Ohio coach Jim Christian has said all season that no Mid-American Conference team plays the same two games in a row.
That approach safeguarded the Bobcats from overlooking weaker opponents in the teams’ second meeting and served as a reminder that an underdog is only a couple bounces away from going home happy.
Ohio’s semifinal opponent, No. 3 Western Michigan, looked different in its tournament quarterfinal win against No. 7 Eastern Michigan than it did during its game against the Bobcats (23-8, 14-2 MAC) earlier this season.
The Broncos (20-11, 10-6 MAC) were explosive in their 15-point win, as redshirt junior center Shayne Whittington had 23 points and freshman forward Darius Paul added 14 more.
They combined for only the latter total in their first meeting with Ohio.
Whittington is usually the Broncos’ catalyst when they’re primed for a high-octane outing. He has scored 20 or more points six times this season and leads the team in scoring (13 points per game) and rebounding (nine per game).
Paul is one of Western Michigan’s three other players that average double-digit points — none of whom shoot worse than 39 percent from the field.
Since playing Ohio, Western Michigan has won 12 of 16 including a seven-win streak that began after its loss to the Bobcats.
Ohio, which will have its first opportunity to practice on the court at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday morning, has won eight of its last nine MAC Tournament games.
That history, senior guard D.J. Cooper said, will benefit the Bobcats on Friday.
“Experience helps a lot,” he said. “You know what to expect and how to prepare for certain things. You know how to battle.”
No. 4 Kent State bested No. 8 Buffalo by two on the side of the bracket opposite Ohio on Thursday.
The Golden Flashes and Broncos’ wins ensured the one-through-four seeds will duke it out for the MAC title.
Kent State squares off against No. 1 Akron at 6:30 p.m. Friday, while Western Michigan will take the court against Ohio two-and-a-half hours later.
Christian said this year’s tournament is as competitive as he remembers it from when he won it while coaching Kent State in 2008.
“A lot of people, because of obvious distractions over at Akron, make it sound all, ‘The tournament’s more wide open than ever,’ ” he said. “What tournaments have they been watching?”
Ohio will have its first say in that matter Friday.
jr992810@ohiou.edu
