BOISE, Idaho – Chris Holtmann told reporters on Wednesday that the "million dollar question" was how Ohio State would respond to its extended layoff between the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments.
In the case of Keita Bates-Diop, the answer was quote obvious.
The Big Ten Player of the Year dropped in 24 points, including 17 points in the first half, in Ohio State's 81-73 victory over South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, and when asked in the postgame locker room when the last time he felt that fresh entering a game was, he said you would have to go back to January.
"The beginning of Big Ten season, honestly," Bates-Diop said with a chuckle. "I was extremely fresh. We've had two weeks off since we last played so we had a lot of recovery. Obviously there was a lot of practice to keep our conditioning up, but I felt great."
Bates-Diop opened the game by hitting four of his first six shots, and matched SDSU star Mike Daum with 17 apiece by halftime, at which point the Buckeyes and Jackrabbits were knotted at 43 points.
His first half success didn't translate as much in the second half, as Bates-Diop finished with just 24 points, but did collect his 13th double-double of the season, finishing with 12 rebounds.
“I was extremely fresh ...Obviously there was a lot of practice to keep our conditioning up, but I felt great.”– Keita Bates-Diop
Holtmann said after the game that seeing a fresh Bates-Diop on the floor makes a huge difference for not only the Normal, Ill. native, but for Ohio State as a team.
"He was good early. He settled a little bit late. But he was good early and I am proud of him. He looked a little fresher too. It's a big difference. You can see it," Holtmann said of Bates-Diop playing on rest. "On his shot, it's not as flat. Free throws aren't as flat. We have got to keep him fresh for Saturday."
Even though Bates-Diop didn't score as much in the second half, his presence was still felt. Seven of his 12 rebounds came in the final 20 minutes, three of which came on the offensive glass.
In addition, Bates-Diop said he felt his early success in the scoring column helped open things up for the rest of his teammates, particularly the guards who willed the Buckeyes in the second half.
"When I get it going early, it kind of takes pressure off everybody else and helps them score more, which is kind of what happened," Bates-Diop said. "Kam and C.J. got it going. We kind of play off of each other. If one of us his hitting, everybody is focused (on them) and will over-help, and that opens up driving lanes for (Jae'Sean Tate) and open threes for Kam, Dakich and C.J. That is how this team has been all year."
Ohio State will be able to rest for about 48 hours before returning to Taco Bell Arena for a rematch with Gonzaga, who skated by UNC Greensboro in its first-round matchup, 68-64. The Buckeyes dropped an 86-59 contest to the Bulldogs on Thanksgiving night, which was Ohio State's first loss of the Holtmann era.
