Reeling Buckeyes: They are who we thought they were
Holtmann’s crew looking for answers at Big Ten midpoint
At times like this, when the aircraft is on fire and Ohio State men's basketball is searching frantically for a water landing, it is never wrong to quote the late, great Dennis Green, whose memorable 2006 rant after an Arizona Cardinals loss to Chicago remains the stuff of legend.
Except in this case replace Bears with Buckeyes.
“The Buckeyes are who we thought they were. They're who we thought they were. And we let them off the hook.”
Yes, indeed. The Buckeyes are who we thought they were, or at least who I thought they would be this season, hovering around .500 in the Big Ten and on the back side of the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament.
Recently, they're playing worse than expected, having lost seven of their past eight to fall to 11-10 overall and 3-7 in conference play entering Thursday's home game against similarly struggling Wisconsin (12-8, 4-6). That is alarming. Still, at its core, Ohio State is about what I thought it would be − an untested patchwork of players who struggle to find a cohesive identity that allows them to handle the grind of a rugged conference schedule.
Knowing that, however, does not mean we let them off the hook. Not at all. For one thing, early on OSU showed it could overperform. After defeating ranked Texas Tech in Hawaii to improve to 5-1 in late November and losing by single digits at ranked Duke soon after, there was budding confidence the Buckeyes might contend for a conference title.
The season rolled along at 10-3 until Jan. 5, when a heartbreaking 71-69 loss to No. 1 Purdue set in motion a demotion – five consecutive losses, including to woeful Minnesota, which had lost seven of its previous nine, and Nebraska, which had lost three of its previous four.
From close to overperforming to seriously underperforming in three weeks' time. Cannot let that off the hook.
The midpoint of a season is no time to write a eulogy. With 10 more Big Ten games on the schedule and at least one guaranteed game in the conference tournament, Ohio Statemen's basketball coach Chris Holtmann was in no mood Monday to speak in absolutes about what the 2022-23 Buckeyes will or won't be remembered for.
Not when there's still so much basketball to be played and a focus on trying to turn around what has otherwise been the most challenging month of Holtmann's nine seasons at the high-major level.
“I don't want to make too many statements about the season when we have (at least) 11 games left,” he said. “Let the story be written. Let's see how much better we can get and grow and how much better we can improve. That's our focus right now. I certainly wouldn't want to do an autopsy of the season with 11 games to go.”
What's happened of late hasn't been pretty. With a 16-point loss at Indiana on Saturday, Ohio State will host Wisconsin on Thursday night in search of putting a stretch of seven losses in eight games in the rearview mirror. The Badgers have been similarly slumping, having lost six of seven, but Ohio State's focus is pointed inward.
A 16-point bounceback win against Iowa only made what followed – backto-back losses to Illinois and Indiana – that much harder to explain. That is, until realizing this has happened too often before; it is the sixth time in eight seasons the Buckeyes lost four or five in a row, including four times under coach Chris Holtmann.
Given that history, and considering the current Buckeyes are built from a combination of highly-touted but unproven recruits, average-talent transfers and returning upperclassmen, one who barely played last season, it is not shocking OSU is looking at a middleishof-the-pack Big Ten resting place. (I have the Buckeyes going 5-5 the rest of the way for an 8-12 record, which typically is good for eighth or ninth.)
I believe in explanations, not excuses. There is no excusing losing five consecutive games, especially when one of the excuses bouncing around among sympathetic fans – hard to believe, but “sympathetic Ohio State fan” is not an oxymoron – is how the Purdue loss was so devastating it sent the Buckeyes on a downward spiral. Pish. College-age athletes bounce back like trampolines.
Explanations, meanwhile, are welcomed.
It's easy to point to OSU'S inexperience, specifically freshmen, as the main culprit. Certainly, it is a contributor, but the newbies have given Holtmann what he expected. Maybe even a little more. Typically when bringing in (four) fourstar recruits a coach can bank on at least one having immediate large-scale impact, two to contribute but not necessarily take starring roles, and one to struggle.
Bingo with these Buckeyes. Forward Brice Sensibaugh has been outstanding, averaging 17.6 points and 5.5 rebounds. Point guard Bruce Thornton has tailed off since December, but has shown enough presence and leadership to be considered a quasi-captain. Center
Felix Okpara has made a significant impact on defense. And shooting guard Roddy Gayle Jr. has flashed enough for Holtmann to predict he will make a huge jump … next season.
“Really pleased with all four of those guys. They've just come at a different pace in terms of their impact,” Holtmann said.
The rooks are not the problem. The vets are. Ohio State needed Justice Sueing and Zed Key to perform at high levels. Instead, both have underwhelmed. Granted, Key has been limited by a shoulder injury – explanation, not excuse – but Sueing has no alibi besides having missed most of last season with a groin injury.
Two seasons ago I wrote glowingly of Sueing: “He goes into the hard places, is strong on the boards and is noticeably poised.”
Where did that guy go? Over his past five games he is averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and shooting 34.3% from the field.
“Justice is in control of finishing this as well as he can,” Holtmann said. “He has to continue to elevate his play, his leadership, his motor. And those are the things we're challenging him with.”
Finally, there is the coaching, which I suspect is still finding its footing after assistant Ryan Pedon left for Illinois State following last season. Holtmann continues to be haunted by both the success and failure of his predecessor, Thad Matta. Those who love Matta compare Holtmann unfavorably to the first half of Matta's time in Columbus, when he coached OSU to two Final Fours. Those less enamored with Matta compare Holtmann to Matta's final two years (38-29 without an NCAA Tournament appearance).
Holtmann knows criticism comes with the territory. His critics need to understand he isn't going anywhere, unless by his choice, which for now is unlikely. Ohio State remains an attractive job, even more if fans accept that it is not the blueblood program they thought it was. But if even Ryan Day cannot escape getting caught in a net of negativity, Buckeye Nation is not about to let Holtmann off the hook.