Ohio State's Chris Holtmann still supportive of handshake lines: 'It's a worthwhile exercise'

Despite the situation in Madison over the weekend and calls to end the handshake line in college basketball, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann supports the postgame tradition.

Tuesday afternoon, Holtmann met with reporters and was asked about the fight that occurred at the conclusion of the Michigan-Wisconsin game Sunday, resulting in a 5-game suspension for Juwan Howard. The Buckeye leader had plenty of thoughts.

“I think it’s a worthwhile exercise for adults forming adults,” Holtmann said, per Griffin Strom of Eleven Warriors. “No one likes it, but it’s a worthwhile exercise.

“There’s nothing wrong with swallowing your ego and saying, ‘Hey, you were better than us tonight.'”

Holtmann doesn't think handshake lines should be done away with. "I think it's a worthwhile exercise for adults and forming adults. … No one likes it, but it's a worthwhile exercise."

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) February 22, 2022

More from Holtmann on handshake lines: "There's nothing wrong with swallowing your ego and saying, 'Hey, you were better than us tonight."

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) February 22, 2022

Because of Sunday’s incident in Madison, there’s been growing debate about whether or not the handshake line is necessary in college basketball. Multiple coaches in the B1G — including Brad Underwood (Illinois), Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and Matt Painter (Purdue) — are still in favor of it.