Chris Holtmann shares teaching point from win over Illinois

Chris Holtmann and his Ohio State team entered Sunday’s game against Illinois with the season feeling lost. The Buckeyes had lost nine straight and 14 of 15 games. Their record in the Big Ten stood at 3-14.

But Ohio State put together a performance this year’s team will remember fondly, defeating the Fighting Illini on their home floor by 12 points.

Holtman said after the game that the team played really well for as long as it has been in recent games.

“You do not know when there will be any type of breakthrough when you’re going through a stretch like this,” Holtmann said. “I think the teaching point is and has been, that should not change our preparation, our togetherness and our ability to play the right way for longer stretches. That’s really been what we’ve preached. If we didn’t have a breakthrough today, but we played for longer stretches the right way. That was going to be the conversation in the postgame and and I think that has to be continued to be the case the rest of the season.”

Chris Holtmann was very happy to see his players get a win over Illinois

It was a good team effort from Ohio State to pick up the 72-60 victory. Bruce Thornton led the way with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Justice Sueing had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Brice Sensabaugh added 14 points of his own.

Chris Holtman said watching those players and the rest of his roster celebrate the win was special.

“It’s the best thing about it. It’s the best thing about it. It’s the best thing about it,” Holtmann repeated.

“You know, it’s that and seeing my wife happy and my daughter. Yeah, yeah. That’s the best thing about it. The best thing about it is seeing those guys smile, seeing them really enjoy, have fun playing today. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the fun plays that happened in the midst of the game. Like, that’s the best thing about it.”