For the first time since Chris Holtmann was hired to lead the Ohio State men’s basketball team, the Buckeyes failed to make the NCAA Tournament in the 2022-23 season.
It was Holtmann’s worst record as a head coach since 2011-12 when he was at Gardner-Webb, before turning that program around the following season. If Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is right, this past season was just a blip on the radar for the Buckeye head coach.
The Spartans head man was a guest on Holtmann’s podcast which is cohosted by former Buckeye Terrance Dials, “More than Coach Speak,” and he was very impressed with how the Buckeye head coach handled the final weeks of this past season.
Izzo believes that consistency is key and Ohio State has it even with last year’s struggles.
“You (Holtmann) did not crumble last year through a tough 5-6 weeks, Izzo said. “That is maybe the best bing you did and you just won’t realize it until four or five years from now when you’re in a Final Four winning a national championship.”
Hall of Famer Tom Izzo on if he can coach the same way today as when he started….@chrissolari @TheAndyKatz pic.twitter.com/WXIn7xkDnQ
— More Than Coach Speak (@MTCoachSpeak) August 7, 2023
That’s pretty high praise from a coach that has a title under his belt and has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The conversation goes over a variety of topics from the Buckeyes’ future, to reflecting on the COVID-19 season, how name, image and likeness has changed the game, and more. The full conversation is worth a listen.
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