While both would tell you Ohio State winning on Thursday night against Minnesota is what matters the most, both head coach Chris Holtmann and forward E.J. Liddell are on the cusp of major milestones at OSU.
For Holtmann, a victory would be his 100th since taking over at Ohio State. He’s currently in his fifth season since taking over in 2017, having made the NCAA Tournament each year (not counting the COVID-19 shortened season).
For Liddell, he’s just 12 points shy of scoring 1,000 for his college career. He came to Ohio State as a four-star forward and Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois as a part of the 2019 class. He had a slow start to his freshman season but began to show signs of his potential late in the 2019-2020 campaign.
Liddell’s sophomore year last season is when he made leaps and bounds, showing an improved outside game and varied ability around the bucket. He has continued to get better and is in the running to be an All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year this season. For him, scoring 1,000 points is exciting and he knows it puts him in an elite category.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Liddell told the media this week. ” I’ve been thinking about it with this long layoff. I was hoping I could get it last Saturday against Nebraska but since it’s coming up I’m hoping I can go out there and do what I can to help us win — if I do get it. I know it would be coach Holtmann’s 100th win as well, so that should be pretty cool. This milestone means a lot honestly, coming here, making a big impact for the team. I think I saw I was going to be like the 60th player to do it, and that’s a pretty cool thing to have my name in the record books.”
#Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann and star E.J. Liddell are forever linked. With both on the cusp of major milestones, it's the relationship between the two families that made it possible.
"It's the kindness," Liddell's father told me.
New story:https://t.co/Mtj6Ghb89X
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) January 26, 2022
Let’s hope that both milestones are met on Thursday night and not just one or heaven forbid, neither. The Buckeyes tip-off against the Golden Gophers at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
