It's no secret that the Miami offense runs through forward Tim Pollitz.
After he burned the Bobcats a season ago in the Mid-American Conference tournament with 25 points, Ohio focused all week in practice on limiting his scoring opportunities, which coach Tim O'Shea said was important in shutting down the Miami offense.
We had a good game plan for him
O'Shea said. We always feel the key to Miami is trying to contain Tim Pollitz not only his scoring but his passing. Everything kind of goes through him.
For the first half, the Bobcats' game plan worked nearly to perfection with Pollitz scoring just two points on two field-goal attempts. Forward Jerome Tillman said rotating several of the Bobcat frontcourt players helped limit his offensive chances.
We knew that he was the key to the game he said. Everything runs through him. We had to play our best against him and everyone got a crack against him in me
Leon (Williams)
Kenneth (van Kempen) and DeVaughn (Washington).
Miami coach Charlie Coles credited Williams with using his three-inch height advantage over the 6-foot-5 Pollitz to limiting the senior forward's impact in the paint. -
Coles said. People used to try to put people Tim's size on him and that's tough to do because he is so strong.
Pollitz said the Ohio defenders forced him to play outside his typical comfort zone on the blocks.
Our offense goes through me a lot of times and they got me off the block
Pollitz said. Once I touched the ball
they brought their guards down from the top to double-team me.
They just swarmed me.
Pollitz, who entered Saturday's game averaging 16.5 points per game, finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, but the majority of his baskets came when the outcome was already decided.
It's frustrating
Pollitz said. I touched the ball a couple times in single digits in the first half for sure.
Coles said the RedHawks experienced a similar type of defensive containment of Pollitz in their MAC-opening loss at Akron.
We're just running into trouble with thatG?finding ways to get Tim the ball
he said. I think teams know that if they just jam it on him and make him pass the ball.
-
