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Look, no self-respecting Ohio State fan is going to be happy that Michigan won the National Championship. So was the headline a little too strong? Perhaps. But conference pride is a thing nowadays, and Buckeye fans might find themselves enjoying the fact that a Big Ten team won it all--at least a little bit. Aside from that, though, Michigan's win actually has some tangible benefits for Ohio State. Are we cheering for the Wolverines? Certainly not. But there are still plenty of reasons to be a little bit happy Michigan won it all.
Why does this matter? Because it changes how people think about the Big Ten. It had been over two-and-a-half decades since a Big Ten team took home the crown. The idea that the Big Ten can't do it weighs on recruits, and on donors. Who will shell out a massive NIL package if you can't win it all anyway? Who wants to come to a school if you think the ceiling is falling short? Would it have been better had that ceiling been shattered by Illinois instead of Michigan? Absolutely. But the ceiling is gone now, and everyone considering playing at Ohio State knows it. If Michigan can pull this off, so can the Buckeyes.
Buckeye fans I speak to are conflicted about whether Roddy Gayle Jr. is a traitor or still a Buckeye at heart. Sure, he transferred to our hated rival. But he had plenty of amazing things to say about Ohio State even after he left. More importantly, his success on an elite team just demonstrates that elite talent can be cultured in Columbus, too. Gayle honed his game as a Buckeye. Ohio State can point to that moving forward. Championship-caliber talent plays for Ohio State and succeeds.
[IMG alt="Feb. 10, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) sing Carmen Ohio following a 79-75 win over the Maryland Terrapins in double overtime on Saturday at Value City Arena."]https://media.zenfs.com/en/buckeyes...es_592/f47b2b8018c84e45f325bd702c60cfb2[/IMG]
Ohio State faced Michigan three times this season. The Buckeyes lost all three, but two of the three games were very competitive--including a game in the Big Ten Tournament that the Buckeyes should have arguably won. If the current roster could compete with the eventual champion in a tournament environment, then Ohio State already has a title-caliber staff and squad available. The Buckeyes just need to put it all together.
Plenty of college basketball fans love Dan Hurley. He's gracious off the court and relatively classy in defeat. But plenty hate him, because he is one of the more annoying on-court coaches. Is enjoying watching a coach you hate lose petty? Absolutely. But there's nothing wrong with a little bit of pettiness from sports fans, and it's fun to watch Hurley's teams lose. Again, would it have been better had he lost to Illinois? Sure. But it's still fun to watch him lose.
Is blaming the refs one of the more annoying things sports fans do? Absolutely. (Except for when it really was all the refs' fault, of course.) Does that change anything? Absolutely not. Michigan won the National Championship Game partly on the back of a lot of free throws and a huge foul disparity. Was the game called fairly? Honestly, it was (Hurley even said so postgame). But will it still be fun to annoy Michigan fans by telling them they only won because of the refs? Yes it will. Petty, annoying fun--which is perfectly okay when it annoys your biggest rivals.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: 5 reasons it's okay to be happy Michigan won the National Championship
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1. It ends the conference drought
Why does this matter? Because it changes how people think about the Big Ten. It had been over two-and-a-half decades since a Big Ten team took home the crown. The idea that the Big Ten can't do it weighs on recruits, and on donors. Who will shell out a massive NIL package if you can't win it all anyway? Who wants to come to a school if you think the ceiling is falling short? Would it have been better had that ceiling been shattered by Illinois instead of Michigan? Absolutely. But the ceiling is gone now, and everyone considering playing at Ohio State knows it. If Michigan can pull this off, so can the Buckeyes.
2. One of our players led the way
Buckeye fans I speak to are conflicted about whether Roddy Gayle Jr. is a traitor or still a Buckeye at heart. Sure, he transferred to our hated rival. But he had plenty of amazing things to say about Ohio State even after he left. More importantly, his success on an elite team just demonstrates that elite talent can be cultured in Columbus, too. Gayle honed his game as a Buckeye. Ohio State can point to that moving forward. Championship-caliber talent plays for Ohio State and succeeds.
[IMG alt="Feb. 10, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) sing Carmen Ohio following a 79-75 win over the Maryland Terrapins in double overtime on Saturday at Value City Arena."]https://media.zenfs.com/en/buckeyes...es_592/f47b2b8018c84e45f325bd702c60cfb2[/IMG]
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3. The Buckeyes played this team tough
Ohio State faced Michigan three times this season. The Buckeyes lost all three, but two of the three games were very competitive--including a game in the Big Ten Tournament that the Buckeyes should have arguably won. If the current roster could compete with the eventual champion in a tournament environment, then Ohio State already has a title-caliber staff and squad available. The Buckeyes just need to put it all together.
4. It's okay to hate Dan Hurley, too
Plenty of college basketball fans love Dan Hurley. He's gracious off the court and relatively classy in defeat. But plenty hate him, because he is one of the more annoying on-court coaches. Is enjoying watching a coach you hate lose petty? Absolutely. But there's nothing wrong with a little bit of pettiness from sports fans, and it's fun to watch Hurley's teams lose. Again, would it have been better had he lost to Illinois? Sure. But it's still fun to watch him lose.
5. Blame the refs
Is blaming the refs one of the more annoying things sports fans do? Absolutely. (Except for when it really was all the refs' fault, of course.) Does that change anything? Absolutely not. Michigan won the National Championship Game partly on the back of a lot of free throws and a huge foul disparity. Was the game called fairly? Honestly, it was (Hurley even said so postgame). But will it still be fun to annoy Michigan fans by telling them they only won because of the refs? Yes it will. Petty, annoying fun--which is perfectly okay when it annoys your biggest rivals.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: 5 reasons it's okay to be happy Michigan won the National Championship
Continue reading...
