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Gene Smith Confident Ohio State Can Make NCAA Tournament, Be “In the Hunt” For Big Ten Championship in 2023-24

This past men’s basketball season was one most Buckeye fans would rather forget. And perhaps many already have.

But if anyone needed reminding, here’s a brief refresher: Ohio State’s 16-19 record represented its fewest wins and worst winning percentage in 19 years. The Buckeyes’ nine-game, monthlong losing streak was their longest since 1997-98, which was also the last time the program had a worse regular-season conference win percentage. Not to mention, Ohio State missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Thad Matta’s final season at the helm of the program in 2016-17.

That said, Gene Smith doesn’t think Chris Holtmann’s performance as head coach is on the decline.