Coach of the year? Chris Holtmann's magic works again in upset of No. 3 Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE – You don't want to be a top-five team playing Chris Holtmann.

In the last year, Holtmann has twice knocked off Villanova, ranked No. 1 the first time his Butler Bulldogs beat them and No. 2 the next time. In his first year at Ohio State, he topped No. 1 Michigan State on Nov. 7. And on Wednesday, he toppled No. 3 Purdue at Mackey Arena.

His No. 16 Buckeyes trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half on the way to a 64-63 victory. Carsen Edwards was on fire and the Boilermakers were playing suffocating defense. But the Buckeyes chipped away, down to the final possession.

Jae'Sean Tate missed a layup with 3 seconds left, trailing Purdue by one. But a Keita Bates-Diop putback sealed the win. It snapped Purdue's 19-game winning streak and sucked the air out of an electric Mackey Arena.

That's what Holtmann does.

"We didn't go into this saying it would be a barometer (game)," Holtmann said. "As a coach, you're more concerned about how you're playing and what improvements you're making from game to game.

"We beat an incredible team and an incredible program tonight," he continued. "This may have been the best road environment I've ever coached in."

His Buckeyes (21-5, 12-1 Big Ten) have surprised college basketball fans and media this season. They were pegged by league coaches to finish 11th of 14 teams in the league. (Michigan State was No. 1, Purdue No. 2.)

After this win, they're in position to compete with Michigan State and Purdue for the league title. The league title will go to the Buckeyes if they win out.

Holtmann, of course, credited his players for yet another toppling of a ranked opponent.

"Players win games," he said. "Our older guys did that."

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