Jaaron Simmons and Ohio coach Saul Phillips share a trust deeper than other players.
Ohio coach Saul Phillips said he was picking up his kids from school when a young student from Morris Elementary School stopped him.
"Were you yelling at Jaaron the other night?" the student asked the second-year coach regarding him and point guard Jaaron Simmons' sideline conversations during Ohio's 85-70 win Tuesday against Marshall.
Phillips and Simmons were discussing Simmons' struggles on Dec. 1 when he had four turnovers in the first half.
Some frustration brewed, with Simmons sighing deeply after turning the ball over against Marshall, and not elaborating on what Phillips actually said to him in the first half.
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Simmons and Phillips bicker at times, sure, but their relationship is close. The two discuss formations often and watched NBA player Chris Paul together during the offseason. They're so close, Phillips lets the point guard from Dayton — who's only played in six games under Phillips — call his own plays on the court.
But what the elementary school student had observed, along with the rest of the 6,782 attendees in The Convo on Tuesday night, was Phillips trying to control his floor general. After all, Simmons leads the Bobcats with 38 turnovers, as Phillips said Simmons hates turning the basketball over.
"We're young, we're antsy when we get a change to get out there to play," Simmons said after his 25-point, six-assist and seven-turnover performance against the Thundering Herd. "We just have to be patient and take our time."
Those turnovers don't bother Phillips. At times, they do, but Phillips has remained adamant in trusting "his" point guard because Simmons can see "the bigger picture," he said. He cares for Simmons, as the two think alike according to Phillips, and have talked about life outside of basketball.
There's a sense of trust deep rooted between the player-coach.
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"I was really impressed with him personality wise first time I ever talked to him," Phillips said of Simmons. "Just seeing the way he conducted himself. Part of him being a terrific point guard for us is him being a leader. It has nothing to do with all the wonderful things he does off the court. His ability to move people in one direction."
On the court, Simmons has not only averaged 17 points, seven assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, but he has changed the culture of Ohio basketball.
"Jaaron is not looking score. He's different," forward Wadly Mompremier said. "He's looking to pass first, and that's what I love about him. He loves to pass to us more than getting points. Who wouldn't love a point guard that passes you the ball?"
Mompremier is correct. Simmons said he enjoys getting into the paint and assisting his teammates hanging around the perimeter.
He does is it well, too, and that's why Phillips plays him 34 minutes, sometimes more, per game.
"He's just a special player to play with," freshman guard Gavin Block said. "I just have to find the open spot and Jaaron is doing the hard work."
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"I did not yell at him," Phillips said he explained to the young student. "(I was just) giving constructive criticism at a higher volume."
Phillips trust of Simmons runs deeper than some other players. Former Ohio guards Stevie Taylor and Jarvarez "Bean" Willis, at times, struggled to keep the offensive flowing last year by shooting instead of looking for teammates open on the block.
But Simmons is different. So different, Phillips said the Bobcats will rise and fall with him leading the way this season.
“Jaaron can handle anything,” Phillip said. “I’m going to keep going back to him. He’s my general out there."
@Lukeoroark
Lr514812@ohio.edu
