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ATHENS, Ohio –It's officially basketball season Bobcat fans! Men's and women's basketball open the season in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Field hockey begins it's MAC Championship journey and Midweek MACtion is officially here for football. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.
FOOTBALL
Nov. 6 / at Kent State / Kent, Ohio / Dix Stadium / 7 p.m. ET / ESPNU / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide /
The Ohio football team (4-3, 2-1 MAC) is set to open midweek MACtion on the road against the Kent State Golden Flashes (0-8, 0-4 MAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Dix Stadium and can be seen on ESPNU with Mike Corey and Craig Haubert on the call.
Ohio is coming off a 47-16 victory over Buffalo on Oct. 26 in Athens. Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen and redshirt junior linebacker Shay Taylor both earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Week accolades for their performances against Buffalo. Owen recorded 146 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, both marking individual records as a Bobcat. Owen's 65-yard receiving touchdown gave Ohio a 10-point advantage over Buffalo with just over six minutes remaining in the half. Owen slipped into the end zone again in the second quarter, putting the score at 24-10 heading into halftime. Additionally, he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, wrapping up a six-play, 57-yard drive in the fourth quarter.
Taylor put a bow on Ohio's victory over Buffalo. With 11:58 left on the clock, Taylor snagged an interception, returning it 30 yards for the final touchdown of the game. This marked Taylor's career-first pick-six. On the game, Taylor recorded a team-leading 11 tackles, including four solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss.
The Golden Flashes are currently 0-8 overall and 0-4 against MAC opponents. As a team, Kent State averages 17 points per game on 77.1 rushing yards and 173.75 passing yards. Their opponents average 46.63 points per game. Junior quarterback Tommy Ulatowski is 52-for-122 on 940 yards over seven games, throwing 11 passing touchdowns and six interceptions. Ulatowski isn't afraid to use his legs, recording 38 carries and one rushing touchdown so far this season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 4 / at James Madison / Harrisonburg, Va. / Atlantic Union Bank Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide
Nov. 9 / vs. UNC Asheville / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio men's basketball team (0-0) opens the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4 when the Bobcats head to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on James Madison (0-0) in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside Atlantic Union Bank Center. The game can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio then returns to Athens on Saturday, Nov. 9 for the first of two home contests in the Convo in the month of November, when Ohio hosts UNC Asheville (0-0). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio begins their sixth season under head coach Jeff Boals. Ohio finished last season 20-13 after falling in the MAC Semis for the second-straight season.
The Bobcats were picked first in this year's MAC Preseason Poll. Earning 11 out of 12 first-place votes the secure the league title, while also collecting eight votes to win this year's tournament. Senior forward AJ Clayton earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team and the MAC Blue Ribbon Forecast Preseason All-Conference Team. Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell and redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown both earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
Ohio returns eight from last year's roster, including five who started at some point last year.
Ohio welcomes two transfers, junior guard Jackson Paveletzke from Iowa State and graduate student forward Vic Searls from Ashland. Ohio also welcomes five freshman to the roster.
Last year's Ohio squad averaged 77.3 points a game, while holding opponents to 70.0 points. Overall, Ohio shot .453 from the field, .356 from three and .730 from the line. Ohio also averaged 34.9 rebounds, 14.1 assists and 7.1 steals, while forcing 13.7 turnovers a game.
Opponents shot .425 from the field, .333 from three and .698 from the line. Opponents also averaged 36.3 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 5.0 steals, while forcing 9.7 turnovers a game.
Ohio returns 63 percent of their scoring from last season, including Mitchell, Clayton and Brown. Last season Mitchell averaged 13.3 points a game, while Clayton added 12.0 points, with Brown averaging 9.0 despite missing most of the season.
James Madison begins their first season under new head coach Preston Spradlin who comes to Harrisonburg from Morehead State. The Dukes lost its top seven scorers from last season, bring in 11 transfers, while returning just one player who averaged over five minutes per game last year in junior guard Xavier Brown.
UNC Asheville opens the season on Monday, Nov. 4 against No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Asheville is predicted to finish fourth according to the Big South Conference preseason poll and Josh Banks was named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team. Asheville is returning two of its top-three scorers from last season in Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee. Banks and Abee both played in all 34 games for Asheville. Banks had 436 points, averaging 12.8 a game and Abee had 361, averaging 10.6. Meanwhile, Asheville also welcomes nine newcomers to this year's squad, six transfers and three freshmen.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 4 / vs Georgia Southern / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
Nov. 10 / vs Bellarmine / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio women's basketball team (0-0) will kick off the 2024-25 season with its first MAC-SBC Challenge matchup versus Georgia Southern (0-0) on Monday, Nov. 4 in the Convo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and fans will be able to watch the game on ESPN+. Ohio then stays in Athens to take on Bellarmine (0-0) on Sunday, Nov. 10. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. inside the Convo and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio concluded the 2023-24 season with a 11-19 overall and 8-10 conference record. The Bobcats returned to the MAC Tournament where they ended their season with a 77-53 loss to No. 2 seed Ball State. Ohio's roster for the 2024-25 season is made up on nine returners and seven newcomers. Ohio's new players include two transfers, one sophomore, one redshirt freshman and three freshmen. Ohio returns its top three scorers and several other standouts from the 2023-24 season.
Last season, the Bobcats averaged 63.8 PPG; shooting 39.0 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the arc and 68.9 percent from the line. The team averaged 30.9 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 11 steals per game. The Bobcats forced 21.3 turnovers per game and averaged 18.9 points off turnovers.
Ohio's opponents averaged 71.5 PPG; shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from the arc and 73.2 percent from the line. Opponents averaged 42.3 rebounds, 15.1 assists and nine steals per game. Opponents forced 18.6 turnovers per games and averaged 19.3 points off turnovers.
Georgia Southern concluded the 2023-24 season with a 15-18 overall and 4-14 conference record. Following the regular season, the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after defeating No. 13 seed Texas State, 72-70. Georgia Southern's 2023-24 season ended following the team's loss to No. 5 seed ULM in the Sun Belt quarterfinals. The 2024-25 season will be Georgia Southern's first under new head coach, Hana Haden. Georgia Southern's roster is made up of nine transfers, five seniors, three juniors and one sophomore, in addition to three freshmen.
Bellarmine opens the season with two matchups before heading to Athens on the 10th. They first take on IU Southeast on Monday and will battle it out with Midway on Wednesday. Bellarmine returns four from last season, senior guards Hayley Harrison, Hope Sivori and Ashlee Harris and junior guard Miyah Brown — that's a few hundred games worth of college court time collectively under that quartet. The transfers — senior guard Mia Beam, senior forward Skylar Treadwell and junior guard Erin Toller — are equally as seasoned. But on the other side of the pendulum, the Knights possess five true freshmen completely new to the college game in center Hana Abdel Aal, forward Kayce Hyman.
FIELD HOCKEY
Nov. 6 / at Mid-American Conference Quarterfinals / vs. No. 3 Miami / Oxford, Ohio / Miami Field Hockey Complex / 2:30 p.m. ET / Watch / Live Stats / Championship Central
Nov. 7 / at Mid-American Conference Semifinals / vs. TBA / Oxford, Ohio / Miami Field Hockey Complex / TBA / Watch / Live Stats / Championship Central
Nov. 9 / at Mid-American Conference Championship / vs. TBA / Oxford, Ohio / Miami Field Hockey Complex / TBA/ Watch / Live Stats / Championship Central
The No. 6 Ohio field hockey team (6-9) opens play at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 6 when they take on No. 3 Miami (10-7) in the quarterfinals. First touch is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Miami Field Hockey Complex. With a win, Ohio would advance to the semifinals matchup on Thursday, nov. 7 to take on No. 2. Appalachian State at 2:30 p.m.
Ohio is coming off a 3-2 victory on Friday in Athens to help the Bobcats clinch a spot in this year's tournament, earning a trip to the postseason for the second-straight year. In that game, Noa Desmaretz led the Bobcats with one goal on five shots with two on goal, while Bodhi Littlefield added a goal on two shots with two on goal. Sasha Dikotla recorded a goal as well, with four shots, two of them on goal. Emily Risser registered two assists with one shot on goal, while Kopp also added an assist on two shot attempts. In goal, Macy Lotze got the start and played all 60 minutes, allowing two goals and making three saves.
Miami enters the matchup with a 10-7 record and a share of the MAC regular season Championship - their eighth-straight. The RedHawks share this years tournament with top-seed James Madison and No. 2 seen App State, who all finished the regular season with a 7-1 mark in conference play. Ohio and Miami played at the beginning of October, with Ohio falling 5-1 in Oxford.
SOCCER
Nov. 7 / at Mid-American Conference Semifinals / vs. No. 2 Buffalo / Kalamazoo, Mich. / WMU Soccer Complex / 11 a.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Championship Central
Nov. 10 / at Mid-American Conference Championship / vs. TBA / Kalamazoo, Mich. / WMU Soccer Complex / TBA / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Championship Central
The No. 3 Ohio soccer team (11-4-4) headed to Kalamazoo, Mich. on Thursday, Nov. 7 to take on No. 2 Buffalo (10-1-7) in the Mid-American Conference Semifinals. first touch is set for 11 a.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. With a win, the Bobcats would face off with the winner of No.1 WMU and No. 4 Kent State.
Ohio is coming off a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Bowling Green in the MAC Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon in Athens. Ella Deevers scored the Bobcats lone goal, capitalizing on a well-placed assist from Aubrey Rea. Ellie Greenwell also contributed a shot on goal for the Bobcats. In goal, Celeste Sloma, played all 90 minutes and made two saves in her 10th shutout of the season.
Buffalo enters the matchup having a week of rest after earning a bye to the semis. Buffalo drew with CMU, 0-0, on Oct. 31 at Central Michigan.
Ohio and Buffalo met just two week's ago on Oct. 24 in Buffalo, with the Bulls defeating Ohio, 2-0.
VOLLEYBALL
Nov. 5 / at Kent State / Kent, Ohio / M.A.C Center / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Nov. 8 / vs Buffalo / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
Nov. 9 / vs Buffalo / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets / Senior Day
The Ohio volleyball team (11-13, 7-6 MAC) is back in action this week for three matches. The week starts on Tuesday, Nov. 5 when they head to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State (2-21, 1-12 MAC). First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside the M.A.C. Center and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio then heads back to Athens for the final two home matches of the season starting on Friday, Nov. 8 when they host Buffalo (14-13, 10-4 MAC) at 6 p.m. inside the Convo. The Bobcats wrap up the weekend on Saturday, Nov. 9 when the Bobcats and Bulls battle it out at 3 p.m. Both matches can be seen on ESPN+. Saturday's match will serve as the Bobcats' Senior Day.
Ohio is coming off a 1-1 week, with Ohio falling to Central Michigan in five sets on Friday, before turning around and defeating CMU on Saturday in five sets. Makenna Schafer led the team with a career-high 18 kills in addition to 18.0 points. Anna Kharchynska also recorded a team-high 18 kills and led the Bobcats with 21.0 points. Kam Hunt and Olivia Gardner combined for 20 kills and 23.5 points. Ohio's starting setter, Bryn Janke led the team with a career-high 51 assists.
Kent State is coming off their first MAC win of the season on Saturday after defeating Akron in five sets in Kent. Meanwhile, Buffalo is coming off a weekend sweep of Northern Illinois in Buffalo last weekend, defeating the Huskies in straight sets on Friday, before defeating them in four sets Saturday afternoon.
SWIM AND DIVE
Nov. 9 / at Miami / Oxford, Ohio / Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center / 1 p.m.
The Ohio swimming and diving team is back in action after a two week break on Saturday, Nov. 9 when they head to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. inside the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center.
Ohio last completed on Oct. 18-19 at Illinois State, with the Bobcats winning, 273-139. In that meet, Zita Szoke helped lead the Ohio swimming and diving team this weekend at Illinois State, leading the Bobcats to a 273-139 victory, their second of the season. Overall, Szoke had three relay victories and four individual victories over two days at ISU. Szoke also set pool records in the 50 fly and the 200 free relay team. Szoke also met her CSCAA cuts in the 50 fly and the 100 IM. Diver Astrid Pichardo earned her NCAA Zone Diving cut in the 1-meter dive after scoring a 280.35.
Miami last competed on Oct. 18 against Ball State, with the RedHawks winning, 164-134.
WRESTLING
Nov. 9 / at Michigan State Open / East Lansing, Mich. / Jenison Field House / 9:30 a.m. / Live Results
After an exciting opening weekend victory over Wisconsin, the Ohio wrestling team is back in action on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the 2024 Michigan State Open. The open is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. inside Jenison Field House.
Ohio is coming off a 25-24 victory over Wisconsin in the season opener last Friday at the Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase.
Kaden Jett and redshirt
Peyten Kellar both secured hard-fought overtime victories. Jett claimed a 5-2 decision at 141 pounds, while Kellar followed with a close 8-7 decision at 157 pounds.
The Bobcats were neck and neck with the Badgers until
Austin Starr delivered a commanding 15-1 major decision at 197 pounds, putting Ohio in the lead.
Jordan Greer then sealed the team's victory with a 13-4 major decision over Wisconsin's Gannon Rosenfeld
at 285 pounds.
#OUohyeah
