Chris Holtmann knew the questions were coming.
“I'm not going to talk specifically about the officiating,” he said, starting out the answer to his first question before continuing.
“Give them credit,” he continued. “They played more physical, played with more force. It's my fault on the technicals.”
Holtmann, the fourth-year Ohio State head coach, was referring to the pair of technical fouls he earned while arguing non-calls with the officials in the second half of his team’s 71-67 loss to Michigan State on Thursday.
In a game that featured 42 total personal fouls – 21 on each team, with four players on each side accruing at least three fouls – he and Tom Izzo both visibly showcased their frustration standing on their respective teams’ bench areas.