Bumpy road trips Bobcats again

by Chris Littmann
For The Post

Consistency can mean many different things. Ohio men's basketball coach Tim O'Shea said Ohio is consistent, but not the way he wants them to be.

"We play pretty good at home and we play lousy on the road, so in a sense we are consistent," O'Shea said.

Ohio's 24-point loss at Millet Hall to the Miami RedHawks Monday followed a 14-point win against Mid-American Conference West Division leader Ball State. The setback in Oxford continued the trend of road struggles for the Bobcats, falling to 0-3 in their last three road contests.

Ohio forward Sonny Johnson said there was more than just the home court affecting their game against Miami.

"I think every team has an advantage playing on their home court, but I think we should've approached the game a little different and come out with a lot more intensity."

O'Shea said several factors make the MAC a tough league to play in on the road.

"We have such parity in this league. Partly that's a function of this being a bus league, and partly I think it's a function of every arena we walk into being different," O'Shea said.

 

Hunter Takes Opponents Best Shots

After being a first team selection in the MAC in 2001, forward Brandon Hunter is taking the best shot from every MAC team. Since returning from a one-game suspension, Hunter has faced more consistent double and triple teams from opposing defenses—a trend that has occurred throughout the season.

Hunter said fighting the defenses has been a frustrating experience.

"At one point in the season basketball wasn't a fun thing for me — I was getting double teamed, triple teamed," Hunter said, " I'm just trying to get myself in a mode where I'm having fun."

Hunter, who is averaging 17.7 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game, said he wants to focus on playing his game.

"Like my coach said, at the end of the day it's still a game and I took it a little too serious," Hunter said.