Earlier in the season, we reviewed the Big Ten coaches on the hot seat. Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann was not on this list, but he could be making his way there. After a shaky start to this season, is Chris Holtmann on the hot seat?
Is Chris Holtmann on the Hot Seat?
Previous Results
Last season, Ohio State missed the NCAA tournament. But, this was after making the tournament four years in a row (not counting the COVID season). However, there is still some uncertainty surrounding Holtmann’s job. He has never made a Sweet Sixteen appearance and was recently upset in the first round as a two-seed against Oral Roberts. While Holtmann has been a good coach, he is starting to lose the fanbase due to steadily declining results.
Recruiting
The ability to bring talent into the program is one of the reasons Holtmann has not been on the hot seat. Ohio State had a top ten high school recruiting class in both 2022 and 2023. The Buckeyes have also been able to land a few highly regarded transfers such as Jamison Battle. Recruiting in the lifeblood of the program, so this should not be ignored when evaluating Holtmann’s hot seat.
Unfortunately, the 2024 recruiting class is not looking as promising. Ohio State only has two signees, a four star and a three star. While they are both solid players, they are not up-to-par with the classes we have seen form Holtmann.
This Season
This year has been relatively bad for Ohio State. Although it is still possible for the Buckeyes to make March Madness, the blowout loss against Northwestern certainly hurt their chances. This season, Ohio State is 13-7 with some bad losses against Michigan and Penn State. The Buckeyes also only really have one great win, which is against Alabama. Currently, they do not have much of a resume.
However, the bigger disappointment has been player development. Many fans understood the struggles last season and attributed them to injuries and playing young players. While some players, like Bruce Thornton, have progressed, there are a few players who have not lived up to the hype. Battle was supposed to elevate the Buckeyes, but he is only third on the team in scoring and does not offer much in the way of defense. On the flip side, sophomore Felix Okpara has been great defensively but has shown little improvement in his offensive game. Finally, senior guard Zed Key has appeared to have slightly regressed this season, which is not what you want from a four-year player. While Holtmann has had some great players over the years, this crop has been a bit disappointing and there does not seem to be much output after the top scoring options.
Is Holtmann on the Hot Seat?
Although it depends on who you ask, I believe Holtmann’s seat is just warm. There is still a chance that Ohio State can make March Madness, which will limit how much chatter there is about firing him. But if he misses the tournament, he has to use the transfer portal. Bringing in a strong transfer class can give him life for next season. If this is not done, he will be on the hot seat to start next season. Overall, Holtmann is on a downward trajectory, but his success at the program will save him from being fired this offseason.
