Let’s face it, the women’s basketball teams under Jim Foster underachieved in the NCAA Tournament year after year and this last season not even making it caused him to be removed. You look back on Foster’s numbers and they were kind of impressive: winning the Big Ten regular season title six times and the B1G tournament title four times. He had a regular season record of 278-82 (136-46 in Big Ten). Foster, however, failed to make it past the Sweet Sixteen. Last season the Buckeyes finished 18-13, the first time in 11 seasons he failed to make tournament.

Ohio State was the top job open because one, it’s Ohio State and, two, top players do come here to play. Surprisingly the Buckeyes received a lot of “No Thanks” from potential coaches but one who was under a long term contract wanted the job. As he put it a “Dream Job”. Kevin McGuff was coaching at the University of Washington for the past two seasons before he accepted the head coaching position for the Buckeyes. McGuff said the only job he would have left Washington for was Ohio State and he jumped on the chance to come home. Kevin coached at Xavier for 9 years before he went to Washington. His record was 213-73 which was the most wins by any woman’s head coach there. The Musketeers made the postseason each of the 9 years under McGuff, last five being the NCAA tourney. The best year was 2010 where they lost in the Elite Eight by 2 points to Stanford.

Kevin McGuff won a National Championship as an assistant coach at Notre Dame in 2001. He knows what it takes to win and what kind of players he wants. McGuff has a bunch of positives going for him being the new head coach for the Buckeyes, have newly renovated practice gyms and weight rooms, once again it is Ohio State (honestly who needs more than that). The coach recently announced his team non conference schedule and the Buckeyes are playing the top teams, teams that have made the tournament and done well in it. He understands with Maryland (2006 NCAA Champs) and Rutgers (2007 NCAA Finals) coming into the league next season the Big Ten is going to become a powerhouse and he is poised to lead the Buckeyes in front of everyone.

The coaching staff has been busy on the recruiting trail and yesterday they received three commitments for the 2014 season. All three recruits are Ohio natives and two of them are twins. The twin sisters will be joining their dad who is one of the assistant coaches for the Buckeyes. Their father was the head coach at Taft before he joined the Buckeyes staff in May.

The Mitchell sisters, Kelsey and Chelsea are coming from Princeton High School in Cincinnati. Kelsey (5’7″) was named the Enquirer player of the year last two seasons, she is an elite point guard that is ranked number one overall and number one at her position by prospectnations.com. Kelsey is a lefty that can pass well, has the ability to create, has quick hands and can anticipate well, she isn’t a lock down defender but maybe Aaron Craft could help her. Chelsea (5’11”) is a forward that can shoot from long range (25%), solid rebounding and passes very well.

Alexa Hart (6’3″) comes from Afrcientric High School in Columbus. She is one of the top post players in the country. prospect nation has her ranked fifteenth overall and number two at her position. Hart is the best shot blocker in her class and has tremendous length in the paint.

The addition of these women is going to be great for the Buckeyes and it shows that coach McGuff and his staff is out there working hard and the results are starting to come in. The Ohio States Women’s Basketball team is about to be on the rise.