What if I were to tell you that the Buckeyes would be sitting at (6-0) in Big Ten play with an overall record of (15-4) sitting as the 22nd ranked team in the nation nineteen games into the season?

All of this after Coach Thad Matta and the university agreed to part ways after 13 seasons.

Losing Thad Matta hurt the hearts of many Buckeye hoop fans, but everybody seemed to agree that it was time to move on, the program had missed the tournament two years in a row, and the recruiting process didn’t seem to be getting any better.

So after a long heartfelt process the Buckeyes found their guy in Butler head coach Chris Holtmann.

Holtmann had a great run at Butler. He left a record of (70-31) behind, he was also was (4-3) in the NCAA tournament.

He’s proven thus far how big of a steal he was moving forward with Ohio State’s basketball program.

Holtmann has improved this team in every category, what has stood out the most so far this season is composure and hustle/help defense.

After back to back losses to Butler and Clemson this team has taken on the challenge, the defense has been out of the world and the fight these guys have shown has been amazing and beyond fun to watch.

You can tell they love playing for Coach Holtmann.

This has been a complete team effort, along with the amazing coaching of Chris Holtmann, but there is one player who has stood out, that player is Keita Bates-Diop.

Bates-Diop has been absolutely incredible for the Buckeyes this season.

Averaging:

20.3 ppg

8.8 rpg

1.3 apg

53% FG

41% 3FG

82% FT

I believe that Bates-Diop is one of the best players not only in the Big Ten but also in the nation.

He proved that to me and hopefully to the whole nation when he dominated the #1 team in college basketball which was Michigan State at the time.

Bates-Diop put up 32 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes to an impressive 80-64 win.

Ohio State Basketball is back folks, I want to make it clear. Holtmann has been absolutely incredible. It doesn’t get more exciting to know that great basketball is back in Columbus for years to come as long as Holtmann is in charge.

The Buckeyes travel to Northwestern tonight to take on the Wildcats at 7PM.

This will be the first time they’re playing as a ranked team since 2015.

Can they keep there perfect Big Ten record up? Don’t miss the action.