Journey to the Ring — Colin Mayr Photographer

The Ohio Men’s Basketball team’s journey to repeat as MAC Champions in the age of COVID-19

Chapter 1: Back in Business

The team began their journey on September 29, 2021, with their first official practice. For the first month the team is spending their time getting re-acclimated to their playbook as well as getting back into physical shape. The team lifts three days a week, where during these workouts they focus on working all areas of the body, with exercises that focus on explosion, simulating the explosive nature of the game of basketball. During the practices, the team walks through any situations that gave them trouble during the previous, no matter if it’s on offense, defense, or inbounding, Head Coach Jeff Boals creates new plays and the team walks through them, first by themselves in their first and second string groups, then with the scout team, and then finally at full game speed. COVID-19 protocols allow the players to not wear masks when they are on the court or in the locker room, but they are mandatory for the weight room. Coaches and staff members must have masks on at all times in order to protect players (regardless of vaccination status). The team emphasizes high energy during practices and workouts, as this translates to a high tempo of play.

Sam Towns (11, left), Dwight Wilson III (4, center) and Michael Brown (14, right) warmup with dynamic stretching prior to practice. These dynamic stretches get the blood flowing and muscles loose prior to a hard practice.

Ohio Head Coach, Jeff Boals, speaks to the team prior to a preseason practice, going through a game plan for practice on what needs to be accomplished.

Ohio assistant coach, Kyle Barlow, talks with Tommy Schmock (22, left) and Colin Granger (32, right) about fantasy football in the shoot-around prior to practice. The guys stay socially distanced when it’s in an attempt to keep the players safe.

After band work for warmups, the team hypes up senior Ben Vander Plas (5) as warmups end and team drills begin.

Ohio freshman I.J. Ezuma (10), runs sprints during practice after a drill. These sprints are meant to get the players conditioned to game speed.

Sam Towns (11) reacts after an alley-oop dunk in practice. As a part of the “bench-mob,” Towns is one of the more vocal members on the team, bringing a must needed boost of energy at times when the team falls flat

Ben Vander Plas (5) receives an alley-oop pass from Sam Towns (11) during a drill. The bond between the teammates created a photo that is resemblant of the famous alley-oop photo with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James.

Jason Carter (30) preforms a shoulder exercise with a plate during an optional Wednesday lift. Wednesday lifts are optional to where players can come in and workout , receive treatment or come in and put up shots on their own time.

Coach Lamar Thornton watches Ben Vander Plas attempt a contested shot during a drill.

Olumide Adelodun (10) warms up prior to an optional Wednesday lift. The focus on the day was legs so it was imperative that Adelodun got the legs moving early

Ohio assistant coach Kyle Barlow watches a drill play out during a Thursday practice. The team was trying out a new offensive scheme for Capital.

Tommy Schmock performs a row during an Wednesday lifting session. Masks are required for the players in the gym as a part of the ongoing COVID protocols.

Jeff Boals talks to the team in a socially-distant huddle before practice begins. In these huddles, Boals will go over goals for the following practice as well as discuss anything from the previous day.

Chapter 2: Back Home Again

To begin their season, the Ohio Men’s Basketball team faced Capital in their first and only exhibition game as a part of the Dad’s Weekend festivities. It was the first time since March 2019 that fans were allowed inside the Convocation Center at full capacity. The team responded to the crowd with a resounding victory of 92-66 against the Crusaders. For all of the underclassmen on the team, it was their first time playing in front of a crowd this large. With the first game out of the way, the Bobcats shift their focus to the first game of the season against a top-40 program in Belmont University out of Nashville.

A packed Dad’s Weekend crowd filled the Convo Center for the Bobcats game against the Capital Crusaders. A crowd size that would have been only dreamed of two years ago signals the turning point of the program and the pandemic.

Ohio guard Tommy Schmock (22) completes a layup in the second half of the game. Schmock had a break out performance, that likened his style to Matthew Dellavedova in the NBA.

The “Bench-Mob” reacts to a three pointer in the second half. The Bobcats bench players play a huge role in the teams success even though it’s not apparent on the stat sheet through their continuous energy throughout the game.

Ohio Head Coach, Jeff Boals, greets a young fan after the game on his way back to the locker room.

The team kneels for a post-game prayer after the debrief. The quote “trust the system” was installed when Boals arrived and tells the players that if they trust in the system that is put in place, great things will happen.

Ohio forward Ben Rodrick (3) reacts to a shot during warmups prior to the Capital game.

Ohio forward Colin Granger (32) and guard John Tenerowicz (12) listen to the pregame speech from Coach Jeff Boals.

Ohio forward Jason Carter (30) is hyped up by teammates as he is introduced prior to the Capital game.

The Marching 110 reacts to a three pointer in the first half of the game. Like the “Bench-Mob,” the Marching 110 plays a large role in the energy that is brought into the Convo for game day. The band cheers hard for the Bobcats and jeers even harder towards the other team.

Chapter 3: Onwards and Upwards

The Bobcats started their season 3-0 with strong victories at home and on the road against Mid-Major teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament for the past few years. The first matchup was a heavyweight fight against Belmont, a top-40 team in the nation. By comparison Ohio is in the top-100. The Bobcats beat the Bears by a score of 92-80. The Convocation Center was packed with students and head coach, Jeff Boals, credited the crowd as a key factor in the Bobcats victory. Four days later, the Bobcats traveled to Cleveland State, where they defeated a chippy Vikings team by a score of 67-56, a closer game than the 100-46 routing that took place last year between the two teams. A quick turnaround meant that recovery was key for their next game against Robert Morris, which saw monster performances from Jason Carter (30) and Ben Vander Plas (5). In these quick turnaround games, the trainers emphasize light lifts and stretching to keep the players loose but not tire them out. Unlike, on the court or in the locker room, masks are required to be inside the workout facility in the Convo.

The Ohio Men’s Basketball team lines up for the National Anthem prior to their first game against Belmont.

Jason Carter drives through for a slam dunk in the second half of the Belmont game.

Jason Carter celebrates after a three pointer in the first half of the Belmont game. Carter was brought back to Athens, as a 3-point specialist.

Jeff Boals and Kyle Barlow discuss game strategy during the second half of the Belmont game, when the Bears drew the score to within 10 points.

Ben Vander Plas (5) greets the crowd after the clock struck zero and the Bobcats successfully held on to win against Belmont.

Jeff Boals greets the crowd in the seats above the player’s tunnel after the Bobcats win against Belmont.

Ben Vander Plas is helped up by teammates Ben Roderick and Mark Sears after taking a tumble over the scorer’s table during the first half of the game against Belmont.

Mark Sears warms up on the roller prior to the game against Cleveland State. Playing their second game that week, stretching and warming up was vital to the team’s victory.

Olumide Adelodun (10) looks at the scouting report Jeff Boals drew up while the team was in warmups prior to the game against Cleveland State.

Jeff Boals goes over key points in the scouting report in the pre-game meeting to the game against Robert Morris.

Jason Carter (30) and Sam Towns (11) battle for a loose ball during the game against Cleveland State. Jeff Boals constantly harps on full effort at all times and it paid off in the victory against Cleveland State.

The Bobcats celebrate the victory against Cleveland State in the locker room immediately following the game. The tradition is Jeff Boals comes into the locker room and starts doing a dance move called the “Griddy” and the team chants him on.

Ben Roderick goes for a contested layup during the game against Cleveland State. The Vikings play a chippy style of defense that caused the Bobcats to get physical down low in the paint.

Lamar Thornton walks the team through a defensive set prior to a half court scrimmage between the first and second teams.

Jason Carter preforms ab exercises as a part of a Thursday lifting session. With Carter becoming a bigger presence in the paint, these sorts of exercises are going to be crucial to his success.

John Tenerowicz puts away a foam roller prior to the game against Robert Morris. Space is limited in the Convo gym as this is the spot where the extra baskets are stored on game day.

Sam Towns yells in the locker room prior to the game against Robert Morris. Being one of the vocal leaders in the locker room, it’s Sam’s job to get the team hyped up and ready to go for the game.

Miles Brown puts on his jersey prior to heading out onto the court for the game against Robert Morris.

Twins, Mark and Miles Brown practice their handshake for the player introductions against Robert Morris. Miles is the person that heads the introduction line which means he has a special handshake with all of the starters.

A.J. Clayton watches the introduction video prior to the starter introductions for the Bobcats game against Robert Morris.

A motivational saying drawn up on a whiteboard in the gym inside the Convocation Center.

Olumide Adelodun preforms a dumbbell chest-press during a Thursday workout. Being a freshman, Adelodun is working out to increase muscle mass in order to compete with some of the larger players in the MAC.

The Ohio Football team reacts to a Ben Vander Plas putback dunk during the second half of the Bobcats win against Robert Morris.

Jeff Boals greets the crowd after a dominating victory over Robert Morris, appreciating them for coming out in numbers for the second week in a row.