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| Junior's Aaron Craft & Deshaun Thomas are back to guide the Buckeyes ship this winter. |
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| Senior Tayler Hill is back, to lead the Buckeyes towards another run at Big 10 Championship. |
Tip off tonight (7:00 NBCSports Network) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles, aboard the USS Yorktown for the Carrier Classic, jump starts the Ohio State Men's hoops '12-'13 season. Both programs, the Men & Women get to be apart of this event, when the #19 Lady Buckeyes tip-off against the #7 Fighting Lady Irish of Notre Dame (4:00 NBCSports Network), who have reached the National Championship Game the past two seasons (losing twice). The Men's team looks to build off the teams Final Four run, from a season ago, while some guys are back in familiar roles, while others get adjusted to new roles this season. The Buckeyes have a very high preseason ranking at #4 with non-conference games against Marquette (tonight), @ Duke (Nov. 28th) in the Big 10/ACC Challenge, and a Final Four rematch vs. Kansas (December 22nd). After the non-conference slate of games, the Men will have to navigate though a very challenging Big Ten season, as the preseason #1 team in the nation resides in the Big Ten, the Indiana Hoosiers. Along with the Hoosiers and Buckeyes, the Big Ten is represented in the preseason Top 25 by #5 Michigan, #14 Michigan State, and #21 Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are again coached by 9-year Head Coach Thad Matta, who enters his 13th season coaching overall.
On the women's side, ranked #19 to begin the season, they are lead by Senior Guard Tayler Hill, who lead the Buckeyes in scoring as a junior a season ago (20.4 ppg). A number of players are back this season, that saw multiple minutes on the floor last season and the Buckeyes non-conference schedule while challenging, will prove to be a good thing, once they head into the Big Ten schedule. Notable non-conference games for the Women include, today's opener against Notre Dame, @ UNC, and @ Gonzaga. A four-team race for the Big Ten Championship this season, between preseason ranked: #8 Penn State, #18 Nebraska, #19 Ohio State, and #21 Purdue. This team will go as far as Hill can carry them, as the Lady Buckeyes are under the supervising of 11-year Head Coach Jim Foster, who enters his 35th year of coaching.
I'm looking forward to hoops season, but I do have one rule, we do not talk about hoops, till after Thanksgiving. Until then, take care and keep following my football posts.
