The Ohio Bobcats return AJ Brown and Elmore James, who came back this year aiming to be MAC Player of the Year.
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Head coach: Jeff Boals (7th season, 4th at Ohio)
2022-23 record: 19-14 (10-8)
2022 postseason finish: Lost in the conference tournament
Notable departures: Dwight Wilson (Graduated), Ben Roderick (Graduated), Devon Baker (Graduated)
Notable nonconference games: N/A
Projected Rotation
PG: Jaylin Hunter (5-11, 185, Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 13.2 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG
SG: Miles Brown (6-1, 180, Gr. Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 10.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG
SF: A.J. Brown (6-4, 195, So.)
2022-23 stats: 10.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 37.5 3P%
PF: AJ Clayton (6-7, 195, Jr.)
2022-23 stats: 7.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 BPG, 43.0 FG%
C: Gabe Wiznitzer (6-11, 240, Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 3.3 PPG, 0.4 APG, 3.3 RPG, 0.2 SPG
6: Elmore James IV (6-3, 205, So.)
2022-23 stats: 6.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 40.5 3P%
7: Shereef Mitchell (6-0, 170, Sr.)
2022-23 stats: 1.9 PPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 RPG, 0.4 SPG (Creighton)
8: Ike Cornish (6-6, 185, Rs.-So.)
2022-23 stats: 1.5 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.0 APG, 35.7 FG% (Maryland)
9: Ajay Sheldon (6-1, 185, So.)
2022-23 stats: 1.2 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG
10: IJ Ezuma (6-8, 240, So.)
2022-23 stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG
Ohio Bobcats MVP: Jaylin Hunter
Overcoming his height deficit, Jaylin Hunter carries the chip and plays through people. Hunter is creative and was very impressive in the MAC. He was 2nd in steals (58) behind Malique Jacobs (90), who dominated the MAC in steals. Hunter was third in steals per game (1.8). He was the fourth leader in assists (137) and assists per game (4.2). Hunter pops up in the MAC leaderboard further down but in the top 20. He was top 20 in points (434), true shooting percentage (.573), field goals (150), field goal attempts (340), 3-point field goals (73), and 3-point field goal attempts (179).
MAKE THAT SEVEN AND A NEW CAREER-HIGH FOR JAYLIN HUNTER!
📺 https://t.co/uYfZDDYrms pic.twitter.com/u4EvjBZx9t
— Ohio Men’s Basketball (@OhioMBasketball) March 10, 2023
Jaylin Hunter shows up in more advanced stats, with the best being his ranking of ninth in player efficiency rating. Hunter has been a leader for the Bobcats, and with the loss of a couple of his leaders, he will need to delegate leadership to those who want it. Hunter has been an extension of Coach Boals and tries to exemplify the type of play this team needs to have. Beyond that, he knows the role, and with the new players, the new functions will be vital to his team.
Ohio Bobcats make-or-break player: A.J. Brown
Being named a Mid-American Conference Freshman team, A.J. Brown is poised to catapult himself into MAC Player of the Year. In his first year, he shot 37.5% from 3-point range. While shooting 47.3% from within the arc, this is an area he can grow with this added year of play. Learning how to move and place your body, A.J. Brown can become a pivotal player for the Ohio Bobcats.
First half highlights ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YgdndPeW7m
— Ohio Men’s Basketball (@OhioMBasketball) March 10, 2023
With the chance to have more playing time, Brown will have to step up. He showed up and had his best game in the MAC tournament at the end of last season. In that game against Ball State, Brown scored 28 points, grabbed seven rebounds, three steals, and a block. He went 10-for-16 in the game and his 29 minutes of play. He went 5-for-6 from 2-point range and 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Brown sank all of his free throws. With this ability, Brown could easily step into a role that allows him to dominate.
However, the growth Brown will need to show will include rounding out his game. He will need to add the ability to create shots for others. Last year, he handed out 22 assists in his 26 games played. This is fine, but showing Brown as a team player will be massive for the growth of the Bobcats. With the talent brought in to replace those lost, this team has a chance of growing into a beast.
Key analytic: Turnover Rate
The Ohio Bobcats have a few statistics that boost this team. They are ranked highest in 3-point percentage, ranked 25th, shooting 37.3% from distance. However, this is important because of the second-chance opportunities created by the Bobcats. This team creates second-chance opportunities by attacking the boards on offense, where they were ranked 49th.
Another steal and dunk for @OhioMBasketball 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mu10KjCQm7
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 10, 2023
However, the turnover rate is the focus. This team ranks 51st in turnover rate. The Bobcats cause 16.2 turnovers over 100 plays run against them. Having the ability to have run-outs and easy buckets, Coach Boals has been effective in his defensive schemes and the hunger for loose balls. The Bobcats added better shooters, and losing Dwight Wilson around the goal will hurt them for potential putbacks. This team can kick it out to a better 3-point shooter or with someone to take a better shot.
Ohio Bobcats 2023-24 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in Mid-American Conference
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament – Round of 64