Chris Holtmann reveals what could hinder Ohio State's potential in final stretch

There’s been times throughout the 2021-22 college basketball season when Ohio State has played like a top-25 team, and there’s been times when the Buckeyes have played like one of the lower-level teams in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State has been inconsistent – and that could play a significant role in their postseason success.

In the month of February, the Buckeyes have gone 5-3 – with losses to Rutgers, Iowa and Maryland. Their loss to Maryland on Sunday came just three days after they recorded an upset win over No. 15 ranked Illinois on the road.

Following Sunday’s loss, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann was asked what could hinder the Buckeyes’ potential in the final stretch of the regular season – and he had a quick answer: rebounding struggles.

“I think it’s been our Achilles’ heel – across the board,” Holtmann said. “Just gotta rebound the ball better … for sure.”

Ohio State – which is 18-8 overall with a 11-6 mark in Big Ten play – will look to bounce back Tuesday as it hosts Nebraska at Value City Arena in Columbus. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.

Holtmann discusses why EJ Liddell struggled in Maryland loss

When EJ Liddell isn’t at his best, neither is Ohio State – and that was most certainly the case on Sunday. With the Buckeyes taking on Maryland on the road, Liddell was limited to just 11 points and the team ultimately suffered a 75-60 upset loss to the Terrapins.

While Liddell – who averages 19.3 points per game – was held to 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field, his lack in production played a significant role in Ohio State’s loss as the Buckeyes only managed to put up 60 points.

Following Sunday’s loss, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann met with the media for his postgame press conference and was asked what led to Liddell’s struggles against Maryland.

“I thought they did a good job trapping him and getting him off his spots,” Holtmann said of Liddell. “He’s got to work to get a little more involved. He’s got to bring more effort in certain areas, but we’ve also got to find ways to get him in more spots.”