After losing to Denver in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament last year, which ended five seniors’ collegiate careers earlier than desired, a new season has begun in The Convo with expectations to build off the season that was cut short last year.
With the departure of the last year’s class, the Bobcats will look to a new wave of five seniors, each of which seem to have taken a leadership role during practices.
“People always talk about who you lose, and we lost some great players, but we have five seniors,” said second-year coach Jim Christian. “Any year you have five seniors, you have a lot of guys who have a lot to play for. So those guys, especially in the beginning, will have to absorb the burden of the guys who come to play everyday and who understand what it takes to be a really good basketball team.”
Senior guard Nick Kellogg, one of just three seniors that have been with Ohio since freshman year, notes his senior leadership has brought cohesiveness to the court.
“Being part of the upperclassmen, with those four other guys, we’ve been together for a while,” Kellogg said. “We know how one another plays and we’re just going to try and bring along these young guys here with our practice, effort and attitude.”
Christian’s mentality of unselfishness, togetherness and team play has influenced Kellogg, who hopes to instill the characteristics into his new teammates.
Redshirt sophomore Treg Setty, a forward, and redshirt junior Javarez “Bean” Willis, a guard, as well as transfer Maurice Ndour, a junior forward, look to make an impact early for the Bobcats, along with the team’s four freshmen.
Willis, whose collegiate career was subject to the sidelines last season because of NCAA transfer rules, saw his view from the bench as beneficial to enhancing his game on the hardwood by changing his perspective on the game and furthering his desire to play alongside his teammates.
“I believe redshirting was probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Willis said. “I was able to clear my head, take care of things off the court, and take care of academics. I had a lot of free time to become who I wanted to be.”
Willis and junior guard Stevie Taylor are projected to be the point guards for the Bobcats, though Taylor doesn’t see a competition between teammates in preseason practice, but rather a platform for players to improve on the court.
“Coach does a good job of telling us to compete every day,” Taylor said. “We don’t worry about who is going to play when and how long they’re going to play, but we’re just going out there to try and make each other better, which will make the team better.”
ch115710@ohiou.edu
@ColinHanner
