Welcome to the Skull Session.
It’s time for March Madness.
Ohio Against the Worldpic.twitter.com/vunm5CmYZX
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 19, 2026
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Have a good Thursday.
Have a good Thursday.
HELLO, BRUCE! We all know Bruce Thornton is one of the best players in the NCAA Tournament. Still, it’s always satisfying to see that recognition reflected on the national stage. That’s what happened when ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf ranked the AP honorable mention All-American as the No. 24 player in the Big Dance.
No. 24 - Bruce Thornton
Pound-for-pound, Thornton is one of the best players in the country. The 6-foot-2 guard was the difference between the Buckeyes sweating Selection Sunday vs. confidently tracking to make the field -- he averaged 21.0 points over a five-game stretch to end the regular season, which included a pivotal win over Purdue. -- Medcalf
Who are the 23 players ahead of Thornton?
The list starts with Duke’s Cameron Boozer at No. 1, followed by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Purdue’s Braden Smith, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor, Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Arizona’s Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd, Florida’s Alex Condon, UConn’s Alex Karaban and Tennessee’s Nate Ament.
Look at him go. pic.twitter.com/dScHTae0uH
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 18, 2026
There are no TCU players on the list, and just one Duke player.
Does Ohio State have a Sweet 16 run loading?
I’ll pump the brakes — a little!
ONE OF THE GREATS. One of the best stories to emerge since Thad Matta’s retirement came from JJ Sullinger, who said Matta saved his basketball career in 2004.
When former Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger hired Matta to lead the Buckeyes entering the 2004-05 season, Sullinger said Geiger told the new coach to “get rid of me if he ever wanted to be successful.”
Instead, Matta chose to keep Sullinger on the roster — even after Sullinger let him down.
The former Ohio State guard revealed that on Sept. 4, 2004, he was pulled over for suspected driving under the influence. While in jail, Sullinger called Matta around 2:30 a.m. to explain what had happened. Matta, who was set to be introduced as Ohio State’s new head coach during that day’s football game, scheduled a meeting with Sullinger for the following week.
“I just knew my career at OSU was over,” Sullinger remembered thinking.
But Matta didn’t kick him off the team. Instead, he agreed to keep Sullinger on the roster under three conditions: complete a drug and alcohol abuse program, write a handwritten apology to everyone affiliated with the program — including former players — and run five miles a day, five days a week, without missing any other workouts.
* STORY TIME *
— JJ Sullinger (@JJSullinger) March 16, 2026
When Coach Matta was hired.. Andy Geiger told him to get rid of me if he ever wanted to be successful (Said I was a cancer)
The current (Interim) staff was trying to get the job permanently, & said I had to get a 4.0 GPA Summer Qtr. to remain on the team
“Needless to say, I completed all 3 things… Wrote over 350 hand-written apologies, and was in the best shape of my life for my Junior season,” Sullinger wrote. “Coach could have easily gave up on me, but he didn’t and is a big reason I’m where I’m at today!”
He added: “This and this alone is why I’ll always ride for him. He took a chance on me when literally everyone else was telling him not to.”
Sullinger averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds over his three years with the Buckeyes. He was one of Ohio State’s top contributors in 2005-06, when Matta led the program to a Big Ten regular-season title and its first NCAA Tournament berth in four years. The Buckeyes earned a No. 2 seed and reached the Round of 32 before falling to No. 7 seed Georgetown.
It’s a fascinating multi-layered “What if?” to consider what might have happened if Matta had kicked Sullinger off the team. First, there’s the question of what those Ohio State teams would have looked like without him. Then there’s the bigger one: Does Jared Sullinger still come to Ohio State if his family has a rocky relationship with the head coach?
My guess is no.
That’s why I’m thankful Matta gave J.J. Sullinger a chance to stay, and that Sullinger responded by taking accountability for his actions and becoming better because of it.
CJ CARR > JULIAN SAYIN? Earlier this offseason, ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked CJ Carr as the best quarterback in college football ahead of Julian Sayin. Apparently, Connelly is not alone in this incorrect opinion, as The Athletic’s Manny Navarro also named Carr as the No. 1 quarterback when re-ranking the 2024 class.
Quarterback
No. 1: Julian Sayin, Ohio State via Alabama (five-star, No. 6 overall)
Top six candidates
Sayin, Ohio State via Alabama
Dylan Raiola, Oregon via Nebraska (five-star, No. 21)
CJ Carr, Notre Dame (four-star, No. 68)
Demond Williams, Washington (four-star, No. 205)
CJ Bailey, NC State (four-star, No. 434)
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State via North Texas (unranked)
Sayin has lived up to the hype, going 12-2 as a starter with a 75.9 percent career completion rate, 3,694 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nobody, however, has won more games as a starter in this class than Raiola, who left Nebraska for Oregon this winter with a 13-9 record. He’s expected to serve as the backup to Dante Moore as he recovers from a knee injury.
Williams, however, owns the best passing efficiency rating (164.6), according to TruMedia, completing 71.5 percent of his attempts for 4,009 yards, 33 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He’s also rushed for the third-most yards (893) among QBs in his class. Bailey (5,518 yards, 42 TDs, 19 INTs) and Mestemaker (4,841 yards, 36 TDs, 11 INTs at North Texas) rank first and second in the class, respectively, in career passing yards and touchdowns. Carr (2,741 yards, 24 TDs, six INTs) is the 2026 preseason Heisman favorite, according to BetMGM.
The re-ranked No. 1: Carr. It’s a tough decision, but I went with Carr over Sayin due to his upside and star potential after his first season.
The good news?
Navarro didn’t get cute with his wide receiver ranking. He said it’s still Jeremiah Smith, and “it’s not even close.”
Wide Receiver
No. 1: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (five-star, No. 1 overall)
Top six candidates
Smith, Ohio State
Cam Coleman, Texas via Auburn (five-star, No. 3)
Ryan Williams, Alabama (five-star, No. 4)
T.J. Moore, Clemson (five-star, No. 23)
Nick Marsh, Indiana via Michigan State (four-star, No. 176)
Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska (four-star, No. 459)
Smith’s numbers (163 catches, 2,558 yards, 27 touchdowns) are far superior to any other receiver in the class. Marsh and Barney are next on the list in terms of receptions, with 100 each. Wyatt Young, who recently transferred from North Texas to Oklahoma State, is second in receiving yards with 1,559. Williams has shown flashes of dominance at Alabama but has been far too inconsistent. Coleman is extremely talented and should thrive playing in Texas’ offense after two years at Auburn.
The re-ranked No. 1: Smith. It’s not even close.
Sayin and Smith will be the best quarterback and wide receiver duo in college football next season. They’ll prove it when both attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York as they help the Buckeyes contend for their second national championship in three years.
COUNTING DOWN THE SECONDS. Ohio State football returns to the Shoe in 170 days.
Patiently waiting for fall pic.twitter.com/PX5aVmps9z
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 18, 2026
Theres no place like
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 16, 2026
#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Cdmyudx16t
That’s 4,080 hours, 244,800 minutes, and 1.469e+7 seconds until a fall Saturday in Columbus!
SONG OF THE DAY. “Basketball” - Bow Wow.
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