Chris Holtmann snaps at reporter over Brice Sensabaugh question

While the topic was certainly fair — broadly, what’s been up with star freshman Brice Sensabaugh struggling offensively — the delivery of the question probably left something to be desired. And it certainly left Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann hot under the collar.

Following a 69-63 home loss to Northwestern that sunk the Buckeyes to 10-13 on the season and marked a 10th loss in 11 games, Holtmann was clearly frustrated. So when a reporter asked Holtmann if bringing Sensabaugh off the bench hurt his offensive rhythm, the head coach appear to take affront to the implications of his coaching acumen.

“If that’s what you’d like to say, then feel free,” Holtmann said.

After leading Ohio State in scoring for 12 consecutive games through much of conference play, Sensabaugh’s numbers have slumped recently. It’s somewhat coincided with him coming off the bench due to foul troubles. And it led to the following question.

“It doesn’t seem plausible that he could lead you in scoring for 12 games in a row and only now be getting the best defenders in the league, so my question is related to the fact that he’s been having offensive success while he’s been at the top of teams scouting reports. And I just wonder if, you put him on the bench at Michigan to keep him out of foul trouble, because I think he fouled out two or three games in a row — and my question in relation to that is, do you fear that you’ve taken him out of the rhythm he was in offensively?” the reporter asked.

Holtmann was, of course, terse in his above response.

And after a brief follow-up, he added that “I’ve answered the question, regarding Brice.”

The reporter took a third crack, asking the question straight up: Do you fear you’ve taken him out of his offensive rhythm by bringing him off the bench the last two games?

“If that’s the case, then feel free to write that. I think Brice battled hard here tonight. We’ll find ways to put him in better position,” Holtmann said.