The last two games for Ohio (11-9, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) have featured more breath-holding moments for the Bobcat faithful than the rest of its season combined. Last Saturday, Ohio played a defensive beauty against Kent State with a score decided by a bucket, and Tuesday, the team lost a shootout on a missed halfcourt heave.
Now, the team will look to bounce back as it heads back on the road, ending a gauntlet stretch of MAC contenders against its arch-rival Miami. Here’s everything to know ahead of the game.
Game information
Opponent: Miami RedHawks (15-5, 7-1 MAC)
Location: Millett Hall (Oxford, Ohio)
Time: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPN+
History: Ohio leads 120-95 in 215 games since 1908.
Follow live stats here.
Meet the opponent
Head coach
Travis Steele (third season, 42-42 record)
Projected starters
No. 0, Eian Elmer
No. 4, Kam Craft
No. 5, Peter Suder
No. 11, Mekhi Cooper
No. 13, Antwone Woolfolk
Statistical leaders
Points: Craft and Suder (14.4 per game)
Rebounds: Woolfolk (6.0 per game)
Assists: Cooper and Suder (3.2 per game)
Steals: Elmer (1.9 per game)
Blocks: Woolfolk (0.8 per game)
Field goal percentage: Woolfolk (63.8%)
Three-point percentage: Bryant Byers (43.2%)
Miami notes
Individually, Miami is the most talented offensive team in the MAC, with shooters all over the court and several highly touted recruits lining its roster. The RedHawks’ nearly 40 percent mark from 3-point range ranks sixth in the country and their 10.5 made 3-pointers per game ranks 22nd.
The team is headed by its backcourt of transfers, Craft and Suder, who see aid from 2023-24 All-MAC Freshman selectee in Elmer. Craft is a former four-star prospect who transferred to Miami after a lackluster first year at Xavier in 2022-23.
The offensive talent on this team has been enough to blitz its way through MAC play, aside from its matchup against Akron, where Miami picked up its first MAC loss. Ohio coach Jeff Boals noted this is the best team Steele has had in his time at the helm.
Ohio notes
The Bobcats continue to be competitive with strong MAC competitors despite the absences of AJ Clayton and Aidan Hadaway. That’s largely due to the depth of offensive talent Ohio has in its wings. Despite a hard-fought defensive matchup where Ohio scored 61 points against Kent State, this team averages over 80 points per game, ranking third in the MAC in scoring.
Defensively is where Ohio’s been least consistent this season. Against Toledo, Ohio conceded high-quality shots from outside the arc, leading to a 44 percent shooting night from 3 for Toledo. Ohio has found production in redshirt sophomore AJ Brown and junior Jackson Paveletzke, who scored 22 apiece in the loss, but will need to find ways to shore up the depth and rebounding issues.
Player to watch: Antwone Woolfolk
Woolfolk averages a modest 8.6 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game, but at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he profiles as the exact type of player Ohio has had issues with these past two games. Guarding interior bigs who are active on the glass has been Ohio’s glaring weakness without Clayton and Hadaway, conceding a double-double to Kent State’s Cli’Ron Hornbeak and 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists to Toledo’s Javan Simmons.