed in the fourth set, 25-13, before falling in the fifth 15-12.
Hole was even better than her usual self while Leary added 17 kills and Danks came in with 11. Amanda Peterson had another superb match, totaling 48 assists. DiSalvatore posted 23 digs and an ace. For Minnesota, Katherine Harms took over late and finished with 17 kills, Daly Santana pitched in 15 kills, although she had a very up and down match, and Dana Knudsen had 11 kills. Tori Dixon turned out to be the star of the match as she finished with 14 kills and only one error. Setter Alexandra Palmer added 53 assists.
On Friday they came out firing, blowing away Wisconsin through the first two sets. The third set was a different story, the Buckeyes lost all of their momentum and fell 23-25. That was in stark contrast to the first two sets which they won 25-16 and 25-15. The women came out in the fourth set and still hadn't regained that momentum, it was tight all the way through. Ohio State ended up sneaking out with a 30-28 set victory and a 3-1 match victory.
Mari Hole had 15 kills to lead the Buckeyes, Kaitlyn Leary added 14, and Emily Danks chipped in with 12 kills. Davi DiSalvatore came up with an impressive 31 digs and Amanda Peterson pitched in with 37 assists and 9 kills. For the Badgers, Julie Mikaelsen led the way with 13 kills and Alexis Mitchell added 10.
Today, Sunday November 4th, Ohio State took on Minnesota in a matchup of top-15 teams. The Buckeyes are ranked 15th nationally while the Golden Gophers are 10th.
Mari Hole tied a career high with 26 kills in what looked like it was going to be an Ohio State sweep. The Buckeyes took the first two sets (25-23, 25-21) before falling in the third 27-25. It only got worse from there as the Ohio State squad was smashed in the fourth set, 25-13, before falling in the fifth 15-12.
Hole was even better than her usual self while Leary added 17 kills and Danks came in with 11. Amanda Peterson had another superb match, totaling 48 assists. DiSalvatore posted 23 digs and an ace. For Minnesota, Katherine Harms took over late and finished with 17 kills, Daly Santana pitched in 15 kills, although she had a very up and down match, and Dana Knudsen had 11 kills. Tori Dixon turned out to be the star of the match as she finished with 14 kills and only one error. Setter Alexandra Palmer added 53 assists.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Buckeyes prepare for final regular season match up
After getting a win, loss and a draw in the last three games, the Ohio State men's soccer team are looking to close out their regular season campaign with a home win against Wisconsin on Sunday.
The Buckeyes had three commendable performances in a row, with only one of them leading to a win.
That win came against in-state rival Wright State, who travelled to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium with only three wins. Ohio State showed their superiority through much of the first half, going a goal up through Sage Gardner's penalty kick. But a lack of concentration cost them that lead and the momentum, as the Raiders' leading scorer Brett Elder equalized with only 5 minutes to go in the half.
The home team did find their way again though, with senior Chris Hegngi netting only his second goal of the season. It was good enough to give Ohio State a 2-1 victory, their 5th home win and 6th overall.
A week later it was arguably the Buckeyes's biggest game of the year, as #2 ranked Akron came into Columbus for what was to be their most difficult test yet.
Even though Akron had the majority of the possession and play, Ohio State could honestly say that the game produced some of their best attacking of the year. The Buckeyes created at least 5-6 strong saves from Zips goalie David Meves, each one seemingly better than the last.
Eventually the Ohio State defense came undone, and Akron ran away with the victory thanks to a solitary goal from Reinaldo Brenes.
Ohio State's final road game of the year was in State College, Pennsylvania, as they face the Penn State Nittany Lions.
In what can only be described as a topsy-turvy tussle, the two teams battled to a 4-4 draw. The hosts took the lead in only the ninth minute, but the Buckeyes came storming back to take a 2-1 lead with goals from Kenny Cunningham and Chris Hegngi. Penn State did equalize minutes later through Marvin Ledgister, and it was 2-2 going into the dressing rooms.
The second half looked to have been going the Nittany Lions way, as goals from Julian Cordona and Daniel Parr gave them what looked like an unassailable 4-2 lead with 10 minutes to go.
But Ohio State had other ideas. A Louie Berra strike in the 81st minute, and an own goal in the 88th gave them an unlikely reprieve, and the game somehow went into overtime.
Neither side could find a winner, and Ohio State came out with what must be considered a precious point. It was the Buckeyes first result of any kind in the Big Ten, a stat which highlights the difficulties they've experienced.
They have a chance to finally get a win in conference, in their last game of the season against Wisconsin. Though the Buckeyes sit last in the Big Ten standings, the Badgers are right above them with only one win. An Ohio State victory on Sunday could pull them equal with the team from Madison, with their conference records becoming identical, though Wisconsin would have one less loss the season overall.
In any case, this Buckeyes squad will go into the Big Ten tournament as one of its two lowest seeds, meaning the message is clear: the road to a conference championship will be an extremely tough one.
The Buckeyes had three commendable performances in a row, with only one of them leading to a win.
That win came against in-state rival Wright State, who travelled to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium with only three wins. Ohio State showed their superiority through much of the first half, going a goal up through Sage Gardner's penalty kick. But a lack of concentration cost them that lead and the momentum, as the Raiders' leading scorer Brett Elder equalized with only 5 minutes to go in the half.
The home team did find their way again though, with senior Chris Hegngi netting only his second goal of the season. It was good enough to give Ohio State a 2-1 victory, their 5th home win and 6th overall.
A week later it was arguably the Buckeyes's biggest game of the year, as #2 ranked Akron came into Columbus for what was to be their most difficult test yet.
Even though Akron had the majority of the possession and play, Ohio State could honestly say that the game produced some of their best attacking of the year. The Buckeyes created at least 5-6 strong saves from Zips goalie David Meves, each one seemingly better than the last.
Eventually the Ohio State defense came undone, and Akron ran away with the victory thanks to a solitary goal from Reinaldo Brenes.
Ohio State's final road game of the year was in State College, Pennsylvania, as they face the Penn State Nittany Lions.
In what can only be described as a topsy-turvy tussle, the two teams battled to a 4-4 draw. The hosts took the lead in only the ninth minute, but the Buckeyes came storming back to take a 2-1 lead with goals from Kenny Cunningham and Chris Hegngi. Penn State did equalize minutes later through Marvin Ledgister, and it was 2-2 going into the dressing rooms.
The second half looked to have been going the Nittany Lions way, as goals from Julian Cordona and Daniel Parr gave them what looked like an unassailable 4-2 lead with 10 minutes to go.
But Ohio State had other ideas. A Louie Berra strike in the 81st minute, and an own goal in the 88th gave them an unlikely reprieve, and the game somehow went into overtime.
Neither side could find a winner, and Ohio State came out with what must be considered a precious point. It was the Buckeyes first result of any kind in the Big Ten, a stat which highlights the difficulties they've experienced.
They have a chance to finally get a win in conference, in their last game of the season against Wisconsin. Though the Buckeyes sit last in the Big Ten standings, the Badgers are right above them with only one win. An Ohio State victory on Sunday could pull them equal with the team from Madison, with their conference records becoming identical, though Wisconsin would have one less loss the season overall.
In any case, this Buckeyes squad will go into the Big Ten tournament as one of its two lowest seeds, meaning the message is clear: the road to a conference championship will be an extremely tough one.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Buckeyes Can't Turn Butler Win Into Momentum
After their biggest victory of the season - a 4-1 demolition of the Butler Bulldogs - the Ohio State men's soccer team looked to finally start performing in the consistent fashion that they had lacked up to that point.
With three of their next four matchups coming against Big Ten opponents, the Buckeyes knew that this stretch of games could put them right back in conference contention. In the end, those three games did the exact opposite.
Three one-goal losses to Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern respectively mean the Buckeyes are now sitting at 0-4 in conference play and are at the foot of the standings.
Their first game in Ann Arbor is probably the one that coach John Bluem knows his team should've had. Taking a 2-1 lead 15 minutes the second half, Ohio State then gave up a goal only to the Wolverines only 12 seconds later. The goal shocked the entire side and even though they made it into the second overtime period, they couldn't prevent a Michigan victory.
After that it was a home game against the Spartans, another winless team in the Big Ten. Even with their similar records, it was the the away who looked much more accomplished, restricting Ohio State to virtually no offensive pressure. Yianni Sarris's clinical strike late in the match looked to have potentially salvaged the situation for his team, but the result was never in doubt as Michigan State held on for the 2-1 win.
On the following Wednesday it was the Bowling Green State Falcons who rollied into Columbus, and Ohio State got a morale-boosting 2-0 victory. Dominating just about every aspect of the match, the Buckeyes looked solid in midfield and for once were clinical with their opportunities.
But their tough Big Ten campaign continued as they visited Northwestern, one of the top teams in the conference. Though coach Bluem was happy with his team's effort, they couldn't break down the Wildcat defense and therefore ensured that Ohio State still hadn't picked up a point on the road in four attempts.
With only four games left in the regular season the team know they are out of the conference championship picture. The positive they do have is that three of those games are at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, the site of the team's only victories.
Though the games against Akron at home and Penn State on the road will certainly be difficult ones, the Buckeyes are hoping that they could at least split the end of the season stretch, and finally start feeling a little better about their play heading into the postseason.
With three of their next four matchups coming against Big Ten opponents, the Buckeyes knew that this stretch of games could put them right back in conference contention. In the end, those three games did the exact opposite.
Three one-goal losses to Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern respectively mean the Buckeyes are now sitting at 0-4 in conference play and are at the foot of the standings.
Their first game in Ann Arbor is probably the one that coach John Bluem knows his team should've had. Taking a 2-1 lead 15 minutes the second half, Ohio State then gave up a goal only to the Wolverines only 12 seconds later. The goal shocked the entire side and even though they made it into the second overtime period, they couldn't prevent a Michigan victory.
After that it was a home game against the Spartans, another winless team in the Big Ten. Even with their similar records, it was the the away who looked much more accomplished, restricting Ohio State to virtually no offensive pressure. Yianni Sarris's clinical strike late in the match looked to have potentially salvaged the situation for his team, but the result was never in doubt as Michigan State held on for the 2-1 win.
On the following Wednesday it was the Bowling Green State Falcons who rollied into Columbus, and Ohio State got a morale-boosting 2-0 victory. Dominating just about every aspect of the match, the Buckeyes looked solid in midfield and for once were clinical with their opportunities.
But their tough Big Ten campaign continued as they visited Northwestern, one of the top teams in the conference. Though coach Bluem was happy with his team's effort, they couldn't break down the Wildcat defense and therefore ensured that Ohio State still hadn't picked up a point on the road in four attempts.
With only four games left in the regular season the team know they are out of the conference championship picture. The positive they do have is that three of those games are at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, the site of the team's only victories.
Though the games against Akron at home and Penn State on the road will certainly be difficult ones, the Buckeyes are hoping that they could at least split the end of the season stretch, and finally start feeling a little better about their play heading into the postseason.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Ohio State Women's Volleyball (Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup Recap)
On September 14th and 15th the Buckeye Women's Volleyball team played in the Flo Hyman Collegiate cup in Houston, Texas. The team had a tough showing, going 1-2 in the tournament with losses to Pepperdine and Florida State before beating Houston in their tournament finale.
Starting out on the 14th, Ohio State faced off against then No. 18 Pepperdine. The Buckeyes played solid, but couldn't quite put it all together as they ended up getting swept (0-3). This match moved Pepperdine to 8-3 overall and the Buckeyes dropped to 8-2.
For Ohio State, Emily Danks and Mari Hole led the way, nothing unusual about that. Danks finished with 10 kills and 2 aces while Hole tallied 11 kills and an ace but also came up with 6 hitting errors and one service error. Kaitlyn Leary chipped in with 8 kills and Amanda Peterson finished with 21 assists. Davi DiSalvatore, the team's libero, only played two sets and tallied only 8 digs. For the Waves, Jazmine Orozco and Katie Messing tied for the team lead with 13 kills each, Victoria Adelhelm added 10 while setter Kellie Woolever had 5 to go along with 40 assists.
The following day Ohio State fell 1-3 against Florida State. The set scores were as follows: Ohio State 18-25, 25-22, 13-25, 13-25.
Florida State was ranked No. 11 at the time.
The lone bright spot was the second set as the Buckeye women were demolished in the other three. Mari Hole (15), Mariah Booth (11), and Emily Danks (10) all got into double digits in the kills column. Danks added 3 aces and senior setter Amanda Peterson picked up 33 assists. Davi DiSalvatore led the team with 11 digs and Booth was also in on 5 blocks.
Later on that day, Ohio State took on the host Houston Cougars and finally got a win in the tournament. This victory marked their second triumph over the Cougars this season, the Buckeyes opened up their year with a 3-0 sweep over Houston on August 24th.
The Buckeyes may not have swept this match, but they still dominated for the most part. The set scores were: Ohio State 25-19, 25-16, 19-25, 25-13.
Mariah Booth had a spectacular game, tallying 17 kills on 19 attempts with 0 (!) errors. This came out to a .895 attack rate. Hole added 10 kills but had 9 errors while Danks did her part with 11 kills and 4 aces. DiSalvatore led the team with 24 digs and Peterson had 47 assists on the match.
Starting out on the 14th, Ohio State faced off against then No. 18 Pepperdine. The Buckeyes played solid, but couldn't quite put it all together as they ended up getting swept (0-3). This match moved Pepperdine to 8-3 overall and the Buckeyes dropped to 8-2.
For Ohio State, Emily Danks and Mari Hole led the way, nothing unusual about that. Danks finished with 10 kills and 2 aces while Hole tallied 11 kills and an ace but also came up with 6 hitting errors and one service error. Kaitlyn Leary chipped in with 8 kills and Amanda Peterson finished with 21 assists. Davi DiSalvatore, the team's libero, only played two sets and tallied only 8 digs. For the Waves, Jazmine Orozco and Katie Messing tied for the team lead with 13 kills each, Victoria Adelhelm added 10 while setter Kellie Woolever had 5 to go along with 40 assists.
The following day Ohio State fell 1-3 against Florida State. The set scores were as follows: Ohio State 18-25, 25-22, 13-25, 13-25.
Florida State was ranked No. 11 at the time.
The lone bright spot was the second set as the Buckeye women were demolished in the other three. Mari Hole (15), Mariah Booth (11), and Emily Danks (10) all got into double digits in the kills column. Danks added 3 aces and senior setter Amanda Peterson picked up 33 assists. Davi DiSalvatore led the team with 11 digs and Booth was also in on 5 blocks.
Later on that day, Ohio State took on the host Houston Cougars and finally got a win in the tournament. This victory marked their second triumph over the Cougars this season, the Buckeyes opened up their year with a 3-0 sweep over Houston on August 24th.
The Buckeyes may not have swept this match, but they still dominated for the most part. The set scores were: Ohio State 25-19, 25-16, 19-25, 25-13.
Mariah Booth had a spectacular game, tallying 17 kills on 19 attempts with 0 (!) errors. This came out to a .895 attack rate. Hole added 10 kills but had 9 errors while Danks did her part with 11 kills and 4 aces. DiSalvatore led the team with 24 digs and Peterson had 47 assists on the match.
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