Sports Today: Sounds like Ohio State football is progressing on schedule

That’s probably a sign things are right on schedule.

WATCH: Practice highlights

The game-day operations might still be puzzlingly out of whack at times, but Meyer seems to have settled on a consistent and successful plan for developing his Ohio State roster throughout the year.

He gives his veterans time off when he can, which reduces their injury risk and gives young players more opportunities to get experience. Inevitably that will bring some mistakes, but that’s OK in the long run.

This no doubt has played a major role in helping his team avoid down any down year since he got to Columbus regardless of how young the Buckeyes’ starting units might be.

Pains are good this time of year as long as they are of the growing pains.

This is also where recruiting at such an elite level pays off.

It has to be easier as a coach to watch position battles knowing no matter who wins there should not be a drop-off in athleticism.

One of the interesting dynamics at Ohio State during the Jim Tressel years — and this is probably true many places, but that’s the team I was covering — was seeing which highly recruited players would actually win starting roles.

Everyone loved the stories of underdogs earning their way into the lineup, but generally when that happened it was at the expense of a more physically talented player who just couldn’t put it all together, whether that was because of health, work ethic or whatever else.

The best-case scenario is of course to play great athletes at every position, but that’s not always how it works out.

Coaches tend to prefer to play the players they trust even if they aren’t as talented… which is of course why Meyer prefers to sign only, well, extremely talented players whereas Tressel’s classes were more likely to have been a mix of elite prospects and program players with a chance to surprise.

Tressel recruited very well at Ohio State, but the sheer number of athletic monsters Meyer has brought in is noticeably higher.

The offenses have still have a surprising number of similarities, but that’s another story…

Speaking of Ohio State, the men’s basketball team lost its best player yesterday when Keita Bates-Diop declared he will enter the NBA draft. 

That came as little surprise given that he already has a degree and he projects as a prototypical NBA wing player.

I guess that means the question becomes if he can stand out in a crowd of long, athletic players who can shoot and hope to get that guaranteed contract that comes with being picked in the first round.

RELATED: Big Ten Player of the Year announces plan to enter NBA draft | Versailles’ Ahrens wants to make instant impact at Ohio State

What does it mean for the Buckeyes?

The best-case scenario would be that he turns into Chris Holtmann’s answer to what coaching David West and Romain Sato meant for Thad Matta’s resume…

The women's basketball Final Four is coming to Ohio this week, but if you don't care I don't blame you because Connecticut has already sucked the drama out of the tournament again.

The Huskies dampened what could have been a great showcase night for the game by drubbing defending national champion South Carolina in the first game of a doubleheader on ESPN.

Not that they owe anyone an apology, of course, but it’s hard to tell people they should watch these games with increasingly talented and athletic teams when the outcome is already determined.

Of course, UConn was upset last year in the Final Four, but this group is even better — and probably more motivated.

If you tuned out before the nightcap, you missed Notre Dame punching the final ticket to Columbus.

That means former Fairmont star Kathryn Westbeld, a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish, is on her way back to her home state for the finish of her college career…

The Dayton area will also be represented at the men’s Final Four thanks to Jaaron Simmons, the Alter graduate who transferred to Michigan last summer…

Lastly we have Reds baseball on tap Thursday. 

Like, a real game and everything!

The roster is nearly complete, and there have been some interesting developments.

Billy Hamilton had poor numbers this spring, but the Reds released his older, less-talented alternative, Ben Revere, who also had poor numbers this spring.

They are keeping Phillip Ervin, a former Dragon who was a first-round pick years ago but has seen his career stall in the upper minors.

That’s an interesting move as he gives them some speed and defense off the bench.

Revere was obviously a flop, but perhaps Ervin is a guy who pushes Hamilton if the speedster continues to struggle offensively?

I am not sure how much patience the club will have with Billy, but I’m starting to wonder if it should be getting close to its end.

He brings something to the team, but is it enough?

Hal McCoy writes that it is not. 

I suppose that could be at least partially determined by how well everyone around him hits.

Obviously it’s easier to run out an elite defender with a .250 average who doesn’t really walk if he is the seventh- or eighth-best hitter in the lineup than the third or fourth.

Meanwhile, infielder Alex Blandino, another former high pick, won’t enjoy the same opportunity as Ervin.

He was sent to Triple-A in favor of Cliff Pennington, a veteran backup shortstop whose making the team went over predictably poorly on our Reds Facebook page.

I like the looks of the rotation, but early injuries already potentially impacting the bullpen are of course troublesome.

What’s your outlook?