Ohio Bobcats men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Ohio Bobcats men’s basketball team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University
. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
, playing at the Division 1 level. The Bobcats have played their home games in the Convocation Center
since 1968.
The first Ohio basketball game occurred in 1907 when the Bobcats defeated the Parkersburg YMCA
46-9. Since that day, Ohio has posted a .569 winning percentage over their 100 year history and a .566 winning percentage in their 61 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 5 Mid-American Conference tournament titles in 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, and 2010, as well as 9 MAC regular season titles in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1994. Prior to joining the MAC, the 'Cats won an Ohio Athletic Conference title in 1921 and three Buckeye Athletic Association championships in 1931, 1933, and 1937. In addition, Ohio has played in the NCAA
Tournament
12 times (second most in the MAC), appearing in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005 and 2010. The Bobcats have been selected for the National Invitation Tournament
4 times in 1941 (runner-up), 1969, 1986, and 1995, while also appearing in the College Basketball Invitational
in 2008. The program was ranked 86th in Street & Smith's 100 Greatest Basketball Programs of All Time, published in 2005.
. Under the direction of coach James Jones, the Bobcats won the game by a score of 46-9 and continued their victories with a 5 game winning streak to start the season. Though the ‘Cats would go on to lose 4 games that season and earn a 7-4 record, by all accounts the season was a resounding success and a precursor of greatness to come.
Coach Jones would only be at Ohio for two more seasons, leading the team to records of 1-1 in the 1908-1909 campaign and 2-5 during the 1909-1910 season. Over the next three seasons, the basketball program was in a state of flux, with a new coach taking over the reins every year. Ohio joined the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1911, and started out poorly under coach Arthur Hinaman with a 2-9 record.
A bit of stability arrived to Athens with the hiring of coach Mark Banks in 1913. Banks would lead the program to a 3-10 season in his first year, but the ‘Cats surged to 11-4 in Bank’s second year at the helm. That 1914-1915 squad beat the Cincinnati Bearcats
and the Miami Redskins
twice, while also impressively defeating Wooster by a score of 51-20. Banks teams would fall off over the next several seasons, with the low point being a 2-14 mark in the 1916-1917 campaign. Banks would coach only one more year, with the Bobcats posting a 4-8 record in the 1918-1919 season.
Bank’s successor was Frank Gullum, who in his two years at the helm was 5-4 and 5-6, respectively. Gullum was succeeded by Russell Finsterwald, who led the team to an outstanding 15-2 season in his first year at the helm. That 1920-1921 team defeated the Miami Redskins
and Cincinnati Bearcats
each twice, and also earned Ohio’s first ever Ohio Athletic Association title. Finsterwald’s 1921-1922 squad was equally impressive, posting a 19-4 mark with two wins against the Bowling Green Falcons
. Though Finsterwald would only last these two seasons, his work cannot be underestimated in steering the ‘Cats towards a legacy of success.
and the Marietta Pioneers
. In 1923, the Bobcats marked their move into the brand new Men’s Gymnasium with a 16-5 record and a near miss of an Ohio Athletic Conference title. Several winning seasons later, the Bobcats moved into the challenging Buckeye Athletic Association in 1926 and started off with a sub-par 8-13 mark in the 1926-1927 season. The ‘Cats would soon adjust to the stiff competition, and in the 1931-1932 campaign, Ohio won its first ever Buckeye Athletic Association title with a 12-4 mark. Just two seasons later in 1933-1934, the Bobcats won yet another Buckeye Athletic Association championship with a 16-4 record and two wins over the archrival Miami Redskins. The 1936-1937 season marked Grover’s third and final Buckeye Athletic Association championship, and was perhaps his most impressive. The Bobcats were 18-3 that year, and earned wins over respected programs such as Xavier University
and Dayton
.
Dutch Trautwein took over the reins of the Bobcat basketball program in 1938, and helped lead the team to a new level of success. He led the team to 12-8 and 19-6 records in his first two seasons, and perhaps best left his mark in the 1940-1941 campaign. That team earned a record of 18-4, and was selected for the National Invitation Tournament
after a season which included wins over Xavier
, Akron
, Toledo
, Cincinnati, and archrival Miami. With the play of Ohio legend Frank Baumholtz, the Bobcats finished as runners-up in the prestigious tournament to perennial power Long Island
. Baumholtz, known as the “Midvale Marvel,” earned tournament MVP honors and All-American status for his NIT performance. Following his Ohio career, he became one of a rare fraternity to play two professional sports — basketball with the Cleveland Rebels in 1946-47 and baseball with the Chicago Cubs
, Cincinnati Reds
and Philadelphia Phillies
over a 10-year career.
After several more winning seasons under Trautwein, the Bobcats undertook a new challenge in 1946 when they joined the upstart Mid-American Conference
. The ‘Cats were 13-10 in their first year in the MAC, and followed that up with a 10-10 mark in the 1947-1948 season. The 1948-1949 season was Trautwein’s last, with the team compiling a 6-16 record while faced with a challenging schedule.
took over for Trautwein in 1949. Ohio’s winningest coach, dubbed “Gentleman Jim”, guided the Bobcats for a quarter century. With star players like Jim Betts, Bunk Adams, Jerry Jackson, Don Hilt, Gerald McKee and Sports Illustrated cover boy Walter Luckett, Snyder won a total of seven MAC titles. His teams made seven NCAA appearances and finished with a winning record 21 times in 25 years.
Snyder’s first season was rather lackluster, with the ‘Cats posting a 6-14 record. He followed that up with a slight improvement in the 1950-1951 season and a 13-11 mark. The 1954-1955 season was a breakout year for Ohio, and the team earned a 16-5 record and key wins over Morehead State and Miami University
. In 1960, Ohio won its first championship under Snyder, with the team taking the MAC by way of a 10-2 league record (17-8 overall). That squad defeated the likes of the Toledo Rockets
, Bowling Green Falcons
, and Miami Redskins
en route to a 74-66 win over in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The 1959-1960 championship team was quickly followed up by another title in the very next year. The 1960-1961 team celebrated its move into the brand new Grover Center with a stunning 10-2 league record (17-7 overall), including a first place finish at the Canton Intercollegiate Tournament. A few short years later, the 1963-1964 team made its mark as perhaps the best in Ohio history. That team won the MAC title with a 10-2 league mark, and followed it up with NCAA tournament wins over the Louisville Cardinals
and the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats
. Though Snyder’s ‘Cats ultimately lost to the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines
in the “elite eight”, their legend continues as one of the best mid-major runs in tournament history.
Though the 1963-1964 team produced a record that was hard to top, the 1964-1965 edition did its best to compete with the previous year’s squad. They posted an amazing 11-1 MAC record and a 19-7 overall mark, though ultimately falling to Dayton in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Snyder’s teams would go through a slight drought until the 1968-1969 season, when they open up the Convocation Center
with a win over the Indiana Hoosiers
and subsequent postseason NIT appearance and a 17-9 record. The very next season, Ohio scored wins over No. 16 Ohio State
and No. 13 Purdue
while marching their way to another MAC championship.
The Bobcats christened the 1970s with yet another MAC title under Snyder in the 1971-1972 season. Though the ‘Cats were just 15-11 that year, they were 7-3 in the MAC with wins over the No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers and the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes. Snyder’s Bobcats won a final MAC title in the 1973-1974 season, with a 16-11 record and wins over the and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Though Snyder would never again coach the ‘Cats, his larger-than-life legacy lives on today.
proved difficult to replace. He was immediately succeeded by Dale Bandy, who struggled to a 69-89 record over his six year tenure at Ohio. Bandy was replaced by Danny Nee
in 1980, with the Bobcats beginning a road back to prominence. His teams – led by the likes of John Deveraux, Robert Tatum, Paul Baron, John Rhodes, Eddie Hicks and Vic Alexander –tallied four consecutive 20-win seasons, a MAC Tournament title in 1983, an NIT matchup
in the Convo versus the Ohio State Buckeyes
and two trips to the NCAA tournament.
Nee didn’t leave Ohio’s cupboard bare when he left in 1986 to coach the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, with Billy Hahn taking over the reins. His teams were led by future NBA players Paul “Snoopy” Graham and Dave Jamerson, two of Ohio’s three 2,000-point scorers, that kept Convo crowds cheering with epic offensive performances. Jamerson’s 31.2 points per- game average in 1989-90 included a Convo-record 60-point blistering of the University of Charleston
.
Despite offensive stars, Hahn’s teams struggled on the court. Hahn was replaced in 1989 by Larry Hunter
, an Ohio alum who would lead the Bobcats throughout the 1990s. Hunter’s teams exploded onto the national scene with the arrival of the “Shaq of the MAC”. Like a whirlwind, forward Gary Trent took the conference by storm. On his way to joining Graham and Jamerson atop the 2,000-point plateau, Trent was the MAC’s only three-time Player of the Year. Trent teamed with three-point marksman Geno Ford to guide Larry Hunter’s Bobcats to a MAC Championship in the 1993-1994 season. Ohio captured the conference tournament that season with a lopsided 89-66 victory over archrival Miami in the finals on ESPN.
Hunter, who played for Snyder, saw Ohio dismantle Ohio State in the Preseason NIT to open the following season. Impressive wins over 14th-ranked Virginia, George Washington and New Mexico State earned the Bobcats a Preseason NIT title and an accompanying national ranking. That team would go on to post a 24-10 (13-5 MAC) record, en route to an appearance in the post-season NIT and a win over George Washington University
in the first round.
The Bobcats would struggle in the next few years under Hunter, with the low point being a 5-21 season in the 1997-1998 campaign. Though Hunter’s teams would rebound to post 18, 20, and 19 wins over the next three seasons, he was relieved of his duties in 2001 due to a lack of success in the postseason. His successor would be Tim O'Shea
.
assistant Tim O'Shea
became the Bobcats’ 15th head coach. The shot blocking, slam dunking and three-point shooting displays of Patrick Flomo, Brandon Hunter and Steve Esterkamp delighted fans in The Convo’s newly christened student section, the O Zone. The NBA came calling for Hunter once his playing days were complete as he was drafted by the Boston Celtics
in the second round of the 2003 draft. Esterkamp continues to play professionally overseas as well.
The 2004-2005 edition brought back memories of past success as the Bobcats made a magical run in March to reach the “Big Dance.” Ohio went 13-1 in The Convo and won 13 of their final 17 games. O’Shea’s charges dropped Marshall
, Kent State, and Miami in the preliminary rounds of the MAC Tournament before scoring an epic 80-79 overtime victory over Buffalo
in the championship to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Despite a furious second-half comeback against the Southeastern Conference
champion Florida Gators
, the Bobcats’ season ended in the first round. That squad served notice, though, that Ohio has returned as one of the top programs in the MAC.
The 2005-2006 ‘Cats proved successful as well, posting a 19-11 record with wins over teams such as Rhode Island
and Samford
, and a close loss to Kentucky
. The 2006-2007 team also posted 19 wins, with a final record of 19-13. A 20 win campaign was had in the 2007-2008 season, including notable non-conference wins over Maryland
, St. John's, George Mason
, and Bucknell
. The team was extended an invite to the College Basketball Invitational
, where the Bobcats advanced to the second round.
On June 23, 2008, O'Shea announced he was leaving the Bobcats team to become head coach at Bryant University
.
associate head coach John Groce
was named the sixteenth head coach in Bobcats history. Groce brings fourteen years of assistant coaching experience to Athens, along with a pair of outright Big Ten regular-season titles, two NCAA Tournament
appearances, a berth in the 2007 NCAA National Championship game and the 2008 NIT
title.
The Bobcats finished the 2009-2010 regular season with a 17-14 overall record and a 7-9 record in MAC play, earning them the ninth seed in their conference tournament. They won four straight games in the conference tournament to claim the MAC's automatic bid. Placed into the Midwest region as a 14 seed, Ohio shocked 3rd-seeded and 12th ranked Georgetown 97-83. The Bobcats took a 12 point lead into halftime and the Hoyas never got closer than a 7 point deficit the rest of the way.
. Their combined record is 5–13.
s. Their combined record is 4–4.
in 2008. Their combined record is 1–1.
. "The Battle of the Bricks" is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio Bobcats and the Miami RedHawks athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of having a campus of red brick buildings. Each varsity athletic competition in which the Bobcats and RedHawks meet including tournament play is counted as part of the years series record. At the conclusion of each academic year, the school with the most varsity wins takes the trophy back to their campus for the following year.
Another Ohio rival is Marshall University
. The annual football game between Ohio and Marshall is called "The Battle for the Bell", with a traveling bell trophy as the prize for the victor. Due to Marshall's recent move to Conference USA, this rivalry game will not be played for several years. However, athletics officials at each school are working to continue this annual series in the non-conference season.
Source: Ohio Basketball Media Guide
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
, playing at the Division 1 level. The Bobcats have played their home games in the Convocation Center
Convocation Center (Ohio University)
Convocation Center is a 13,080-seat multi-purpose arena that is home to the Ohio Bobcats basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The first men's basketball game in the arena featured an 80–70 Ohio victory over the Indiana Hoosiers on December 3, 1968.The Convocation Center,...
since 1968.
The first Ohio basketball game occurred in 1907 when the Bobcats defeated the Parkersburg YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
46-9. Since that day, Ohio has posted a .569 winning percentage over their 100 year history and a .566 winning percentage in their 61 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 5 Mid-American Conference tournament titles in 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, and 2010, as well as 9 MAC regular season titles in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1994. Prior to joining the MAC, the 'Cats won an Ohio Athletic Conference title in 1921 and three Buckeye Athletic Association championships in 1931, 1933, and 1937. In addition, Ohio has played in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
12 times (second most in the MAC), appearing in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005 and 2010. The Bobcats have been selected for the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
4 times in 1941 (runner-up), 1969, 1986, and 1995, while also appearing in the College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
in 2008. The program was ranked 86th in Street & Smith's 100 Greatest Basketball Programs of All Time, published in 2005.
1907-1922: Beginnings
The first intercollegiate men’s basketball game involving an Ohio University team was played in Athens in 1907 against the Parkersburg YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. Under the direction of coach James Jones, the Bobcats won the game by a score of 46-9 and continued their victories with a 5 game winning streak to start the season. Though the ‘Cats would go on to lose 4 games that season and earn a 7-4 record, by all accounts the season was a resounding success and a precursor of greatness to come.
Coach Jones would only be at Ohio for two more seasons, leading the team to records of 1-1 in the 1908-1909 campaign and 2-5 during the 1909-1910 season. Over the next three seasons, the basketball program was in a state of flux, with a new coach taking over the reins every year. Ohio joined the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1911, and started out poorly under coach Arthur Hinaman with a 2-9 record.
A bit of stability arrived to Athens with the hiring of coach Mark Banks in 1913. Banks would lead the program to a 3-10 season in his first year, but the ‘Cats surged to 11-4 in Bank’s second year at the helm. That 1914-1915 squad beat the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
and the Miami Redskins
Miami RedHawks
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...
twice, while also impressively defeating Wooster by a score of 51-20. Banks teams would fall off over the next several seasons, with the low point being a 2-14 mark in the 1916-1917 campaign. Banks would coach only one more year, with the Bobcats posting a 4-8 record in the 1918-1919 season.
Bank’s successor was Frank Gullum, who in his two years at the helm was 5-4 and 5-6, respectively. Gullum was succeeded by Russell Finsterwald, who led the team to an outstanding 15-2 season in his first year at the helm. That 1920-1921 team defeated the Miami Redskins
Miami RedHawks
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...
and Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
each twice, and also earned Ohio’s first ever Ohio Athletic Association title. Finsterwald’s 1921-1922 squad was equally impressive, posting a 19-4 mark with two wins against the Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green Falcons
The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the...
. Though Finsterwald would only last these two seasons, his work cannot be underestimated in steering the ‘Cats towards a legacy of success.
1922-1949: The Grover-Trautwein era
Butch Grover took the reins of the Ohio program in 1922, and led the team to a newfound level of success. His inaugural 1922-1923 season was marked by an 11-8 record, and wins over teams such as the Cincinnati BearcatsCincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
and the Marietta Pioneers
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
. In 1923, the Bobcats marked their move into the brand new Men’s Gymnasium with a 16-5 record and a near miss of an Ohio Athletic Conference title. Several winning seasons later, the Bobcats moved into the challenging Buckeye Athletic Association in 1926 and started off with a sub-par 8-13 mark in the 1926-1927 season. The ‘Cats would soon adjust to the stiff competition, and in the 1931-1932 campaign, Ohio won its first ever Buckeye Athletic Association title with a 12-4 mark. Just two seasons later in 1933-1934, the Bobcats won yet another Buckeye Athletic Association championship with a 16-4 record and two wins over the archrival Miami Redskins. The 1936-1937 season marked Grover’s third and final Buckeye Athletic Association championship, and was perhaps his most impressive. The Bobcats were 18-3 that year, and earned wins over respected programs such as Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
and Dayton
Dayton
Dayton is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.Dayton may also refer to:-United States:*Dayton, Alabama*Dayton, California, in Butte County*Dayton, Lassen County, California*Dayton, Idaho*Dayton, Indiana...
.
Dutch Trautwein took over the reins of the Bobcat basketball program in 1938, and helped lead the team to a new level of success. He led the team to 12-8 and 19-6 records in his first two seasons, and perhaps best left his mark in the 1940-1941 campaign. That team earned a record of 18-4, and was selected for the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
after a season which included wins over Xavier
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
, Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Cincinnati, and archrival Miami. With the play of Ohio legend Frank Baumholtz, the Bobcats finished as runners-up in the prestigious tournament to perennial power Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Baumholtz, known as the “Midvale Marvel,” earned tournament MVP honors and All-American status for his NIT performance. Following his Ohio career, he became one of a rare fraternity to play two professional sports — basketball with the Cleveland Rebels in 1946-47 and baseball with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
over a 10-year career.
After several more winning seasons under Trautwein, the Bobcats undertook a new challenge in 1946 when they joined the upstart Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. The ‘Cats were 13-10 in their first year in the MAC, and followed that up with a 10-10 mark in the 1947-1948 season. The 1948-1949 season was Trautwein’s last, with the team compiling a 6-16 record while faced with a challenging schedule.
1949-1974: The seasons of Snyder
Ohio alumnus Jim SnyderJim Snyder
Jim Snyder was head coach of the Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team for 26 years . He led his teams to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament appearance...
took over for Trautwein in 1949. Ohio’s winningest coach, dubbed “Gentleman Jim”, guided the Bobcats for a quarter century. With star players like Jim Betts, Bunk Adams, Jerry Jackson, Don Hilt, Gerald McKee and Sports Illustrated cover boy Walter Luckett, Snyder won a total of seven MAC titles. His teams made seven NCAA appearances and finished with a winning record 21 times in 25 years.
Snyder’s first season was rather lackluster, with the ‘Cats posting a 6-14 record. He followed that up with a slight improvement in the 1950-1951 season and a 13-11 mark. The 1954-1955 season was a breakout year for Ohio, and the team earned a 16-5 record and key wins over Morehead State and Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. In 1960, Ohio won its first championship under Snyder, with the team taking the MAC by way of a 10-2 league record (17-8 overall). That squad defeated the likes of the Toledo Rockets
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
, Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green Falcons
The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the...
, and Miami Redskins
Miami RedHawks
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...
en route to a 74-66 win over in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The 1959-1960 championship team was quickly followed up by another title in the very next year. The 1960-1961 team celebrated its move into the brand new Grover Center with a stunning 10-2 league record (17-7 overall), including a first place finish at the Canton Intercollegiate Tournament. A few short years later, the 1963-1964 team made its mark as perhaps the best in Ohio history. That team won the MAC title with a 10-2 league mark, and followed it up with NCAA tournament wins over the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
and the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
. Though Snyder’s ‘Cats ultimately lost to the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in the “elite eight”, their legend continues as one of the best mid-major runs in tournament history.
Though the 1963-1964 team produced a record that was hard to top, the 1964-1965 edition did its best to compete with the previous year’s squad. They posted an amazing 11-1 MAC record and a 19-7 overall mark, though ultimately falling to Dayton in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Snyder’s teams would go through a slight drought until the 1968-1969 season, when they open up the Convocation Center
Convocation Center (Ohio University)
Convocation Center is a 13,080-seat multi-purpose arena that is home to the Ohio Bobcats basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The first men's basketball game in the arena featured an 80–70 Ohio victory over the Indiana Hoosiers on December 3, 1968.The Convocation Center,...
with a win over the Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
and subsequent postseason NIT appearance and a 17-9 record. The very next season, Ohio scored wins over No. 16 Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
and No. 13 Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
while marching their way to another MAC championship.
The Bobcats christened the 1970s with yet another MAC title under Snyder in the 1971-1972 season. Though the ‘Cats were just 15-11 that year, they were 7-3 in the MAC with wins over the No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers and the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes. Snyder’s Bobcats won a final MAC title in the 1973-1974 season, with a 16-11 record and wins over the and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Though Snyder would never again coach the ‘Cats, his larger-than-life legacy lives on today.
1974-2001: Success, transition and disappointment
Not unlike most coaching legends, Jim SnyderJim Snyder
Jim Snyder was head coach of the Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team for 26 years . He led his teams to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament appearance...
proved difficult to replace. He was immediately succeeded by Dale Bandy, who struggled to a 69-89 record over his six year tenure at Ohio. Bandy was replaced by Danny Nee
Danny Nee
Danny Nee is the current Head Men's Basketball Coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. His career head coaching record as an NCAA Men's Basketball coach stands at 410-381.-Ohio University:...
in 1980, with the Bobcats beginning a road back to prominence. His teams – led by the likes of John Deveraux, Robert Tatum, Paul Baron, John Rhodes, Eddie Hicks and Vic Alexander –tallied four consecutive 20-win seasons, a MAC Tournament title in 1983, an NIT matchup
in the Convo versus the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
and two trips to the NCAA tournament.
Nee didn’t leave Ohio’s cupboard bare when he left in 1986 to coach the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
, with Billy Hahn taking over the reins. His teams were led by future NBA players Paul “Snoopy” Graham and Dave Jamerson, two of Ohio’s three 2,000-point scorers, that kept Convo crowds cheering with epic offensive performances. Jamerson’s 31.2 points per- game average in 1989-90 included a Convo-record 60-point blistering of the University of Charleston
University of Charleston
The University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.-History:The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church...
.
Despite offensive stars, Hahn’s teams struggled on the court. Hahn was replaced in 1989 by Larry Hunter
Larry Hunter
- External links :*...
, an Ohio alum who would lead the Bobcats throughout the 1990s. Hunter’s teams exploded onto the national scene with the arrival of the “Shaq of the MAC”. Like a whirlwind, forward Gary Trent took the conference by storm. On his way to joining Graham and Jamerson atop the 2,000-point plateau, Trent was the MAC’s only three-time Player of the Year. Trent teamed with three-point marksman Geno Ford to guide Larry Hunter’s Bobcats to a MAC Championship in the 1993-1994 season. Ohio captured the conference tournament that season with a lopsided 89-66 victory over archrival Miami in the finals on ESPN.
Hunter, who played for Snyder, saw Ohio dismantle Ohio State in the Preseason NIT to open the following season. Impressive wins over 14th-ranked Virginia, George Washington and New Mexico State earned the Bobcats a Preseason NIT title and an accompanying national ranking. That team would go on to post a 24-10 (13-5 MAC) record, en route to an appearance in the post-season NIT and a win over George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in the first round.
The Bobcats would struggle in the next few years under Hunter, with the low point being a 5-21 season in the 1997-1998 campaign. Though Hunter’s teams would rebound to post 18, 20, and 19 wins over the next three seasons, he was relieved of his duties in 2001 due to a lack of success in the postseason. His successor would be Tim O'Shea
Tim O'Shea
Tim O'Shea is an American college basketball coach. He is the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Bryant University. He has vowed to bring Bryant to multiple NCAA tournaments...
.
2001-2008: The Tim O’Shea era
A new era in Ohio basketball began in 2001 when Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
assistant Tim O'Shea
Tim O'Shea
Tim O'Shea is an American college basketball coach. He is the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Bryant University. He has vowed to bring Bryant to multiple NCAA tournaments...
became the Bobcats’ 15th head coach. The shot blocking, slam dunking and three-point shooting displays of Patrick Flomo, Brandon Hunter and Steve Esterkamp delighted fans in The Convo’s newly christened student section, the O Zone. The NBA came calling for Hunter once his playing days were complete as he was drafted by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the second round of the 2003 draft. Esterkamp continues to play professionally overseas as well.
The 2004-2005 edition brought back memories of past success as the Bobcats made a magical run in March to reach the “Big Dance.” Ohio went 13-1 in The Convo and won 13 of their final 17 games. O’Shea’s charges dropped Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, Kent State, and Miami in the preliminary rounds of the MAC Tournament before scoring an epic 80-79 overtime victory over Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
in the championship to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Despite a furious second-half comeback against the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
champion Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
, the Bobcats’ season ended in the first round. That squad served notice, though, that Ohio has returned as one of the top programs in the MAC.
The 2005-2006 ‘Cats proved successful as well, posting a 19-11 record with wins over teams such as Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Samford
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
, and a close loss to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. The 2006-2007 team also posted 19 wins, with a final record of 19-13. A 20 win campaign was had in the 2007-2008 season, including notable non-conference wins over Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, St. John's, George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, and Bucknell
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
. The team was extended an invite to the College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
, where the Bobcats advanced to the second round.
On June 23, 2008, O'Shea announced he was leaving the Bobcats team to become head coach at Bryant University
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
.
2008-present: John Groce takes the reins
On June 27, 2008, former Ohio State BuckeyesOhio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
associate head coach John Groce
John Groce
John Groce is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Ohio University men's basketball team...
was named the sixteenth head coach in Bobcats history. Groce brings fourteen years of assistant coaching experience to Athens, along with a pair of outright Big Ten regular-season titles, two NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances, a berth in the 2007 NCAA National Championship game and the 2008 NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
title.
The Bobcats finished the 2009-2010 regular season with a 17-14 overall record and a 7-9 record in MAC play, earning them the ninth seed in their conference tournament. They won four straight games in the conference tournament to claim the MAC's automatic bid. Placed into the Midwest region as a 14 seed, Ohio shocked 3rd-seeded and 12th ranked Georgetown 97-83. The Bobcats took a 12 point lead into halftime and the Hoyas never got closer than a 7 point deficit the rest of the way.
NCAA Tournament Results
The Bobcats have appeared in twelve NCAA TournamentsNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. Their combined record is 5–13.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1960, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in Daly City,... |
First Round Sweet Sixteen Regional Third Place Game |
Notre Dame Georgia Tech Western Kentucky |
W 74–66 L 57–54 L 97–87 |
| 1961 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 14, 1961, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Kansas... |
First Round | Louisville | L 76–70 |
| 1964 1964 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1964 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 9, 1964, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Kansas... |
First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
Louisville Kentucky Michigan |
W 71–69 OT W 85–69 L 69–57 |
| 1965 1965 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1965 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1965, and ended with the championship game on March 20 in Portland, Oregon... |
First Round | Dayton | L 66–65 |
| 1970 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland... |
First Round | Notre Dame | L 112–82 |
| 1972 1972 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1972 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA University Division college basketball. It began on March 11, 1972, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Los Angeles, California... |
First Round | Marquette | L 73–49 |
| 1974 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member... |
First Round | Marquette | L 85–59 |
| 1983 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known... |
First Round Second Round |
Illinois State Kentucky |
W 51–49 L 57–40 |
| 1985 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began... |
First Round | Kansas | L 49–38 |
| 1994 1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1994, and ended with the championship game on April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina... |
First Round | Indiana | L 84–72 |
| 2005 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
First Round | Florida | L 67–62 |
| 2010 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's... |
First Round Second Round |
Georgetown Tennessee |
W 97–83 L 83–68 |
National Invitation Tournament Results
Ohio has been selected to participate in four National Invitation TournamentNational Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
s. Their combined record is 4–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 1941 National Invitation Tournament The 1941 National Invitation Tournament was the 1941 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 8 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
First Round Semifinal Finals |
Virginia CCNY Long Island |
W 55–40 W 45–43 L 56–42 |
| 1969 1969 National Invitation Tournament The 1969 National Invitation Tournament was the 1969 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
First Round Second Round |
West Texas State Tennessee |
W 82–80 L 75–64 |
| 1986 1986 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Louisiana Tech 67, Florida 62... |
First Round | Ohio State | L 65–62 |
| 1995 1995 National Invitation Tournament -Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Penn State 66, Canisius 62... |
First Round Second Round |
George Washington Iowa |
W 83–71 L 66–62 |
College Basketball Invitational Results
The Bobcats appeared in the first ever College Basketball InvitationalCollege Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
in 2008. Their combined record is 1–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 College Basketball Invitational The 2008 College Basketball Invitational was a single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 2008 National Invitation Tournament... |
First Round Second Round |
Brown Bradley |
W 80–74 L 79–73 |
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Year | Former Ohio positions held | Alma mater |
| John Groce John Groce John Groce is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Ohio University men's basketball team... |
Head Coach | 2008 | Taylor University Taylor University Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian college located in Upland, Indiana. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian colleges in America.... 1994 |
|
| Dustin Ford | Assistant Coach | 2008 | Ohio University Ohio University Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus... 2001 |
|
| Chris Holtmann | Assistant Coach | 2008 | Taylor University Taylor University Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian college located in Upland, Indiana. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian colleges in America.... 1994 |
|
| Jamall Walker | Assistant Coach | 2008 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis University Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the... 2000 |
|
| Chris Cobbins | Graduate Manager | 2008 | Ohio Valley University Ohio Valley University Ohio Valley University is a private, four-year Christian college and is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is located between the western towns of Parkersburg and Vienna in the State of West Virginia in the United States.... 2006 |
|
| Aaron Fuss | Administrative Assistant | 2008 | Ohio State University Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... 2005 |
|
| Daniel Leeworthy | Graduate Manager | 2008 | BYU-Hawaii 2006 |
Bobcat basketball traditions
Ohio is a tradition-rich school, and many of those traditions are associated with athletics events, especially basketball. Some Ohio traditions include:- Rufus the Bobcat - The school mascot, a fierce yet friendly looking Bobcat that always sports an Ohio jersey with a number "1" on the back.
- Ohio Varsity Band - The pep band which performs at every basketball game.
- "Stand Up and Cheer" - Ohio's fight song
- "Alma Mater, Ohio" - Ohio's alma mater song
- The "O Zone" - The student cheering section at every Ohio men's basketball game.
Rivalries
Ohio's archrival is Miami UniversityMiami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. "The Battle of the Bricks" is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio Bobcats and the Miami RedHawks athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of having a campus of red brick buildings. Each varsity athletic competition in which the Bobcats and RedHawks meet including tournament play is counted as part of the years series record. At the conclusion of each academic year, the school with the most varsity wins takes the trophy back to their campus for the following year.
Another Ohio rival is Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
. The annual football game between Ohio and Marshall is called "The Battle for the Bell", with a traveling bell trophy as the prize for the victor. Due to Marshall's recent move to Conference USA, this rivalry game will not be played for several years. However, athletics officials at each school are working to continue this annual series in the non-conference season.
All-time coaching records
| Head Coach | Period | W-L Record | Win % | Ohio Athletic Association Championships | Buckeye Athletic Association Championships | MAC Championships |
| James C. Jones | 1907–1910 | 10-10 | .500 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| James Corbett | 1910–1911 | 3-4 | .428 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arthur W. Hinaman | 1911–1912 | 2-9 | .181 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| C.M. Douthit | 1912–1913 | 5-8 | .384 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Mark B. Banks | 1913–1918 | 28-43 | .394 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Frank Gullum | 1918–1920 | 10-10 | .500 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Russel W. Finsterwald | 1920–1922 | 34-6 | .850 | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Butch Grover | 1922–1938 | 192-129 | .598 | 0 | 3 | n/a |
| “Dutch” Trautwein | 1938–1949 | 136-90 | .601 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Jim Snyder Jim Snyder Jim Snyder was head coach of the Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team for 26 years . He led his teams to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament appearance... |
1949–1974 | 355-245 | .592 | n/a | n/a | 7 |
| Dale Bandy Dale Bandy Dale Bandy is an American basketball coach. He was head coach of the Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team from the 1974-75 season to the 1979-80 season . He was an assistant under Jim Snyder, who led his teams to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament appearance... |
1974–1980 | 69-89 | .436 | n/a | n/a | 0 |
| Danny Nee Danny Nee Danny Nee is the current Head Men's Basketball Coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. His career head coaching record as an NCAA Men's Basketball coach stands at 410-381.-Ohio University:... |
1980–1986 | 107-67 | .614 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Billy Hahn Billy Hahn Billy Hahn is a basketball assistant coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers under head coach Bob Huggins. During his head coaching and assistant coaching career, Hahn has coached and recruited 19 future NBA players and set various school records at Maryland with numerous NCAA Tournament... |
1986–1989 | 42-45 | .482 | n/a | n/a | 0 |
| Larry Hunter Larry Hunter - External links :*... |
1989–2001 | 204-148 | .580 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Tim O'Shea Tim O'Shea Tim O'Shea is an American college basketball coach. He is the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Bryant University. He has vowed to bring Bryant to multiple NCAA tournaments... |
2001–2008 | 120-95 | .558 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| John Groce John Groce John Groce is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Ohio University men's basketball team... |
2008–Present | 37-32 | .536 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| TOTALS | 1907-2008 | 1,332-1015 | .568 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Source: Ohio Basketball Media Guide
All-time MAC records
The Bobcats have won 5 Mid-American Conference tournament titles in 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005 and 2010 as well as 9 MAC regular season titles in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974,1985, and 1994. Presently, at the end of the 2008-2009 MAC season, Ohio owns an all-time MAC record of 560-434 (.563) in 61 seasons of league competition.| Opponent | W-L record |
| Akron University of Akron The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of... |
30-28 |
| Ball State Ball State University Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings... |
37-31 |
| Bowling Green Bowling Green Falcons The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the... |
59-69 |
| Buffalo Buffalo Bulls The Buffalo Bulls are the athletic teams representing the University at Buffalo in intercollegiate athletics. The Bulls currently play in Division I , and are a member of the Mid-American Conference for all sports except women's rowing who is in the Cononial Athletic Assocition . They have been a... |
20-6 |
| Central Michigan Central Michigan University Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan... |
42-24 |
| Eastern Michigan Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School... |
42-21 |
| Kent State Kent State University Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest... |
86-40 |
| Miami University Miami RedHawks Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks... |
95-88 |
| Northern Illinois Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P... |
26-16 |
| Toledo University of Toledo The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:... |
63-53 |
| Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
60-59 |
| TOTAL | 560-434 |
Ohio's all-time NBA draft selections
- Frank Baumholtz, 1946, (Cleveland)
- Richard Schrider, 19481948 BAA DraftThe 1948 BAA Draft was the second annual draft of the Basketball Association of America , which later became the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 10, 1948 before to the 1948–49 season. In this draft, eight BAA teams along with four teams who moved from the National...
(New YorkNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
) - Howard Jolliff, 19601960 NBA DraftThe 1960 NBA Draft was the 14th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 11, 1960 before the 1960–61 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
(Minneapolis) - Larry Kruger, 19611961 NBA DraftThe 1961 NBA Draft was the 15th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 27, 1961 before the 1961–62 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
(Cincinnati) - Jerry Jackson, 19641964 NBA DraftThe 1964 NBA Draft was the 18th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 4, 1964 before the 1964–65 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
(DetroitDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
) - Bunk Adams, 19651965 NBA DraftThe 1965 NBA Draft was the 19th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 6, 1965, before the 1965–66 season....
(BaltimoreWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
) - John Schroeder, 19671967 NBA DraftThe 1967 NBA Draft was the 21st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 3, 1967 before the 1967–68 season. In this draft, 12 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
(SeattleSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
) - Gerald McKee, 19691969 NBA DraftThe 1969 NBA Draft was the 23rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 7, 1969 and May 7, 1969 before the 1969–70 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
(BaltimoreWashington WizardsThe Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
) - John Canine, 19701970 NBA DraftThe 1970 NBA Draft was the 24th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 23, 1970 before the 1970–71 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(PhoenixPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
) - Greg McDivitt, 19701970 NBA DraftThe 1970 NBA Draft was the 24th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 23, 1970 before the 1970–71 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(PhoenixPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
) - Ken Kowall, 19711971 NBA DraftThe 1971 NBA Draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 29, 1971 before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
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- Craig Love, 19711971 NBA DraftThe 1971 NBA Draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 29, 1971 before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(BuffaloBuffalo BravesThe Buffalo Braves were a team in the National Basketball Association. They later moved to San Diego, California to become the San Diego Clippers then subsequently the Los Angeles Clippers....
) - Tom Corde, 19721972 NBA DraftThe 1972 NBA Draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 10, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(New YorkNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
) - Walter Luckett, 19751975 NBA DraftThe 1975 NBA Draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 29, 1975 before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(DetroitDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
) - Steve Skaggs, 19791979 NBA DraftThe 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(ClevelandCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
) - Tim Joyce, 19791979 NBA DraftThe 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(ClevelandCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
) - John Devereaux, 19841984 NBA DraftThe 1984 NBA Draft was the 38th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 19, 1984 before the 1984–85 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft,...
(San AntonioSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
) - Dave JamersonDave JamersonJohn David "Dave" Jamerson is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 1st round of the 1990 NBA Draft. Jamerson played for the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets in 3 NBA seasons...
, 19901990 NBA DraftThe 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
(MiamiMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
) - Paul "Snoopy" Graham, 19911991 NBA DraftThe 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
(AtlantaAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
) - Gary TrentGary TrentGary Dajaun Trent is an American retired professional basketball player.Trent played his high school basketball at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio...
, 19951995 NBA DraftThe 1995 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1995 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft for the two Canadian expansion teams, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies...
(MilwaukeeMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
) - Brandon HunterBrandon HunterBrandon Hunter is a 6'7", 260 lbs, American professional basketball player who currently plays for BBC Bayreuth in Germany. Most of his career he has been a journeyman player....
, 20032003 NBA DraftThe 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
(BostonBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
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All-time record book
Sources
External links
- Ohio Athletics official website
- Giving to Ohio Athletics
- Ohio University Green & White Club website - Supporting Ohio Bobcats Athletics
- BobcatAttack.com – fan website
- Mid-American Conference official website
- Mid-American Conference Sports fan website
- Ohio Sports Time blog - covers all 6 Ohio MAC schools