The Minutemen take on the Bobcats at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Mullins Center.
Let's take a look at UMass basketball's next opponent, the Ohio Bobcats.
Ohio | 7-3
Game Quick Facts
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 19Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Mullins Center
TV: None
Radio: 105.5 FM WEEI, 1440 AM WEEI, 95.9 FM WATD
Projected lineup
• D.J. Cooper, GSr., 6-0, 176 lbs
10 G, 10 GS, 14.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.1 APG (1.9 A/TO)
• Nick Kellogg, G
Jr., 6-3, 201 lbs
10 G, 10 GS, 9.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG
• Walter Offutt, G
R-Sr., 6-4, 202 lbs.
10 G, 10 GS, 11.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG
• Jon Smith, F
R-Jr., 6-6, 187 lbs.
10 G, 10 GS, 4.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG,
• Ivo Baltic, F
Sr., 6-9, 214 lbs.
10 G, 10 GS, 9.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Player to watch
D.J. Cooper, GCooper is the pre-season MAC Player of the Year and hasn't disappointed in the season's first ten games, entering Wednesday ranked seventh nationally in assists at 7.1 per game while scoring 14.0 per game as well. The Bobcats bring back the entire starting lineup from last season's Sweet 16 team, but Cooper is the engine that drives it all.
Last Five Games
Nov. 21 — v. St. Bonaventure (69-64 W)Nov. 24 — at Robert Morris (76-84 L)
Dec. 5 — at Memphis (58-84 L)
Dec. 8 — v. Oakland (78-61 W)
Dec. 15 — v. Winthrop (49-50 L)
Notes
• Aside from Cooper, the Minutemen will also have contend with Ohio guard Walter Offutt, who is only averaging 11.1 points per game thus far, but has been known to bust out for 20 or more on multiple occasions — including in last year's NCAA Tournament.• The Minutemen have played good perimeter defense in their last two games and will need to continue to do so against an Ohio team that averages over eight 3-point makes per game.
• Ball screen defense has been a point of emphasis for the UMass coaching staff for the past couple of weeks, but will be especially key against Ohio. The Bobcats love to move Cooper off of ball screens to create space.