Chris Holtmann breaks down challenges of Rutgers defense

The No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes welcome Big Ten foe Rutgers to Columbus tonight in a matchup between two 6-2 teams. The Scarlet Knights just defeated Indiana at home on the back of their hounding defense, which held the Hoosiers to just 48 total points while Rutgers cruised to a 63-48 victory to kick off conference play.

Ohio State will do the same tonight, and hope to fair better in their Big Ten debut vs. Rutgers than Indiana did. The key to getting the victory? Figuring out how to score on this Fort Knox of a defense the Scarlet Knights showcased vs. Indiana. At his press conference previewing the matchup, Buckeye head coach Chris Holtmann emphasized just how spectacular Steve Pikiell’s group is on that end of the floor.

“What his teams have always done — they’re disruptive, they turn you over, they’re great on the glass on both offense and defensive glass. And they’re long, they’re physical, really good.”

A big part of that equation is the personnel. For Rutgers, like most defenses, their anchor is their big man. Cliff Omoruyi, one of the most touted Rutgers recruits in school history, who’s in his third year and has come on as a two-way beast to start the season. Holtmann certainly has his number circled.

“They have a terrific big who has now kind of grown into his own as a third-year player,” the OSU coach said of Omoruyi. “Ad they’ve just got great positional size and length. So that was going to be really good.”

Another player Holtmann singled out was veteran wing Caleb McConnell. The 6-foot-7 senior has only suited up for three games so far after missing the start of the year, but Chris Holtmann noted that he’s already stepped up as a key piece in making that good defense go in New Brunswick.

Buckeyes are a top-25 offense meeting a traditionally sound Big Ten defense. It’ll be hard screens and bloody knuckles tonight in Columbus.