Columbus, Ohio –Chris Holtmann and, the Ohio State basketball team has reached double-digit with a Big Ten win 77-63 over Michigan.
Head coach Ryan Day was in attendance they watch a pregame hype video featuring Urban Meyer. Holtmann said he was excited that they improve to 3-2 in the rivalry since he has taken over as OSU’s head coach.
“Urban Hype video was the best part of the afternoon,” Holtmann stated. “Wow was that impressive. Gave me chills watching it.”
The Buckeyes are 8-2.
OSU made 11 of 21 3-pointers. After a poor shooting performance from Kaleb Wesson — he was 5 of 14 from the field — Wesson still managed to record 14 points and nine rebounds. All five Buckey starters scored in double figures for the Buckeyes including C.J. Walker who had his best game as a Buckeye with 15 points, and a season-high six rebounds and with seven assists with one turnover.
“I think that’s the most rebounds I’ve had in a long time,” Walker said. “I was just playing and the momentum of the game just took over and I just took advantage.”
Franz Wagner led the Wolverines with 18 points and was followed by double figures by Zavier Simpson with 12 points and seven assists. Michigan had turned the ball over 12 times, but Ohio State forced only four of them.
This makes the Buckeyes the seventh Big Ten team to reach 10 conference wins on the season and now hold wins over five different teams that were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll when they played them.
Ohio State started the year with a four-game losing streak and they dropped 7 of 10 games. Holtmann is in his sixth year as a head coach in college basketball. Holtman stated he seen many things, but he must admit he’s never seen a turnaround like what he is witnessing that his team has done in the past month. A convincing win over its rival is an example of that.
“I’m just concerned about are we rolling tomorrow,” Holtmann said. “Clearly you can look back at the last 10 games or so and say that we’ve played well for the most part in most of those games. But Holtman is so hesitant to it. He likes to see how well they perform against a good Illinois team.”
What’s Next
Ohio State (20-9, 10-8 Big Ten) will host Illinois on Thursday in its final home game of the regular season.
