Chris Holtmann, Buckeyes preparing for a Purdue team with 'a lot of bite' coming off upset loss
Chris Holtmann knows what’s at stake on Thursday night when No. 1 Purdue comes to visit Ohio State for a B1G matchup. He also knows that average hoop play won’t be enough to take down a program of the Boilermakers’ magnitude.
Holtmann told reporters Wednesday that the Boilermakers will be coming to Columbus with vengeance and optimism that their Monday night loss to Rutgers was nothing more than a fluke. Purdue, which entered the week at a perfect 13-0, struggled in the 1st half against the Scarlet Knights, allowing them to jump out to a 10-point lead en route to an eventual 65-64 finish.
Sports Betting in Big Ten Country
Sports betting in Ohio is officially launching on January 1, 2023.
Pre-registration is now available at FanDuel Ohio for an extra $100 bonus. Take advantage now.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Teams coming off heartbreaking losses usually look to make statements against their next opponent, and Holtmann is expecting an A-game effort from Purdue in its 4th conference matchup.
🗣️ “You’re going to face a team coming in here with a lot of bite …” – @ChrisHoltmann on playing No. 1 Purdue tomorrow night @TheSchott #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ALTMqLS7Yn
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) January 4, 2023
“You’re gonna face a team that’s gonna come in with a lot of bite,” Holtmann said. “They’re a really proud program, Matt (Painter)’s instilled that. They have really competitive guys and they’ve been hearing for two days some things.”
Holtmann said that losses are common in the B1G due to the level of competition. One thing that separates good programs from great ones is the competitive edge in close matchups. It’s something the 6th-year coach hopes to see in his players against one of the top programs in the country when tip-off ensues.
The No. 24 Buckeyes will tip off at 7 pm ET at The Schottenstein Center. The game will be nationally televised on FS1.