Ohio State’s win over No. 1 Michigan State on Sunday in Columbus had many Buckeye fans reminiscing. The 80-64 win was the first time an unranked Buckeye team had defeated the No. 1 team in the country since Thad Matta did it his first year at Ohio State, when the Scarlet and Gray topped Illinois in the final game of the 2004-05 regular season. After falling to the Buckeyes, Spartan head coach Tom Izzo – who had his fair share of battles against Matta – said that while Chris Holtmann deserves credit for his role in turning the Ohio State program in a positive direction, Matta didn’t exactly leave the cupboard bare in Columbus. “He’s got some juniors and seniors that are damn good,” Izzo said Sunday after the loss. “Chris has done a good job with them. (Keita) Bates-Diop is an effective, effective player. “Then you add those two injuries,” Izzo continued, talking…
Continue Reading: Chris Holtmann, Tom Izzo Give Credit to Thad Matta For Ohio State Basketball Resurgence
