Why is this news?: Curtis Grant mentoring Raekwon McMillan, cost of Ohio State men's basketball trip to the Bahamas

"There's no tension between me and Curt. Me and Curt have had the utmost love for each other ever since I got here. People were expecting us to be going at it or what not, but it's utmost love for Curt. Everything he's done for me is truly a blessing. I couldn't ask for a better big brother."

-Ohio State freshman linebacker Raekwon McMillan

Expectations were high for top prospect Raekwon McMillan even before he stepped foot on campus in Columbus. While McMillan possesses the talent to excel on the football field, he has another former top linebacker prospect to mentor him, in senior Curtis Grant. Just four years ago Grant came to Ohio State as the second rated prospect in the country, according to Rivals, so he knows all about what it is like to deal with high expectations. While Grant hasn't quite panned out like Jadeveon Clowney, who was ranked ahead of Grant in those rankings, he is still a key part of Ohio State's defense this year.

Currently Grant is the starter at linebacker for the Buckeyes, and while the senior doesn't look to be losing his starting spot anytime soon, McMillan is making a name for himself with his strong early play. Against Kent State last week, McMillan recorded a team-high seven tackles in the blowout victory. When McMillan arrived at Ohio State, head coach Urban Meyer assigned Grant as "big brother" for McMillan, and the relationship is paying early dividends. With linebacker being a position that the Buckeyes have had some issues with the last few years, the future looks bright with Grant teaching McMillan the ropes.

"Yeah, he actually practiced today. He's doing things to get healthy, but he's also -- you know, we're supporting him."

-Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on Noah Spence

While Noah Spence was suspended indefinitely last week for a second failed drug test, the junior defensive lineman is still practicing with the football team. Spence was due to return last week after serving a three-game suspension from a positive drug test last year, but just a couple days before the Kent State game it was announced that Spence wouldn't return to the field anytime soon.

After recording eight sacks for the Buckeyes last year, it is unknown when or if Spence will return to the field for Ohio State. There are rumblings that it is a "long shot" that Spence will return for the Buckeyes, the team is still keeping him close and allowing him to participate with the team. Co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash stated that the team still supports Spence, whether or not he is able to return to the football field for the Buckeyes.

"I feel like I can grow as a vital part of the team. I need to be more of a vital part of the team so we can win more games."

-Ohio State redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall

Dontre Wilson may have a hold on the H-back starting spot for the Buckeyes, but Jalin Marshall has shown glimpses of being a reliable backup for the speedster from Texas. After playing quarterback in high school, Marshall is still making the transition to his new role for the Buckeyes. Marshall has touched the ball seven times this year, and last week scored the first touchdown of his Ohio State career on a three-yard touchdown catch.

What head coach Urban Meyer really likes about what he has seen from Marshall this year, is that when Marshall doesn't have the football in his hands he is still doing the things necessary to help his team win in terms of his decoy work and blocking. Should the growth from Marshall continue, Meyer said there likely will come times when Ohio State fans see both Marshall and Wilson on the field at the same time instead of it being one or the other. With how quick a study Marshall is as a receiver, and the incredible talent he possesses, there should be many more instances of the youngster seeing the endzone for Ohio State.

"The Ohio State men's basketball program spent $223,221 on hotel and airfare for a team trip to the Bahamas in August, OSU athletics spokesman Dan Wallenberg told The Lantern."

-The Lantern

In early August the Ohio State men's basketball team took a team trip down to the Bahamas to play exhibition games against the Bahamas All-Stars and the Providence Storm. The trip was successful not only on the court, with the Buckeyes defeating the Bahamas All-Stars 86-66 and the Providence Storm 115-63, but also helped to camaraderie amongst the team and coaches. Incoming forward Keita Bates-Diop showed some early promise, scoring 16 points against the Bahamas All-Stars.

Round-trip airfare for the Buckeyes for the trip totaled $158,221, while the cost of their Atlantis hotel was listed at $65,000. Basketball wasn't the only activity on the agenda for the basketball Buckeyes, as the team participated in snorkeling, a catamaran tour, and attended a USA soccer game being played nearby. Ohio State still has a couple months before their official tipoff to the season, when they welcome Massachusetts-Lowell into the Schottenstein Center on November 14th.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Looking for a city to leave your mark in? Columbus tops the list from Forbes of the best cities to do so in.
• With the start of the NHL season just around the corner, a resolution to the contract squabble between Ryan Johansen and the Blue Jackets doesn't sound like it'll be happening anytime soon.
• A Jack Russell Terrier from Pennsylvania traveled the Oregon Trail and didn't die of dysentery
• Go home skunk, you're drunk. Maybe the Redhawks should've used this strategy when they played the skunkbears in Ann Arbor on Saturday
• Columbus is said to be making a push to replace Berea as the home for Cleveland Browns training camp