Ohio is spending the summer settling in after its second
coaching change since making
a Sweet 16 appearance in
the 2012 NCAA Tournament, in the wake
of former coach Jim Christian’s departure
for Boston College in April.
His successor, former North Dakota State coach Saul Phillips, is inheriting a
team without the familiar faces Bobcats
fans came to know in guards Nick Kellogg
and Travis Wilkins and forwards
T.J. Hall, Ricardo Johnson and Jon Smith, who each finished their senior seasons last year.
Kellogg broke the program and Mid-American Conference records for the
most 3-pointers made in a career with
290, and losing players of his caliber will
create a difficult process for the coaching
staff and players. That aside, Ohio is excited
about its 2014-15 prospects.
“I don’t think we have a lot of gaping holes going into next year,” Phillips said.
“The needs we have short term are depth
— we need quality players that can step
in and play.”
That depth will come from players who already were worked into the lineup
last season, such as redshirt senior
guard Javarez Willis and sophomore
forward Antonio Campbell, along with
new players that have been recruited
this offseason.
Ohio’s also returning a seasoned veteran in senior guard Stevie Taylor, the
last remaining player from the NCAA
Tournament team three seasons ago,
who has become known as a spark plug
during his tenure in Athens — something
that fuels fan excitement in The Convo.
“I’ve been all around the world and all around the country in mid-major basketball.
The fan support here is unique,
very unique,” Phillips said. “I met with
the president of the O-Zone … what an
engaged group that is.”
Phillips said that the hardest part of this offseason will be the adjustment
itself.
The Bobcats have reached the MAC
Tournament championship game in
two of the past three seasons and made
the NCAA Tournament three seasons
ago. Phillips said although last season’s
squad didn’t make it to the championship
game for the third consecutive
year, Ohio is a desirable place for him
to grow a program.
“I think this is as good as any job in the MAC,” he said. “I intend to build this
thing to where we can contend on a yearly
basis. I think it would be irresponsible
of me to think any other way while trying
to build this thing.”
@Alex_Busch91
ab109410@ohiou.edu
