COLUMBUS — Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann spoke with reporters on Monday to provide some updates on his team and also to look ahead to Tuesday night’s game against Michigan. That game airs on ESPN2 at 9:00 pm. Also joining Holtmann were senior guard Keyshawn Woods and freshman guard Luther Muhammad. Here are the highlights.
Chris Holtmann
+ “It’s no secret that we’re playing an elite, elite team that is having a special season.”
+ Michigan has great versatility. Jon Beilein is a tremendous coach. They have an outstanding blend of returning guys and freshman. They can create matchup issues.
+ Asked what the identity of the offense is, Holtmann said he just wants balance. When you have a new team with increased roles for guys, it evolves over the course of the season. They have also had to adjust to how defenses are playing them, which has forced them to change some things that they do on offense. They have to take care of the ball better as well. More than anything, however, they want to be balanced on offense. That’s perimeter scoring and paint scoring.
+ The move to small ball has been out of necessity with Kyle Young going down with his injury. They had looked at going to a bigger lineup prior to the injury, so they have had to make some adjustments.
+ Luther Muhammad made big, timely shots against Nebraska and played a complete offensive game. He took care of the ball, which he hasn’t always done this year. He played with great confidence and aggressiveness that Holtmann loved to see. He made the right plays within the offense.
+ Michigan has great individual defenders. They have good length and versatility.
+ Muhammad is a tough-minded and very competitive kid. His success is a byproduct of that mentality.
+ The Michigan rivalry is at a different level in football. He watched the HBO documentary years ago about the rivalry. When you take in the football game, you realize how important it is to so many people. In every sport, the Michigan game is important.
+ Musa Jallow has been very active defensively and Holtmann hopes he continues to grow into what the Buckeyes need him to be. He is getting more minutes in Kyle Young’s place. He gives them some of what they are missing. They want him making good decisions and taking care of the ball. He’s done that for the most part.
+ You want to have offensive guys who don’t need to be told what to do on every pass. “I want aggressive guys.” Holtmann is okay with guys who improvise offensively, as long as they can execute it. Holtmann doesn’t want a team that needs to be coached every second during the game. He wants his players to have freedom to make plays.
+ There is no new timeline updates on Kyle Young’s return. He is still a few weeks out.
+ Holtmann has played the zone before and had to do it out of necessity in the past.
+ Asked about Kaleb Wesson’s offensive struggles, Holtmann said Wesson can’t get hung up in his struggles. He needs to fight through and provide what the team needs however they can. He grabbed 11 rebounds against Nebraska, for instance. Wesson needs to adjust to how teams play him and give what he can in other ways. “We have had regular conversations” about his play and the foul issues that have come up. “He’s got to manage his frustration. ‘Coach’ has got to manage his frustrations.”
+ How rough was the losing streak? He didn’t handle it very well. “You take losing way harder than you enjoy winning. There is some perspective required.” His wife told him that he needed to go talk to his 8-year old daughter after a loss because she was worried about her dad. So he woke her up and told her he was okay.
+ Harrison Hookfin is a recently-added walk-on. He is still working through the eligibility process, but he is now “a current member of our group.”
Keyshawn Woods and Luther Muhammad
+ Woods felt that the pressing on defense and then the switch to the zone had a huge impact on their win at Nebraska on Saturday. It stopped the Huskers’ momentum. It wasn’t a difficult transition because they practice doing that throughout the week. They prefer to be a man-to-man team, but sometimes a wrinkle is necessary. And now teams have to be prepared for it.
+ Asked if ball movement can become difficult at times with the need to focus on Kaleb Wesson, Woods said he thinks the ball still moves well. Wesson can also shoot, so it’s not just about trying to find him down low. The ball moves and the players move and they look to go from a good shot to a great shot.
+ Muhammad said offensively, Holtmann has stressed taking care of the ball and giving the ball to Wesson down low effectively.
+ Woods thinks the small ball lineups for OSU have been effective because it provides mismatches for the Buckeyes. It gives them something to go to when Wesson is in foul trouble.
+ Asked about the Michigan rivalry, Muhammad said he doesn’t pay attention to that. He just knows that they’re a great team ranked in the top 10. They are focused on trying to come together as a team and get another win on the road.
+ Woods knows the Michigan game will be a great environment. He’s never been there, but he has been to places like North Carolina and Duke. You have to be prepared for the fans and be prepared to take them out of the game. You have to control the game as much as possible.
+ Asked about shooting threes late in games and where that comes from as a freshman, Muhammad said it comes from the trust from his teammates and coaches.
+ Woods said Michigan executes very well. When they get the ball moving and they start seeing shots go in, it can be a long night for everyone. You have to disrupt their rhythm and limit their open shots because they have a lot of shooters.