Chris Holtmann Talks Ohio State Basketball on Ryan Day Radio Show
After Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day speaks during his weekly radio show each week, an assistant coach sits down with Paul Keels and Jim Lachey.
However, with the Buckeyes on a bye week, men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann joined the program to share his thoughts on the upcoming hoops season.
Ohio State men’s basketball opens its regular season against Akron on Nov. 9.
CHRIS HOLTMANN COMMENTS AND QUOTES:
On the anticipation of this season:
“We’re really excited.”
“Lot of positive vibes.”
On the non-conference schedule:
“The toughest. I’ve always tried to play really challenging nonconference.”
“We open with a really tough one in Akron.”
“It’s the toughest nonconference schedule I’ve been a part of.”
On scrimmages this season:
Holtmann said he brought in officials for this morning’s inter-squad scrimmage.
“I love Big Ten officials. I just want to get that on record.”
Holtmann said Ohio State has a closed scrimmage coming up, but he’s not allowed to say who it’s against.
“Somehow those closed scrimmages — it always leaks out who you’re playing, where you’re playing and even the final score — so you’ll hear all of that soon.”
On missing Duane Washington:
“He never saw a shot he didn’t like.”
Holtmann said he doesn’t have a player right now who he thinks can fill Washington’s role as a scorer.
On Seth Towns:
“He tweaked his back.”
“He won’t be back until mid-December.”
On Cedric Russell:
“I think he’s still making that adjustment from levels.”
“His head is spinning a little bit as a freshman would.”
On Jamari Wheeler:
“This little dude, I tell you, he is just a ballhawk.”
“One of the most persistent on-ball defenders I’ve ever seen.”
On naming captains:
“That level of consistency is what you want to have if you can.”
“Ryan [Day] and I have talked… college basketball has had transfer rates… we’re seeing it in other sports.”
“Four tremendous kids.”
On Joey Brunk:
“Both Zed [Key] and Joey at the 5 can really rebound it.”
“Great kid, great family. He’s excited about helping.”
“Big body. You need that in this league.”
On recruiting:
“I think we’re in a good place.”
“I just feel tremendous about our locker room.”
Holtmann said football Saturdays at Ohio State are a big recruiting day. “Oh, man, is that ever,” he laughed.
“It’s a great time to really showcase what a terrific [football] program we have here.”