Ohio State Basketball: Who will be the alpha dog?

The Ohio State Buckeyes played well during a difficult non-conference schedule but things changed when Big Ten play resumed.

For the second-straight season, January has been a cruel month for Ohio State’s basketball team. Beating Villanova, Cincinnati, North Carolina and Kentucky gave Buckeye Nation hope that the program was back in terms of being a national powerhouse.

Beginning with a loss to West Virginia on December 29 and subsequently dropping five of six games in terrible fashion, the luster of a promising season is gone.

Many are scratching their heads trying to understand why Chris Holtmann cannot figure out how to win consistently in the Big Ten and whether this losing streak will jeopardize the team’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament. While the concerns are legitimate at this point, making the tournament is the least of the team’s concerns.

Besides, basketball is not like football.  There are plenty of paths into the tournament, even for teams that nosedive a bit in January.

The most important issue right now for Holtmann is finding an alpha dog leader.  It is alarming that no one has emerged to take over the team and will it to a level it is capable of playing.

A loss or two is fine.  A little inconsistency is acceptable.  Winning once in the last month is absurd.

There are 12 games remaining to right the ship.  Who is going to step up?

I know it is hard to imagine this team magically finding its groove again.  It has looked helpless at times.

Related Story: Buckeyes must go off script, be more aggressive

Just as easily, I doubt anyone saw this conference play skid either after the tremendous start.

Pressure is on Holtmann to get this team’s focus back.  Much of that depends on better court leadership, playing more aggressively and maintaining a level of intensity necessary to win in the Big Ten.

To paraphrase coach’s speak, at this point Ohio State needs to take it one game at a time. It starts with Northwestern.