The Bobcats won the Mid-American Conference regular season title for the first time since 1994-95. To put it into perspective one-third of the current roster wasn’t even born.
It was never supposed to happen — at least, not this early.
Perhaps a year or two from now, when the original six freshmen grew up and matured, or when the team could produce a viable recruiting class — not just a single player — then they’d have a shot at success.
Two years ago, the team was so bad the coach wouldn't talk to the media after games. It was the worst season in program history.
Even last year, Ohio couldn’t win games. At one point, they lost 10 straight. Maybe in the future there was hope, but not any time soon.
Saying the team struggled isn’t harsh criticism; it’s the truth. And on multiple occasions last year, their coach had no problem delivering brutal blows at his players' morals.
So when the final horn sounded Saturday afternoon in The Convo, the Bobcats’ turnaround story was cemented into Ohio’s program history.
The Bobcats (23-4, 14-2 Mid-American Conference) won the MAC regular season title for the first time since 1994-95. To put it into perspective, one-third of the current roster wasn’t even born when Ohio last saw this success.
Now spring ahead 20 years to today, and those players have not only secured the regular season title, but a spot in either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT.
Yet no one on the outside has really mentioned anything about it. At their peak, a 10-game winning streak, Ohio couldn’t get a single vote for the nation’s top 25. And that’s what makes this story special.
The program has exceeded any expectations set upon it before, but it’s still never received the recognition for the metamorphosis into the MAC’s premier basketball squad.
Their only reward, which second-year coach Bob Boldon enjoys, is a relatively stress free final week of the regular season before the team heads up to Cleveland for the conference tournament.
That, as well as a triple bye that places the No. 1 seed directly in the semifinals.
“I’m just really happy for the players, especially Mariah Byard and her class who have been through so much,” Boldon said. “You come to college with the hope of success and they never really found it for whatever reason.”
This past week, Boldon said he and his team were treated uncharted waters at the school and his previous coaching career.
If Saturday’s win was this program’s historic night, there will be no looming hangover or any loss in momentum as it closes the season this week.
“Our job as coaches is to give our athletes the best opportunities to succeed,” Boldon said. “And I think that’s why the No. 1 seed was so important.”
Practice will resume on Monday, but for once in Boldon’s time in Athens, his players will be allowed to look ahead of their next one or two opponents. That’s almost a feat in itself.
@charliehatch_
Gh181212@ohio.edu
