Mailbox: Ohio State basketball fans unhappy with team, coaching, clothing, shoes ...

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.

On Ohio State basketball

Hello to the editor, Mr. Brian White: How many midseason collapses in either January or February is it going to take for either Gene Smith or Ross Bjork to realize that Chris Holtmann apparently isn't such a great coach and may not even be a very good one? Every year essentially the same dreadful pattern keeps occurring. If the men's basketball team wants to contend for national championships, or at least Big Ten championships and deep runs into the NCAA Tournament, then I'm sorry, but the Buckeyes will need and deserve a better head coach. Nothing personal against Mr. Holtmann nor his family, as he's apparently a fine gentleman, but it appears that he's having trouble keeping the team motivated when January or February comes.

Gail Holcomb, Upper Arlington

To Brian: I have been a season-ticket holder for many, many years and have watched many Ohio State basketball teams warm up. I have also watched many opposing teams warm up and have yet to see an opposing team come out in ragtag get-ups like I see the Buckeyes in their initial warmup. Opposing teams arrive on the floor in their uniforms while the Buckeyes initially come out in something resembling a pickup game of players. Nothing is matching or resembles looking like a team. Given their sad play of late it might behoove them to at least warm up looking like a team. Perhaps taking a little pride in how they look could improve their game.

Jim Sibert

To Brian: It might be a good idea if coach Holtmann and assistants shun the throwback, lookalike Michael Jordan Nikes. A little showy considering the current mood. For one, the shoes conflict with plaid. Bob Knight and Fred Taylor were never so arrayed. And surely the Mrs. didn't choose his outfit. Perhaps something more traditional but still casual would be best?

His problems of losing appear to be twofold. He's not getting the needed recruits, those who can out-hustle and out-shoot opponents. And he's losing thoroughbreds like former freshmen Malaki Branham and Brice (Sensabaugh), both one-and-done stars, now professionals. There are others, too, who could have stayed another year and helped the Buckeyes immensely. It has to hurt to watch current players underperform having witnessed their potential. What's worse is to hear they lack the fight to win. No doubt the schedule is physically draining when coupled with discouragement. Once capable, this team is in an inexplicable pattern similar to last season.

Some of the players' comments reveal a close-knit, caring camaraderie and one with their coach – the anchor of stability. There's hope for finishing well, however remote, remembering they shined in last year's Big Ten tournament. But long term, these extended periods of drought must not be repeated. Until Holtmann attracts some recruits who will bring the crowd to their feet – and when he does, look out – this stuck-in-the-middle (at best) operation is quickly becoming the status quo for Ohio State basketball.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

To Gail, Jim, Larry: Our outstanding beat writer, Adam Jardy, will chronicle every development of the season as always, but my quick take is that if the Buckeyes continue to struggle and Holtmann's future employment comes into question, these factors favor him keeping his job: First, it seems unlikely that Gene Smith would make changing coaches his last task before retirement. Second, the new athletic director, Ross Bjork, doesn't take over until July, which is not the time to be looking for a coach. Third, this is still a young team that has some excuses it can't use next year, when winning will be mandatory. Oh, and, Jim, I'm not a fan of those warmups, either.

On Ohio State football

To the editor: Yeah, I'm sure this won't be published since it's a "non" Michigan take.

Hey Rick Roeder, another delusional Michigan fan. Stage 1: Denial. Stage 2: Deflect. Stage 3: Well, time to cheat. Haven't won one since 1948, so, let's see ... Back in 2019, Harbaugh: 0-5 vs Ohio State. Bowl Game record: 1-6. Got his contract cut in 2019. Started cheating in 2020. (Oh, and let's not forget he forfeited in 2020.) And then the cheating begins.

Kenny Wright, Westerville

To Kenny: How sure were you that this letter wouldn't be published?

Hello, sports editor Mr. Brian White: When we beat Michigan in a 56-27 blowout on their own home field in 2019 (before the COVID pandemic), the Wolverines weren't necessarily "terrible" as Don White had claimed in his letter. If they were, in fact, terrible, it was mostly because we only made them look terrible by beating them so badly that year!

Joseph Burroughs, Worthington

On college football

To the editor: Rob Oller's trite, if not borrowed, fix list for college football lacks the big-picture honesty and perspective worthy of a quality sports writer. He is unquestionably ignorant of the environmental impact of his superficial fixes. Please inform Oller that college football exists on a real planet.

Dan Finn, Worthington

On the Columbus Blue Jackets

To the editor: Another week goes by, and we continue to see the abysmal performance by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It is time to call out the leadership of this organization for what they are, and that is failures. The on-ice performance continues to be horrendous, and we see nothing to make fans believe it will get better. Adding to the misery is we now have a player who needs to enter the assistance program. He could easily be joined by many loyal fans. The coaching staff and front office for too many years have said it is a process. By now we know the process is to take money from fans who are looking for an alternative to OSU hysteria. We’re counting on you to light a fire under the seat of ownership, front office and coaching to prove they can put a winning organization on the ice. If not, moving vans should park outside the arena and clean house.

Tim

On soccer and the Columbus Crew

To the editor: Your front-page article regarding Columbus as a “sports city” because of our love of sports beyond just "football and hockey" forgot another sport that is major in Columbus. Soccer. Our Columbus Crew are the reigning MLS Champions with sellout crowds attending every game. In addition, Columbus will be hosting the MLS All-Star Game this year. All of which generates dollars for our city’s economy. Also, you only have to go to any park in the city on a Saturday or Sunday in the spring and fall and you will see hundreds of parents and youth soccer players engaged in the most popular sport for children of about any age, male or female. The sport with the most participants in this country by far is soccer. Hands down. And it just keeps growing.Chet Ridenour Sr, Worthington

More from the Mailbox:

Reader calls for 'no trash talk' truce between Ohio State, Michigan football fans

Ohio State football fans aren't going to let Michigan's boasting go unanswered

Hail to the Victors! Michigan football fans have their say to Ohio State fans

Readers come to defense of former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord

Syracuse football fan thanks Ohio State's Ryan Day for the gift of Kyle McCord

Will Ohio State football fans watch Kyle McCord become another Joe Burrow?

Some are supportive, but plenty of Ohio State football fans are angry at Ryan Day

Big Ten was unfair to Jim Harbaugh, and Dispatch coverage couldn't be more biased

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mailbox: Ohio State fans unhappy with team, coaching, clothing