DePaul HC Chris Holtmann Talks Kevin Willard, Recruiting Duke Brennan

DePaul Men’s Basketball head coach Chris Holtmann spoke with the media on Tuesday, Dec. 30, previewing his team’s road date with Villanova set for 6 p.m. the following day. 

Holtmann, who spent stints at Butler and Ohio State, has competed against Wildcats’ head coach Kevin Willard in conference games for more than a decade. He gave an assessment of how Willard’s teams succeed, spoke about scouting Villanova forward Duke Brennan during the transfer portal window this past offseason, name-dropped Jay Wright, and gave his thoughts on the Wildcats’ tournament chances.

Here’s what Holtmann had to say.

Early impressions of Villanova:

“A Villanova team that I think is really good and playing really well. I think [they’ve] got a really, really good core group, and they are playing exceptionally well… you look at their numbers offensively and defensively,” Holtmann said. “And you could argue, certainly, they’ve played as well as anybody in our league up to this point maybe, outside of UConn.”

“These first three teams [St. John’s, UConn and Villanova] are clearly NCAA Tournament teams, I don’t think anybody would question that,” Holtmann continued. 

On Wildcats’ forwards Duke Brennan and Matt Hodge:

“They’re really good rebounding as a group. Duke’s a terrific offensive rebounder. Both of them can really offensive rebound,” Holtmann said. “And they’ve got the ability to space the floor, obviously, because their four-man [Matt Hodge] can really shoot the ball from three. He’s a terrific catch-and-shoot guy, but his motor’s outstanding.”

On scouting Brennan in the transfer portal:

“We spoke a little bit to Duke in the transfer portal, so we were familiar with — he was a guy that was well sought after in the transfer market, and he’s had a good, really good start for their team,” Holtmann said. “He’s physical, he’s smart, he’s mobile at 6’10. I think that’s the thing that sticks out as much as anything. He’s mobile, got really good hands.”

On Villanova Hall of Fame head coach Jay Wright:

“The league’s a little bit different since Jay left. Jay was kind of the godfather of the league in so many ways, at least when I was in it in the previous stint,” Holtmann said.

On DePaul’s injuries: 

“I think Théo [6-foot-10 forward Théo Pierre-Justin] will be really, literally an after shoot-around decision, but he has been slowly coming back: I think if he does play, he’s gonna be pretty limited,” Holtmann said. “I think Brandon [bench guard Brandon Maclin] is getting back. Brandon’s still not where he was, let’s say, in the Georgia Tech game, and that’s just the reality. I think him being out of practice, unable, the timing, all that comes with that, it still bothers him at times, but I think he’s getting better.”

Holtmann also said that reserve forward Jeremy Lorenz is still out with a hip injury and trending toward season-ending surgery.

On Villanova head coach Kevin Willard:

“Well I think he’s adapted really well, when you look at the jobs he’s been at. I think he’s, you know, he had a year or two there at Maryland that probably wasn’t what he wanted it to be, but he had an outstanding year last year, and I believe his first year was a tournament team as well,” Holtmann said. 

“The things that remain the same is his defense has always been consistently really good. They’ve got a system that is somewhat unique to him and how they play, and his coaching family. And his, what has remained,I think, consistent is his best teams have been defensively really good and disruptive and been able to really take you out of stuff. And that is true of this year’s team.”

Holtmann continued.

“I think they’re physical, they’re disruptive, and then I think when his best teams, and I think this is one of his really good teams, he’s always had really good guard play. I think they have maybe the best guard depth in the league right now. They’ve got great guard depth. Just a number of guys that can really play.”