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Before entering the homepage for Ohio athletics, ohiobobcats.com, fans are smacked in the face with the image of the Ohio football team celebrating the school's first bowl victory. It was a signature win that earned Ohio some national exposure and attention after one of the best seasons in school history.
But while the football team was basking in their postseason glory, the Ohio men's basketball squad raced out to one of the best starts in school history. Despite the graduation of two of the most experienced starters in school history, the Bobcats have opened eyes with their blistering start to 2011-2012 campaign.
Ohio has won 11 of its first 12 games, the only blemish being a 59-54 loss at No. 4 Louisville. While the 11 wins are tops in the Mid American Conference, it's the quality of those non-conference wins that's raised expectations considerably in Athens.
Ohio has knocked off Lamar, Marshall and Northern Iowa, the last two wins coming on the road. Each of those three teams are ranked in the top 40 in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI). RPI is the de facto index loosely used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee when deciding who will make it to the Big Dance.
If Ohio can maintain its torrid pace, team members might have to re-buff their dancing shoes. The Bobcats are currently ranked No. 14 in RPI according to teamrankings.com, ahead of such powers as Kentucky, Kansas and Ohio State. Though Ohio's ranking is sure to fall based on playing in a weak conference (strength of schedule is a large factor in determining RPI), being listed near nationally ranked foes is a coup for John Groce's squad.
So what's been the difference for this year's squad?
Well, it may not be a difference, but the continued improvement of players has begun to pay dividends. Junior point guard D.J Cooper continues to make a case for himself as perhaps the best player in the MAC. Cooper is averaging 14 points per game, good for top 10 in the MAC. But the 5-11, 165-pound dynamo really excels as a facilitator of the offense. Cooper is averaging 6.4 assists and 2.5 steals, putting him in the top two for each statistic in the MAC and in the top 20 nationally.
In addition, big men Ivo Baltic and Reggie Keely have been steadying presences in the post in this early season. Yet, it's been the new faces among the supporting cast that have given the Bobcats a different vibe.
Ohio State transfer Walter Offut has been a welcome addition, adding a different dimension to the two-guard role this year. Like Cooper, Offut has a well-rounded game, averaging 4.2 rebounds to go along 11.3 points, making him Ohio's second-leading scorer. Unlike former two-guard Tommy Freeman, Offut is more adept at scoring inside the arc and at the free-throw line but still has the ability to hit some long-range shots.
Freshman guard Stevie Taylor has also injected Ohio with a new energy, providing the most excitement for fans since Cooper stepped into the Convo three years ago. The sharpshooting guard has given the Bobcats another three-point shooting option in addition to Nick Kellogg. Kellogg, meanwhile, has improved his already solid three-point shooting and is now the conference's most deadly outside shooter, hitting on just over 48 percent of his attempts.
The new-look Bobcats have a chance to cap a historic non-conference slate this long holiday weekend.
If the Bobcats can get past Kennesaw State (Friday) and Robert Morris (Monday), both at 7 p.m. in the Convo, it will be the first time since President Nixon was in office that Ohio enters conference play with only one loss.
When students return to campus this weekend, they should come ready with high expectations. Ohio has quickly and surprisingly established itself as the team to beat in the MAC.
