For the first time since conference play began, the Bobcats have more than just the O Zone on their side as they return to The Convo.
They've finally got a little momentum to go along with the perks of being home.
Winners of three straight, with the last two coming on the road, the Bobcats will hope to ride this momentum when they face Northern Illinois on Saturday.
It's a little bit of a better feeling
forward Jerome Tillman said, especially after playing two good games on the road.
Before last Saturday, Ohio was winless on the road in conference play and on the wrong path to pick up a crucial first-round bye in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. After Tuesday's 78-73 overtime win at Western Michigan, the Bobcats are in prime position for the coveted day off.
We're right back in the thick of things O'Shea said. Now that we've got a couple road wins we're right back where we want to be.
We're back in a situation where you could argue that we control our own destiny now, O'Shea added.
If the season ended today
Ohio would be tied with Miami for the last first-round bye. If the Bobcats' winning ways continue
as the second rotation of its MAC East schedule begins Tuesday
they will more than likely hop the RedHawks in the standings.
Even though the postseason tournament is only a few weeks away
it's the last thing on Tillman's mind.
I'm not really worried about it, he said. We can't really worry about the tournament right now because that's where you get in a situation where you overlook opponents.
It will be tough for Tillman and the Bobcats not to overlook the MAC West cellar-dwelling Huskies on Saturday. Not only have the Huskies only won five games this season
but the Bobcats also have a pivotal game just three days later at MAC East-leading Akron.
That's one thing we've focused on not doing, Tillman said. I know Akron is on Tuesday, but we've got to take it one game at a time. You've got to crawl before you walk.
Northern Illinois looked nothing like a team that had lost eight straight and 17 of its last 18 games Wednesday
when it blew out Bowling Green
73-51 in DeKalb
Ill.
O'Shea said that the Huskies' poor record does not represent their talent level.
They're not the worst team, O'Shea said. They've been kind of snake bit in terms of not getting any breaks. They're a classic case of a team with talent that's played well but just can't seem the close games to go their way. They're a dangerous team.",",17,Archives,Andrew Gribble,200702093995midsize.jpg,Ohio forward Jerome Tillman goes in for the dunk against Toledo guard Keonta Howell Jan. 31. The Bobcats won the game 91-80. Ohio hosts Northern Illinois tomorrow at 3 p.m.,",",",","
17873,2007-02-09 06:10:00,The secret to recovery,",One play can produce a dream season. It can also produce a nightmare.
When Ohio faced Kentucky in 2003
