Ohio State names Butler's Chris Holtmann as new coach

[Rustys Dad]

Interesting hire ... Not a splash hire ... and will be interesting to see if he can live up to expectations

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2017/06/butlers_chris_holtmann_hired_b.html

Sidenote to OSU: We already tried the Butler route and it didn't turn out so well ...

 

[DanL53]

Just repeating myself, but between Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State this is going to be interesting to watch. I've got a question for everyone. Presume Ohio State moved quicker to replace Matta. Would you take Miller (now at Indiana) or Holtmann?

 

[hawkguy77]

Just repeating myself, but between Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State this is going to be interesting to watch. I've got a question for everyone. Presume Ohio State moved quicker to replace Matta. Would you take Miller (now at Indiana) or Holtmann?

I always liked the way Miller's teams played, so I would prefer him. I don't know much about Holtman, but I must confess a bias against former Butler coaches.

 

[Rustys Dad]

I always liked the way Miller's teams played, so I would prefer him. I don't know much about Holtman, but I must confess a bias against former Butler coaches.

Ha .. Me, too ... Although Brad Stevens is doing well with the Celtics ...

 

[Ronman]

When it comes to Butler coaches, it seems as though only Iowa picked a turd amongst the blossoms.

 

[iowalawhawk]

Sidenote to OSU: We already tried the Butler route and it didn't turn out so well ...

So did OSU. His name was Thad Matta.

 

[And1Hawk]

A coach with 3 years of Big East experience walks into 3 million for 8 years. Yes OSU has resources my friends that we cannot compete with. Fran's making what?

 

[ChiDoc]

Interesting hire ... Not a splash hire ... and will be interesting to see if he can live up to expectations

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2017/06/butlers_chris_holtmann_hired_b.html

Sidenote to OSU: We already tried the Butler route and it didn't turn out so well ...

Expectations aren't that high for the Buckeye basketball program relative to other comparable jobs, which is why many consider that job to be among the best in cbb with the exception of the top 8 or so "blue blood" basketball schools.

Reasonable expectations, enormous athletic dept resources that rival any school's, very fertile recruiting territory where you're the states clear marquee program, and in a very underrated city that is exploding in population and is now the country's 14th largest.

Matta's health unfortunately was not allowing him to perform like the great coach he was. All accounts are he is an amazing guy so hopefully he fully recovers. The McDermott reports were just off the charts bizarre, who in their right minds would want him over Holtmann?

 

[And1Hawk]

Expectations aren't that high for the Buckeye basketball program relative to other comparable jobs, which is why many consider that job to be among the best in cbb with the exception of the top 8 or so "blue blood" basketball schools.

Reasonable expectations, enormous athletic dept resources that rival any school's, very fertile recruiting territory where you're the states clear marquee program, and in a very underrated city that is exploding in population and is now the country's 14th largest.

Matta's health unfortunately was not allowing him to perform like the great coach he was. All accounts are he is an amazing guy so hopefully he fully recovers. The McDermott reports were just off the charts bizarre, who in their right minds would want him over Holtmann?

McDermott knows he cannot handle a program like OSU. He should have taken it though for 24 million reasons. He's a couple of average seasons from being bounced out of Creighton. He's yet to advance deep in the tourney.

 

[Rustys Dad]

Expectations aren't that high for the Buckeye basketball program relative to other comparable jobs, which is why many consider that job to be among the best in cbb with the exception of the top 8 or so "blue blood" basketball schools.

Reasonable expectations, enormous athletic dept resources that rival any school's, very fertile recruiting territory where you're the states clear marquee program, and in a very underrated city that is exploding in population and is now the country's 14th largest.

Matta's health unfortunately was not allowing him to perform like the great coach he was. All accounts are he is an amazing guy so hopefully he fully recovers. The McDermott reports were just off the charts bizarre, who in their right minds would want him over Holtmann?

I think expectations for OSU are at a higher level ... with the success of the football program ... and even wrestling ... OSU has upped its game and (in my opinion) won't settle for mediocrity. I think there will be a ton of pressure to win ... and win now.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

McDermott knows he cannot handle a program like OSU. He should have taken it though for 24 million reasons. He's a couple of average seasons from being bounced out of Creighton. He's yet to advance deep in the tourney.

This. Yeah, you work for Gene Smith, and it's O$U, but you work your butt off and if you get canned, you say thanks and go count your money.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Will be hard to win quickly at OSU with a depleted roster, but OSU has resources and I would expect highly ranked recruiting classes going forward.

 

[Franisdaman]

Interesting hire ... Not a splash hire ... and will be interesting to see if he can live up to expectations

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2017/06/butlers_chris_holtmann_hired_b.html

Sidenote to OSU: We already tried the Butler route and it didn't turn out so well ...

i hope he is the next todd lickliter

 

[ChiDoc]

I think expectations for OSU are at a higher level ... with the success of the football program ... and even wrestling ... OSU has upped its game and (in my opinion) won't settle for mediocrity. I think there will be a ton of pressure to win ... and win now.

High expectations compared to other top jobs? That's absurd. A job like Indiana comes with much higher expectations with no more resources or advantages over a job like OSU.

Of course they won't settle for mediocrity, there's a huge gap between high expectations and accepting mediocrity.

 

[Rustys Dad]

High expectations compared to other top jobs? That's absurd. A job like Indiana comes with much higher expectations with no more resources or advantages over a job like OSU.

Of course they won't settle for mediocrity, there's a huge gap between high expectations and accepting mediocrity.

I disagree ... I think he will be just as much under pressure as the new guy at Indiana ... This coach will be expected to win and win now ... Or he will be gone .... Expectations at an OSU are much higher than an Iowa, Purdue, Illinois ...

 

[Hawksfor3]

i hope he is the next todd lickliter

You mean to tell me there's TWO of them losers out there?

 

[MepoDawg#]

So did OSU. His name was Thad Matta.

You says that as if he didn't did well at OSU.

 

[nagemj02]

I disagree ... I think he will be just as much under pressure as the new guy at Indiana ... This coach will be expected to win and win now ... Or he will be gone .... Expectations at an OSU are much higher than an Iowa, Purdue, Illinois ...

speak for yourself

Purdue's old AD (Morgan Burke) is officially gone on July 1st. Hopefully Mike Bobinski isn't at all influenced by Burke's penny-pinching, settling-for-mediocrity (in football and many of the other programs) ways.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Matta was obviously let go because of the most recent season results & current roster status.
No one can doubt his early success with B1G Titles & a decent record of Sweet 16's & beyond.

IMO Matta had better talent than results. His recent teams didnt seem to share the ball very well.
Also this one & done and even 2 & done is starting to get a little old...with fans for sure but even coaches.
The constant roster turnover from going Pro & school transfers is hurting some of the so-called big boys.
Ask Tom Crean ...winning the B1G in 2016 to fired in 2017....imagine that.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I don't want Iowa to become a team of one & done players, but there is no denying Matta's success at OSU. Iowa fans would kill for that level of success.

Matta's last few teams have been a great demonstration of the importance of character and work ethic, when you are recruiting players. Iowa's coaching staff does a great job of getting high character kids. I don't know Matta's personal situation, but his health and loss of key assistants seemed to have a huge impact on his team the past few years.

 

[kceasthawk]

Ha .. Me, too ... Although Brad Stevens is doing well with the Celtics ...

No doubt. As we found out it was Stephens behind the rise of Butler ball, not he who shall not be named.....

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Just repeating myself, but between Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State this is going to be interesting to watch. I've got a question for everyone. Presume Ohio State moved quicker to replace Matta. Would you take Miller (now at Indiana) or Holtmann?

Could neither be an option?

 

[RocknRollface]

I think expectations for OSU are at a higher level ... with the success of the football program ... and even wrestling ... OSU has upped its game and (in my opinion) won't settle for mediocrity. I think there will be a ton of pressure to win ... and win now.

I dont think football has much to do with bball expectations.

Sometimes a great football program takes away from bball, not that that is the case with osu.

I agree they wont settel for mediocrity, nor should they.

I think OSU should expect to be in the tournament just about every year given their recruiting area, resources and facilities.

 

[RocknRollface]

I disagree ... I think he will be just as much under pressure as the new guy at Indiana ... This coach will be expected to win and win now ... Or he will be gone .... Expectations at an OSU are much higher than an Iowa, Purdue, Illinois ...

Yes they are higher than those places, not higher than IU though.

Whether Indiana fans expectations are fully realistic is different.

IU bball is kind of like Nebraska football. Although not as out of whack.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

OSU fans will expect their BB team to strongly compete for B1G championships, go to the dance and win some games. High expectations in a tough league.

 

[nagemj02]

Matta was obviously let go because of the most recent season results & current roster status.
No one can doubt his early success with B1G Titles & a decent record of Sweet 16's & beyond.

IMO Matta had better talent than results. His recent teams didnt seem to share the ball very well.
Also this one & done and even 2 & done is starting to get a little old...with fans for sure but even coaches.
The constant roster turnover from going Pro & school transfers is hurting some of the so-called big boys.
Ask Tom Crean ...winning the B1G in 2016 to fired in 2017....imagine that.

His health played a role as well. Some of the assistants that left during his tenure there could have made a difference, too.

When someone has to take 20 minutes to get their shoes on (back and foot problems for him), they're probably not going to get as much done (i.e. recruiting) as they used to on a daily basis.

 

[hawk-i bob]

His health played a role as well. Some of the assistants that left during his tenure there could have made a difference, too.

When someone has to take 20 minutes to get their shoes on (back and foot problems for him), they're probably not going to get as much done (i.e. recruiting) as they used to on a daily basis.

sure wasnt suggesting his back or lost of assistants wasnt a factor...was strictly talking record. He was let go because the last few years have not been very good and more so...had a lot of transfers.

 

[Ronman]

To say they don't have high expectations is simply ridiculous. No school has fans with a greater sense of entitlement than THE Ohio State University.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

To say they don't have high expectations is simply ridiculous. No school has fans with a greater sense of entitlement than THE Ohio State University.

There are a few down south, but Buckeye fans expect to win.

 

[Fan In Black]

Just repeating myself, but between Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State this is going to be interesting to watch. I've got a question for everyone. Presume Ohio State moved quicker to replace Matta. Would you take Miller (now at Indiana) or Holtmann?

Miller every time. And so would have tOSU.

 

[chitownUofI05]

I disagree ... I think he will be just as much under pressure as the new guy at Indiana ... This coach will be expected to win and win now ... Or he will be gone .... Expectations at an OSU are much higher than an Iowa, Purdue, Illinois ...

You can call us delusional, but that's simply not true. Before Bruce Weber took us down the shltter, we were playing for a National Championship after winning 4 out of the last 5 Big Ten championships, 2 of the last 3 NCAA Tournaments and making 19 out of the last 23 NCAA Tournaments and finishing ranked in the top 15 nationally for seven straight season (two of those in the top 5). There is no feasible reason, with our tradition, fan base size and resources, that we shouldn't be alarmingly better than Weber and Groce (our last four coaches before Groce won at least one Big Ten title ... I think it's a short list of schools who have been that self-sustaining), and expectations are higher at Illinois than at Purdue or Iowa. They are AT LEAST equal to the ones at Ohio State.

Again, call us delusional all you want, but our expectations are pretty damn high. We've been really good on multiple occasions over multiple decades, so we know it's possible; we expect a coach to return us to that level, and we can pay the big bucks for it.

RE: This hire, we'll see if it works out. I think he's a good coach, but I'm sure OSU wanted someone a bit more established. If I were an OSU fan, I guess I would be cautiously optimistic.

 

[Rustys Dad]

You can call us delusional, but that's simply not true. Before Bruce Weber took us down the shltter, we were playing for a National Championship after winning 4 out of the last 5 Big Ten championships, 2 of the last 3 NCAA Tournaments and making 19 out of the last 23 NCAA Tournaments and finishing ranked in the top 15 nationally for seven straight season (two of those in the top 5). There is no feasible reason, with our tradition, fan base size and resources, that we shouldn't be alarmingly better than Weber and Groce (our last four coaches before Groce won at least one Big Ten title ... I think it's a short list of schools who have been that self-sustaining), and expectations are higher at Illinois than at Purdue or Iowa. They are AT LEAST equal to the ones at Ohio State.

Again, call us delusional all you want, but our expectations are pretty damn high. We've been really good on multiple occasions over multiple decades, so we know it's possible; we expect a coach to return us to that level, and we can pay the big bucks for it.

RE: This hire, we'll see if it works out. I think he's a good coach, but I'm sure OSU wanted someone a bit more established. If I were an OSU fan, I guess I would be cautiously optimistic.

Oh I'm not questioning how good Illinois has been in basketball ... My point being is Weber coached there from 2003-2012 ... and Groce coached from 2012-2017 ... meaning if the pressure to win was as intense at Illinois as other schools than neither coach would have remained in Champagne as long as they did.

 

[And1Hawk]

You can call us delusional, but that's simply not true. Before Bruce Weber took us down the shltter, we were playing for a National Championship after winning 4 out of the last 5 Big Ten championships, 2 of the last 3 NCAA Tournaments and making 19 out of the last 23 NCAA Tournaments and finishing ranked in the top 15 nationally for seven straight season (two of those in the top 5). There is no feasible reason, with our tradition, fan base size and resources, that we shouldn't be alarmingly better than Weber and Groce (our last four coaches before Groce won at least one Big Ten title ... I think it's a short list of schools who have been that self-sustaining), and expectations are higher at Illinois than at Purdue or Iowa. They are AT LEAST equal to the ones at Ohio State.

Again, call us delusional all you want, but our expectations are pretty damn high. We've been really good on multiple occasions over multiple decades, so we know it's possible; we expect a coach to return us to that level, and we can pay the big bucks for it.

RE: This hire, we'll see if it works out. I think he's a good coach, but I'm sure OSU wanted someone a bit more established. If I were an OSU fan, I guess I would be cautiously optimistic.

I agree and remember the times where IL was excellent at basketball and it was good for the league. The 'Flying Illini' teams were fun. The big catch of catches was hiring Bill Self... his work was capitalized on by Weber. It did not take long after that initial season for Weber to backslide.

I like your new hire and think what has been missing for the past 10-15 years is fun, up-tempo basketball that the players in Illinois want to play. This hire in Underwood could really work.

 

[hawkirugged17]

 

[icwesthawk]

Really interesting. Thought he recruited well. Thought he was a pretty good coach. They just under performed in league play and the tourney. What did they have to pay him to leave?

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

But we hang on to what we hang on to.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

but we had likliter. fran saved us... give him.a lifetime contract. People love fran because he's a good guy off the court....
lol....

 

[Gus is dead]

Id take Holtmann.

 

[HawkHoops80]

 

[RocknRollface]

but we had likliter. fran saved us... give him.a lifetime contract. People love fran because he's a good guy off the court....
lol....

I hope Fran steps down after this year.

He missed his window when he had Garza, Weiskamp, Keegan, Kris Perkins and Toussaint on the same team.