Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State women's basketball earns No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament

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Ohio State women’s basketball earns No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament

Ohio State women’s basketball is a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes finished as runner-ups in the Big Ten Tournament and are 25-7 overall on the season. That said, head coach Kevin McGuff’s team finished the year 6-7 after a 19-0 start that saw Ohio State ascend to a program-best No. 2 ranking in the AP Poll.

The Buckeyes strung together back-to-back thrilling wins in the Big Ten Tournament, including a 79-75 quarterfinal victory over top-seeded Indiana that featured the largest comeback in league tournament history. But they were stopped short of a conference title by Caitlin Clark and second-seeded Iowa. In the process, freshman forward Cotie McMahon (21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in the tourney) and sophomore guard/forward Taylor Thierry (17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the tourney) played their way onto the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.

Now, third-seeded Ohio State will host 14th-seeded James Madison on Saturday in the opening round of NCAA Tournament play. This is the first time the Buckeyes will have at least one March Madness game at home since 2017-18, and this is the 14th time the program has been chosen as a top-four seed.

March Madness is coming to Columbus‼️ Rounds 1 & 2 will be played at the Schott#GoBucks🌰 pic.twitter.com/0EAZ11mzxa

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) March 13, 2023

Bruce Thornton named to Big Ten All-Tournament Team

Ohio State freshman point guard and captain Bruce Thornton was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team Sunday. Thornton averaged 15.5 points, 4.3 assists and just 1.0 turnover per game during the Buckeyes’ four-game run to the semifinals.

Thornton had a strong finish to his first season in Columbus after admitting he hit the “freshman wall” back in January. The Alpharetta, Georgia, native averaged 16.4 points per contest over the Buckeyes’ final eight games, during which they posted a 5-3 record.

Thornton, the only Ohio State player to start all 35 games in 2022-23, didn’t turn the ball over the last three games of the Big Ten Tournament while running the point for a resurrected Buckeyes team that ranks 10th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency since since Feb. 20, or the start of the aforementioned eight-game window, according to BartTorvik.

For more on Thornton’s achievement, go here.

Photos as Ohio State opens up first week of spring practice

Ohio State spring break is underway. But, before that, spring practice got going for the football team, and Lettermen Row was back in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for the first two days of spring ball.

There are still 13 spring practices remaining, including the Buckeyes’ Spring Game on April 15.

But the storylines are already plentiful. None are more important than Ohio State’s two-way race for QB1 between junior Kyle McCord — C.J. Stroud‘s backup the last two years — and redshirt freshman Devin Brown. But who will replace three starters on the offensive line? And will the defense take the next step in Year Two of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ system?

The answers to those questions, as well as the verdict on the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation, are a ways away.

In the meantime, however, check out a few photos from the first two Ohio State spring practices.

The Buckeyes will return to the field on March 21.

RELATED

• Experienced Kyle McCord leaning on skillset, leadership in quarterback competition
• Devin Brown wants to stay true to himself in quarterback battle, Ohio State career
• A step forward in Year Two of the Jim Knowles defense starts in the back end
• Buckeyes quickly sorting through options at offensive tackle

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 173 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 257 days

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