Hey Bill and Doug subscribers, it’s Nick the intern again with another newsletter. After shifting gears a bit last week to cover the Ohio State men’s basketball team in the NCAA Tournament, Bill and Doug will be back at spring football practice this week. Here’s where I will outline every podcast and article from last week, sharing my personal picks and favorites, so you don’t miss any Bill and Doug content.
A reminder about our spring subscription sale: Get premier Ohio State football coverage year-round! To celebrate spring ball and the spring game on April 18, you can get 18% off an annual subscription.
Subscribe here: billanddougosu.substack.com/spring18
The Buckeye football team was off last week for spring break. They’ll be back on the practice field this week. Bill and Doug will be there Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for interviews with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and new receivers coach Cortez Hankton; plus a handful of players, including Jeremiah Smith. They’ll also have coverage from Wednesday’s Pro Day, where Ohio State’s draft hopefuls will work out for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts.
Last week, Bill traveled to South Carolina to cover the basketball Buckeyes. He had his finger on the pulse of this team and shared great insights all week. He had access to players and coaches before and after the Buckeyes’ loss to TCU.
Bill and Doug also held their monthly Zoom call with BAD tier subscribers last week. It was a great time! We did a draft of Buckeyes who have been drafted to the NFL since Ryan Day has been the head coach. To upgrade to the BAD tier and get access to these exclusive Zoom calls, use this link: https://billanddougosu.substack.com/subscribe.
My article pick this week
Jake Diebler was the least qualified head coach in the NCAA Tournament -- was that a good sign or a bad one?
COLUMBUS — Jake Diebler was unlike any head coach in March Madness. That’s just a fact. Now we can debate whether that’s a good or bad thing.
Doug does a deep dive comparing Jake Diebler and his resume to the other head coaches in the NCAA Tournament. Doug isn’t saying that Diebler won’t become a great coach or that he should be fired, but rather that he shouldn’t have been hired in the first place.
My podcast pick this week
Should college football powers be good at men’s basketball? The definitive answer, plus Whatcha and play our bracket game! (Subscriber only)
Bill and Doug discuss what the basketball expectations should be for Ohio State and other football powerhouse schools. Is it reasonable to expect the Buckeyes to compete with schools that do not have football programs and can pour all of their resources into basketball? Then the guys do Whatcha, including spring mix salad, The Oscars, and March Madness brackets.
Other podcasts this week
Sunday Soundoff: Hardest Buckeye to replace, O-line strategy, inside the rosters of Ohio State’s toughest opponents and some Titus talk. Bill and Doug answer subscriber questions on the restart of spring practice, the most difficult Buckeyes to replace, some lingering hoops questions, and what Mark Titus said about Ohio State fans this week.
Ohio State basketball loses to TCU: NCAA Tournament reaction to Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes’ defeat. After the Buckeyes’ first-round loss to TCU, Bill and Doug discuss vibes and feelings from players and coaches after the loss. Then they break down the game itself and what led to the Buckeyes’ early tournament exit. They also look ahead to next year’s team, and talk about the Jake Diebler situation. (See the video at the top)
Ohio State vs. TCU NCAA Tournament picks, plus Final Four predictions. After previewing Ohio State’s first-round matchup, the guys give their final four and national championship picks.
Ohio State basketball in the NCAA Tournament: Bruce Thornton, Jake Diebler legacies, plus matchups. We get more Jake Diebler talk on this podcast. The guys also give Bruce Thornton his flowers and talk about how he will be remembered by fans.
Ohio State football natty or men’s basketball Sweet 16 -- which comes first? Around the Shoe. Steve Helwagen of Bucknuts and Blake Biscardi of The Silver Bulletin join Bill and Doug for Around the Shoe this week. After the first week of spring practice, they share their opinions on which position group is most interesting and which freshman will make the biggest impact in 2026. Then they talk some Ohio State basketball.
Other articles this week
Doug Rants: Ohio State football’s natty standard, a low over-under win total, Ryan Day wants structure and more. Doug shares some thoughts to get us back in football mode.
Covering Ohio State football: 10 thoughts and updates that may interest you. Speaking of football, the sports information structure at OSU has changed, which may impact how Bill and Doug get to cover the team. For now, things seem like they’ll still be pretty good.
Ohio State’s early tournament exit must be a lesson for everyone, including the head coach. Bill writes about the inexperience of Jake Diebler and how that played a role in the loss to TCU. From the short preparation window to in-game adjustments, Diebler needs to learn from this year’s shortcomings.
Bruce Thornton, Amare Bynum and passing the torch as Ohio State returns to the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jake Diebler compared freshman Amare Bynum to the experienced senior Bruce Thornton. Bill compares the two, pointing out similarities and differences. Whether Bynum elevates to Thornton’s level or not, anyone who watched Thursday’s game can see the passion, energy, and juice he brings to the court.
Nick The Intern™️ for the win