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Chris Holtmann (ex-tOSU Bball coach, HC at DePaul)

CHRIS HOLTMANN RECAPS OHIO STATE'S TRIP TO SPAIN, WHERE HE JUMPED OFF A CATAMARAN BOAT

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He can recruit with the best in the nation, he’s got a proven track record of success everywhere he’s been and, apparently, he can jump off catamaran boats in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you’re wondering, Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann is still cool as a cucumber.

Fresh off his Buckeyes’ 10-day trip to Spain, Holtmann met with local media Wednesday afternoon at the Schottenstein Center to discuss his coaching staff’s takeaways from the journey among other odds and ends.

While he admitted the competition level in which Ohio State faced in its three games overseas wasn’t exactly comparable with any of its Big Ten opponents, he also pointed out many positives that could help the Buckeyes when they do face Purdue, Michigan State, Wisconsin and others.

“The trip was outstanding. There were some challenges with long days and travel but our tour was outstanding. The competition was less than stellar and it’s no fault of their own. They’re trying to throw teams together and they’re out of season like we are," Holtmann said. “Just because of the nature of those games and how the competition can be, I don’t know how much we took from it. I do know we know more than what we did before 10 practices and three games. But it’s hard to make any really significant judgments now after this stretch.”

While in Spain, the Buckeyes beat the Madrid Generals (93-61), the Valencia All-Stars (95-63) and the Catalan All-Stars (68-66).

As the first two final scores suggest, the Buckeyes were on cruise control. But in that third game, they trailed early and found themselves in a dogfight.

“I would say it was equivalent, the first two teams were probably average Division II teams,” Holtmann said. “The last team was probably a good Division II team and that was a close game. We got the chance to play a lot of people but the last game was the best competition. We’re excited to get the guys back and begin workouts this week.”

Possibly more important than the final scores of each scheduled contest was the chance Holtmann’s team received to get closer as a unit.

“There were some pretty special memories. Seeing our eyes guys on some of the tours, seeing them enjoy that was great,” Holtmann said. “The catamaran, being on that together was a lot of fun. We stopped and jumped off the catamaran, and almost everybody did that together. We had lunch at sea together. It was our whole party. We were on our way from Valencia to Barcelona and stopped halfway there, two and a half hours in, and took the catamaran out. I would say that was the most significant (moment).”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...to-spain-where-he-jumped-off-a-catamaran-boat
 
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OHIO STATE HOOPS GREATS GATHER FOR ALUMNI DINNER, PRAISE CHRIS HOLTMANN'S DIRECTION OF PROGRAM

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An event that found its origins at former Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta's house continued to grow Friday evening at the Schottenstein Center.

The Buckeyes' basketball program, led by coach Chris Holtmann, once again held an alumni dinner — giving current players and multiple hardwood legends the chance to meet and mingle.

Jerry Lucas, an NBA Hall of Famer who played at Ohio State from 1959-1962, was on hand and had good things to say about Holtmann and the direction his alma mater is progressing in.

But Lucas isn't involved in the program. He simply watched from afar like the rest of Buckeye Nation.

"I follow the program very, very closely but I'm not involved at all," Lucas said. "I'm just a fan today like a lot of other people are. I think, for any fan, (the direction the team is moving in) that's very positive. To have that happen, to look forward to more success in that area, is what every fan wants. That's what I am today. Just a fan, like everybody else."

Greg Oden, who led the Buckeyes to the Final Four in 2007 before becoming the No. 1 pick in that year's NBA Draft, was also on hand.

The 7-foot legend often works out with the program while he earns his degree.

"I see a lot of guys who just want to play basketball and enjoy it," Oden said of the Buckeyes' current roster. "Guys just want to compete. A lot of guys just practice and play. It becomes a routine. These guys, they want to. You can see that passion. You see it everyday. They want to play for each other."

Oden played under Matta, who started Friday's event some years back. But whoever you played under, according to Oden, if you're a Buckeye, you're a Buckeye.

"No matter how you look at it, we're family," Oden said. "I think that's what an event like this is for. It doesn't matter what coach you played for, what generation you played in ... we're all here, we're all Ohio State basketball players. This is a family."



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...r-praise-chris-holtmanns-direction-of-program
 
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OHIO STATE HAS A TOP-FIVE BASKETBALL RECRUITING CLASS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015

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Chris Holtmann continues to clean up on the recruiting trail.


With Ohio State's latest pledge from four-star forward EJ Liddell on Monday night, the Buckeyes officially have a top-five class for the first time since 2015.

Ohio State now has the nation's No. 4 recruiting class, trailing only USC, Louisville and Kentucky in the class rankings and topping the Big Ten with three commitments from top-50 players.

Liddell, the No. 10 power forward and No. 48 player in the class, joins five-star point guard DJ Carton, the No. 2 point guard and No. 24 overall player, as well as four-star forward Alonzo Gaffney, the nation's No. 8 small forward and No. 39 player in the class.

The Buckeyes have the No. 2 class in the country in terms of average recruit rating, with a rating of 98.63, behind only Kentucky's 98.88 rating. USC and Louisville top the Ohio State and Kentucky due to larger class sizes.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ecruiting-class-for-the-first-time-since-2015
 
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I think its premature to say we have a top 5 recruiting class. yes its top 5 now, but 23 of the top 35 players have yet to commit. some of the perennial top recruiting programs have yet to finish or even start their classes.

But regardless of that point, I'm excited for this class and I agree it shows that Holtmann can attract talent good enough to win championships, not just in conference, but nationally. I still believe that this year is going to be very challenging. I don't think a tourney bid is out of the question given the weakness in the conference and that with the expanded field, the conference will probably still get at least 5 bids and we could certainly be in the top 5 in the league. Regardless of what happens this year, I think we are poised to see the program elevated back into the national spotlight in the near future and that is exciting.
 
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I think its premature to say we have a top 5 recruiting class. yes its top 5 now, but 23 of the top 35 players have yet to commit. some of the perennial top recruiting programs have yet to finish or even start their classes.

But regardless of that point, I'm excited for this class and I agree it shows that Holtmann can attract talent good enough to win championships, not just in conference, but nationally. I still believe that this year is going to be very challenging. I don't think a tourney bid is out of the question given the weakness in the conference and that with the expanded field, the conference will probably still get at least 5 bids and we could certainly be in the top 5 in the league. Regardless of what happens this year, I think we are poised to see the program elevated back into the national spotlight in the near future and that is exciting.

We have 3 top 50 players. That may not make top 5 a certainty but math says we cant be TOO far down the list.
 
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On a ranking average basis we will probably have a Top 5 class or close to it in the final rankings. But you are rarely going to see any 3-man classes in the final T10 classes. Going off 247 Composite, a decent comparable from the 2018 cycle is UNC who got 2 5-stars (a Top 5 player and a guy just inside the T25) and a guy ranked in the 70s--that class ended up ranked 14th in the nation. If our guys can maintain something close to their current rankings, we might be a half notch below that class, and of course it is depended on what the other 2019 classes end up at, but I'd say our class will be hovering right around that T15 mark.
 
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