Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State women aiming high in season with shot at making history
It’s not hyperbole to state that last season was unlike any other in the lives of the members of the Ohio State women’s basketball team.
When the Buckeyes bounced UConn in a Sweet 16 showdown in Seattle, it was more than a meaningful win against one of the sport’s standard-bearing programs or a statement about where Ohio State could fit in that picture. The win pushed the Buckeyes into the Elite Eight for the first time since the 1992-93 season and officially ushered in a new era of expectations.
No member of the 2022-23 Buckeyes were alive the last time that happened. Coach Kevin McGuff was in graduate school at Miami (Ohio) and getting his toes wet with his first coaching job – a high school assistant role at Hamilton (Ohio) Badin. As the 2023-24 Buckeyes gathered inside the practice gym for last Tuesday’s first practice of the preseason, their goal was clear.
Don’t wait another three decades before knocking on the door the Final Four. The chance to get the Buckeyes to the final weekend for only the second time in program history was a primary reason Jacy Sheldon opted to take advantage of her extra COVID-19 year and return for a fifth season.
“Making that run last year, we had a really tight-knit group and I want to be a part of that again,” she said. “A lot of us are coming back. I wanted to chase that run again, chase that title.”
In order to get there, McGuff said he’s focused on two areas during the offseason: half-court defense and rebounding. The desire to improve in both facets, as well as the success the team experienced last year, allowed him to land veterans in the transfer portal who are expected to impact those two areas.
Both Celeste Taylor, last year’s ACC defensive player of the year at Duke, and Taiyier Parks, a four-year contributor at Michigan State, said the opportunity to be part of a winning culture and a competitive team were pivotal factors in their decisions to sign with Ohio State. Taylor is expected to assume a significant role in the team’s defense while the 6-3 Parks will add to the team’s depth in the paint and on the glass.
“The run that they had last season,” Parks said when asked what made the Buckeyes appealing to her. “I feel like our post group is very well-versed. It’ll be hard to guard us. Not a lot of teams have that deep (post position).”
Taylor and Parks both said they feel they have quickly assimilated into the program. Doing so would add to what Sheldon said about forging the same bonds that last year’s team experienced, and it’s something McGuff said figures to be an asset for this year’s Buckeyes.
“It was one of the closest teams we’ve ever had,” he said. “We fed off of that. With Jacy Sheldon’s leadership and Rikki Harris and people like that to lead the way, I think it’ll be another season where that’s a huge strength of ours.”
The preseason predictions indicate that the Buckeyes have a shot at making some history. The Athletic lists Ohio State as the No. 7 team in its preseason rankings, while ESPN has the Buckeyes fourth.
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So while last year’s team became the first in 30 years to play so deep into the NCAA Tournament, this year’s team has the chance to do something that’s never been done before: advance past the Sweet 16 in consecutive years.
As his press conference was drawing to a close, McGuff was asked a direct question: did he know where this year’s Final Four is to be played?
“Cleveland,” he immediately replied, a smile creasing his face.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: After deep March Madness run, Ohio State women aiming to make history
