With the narratives of a 12-game losing streak still tailing behind the team, Ohio State hits the road once again Tuesday to take on Nebraska.
It's an important stretch of play upcoming for the Buckeyes, who are firmly planted on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. A win against Penn State on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak may have helped stabilize things going forward.
In his meeting with the media on Monday, Chris Holtmann said that Nebraska is a "bona fide tournament team" and a "terrific shooting team." He also gave an update on freshman and bench contributor Scotty Middleton, who served a one-game suspension against the Nittany Lions for violating team rules. Middleton will return to play against the Cornhuskers.
- On what Nebraska is doing well: "They've got a great system that they've recruited older transfers to. ... They've really hit the transfer market well and you can see it. ... They've just got a really good team that's a bona fide tournament team, I don't think there's any question."
- On the challenges of facing the Cornhuskers on the road: "I think it's really gonna test us. ... We're gonna have to be on-point with our defense. ... They're a terrific shooting team."
- The way that defenses are hedging Ohio State star point guard Bruce Thornton is limiting his ability to generate offense going toward the rim, Holtmann said. "It's really limited his ability to get downhill. ... But it has kind of neutralized that. He's such a strong guard, it's a big reason why he's getting hedged."
- On whether he's OK with Thornton not scoring a bunch of points as long as he's still playmaking: "I'm OK if we have a good, efficient, effective offense regardless of how it looks for any one individual. ... I love his ability right now to find the open guys. ... He'll make some of the open ones that he's missing and I think his offense will come around."
- Holtmann wants to see better stretches of play from his bunch on the road over the next handful of games.
- On whether it takes time for bench players to find their groove during the season: "A little bit. Particularly, it may be a little bit harder for younger players. ... But yeah, it does take a minute." He added that players who embrace their role off the bench will get increased opportunities.
- On what makes Nebraska star guard Keisei Tominaga so effective: "(It's) his motor. He's incredibly fit. He's got a really quick release."
- Holtmann said that it will be important for Ohio State to get out to a fast start in its next few road contests. "That's gonna be critical for us in these next couple games."
- Felix Okpara's offense has improved and his helping suck defenses in for the Buckeyes' perimeter players, Holtmann said. "What he's done a better job of is creating action offensively. ... He's able to slip out of a ball screen, (or) catch it and make a quick decision in a dribble handoff."
- Scotty Middleton will return to action for Ohio State on Tuesday after serving a one-game suspension for violating team rules "He's a good kid. ... I think sometimes the outside world makes a bigger deal of this than what it is."
- On new Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork: "I've heard really good things about his ability for fundraising and NIL in this new space, talked to some industry people and heard good things. So I look forward to (working with him)."
