Ohio State Basketball: Players happy, and another on the way
Things keep rolling with the Ohio State basketball program.
The direction the Ohio State basketball program is heading now is much more encouraging than it was just a few weeks ago. The returning players appear to be enjoying the changes coach Chris Holtmann is making, and more help is on the way.
Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors discussed how well the transition from Thad Matta to Chris Holtmann is going in a recent article, and what center Micah Potter and guard Kam Williams had to say about it. Here are some things Potter had to say as reported by Mr. Shoemaker.
"“It’s kind of weird just the whole vibe the program has already is light years ahead of what it was,” Potter said. “Like I said, we hated to see Coach Matta go and we loved him to death, loved all the rest of the coaching staff to death but the change happened and then Coach Holt has won us over already and so has the rest of the coaching staff. All the guys are comfortable, we all get along really well and everyone’s happy, having fun.”“We’re all bought in, 10 toes in, and it feels really good.”"
Potter had other things to say as well as Williams. It’s a good read and if you want to check out the full article click here.
It’s always a shock to players when the head coach who recruited them is replaced, but it seems as though everything is cool now.
It’s good to see that the players who didn’t join the mass exodus from Ohio State recently are buying what coach Holtmann is selling. They really are a good bunch and could provide a solid nucleus moving forward.
In addition to Potter and Williams, a third starter, senior forward Jae’Sean Tate returns. Guard C.J. Jackson will take over the point after having a fine season as a backup and forward Keita Bates-Diop will return after missing last year due to an injury.
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Forward Andre Wesson got his feet wet last season as a freshman. His younger brother Kaleb (F/C), Kyle Young (F) and Musa Jallow (G) are outstanding recruits who may contribute right off the bat.
And more help is on the way, and from an unusual direction. It has been widely reported that Andrew Dakich will be leaving Michigan and joining the Ohio State basketball program as a graduate transfer.
Dakich’s stats won’t blow anybody away as he played less than five minutes a game last year and averaged less than a point a game. But the Buckeyes need another point guard and Dakich might just fit the bill.
Kam Williams has been practicing the position and Jallow may be able to help some as well, but to have a guy who has played the position has to be comforting to coach Holtmann. Even if Dakich can just spell Jackson for 6-10 minutes a game that will help. And having a true point guard going against the starters in practice will be a benefit.
Next: Chris Holtmann Must Recruit These States Hard
It seems like things are on the uptick in the Ohio State basketball program at the moment. After a rocky start, Chris Holtmann now has things rolling.