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Ohio State basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 first-look preview

By Brendon Kleen

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 23: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action in the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on February 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 01: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes calls out to his team in the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Value City Arena on March 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 01: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes calls out to his team in the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Value City Arena on March 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Everyone’s jobs are safe … for now

Ohio State’s season actually feels close to what we expected. Molly Geary of Sports Illustrated, for instance, nailed D.J. Carton as newcomer of the year and pegged Ohio State correctly as the third-best team in the conference. As previously noted in this story, last year was something of a transition.

When Chris Holtmann took over, he was a surprising selection but partnered with Keita Bates-Diop to make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The player development success continued with other forwards like the Wesson brothers and Luther Muhammad as well as D.J. Carton as a freshman.

Considering the team’s success on the court, the gift of landing Carton and the development of the rest of the roster, Holtmann’s job should be safe for now. However, the team’s 2020 class is weak (so far), and the Buckeyes didn’t have the chance to prove this season was a definitive success, as they went out of conference play fairly quietly and were not able to battle in the Big Ten tournament or March Madness.

There is a big question whether Wesson might leave for the NBA draft, which could determine not only how Ohio State fares in 2020-21, but whether Holtmann has the runway to keep building the program despite a rocky 2020 recruiting class. The Big Ten isn’t getting worse any time soon, as Michigan has a top-five class and Illinois figures to get better, too.