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June 19th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Ohio
Bobcats
Overall Rank:
#142
Conference
Rank: #5 MAC
2005-06:
19-11, 11-8, 4th East
2005-06
postseason: none
 After heading
into last season with extremely high expectations,
Ohio fizzled to an 11-8 finish in
the conference. It wasn’t a bad season by any means, but the
talent was there for a big season. The talent is still there,
and with smaller expectations, Tim O’Shea’s squad will be
looking to make it back to the postseason.
Who’s Out:
Jeremy Fears put up decent numbers, and was a big part of Ohio’s
NCAA run two years ago, but this could end up to be one of those
cases of addition by subtraction. Fears averaged 9.6 points and
4.2 assists in 19 games last season before opting to transfer.
Returning point guard Antonio Chatman took over after Fears left
last year and won’t have any problem running the show. Fellow
guard Mychal Green led the team with 12.7 points, leaving the
go-to-scorer job available in the backcourt. Jeff Halbert never
put up huge numbers, but the 6-5 forward started 25 games a year
ago and wasn’t afraid of doing the dirty work. Seldom used
Cliff McGowen and Seth Bauman have also run out of eligibility.
Who’s In:
Adam Walther
left Akron after eight games last season and transferred to
in-state conference rival Ohio. Bold move, but with a nickname
like Bubba, it can be done. Walther is a solid shooting guard,
averaging 8.8 points as a freshman two years ago, and he should
be a helpful influence on the Bobcat backcourt after he sits out
a few games for transferring. Asown Sayles averaged 16.3 points
and 9.5 boards as a high school senior. The 6-5 small forward
spent last year at the famed Hargrave Military Academy and will
get the opportunity to show his stuff off the bench this year.
Who to Watch:
Remember when Fears and Leon Williams dominated the MAC, or at
least the MAC Tournament, as freshmen? Fears may be gone, but
the big guy still remains and is as dominate as ever. As a
sophomore last year, Williams averaged 11.0 points and 6.9
rebounds. Williams isn’t the only forward that can do damage.
Sonny Troutman averaged 8.8 points and started all 30 games,
Jerome Tillman showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman and
former Boston College transfer Johnnie Jackson is hoping to have
a breakout season for Ohio.
Final
Projection:
There are some
major replacements to be made on the perimeter with the absence
of Fears and Green. Chatman and Walther, along with last year’s
sixth man Whitney Davis are solid replacements, but the group
might have trouble putting up similar numbers. However, the
numbers won’t be as important as the team cohesion.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
none
Projected
Starting Five:
Antonio Chatman,
Junior, Guard, 5.1 points per game
Adam Walther,
Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Sonny Troutman,
Senior, Forward, 8.8 points per game
Jerome Tillman,
Sophomore, Forward, 6.7 points per game
Leon Williams,
Junior, Forward, 11.0 points per game
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