Chris Holtmann emphasizes excitement in upcoming expansion for B1G hoops

Chris Holtmann met with reporters at B1G Hoops Media Days Tuesday to preview the Buckeyes’ upcoming season.

Holtmann’s first question was regarding the upcoming additions of 4 former Pac-12 schools in 2024-25: Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA.

Holtmann said he believes he speaks for all B1G coaches in saying he could not be more excited to add the 4 programs that “have certainly experienced their highs and lows” but ones that add legitimate competition into the league. More than anything else, it shakes things up to keep things fresh for everyone involved.

Here’s Holtmann’s full comments on the topic:

“Yeah, I’m excited about it. I really am. I think our league is positioned as well as any league in the country, and I think all those schools bring a different element. They’re all going to be really exciting places to play for our guys to go and experience playing at some of those venues that are as iconic as there are in college basketball. They’re all programs that have experienced certainly highs and lows, but you look at a program like UCLA, and they’ve had a phenomenal last couple of years there with Mick. So I think it’s a really good thing for our league. I couldn’t be more excited. I think I speak for most coaches.”

All of the 4 teams set to soon enter the conference have made the NCAA Tournament at least once in the last 5 years. Only Washington has not cracked the Big Dance in the past 3 seasons. USC and UCLA both made it to the Field of 68 in 2022.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.