Forward Terren Harbut knows his team is getting a reputation of being soft, and it has nothing to do with physical brawn.
Harbut was one of the many Bobcats (5-13 overall, 2-6 Mid-American Conference) still searching for answers to the team's soft mental make up following a 23-point drilling at the hands of Western Michigan on Wednesday.
It's important for us to be mentally strong enough to carry on and make the next play instead of getting down on ourselves
Harbut said.
Because of the discouraged temperament many of the players were left with, it was no surprise Ohio coach Tim O'Shea felt like he had some psychological repair work to do on his team as the Bobcats prepared for Central Michigan (3-15, 0-8 MAC).
Not that I expected to be blown out but I knew it was sort of an exclamation point to nine of 11 on the road because we were playing the best team on their home court Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said. There are some things they (Ohio) need to see they did on tape
but we've got to move on.
Practice now turns its focus to the condition of players between the ears rather than between the lines as Ohio has a quick turn around against rival Miami on Monday.
The hope is that Ohio can recapture some of the magic it had in back-to-back home wins against Buffalo and Northern Illinois earlier this month, O'Shea said.
Forward Delvar Barrett can handle a groin pull, a sore back, two injured thumbs and a foot injury, but what he is having trouble handling lately is the losing.
Man
you just don't understand
it's so frustrating
Barrett said. I'm not doing my job the way I should be doing it. I'll be the first to tell you that.
As hapless as the Chippewas look on paper, it is easy to forget their 69-68 win against Notre Dame in South Bend during the first week of December. Even though Central Michigan enters the contest on the low end of an eight-game skid, Barrett said the team has no reason to take the Chips for granted.
We've only got two (MAC) wins
so it's not like we're head and shoulders above them
Barrett said. They've lost eight in a row
but we just got beat down.
On the injury front, forward Sonny Troutman is expected to play after a knee collision with a Western Michigan player Wednesday night causing some fluid to be on the knee.
Ohio faces Central Michigan at 1 p.m. Saturday in The Convo.
