Chris Holtmann calls Branham one of the most mature freshmen he's ever coached
If Big Ten basketball fans weren't familiar with the name Malkie Branhan yet, they should be now—especially with March just around the corner.
Branham's latest entry to his growing reputation as one of OSU's most important players: a 27-point, five rebound, three assists, and two block performance that saw his team finish a poor Indiana team in overtime, 80–69. extended beyond. Branham shot 69 percent off the floor and eight-eight-eight from the free-throw line.
it was brilliant. The true freshman Buckeye is making a name for himself as Batman's much-needed Robin who is an E.J. Liddell.
"I said before the season even started when I first met [Malachi] that he was a bucket getter," Liddell said of his young teammate. "He'll get better and better as the years go by. He seems to be watching the game a lot better, it's slowing down and he's had a good night all around."
Chris Holtman also ignored Branham's development. In his fifth year at the Buckeyes, Holtman noticed the game slowing down even for the true freshman.
"We have evolved a lot over the past month [using the ball screen off Branham]," Holtman explained after the win over the Indian. "We weren't that way at the beginning of the year because their game wasn't there at the start of the year. It was still a little too fast for them."
It's not the only thing that has impressed Holtman, though.
"Their maturity level is high," he said. "That's what I've always said. He's one of the most mature freshmen I've coached across the board. Really high maturity level. Some of that has to do with his IQ and feel for the game." — which has really evolved."
That maturity was on full display in the final 15 seconds of Monday's win, when Holtmann held the ball in his hands to try and tie the game. Branham danced around a couple of ball screens looking for an alley to the basket to no avail, and suddenly time was of the essence.
Where many players would have taken the approach of the hero ball and dodged a competition shot, Branham was placed to survive the game long enough to find a wide-open Liddell along the baseline, without stopping. Had flushed a game-tying dunk in the house.
The Schottenstein Center went bonkers. The Buckeyes ended it in overtime. the rest is history.
"I'm just looking for the right play." Branham said. "I'm not the kind of person who forces a bad shot. I just read the game. Like EJ said, it's slowing down for me so I took my time and EJ was wide open so I had to He just got it."
Late game awareness and Branham have shown that there are many upper-class people due to a lack of selflessness. No wonder Holtman has learned to rely on him more and more throughout the season.
"We have to make sure we're getting the ball to our playmakers and sometimes it turns up," Holtman said. Struggling to get to my place tonight. But 22 was a brilliant playmate tonight, both for himself and for others. I give a lot of credit to Malki."