John Groce had a hunch.
Following a five-game stretch, in which forward Jerome Tillman hit just 23-of-63 shots (37 percent) from the field and 5-of-20 from 3-point range, the Bobcat coach felt Tillman was about to break out of his slump.
Groce grabbed Tillman for a quick talk. He said he wanted to remind the Beavercreek native to play within himself.
I wanted him to know I had his back
Groce said. You don't have to get too critical of him. He's his own biggest critic.
The discussion seemed to work.
Last week against Western Michigan and Toledo, Tillman scored a combined 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting (62 percent), while extending his consecutive double-figure scoring streak to 29 games.
I wasn't thinking about it too much Tillman said of his shooting. (Groce) just told me to try not to put too much pressure on (myself).
Some things you just can't control.
During his current streak Tillman has been climbing to some impressive heights.
The senior's 1
522 points are the ninth most in school history. His 800 rebounds are also good enough for ninth place in school history. He needs to make just three more free throws to pass Walter Luckett for 10th place on the single-season free throws made list.
With an average of 18.9 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game
Tillman is one of just three players in the country to lead his conference in points and rebounding. The other two are Notre Dame's Luke Harangody and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.
The Bobcats will need him to continue to reach lofty heights if they want to contend for a top-4 seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament and the bye that comes with it.
With Buffalo's loss to Ball State on Sunday
Ohio sits three games behind the conference-leading Bulls with five conference games left to play.
That stretch
which features solely MAC East opponents
starts tonight with a trip to Kent to play the Golden Flashes.
Kent State has won six straight after a slow start.
The Bobcats beat the Flashes 71-65 at The Convo on Jan.11
but Ohio hasn't won in the M.A.C. Center since 2000-01.
It's going to be a battle, Tillman said. We're going to have to grind even more than we did here.
The Flashes have turned around their season with defense.
They have allowed less than 60 points in five of their last six games. The only time they allowed more than that was an 83-80 overtime win over Northern Illinois.
Defensively, their numbers are gaudy, Groce said. We need everybody to step up from a personnel standpoint.
Not only will Ohio have to overcome a hot Kent State team
they will also have to win where they seldom have this season - the road.
Ohio is just 2-9 away from home and has won just one game in the MAC. That is a big reason why they sit in last place in the MAC East Division.
Nobody is feeling sorry for us, Tillman said. We watch the film when we play on the road and that's not who we are.
If the Bobcats want a shot at that bye
they better start showing it.
,",2,Sports,Matt O'Donnell,27119a.jpg,Ohio forward Jerome Tillman lays the ball in during the Bobcats
