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ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio men's basketball (0-0) opens the 2021-22 regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 9 when the Bobcats host Belmont (0-0). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN+ where Marty Bannister and Jacki Windon will be on the call.
Tuesday's game can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Jake Hromada will have the call from Athens. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network's flagship.
STORYLINES
• This is the third all-time meeting between Ohio and Belmont.
• Belmont leads the all-time series, 2-0.
• The Bobcats and Belmont last met November 29, 2014, where the Bobcats fell, 83-81 in the Convo.
• Ohio is coming off of a 92-58 victory over Capital in its exhibition last Saturday in Athens.
• Jason Carter returns to the Bobcats after playing the last two season at Xavier.
• Ohio was selected to finish 2nd in this year's MAC Coaches Preseason Poll. The Bobcats did not earn any first place votes.
• Ben Vander Plas earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team
• Jason Carter earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
SCOUTING BELMONT
Belmont went 26-4 last season, claiming its 12th regular season conference championship in 16 years, seventh in nine years of OVC membership. The Bruins entered Selection Sunday with the most wins in America (with Gonzaga).
Belmont returns 97 percent of its offensive production and minutes from last season. All-OVC performers Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy stand among the most accomplished players at their respective positions in college basketball.
Third-year head coach Casey Alexander is back at his alma mater following the retirement of hall of fame coach Rick Byrd after the Bruins' 2019 NCAA Tournament at-large season. Byrd won 805 career
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the 2021-22 season as the defending MAC Tournament Champions.
Ohio finished the unconventional 2020-21 season 17-8 overall and 9-5 in conference play, before making a magical run through the 2021 MAC Tournament, defeating Kent State, Toledo and Buffalo on their way to their seventh league title and their first since 2012.
Once they made it to the Indy Bubble, Ohio went on to upset the defending national champion Virginia, 62-58, in the NCAA First Round. Ohio then fell to Creighton in the NCAA Second Round.
The Bobcats return 10 from last season's championship squad, including Ben Vander Plas and Dwight Wilson III, who both earned spots on the All-MAC Teams. The Bobcats also return Mark Sears, Ben Roderick, Lunden McDay and Miles Brown, who all saw significant court time last season.
While Ohio lost First Team All-MAC select and MAC Tournament MVP Jason Preston to the NBA Draft and the LA Clippers, the Bobcats return a familiar face in Jason Carter, who returns to Ohio for his final season. Carter spent the last two seasons at Xavier where he played in 53 games, starting 51 of them. He shot 39.1 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three and 64.2 percent from the line.
The Bobcats also add freshmen AJ Clayton. Olumide Adelodun and IJ Ezuma, while adding Tommy Schmock, a transfer from Findlay.
ALL TIME VS. BELMONT
This is the third all-time meeting between Ohio and Belmont.
Belmont leads the all-time series, 2-0.
The Bobcats and Belmont last met November 29, 2014, where the Bobcats fell, 83-81 in the Convo.
LAST SATURDAY AGAINST CAPITAL
The Bobcats took on Capital in their exhibition game on Nov. 6, with the Bobcats winning, 92-66, inside the Convocation Center.
Ohio was led offensively by Tommy Schmock (Cleveland, Ohio), who finished with 17 points on 7 for 9 shooting, along with three rebounds and two assists.
Ohio had three other players alongside Schmock finish with double-digit points. Vander Plas contributed 12, Brown had 11, and Carter scored 10 in his return as a Bobcat. Towns led the rebounding effort with seven, while Vander Plas and Sears had the most assists on the day with four.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 527-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
CARTER RETURNS
Jason Carter returns to Ohio for his final season of eligibility.
The Johnstown, Ohio native spent the last two seasons at Xavier where he played in 53 games, starting 51 of them. He shot 39.1 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three and 64.2 percent from the line. He added 5.3 rebounds a game and 1.5 assists in 28.2 minutes on the court. Carter also scored his 1,000-career point while with Xavier
During his first stint at Ohio, Carter played in 65 games, starting 46 of them. He averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from three and 71.1 percent from the line. During the 2018-19 season, Carter started all 31 games, averaging team highs in scoring (16.5 ppg.) and rebounding (6.7 rpg.), while adding 2.0 assists per game. He scored in double figures in 26 of the 31 games, including nine 20-point games.
Carter is also a two-time All-MAC selection and an Academic All-MAC honoree.
MAC PRESEASON HONORS
The defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Ohio men's basketball team were selected to finish second in this year's Preseason Coaches Poll.
Meanwhile, redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team, while fifth year forward Jason Carter earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
BVP BACK FOR YEAR 100
Forward Ben Vander Plas is back for another season in the Green and White.
Vander Plas finished 2020-21 third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 76.4 percent from the free throw line. Vander Plas was named to the All-MAC Third Team and to the MAC All-Tournament Team this past postseason. He also earned a spot on the Academic All-MAC Team. Vander Plas earned a spot on the Academic All-America® Second Team.
Vander Plas was named to the 2021-22 Preseason All-MAC First Team and was named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Watch List.
DWIII
5th year forward Dwight Wilson III will be with the Bobcats in 2021-22.
In his first year with the Bobcats, Wilson III averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds during the regular season. He is shot 65.5 percent from the field, which ranked second in the NCAA and broke Gary Trent's single season field goal percentage mark that was set in the 1992-93 season. Wilson III also earned a spot on the All-MAC Third Team this postseason. He was also named Academic All-MAC.
Knee surgery in May will keep the big out of the Bobcats rotation for the start of the season.
OTHER KEY RETURNERS
The Bobcats return 10 total from last season's championship squad, including Ben Vander Plas and Dwight Wilson III.
The Bobcats also return Mark Sears, Ben Roderick, Lunden McDay and Miles Brown, who all saw significant court time last season.
SEARS: Played in 23 games with five starts for the Bobcats… Scored 8.5 points per game with 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game… Shot 46.6% from the field and led team with 85.1% free throw shooting percentage… Recorded two 20-point games including a career-high 21 points with six assists on Jan. 26 against Western Michigan… Named to MAC All-Freshman Team.
BROWN: Played in 24 games for the Bobcats with one start… Averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 17.7 minutes per game… Scored a career-high 11 points on four-of-six shooting against Purdue Northwest on Dec. 10.
RODERICK: Played in 22 games with 21 starts for the Bobcats…Averaged 12.2 points and three rebounds per game in 26.3 minutes per game… Shot 52-for131 from beyond the arc over the season for third-best 3-point shooting percentage of 39.7%... Scored a career-high 22 points on seven-for-10 shooting with six 3-pointers against N.C. A&T on Nov. 26… Scored 20 points in MAC Championship against Buffalo on Mar. 13… Named Academic All-MAC.
MCDAY: Played and started in 24 games for the Bobcats… Averaged 10 points per game and recorded 17 steals… Scored career-high 20 points on seven-for-10 shooting against Cleveland St. on Dec. 6… Scored 18 points in MAC Quarterfinal win against Kent State… Named to MAC All-Defensive Team.
BOBCATS ADD FOUR TO THE ROSTER
This season, the Bobcats add four newcomers to the 2021-22 roster.
Freshmen AJ Clayton. Olumide Adelodun and IJ Ezuma, while adding Tommy Schmock, a transfer from Findlay.
CLAYTON: Spent the 2020-21 season at Philo High School... a four-star recruit, is ranked the 43rd best power forward in the country and the eighth best player in the state of Ohio on the ESPN 2022 List...This past season, averaged 23.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game...Named Second Team All-Ohio, Ohio District 12 Player of The Year and Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year. Clayton also played AAU for All Ohio Red.
EZUMA: Spent last season at Hargrave Military Academy... Averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game...Shot 64.6 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three and 66.1 percent from the line.
SCHMOCK: Appeared in 29 games at Findley in 2020-21. He made 28 starts...Named first team all-conference...Was selected as a G-MAC all-defensive team honoree...Averaged 10.9 points per game...Broke his own school record with 198 assists on the year...Broke his own school record by averaging 6.8 assists per game...Led the team with 81 steals...Averaged 2.8 steals per contest...Led the team with 50 three pointers...Averaged 3.4 rebounds per game...Scored in double figures 18 times on the year...Scored a season-high 20 points against Tiffin (2/15)...Reached double digits in assists four times on the year...Had a season-high 13 assists against Ferris State (11/16) and Tiffin (2/15).
2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Watch List
Ben Vander Plas has been named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Watch List, the organization announced.
The award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball, honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories.
During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.
Henson, who is also the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams have made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.
Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.
PRESTON TO THE CLIPPERS
A big loss for the Bobcats comes with the loss of Jason Preston.
Preston was selected 33rd overall by the LA Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft.
In his three seasons in the Green and White, Preston averaged 12.6 points and shot 49.8 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three and 70.3 percent from the line. He added 5.6 rebounds and dished out over 489 assists in his career, placing him fourth all-time in program history. Preston also recorded two career triple doubles and notched his 1,0000-career point on March 13 in the Mid-American Conference Championship game.
ONE TEAM- TWO 1000 POINT SCORERS
Returners Ben Vander Plas and Dwight Wilson III will both be on the team with over 1,000 points to their career.
LAST TIME WE SAW THE BOBCATS
The last time we saw Ohio was on March 22 in the NCAA Second Round against Creighton.
The No. 13-seeded Ohio men's basketball team's magical run through March has come to an end, as the Bobcats (17-8) fell to No. 5-seeded Creighton (22-8), 72-58, Monday (March 22) inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in the NCAA Second Round.
Dwight Wilson III (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the Bobcats with 12 points, and nine rebounds, while also surpassing 1,000 career points. Lunden McDay (Akron, Ohio) knocked down three three-pointers on his way to 11 points, while Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio) scored 10 points. Jason Preston (Orlando, Fla.) added four points but grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists, while Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) grabbed 10 boards.
As a team, Ohio shot 31.8 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from three, while Creighton shot 45 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three.
Ohio out-rebounded the Bulejays, 44-39, but Creighton scored 34 points in the paint compared to Ohio's 24.
BOALS YEAR THREE
Head coach Jeff Boals returns for his third year as the leader of the Bobcats.
In his second full season as the leader of the Bobcats, Boals led his team to a 17-8 finish. The Bobcats entered the MAC Tournament as the 5th seed and went on to defeat Kent State, top-seeded Toledo and Buffalo on their way to their 7th MAC Tournament Title.
The Bobcats went on to defeat No. 4 Virginia in the 2021 NCAA First Round, before falling to No. 5 Creighton in the NCAA Second Round.
Junior Point guard Jason Preston was named First Team All-MAC, MAC All-Tournament Team and was selected 33rd overall by the LA Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft.
NEW YEAR, SAME STAFF
The Bobcats return all of it's coaching staff from last season. Lamar Thornton and Kyle Barlow are back for year three, while Lee Martin is back for his second season.
OHIO AND RANKED TEAMS
Overall Ohio is 11-56 (.169) against the top-25. vs. #1: 0-6 (.000);
vs. Top 5: 2-17 (.111)
vs. Top 10: 2-28 (.069);
vs. Top 15: 9-37 (.195);
vs. Top 20: 10-49 (.169);
at home: 3-7 (.300); away: 4-29 (.121); neutral: 4-18 (.154)
UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats head to Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 13 to take on Cleveland State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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