Ohio State Holds 2018-19 Media Day
9/26/2018 4:55:18 PM | Men's Basketball
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s basketball team held its 2018-19 media day Wednesday afternoon at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeye upperclassmen met with members of the media to discuss to 2018-19 campaign.
SECOND SEASON UNDER HEAD COACH CHRIS HOLTMANN
Chris Holtmann begins his second season at the helm of the Buckeyes in 2018-19 following an inaugural season at Ohio State in which he was named the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year while leading the Buckeyes to a 25-9 overall record, a No. 2 finish in the Big Ten regular-season standings (15-3) and a Second Round appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
The Big Ten Coach of the Year award was the second COY honor in as many seasons, and third overall for Holtmann, who earned Big East COY in 2017. The Big East award culminated three seasons as head coach at Butler University. Holtmann became the 14th head coach in Ohio State history when he was named to the position June 9, 2017.
Behind the scenes @OhioStateHoops photo + video day
(4pm) @ChrisHoltmann LIVE from 2018 media day coverage on https://t.co/He7w8aQLnY#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/o24t78Cri8
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 26, 2018
YOUTH, INEXPERIENCE WILL BE LED BY PAIR OF CONTRIBUTING SENIORS
C.J. Jackson and Keyshawn Woods both started their college basketball careers elsewhere prior to being added to the Ohio State men’s basketball program. Jackson is a senior and is in his third year after leaving junior college Eastern Florida State following the 2015-16 season. Now in his third year in the Ohio State program, Jackson will be looked upon for his leadership and experience in 2018-19. Woods started his career at Charlotte before transferring to Wake Forest. He left the Demon Decons as a graduate transfer following the 2017-18 season to join the Buckeyes for one year as a graduate transfer. He will also be asked to provide leadership to Ohio State’s young roster at the point guard position. Jackson will run the point as well with the ability to move to the off guard position as well.
NOTING THE 2018-19 SCHEDULE
- The Buckeyes again will take part in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Ohio State welcomes Syracuse to Columbus Nov. 28 this year.
- Now in its fifth year, Ohio State will again play in the CBSSports Classic. The event will take place in Chicago this season Dec. 22. The Buckeyes take on UCLA while Kentucky takes on North Carolina.
- Creighton will play host to the Buckeyes Nov. 15 in Omaha, Nebraska. The game is part of The Gavitt Games, which pits members of the Big Ten vs. Big East opponents.
- Two Big Ten Conference games will be played in early December this year in what will become the norm going forward with the league expanding to a 20-game, regular-season slate. Ohio State will host Minnesota Dec. 2 and then will travel to Chicago for a neutral-site game vs. Illinois Dec. 5 at the United Center.
- The annual Big Ten Tournament returns to the Midwest this year after playing in Washington D.C. in 2017 and New York in 2018. The United Center in Chicago welcomes the Big Ten March 13-17 this year. Indianapolis will host in 2020, Chicago in 2021 and then back to Indianapolis in 2022.
- The Buckeyes will have 18 home games in 2018-19 plus an exhibition contest vs. UNC Pembroke Nov. 1.
- The Buckeyes will return to historic St. John Arena for a game vs. Cleveland State Nov. 23 (8 p.m.). Ohio State is 431-151 all-time in the venue. Ohio State last played a full season at St. John in 1997-98 but have played five times there since Value City Arena opened for the 1998-99 season. The Buckeyes last played at St. John during the 2010-11 season, an 85-60 win over Western Carolina Dec. 12, 2010.
- Seven Big Ten teams (Illinois, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern) battle the Buckeyes twice during the regular season with three (Minnesota, Penn State and Wisconsin) traveling only to Columbus. Ohio State travels to face Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska this year.
- The Buckeyes will be making four trips to the Chicago area this season. Three trips will be made to downtown Chicago for games vs. Illinois (Dec. 5), vs. UCLA (Dec. 22) and for the Big Ten Tournament (March 13-17) at the United Center. The other trip will be to renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena on Northwestern’s campus in Evanston March 6.
- Ohio State will play 12 regular-season games against 10 teams that advanced to postseason play in 2018. Eleven games are scheduled vs. 2018 NCAA Tournament teams (Creighton, Cincinnati, Bucknell, Syracuse, UCLA, Purdue (2), Michigan State(2), Michigan) while two contests pit the Buckeyes vs. 2018 NIT squads (Penn State, Nebraska).
