My team:
Can Holtmann/the Buckeyes recover?
I've been saying for three years now that Holtmann wasn't the right answer at HC but despite that I have a hard time completely writing off the Buckeyes because I don't *THINK* that they have a talent deficiency. As I've said in this thread before, they have Tier-1 talent and Tier-5 coaching.
That makes it hard for me to write them off completely because if the talent exists then there is at least a chance that the team could start playing up to their talent and if they do, they will suddenly be one of the top teams in the league.
All of that said, they might be out of time even for that.
One month ago Ohio State was 12-2/2-1, on the cusp of the top-25, and (IIRC) a #5 seed in the projected brackets. Since then they've lost seven of eight, they aren't even close to the top-25, and they aren't even in the bubble discussion.
I *THINK* they need ~21 wins to get serious bubble consideration. They are currently 13-9 so if they won out they'd finish 22-9. That would likely do it but it also assumes that they are going to win in Madison, beat Purdue, win in East Lansing, and also win all their other games.
They've lost four straight and seven of eight. If they lose tomorrow at home to IU:
- vs IU is 5 straight, 8 of 9
- vs UMD is 6 straight, 9 of 10
- @ UW is 7 straight, 10 of 11
- vs PU is 8 straight, 11 of 12
- @ MN is 9 straight, 12 of 13
- @ MSU is 10 straight, 13 of 14
Then they host a Nebraska team that is VERY good at home but doesn't travel well. They could actually win their last three (vs UNL, vs M, @ RU) but if they lose 10 straight and 13 of 14 prior to that it will obviously be far too little and far too late.
Is there any chance that they pull out of this freefall?