Ohio State Coach Chris Holtmann Talks NIT, Zach Edey on Radio Show

Chris Holtmann joined Paul Keels and Ron Stokes on "The Chris Holtmann Show" to discuss the Big Ten Tournament, the NIT and the incoming recruiting class.

Author:
Casey Smith
Mar 13, 2023 8:04 AM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann hopped on 97.1 The Fan for his radio show for the final time this season Monday.

The Buckeyes are coming off a Cinderella run through the Big Ten Tournament in which they became the first team that played on Wednesday to make it to Saturday.

Holtmann recapped that run in addition to looking towards the future of the program.

Buckeyes left out of NIT, Holtmann thought they were in 'consideration'

Holtmann alluded to it after the loss to Purdue that the Buckeyes weren't going to accept an invite to the National Invitation Tournament, and that was confirmed with the bracket reveal Sunday night.

Holtmann said it would've been "very difficult" to play with Ohio State's injury woes, including the season-ending injury to forward Brice Sensabaugh.

"As far as the NIT is concerned, I believe we were in consideration, but I addressed after the game with some of our injuries, it would’ve been very difficult," Holtmann said. “Nothing significant but stuff that could’ve kept them out of multiple games potentially.

Holtmann said now is time to focus on getting medical testing for multiple players.

"Obviously Zed is already through his surgery and going through recovery," Holtmann said. "We just need other guys to go through those things and get themselves healthy.”

Lack of three-second violations against Zach Edey Saturday

It's no secret that Purdue center Zach Edey is a load.

In his three years in West Lafayette, IN., Edey hasn't attempted a 3-pointer, and why would he at 7-4, 305 pounds? He sits in the paint and his bread and butter is a jump hook or a layup off the glass.

Holtmann thought on multiple occasions Edey was in the lane for maybe a little too long, though, violating the three-second rule.

"I was on the officials the entire game. I really do think that needs to be evaluated whether or not you keep that rule in the rulebook because if it's not going to be enforced, why is it in fact in the rulebook?" Holtmann said. "And clearly, it's not a rule that is enforced. You know, he does a good job at times, dancing in and out, but more times than not, it's clear."

Holtmann praised Purdue's awareness that it isn't a foul that will get called often and said "at the very most" only one three-second violation will be called.

"What [Purdue's] saying is, 'Hey, they're not going to call it more than once at the most, so why wouldn't we just park him there?' It's smart on their part," Holtmann said. "And what we've got to be able to do is adjust better, and that's what we're trying to do."

Holtmann praises '23 recruiting class coming in next season

Ohio State's No. 6 recruiting class of 2023 will look to follow in the footsteps of the Buckeyes' current freshmen who, by the end of the year, looked rounded into full form.

The four players they are bringing in are guard Taison Chatman, forwards Scotty Middleton and Devin Royal and center Austin Parks, all of which Holtmann had good things to say about the Buckeyes' "really exciting class."

"[Devin Royal’s] going to be a really, really good player for us," Holtmann said. "He was a major target for us from day one.

"Scotty Middleton's a 6-7 similar, you can certainly play Devin and Scotty together. They're just multi-dimensional bigger wing guard forwards. Scotty has the ability to really be able to defend multiple positions. He's excellent laterally, got outstanding length at 6-7. Taison Chatman's a combo guard who can really do a lot of things at the combo guard position. Then, Austin Parks is a 6-11 center from our state. He's got good size. Right now, he's got a really strong, physical body. He's a good vertical athlete. He's got to get better at defending ball screens and those kinds of things but provides great size for his physicality."

'Really excited' about Felix Okpara heading into next year

Down the stretch, center Felix Okpara assumed the load as the starting five man in forward Zed Key's absence, playing 29 percent of his season minutes total in the final six games alone.

Holtmann has raved in the past about Okpara's ability to quickly learn and grasp concepts as he has "grown right in front of our eyes," and against Maryland in the regular season home finale, the Lagos, Nigeria, native registered a career-high 12 points and tied a career high with 12 rebounds.

"I'm really excited about Felix," Holtmann said. "I think, in so many ways, his ability to impact the game while not always scoring is so exciting."

Holtmann said there's not many games where he's going to be outmatched physically like against Edey and Purdue, in which he had seven points and four rebounds.

"He dominated the Maryland game when we beat them on senior day. I really think he did. He just completely controlled it," Holtmann said. "Then the game against Michigan State, I thought he did so many good things. Against Iowa, Wisconsin, to make it difficult for their big kids. It's a very, very exciting future for that young man."

Biggest NCAA Tournament Snub?

Obviously, the 68-team NCAA Tournament field was revealed Sunday and, while the Buckeyes were left out, there's another team Holtmann thought should have been in.

"I think Rutgers deserved to be in the tournament. That’s perplexing to me," Holtmann said.

The Buckeyes split the season series with the Scarlet Knights, as guard Tanner Holden's buzzer beater — which the Big Ten later said shouldn't have counted — secured the win at Value City Arena. However, Ohio State dropped a nail-biter in the rematch, losing 68-64 in overtime.