Miller wasn't taking reps with the quarterbacks but he was doing work on the side at the first Ohio State practice of the spring Tuesday morning.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Observations about Ohio State spring football from the first day of practice on Tuesday morning.
* All three Ohio State quarterbacks of interest were out there. Cardale Jones was first in the order of reps and full go. His arm looked, you guessed it, strong.
J.T. Barrett, coming off surgery for a broken right ankle, did take part of the throwing reps. He didn't take full reps, but threw the ball a few times, maybe making 20 percent of the throws that Jones and Stephen Collier made during the 35 minutes of actual practice reporters were allowed to watch.
Barrett seemed to throw the ball OK, but when players jogged between drills, Barrett walked quickly. And he didn't take a full dropback, moving backward gingerly on the few throws.
And then there's Braxton Miller. The fifth-year senior who missed all of last season after reinjuring his throwing shoulder last August, led the quarterback line throw the opening stretches.
But he wasn't out there with the quarterbacks at all during the practice portion. Once stretching was over, Miller went to the side with the other injured players. He did some work with the strength bands with his shoulder.
And then he started throwing. He wasn't letting it rip. But he started out throwing about 5-yard passes and wound up making lob tosses of 15 to 20 yards during that opening 35 minutes of actual practice.
* Running back Ezekiel Elliott was among the other injured offensive players working off to the side. After offseason wrist surgery, he did not take part in any running back drills after stretching.
So the order of the running backs during most drills was Bri'onte Dunn, Curtis Samuel and Warren Ball.
* Receiver Johnnie Dixon, injured as freshman last season, was in drills Tuesday and looked full-go. Veterans Michael Thomas and Corey Smith were the top two receivers in drills, followed by Dixon and Noah Brown.
Ohio State opened spring drills on Tuesday. Check out what we saw from the defense during the media's viewing period.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Observations on Ohio State's defense from the first day of spring practice. The Buckeyes opened spring drills on Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
* When the Buckeyes broke out into a quick team pursuit drill during the media's viewing period, we got a quick glimpse of what the first team defense looks like at this point.
Redshirt sophomore Tyquan Lewis lined up in the defensive end spot opposite Joey Bosa, the one vacated by Steve Miller and Rashad Frazier. Senior Tommy Schutt took Michael Bennett's spot on the defensive line, sophomore Raekwon McMillan was at middle linebacker and redshirt sophomore Gareon Conley was in the open corner spot opposite Eli Apple.
* Here's the full first-team defense from the pursuit drill:
Defensive line: Joey Bosa, Tommy Schutt, Adolphus Washington, Tyquan Lewis.
Secondary: Eli Apple, Tyvis Powell, Vonn Bell, Gareon Conley.
* I wouldn't read too much into Lewis being with the first-team at defensive end. There will be a fight for that spot between Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and possibly redshirt freshman Sam Hubbard and true freshman Jashon Cornell.
* The same with Conley at corner. That figures to be a battle there with Damon Webb, who worked with the second-team defense during the pursuit drill.
* Holmes and Hubbard were on the second-team defensive line along with Donovan Munger and Joel Hale.
* Hale was bask on the defensive side of the ball after serving as a backup offensive lineman last year. The fifth-year senior switched from defensive line to offensive before spring drills last year, but now it appears the Buckeyes have the depth they want at offensive line, so it's back over to the defense for Hale.
* Cornell, one of four freshmen to enroll early, looked physically ready to jump in right away. Holmes looked like he added some significant muscle from last season. Bosa appeared to be a little slimmer, but still just as explosive.
Video shot by a Columbus police officer the night of Ohio State's football championship victory shows police clearing North High Street with pepper spray and obscenity-spouting fans complaining they were unfairly targeted.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Video shot by a Columbus police officer the night of Ohio State's football championship victory shows police clearing North High Street with pepper spray and obscenity-spouting fans complaining they were unfairly targeted.
The video, obtained by Northeast Ohio Media Group via a public-records request, is the first publicly released footage from the police's point of view of the mayhem on High Street following the Buckeyes' 42-20 win over Oregon on Jan. 12.
Reporters along High Street also recorded videos of the scene that night, including footage (shown at right) shot by a Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter.
In the police video, three different males claimed that they were pepper-sprayed while on the sidewalk or while walking away. Columbus police chief Kim Jacobs has ordered an investigation into whether police inappropriately sprayed people who were apparently legally standing on the sidewalk.
One fan, whom others said was pepper-sprayed on the sidewalk, hurled profanity at the officer and extended both middle fingers.
"You have a right to say [expletive] -- you do not have a right to stay in the street," the officer replied.
Another man said he was "maced in the face" as he was walking away. But when the officer asked for his name and address and whether he wanted to file a complaint against the police, the man demurred and walked away.
The video starts with the officer, whose name could not immediately be confirmed from the records request, walking through a sea of cheering fans.
Police are then seen using handheld bottles of pepper spray to clear High Street.
Not everyone in the crowd was critical of police. One fan cheered "Good for you, officer!"
One woman who was told by the officer to move off of High Street appealed to the cop with the cheer "O-H."
Brunswick senior Eric Bulic has helped lead his team to a surprising season this year.
BRUNSWICK, Ohio — Brunswick senior basketball player Eric Bulic feels he and his team have turned some heads this season.
Bulic and the Blue Devils earned a No. 5 seed in the Division I Grafton District and won 17 games in the regular season.
While Bulic has played basketball since he was a little kid shooting hoops in his backyard, he admits he enjoys the occasional computer game as well away from the court.
Q: How happy are you with how your senior season has gone up to this point?
A: "I think we defied a lot of odds, actually. Coming into this season, we were not ranked and people picked us to finish last in our league. So I think we showed a lot of people what Brunswick basketball is all about this year and showed that we could win a couple of games. So I'm really proud of our team and our senior class coming in and working hard every day."
Q: Your team has been very balanced offensively all season, particularly among the seniors. What does that say about your senior class?
A: "I think it just goes all the way back to our travel days when we all played together. We were all taught to play unselfish and move the ball like we do now. It's really shown that anyone can score on any given night and whenever someone needs to step up, they sure do and they lead the team in scoring. It's a different person every night, though. It's nice to see."
Q: What moment from this season stands out among all the others?
A: "So far I think Senior Night, beating Shaker (Heights) at our place on senior night. I know a lot of people were picking us to lose that game. Good teams always find a way to win on their senior night. It was a really emotional win and a good win against a good team."
Q: What plans do you have for after you graduate?
A: "College choice is probably still up in the air. I know I'd like to go to college wherever and study Business and maybe minor in International Business, or something like that. But something definitely in the business area."
Q: What first got you into basketball?
A: "Back in the day, it was maybe my sixth or fifth birthday, my grandpa bought me a nice little raiseable up-and-down hoop. Ever since then, I would always play in my backyard. I actually have a gravel driveway and I just hoop out here on the gravel driveway, shooting hoops with my friends, my buddies, my neighbors. I kind of grew up playing every summer and spring, and sometimes shoveling in the winter to get some shots up again. Just definitely out in my backyard was where I was introduced."
Q: Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals?
A: "I try not to believe in superstitions. I just like to change it up every day. If I do believe in a superstition, I feel like once I break it, something bad is going to happen. So I just try to switch it up. I switched it up lately and we've been successful. Maybe switching it up is a superstition, keeping everything different every time."
Q: Is there something about you that most people don't know about you?
A: "I love to play computer games, honestly. They're pretty fun. That's like my go-to. Runescape is a great game. I love Runescape. I'm really big into nerdy video games I guess which is kind of off the wall. You see a sporty guy like me, I guess."
Quick hits from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's first media availability of the Buckeyes' spring practice.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Quick hits from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's first media availability of the Buckeyes' spring practices:
* Meyer said he isn't worried about making his team angry at this point in the season from a motivational standpoint. He said the focus is about getting better every day. Meyer, however, said it will be a big challenge in 2015 to keep the Buckeyes hungry.
"As long as the program feels like it's getting better, the motivation will be there," Meyer said. "We're not trying to win a game yet."
* Meyer said today was about Braxton Miller continuing to get healthy. Miller regularly goes down to Birmingham to make sure that his rehab is going well. Meyer said the biggest thing in Miller getting healthy is on him maximizing everything he can during his rehab.
"I love seeing him out there," Meyer said. "I love Braxton Miller. He's a selfless guy who always does what I tell him to do."
* Meyer said J.T. Barrett is "doing a little bit more than I thought he would" at this point. Barrett was fully dressed in practice, but he was taking it easy on his right ankle, which he broke during the Michigan game last year.
* Meyer said during his travels he can tell the perception of the program has changed for the better. "Faster, faster, faster," Meyer said.
* Meyer said Dontre Wilson is out and Ezekiel Elliott is being cared for closely because "he can't fall" as he continues to recover from wrist surgery.
* Meyer said he doesn't have any stress yet with the quarterback position, but he anticipates that there will be some in the future because he has a lot of respect for all three guys. There's no way to get multiple quarterbacks on the field, so the unique situation with that position will be hard to navigate in the fall.
* Meyer said Cardale Jones is "still raw, almost a rookie, an older rookie," but he became a more functional player as he got all of the reps during the bowl season and playoff run.
* Meyer said the No. 1 thing you worry about coming off a national championship is staff turnover and complacency in the program.
* Meyer has never had a conversation with Miller about playing another position. He said all of his conversations with Miller are about him getting healthy. Meyer, however, said Miller can do anything because "he's athletic enough, but I think he's a quarterback."
* Meyer talks to Miller every day about not getting anxious to return and taking things slow and being smart. But Meyer said he isn't qualified to talk about Miller's injury, which is why the quarterback goes down to Birmingham.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will open a four-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio and NBA TV.
DALLAS -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will open a four-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio and NBA TV. On radio, it will be simulcast on WMMS-FM 100.7, 87.7 FM (ESP) and WTAM-AM 1100.
The Cavs are coming off a win against the Phoenix Suns, 89-79, on Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The win was the Cavs' third in the last four games and it improved their record to an NBA-best 21-5 since Jan. 15.
Timofey Mozgov led the way with 19 points. LeBron James added 17 points and eight assists, moving into a tie with Cavs' legend Mark Price for the all-time assists lead in franchise history.
The Mavericks (41-24) snapped a two-game losing skid on Sunday, beating the Los Angeles Lakers, 100-93. Monta Ellis, who broke out of a recent slump, scored 31 points. He is Dallas' leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game. Chandler Parsons (ankle) made his return to the lineup on Sunday after missing the previous seven games.
Tuesday's game will be the second and final meeting between the two teams in the regular season. The Mavericks won the first contest, 109-90, as the Cavs played without James.
Later, catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage.
The Browns would love to sign Darrelle Revis, who loved playing for Mike Pettine in New York.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have expressed interest in Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, who loved playing for coach Mike Pettine in New York, a league source told Northeast Ohio Media Group on Tuesday.
The Patriots will not pick up Revis' $20 million option, meaning he's set to hit the market at 4 p.m. today.
The Jets are also expected to make a run at their former Pro Bowl cornerback, and the Chiefs are also planning to jump into the fray.
But guess who was coaching Revis, 29, when he was making all the Pro Bowls with the Jets? He made three of his six when Pettine was his defensive coordinator in the four years from 2009-12.
In addition to Pettine, current Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil was Revis' assistant defensive backs coach from 2010-12 and the two have a great relationship. Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton also was on that Jets defensive staff.
It's the second straight year the Browns are going after Revis (5-11, 198). They tried to trade for him last year when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Bucs released him instead, and the Patriots scooped him immediately up for a two-year deal worth $32 million, including the $20 million option.
Revis played for only $12 million, which was $1 million less than what the Bucs were set to pay him, but he earned the first Super Bowl victory of his career when the Patriots defeated the Seahawks, 28-24 on Feb. 1.
So why would the Browns break the bank and pay Revis the $12 million or so a year he'll probably make? For starters, the Browns are set to lose cornerback Buster Skrine, who will hit the market at 4 p.m. and could earn $6 million a year.
What's more, they have no idea what they'll get out of No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, who had what teammates described as "wasted year'' in 2014.
Pettine is optimistic that Gilbert will be better in 2015, but will he be good enough to start on a regular basis?
If the Browns land the former No. 14 overall pick of the Jets in 2007, they'd have arguably the best cornerback tandem in the NFL with the six-time Pro Bowler and fellow first-round pick Joe Haden. If they invest in Revis and Gilbert lives up to his draft status, they'd have a power-packed all-first-round defensive backfield, one that would enable Pettine to run his press man-cover scheme effectively.
Of course, it won't be easy to land Revis Island, especially after he finally got a taste of the Super Bowl.
But Pettine is a great recruiter, and the Browns have plenty of cap space -- almost $50 million -- to spend when the free agency bell rings at 4 p.m. today.
Akron RubberDucks held mascot tryouts. Prospective Orbits and Websters hammed it up for judges.
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AKRON, Ohio -- A star might have been born Tuesday night at Canal Park, as the Akron RubberDucks held mascot tryouts.
If not a star, maybe a ham.
The Class AA team is seeking to fill three mascot positions -- Orbit, Homer and Webster. Orbit is the veteran of the group. Homer, an inflatable, came around in 2011, and Webster is the newbie, coming into being last year.
"We're looking for one person to stay as that (particular) mascot all year," said promotions coordinator Christina Urycki. "The performer becomes that personality."
Being that personality pays $35 a game. Furry costumes are brutal in the summertime, and the team keeps a five-gallon cooler of water filled for them.
Homer is the challenge, Urycki said: "The feet are large and difficult to go up and down stairs."
The three who performed last year have moved on: One is with the Indians in another mascot role; one is in the police academy, and the third has a job, Urycki said.
A small handful of candidates sauntered in costume, prancing, acting, dancing and jumping in the RubberDucks' home locker room. Judges evaluated them in five areas:
Props: Wannabees chose from a handful of props to use for a purpose they were not intended for. One turned a guitar into a horse. Another used a milk carton as a hat.
Emotion: Candidates had to show a range of feelings.
Scenarios: Prospects had to act out a situation given to them, like "you're walking 10 dogs and three get loose."
Interaction: How does a mascot interact with fans, especially one that isn't in the mood to get up and cheer?
Dance: Candidates had to show their best moves.
The team is expected to make its decisions soon; the home opener is less than a month away, Thursday, April 9, against Binghamton.
"Good mascots, though, you know 'em when you see 'em," said Adam Liberman, director of public and media relations.
We offer five facts about the Zamboni, from history to its use. (Can you get a DUI driving a Zamboni?)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five facts about the Zamboni, from history to its use:
1. It's American!
The logical assumption is that the Zamboni is a Canadian invention. But its roots are in Southern California. Utah native Frank Zamboni, born in 1901, moved to Southern California at age 21. Like many inventions, his machine came about as necessity for his job. What started as an auto-repair business morphed into electrical service and refrigeration. The family eventually expanded into recreational ice rinks. Zamboni needed to find a way to refurbish the surface, which meant scraping, collecting and spraying the ice with a new layer. And it had to be done quickly.
2. Early uses
Zamboni's trial and error involved an early model of a tractor. He patented his machine in 1949. The Boston Bruins were the first NHL team to use a Zamboni, in 1954. The first time the machine was used in the Olympics was in 1960 in Squaw Valley, California.
3. Incredibly efficient
According to nhl.com, Zamboni's invention "turned a three-man, 90-minute endeavor into a one-man, 10-minute job." Zambonis can be powered through different fuel sources; the ones at the Q in Cleveland are propane-driven and are the most popular models used.
4. Production
Zamboni's vision clearly was meant for recreational rink surfaces. In 1949, the year he earned his patent for an ice resurfacer, only the Original Six NHL teams were competing. Today there are 30 teams, including seven in Canada and three in California, where Zamboni worked on his early prototypes. The company produces 200-250 machines annually.
* There were at least a couple of listings for used Zambonis for sale recently on eBay. Asking price was around $30,000.
* How fast can it go? Zamboni.com reports that in April 2005, Road & Track magazine's 'road test' on the Zamboni Model 500 "determined the machine's top speed to be 9.7 mph and that the machine would go from 0 to a quarter mile in 93.5 seconds.
* The company's slogan? "Nothing else is even close."
What's it take to keep a Zamboni running? At The Q, a special team keeps the ice-resurfacing machine rolling smoothly.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tommy Thomas makes only right turns, and he's not a NASCAR driver. He is one of a handful of people who drives the Zamboni at The Q, cleaning and smoothing the ice surface.
In a way, the lanky Thomas' job is all about science.
Running smoothly
The Zamboni's job is a simple but important one: It erases the cuts, the divots, the stop-on-a-dime nicks and gashes ice surfaces have to endure after a 20-minute period of hockey.
View full sizeTommy Thomas checks out Zamboni blades that are stored at the Q in a garage area where a pair of the ice-resurfacing machines are kept. Marc Bona, Northeast Ohio Media Group
The Q owns a pair of the boxy vehicles, which can cost $100,000 or more each. Two models sit snug in their own little garage space in an equipment area, not far from the rink. The propane-fueled Zamboni can reach speeds equivalent to 35-45 mph. It's basically a water tank on wheels.
While those of us with a lawn mower or snow blower have basic maintenance to contend with, it's a bit more involved with a Zamboni. The ice machine has 10 spots that must be greased twice a month to keep them running. One broke temporarily a couple of years ago because of a hydraulic hose problem, Thomas said.
There's no formal license certifications or training. It's a learn-from-the-guy-before-you approach for the Q's drivers -- Thomas, Dave Wigley, Richard Smart and Adrian Miller. Twice a month, Lonnie King of North Olmsted changes the blades, which are sent out for sharpening. He checks for leaks, keeps the Zamboni running smoothly. And smoothly is the name of the game.
Getting ice prepared is much more involved and scientific compared to prepping a basketball court.
"In basketball all you do is mop the floor," Thomas said. "Hockey is different. It's very important to me; this is one of the most important things I do. The coaches don't want their players to get hurt."
"I try to take pride in it."
Thomas, from Akron, is building crews manager. He works on everything from setting up banquet areas to getting glass installed for hockey. He has worked for 30 years, dating back to the Coliseum in Richfield.
"One time in the Coliseum the machine went down," he said. "We had to go around with buckets of water to squeegee."
How it works
What a Zamboni does is clean and replenish the ice through different "cuts."
The first step is to make sure the ice is clear of objects -- namely, pucks. A stray puck that gets caught in the Zamboni can stick in the mechanism, and "it's tough to get them out," Thomas said. After a morning practice as many as three dozen pucks can be scattered throughout the ice. Lake Erie Monsters coaches shoot them to the side to be cleared.
"We always try to keep an eye out for loose pucks," Thomas said.
Thomas rumbles the machine out of its home and turns into the open ice. He drives a circuit to get loose debris and ice pieces off the edges. This "dry cut" is where the mop is lifted and dirt -- including blood -- is scraped off the surface. For a "wash-water cut" the mop is put down and wash water is turned on. A "regular cut" is where wash and ice water go at same time.
Two key differences in the water used is temperature and force.
"Ice-making water is hot; wash water is cold. Hot water makes better ice," Thomas said. Wash water shoots out while ice-making water trickles.
Without a Zamboni, the ice would be "lumpy," he said. And dangerous. Even a peanut shell on the ice can throw a skater's stride and cause serious injury, Thomas said.
The Zamboni holds 150 gallons of ice-making water, less for wash water. It's city water but it must go through a softening system that is positioned adjacent to where the Zambonis are stored. Without filtration, Thomas said, "the water won't freeze right."
For game days, a Zamboni driver must go through this routine three times: after morning skate and between periods, which take about 8 to 10 minutes of the 20- minute intermission.
On the ice, the lanky Thomas does more than slowly hold the wheel to the right. He constantly shifts for different functions, alternating the water spray. Off the ice, immediately after a run, water is sprayed to flush out the collected ice. Thomas said he couldn't gauge the exact amount, but the pile that the Zamboni dumps is enough to make a snowman or two.
"Makes for good snowballs," he said.
The other part of the job involves workers taking ice measurements. If the thickness is off, the ice has to be replenished. It takes 13,000 gallons of water to create an inch of rink ice, which has to be laid perfectly even.
"You're gonna ride with a good driver," he said. "I'm going to put the pedal to the metal." In fact, it was steady, smooth and left no trace of old ice behind.
With so much parity among the final eight teams in the 2015 MAC Tournament field, look for some surprises, including some impressive individual play from underclassmen.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are four things I think are possible over the next few days at the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
1. At least one, and perhaps more, of the top four men's seeds are going to lose their first game at Quicken Loans Arena. The combination of a long layoff for the top four seed and playing a hot team already comfortable playing at The Q, with the parity of the field will likely be too much to overcome.
2. The overall level of individual talent, most of it underclassmen, will be a surprise to the casual fan watching MAC play for the first time this season. Junior Chris Fowler for Central Michigan, junior Justin Moss for Buffalo, junior Nathan Boothe for Toledo, sophomore Raven Lee at Eastern Michigan, sophomore Jimmy Hall at Kent State, sophomore Tucker Haymon at Western Michigan, and freshman Lamonte Bearden at Buffalo are just a few to keep an eye on.
3. While league parity has been the benchmark for conference play this season, look for at least one game to become a blowout in tournament play. Several teams are heavily reliant on 3-point production for success. A hot game by one will make for an easy night against someone, while a cold performance could lead to an embarrassing exit.
4. The perfect storm for Friday night's semifinals would lead to two of the biggest rivalries in the league playing on the neutral court. That would be a Bowling Green vs. Toledo matchup in the first semifinal, followed by an Akron vs. Kent State matchup in the second. BG-Toledo, since they play in opposite divisions, will only be the second game between the two teams this season. KSU-Akron will be the third. Toledo hosted and won the first BG game, KSU-Akron split a pair.
What's your take? Share your thoughts on the 2015 MAC Tournament in the comments below.
Check out OHSAA playoff brackets for boys basketball 2015.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The boys basketball playoffs continue throughout Ohio this week and here's one place to follow every round with division-by-division interactive brackets.
See below for links to 64 updated and printable brackets for the 2015 OHSAA boys basketball sectional/district tournaments.
Click the links to access cleveland.com's brackets, which include seeds, dates, times and locations.
The brackets also are interactive. Click on the game to see more about the matchup, particularly after games involving a local team have been played.
These brackets will be updated daily from all the playoff games across the state. Come back often to follow all the postseason action, including new brackets at the regional and state final four levels.
Brackets are a small part of daily playoffs coverage on cleveland.com. Visit the boys basketball webpage for the latest news, features, game stories, pictures, videos and more.
Click each link below to see a cleveland.com bracket of that sectional/district tournament.
Both teams are in action this week for the postseason.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With one of the boys basketball playoffs down, it's only the best teams that have survived so far. Now the real heavyweight matchups begin in the march towards Columbus.
Joining us on the podcast is Brunswick coach Joe Mackey. His team plays a highly-anticipated game against Lorain on Wednesday night in what is probably the area's best district final. He discussed how his team approached the game.
Also joining will be Lakewood coach Phil Argento. His Rangers are ready to play St. Edward in a game that will surely have the emotions going. Lakewood is no stranger to playoff upsets under Argento.
Also, in today's installment of the podcast, Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters David Cassilo, Mark Kern and Tim Bielik will be guiding you through what has happened so far this week and gets you set for a big week ahead in boys basketball.
We want you the fans and people connected to the teams to be part of the podcast, too. Each segment features opportunities for listeners to participate in the podcast, either by sharing their take and asking questions they have in the comments section below or on Twitter (be sure to use the #NEOvarsity hashtag). You can ask your questions and share your thoughts on last week's game now or live during the podcast.
See which double-digit seeds have crashed the playoff party.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Not everything is easy to predict in March. After the first week of the boys basketball postseason, six double-digit seeds are still alive in Division I. Now they are all two wins away from the regional tournament.
Will any keep it going? Check out how these teams got on their run and what it will take to keep it going.
How they did it: The Tarblooders are a young team being carried by senior point guard Roy Hatchett, who refuses to play his final game. He's averaging 19 points per game in the poseason.
What's next: No. 2 Garfield Heights.
Can they continue it: In terms of talent, Glenville isn't far away from Garfiend Heights, but the difference is that the Tarblooders are less polished talent. Garfield Heights is deep and tough, but Glenville has a small chance if it can keep the turnovers low.
Who they beat: No. 8 Louisville, No. 22 Canton McKinley.
How they did it: In both games, Highland used strong second halves to push towards a victory. Against Louisville, the Hornets had a 17-2 run in the third quarter and never trailed again.
What's next: No. 1 Massillon Jackson.
Can they continue it: Highland has its hands full, but it might have the best player on the floor in senior Brogan Scott. If he is on, anything is possible, but the Hornets will need to play their best game of the season to advance.
How they did it: The Rangers, which have earned the reputation of a team you don't want to play in March, had a convincing 15-point road win over Normandy. With two opponents held under 60 points, the defense might be at its best of the season.
What's next: No. 2 St. Edward.
Can they continue it: Lakewood will need to hope the adrenaline of the rivalry works in its favor and leads to a sharp 3-point shooting night. Upset chances are low, but will increase if the Rangers can neutralize the disadvantage in the frontcourt.
Who they beat: No. 11 Madison, No. 15 Eastlake North.
How they did it: A layup with 1.4 seconds to play by senior LaQuan Taylor kept the Maple Heights season alive against Madison. The team overcame 36 points from Jordan McClure.
What's next: No. 1 Shaker Heights.
Can they continue it: Maple Heights squeaked into the district semifinal, but it will likely need to play its best game and then some to beat Shaker Heights. Finding a way to slow Esa Ahmad is priority No.1.
Who they beat: No. 7 Hudson, No. 16 North Canton Hoover.
How they did it: After taking care of business at home, Medina used a dominant defensive effort for a 37-24 win over Hudson. The Bees only allowed 10 points in the second half.
What's next: No. 4 Canton Timken.
Can they continue it: Medina is battle-tested and finally has a little confidence. While Timken is a state title threat, the Bees have already played a handful of those teams. Expect Medina to keep this close and maybe even win.
Who they beat: No. 8 North Olmsted, No. 10 Brecksville.
How they did it: Two road upsets have been keyed by senior Tanner Castora in the backcourt. He's averaging 19 points per game in the postseason.
What's next: No. 3 St. Ignatius.
Can they continue it: Even with the injury to Dre'Mont Jones for St. Ignatius, a win on Thursday is a tall task for Strongsville. Still, the Wildcats struggled with Avon and that suggests they might be ripe for an upset.
Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag.
Buffalo's junior forward Justin Moss gets Mid-American Conference Player of the Year honors for 2015; CMU's Keno Davis is top MAC coach.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a vote that wasn't close, Buffalo's Justin Moss was named the Player of the Year in the Mid-American Conference, the league announced Wednesday. The 6-7 Moss, a junior from Detroit who has overcome a heart condition, led the Bulls to the No. 2 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament as he averaged 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds on the season.
Also honored by a vote of media members selected by the conference from across the league are Central Michigan's Keno Davis as MAC Coach of the year. Davis led the young Chippewas to the No. 1 seed in the tournament as CMU was the only team in the league that never lost two straight games over the course of the season.
Davis, a former national Coach of the Year (2008) at Drake, is in his third season at Central Michigan. Davis was selected ahead of first-year coach Chris Jans at Bowling Green and fourth-year coach Rob Senderoff at Kent State.
In the Player of the Year voting Moss, who began is college career in the MAC with the Toledo Rockets, easily earned the top honor ahead of Central Michigan junior guard Chris Fowler, and Toledo's senior guard Julius (Juice) Brown.
MAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year (Votes in parenthesis) Justin Moss, Buffalo, Forward, Jr. (21) Chris Fowler, Central Michigan, Guard, Jr. (3) Richaun Holmes, Bowling Green, Forward, Sr. (2) Julius "Juice" Brown, Toledo, Guard, Sr. (1)
MAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year Keno Davis, Central Michigan (21) Chris Jans, Bowling Green (3) Rob Senderoff,, Kent State (3)
Where: The Ohio State University, Value City Arena, 555 Borror Dr., Columbus.
Tickets: Single-session ($15) and all-session ($55-$75) tickets can be ordered through Ticketmaster.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000.
If you can’t go: The Northeast Ohio Media Group high school sports staff will provide coverage of all three days of the tournament. That includes live updates, photos, videos and stories on cleveland.com. Watch for live update posts, as well as division-by-division recaps after each session.
Division III by the numbers
56 – Wins by Dayton Christian’s David Carr (138) and Waynedale’s Reid Stanley (145), the most of any wrestlers in any division.
24 – Losses by Bishop Hartley’s Zach Bowman (152), the most by any wrestler in any division. He is 25-24.
9 – State qualifiers for Dayton Christian and Delta, the most in Division III.
4 – Undefeated wrestlers in Division III, including Kirtland’s Clayton Davidson (160).
3 – Returning state-placers from Northeast Ohio in Division III.
How we got here: Check out our coverage of last week’s Division III district tournament:
Joey Bowen, Manchester, Jr. (113): Bowen moved up a weight class this season and hopes that leads to a move up the awards podium. He finished seventh at 106 the last two seasons.
Stan Bleich, Elyria Catholic, So. (126): Bleich opened eyes last season by entering state as a district champion, but went 1-2. He’s up two weight classes this season.
Tim Mecklenburg, Lutheran West, Sr. (132): A two-time state qualifier, Mecklenburg was fourth at 126 last season. He hopes to beat teammate James Handwerk in the race to become Lutheran West’s first state champion.
Clayton Davidson, Kirtland, Sr. (160): While teammate Evan Francis (145) is a three-time state qualifier, Davidson has the distinction of entering state undefeated (45-0) in his second trip.
James Handwerk, Lutheran West, So. (170): Handwerk was a district scratch due to injury last season, but is now a favorite to win his weight class. He set a school record for takedowns in a match (18) this season. (See Handwerk win the Medina Invitational Tournament earlier this season.)
The weight class you want to follow: The 126-pound weight class features two-time state champion Garrett Hancock of Troy Christian along with a wrestler who was runner-up at 106 (Hunter Bray, Dayton Christian) and another who was third at 120 (Evan Cheek, Edison). Both Bray and Cheek are two-time placers who haven’t finished below fourth.
Locals in the bracket include Bleich, Cuyahoga Height’s Trey Combs, Garrettsville Garfield’s Logan Kissell and Rootstown’s Seth Hayes.
Don’t miss this guy – David Carr, Dayton Christian, Fr. (138): If you do miss him, don’t worry. He’ll likely be wrestling for state titles the next few years. Carr is a transfer from Kentucky, where he won a high school state title last season as an eighth grader. He is 56-2 this season, and one of only two freshman ranked in the Top 20 nationally at 138 by InterMatWrestle.com. He defeated Division I defending state champion Richie Screptock of Oregon Clay earlier this season.
And the team trophies will go to …
The favorites: Dayton Christian and Delta are likely to battle to the finish for the team title. Both have eight state qualifiers and should each have a few state champions. Delta won last season, and was runner-up in 2013. Dayton Christian was runner-up last season, and third in 2013.
The challenger: None.
The dark horse: With five state qualifiers, Edison isn’t likely to challenge the favorites, but the Chargers do have two potential state champions, one of which is Keystone transfer Jacob Worthington (195).
Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOVarsity and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Where: The Ohio State University, Value City Arena, 555 Borror Dr., Columbus.
Tickets: Single-session ($15) and all-session ($55-$75) tickets can be ordered through Ticketmaster.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000.
If you can’t go: The Northeast Ohio Media Group high school sports staff will provide coverage of all three days of the tournament. That includes live updates, photos, videos and stories on cleveland.com. Watch for live update posts, as well as division-by-division recaps after each session.
Division I by the numbers
16 – Freshman state qualifiers in Division I, including two from Elyria – Josh Breeding (106), Brendon Fenton (113).
9 – State qualifiers for Brecksville, the most in Division I.
4 – Defending state champions in Division I, including Wadsworth’s Noah Baughman (113) and Walsh Jesuit’s Alex Mackall (120).
2 – Wrestlers in Division I with at least 50 wins entering the state tournament, including Avon ‘s 51-win Travis Leopold (160).
1 – Division I wrestler from Northeast Ohio trying to become a four-time state-placer: Brecksville’s Austin Assad (126).
How we got here: Check out our coverage of last week’s Division I district tournaments:
Austin Assad, Brecksville, Sr. (126): Not only is Assad trying to become a four-time state placer, he’s trying to finish in the top three for the fourth time. A state runner-up his first two seasons, Assad was third last year.
Noah Baughman, Wadsworth, Jr. (113): Baughman won last season’s Division I state title at 106, and is a favorite to add another title. He already has wins against two of his top challengers - Central Crossing’s Jaden Mattox, and St. Edward’s Alan Hart. (Watch video of Baughman vs. Mattox from the Medina Invitational Tournament finals earlier this season.)
Ben Darmstadt, Elyria, Jr. (182): Darmstadt was Division I state runner-up last season at 152. He has won every postseason match he’s wrestled so far by pin, including four sectional matches in a total time of 2:16.
L.J. Bentley, St. Edward, Sr. (126): Bentley is one win from being a four-time state qualifier. A state alternate finish as a sophomore was his only miss. He finished fourth at 113 last season.
Alex Mackall, Walsh Jesuit, Jr. (120): Mackall is the reigning 120-pound state champ. He missed much of the offseason after injuring an elbow in the final moments of last season’s state final. He was seventh at 106 as a freshman.
Kevin Vough, Elyria, So. (285): Vough was third in the state at 285 last season. He became Elyria’s first Walsh Jesuit Ironman champion earlier this season, and enters the state tournament undefeated.
The weight class you want to watch: For drama and good backstory, 126 pounds is the weight class to watch. Assad is considered by many to be the favorite. He has beat both Massillon Perry’s Jose Rodriguez (2014 runner-up, 2013 champ) and Bentley in tense matches this season. Bentley and Assad are on the same side of the bracket this weekend, along with Pickerington North’s Shakur Laney, who was fifth last season. Rodriguez’s half of the bracket includes Brunswick’s Garrett Lambert, eighth at 113 last season and just 7-1 this season due to injury.
Other locals in the bracket include Green returning state qualifier Noah Schaub, Lorain’s Xae’vier Edwards and Maple Heights’ Andre Stowers.
Don’t miss this guy - Richie Screptock, Oregon Clay, Sr. (138): He was state champion at 132 last season, defeating Brunswick’s Nick Kiussis in the final. His only losses this season have been to the defending Division II state champion and Dayton Christian freshman David Carr, who won a Kentucky state title last season as an eighth grader. Screptock won a rematch with Kiussis last week in the Cleveland State district final, winning by pin in 1:37.
And the team trophies will go to …
The favorite: St. Edward has eight state qualifiers and has been a popular pick to win the team title this season. They missed out on a top-two finish last season for the first time since 1993. The Eagles feature four wrestlers – Alan Hart (113), Bentley (126), Hunter Ladnier (132) and Parker Knapp (220) – who wouldn’t surprise anybody by reaching the state finals Saturday.
The challengers: Brecksville (9 state qualifiers), Elyria (8) and Massillon Perry (7) are expected to create a crowded team race with St. Edward. The Bees have the most qualifiers in Division I, including five with state experience. Elyria is riding a historic season and has two anticipated champs in Darmstadt and Vough. Massillon Perry, while not as deep as last year when it won the team title for the first time, features three returning state runners-up.
The dark horse: Wadsworth has five state qualifiers, which makes a run at a trophy tough. But with serious title contenders in Baughman (113), Shane Mast (160) and Tim Knipl (170), the Grizzlies have the ingredients for a special weekend.
Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOVarsity and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Where: Ohio State University, Value City Arena, 555 Borror Dr., Columbus.
Tickets: Single-session ($15) and all-session ($55-$75) tickets can be ordered through Ticketmaster.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000.
If you can’t go: The Northeast Ohio Media Group high school sports staff will provide coverage of all three days of the tournament. That includes live updates, photos, videos and stories on cleveland.com. Watch for live update posts, as well as division-by-division recaps after each session.
Division II by the numbers
22 – Freshman state qualifiers in Division II, including two from Lake Catholic – Hunter Ryan (106), Kevon Freeman (120).
16 – Losses by Archbishop Hoban’s Owen Mellon (170), one of four wrestlers in Division II with that many defeats.
13 – State qualifiers for 14-time state team champion St. Paris Graham.
6 – Undefeated wrestlers in Division II, including Crestwood’s Nick Wrobel (138).
6 – State qualifiers for St. Vincent- St. Mary, the most in Division II by a Northeast Ohio school.
How we got here: Check out our coverage of last week’s Division II district tournaments:
Tony DeCesare, Padua, Jr. (113): DeCesare is looking for a third straight trip to the awards podium. At 106 the last two years, he was sixth as a freshman (with Nordonia) and runner-up last season.
Nick Wrobel, Crestwood, Sr. (138): Wrobel is one of just six undefeated wrestlers in Division II. He finished seventh at 145 last season. A state title for Wrobel would be Crestwood’s second since 1994.
Kyle Kaminski, Padua, Sr. (145): Kaminski is a two-time state-placer, having finished fifth at 138 the past two seasons. He passed 150 career wins earlier this season.
Zeck Lehman, Revere, Sr. (182): Lehman is a two-time state qualifier who finished third at 170 last season. He lost his first-round match before winning five straight in the consolation bracket.
Kyle Kremiller, Perry, Sr. (195): Kremiller is a Rutgers recruit who is making his second trip to state. He reached the semifinals last season before eventually finishing fourth, also at 195.
Dre’k Brumley, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Sr. (220): Brumley is a four-time state qualifier. He’s also a two-time state-placer, having finished seventh at 285 and eighth at 220.
The weight class you want to follow: The 126-pound weight class features seven returning state-placers, led by St Paris Graham’s Eli Seipel, a state champ two years ago. The bracket also features Wauseon freshman Sandro Ramirez, a district champ who was a junior high state champ last season, and state runner-up Cole Woods of West Holmes.
Locals in the bracket include two-time state-placer Cory Simpson of Field, state-placer Paul Petras of Padua, and St. Vincent-St. Mary’s John Chell.
Don’t miss this guy – Alex Marinelli, St. Paris Graham, Jr. (160): Nobody will win a fourth state title this season, but two-time champion Marinelli seems like a good bet to win a fourth next season. He enters state at 50-0 and is ranked No. 1 in the country at his weight by InterMatWrestle.com.
And the team trophies will go to …
The favorite: St. Paris Graham is as overwhelming a favorite as you’ll find. With 13 state qualifiers and a handful of individual state title favorites, the Falcons seem destined to win their 15th consecutive team title.
The challenger: Truthfully, nobody will challenge St. Paris Graham, but the favorite to win the runner-up trophy is probably Toledo Central Catholic, which has eight state qualifiers and a couple likely state finalists.
The dark horse: Lexington is a dark horse to even finish runner-up, but has five state qualifiers, including two state title contenders.
Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOVarsity and tag your related Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Listen live to the Garfield Heights district final on Friday night.
Cleveland.com's live coverage of high school basketball continues on Friday night. We will have a live, audio webcast of the Garfield Heights district final between Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Beachwood. The Vikings are attempting to win their third consecutive Garfield Heights district and their second in a row in Division III. Beachwood is trying to advance to the regionals for second time in three seasons.
Chris Fedor and I will have the call of the game beginning at 7:00 p.m. Our pregame coverage begins with the OHSAA Tournament Tip-off Show at 6:30 p.m. Come back to the game box score on Friday night to listen to the game live.
The Cleveland Browns are reportedly interested in free-agent cornerback Brandon Browner if he doesn't sign with the Saints or Redskins.
Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are interested in free-agent cornerback Brandon Browner, who played for the Patriots last season, a league source confirmed for Northeast Ohio Media Group.
A four-year NFL veteran, Browner hit the market on Tuesday when the Patriots opted not to pay him a $2 million roster bonus.
He's in New Orleans visiting the Saints today and has a visit lined up next with the Washington Redskins, according to profootballtalk.com. The site also first reported that the Ravens, Jaguars and Browns are interested.
The Browns, who inquired Tuesday about cornerback Darrelle Revis before he signed a blockbuster five-year, $70 million deal with the Jets, are in the market for cornerback depth after losing starter Buster Skrine to the Jets. The Browns will also host former 49ers starting cornerback Perrish Cox on Thursday.
Browner, 30, who spent four years playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League before getting his NFL career off the ground, started nine games for the Patriots last season, making 26 tackles, intercepting one pass and breaking up seven others.
He was suspended for the first four games of 2014 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, but returned to make an impact during the Patriots' championship season.
Browner (6-4, 221 pounds) was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2005 out of Oregon State, but broke his arm and sat out the season. He was released the following year and then headed to Canada for a stellar career with the Stampeders.
In 2011, he signed with the Seahawks, and started every game that season, notching 51 tackles and a team-high six interceptions, including five in the last six games to earn Pro Bowl honors.
In 2012, he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, but started the final 12 games of the season, recording three interceptions and 35 tackles.
In 2013, Browner missed four games with a groin injury and the final four after -- and the playoffs and Super Bowl -- after an indefinite NFL suspension that he fought and had reduced.
