Ohio: The heart of it all

by Bill Bender
Staff Writer

Madness is approaching, and it is not exclusive to the XFL's Memphis Maniax.

It’s getting closer to NCAA Tournament time, and Ohio promises to be well represented. Six teams have legit tourney shots, including the Ohio Bobcats. Xavier and Cincinnati are sure bets, and Ohio State, Kent State and Dayton could slip in.

What does this mean? It means Ohio should form its own separate basketball conference. The formation is simple – 10 teams, two divisions and one vicious conference.

The North Division of the Only Ohio Conference would consist of Dayton, Bowling Green, Akron, Toledo and Kent. The division boils down to a lot of Mid-American conference teams and a league that would probably be dominated by the Flyers and Golden Flashes.

The strength of the conference would be the South Division with Ohio State, Xavier, Cincinnati, Ohio and Miami. If you put those five teams in one division, I guarantee fans would see some fantastic college basketball.

Bragging rights would come in all directions. Ohio would get to knock heads twice with rival Miami, and twice with newfound rival Ohio State as well. Imagine centers Patrick Flomo and Ken Johnson partaking in a swat-fest at The Convo. The final score of the game might be 10-8, with former Buckeye Jon Sanderson hitting the game-winner for the Bobcats.

Xavier and Cincinnati could duel in the "Crosstown Shootout" twice a year. The Musketeers-Bearcats rivalry is one of the best in college basketball, so sports aficionados should get the chance to watch it twice.

The talent level in the Ohio Conference would create some interesting match-ups – Ohio’s Brandon Hunter and Xavier’s David West mixing it up on the block, Cincinnati’s Kenny Satterfield and Anthony Jones scrambling around the perimeter.

The people would get to see those dream match-ups between Ohio State and Cincinnati, if there is such a thing. Of course, Miami would be in last place in the division, and that would be fine by me. The conference tournament would be played in Lancaster, my hometown, because this is my idea.

The formation of the Only Ohio Conference would strengthen fans' loyalty tenfold. In addition, no other state in the union could put together an in-state conference with the same magnitude. I know what you’re thinking, and no, North Carolina does not come close.

The secession of Ohio schools from the MAC would be the best alternative. Fans aren’t going to fill The Convo when the Bobcats play teams like Northern Illinois and Buffalo. If the Buckeyes were coming to Athens, however, you can bet that the seats in the building would be taken like the seats on Forrest Gump's school bus.

So when NCAA tournament time finally arrives with full representation from the Buckeye State, remember to appreciate the talent on the hardwood that comes from this state. But don’t forget that although the Only Ohio Conference is a novel idea, the only team that matters in Ohio is the Bobcats.