Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann and graduate senior point guard Keyshawn Woods spoke with reporters on Friday to preview Saturday’s home game against Rutgers. Woods spoke about the last time out against Rutgers and how the Buckeyes have been better prepared for them this time out. Holtmann also spent plenty of time talking about the positives of Rutgers basketball. He also spent time talking about his own team and explaining where the Buckeyes are right now as a team. Here are the highlights.
Keyshawn Woods
+ Rutgers played a lot of zone defense the last time out against the Buckeyes and so they will be prepared for it this time around.
+ Rutgers beat them to the loose balls last time, so the Buckeyes will be ready to hustle this weekend. If anybody wasn’t prepared for the physicality, they better be prepared this week. OSU played poorly and didn’t get to the loose balls at Rutgers and lost by three points, so the problems are fixable.
+ Looking back at the Rutgers loss, Woods said the offense could have executed better and the defense could have focused more on the scouting report. There were some scouting report errors as well, but it still came down to effort. The effort will be there this time.
+ This OSU team has had a great two days of preparation. The two best days they’ve had in a while. You don’t ever want to lose to a team twice and that is fueling their preparation and mentality.
+ The team has been more accountable to teammates over the last couple of weeks. It needs to continue to increase as well.
+ The loss to Michigan was emotional, but it brought them together. They kept fighting and the incident late in the game can bring a team together. “It’s a rivalry. Things got heated.”
+ The five-game losing streak hasn’t gotten this team down. Woods has been on other teams with losing streaks and those teams would have their heads down at practice. This team doesn’t do that. They come in every day ready to work.
Chris Holtmann
+ Rutgers is playing very well. They have won three straight. Big and strong and really physical. Rutgers and Michigan State are the two most physical teams they have played.
+ Gio Baker is a clutch guard who has closed out games very well.
+ Rutgers has two 7-footers and great length on the perimeter. They have talent and their confidence is up.
+ They always work against zone in practice just to be ready in case anybody switches to it through the course of a game. Any time you see it, you want to be aggressive and be in attack mode.
+ Holtmann learned in January that this is a group of players who are hungry to continue to improve every day. Holtmann always wants more out of his team in terms of their commitment to get better. Every coach does, but the attitude and approach have been good and they all now understand what league play is about. “Tough days aren’t over.”
+ “I’ve been pleased with our daily approach.”
+ This team is still making mistakes that they shouldn’t be making. The young guys are getting good experience, so you know there will be some bumps, but you’re trying to balance patience with your frustration level. “We’re just trying to continue to teach and challenge because we know we can be better in some areas.”
+ There are still players learning what they can and can’t do in the course of the game. That can only be learned through practice and primarily games. The result has been some games with a lot of errors.
+ Regarding the fracas at Michigan, “I felt like Kaleb handled it well, to be honest with you. The kid put his hands on Kaleb. No one should put his hands on our players ever. Ever.” “At that moment, to be honest with you, I was proud of how Kaleb handled it.” Asked about it being a spark to move them forward, Holtmann said he didn’t want to put too much focus on it. Wesson showed composure that Holtmann isn’t sure he would have shown as a 19-year old.
+ Coaches don’t think about games in terms of “must win.” Every game feels like a must win for coaches. “They just all feel like really, really important games for us.”
+ Holtmann doesn’t need to remind his team that Rutgers beat them this year. They’ve beaten the Buckeyes twice in their last four meetings. “I think our guys are well aware, and this is the best Rutgers team by far.”
+ Consistency in production from the veterans has been frustrating. It is expected from the younger guys. Holtmann is most concerned that the consistent effort is there.
+ Rutgers was very physical the last game and made it difficult for OSU to score. Rutgers has since had the return of one of their best players and the Buckeyes have lost Kyle Young.
+ “I’ve got to be careful of how much youth I’m putting on the floor at times.” Holtmann doesn’t know if that’s always in the best interest of the team. Sometimes there is no alternative, but he thinks he can limit the amount of time the freshmen are on the court at one time.