Chris Holtmann addresses Ohio State's mentality amid struggles

Five losses in six games would be a hit to any team’s confidence, especially now that we’re in conference play. Even so, Chris Holtmann isn’t at all worried about where Ohio State is at from a mental standpoint.

Holtmann spoke about how his team is dealing with their current skid during his press conference on Monday. He said that he feels perfectly fine about the Buckeyes at this point even after dropping several in January.

“I feel good,” said Holtmann. “I feel good about them.”

However, as he continued, Holtmann did note his team’s need to see one go in their win column. The defeats on their record have had a snowball effect and, as such, impacted the team’s belief. In order to shake it off, they need to secure a victory, and soon, in order to regain their season’s momentum.

“Anytime you go through a difficult stretch? There’s certainly going to be a confidence thing,” said Holtmann. “Guys need to see success, experience that, and build their confidence through that. I think you’re always aware of that as a coach.”

After starting at 12-2, Ohio State has fallen to 13-7 over the start of their season in the Big Ten. Following their win over Rutgers, they went on a three-game losing streak to Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Then, after ending that run with a win over Penn State, they’ve followed that up with two more losses, both of which were the largest of their season, with a 14-point loss at Nebraska and a 25-point blowout at Northwestern.

The loss in Evanston was extra concerning considering the Buckeyes were down as much as 35 to the Wildcats and were less competitive through the course of the game and into the second half.

With that said, Holtmann still isn’t worried about Ohio State moving forward. He felt like they had a quality response on Sunday in practice and thinks it could pay off ahead of an important matchup for them against No. 14 Illinois tonight.

“I feel good about this group’s approach yesterday in practice and we’ll see how it is today,” Holtmann said.

Holtmann admits he feels pressure to win

Ohio State is in the midst of a poor stretch having dropped five of their last six. It’s a skid that’s turning up the heat in Columbus even though, according to Chris Holtmann, there’s always pressure throughout a season.

Holtmann addressed any feelings of duress around the Buckeyes during his press conference on Monday. He said he certainly does feel it at the moment, much like he does during the rest of the season, and especially because of their recent run of losses.

“I think you always feel pressure to perform and to get your team playing their best, whether it’s early in the year, late in the year, this time. November, December, January, February – you always feel that,” said Holtmann. “For sure.”

“You certainly can feel it too when you’ve struggled a little bit,” added Holtmann.