Ohio State basketball fans are ready to fire Chris Holtmann
Ohio State basketball failed to make it to the second weekend of March Madness for the second straight year and fans aren’t happy with Chris Holtmann.
The good news for Ohio State basketball is that the Buckeyes made it out of the First Round of the NCAA Tournament this year after beating Loyola-Chicago, something they were unable to accomplish a year ago as a No. 2-seed when they were upset by Oral Roberts. The bad news is that was their only win of March Madness.
Though they put up a spirited effort, Chris Holtmann’s team couldn’t overcome a fierce and favored challenger in Villanova on Sunday, thus sending the Buckeyes packing from the Round of 32 and not letting them see the Sweet 16.
Even after a close game and good effort, though, the Ohio State fanbase is starting to see some concerns that they want to be addressed.
Ohio State basketball fans calling for Chris Holtmann to be fired
Buckeyes fans weren’t taking the loss to Villanova well and they want head coach Chris Holtmann to pay for it with his job.
Year 5 for Chris Holtmann has just ended and Ohio State has yet to make out of the Round of 32. Let’s be honest here, year six won’t be any different. I understand we had injuries, but we’re supposed to have depth and that’s his responsibility. Time to fire Chris Holtmann.
— NCISfanatic21 (@NCISfanatic_21) March 20, 2022
Fire Chris Holtmann, offense has been too inconsistent for all 5 years of his tenure, turnovers and bad fundamentals
— The Viber 🌊🏄♂️🐠™️ (@Viber1k) March 20, 2022
Fire Chris Holtmann
— Mikewach32 #D4L (@mikewach32) March 20, 2022
2012, Thad Matta took a similarly talented roster as they have now to the Final Four and damn near to the national championship game. Going back to losing to Oral Roberts last year and how much they underachieved this year, I’m just completely out on Chris Holtmann.
— Donnie French Fry (@BakeNasty_) March 20, 2022
The best way I can describe #ChrisHoltmann’s tenure at #OhioState so far is very underwhelming! In 5 years with @OhioStateHoops, yes all 20+ win seasons, but he’s never gotten past the round of 32. That’s disappointing & unacceptable at a school the caliber of #OSU. #MarchMadness
— Kenny "The Roadman" Roda🎙🎧📻🏈⚾️🏀🏒⚽️ (@TheKennyRoda) March 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/MelBear26/status/1505655658049413128
Holtmann’s résumé with the Buckeyes has, without question, been a bit of a mixed bag over the five seasons he’s been at the helm of the program.
On one hand, Holtmann has never seen any of his teams finish with fewer than 20 wins in a season. And in any year that there has been an NCAA Tournament, he has led Ohio State to the dance.
At the same time, though, the loss to Villanova punctuates the fact that the Buckeyes have not made it out of the Round of 32 in the four tries under Holtmann. That’s problematic, particularly when it comes to a fanbase that can be as rabid as the Buckeyes.
All told, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Holtmann dismissed in Columbus, at least right now. However, the pressure will be growing in the 2022-23 season and beyond for him to get the job done when the lights are turned up brighter.
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