The Bobcats won't be the only ones familiar with The Convo when Buffalo comes to town tomorrow.
The Bulls' 133-pound Mark Budd is an Ohio product who graduated from Orrville High School. After high school Budd earned many looks, even some from coach Joel Greenlee and the Bobcats (12-6, 1-1 Mid-American Conference.)
We recruited him
had him on a visit all that stuff Greenlee said. To be honest I think he really wanted to come here. We just didn't have the money for it at the time.
Budd took his talents to Buffalo and currently sports a No. 16 ranking and a 17-1 record. The reigning 133-pound Mid-American Conference champion will be taking on Ohio's Terry Jackson in a match Greenlee said will be all about control.
First and foremost you have to stay aggressive
stay at him
Greenlee said. He's a great 133-pounder. He's solid in all positions. You kind of have to take him out at his game.
Jackson and Budd have battled twice in the past, with Budd taking both decisions by just two points.
Familiarity will be a theme tomorrow, as the 'Cats dive back into their MAC schedule. Buffalo (7-3, 0-1 MAC) dropped their only conference meet, 30-6 to Northern Illinois, a team that the Bobcats fought to the final match before falling 18-13.
Ohio's 141-pounder Albert Madsen, who won his match against Northern Illinois, said that conference duals always carry a little more weight, especially as the season progresses.
With a win this week against Buffalo we'll be climbing up the rankings in the MAC
he said. It'll help us get a better seed for the MAC tournament down the road.
The 'Cats will be glad to be back in The Convo for the first time since Jan. 3 when they topped Virginia Tech. Madsen said it's a luxury that does not go unnoticed.
It's a lot nicer. We don't have to change our workout because the hotel doesn't have things we need or the gym is cold
he said. You just don't have to face that stuff like you would on the road.
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