With half of the Mid-American Conference season in the books and the Bobcats out to a 6-4 start in MAC play, it is time for me to take a critical look at how the Bobcats are playing.
Obviously, all the Bobcat fanatics and the team itself would love to be undefeated at this juncture in the season but the team has encountered some problems. Sit back and listen to Coach Miller give you the run down on what I've noticed the Bobcats do well and what needs to be improved on for the 'Cats to finish strong.
The good: The Bobcats have continued their success at forcing their opponents into turning the ball over. Ohio is in second place in the MAC in steals with 8.7 per game, right behind Toledo. This is an area Ohio shined in last year with its ability to create offense out of turnovers. It is again proving valuable this season.
As is becoming quite apparent, the Bobcats' bench is what gives this team an advantage over every other team in the MAC. The Bobcats' fourth leading scorer is sixth man Whitney Davis, and roughly a third of the team's offense comes from off the bench. The depth of the Bobcats will come into play in Cleveland for the MAC Tournament, where it counts the most.
The bad: The Ohio team I have watched the last couple of games has been a timid squad that has lost much confidence in their ability to shoot the ball. Last season, every player got the ball and was ready and confident to take a big shot. Just look at the shots Jeremy Fears made in Detroit in the final thirty seconds, including the game winning three-pointer.
This season, however, it looks as if no one wants to take a shot. Not only that, but it seems as if the guard and wing players have forgotten how to use dribble-penetration to get into the paint to draw fouls or to kick the ball out for an open shot. This is what killed the Bobcats against Buffalo. The players settled for chucking long threes instead of attacking in the Bulls' zone defense and finding a way to get the ball into the post.
I think the Bobcats should switch up their offensive scheme a bit to see if they can get something working. Currently, the players are afraid to take shots because they have had a few bad shooting games. The 'Cats should try out a more traditional lineup with two post players and three guards instead of their current four guard lineup revolving around Leon Williams. Just mix it up.
Finally, the Bobcats have to start making some free throws. The game at Northern Illinois was very winnable had Ohio knocked down their free throws. The team does a good job getting to the line, but this season they are 248-of-365 from the charity stripe.
This must improve for the team to win clutch games down the stretch. Had the Bobcats made more free throws in the Akron game last week, the margin of victory would have been much more comfortable.
Therefore, if the Bobcats listen to sound advice like that there is no doubt that they will rebound back and tear up the MAC for another trip to the Big Dance.
- Nick Miller is a junior journalism major who has never coached an actual basketball team like some sports columnists, but has done very well in March Madness 2006 for PS2. Send him an e-mail at nm202803@ohiou.edu
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Nick Miller
