Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann on Michigan: ‘I thought they played really well’
Michigan stunned Ohio State without sophomore center Hunter Dickinson, sidelined with a stomach ailment. U-M played with a sense of urgency in a 75-69 win, something that was lacking in a home loss to Iowa Thursday.
In fact, OSU head coach Chris Holtmann faced a lot of the same questions Sunday Michigan’s Phil Martelli did then. The Wolverines notched 11 steals and seemed to take the fight to the Buckeyes in the second half.
RELATED: Michigan stuns Ohio State, 75-69, without Hunter Dickinson
“Give Michigan credit,” Holtmann said. “Tough loss, but give them credit. I thought they played really well.”
Especially to start the second half. Trailing 37-30, Michigan went on a 26-7 run that included a 14-1 edge. Point guard DeVante’ Jones was a catalyst, leading the way with 21 points, but Terrance Williams added 17, going 3-for-4 from long range.
Holtmann was chastised in the postgame for having his guys run under ball screens. He lamented the defense and his team’s 13 turnovers noting the Buckeyes didn’t have the urgency needed.
At the same time, like Michigan State’s Tom Izzo last week, he was surprised at Williams’ success. Williams also made three agains the Spartans.
“You’re talking about a 25 percent three-point shooter. He made a few,” he said. “Give the kid credit if you’re talking about that on the ball screen shooter. The guy shoots 25 percent on the year from three. The other [triples] were in transition.
“[Defense] is ‘want to.’ There are physical dimensions, but it’s ‘want to.’ Clearly, we didn’t have enough ‘want to’on that end today. I thought that and our turnovers got us beat. That’s on me. They obviously didn’t have the readiness for that they needed to have.”
It was unacceptable, he added. At the same time, Michigan was well-prepared. Martelli and assistants Howard Eisley and Saddi Washington changed up the strategy defending the post, often sending two guys at big man EJ Liddell.
The Wolverines also picked up 13 offensive rebounds.
“That was an issue,” Holtmann said. “That and our rebounding were significant issues that were addressed at halftime. I just think they got into us and bothered us, and we didn’t run good lead cuts. Then their trapping on the baseline was something they had not done.
“Obviously when you play a team a month ago and you beat them, they’re going to make adjustments. They adjusted to how they were playing the post, and we thought we had given them solutions. Clearly, we didn’t. So that’s on me.”
Liddell and Justin Ahrens both admitted Michigan was the more aggressive team.
“They were aggressive on defnse. And we just weren’t matching that level of aggressiion on the offensive end,” Ahrens said.
But the tougher team? That might have been the case, too.
“I’ll let you guys answer that,” Holtmann said. “But obviously, we need to play a lot tougher.”
As a result, Michigan likely punched its NCAA Tournament ticket heading into next week’s Big Ten Tournament.
