In case you’ve been in these locations for some time, you understand I’ve often criticized what Chris Holtmann’s program has achieved throughout his first 5 years as head of the basketball Buckeyes.
That is to not say your present would not have achievements, that simply would not be correct. 5 20-win seasons, recaps value an NCAA match every year and a few massive wins in opposition to high-caliber competitors are not any straightforward feats.
That mentioned, additionally to not be missed are 4 consecutive regular-season convention finishes between fourth and eighth, zero convention titles, averaging almost 12 losses per season, and never making it to the second weekend of the Match. NCAA.
After one other swoon on the finish of the season ended the 2022 season with a groan, I wrote that there was completely no purpose to assume Holtmann needs to be relieved of his duties, nevertheless it was time to maintain on or shut up.
It is okay to have excessive expectations for the basketball program.
I am not speaking unrealistically loud. I imply being a respectable issue within the Large Ten common season or postseason title races each few years and making it to the Candy Sixteen or higher at an identical cadence. I’ve to consider Holtmann has related targets for his program. He’s a high quality man and a high quality coach. I suppose he did not accomplish each with out being the harshest critic of him and setting difficult targets.
Because the finish of the season, my feeling is that optimistic vibes are resonating in Columbus.
By all accounts, Ryan Pedon was a top-tier assistant, however each he and Tony Skinn moved ahead paving the way in which for Jake Diebler to tackle a much-deserved expanded position as Holtmann’s affiliate head coach, whereas Jack Owens joined as an assistant. with 5 years of expertise as a head coach in Miami (Ohio). Mike Netti strikes from a particular assistant position to Holtmann to an assistant coach. Holtmann changed Netti’s position by hiring Nick Kellogg as assistant head coach and director of scouting.
A personnel shakeup felt like a necessity and I am very excited to see what Diebler can do with the offense after overseeing the protection final season and what Kellogg can do in his hometown.
After struggling within the switch market in earlier seasons, Holtmann and workers appear to have strengthened their work on the portal this time round. They could not get Nigel Pack, however Sean McNeil got here by means of West Virginia after scoring 12.2 factors per sport on 37% from deep. A 12 months in the past, Tanner Holden dedicated to OSU after placing up 20.1 factors per sport for transfers from Wright State and Oklahoma State. Isaac Likekele provides the workforce a flexible, skilled piece who can play a number of positions, together with level guard, which may show essential as true freshman Bruce Thornton assimilates into the faculty sport.
We’ll see if the switch trio could make a huge impact subsequent season, however they’re prone to really feel stronger than earlier switch items below Holtmann.
As for the headlines on the listing, I really like listening to Zed Key discuss in regards to the present taking a extra severe strategy to summer time coaching and having a chip on its shoulder, noting that many are writing off the Buckeyes. What I do not like is that it is nonetheless unclear if and when Decide Sueing is perhaps prepared, understanding his scoring hit and his management shall be wanted. After all, Gene Brown and Seth Cities are nonetheless in Columbus, too.
Giving up 10 gamers in an offseason, together with EJ Liddell and Malaki Branham, is loopy even within the new period of school basketball. That mentioned, I might say the workforce was in dire want of recent blood outdoors of the 2 NBA Draft picks and Kyle Younger.
And that new blood comes within the type of the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class led by No. 43 total prospect of 247, Roddy Gayle, Thornton (No. 44), Felix Okpara (No. 59), Brice Sensabaugh (No. 62) and Bowen Hardman (No. 305).
Sensabaugh is perhaps the fourth-highest-ranked participant of the 5, however the 6-foot-6 bucket-catcher lately put up 51 factors within the Kingdom League, showcasing the three-tier scoring capacity Ohio State can use from day one. . Equally, Thornton ought to get an opportunity to point out that he can facilitate the offense whereas he creates his personal offense when wanted.
With a whole lot of minutes on the road, the competitors needs to be fierce between what seems to be a legitimately good group of men.
Holtmann’s success down the recruiting path did not cease with the category of 2022, as his two verbals to date for 2023 embrace taking pictures guard George Washington III (No. 62 total) and Austin Parks, a standard 6-footer. 9-inch at the moment ranked No. 1. 108 within the 247 rankings. These two give Ohio State the No. 8 ranked class and Holtmann thinks he has an excellent probability of touchdown a pair extra gamers within the prime 100.
Scotty Middleton, the Thirty sixth-ranked prospect within the nation, had Ohio State within the prime 5 and can announce his intentions early subsequent month. The 6-foot-7 wing can be a gargantuan achievement for Holtmann, and apparently there’s purpose for optimism at this level.
Holtmann can also be very excited about a pair of elite proficient native children in Pickerington Central’s Devin Royal (6-foot-6, No. 76) and Africentric’s Dailyn Swain (6-foot-6, No. 78).
Whether or not Holtmann can get the 2022-23 Buckeyes over the hump stays to be seen, however the optimistic momentum of the offseason is actual, and for now, I am going to settle for it.