Chris Holtmann and Ohio State basketball team melt down at home

The Ohio State basketball team had an 18-point lead against Indiana on Tuesday night. Normally, that would be enough to win a game. But not for the Buckeyes! They are experts at blowing leads. Tuesday night was no exception as Ohio State blew that lead to Indiana and lost at home 76-73. It’s the most embarrassing loss yet this year.

Coming into the game, I actually thought Ohio State had a shot to win. It was at home, after all. Better yet, IU was coming in reeling off a loss to Penn State in Bloomington. It was the perfect situation for the Buckeyes to get back on track and end a losing streak. Instead, they have now lost eight of their last nine games.

Chris Holtmann has his most embarrassing loss yet as the coach of the Ohio State basketball team

It was already going to be almost impossible for Chris Holtmann to keep his job. This loss all but confirms that he needs to be canned at the end of the season. If Gene Smith has any sort of standards for the basketball program as he heads into retirement, he’ll get rid of Holtmann. New AD Ross Bjork should insist on it.

There’s not really anything left to play for now. The Buckeyes have only one shot to make the NCAA Tournament and that’s to win the Big Ten Tournament. Nothing I saw on Tuesday night gives me any confidence they can win a single game in that tournament, let alone the entire thing. I think they’ve quit on the season.

It’s a shame really. Bruce Thornton is a good player and deserves to play on a better team than this. He’s been the only player over the past two seasons who has had consistent offensive performances. I don’t know what he’s going to do once the season is over. He might try his hand at the pros or he could even transfer. Heck, I would if I were him.

This team is a disgrace to watch. It won’t get better until Holtmann is removed.