The Ohio men's basketball team knows it will be heading into hostile territory tonight when the Bobcats face the Buffalo Bulls for the first time since last year's Mid-American Tournament.
The Bobcats (12-3, 6-1 MAC) are fresh off a 66-63 win over Akron and will face a Bulls team that has been waiting for a rematch since last March. Not only will the players be ready for their chance at revenge, but the fans are as well and the Ohio players know it.
They probably had us circled before the schedule came out
probably since the tip-in guard Jeremy Fears said. Their crowd was crazy last time we played them at home when we beat them; now I'm sure they want us now.
After the shocking overtime victory in Cleveland's Gund Arena last year in the MAC Tournament and Ohio's stealing of an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, a new rivalry seems to be just getting started with the Bulls.
It is a rivalry that has already brought on the creation of anti-Ohio shirts that have been rumored to be in full force tonight in Buffalo's Alumni Arena.
I've heard they've been making 'hate Ohio' T-shirts Fears said. We are ready though; we want to beat them; that is definitely something on the agenda
because it would be a huge win.
Not only will the crowd be wearing their disapproval of Ohio, the Bobcats know they will hear from the crowd as well. But the Bobcats have grown accustomed to being heckled on opposing team's courts since being named the preseason MAC favorite.
Forward Leon Williams, who was the culprit of the game-winning tip-in in the MAC final, has heard of the shirts -- some of which apparently have his picture on them.
I am prepared for it
and I have been getting used to it
Williams said. I am going to feed off it and try to have a good game.
Both teams will be playing their second game in three days; the Bulls (14-4, 4-3 MAC) are coming off a 76-73 road win at Bowling Green on Tuesday.
With only a day in between games Ohio coach Tim O'Shea says there is only so much a team can do to get prepared with a day to do so.
We will watch a little tape and then roll on out for the game
O'Shea said. They have the same schedule
so no one has an advantage in terms of rest.
