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

[MaxBuck]

So you’re fine with what you’re seeing?

There's a huge chasm between "fine with what I'm seeing" and reality.

Honestly it's hard to reconcile this team's recent performance and what they were doing earlier in the season. It's hard to reconcile Holtmann's career with the ineptitude the team currently displays and his inability to fix the problems.

I actually have to reached the point of preferring that Holtmann be fired at the end of the season. I just don't agree that, if he isn't, it will constitute a tragedy.

 

[Hetuck]

I suppose it depends on how you define “tragedy.” I think it would constitute a wasted year while we put off the inevitable until next year. No one would blame us for firing him this year. Next year we could be looking at firing him with a much better record than this year. It’s hard to imagine it being any worse. I think we all know how this movie ends.

 

[Mike80]

I suppose it depends on how you define “tragedy.” I think it would constitute a wasted year while we put off the inevitable until next year. No one would blame us for firing him this year. Next year we could be looking at firing him with a much better record than this year. It’s hard to imagine it being any worse. I think we all know how this movie ends.

No one is going to blame "us" for firing him, because not one of "us" has firing power.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Let's not go that far. Having a shit season but he's never done anything to actually embarrass the Ohio State University!

The season isn’t over yet.

 

[Bestbuck36]

The season isn’t over yet.

GTFOH. Some of you are actively hoping for the worst. I miss red rubies

 

[Hetuck]

Scoring 14 points in a half at home was pretty embarrassing.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Scoring 14 points in a half at home was pretty embarrassing.

It sucked no doubt, but Holtmann didnt shoot a single one of those shots, turn the ball over or stand and watch while the game happened around him. It's not a video game where you can control what happens with the guys on the court. Where he might have been more to blame is to not sit the guys that were playing terrible and get someone else in and hope they find their confidence. Unless he's spiking the water jugs Holtmann isnt to blame for the guys not giving 100%. He might be to blame for not sitting them at the end of the bench though

 

[Onebuckfan]

GTFOH. Some of you are actively going for the worst. I miss red rubies

I’m not embarrassed …,I haven’t watched a full game in a month. I can’t get excited by this bunch. A new coach can sell hope but I’m not buying what Holtman is selling now or next year. Watch every minute and enjoy ..I’m not criticizing you or Holtman. I’m just not investing in this program till a change is made.

 

[bigdog3300]

Unless he's spiking the water jugs Holtmann isnt to blame for the guys not giving 100%.

This I gotta disagree with - there's the saying you don't quit jobs, you quit managers. To me that's appropriate in this term, you don't quit on basketball, you quit on coaches.

I'm not talking about whether to fire or retain CCH here, but there's no doubt many on this team have tuned him out and it shows in the effort, it shows in the results, it shows in his own team saying guys aren't giving it their all. Yes, effort is a two way street, but to say the effort issue doesn't have any correlation to the head coach is wrong.

On a different note - we're this late into this season and still having defensive lapses you'd see in the exhibition season. Guys not rotating, not communicating, cutters going untouched and then after it's bickering about who did what wrong.

 

[Steve19]

What we are seeing is that Holtmann doesn't know how to motivate this team. THAT is in his job description. I don't remember a coach losing a team this badly at Ohio State.

This is at least a three-year problem, unless the Urban Meyer of basketball is hired. That contract extension will live as one of the biggest misjudgments of the Gene Smith's career.

 

[calibuck]

Steve, that is probably why Holtmann has gotten grayer (more gray?) this season. Motivation is a big key to this coaching gig, and while he might be saying the right words, the kids aren't drinking the kool aid. Believe bigdog said it best - coach is the 'front piece' of the team, and it's easiest to blame him than the team. And fire him rather than all the players. Over half of those players are 'add-ons' from other teams, who were hoping to latch onto a team that would help showcase their talents. Well, their talents may have played well in a lesser league than the B10 (see Wright St guy), but on the big stage they lack a tad. Others try to step up, but simply don't have the 'it' factor. Again, will say that with the experience the frosh are getting, plus what they're bringing in next year, should be a good team. Depending on how well these new guys play and interact with the guys on the court now. Sooooo, Holtmann's got this and next, maybe a third season to re-elevate tOSU to the pinnacles of B10. PS, maybe he could sit down with Pantoni and learn to fit transfer pieces into the existing team. Go Bucks!

 

[buckeyemania11]

What we are seeing is that Holtmann doesn't know how to motivate this team. THAT is in his job description. I don't remember a coach losing a team this badly at Ohio State.

This is at least a three-year problem, unless the Urban Meyer of basketball is hired. That contract extension will live as one of the biggest misjudgments of the Gene Smith's career.

Hell, I can't recall any team looking seemingly decent like we did through December and then completely falling off THIS BAD after the new year. Seems like a unprecedented disasterous tank job.

 

[Jake]

I didn't see any lack of "motivation" against Penn State, or any other game for that matter. This "lost the team" stuff has become cliche'. He's lost the fans, which is not necessarily the same thing. None of us knows how the team feels. That's just projecting your feelings on the team.

What I saw is what we've seen in almost every conference game - extended scoring droughts. The latest happened with the Bucks leading Penn State 65-64 with under 7 minutes to play. They went over 4 minutes without scoring and fell 5 points behind. They couldn't make that up, even while taking 5 three point shots in the final 30 seconds (missed them all). That had nothing to do with motivation.

 

[DZ83CK]

I didn't see any lack of "motivation" against Penn State, or any other game for that matter. This "lost the team" stuff has become cliche'. He's lost the fans, which is not necessarily the same thing. None of us knows how the team feels. That's just projecting your feelings on the team.

What I saw is what we've seen in almost every conference game - extended scoring droughts. The latest happened with the Bucks leading Penn State 65-64 with under 7 minutes to play. They went over 4 minutes without scoring and fell 5 points behind. They couldn't make that up, even while taking 5 three point shots in the final 30 seconds (missed them all). That had nothing to do with motivation.

I agree, motivation isn't what I see lacking. It's talent and teamwork that they lack. They have a team with all of one guy that is good at putting the ball in the hole at this level, and neither a lock-down defender nor post presence defensively. This is a recipe to lose a lot of games. Better change those ingredients real soon if you want to keep making those big bucks, coach.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I didn't see any lack of "motivation" against Penn State, or any other game for that matter. This "lost the team" stuff has become cliche'. He's lost the fans, which is not necessarily the same thing. None of us knows how the team feels. That's just projecting your feelings on the team.

What I saw is what we've seen in almost every conference game - extended scoring droughts. The latest happened with the Bucks leading Penn State 65-64 with under 7 minutes to play. They went over 4 minutes without scoring and fell 5 points behind. They couldn't make that up, even while taking 5 three point shots in the final 30 seconds (missed them all). That had nothing to do with motivation.

Ironically it seems the students and alot of other fans are all in too looking at the crowd. This is just the strangest year we may have ever had.

Edit: all in meaning they're still showing up in support. Honestly think there's secretly hope still hiding way back in the crevices of some minds that Holtmann gets them to make a miracle B1G Tourney run like he's done before. I wouldn't bet on it with this team tbh