Ohio looks to continue its offensive onslaught against St. Bonaventure Saturday.
Most of Ohio's freshmen have never played in a hostile, or away game, setting.
The Virgin Islands didn't really count as a neutral. Radford, though a "road scrimmage," didn't count since almost no one was in the Dedmon Center to watch.
But Saturday in Olean, New York, the Bobcats will receive their first "real" test on the road against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies.
"The Radford trip helped us, the 'secret' scrimmage no one knows we did," Ohio coach Saul Phillips said. "That didn't have fans in it, this will be different from that standpoint. But you can't, I can't, tell Jordan Dartis or Gavin Block what it's going to be like to play against Florida State either, they're going to just have to learn it."
Phillips added this year's team seems more equipped to handle the road trip better than others in the past because they don't dwell on "things like that."
One thing Ohio (4-2) could dwell on, however, is attempting to correct turnovers — a point of interest that has hindered the Bobcats' strong offensive output this season.
The Bobcats average 16.5 turnovers a game this season, and during Thursday's practice the Bobcats still struggled to hold on to the basketball during 5-on-5 drills.
"I feel like we have to run more in transition and take care of the ball more," sophomore guard Mike Laster said. Laster has averaged 2.3 points off the bench this year and adds athleticism to some of Ohio's younger lineups.
"Coming off the bench is really good spark," Laster said. "Really, I'll go wherever they put me."
In six games, Ohio has averaged 84 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field, leading the Mid-American Conference in almost every offensive category. Ohio leads the MAC in shooting percentage (second), free throw percentage (73 percent, first) and scoring (first).
For St. Bonaventure (4-2), the Bonnies average close to 74 points per game and are coming off a 60-58 win over the Buffalo Bulls.
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Regardless of who it faces, Ohio will play its game: An offensive powerhouse that has played close to the basket and around the three-point line.
"Coming back from the Virgin Islands, one of our points of emphasis was taking care of the basketball. I guess we need a little bit more work," Phillips said. "Certainly, give them plenty of credit. I'm not happy with the way we're taking care of the ball at all right now, but I'm not going to sit here and quibble with an inexperienced group and a 15-point win at home over a good Marshall program and a great coach."
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