After another early exit from the NCAA Tournament for Ohio State, the team's leading scorer and focal point for the offense for three years is going somewhere else. Cotie McMahon has entered the transfer portal. Just three days after their loss to Tennessee, McMahon is gone.
While no specifics have been given at this point, the Ohio State women's postseason struggles have been well documented by myself and others. The Buckeyes consistently have good regular seasons but struggle in postseason tournaments. In the past 25 seasons, they've won 20 or more games 19 times, but only have two Elite Eight appearances to show for it.
This has to be a factor for McMahon leaving after three seasons when she's been the keystone to this team. McMahon played and started 97 games for Ohio State and leaves with some impressive statistics. In her career at Ohio State, she averaged 15.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals. She scored 1,484 points and brought in 535 rebounds.
McMahon has never shied away from controversy and has always been vocal, even to the point of antics. These came to the forefront even more as this season got toward its end. She was caught giving the double barrel middle fingers in the loss to Maryland and who made a point to ignore Tennesse's coach who tried to exchange handshakes and words with her after the Vols' victory Sunday night.
Still, losing a player who has had the output of McMahon is indicative that Ohio State's women's basketball program has reached a crossroads. Why fans have been growing restless about the postseason struggles, it's now clear at least one player, statistically speaking their best, seems to feel the same way.
What Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes do going forward will likely define this program for a very long time.