Ohio (1-3 overall) suffered its second straight non-conference loss on the road Saturday afternoon against No. 12 Louisville (4-0). The Bobcats took another loss in their grueling opening slate, but showed real offensive ability against a premier team in the process, putting up 81 points in a 106-81 loss.
The one thing that was certain for Ohio coming into the year was that the non-conference schedule was an absolute grind. The opening slate of games for the Bobcats was daunting, starting with two high-level mid-major teams in Arkansas State and Illinois State.
The offense and scoring ability of Ohio were on full display against Arkansas State in the opener as they put up 85 points in a tight game, losing 89-85.
The next game was another solid showing as Ohio was able to score 72 points on Illinois State despite Dior Conners making the only three of the night for Ohio. The Bobcats showed their ability to get into the paint and score, especially with big men like Javan Simmons and Jalen Breath.
Ohio then took a trip to Saint Mary’s, losing 90-60 after a tough shooting night from everyone not named Jackson Paveletzke, and with a top 15 team in Louisville next up on the schedule, it would show the scoring ability of the team on a national stage.
Ohio delivered all day, as the offense was efficient and aggressive, finishing the game shooting 44% from the floor while shooting 34% from deep and 76% from the line.
The day started with Paveletzke draining a three to follow up on an early post hook from Javan Simmons. The offense was good to start, but Louisville’s Isaac McKneely started even better, knocking down two threes in a row to give the Cardinals an early lead.
One thing Ohio was able to do all game was get to the foul line, and players like Paveletzke and Aidan Hadaway were able to get downhill and get looks at the rim that led to fouls.
“I thought we did a good job,” Ohio head coach Jeff Boals said. “We moved the basketball. When we did move the basketball, we were trying to get the ball in the paint.”
Paveletzke had another amazing game, this one coming off the back of leading Ohio in scoring in the Saint Mary’s loss. He tied his career high on Saturday, putting up 28 points on 8//14 shooting from the floor while knocking down three of his four threes and making 90% of his free throws.
“I thought Jackson was the best player on the floor a lot of times today,” Boals said. “We ask him to do a lot and to handle the pressure that (Louisville) gives you … He drew 10 fouls, and he does a great job of putting the defense under duress by getting to the paint a lot.”
The senior guard from Wisconsin has been hitting his stride at an important time early in the season, with Elijah Elliott nursing an injury, and Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey noticed.
“I think their point guard is a really, really good player,” Kelsey said on Paveletzke.
A player that wasn’t projected to score coming into the matchup was freshman JJ Kelly. He has made an immediate impact in his first four games as a college basketball player, flashing elite athleticism and defense, two things Ohio needs.
The one thing he hasn’t shown yet was the ability to score, but against Louisville, he set his career high with 11 after going 4/5 from the floor and knocking down his first two threes of his career.
“JJ is gonna be really good,” Boals said. “He's a true freshman. (He’s) just very, very athletic. (He) made some good defensive plays, and he's going to continue to grow. I thought he made some great offensive plays as well, and he's just going to get better and better the more minutes he plays.”
Despite the loss, 81 points against one of the country’s best teams is a great sign for what could come, especially when looking at the performances of Paveletzke and Kelly.
