Offutt finds a new home at Ohio University

No player who has ever been guarded by Walter Offutt of Ohio University will quite forget the experience.

From the opening tip, Offutt looks into his opponent’s eyes with a scowling expression that can be best described as that befitting a fright mask for Halloween. Then he continually waves his arms as if ready to perform martial arts.

Offutt, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior who transferred from Ohio State in 2010, credits his high-school coach, Scott Heady of Indianapolis Warren Central, for the intensity.

“Coach Heady got me to play hard every single minute,” Offutt said. “I take charges. I try to get in your face. I don’t give you anything.”

In 19 games this season, Offutt ranks second on the Bobcats in scoring (11.6), steals (31) and assists (31) and is fourth in rebounding (3.9). He is shooting 42.9 percent from the field and has 21 three-pointers.

There is no bitterness toward Buckeyes coach Thad Matta. It’s just that Offutt didn’t see much playing time.

“Absolutely no hard feelings,” he said. “Ohio State just had too many guards and too many players who did what I do. I talked to coach Matta when we had a scrimmage against Ohio State before the season. Everything was fine. We had a good talk. I just look at Ohio State as a learning thing. I enjoyed my time there.”

Offutt has had a soft landing at Ohio largely because of having worked with coach John Groce at Ohio State. Groce actually began recruiting him as a sixth-grader.

“This is a good place for me because I know the system and fit into the system,” Offutt said. “Coach Groce plays a lot of people. When you do come off the bench, you know exactly when you are going in. It’s not random. You are not shocked when he says, ‘Get in there.’ ”

Groce believes in playing as many as 10 players and putting pressure on opponents every minute.

That style matches Offutt’s game. On offense, he can stick the three-pointer or mid-range jump shot, but he particularly is adept at slashing to the basket.

The Bobcats (15-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) are coming off big wins against Kent State and Miami University, and Offutt was a cog in scoring 19 points and 15 in those respective games.

Upper Arlington’s Sullivan big hit at Miami

Coaches and other staff members at Miami sometimes follow players around campus to make sure they are getting to class and doing the right things in general.

Coach Charlie Coles said that practice ceased with freshman guard Brian Sullivan of Upper Arlington in the fall.

“He gets good grades,” Coles said. “I don’t worry about him.”

Sullivan, a psychology major, is averaging 9.6 points coming off the bench. He is averaging 25.5 minutes, but 29.8 since MAC play started.

“I love Sully,” Coles said. “… He’s playing, but he’s nowhere close to where I want him to be. He will get a lot better. I think the world of him.” The RedHawks played Ohio University tough before losing 69-65 on Saturday mainly because of Sullivan. He scored 16 points, mostly on long three-pointers.

Sullivan seems to play his best in big games. He scored 24 points in a loss to Vanderbilt and 14 in a victory over Dayton.

Coles was asked how Sullivan can stand out despite being 5 feet 11 and 168 pounds.

“Smart beats strong any day,” he said. 

Otterbein wins despite a youthful roster

The Otterbein women’s team is 13-4 and tied for third place with Capital in the Ohio Athletic Conference at 7-3 despite having only three seniors.

The Cardinals are led by 5-7 senior guard Kristi Kotterman, who ranks second in the conference in scoring (15.5) and fifth in steals (2.29). Defense is the team’s calling card. It is first in the OAC in field-goal percentage defense (35.5) and second in turnover margin (plus-2.59).

Otterbein won three straight games before falling to first-place Mount Union.

mznidar@dispatch.com