78 days and counting.
That’s the magic number until Ohio takes the hardwood against Ohio State on Nov. 12 for the first time since 1994 when Ohio was victorious, winning 78-67 with Gary Trent scoring 26 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, while current Ohio State assistant coach Jeff Boals added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Bobcats.
Although it’s quite a while before the two teams compete, I can’t hold in my excitement. It has nothing to do with bragging rights, unless you live in the Kellogg household. Columbus native Nick Kellogg, a senior guard, will face off against his father Clark’s alma mater.
I’m sure fans will see the game as bragging rights, but in the grand scheme of things, the game doesn’t have much clout on the season. I don’t believe bragging rights can truly count if you play a team once in the season and the outcome most likely will not factor into a team’s postseason chances. Especially with Ohio, which primarily relies on a victory in the Mid-American Conference Tournament to receive a birth in the NCAA Tournament.
However, the game is intriguing because of the numerous storylines that will occur when the teams compete.
It’s a new era in Ohio basketball with the departure of the most decorated senior class in program history. What better way to open that era early in the season than with rekindling a game that hasn’t been played in 19 years?
This is also the first class of recruits from second-year head coach Jim Christian. He has brought in a wide range of talent, and it will be interesting to see how the new players mesh with the returning squad. The game will showcase transfers Javarez Willis, a guard from Texas Tech University, who, along with Stevie Taylor, will take over after the departure of D.J. Cooper.
Finally, the game offers a nice lesson in nostalgia.
It harkens back to deeply-seeded rivalries, which is important because the current path of college athletics has seen rivalries deteriorating. With the multitude of conference realignment in the world of college sports, this is a refreshing sight.
Although I realize this rivalry does not happen every year, it happens just enough to keep me enthralled with collegiate sports. I had a similar feeling in 2010 when the Bobcats and Buckeyes competed in football. Without question, an Ohio victory would be a solid step in the right direction for the program, especially considering the disappointing finish to last year’s season.
However, I’m not concerned with the outcome of the game; I have the various components of a compelling back story unfolding before my eyes.
Brandon Kors is a senior journalism major at Ohio University. Are you also excited about Ohio and Ohio State playing in basketball this year? Let him know at mk277809@ohiou.edu.
