The Ohio State basketball team got a huge win against No. 7 Maryland on Sunday, one that will further cement its standing towards the Big Dance in March. It played composed, assertive, and with purpose in controlling the game throughout.
But there was a certain sound bite by Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon that got everyone’s attention after the game. When being asked about Ohio State big-man Kaleb Wesson’s play after the game, Turgeon compared him to a bully on the court — alluding to Wesson getting preferential treatment by the officials.
Head coach Chris Holtmann was asked about his thoughts on the comments made by Turgeon and had a tempered, yet pointed response to his Big Ten coaching colleague.
“He (Wesson) was described as being a bully,” asked Holtmann. “Mark said that? To each his own. His opinion can be his opinion. I thought Kaleb was physical and well within the rules, and played hard, played tough and played physical.”
Holtmann then dialed it up a bit, raising his voice a little in defense of his team’s best player. A guy that’s had to play through a lot of contact in a rough and tumble Big Ten.
“Listen, that kid (Wesson) has gotten pushed and shoved, and the number of times people have flopped on him throughout this year — he played well within the rules as he should have today. Kudos to him for that, because that can be frustrating.”
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"The number of times people have flopped with him this year –– he played well within the rules." Chris Holtmann on that comment from Turgeon. https://t.co/qsRuOURT9V
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) February 24, 2020
There you have it. Of course coaches are going to have differing views based on what they see in defending their team, but both guys know what the Big Ten is about. You take it and dish it out in most cases.
Ohio State simply got the better of Maryland today, but it’s certainly something to watch if these two match up again in the postseason.
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