Ohio State Basketball: Why you shouldn't underestimate the Buckeyes

Ohio State Basketball: Why you shouldn’t underestimate the Buckeyes

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: C.J. Jackson #3 and the Ohio State Buckeyes bench react during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Chris Holtmann simply wins games

Coaching matters in college basketball. As much as some people don’t want to admit it, it’s true. And with Chris Holtmann at the helm in Columbus, it simply isn’t smart to underestimate the team based on how much talent left this offseason. With 20-win seasons in each of the last five years (at three different schools no less), Holtmann has proven time and time again that he will overachieve. In the eight years as a head coach (four at Gardner-Webb, three at Butler, and one at Ohio State), here is how Holtmann has performed in conference play relative to preseason expectations:

2010-11: Picked to finish 10th (out of 10), ended in 9th.
2011-12: Picked to finish 10th (out of 11), ended in 10th.
2012-13: Picked to finish 5th in division (out of 6), ended in 2nd
2013-14: Picked to finish 2nd in division (out of 6), ended in 2nd
2014-15: Picked to finish 7th (out of 10), ended in 2nd
2015-16: Picked to finish 3rd (out of 10), ended in 4th
2016-17: Picked to finish 6th (out of 10), ended in 2nd
2017-18: Picked to finish 11th (out of 14), ended in 2nd

On average, in eight years of head coaching, Chris Holtmann has finished ~2.6 spots higher than the preseason prediction for his team. So, knowing this, don’t mind me placing the Buckeyes a little bit higher than most people in the preseason rankings. Even though I’ve already said it, I will say it again for emphasis: Coaching. Matters.

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