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Buckeyetology: Ohio State Entrenched on NCAA Tournament Bubble As Season Heats Up

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Buckeyetology: Ohio State Entrenched on NCAA Tournament Bubble As Season Heats Up


Buckeyetology is back thanks to the recent efforts of the 2024-25 Buckeyes.

Last year I ran this piece for exactly three weeks in January, the first edition on Jan. 9 when Ohio State was projected as a seven seed in the NCAA Tournament and the last on Jan. 25 when the Buckeyes fell outside the Big Dance picture after an all-to-familiar January collapse under Chris Holtmann. More losses followed and despite a late-season surge under then-interim head coach Jake Diebler, the Buckeyes settled for the NIT.

One year since that discontinuation, the series is suddenly worth resurrecting. Thoughts of a first-season tourney bid for the Diebler regime were mere pipe dreams 10 days ago, with the Buckeyes standing at 10-8 and preparing to play No. 11 Purdue on the road.

Then Ohio State went and beat the Boilermakers in Mackey Arena, the first time they had fallen there in nearly 700 days. That momentum carried over to a blowout win over Iowa on Tuesday, the two victories Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins for NCAA Tournament purposes.

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Not only is there a chance for Ohio State to bounce back from a 1-4 start to January to close 4-4 at Penn State on Thursday, the Buckeyes are right in the thick of the NCAA Tournament conversation. Their conference standing for the Big Ten Tournament – no longer a guarantee as only 15 of the conference’s 18 teams make it starting this year – has improved in equal measure.

NCAA Tournament Outlook

Projections from a variety of the nation’s best bracketologists have Ohio State among the last four teams in the NCAA Tournament as things stand.

Key Numbers: Ohio State
Overall Record 12-8
Home 8-4
Road 2-3
NET Ranking 29th
Q1 Record 3-6
Q2 Record 2-2
Strength of Schedule 14th

That’s true for ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, who places the Buckeyes in the first of his last four in slots ahead of Texas, North Carolina and UCF. Bracketmatrix.com has 85 different bracket projections aggregated and Ohio State makes the Big Dance in 71 of them. 59 of those have the Buckeyes as an 11-seed, the last seed line for at-large bids. One of the 14 brackets excluding the Buckeyes is CBS’ Jerry Palm, who has OSU as the first team out of the tourney.

A 12-8 record isn’t great on its surface, but the strength of the Buckeyes’ schedule boosts the value of that mark. Diebler had the fortitude to set up five non-conference matchups with power conference opponents, and though Ohio State went 2-3 against those teams, it picked up valuable Quadrant 1 wins against Texas and then-No. 4 Kentucky on neutral courts.

The depth of the Big Ten is also bolstering the Buckeyes’ schedule strength. Seven other schools in the conference are projected as being in the NCAA Tournament by the bracket matrix. Ohio State gets opportunities at two more Q1 wins in league play this week at Penn State and No. 18 Illinois.

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Lastly, the Buckeyes’ NET ranking of 29th is the best among its competitors along the bubble, a reflection of its aforementioned schedule strength and its handful of quality wins. Every single Ohio State loss also falls into either Q1 or Q2, Indiana being the worst loss on its résumé with a NET ranking of 68th.

Big Ten Standings
RNK TEAM B1G RECORD OVR RECORD
1 MICHIGAN STATE 9-0 18-2
2 PURDUE 8-2 16-5
3 MICHIGAN 7-2 15-5
4 WISCONSIN 6-3 15-4
5 MARYLAND 6-4 16-5
5 UCLA 6-4 15-6
5 ILLINOIS 6-4 14-6
8 OREGON 5-4 16-4
9 INDIANA 5-5 14-7
10 USC 4-5 12-8
10 OHIO STATE 4-5 12-8
12 IOWA 4-6 13-8
13 NORTHWESTERN 3-6 12-8
13 RUTGERS 3-6 10-10
15 PENN STATE 3-7 13-8
15 MINNESOTA 3-7 11-10
17 NEBRASKA 2-7 12-8
18 WASHINGTON 1-8 10-10

Big Ten Outlook

With the Big Ten Tournament format shifting to 15 teams this year, the bottom three teams will be excluded in the conference while the top nine schools receive a first-round bye and the top four receive a double-bye to the tourney’s quarterfinals.

The Penn State game not only offers a chance for Ohio State to bring its January record back to .500, it can level out its mark in the Big Ten, too. A victory over the Nittany Lions would bring the Buckeyes back to 5-5 in conference play.

A win at Penn State would put valuable distance between Ohio State and the bottom three spots in the conference, which will be left out of the conference tournament. The Buckeyes’ current 4-5 record in the league has them 1.5 games ahead of that placement, with the Nittany Lions and Minnesota tied at 3-7 for third-to-last. Nebraska (2-7) and Washington (1-8) have worse conference marks.

With a strong close to the year, a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament and Ohio State’s first NCAA Tournament bid in three seasons are well within reach.

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Color in the dark: Ohio artists’ ties to Cuba’s American-made blackout

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Color in the dark: Ohio artists’ ties to Cuba’s American-made blackout


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio artist David Griesmyer said the colorful, resilient Cuba he’s frequented looked different his most recent trip as the island nation continues under a U.S.-induced blackout.

“To see the whole nation just plunge into darkness, it was odd,” Griesmyer said. “But then to see all the grandmas holding up battery powered lights in the dark and seeing children kicking a makeshift ball down the streets through the city, everybody was outside talking … It didn’t stop them. They’re there. There’s a fire inside of that. But it was dark. It was dark.”

The darkness was brought on by an American fuel blockade that has created a nationwide blackout and brought the tourism industry to a screeching halt. President Donald Trump has commented about a possible takeover of Cuba, where residents are living without power, heat or clean water.

The issue is front of mind for 60 Ohio artists, business and government leaders who traveled to the Havana Bienal last year, a prestigious international art festival. Ohio artists with close ties to the Cuban art scene want Ohioans to think about Cuba’s people, not its politics, as the blackout goes on.

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“They are so resilient,” Michael Reese, Columbus art consultant, said. “And I just believe tomorrow’s going to be better because if they don’t go down the rabbit hole, they’ll never get out. So they just push on.”

The U.S. has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since the 1960s, when Cuba became the center of a Cold War confrontation between two superpowers. In 1962, the Soviet Union attempted to deploy nuclear weapons to Cuba, which sits 90 miles away from the southern tip of the U.S. The attempt led to the 16-day Cuban Missile Crisis, considered the closest the Cold War came to using nuclear arms.

Cuba has been under U.S. embargo since, but the situation turned dire in January when the U.S. cut off access to Venezuela, Cuba’s main oil supplier. The U.S. has also blocked fuel and product deliveries from trading partners like Mexico.

In capital city Havana, home to 2 million people, residents are living without ways to keep food cold or operate water treatment plants. Residents can only cook using charcoal grills and have no internet access. Ohio documentarian Tariq Tarey is making a film about the Cuban people and said outside Havana, resources are scarcer.

“It is literally dark ages. Water scarce, internet is gone for weeks on end. Horse and buggy is the only thing that’s moving,” Tarey said. “It is dire. It’s absolutely dire.”

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It had already been difficult to get items before the blackout. The coalition who attended the Bienal each brought a second suitcase stuffed with necessities to give away. Tarey recalled visiting a Cuban clinic and noting medical equipment that read “Made in East Germany,” a nation that has not existed for 36 years.

Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barrosa de Padilla was among those who traveled to the Bienal last year, accompanied by her mother and daughters. Barrosa de Padilla’s parents fled Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba, and she showed her daughters the small village her parents grew up in. Now, family tells her conditions are difficult.

“The challenge is that there’s not petroleum, there’s not cash. You cannot run a generator either,” Barrosa de Padilla said, adding a cousin had just three hours of power for a week due to the blockade.

Griesmyer was in Havana in mid-March and said the streets were empty of the thousands of tourists he’d grown used to seeing. While there, he watched the city go dark. He also witnessed an afternoon where Elon Musk used StarLink technology to temporarily give everyone in Cuba free Internet.

“This was history,” Griesmyer said. “And one of the people said to me, ‘Yes, we want electricity, but we want the freedom to be able to communicate and to to talk to people and know what’s going on.’ Because that’s scarier than not having electricity, just to not know.”

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Starlink is not officially permitted to be used in Cuba, and Cuban officials allege Musk is breaking U.S. trade restrictions by providing free internet. Cuban officials are also worried about possible aggression from the U.S. as Trump threatens military intervention.

“I do believe I’ll be … having the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump said in mid-March. “Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now.”

Barrosa de Padilla said Trump’s threats to take over Cuba are complicated. She said the people of Cuba know their current government isn’t working, but feels American intervention in other countries’ governments is not putting America First.

While visiting Cuba, Barrosa de Padilla’s mother died from a heart attack. Barrosa de Padilla said her mother took her final breath in the homeland she loved, surrounded by the poverty she fled.

“It was a beautiful end to my mother’s story because she died in her hometown with her sister, her last living sibling,” Barrosa de Padilla said. “And the place where she first opened her eyes, she closed.”

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Reese and Griesmyer said despite the darkness, lack of resources and uncertainty, the people of Cuba believe things will get better. Griesmyer said neighbors share the food he brings to the island so everyone can eat. He said people are dancing through the darkness.

There is much more to the story of Ohio, art, life and Cuba. See the full story on Sunday Briefing at 10 a.m.



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No. 9 Penn State men’s lacrosse stays perfect in Big Ten play, beats No. 6 Ohio State on the road

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No. 9 Penn State men’s lacrosse stays perfect in Big Ten play, beats No. 6 Ohio State on the road


No. 9 Penn State traveled to Columbus, Ohio, at 4 p.m. on Saturday to face No. 6 Ohio State in Week 2 of Big Ten action.The Nittany Lions’ strong first half propelled them to a 13-6 victory over the Buckeyes. Penn State’s record improved to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, currently 4-1 against ranked opponents this season.First halfThe Nittany Lions opened the game with early momentum, forcing a turnover on the first possession before Michael Faraone put Penn State on the scoreboard with his team’s first shot of the game. After goalie Preston Hawkins made a save, Liam Matthews scored a behind-the-back goal while falling in front of Caleb Fyock’s crease to take a 2-0 lead.Hawkins made 10 saves on 16 shots for a .625 save percentage in the victory, carrying momentum from his breakout performance against Maryland.Penn State continued its dominance on both sides of the ball, causing turnovers leading to a 4-0 lead before Ohio State took its first timeout. First, John Jude Considine fired a shot from close range with 7:39 remaining in the quarter before Jack Iannantuono struck the back of the net on a diving shot.The Buckeyes cut Penn State’s lead to three, capitalizing as the Nittany Lions attempted a 10-man ride. With Hawkins out of the crease, defenseman Kyle Foster launched a shot from Ohio State’s end into the open goal.Matthews answered immediately, assisted by Luke Walstrum. Walstrum’s pass found the Orangeville, Ontario, native at the top of the box and his side-arm shot didn’t miss.At the two-minute mark, the Buckeyes scored their first offensive goal of the game. Alex Marinier caught Liam White on the left side, who beat Hawkins’ stick to set the score, 5-2, heading into the second quarter.Marinier started the second quarter on the right foot, scoring less than a minute into play. His shot from mid-range trickled past Hawkins, who got a piece of the ball but wasn’t able to make the save.However, Chase Robertson responded with a solo effort from the top of the box to reclaim the three-goal lead. He dodged past a pair of Buckeye defenders and beat Fyock just under the crossbar.Lucca DiBartolomeo played a key role in Iannantuono’s second goal of the game, forcing a turnover with a heavy stick check in Ohio State territory after a failed transition attempt. On the following possession, Iannantuono ripped a shot from the left side past Fyock to take a 7-3 lead with 9:50 left in the half.Ohio State’s defense settled in with Fyock making big saves, allowing for transition opportunities on Penn State’s end. However, the Buckeyes repeatedly made errors in clearing or going offside. Dominic Shaw took a cross-checking penalty, giving Kyle Lehman the space to score on the man-up for an 8-3 lead at halftime.Second halfGarrett Haas scored the first goal of the second half, rounding the crease before bouncing the ball past Hawkins less than two minutes into the third quarter. Hawkins, however, responded with consecutive saves on dangerous chances on the doorstep as Penn State struggled to clear.Then, the fireworks began. First, Mark Watters shot through heavy coverage to take a 9-4 lead at the eight-minute mark before Jake Cohen answered 21 seconds later.On the following faceoff, Jon King cut to the net through traffic and was stripped of the ball. But Fyock was unable to scoop the rolling ball that dribbled past the goal line.With 5:01 left in the third quarter, Faraone scored his second of the game on the right wing with a heavy side-arm shot that nearly clipped Fyock’s stick.Robertson carried the momentum in the dying moments of the quarter, giving the Nittany Lions a 12-5 lead going into the final frame. Hawkins maintained that score, making a series of desperation saves with time winding down to stop the Buckeyes’ advance.To start the fourth quarter, Ohio State elected to replace Fyock with junior Jack Allen after the starter’s seven saves on 19 shots. Allen made three saves on four shots in one quarter of action.Walstrum struck first, scoring a wraparound with a defender’s stick lodged under his chinstrap. Immediately afterwards, Jack Oldman ran down the center of the box, beating Hawkins high to respond.Scoring noticeably dropped off for the remainder of the game as both teams placed lock-down defense, forcing shot-clock violations despite multiple penalties. One last save from Hawkins iced the game, and Penn State moved to 2-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2019.Injury ReportAttackman Hunter Aquino and midfielder Patrick Carragher weren’t dressed in the line-up.Up NextPenn State will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, to face Johns Hopkins at noon on Saturday.MORE LACROSSE COVERAGE

Penn State notebook | Men’s lacrosse coach Jeff Tambroni talks UNC loss, upcoming Ohio State matchup

Penn State is trying to build momentum as it has entered Big Ten play. The squad has won thr…

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Math plan would help a generation of Ohio students | Opinion

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Math plan would help a generation of Ohio students | Opinion


Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.

In November, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed math reforms that would help a generation of struggling students. House lawmakers should send that excellent package known as Senate Bill 19 to the governor’s desk post haste.

Math difficulties start early for many Ohio students. Last year, 45,000 third graders, or 36% statewide, fell short of proficiency on the state math exam. These youngsters had difficulty solving basic arithmetic and measurement problems. Without such skills, big trouble lies ahead for them.

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Meanwhile, even larger percentages of high schoolers fare poorly in this subject. On last year’s algebra I state exam, 53,000 students – 41% of test takers – did not achieve proficiency, while a staggering 72,000 students (57%) fell short in geometry.

These failure rates are unacceptable. Students should not be left to struggle with the routine math needed to manage their personal finances, bake a cake or do a home repair. Nor should they lack the critical thinking, data interpretation and problem solving skills that are demanded by today’s employers and essential to career success.

Ohio must help more students gain fluency in math. Senate Bill 19 does this in the following ways.

First, it supports students with math deficiencies. The bill would require schools to provide math interventions to students scoring at the lowest achievement level (known as “limited”) on state tests. Importantly, schools must engage a child’s parents to create an individual improvement plan that outlines the interventions and how progress will be monitored.

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Second, the bill promotes strong math curricula. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would be tasked with reviewing math materials and establishing a high-quality list. With dozens of programs and textbooks on the market – some far better than others – this vetting process would aid school districts in finding the best curriculum for their students.

Third, it asks colleges of education to better prepare elementary teachers. Research from the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that teacher training programs often lack serious math content, especially in the elementary grades, leaving teachers ill-prepared for effective instruction. To help address the problem, the bill mandates that prospective educators pass the math section of the state licensure test to teach the subject, something that is not presently required.

Fourth, it gives high-achieving math students a boost. Traditional course placement practices rely on teacher and parent referrals, which tend to overlook economically disadvantaged students who excel in math. Yet, as a recent Fordham Institute study found, access to advanced coursework is critical to high-achieving, low-income students’ college prospects. Through automatic enrollment provisions, Senate Bill 19 would ensure that all high achievers are placed in challenging math courses, including algebra I in eighth grade.

Some may view Senate Bill 19 as burdensome on schools. But the need for significant improvement in math is urgent and the reforms are commonsense. Students struggling in math ought to get help. Schools should use the best-available textbooks and materials. Teachers should know math before they teach it. Schools must push high achievers to reach their full potential.

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Math and reading are the academic pillars that support students’ long-term success as well as the state’s economic growth. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Science of Reading initiative is off to a strong start and promises stronger literacy statewide. It’s now time for policymakers to roll up their sleeves and help students get better at math. Their futures – and the state’s – are at stake.

Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.



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