2024-25 Ohio Men's Basketball Season Preview
11/2/2024 11:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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ATHENS, Ohio – It's a new season for the Ohio men's basketball team and with that comes new faces and new opportunities.
Ohio opens the season with the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference challenge on Monday, Nov. 4. This season, Ohio will face James Madison and a team to be named later in the event.
After that, Ohio has its first home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 9 against UNC Asheville. That game is just one of two times Ohio is in The Convo that month as it will be on the road for three-straight weeks, ending at the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
Ohio's nonconference slate in December also features Robert Morris, Morehead State, Marshall, Austin Peay and Muskingum.
"We've got to have a strong start to our nonconference schedule," graduate student Shereef Mitchell said. "I think towards the middle, middle-end of nonconference, we kind of went down a little slope down there. It was pretty rough to climb back, but we did climb back, and we turned out to be a really good team."
The Bobcats' MAC slate begins in the new year. Recently, the Bobcats were projected to finish No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll.
Ohio returns almost its entire roster from last season, with a few additions. During the offseason, Ohio added graduate student Vic Searls (Hilliard, Ohio) and junior Jackson Paveletzke (Kimberly, Wis.) as well as five freshman.
"I think there were maybe 12 out of 15, first, second, third team All-MAC players left, graduated or transferred. So there are a lot of new faces in our league, and I'm not sure anyone knows really what they have yet," head coach Jeff Boals said. "I think with our returners coming back, the kids we brought in, we were picked first, but, I think for our guys, it's a process. It's a journey, step by step."
The first step in the MAC schedule to face Central Michigan and Buffalo on the road the first week of January before returning home to face Northern Illinois and Ball State. It will be back on the road the following week to face off against Akron and Eastern Michigan.
The Bobcats will alternate their home and away weeks throughout February and March as well, with the final home game on March 4 against Eastern Michigan. Senior Day will be celebrated at that 7 p.m. game. The Bobcats' final game of the regular season is on March 7 at Toledo.
It's a lot of games to get through, but the thought of the MAC Tournament keeps Ohio motivated. Ohio was eliminated on a heart-breaking three-point loss in the semifinals last season.
"That excitement that we've got a chance to do it with a special group. Most of our guys are back, and that's what makes me excited," Mitchell said.
The Bobcats know that every game they play leads up to that moment in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and their ready for whatever is thrown their way.
"Last year, we got better through the course of the season," Boals said."We were playing our best basketball late in the year. When it gets down to that semi final, final type of atmosphere, every possession matters."
Season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now for Ohio men's basketball. Tickets start at $40 for upper level, with upper level premium, silver, gold, platinum and courtside seats available. For tickets, call 740-593-1300 or click here.
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