Cue the banjos, Bobcat Preview

The last step on the Falcons is this trip to lovely Athens Ohio for a game with the Ohio University Bobcats.

This just doesn't get any easier.

The Bobcats, winners of 6 of their last 7, feature Jerome Tillman, early favorite to be MAC POY. He is, at the very least, the most statistically productive player in the conference, leading in scoring and rebounding. He is an inside presence, and the Falcons are going to have to have the interior D really tuned up to keep him off his game.

Beyond that, playing in the Convo in Athens is never easy. When the Bobcats are good, it gets even harder. They are 7-0 at home this year, to go with 13-1 last year. So, you know, they are tough at home.

Coming into the year, they had Jerome Tillman and that seemed like it was about it. But Justin Orr and Steven Coleman are also scoring in double figures (Orr is a sniper from beyond the arc), and their PG Michael Allen is doing a great job handling the ball.

According to this write up, if they have a weakness, it is that they seem to always end up in heart stopping finishes, no matter how far ahead they are. Hmmm.

Anyhoo, things are good enough that Groce is actually tightening up his player rotation.

OU's numbers have improved significantly since MAC play started. Their offensive efficiency, for example, is well above what it was for the season on a whole. They shoot very well, and that includes lots of 3fgs. They are near the top in most key statistics on offense, though their defense is not as highly ranked.

So, the Falcons have their work cut out for them tomorrow at the Convo. OU is looking like they could make a run, and the place is likely to be hopping. If we're going to find a place for a first road win, this is about as unlikely a spot as it could be. Still, that's why they play the game.