Gavin Block received some semi-surprising news when he met with coach Saul Phillips Thursday: For the first time in nearly two years, he’d be held out of the starting lineup.
Block, who had started 56 games in a row, played in a Swiss army knife capacity for Phillips this season. He’s played the most minutes and taken the most charges, occasionally filling in as the go-to scorer or leaving his small forward post to fill in at center.
But the Bobcats needed some sense of change. They’d lost nine of 11, digging a hole that dropped them to the bottom of the Mid-American Conference. Phillips had the choice of a few ways to tinker with his lineup and he ultimately decided to swap Block out for James Gollon.
“When you make a move, and you shake up the starting lineup for non-health reasons,” Phillips said, “you don’t know how people are going to react.”
Block reacted with an efficient, helpful 29 minutes off the bench that included 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting — to go with five rebounds and three assists — in Ohio’s 92-87 overtime win Saturday at The Convo against Miami.
He said he figured a change was coming, but he didn’t know what it would be. A 0-for-7 showing against Toledo on Tuesday made Block a prime target — particularly in favor of Gollon, who played stout defense in that game against the Rockets’ leading scorer and had shot 48 percent the previous five games.
Going to the bench didn’t change much for Block.
“Only thing different was about the time on the clock that I came into the game,” he said.
At 14:52 in the first half, Block entered for Mike Laster. His game was overshadowed by overtime craziness, but he still managed some signature hustle plays that earned him the distinction of one of the toughest players Phillips says he’s ever coached.
Block hustled out to the perimeter to deflect a Miami 3-pointer in the first half, one of his three blocks in the game. Later, Block ended up on the ground after being fouled, while finishing a layup. Near the end of regulation he sprawled on the court going for a rebound, tapping a loose ball to Teyvion Kirk to preserve a possession.
His best burst came in the final five minutes of regulation, when he scored six straight points for Ohio to build its lead to 10. But he didn’t attribute coming off the bench to having energy late in the game.
“Just out there playing,” Block said.
He had the same lax attitude about being benched. He didn’t care. And he doesn’t care if it happens again, or so he says.
“(Block) says the right things and he shakes his head, but he’s going to because he’s a very nice person,” Phillips said. “What’s really going on inside? What’s the thought process there?”
From what he shows externally, Block isn't thinking much about his role change. After a win, Ohio’s fourth of the new year, there’s no reason to second-guess a lineup change. That’s how Block sees it.
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win,” Block said, “and if that’s what we gotta do, I’m all for it.”
