Editor’s Note: This is part of a series checking on MAC teams before they enter conference play. All rankings are MAC, unless otherwise noted)
COACH: Saul Phillips (2nd Season)
2014 RECORD: 10-20 overall, 5-13, 5th place, MAC East)
MAC TOURNEY:
Lost in first round to Western Michigan, 82-74
LEFT THE BUILDING
► Ohio returns two starters and seven letterman. Two of three double figure scorers are gone. Maurice Daly Ndour, a 6-9 center, led Ohio in scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg). While he was a foce on the inside, he could also hit the three (43.5%) and led the team in free throws (124 of 158, 78.5%). Also gone is point guard Javarez Willis (14.8 ppg, 3.2 apg). Another significant loss was Stevie Taylor (7.6 ppg, 2.7 apg).Ndour was a Second Team All-MAC selection, while Willis secured honorable mention honors.
BACK FOR MORE:
► Antonio Campbell, a 6-8 junior forward, averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in 2014-15, when he tied for the team lead in field goal percentage (48.4%) and finished second on the squad with 27 blocks. He is a Preseason All-MAC East Division selection.
Sophomore guard Mike Laster averaged 3.8 ppg last year. Treg Setty, a 6-8 forward, also returns after averaging 17.7 minutes and 5.1 points per game last year.
2015-16 RECORD: 9-3
► Unlike last year, when Ohio entered MAC play . . .
COACH: Saul Phillips (2nd Season)
2014 RECORD: 10-20 overall, 5-13, 5th place, MAC East)
MAC TOURNEY:
Lost in first round to Western Michigan, 82-74
LEFT THE BUILDING
► Ohio returns two starters and seven letterman. Two of three double figure scorers are gone. Maurice Daly Ndour, a 6-9 center, led Ohio in scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg). While he was a foce on the inside, he could also hit the three (43.5%) and led the team in free throws (124 of 158, 78.5%). Also gone is point guard Javarez Willis (14.8 ppg, 3.2 apg). Another significant loss was Stevie Taylor (7.6 ppg, 2.7 apg).Ndour was a Second Team All-MAC selection, while Willis secured honorable mention honors.
BACK FOR MORE:
► Antonio Campbell, a 6-8 junior forward, averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in 2014-15, when he tied for the team lead in field goal percentage (48.4%) and finished second on the squad with 27 blocks. He is a Preseason All-MAC East Division selection.
Sophomore guard Mike Laster averaged 3.8 ppg last year. Treg Setty, a 6-8 forward, also returns after averaging 17.7 minutes and 5.1 points per game last year.
2015-16 RECORD: 9-3
► Unlike last year, when Ohio entered MAC play . . .
. . . with a 5-6 record, the Bobcats are out to an impressive 9-3 start. They are currently on a five-game winning streak, with the most recent victory being an 81-59 bashing of UC Riverside.
► Ohio’s 9-3 mark trails only Akron (10-2) among MAC East teams.
OTHER:
► The preseason media poll projected Ohio to finish third in the MAC East, behind Akron and Kent State. Campbell was an All-MAC East Preseason team member.
► Ohio opens MAC play at Northern Illinois (10-2) Wednesday (8 p.m. ET) and returns home to face Ball State (9-4) on Saturday (2 p.m. ET).
► Ohio is second among MAC teams in scoring (80.2 ppg) and ninth in defense (72.0 ppg). The ‘Cats are fifth in scoring margin (+8.2).
► Free throws are a forte for coach Saul Phillips crew. OU tops the conferencei in free throws made (249) and FT percentage (48.1%).
► Ohio also ranks first in field goal percentage (48.1%) and is fifth in 3-point goal shooting (36.5%).
► The Bobcats are second in rebounding margin (+7.3). Also, despite the departure of Ndour, Ohio is a conference-best in blocked shots (59 total, 4.9 per game).
► One problem area for the ‘Cats has been turnovers. They are among the conference leaders in turnovers and are last in turnover margin (-3.25).
► Ohio is thriving on offense, with five players averaging in double figures. Campbell is near a double-double average with 15.2 ppg. and 9.3 rpg. He has a 59.5 5 field goal percentage through 12 games.
► Others in double figures are: sophomore guard Jaaron Simmons (14.5 ppg), 6-8, 225-pound junior forward Kenny Kaminsky (12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), freshman guard Jordan Dartis (11.3 ppg) and Setty (10.8 ppg., 5.3 rpg).
MORE STATS HERE
► Ohio’s 9-3 mark trails only Akron (10-2) among MAC East teams.
OTHER:
► The preseason media poll projected Ohio to finish third in the MAC East, behind Akron and Kent State. Campbell was an All-MAC East Preseason team member.
► Ohio opens MAC play at Northern Illinois (10-2) Wednesday (8 p.m. ET) and returns home to face Ball State (9-4) on Saturday (2 p.m. ET).
► Ohio is second among MAC teams in scoring (80.2 ppg) and ninth in defense (72.0 ppg). The ‘Cats are fifth in scoring margin (+8.2).
► Free throws are a forte for coach Saul Phillips crew. OU tops the conferencei in free throws made (249) and FT percentage (48.1%).
► Ohio also ranks first in field goal percentage (48.1%) and is fifth in 3-point goal shooting (36.5%).
► The Bobcats are second in rebounding margin (+7.3). Also, despite the departure of Ndour, Ohio is a conference-best in blocked shots (59 total, 4.9 per game).
► One problem area for the ‘Cats has been turnovers. They are among the conference leaders in turnovers and are last in turnover margin (-3.25).
► Ohio is thriving on offense, with five players averaging in double figures. Campbell is near a double-double average with 15.2 ppg. and 9.3 rpg. He has a 59.5 5 field goal percentage through 12 games.
► Others in double figures are: sophomore guard Jaaron Simmons (14.5 ppg), 6-8, 225-pound junior forward Kenny Kaminsky (12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), freshman guard Jordan Dartis (11.3 ppg) and Setty (10.8 ppg., 5.3 rpg).
MORE STATS HERE
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