NFL
By: Nick Andre
The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the most dangerous teams in the Big 10 Conference. As they continue to compete with the likes of Iowa, Indiana, and many others, the Buckeyes have had their share of success as they are an excitement to watch on both ends. There’s a lot to be optimistic about Ohio State both this season and for the future. One of their biggest standouts continues to be freshman sensation, Cotie McMahon.
Who is McMahon?
Cotie McMahon is a player who plays with a lot of passion on the floor. She takes pride in her work and looks to display her versatility every time she steps on the floor. McMahon’s journey is unique as she displayed a phenomenal career at Centerville High School. During her three seasons, she scored over 1,000 points during her junior year while ranking as one of the top 25 players in her graduating class.
In her first season with the Buckeyes, McMahon has not disappointed. She continues to be a spark on offense while also providing great defense as well. On offense, McMahon is a terrific finisher around the rim. She shows the ability to establish positioning in the post while using her size and footwork for an easy finish. Also, she has the ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays. On several occasions, McMahon has provided point guard instincts. She understands how impactful her play is to the team and the coaching staff has allowed her to show her capabilities on the floor.
Performance This Season
Through 26 games this season, McMahon is averaging 14 points per game along with 4.3 rebounds on 51 percent shooting. Throughout the season, she has shown to be a great compliment alongside Taylor Mikesell and other great talents in the rotation. Plus, with key players out for a few gamesMcMahon showed that she can take responsibility and become one of the top options offensively. McMahon has produced big offensive performances so far that have led Ohio State to big wins.
First, there was McMahon’s breakout performance against South Florida in December. Early in the contest, the team made an effort to get her going offensively. Also, McMahon was showing her skill set of ball handling and driving ability to find easy opportunities at the basket. The exciting part of this contest was the attention that Cotie McMahon drew from the opposing team. Her ability to split double teams was amazing to watch. In the end, McMahon finished the contest with 30 points on 10/18 shooting, leading the charge to an overtime win for Ohio State.
Another contest where McMahon performed well was in the Buckeyes’ recent home matchup against Indiana. Every team and fan gets up for this contest. Being a conference rival, Ohio State wanted to come out on top and the team needed to take this matchup seriously. Playing against an elite defensive team, it was great to watch Cotie McMahon continue to fight through and create easy baskets around the rim. She continued to use her quickness and terrific body control to make her way to the rim. Unfortunately, Ohio State wasn’t able to slow down the terrific ball movement of the Hoosiers. Despite McMahon delivering 22 points on 69 percent shooting, Indiana came out on top on the road.
McMahon is a Player of the Future
As the season progresses, Cotie McMahon continues to thrive as a talent. She continues to be a freshman standout as she’s been awarded freshman of the week five times this season. To be fair, her play speaks for itself. McMahon’s size, strength, athleticism, and IQ on both ends make her a matchup nightmare. Once she develops more consistency from the perimeter, she will likely emerge as one of the top players in the country.
As the season winds down, fans should continue to keep an eye out for Cotie McMahon. The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to be one of the more exciting teams in the Big Ten and could pull some strings when the Conference Tournament begins. However, McMahon is one of the key players for the future of Ohio State. As she continues to gain experience at the college level, her game will become more polished along the journey.
