Ohio State Buckeyes' Chris Holtmann Will Not Coach vs. New Orleans

Ohio State Buckeyes' Chris Holtmann Will Not Coach vs. New Orleans

Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball will be without its head coach in tonight's game against New Orleans at Value Center Arena.

USA TODAY

Per college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Ohio State's Chris Holtmann will not coach in the game due to an illness. Assistant coach Jake Diebler will take his place for the time being.

The Buckeyes (9-2) and Privateers (5-6) tipped-off at approximately 6 p.m. ET.

"Ohio State's Chris Holtmann (illness) will not coach in tonight's game against New Orleans, per release," Rothstein tweeted. "Assistant Jake Diebler will take his place. Felix Okpara (illness) is also OUT."

Chris Holtmann Gives Injury Update on Roddy Gayle Jr., Scotty Middleton

Ohio State is coming off a 67-60 win over UCLA on Saturday. The Buckeyes have navigated a stout non-conference slate well and are 1-1 to begin Big Ten play, with the only losses of the season coming in a three-point defeat at Penn State and a 73-66 loss to then-No. 15 Texas A&M on Nov. 10.

Holtmann provided an injury update on Roddy Gayle Jr. and Scotty Middleton earlier in the week. Luckily, both guys are playing against New Orleans.

"Roddy and Scotty are making progress," Holtmann said. "So we'll see. They're kind of being evaluated day to day, but they're making good progress. So it's encouraging for Saturday. Taison has been out with an injury not related to his knee; his knee is healthy. So, he's certainly questionable going into Saturday."