So I'm not entirely sure what's happening here. UMass is perennially a strong team but they have not beaten anybody entirely badly this year. Their first six wins were by six points or less. To thrash the Bobcats by nine points is quite something. To hang 85 on them is something else entirely unreal. Isn't this team supposed to be defense first?
Ohio didn't have much of a problem scoring: DJ Cooper got his point guard double-double with 23 points and 10 assists. Walter Offutt had an excellent first half to polish off his 18-point night. And Nick Kellogg even got some buckets to wind up with 15 points. But the defense was not entirely present; they did get 10 steals but UMass shot 48 percent from the floor and made their way to the free throw line often. And again: 85 points. The last time they allowed that much was an 88-87 overtime win at Kent State in February 2011.
Yes, this part of the schedule was tougher. On the surface, they began 6-0 and are since 1-4. But there was more of an expectation to be 7-4 at this point. Alas, they are what they are: one of the better MAC East teams and the rest of the competition should still plan on this team being ready for MAC play, which is truly the more important part of the season.
Well, the good news is on Saturday they host winless Maryland-Eastern Shore.