Ohio State Basketball: Notable Staff Additions and Upcoming Game Against Youngstown State

The Ohio State women’s basketball program has announced significant staff additions, enhancing the team’s coaching and development capabilities. Katie Smith, a legendary Buckeye and former player, has joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach. Smith, who graduated in 1996, had a stellar collegiate career, becoming the first freshman since Cheryl Miller to be honored as a Kodak All-American First Team member. She also holds the distinction of being the program’s all-time leading scorer for over a decade and currently ranks third in this category[1].

Jacy Sheldon, another notable addition, will serve as the director of player development. Sheldon, who recently completed her rookie season with the Dallas Wings after being the fifth pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, will focus on enhancing student-athlete growth both on and off the court. She will work closely with the coaching staff, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches to develop comprehensive player development plans. Sheldon’s role will also involve mentoring student-athletes to develop leadership skills, confidence, and a strong work ethic[1].

In other news, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is gearing up for their next game against the Youngstown State Penguins on Monday, November 11. The Buckeyes, who are currently 1-0 after a surprising 80-72 win over the Texas Longhorns in their season opener, are favored by 18.5 points. The game will be played at Value City Arena, with tipoff at 6:00 PM ET. Key players for Ohio State include Bruce Thornton, who had 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the win against Texas, and Micah Parrish, who contributed 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists[2][3][5].

Youngstown State, coming off a 80-60 victory against Chicago State, will look to their senior guard Nico Galette, who scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in their last game. Despite being underdogs, Youngstown State has a strong record against non-conference opponents, having won nine of their last 10 such games[2][3][5].