Scarlet Sunrise: Tom Izzo says Ohio State fans should 'be a little patient' with Chris Holtmann

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Tom Izzo says Ohio State fans should ‘be a little patient’ with Chris Holtmann

Ohio State has now lost 11 of its last 12 games, including six straight. The Buckeyes haven’t lost that many games in a row since it suffered a 17-game losing streak in 1997-98, the first year Jim O’Brien was head coach.

The latest setback was a 21-point setback to Michigan State at home Sunday. Ohio State’s 41 points in the loss were not only a season low but also the program’s fewest in a game since Feb. 10, 1996, also in a defeat to the Spartans interestingly enough.

Leading up to the matchup, Buckeyes sixth-year head coach Chris Holtmann talked about how MSU frontman Tom Izzo has been a mentor to him the last few years. Holtmann mentioned that Izzo called him after Holtmann’s ejection against Wisconsin on Feb. 2.

So during Sunday’s postgame press conference, Izzo was asked about the criticism Holtmann is facing as the Buckeyes free fall toward their first losing season since 2003-04 and about what he would tell Ohio State fans that are offering said criticism.

“It’s not as easy as you think,” Izzo said. “I would tell fans, be a little patient. If the recruiting quit going and this and that, I guess I’d be a little more upset. But I do think he’s a good coach. He’s not my best friend. I’m not sticking up for my brother. I’m sticking up for coaches, because I don’t think anybody has any idea how difficult this is.”

Izzo continued: “But, listen, he’s had two great recruiting classes. I think he’ll rally those freshmen, and it’s just hard to mix everybody together. That’s what I think. But I also think they’ve lost like nine games [where] it’s all been close. And sometimes that’s what happens with young freshmen point guards and things like that.”

Izzo said it was “brilliant” Holtmann started three freshmen Sunday afternoon. Although it didn’t work — then again, no combination of Buckeyes players enjoyed sustained success against MSU this time around — the starting five did take Izzo by surprise.

Holtmann’s Buckeyes aren’t living up to outside expectations this season. Even with roster turnover, Ohio State is expected to at least make the NCAA Tournament. But Izzo was quick to remind everyone that the Buckeyes aren’t the only program struggling to meet those demands.

“If you look at the last three years at Michigan State, we were out the first round, we were out in the second round,” Izzo said. “You know, we haven’t lived up to our standards, either.”

Izzo added, when referencing the roster bind in college basketball right now: “COVID has done a lot to a lot of places, a lot of programs.”

Embarrassing first half digs too deep a hole for Buckeyes against Michigan State

Ohio State shot 19.2% in the first half against the Spartans. The Buckeyes made two of their first four field goal attempts and then missed 19 of their next 22, at one point missing 10 straight.

Holtmann’s team scored only 14 points in the opening frame. Had it not been for a 40% MSU shooting percentage and five Spartans first-half turnovers, the game could have been even more out of hand at intermission. MSU entered the break with a 27-14 advantage.

The bar was low, but Ohio State played better in the second half and even pulled within five points of the Spartans. Except, that’s as close as the Buckeyes — who had only one double-digit scorer (Sean McNeil) — would get.

“I think our understanding right now of winning possessions when it’s a two or three-possession game is just not where it needs to be,” Holtmann said postgame. “And that’s my responsibility to get them there.

“We fight some things too much.”

For the full game story, go here.

Looking back at top-four Super Bowl performances by former Buckeyes

No former Ohio State players hoisted the Lombardi Trophy this year. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, 38-35. Former Buckeyes running back Trey Sermon is on the Eagles, but, as was the case much of this NFL season, Sermon was inactive for Philadelphia.

Regardless, he still would have gotten a ring had the Eagles pulled out the win. That wasn’t in the cards for them, however, as they blew a 10-point halftime lead.

Other years, though, Buckeyes alums have played a significant on-field role on Super Bowl Sunday.

To learn more, here’s a rundown of some of those moments.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 201 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 285 days

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