Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Ranking the head coaches for 2018-19

By Bryan Mauro

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: A general interior view of the empty court during the semifinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: A general interior view of the empty court during the semifinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 20: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on in the fist half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 20: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on in the fist half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

3. Chris Holtmann

The Ohio State University has had a long tradition of great basketball teams long before coach Chris Holtmann. Thad Matta was the previous coach at Ohio State. During Matta’s tenure Ohio State made the tournament all but three years. Why was he fired then?  Matta was fired because it appeared at the end of his tenure he had lost control of team, as numerous players transferred out of the program. A few found themselves in trouble with the law. Matta also experienced some health problems which led to him not being as committed to the job as he once was able to be.

Enter Coach Holtmann, and during his first season at Ohio State is something that you see in the movies. The incumbent coach came to Ohio State late in the offseason and did not have much to work with per Ohio State and their basketball standards. Holtmann surprised virtually everyone last year with the season he experienced. He was able to coach the Buckeyes to a 25-9 overall record and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Coach was good enough to earn the Big Ten Coach of the Year a season ago.

Holtmann coached the Big Ten player of the year in Keita Bates-Diop. This was a huge surprise as well because before last season Bates-Diop had battled injuries and was never able to reach his full potential. His full potential was fantastic and earned him an NBA career. Anyone who has followed Holtmann’s career would not be surprised by his success.

Holtmann has won wherever he has gone. His start came with Gardner-Webb, and while he didn’t win much while there, he laid the groundwork for a team to win. The Bulldogs have had a decent run since he left. The next stop was to Butler, and while at Butler he had one of the most consistent programs in the entire Big East. Three straight NCAA tournament appearances before leaving for the Ohio State job. Holtmann has better resources and more money at Ohio State, and should continue to make the NCAA tournament year in and year out. Holtmann already has three Coach of the Year awards to his name, one at each school. Those awards will continue to roll in along with Final four and National Championship appearances. Holtmann is a future Hall of Fame head coach.

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