Ohio State 22-23 Are we Better Than You Think?

[Eddie Schorr]

I felt the same they needed 12 points from the next 3 series to have a chance at 2nd. Wisconsin is locked in last and they can lock ND in 6th with a sweep this weekend. A sweep also puts them 6 points ahead of Penn State and no worse than tied for 2nd place.

And losing a home game against Michigan in what would have been a packed Schott in exchange for a neutral site game in Cleveland is looking like a really bad decision right now. Earlier in the season would have been fine, but not during the stretch run.

 

[klbaum1077]

And losing a home game against Michigan in what would have been a packed Schott in exchange for a neutral site game in Cleveland is looking like a really bad decision right now. Earlier in the season would have been fine, but not during the stretch run.

Definitely not in favor of losing a home game against them and then playing the other on a thursday night.

 

[klbaum1077]

That was a pretty good game. Tough to beat them when you play at the pace they want and fall behind by 2. Both goals the Buckeyes had position of the puck and gave it away leading to the goal. Havent been swept all year long gong to need that 1st goal tomorrow and make ND chase you.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Team seemed to be skating on their heels for the first two periods and only put on the foil in the third. Last year and now this year is making me think there's something in this team's culture and chemistry that is afraid of success. The first period tonight will speak volumes as to what this team is all about. I said the team needed nine points last weekend and this weekend. I starting to wonder whether they'll get nine the entire last four weekends.

 

[klbaum1077]

Deserved a better fate last night. Bad penalty cost them in the end. Going to be tough to finish in the top 4 and get home ice now. Both Penn State and Michigan State play Wisconsin and you can almost book 6 points for Penn State playing them at home. Wisconsin hasnt won a road conference game in almost 2 calendar years. 7 Points are going to be needed if both Penn State and Michigan state sweep wisconsin. I dont know if they can get 7 points from Michigan and Minnesota.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Anything short of a solid sweep next weekend (and chances are slim), and I'm doubting this team makes the tourney. Two years in a row...hooray.

 

[klbaum1077]

Looks like a new arena is coming to campus. Lets hope it seats 6-8K.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Looks like a new arena is coming to campus. Lets hope it seats 6-8K.

Everything I heard this morning is around a 2500 seat arena that will be home ice for the women along with being the men's practice facility, offices, training and nutrition centers. It looks like the men will be playing at the 7700 seat lower Schott bowl for a while more. There's a lesson here, gentlemen. Want a new arena, then stop rolling into the fetal position the last month of the season and win a NC.

 

[osualum86]

I don't post much over here (I started the OSU Women's thread and am usually over there), but checking the PairWise, which is the only poll that really matters, the guys are still in 9th, so they are not in a bad position. I would just like to see more consistency, and while I am talking about the PairWise, we need to stop losing to teams we're supposed to beat. The PairWise hammers you for that. Michigan and Minnesota are tough opponents to end the regular season against, but they are both ranked above us in the PairWise, so any wins we get from those teams will help us. We might even move back into the top eight (#2 seed at whatever NCAA Regional we get sent to). If we are going to make any noise in the postseason, though, need to be more consistent. Need to play 60 minutes, and need to do it for several games in a row. I think this team is better than last year's, but they need to bring their A game every time out and play a full 60. Should be an interesting next couple weekends vs Michigan and at Minnesota.

For those of you who follow the women, they have a chance to do the one thing, actually the only thing they have not yet done in the Nadine Muzerall era, which is win a WCHA Regular Season Title. They are at Wisconsin this weekend. The Bucks are three points ahead of 2nd-place Minnesota, so if they get four points at Wisconsin, they win the regular season title. That should be fun.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

I don't post much over here (I started the OSU Women's thread and am usually over there), but checking the PairWise, which is the only poll that really matters, the guys are still in 9th, so they are not in a bad position. I would just like to see more consistency, and while I am talking about the PairWise, we need to stop losing to teams we're supposed to beat. The PairWise hammers you for that. Michigan and Minnesota are tough opponents to end the regular season against, but they are both ranked above us in the PairWise, so any wins we get from those teams will help us. We might even move back into the top eight (#2 seed at whatever NCAA Regional we get sent to). If we are going to make any noise in the postseason, though, need to be more consistent. Need to play 60 minutes, and need to do it for several games in a row. I think this team is better than last year's, but they need to bring their A game every time out and play a full 60. Should be an interesting next couple weekends vs Michigan and at Minnesota.

For those of you who follow the women, they have a chance to do the one thing, actually the only thing they have not yet done in the Nadine Muzerall era, which is win a WCHA Regular Season Title. They are at Wisconsin this weekend. The Bucks are three points ahead of 2nd-place Minnesota, so if they get four points at Wisconsin, they win the regular season title. That should be fun.

After last year, call me a skeptic. If we don't get the win tonight, then I really see us going pointless to close out the regular season. Toss in a first round exit in the B1G, and we'll absolutely--to quote Sonny Corleone--be coming out of the bathroom with nothing but our dick in our hand.

 

[klbaum1077]

That might have been the best regular season Ohio State/Michigan game I have seen in person and I have only missed 3 non covid games since march of 2002. Getting that extra point leaves them 6 points from a Home Ice playoff series. 2 wins or a combo of Ohio State wins and Nd. MSU and Penn State losses gives them home ice. Get the full 3 points on Saturday and they are tied for 2nd. If anyone with a brain was in that building tonight and cant see they need to make that new arena 7-8K for the men to play in then they are crazy.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

I was pretty upset they were turning people away at the doors because they wanted a "sellout" and refused to open part of the 3rd level to easily accommodate all our fans. I thought it was bull sh*t!

 

[Eddie Schorr]

2 seed is pretty much a (crack) pipe dream at this point, and psu is lined up really well to get the 3. Boys need to fight hard for that 3 and avoid Minny until the final.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

I was pretty upset they were turning people away at the doors because they wanted a "sellout" and refused to open part of the 3rd level to easily accommodate all our fans. I thought it was bull sh*t!

That's what Rohlik wants. 7700 max, and make it a hard ticket to get. I can't say I disagree. Not having the second game at The Schott is the bigger abomination. Also, last night really confirms to me that the study will not be able to come up with an arena that suits both the men and women barring some really crazy architectural and engineering gymnastics.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Also, last night really confirms to me that the study will not be able to come up with an arena that suits both the men and women barring some really crazy architectural and engineering gymnastics.

I couldn't agree more. Coach Muzerall said she'd like a 2000-2500 capacity arena for the women. A 5000 seat shared one will be too small for the men and too large for the women.
NBC4 had a story about a father and his daughter showing up late to last weeks women's game and couldn't get in and the girl cried and how horrible it was that they couldn't get in. OSU was turning people away last night at the men's game because they refused to open the 3rd level to accommodate them so doesn't that make them hypocrites? I doubt they'd consider it but the ideal solution would be a dual ice arena with the smaller side for the women and the larger one for the men. We've debated for years on forum how big a men's arena should be and frankly i'm getting tired of it.

 

[StateofHockey78]

OSU fans, curious for anyone who may have been at the game last night, was OSU as dominant as the shot totals would indicate? I caught the last bit on the radio but it was just before the tying goal so I missed most of the game. Given how strong Michigan has been of late offensively it appeared statistically like OSU should be really proud of that effort.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

I couldn't agree more. Coach Muzerall said she'd like a 2000-2500 capacity arena for the women. A 5000 seat shared one will be too small for the men and too large for the women.
NBC4 had a story about a father and his daughter showing up late to last weeks women's game and couldn't get in and the girl cried and how horrible it was that they couldn't get in. OSU was turning people away last night at the men's game because they refused to open the 3rd level to accommodate them so doesn't that make them hypocrites? I doubt they'd consider it but the ideal solution would be a dual ice arena with the smaller side for the women and the larger one for the men. We've debated for years on forum how big a men's arena should be and frankly i'm getting tired of it.

Given the women's capacity there's nothing that really could have been done for that little girl. As far as the men go, I guess I can see it from two different angles. On a micro level, of course you feel for a kid who gets turned away. On the more impersonal macro level, getting the news out that Ohio State hockey isn't something you can just show up for and expect to get in, isn't a bad thing.

 

[osualum86]

I couldn't agree more. Coach Muzerall said she'd like a 2000-2500 capacity arena for the women. A 5000 seat shared one will be too small for the men and too large for the women.
NBC4 had a story about a father and his daughter showing up late to last weeks women's game and couldn't get in and the girl cried and how horrible it was that they couldn't get in. OSU was turning people away last night at the men's game because they refused to open the 3rd level to accommodate them so doesn't that make them hypocrites? I doubt they'd consider it but the ideal solution would be a dual ice arena with the smaller side for the women and the larger one for the men. We've debated for years on forum how big a men's arena should be and frankly i'm getting tired of it.

We need to start buying powerball tickets. If I hit powerball, we will have something similar to Minnesota where we have a men's arena (10,000 like Mariucci) and a women's arena right beside it (3,400 like Ridder). Minnesota has the best hockey facilities in the BIG Ten/WCHA, hands-down. Big Gene and his assistants should catch a plane to Minneapolis and take notes on what hockey facilities are supposed to look like. I hear you on the whole debate on the size of an arena. I am also getting tired of hearing that people continue to be turned away because both of our hockey facilities are pitifully undersized.

 

[StateofHockey78]

We need to start buying powerball tickets. If I hit powerball, we will have something similar to Minnesota where we have a men's arena (10,000 like Mariucci) and a women's arena right beside it (3,400 like Ridder). Minnesota has the best hockey facilities in the BIG Ten/WCHA, hands-down. Big Gene and his assistants should catch a plane to Minneapolis and take notes on what hockey facilities are supposed to look like. I hear you on the whole debate on the size of an arena. I am also getting tired of hearing that people continue to be turned away because both of our hockey facilities are pitifully undersized.

Interestingly, MN is undergoing a $30MM renovation in the offseason to expand facilities and shrink the rink size. 10k capacity can be tricky. When it's a full house it's amazing, but when it's at half capacity because the facility is so big it's like a church in there. I think a balance between size and keeping the crowd right on top of the action is best. One thing MN did the last couple years which has paid enormous dividends is to expand the student sections. Gotta get those young noise makers with endless energy to counteract the 30 year season ticket holders who might have a heart attack if they yell.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

We need to start buying powerball tickets. If I hit powerball, we will have something similar to Minnesota where we have a men's arena (10,000 like Mariucci) and a women's arena right beside it (3,400 like Ridder). Minnesota has the best hockey facilities in the BIG Ten/WCHA, hands-down. Big Gene and his assistants should catch a plane to Minneapolis and take notes on what hockey facilities are supposed to look like. I hear you on the whole debate on the size of an arena. I am also getting tired of hearing that people continue to be turned away because both of our hockey facilities are pitifully undersized.

Gene has always relegated the hockey programs to the backburner. I think it's only Muzz's level of success that has forced him to grudgingly address the issues. In contrast, the amount of love given to baseball is ridiculous because Ohio State will NEVER, EVER be a baseball power again. That's a simple fact of geography that won't change. For example, Cincinnati is one of the top producers of MLB players in the nation, but dig into it a bit and look at those who went the college route and see how very few of them went to Ohio State or any other cold weather college. Also, average attendance for Ohio State men's hockey is almost double that of Ohio State baseball.