Ohio had one another one of those games in which it looked like a contender Tuesday night — a contender as in competing for a Mid-American Conference Tournament title, something that’s escaped the Bobcats since 2012.
This is the version Radford, Marshall and Ball State got to see. Add Western Michigan to the list after the Bobcats’ 81-76 win.
The Bobcats’ performance against the Broncos is interesting after losses to Toledo, Kent State and Bowling Green. Those Bobcats played without any offensive production or urgency. With MAC play nearing the halfway point, and almost three-fourths of the season over, the question needs to be asked: Which games more closely resemble Ohio true identity? How it played in impressive nonconference wins, or the colorless offensive team of late?
“I haven't said this in a while, but we did just enough defensively to get by tonight,” coach Saul Phillips said Tuesday. “Our offense actually pulled us out of the fire. I know we can defend. We’ve defended a good chunk out of the year. This is encouraging because I think that's still our strength. The ball got moved around, we hit shots, because they were good shots. It was a good team win tonight.”
While Tuesday night may have been a good team win, the Bobcats can’t afford to regress and go on a two game losing streak, which they did after their last win.
James Gollon
Phillips and university staff believe James Gollon will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon.
It’s a devastating blow to the Bobcats, who will lose a veteran leader and 3-point threat.
“James appears to have an Achilles tear,“ Phillips said. “I’m not a doctor, but when there’s a gap where your Achilles tendon should be, there’s an issue there structurally. I’m crushed for the kid. He really had it going tonight. He’s gone through so much to get back on the court, so many hours of rehab. Just a pit in my stomach.”
Gollon, a 6-foot-5 redshirt junior, ends his season on a night in which he arguably played the best game of his career. He came off the bench, knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points in eight minutes. That sparked a comeback to help the Bobcats defeat Western Michigan.
It’s a really tough deal for Gollon, who has gone through four surgeries in his career at Ohio. It’s even tougher for the Bobcats, which will need to readjust to playing without him just as they were getting used to play with him again. Tuesday’s game was just the fifth he’s played in this season due to, you guessed it, injury.
So how will Phillips use Gollon’s minutes? Expect more of a rotation between Connor Murrell, Torey James and Nate Springs. Murrell played well off the bench Tuesday, scoring three points in four minutes in the second half.
Saul ball update
As of Jan. 14, no new contract for Phillips had been filed, per a public records request by The Post.
Phillips has been coaching this season without any known promise of a new contract. What is discussed behind closed doors remains unknown. Phillips is in the final season of the initial five-year deal he signed back in 2014, which is set to expire on May 15. He doesn’t comment on contract matters — not to evade questions, but because he doesn’t want to speak about it openly.
Last season, his team failed to make the MAC Tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2015, his first year as coach.
Phillips has never coached a team in the last season of his contract before.
Up next
Ohio (10-8, 2-4 MAC) returns to play Saturday afternoon in The Convo against Ball State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. The game can be watched on ESPN3 or listened to on the Ohio IMG Sports Radio Network.
