Ohio State basketball suffers another March meltdown under Chris Holtmann

After suffering the worst loss of the season on Sunday to a bad Maryland team, the Ohio State basketball team was looking to bounce back with a win on Tuesday. Their opponent was the worst team in the Big Ten in Nebraska, who had only won 8 games coming into the game.

Leave it to Chris Holtmann to have another bad loss in the month of March! The Buckeyes lost in embarrassing fashion at home, falling 78-70. Ohio State trailed the entire second half after facing a four-point deficit at halftime. It’s one of the worst losses I can remember this team having in a long time.

It wasn’t the fault of E.J. Liddell. He had 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks in the game and was Ohio State’s only source of offense for most of the game. He even started cramping up at the end of the game because he was trying so hard to will this team back in it.

Kyle Young didn’t come back out for the second half because of an illness. Losing him hurt the Buckeyes badly because they were already missing Zed Key because of an ankle injury. Holtmann’s rotation ended up being quite baffling, especially hardly playing Meechie Johnson even though he’s no longer wearing that mask.

The defense was really what kept the Ohio State basketball team from winning this game. They allowed 43 points in the first half and let Bryce McGowens score 24 points. He abused Eugene Brown every chance he got. Holtmann’s failure to switch up the defense killed them.

This loss is on Holtmann. I’ve been a Holtmann defender, but have also been on record of what he needs to do to not be on the hot seat. In my opinion, he might already be there. Barring a miracle run in the NCAA Tournament, Holtmann’s job status should be in question.