Ohio's 2016 campaign has brought about a culture change in Athens.
The Bobcats averaged close to 6,500 fans per home game this season in a town of 24,000, but sometimes it's the little things in life that symbolize greatness.
After Jordan Dartis hit a clutch 3-pointer against North Carolina Greensboro, a young fan embraced the 6-foot-3 freshman guard with nothing but smiles. Dartis, in typical fashion, smiled back.
After Ohio’s season ended against Morehead State on Wednesday, Treg Setty hugged an O-Zone fan tightly, saying his final goodbye to a student body that sometimes might seem to care more about fests and red solo cups than the culture sports bring.
But remember: This was supposed to be a “transition year," of sorts, for second-year coach Saul Phillips. Ohio was coming off a 10-win season just a year ago and few predicted the cultural, or foundational, change a band of teammates — led by an honest, zany coach — would bring to The Convo in 2016.
“I took a sports marketing class and they were talking about always marketing a program and how to generate attendance figures and I thought ‘You know what, I got a really good way to do it: Win all the time,’ ” Phillips said earlier in the year.
The Bobcats would march up the inner bowl of The Convo after wins in 2016. Nothing flashy or flamboyant, but a simple gesture to show their appreciation to the fans.
After all, that’s what sports can do to people: bring them together.
"I could write a book about the things that I appreciate here at Ohio,” Setty said after Ohio’s semifinal exit of the College Basketball Invitational. “Everything changed when coach Phillips got here for the better, but even before that the people never changed. They were all very nice to me and good to me.”
Ohio’s improved culture can be correlated to its improved statistics.
Led by an arsenal of Jaaron Simmons, Antonio Campbell, Kenny Kaminski, Gavin Block, Setty and Dartis, Ohio averaged 79 points per game, the highest in the Mid-American Conference and 11 points better than last year's squad. It was ranked the 51st-best scoring offense in the nation.
Ohio’s 47 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc were also 36th-best and 23rd-best in the nation, respectively.
What’s even better about all that? The Bobcats’ roster will remain mostly intact over the offseason.
Besides Setty’s graduation, four of Ohio’s starters will return to spearhead Ohio’s exciting offense. Simmons, who averaged 16 points and eight assists per game, broke D.J. Cooper’s single-season assist record (263) by handing out 275 assists in 35 games.
Simmons has said the variety of weapons he has at his disposal have helped him reach such a high mark in his first year since transferring from Houston.
“On the court, I learned where every single teammate where they want the ball and what they can and can't do,” Simmons said. “I know every play, every position and where they need to be.”
Campbell will return, looking to become the first Ohio player since Gary Trent to win back-to-back MAC Player of the Year awards.
Campbell was a double-double machine for Phillips in 2016 and could be poised for another dominant year. The junior forward from Cincinnati averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, both top-5 marks within the MAC.
“I think the confidence level for this team is high, especially myself,” Campbell said after scoring a career-high 33 points against Eastern Michigan in February. “I'm playing well and trying to get better.”
And confidence is something returning wings Kaminski and Dartis bring.
The two players, though streaky, averaged 10 points or more for the Bobcats and often provided zone-busting shooting.
Along with bench player Gavin Block — who brings a high basketball IQ and smart passing — the three flex players could provide different rotations and depth for Phillips in 2016.
Despite providing minutes for Khari Harley, Mike Laster and Wadly Mompremier early, depth and minute distribution became a problem for Phillips as the Bobcats marched through MAC play.
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It’s a nitpick of an otherwise stellar 13-win turnaround, the fourth best in the NCAA, but Phillips has admitted those are problems he'll need to address going forward.
“I want to say thanks to this group for such a fun year,” Phillips said.
It was a fun year, indeed.
@Lukeoroark
Lr514812@ohio.edu
