Buckeye basketball fans were given a unique viewing experience for Ohio State's matchup with Minnesota on Thursday.
Rather than the traditional television broadcast of high and wide camera angles with a play-by-play announcer and a color commentator, viewers of the Big Ten battle watched the game via an All-Access broadcast featuring a mic’d up Chris Holtmann and Minnesota head coach Ben Johnson in addition to inside looks of timeout huddles and locker room meetings for both teams.
Win the possession
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 13, 2023
This locker room hype up>> @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/QeZhtnioD4
"We're playing good enough to win. Now it's about do we want it or not."
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 13, 2023
Coach Ben Johnson is hyping @GopherMBB up at halftime! pic.twitter.com/DQ2JJdrxoo
The All-Access experience drew mixed reviews from Ohio State fans. That became apparent when we asked our Twitter followers how they felt about the different way of experiencing the Basketbucks play on television.
How is everyone feeling about this All-Access broadcast?
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 13, 2023
Some loved the broadcast because it made them feel as if they were behind the bench at the Schottenstein Center. In contrast, others hated that they were forced into watching the game in such a manner, choosing to mute their televisions while considering changing the channel altogether.
To better describe everyone's experience, we gathered some of the best responses to the question posed in our tweet:
The Good
Absolutely love it. The idea that I can watch a game and get to hear the coaches as well. Thats awesome. Makes me feel like Im right behind the benches.
— Buckeyes, Browns, Cavs, Guards, CBJ, Crew (@christopherlyn6) January 13, 2023
Many will disagree, but Im personally enjoying it.
— A Kirk (@_A_Kirk_) January 13, 2023
Love it.. do football next
— Ryan Paler (@PALMER_RY34) January 13, 2023
Need more of it. This is great.
— TJ Chaney (@chaneytj) January 13, 2023
The Bad
Great in theory, chaos in execution.
— Scott Radcliffe (@Scott_Radcliffe) January 13, 2023
— Justin (@The_JFree) January 13, 2023
Who wants to listen to coaches screaming about nothing? Simply clip the worthwhile moments and have a tiny box pop up at times to add value, but this is not how to execute it
— Ana L. Beads (@Ana_L_Beads_CFB) January 13, 2023
respectfully, its cheeks
— Caleb (@cmatty_7) January 13, 2023
The Ugly
Effing terrible. Why are we being forced to have a smaller game screen and both coaches visible the entire time? This has to be the easiest pay check the commentators have ever cashed.
— Matt Stevens (@matt_stevens22) January 13, 2023
Trash. 4 people screaming over each other. If I gotta listen to the coaches scream they need to have no announcers. I turned the volume down 5 min into the game cause it was so distracting o couldn't follow the game. Just awful
— Weeb (@Weeb33) January 13, 2023
Hate it so much. Its so distracting. I dont need to hear coaches yelling at their players.
— Tyler James (@tjames921) January 13, 2023
Hate it so much. Its so distracting. I dont need to hear coaches yelling at their players.
— Tyler James (@tjames921) January 13, 2023
If any of the suits at FOX read this article, it would seem the best plan moving forward would be to have multiple options for how to view the game – the first with the traditional television broadcast and the second with the All-Access feed. Then everybody would be happy, right?
