The past two games have not gone the way Ohio (10-8, 4-2 Mid-American Conference) wanted. The team has lost back-to-back matchups against Akron and Eastern Michigan with a combined 19-point deficit. Now, the Bobcats will face off against the MAC’s best and most physical defense in the Golden Flashes.
Ahead of the matchup, The Post had the opportunity to talk with Ohio coach Jeff Boals about the injuries his team is playing through and how Ohio is preparing for Kent State. Here’s everything to know ahead of the matchup.
Game information
Opponent: Kent State Golden Flashes (12-6, 3-3 MAC)
Location: The Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
Time: Friday at 7 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPNU
Follow live stats here.
Meet the opponent
Head coach:
Rob Senderoff (14th season, 276-170 record)
Projected starters:
No. 1, VonCameron Davis
No. 4, Jamal Sumlin
No. 11, Cian Medley
No. 22, Anthony Morales
No. 23, Delrecco Gillespie
Statistical leaders:
Points: Davis (15.6 per game)
Rebounds: Cli’Ron Hornbeak (6.2 per game)
Assists: Medley (4.0 per game)
Steals: Davis (1.3 per game)
Blocks: Hornbeak (0.9 per game)
Field goal percentage: Hornbeak (61.7%)
Three-point percentage: Jalen Sullinger (33.3%)
Free-throw percentage: Medley (82.1%)
Ohio’s injuries and availability
Over the past two games, Ohio has fallen victim to a slew of absences. Junior Elmore James was missing from the bench against Akron and Eastern Michigan dealing with personal issues, while junior Aidan Hadaway went down in the second half against Akron.
The Post learned James will be rejoining the program against Kent State. Hadaway had ankle surgery Tuesday and is questionable to return to the floor this season.
“We’re not sure if (Hadaway) will be back or not. It’s a day-to-day thing, just from a rehab standpoint, but he will not be back in the near future,” Boals said.
Additionally, senior AJ Clayton suffered an apparent leg injury against Eastern Michigan, which prevented him from playing more than 11 minutes in the matchup. For the time being, Clayton is ruled out, and Boals said he is “talking over rehab options to see what he wants to do.”
Kent State notes
Defensively, no team in the MAC comes close to what Kent State has done this season. The Golden Flashes allow the 30th-lowest points per game in the country, with physicality to impose their will on that end of the floor.
Although Kent State isn’t the biggest team in the MAC, with players ranging from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-9, it has several players on the roster who have the hustle and athleticism to fly around the floor and disrupt opposing offenses.
“A lot of times, when you play teams like (Kent State), the game is going to go based on how its officiated,” Boals said. “We have to embrace the physicality.”
The one area Ohio could look to take advantage of is Kent State’s 3-point shooting. The Golden Flashes’ offense as a whole leaves much on the table, ranking 280th nationally in points per game. The team’s 28.6% 3-point score is the 352nd-best mark in NCAA Division I out of a total of 364 teams.
Player to watch: VonCameron Davis
Davis has been the Golden Flashes’ most prolific offensive player while throwing in a MAC Defensive Player of the Year case. Those two aspects have made Davis a shoo-in for the All-MAC First Team halfway through the season. His signature performance came against Northern Illinois on Jan. 7 where he scored 31 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.
