Quick hitters from Chris Holtmann press conference ahead of season opener
COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann met with the local media Wednesday to preview the Buckeyes’ season opener on Nov. 6 against Oakland.
Lettermen Row has the rundown from Holtmann’s presser.
+ Holtmann said they’ve got some really diverse style of play coming at them, starting with the opener against Oakland and then in particular against Texas A&M and Merrimack. He mentioned that they’ll see different defenses that they probably won’t see later in the year. It will be a good test for Ohio State, Holtmann said.
+ Holtmann said he’s not ready to make the team captains public yet.
+ Holtmann said there’s not a significant health update. He said it’s nothing “long term” with the players who were out in the scrimmage against Dayton (most notably freshman guard Taison Chatman).
+ Holtmann said they’re anxious to compete against other competition. “I know they’re excited,” he said.
+ Holtmann said he played a different lineup in the secret scrimmage against Clemson. Some of that was because Ohio State was down a few bodies. He believes both scrimmages were really positive experiences.
+ Holtmann when asked about the expectations of this team said the emphasis is just getting better.
+ Holtmann said freshman forward Devin Royal has been hampered by a few minor injuries, but his last few weeks have been better.
+ Holtmann said he himself is really excited, too. He noted just how long the college basketball offseason can feel.
+ Holtmann said defensive rebounding and cleaning up turnovers are two points of emphasis. Holtmann said they’ve been too careless with the ball, and the Buckeyes notably struggled on the defensive glass against Dayton in the scrimmage.
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+ Holtmann said Bruce Thornton is “everything you would want” in an Ohio State point guard. “You want that guy leading your team,” Holtmann said. Thornton cares about the right things, he said.
+ Holtmann said Roddy Gayle Jr. had a tough game against Clemson but had great moments versus Dayton. He’s in a bigger role than he was in last year. “I think with Roddy, we need to understand that there’s going to be a process in this,” Holtmann said. “It’s going to take a minute.” But they’re thrilled with Gayle’s attitude and mindset.
+ Holtmann was asked about Jamison Battle’s scoring production. “He needs to be that for us,” Holtmann said in reference to his career scoring numbers (north of 14 points per game). Holtmann noted, however, that Battle needs to be better on the glass.
+ Holtmann said Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle are “certainly” guys in line to start. Ohio State is still a handful of days away from the opener, though, so they aren’t solidifying that starting five just yet.
+ Holtmann was asked about the process of putting this roster together. A lot of meetings go into it, Holtmann said. It starts with an evaluation of how many starters you have, and if you need to add players — and then, if so, how many players you need to add. You also have to figure out which of your young guys you have to give time to breathe and grow.
