Ashley Andrews / For The Post / aa226405@ohiou.edu

Ohio junior Leon Williams shoots as sophomore Erik Marschall from Bowling Green State University attempts to block the shot.

At the end of practice Tuesday, coach Tim O’Shea reminded Leon Williams that Buffalo’s Yassin Idbihi is coming to town. O’Shea then told him that Idbihi leads the conference in rebounding and is fifth in scoring.Williams laughed and said, “I know,” as his team wrapped up the overview of the Bulls, who the Bobcats will face tonight in The Convo. The reminder from O’Shea was meant to get Williams pumped for the matchup of the Mid-American Conference’s top two big men.

“Leon has been in the league long enough that he has started to develop rivalries,” O’Shea said. “Idbihi and him have been playing against each other every year and I’m sure Idbihi is waiting to take on Leon.”Idbihi has the statistical advantage going into the game with a MAC best 9.1 rebounds per game and is fifth in scoring with 15.6 points per game. Williams is second with 8.9 rebounds per game and is ninth in scoring with 14.4.

But Williams isn’t concerned with statistics, he wants the better big man to be decided on the court.

“It is always fun when you know people after being in the league for three years,” Williams said. “I look forward to someone who will bring his best game against me.”

The Bobcats (11-5, 2-1 MAC) and Bulls (9-7, 1-2 MAC) recent history of high intensity games has grown since the MAC Championship in 2005, and the two teams have created a mini-rivalry according to O’Shea.

“We have had some great games with Buffalo. In the East, all the games seem to become rivalries,” O’Shea said. “People get excited to see Buffalo since the MAC Championship game.”

Though the key matchup of the night will be between two of the top offensive players in Williams and Idbihi, the defense will be just as important.

Williams explained his plan to contain Idbihi was to keep him uncomfortable.

“I can’t let him get the ball where he wants, even if it just pushing him out two feet farther then where he gets it,” Williams said. “I don’t want him to get comfortable in his game and not let him have it in his sweet spot.”

One advantage Williams has in the meeting of the two big men is his frontcourt partner Jerome Tillman. Tillman, who is third in the MAC in rebounding and seventh in scoring, will provide a boost defensively as well.

“We have to contain him (Idbihi); he is a skilled big man in the post,” Tillman said. “Sometimes it will be just Leon vs. Idbihi and he will have to step up and play D and I think he will.”

Next up...

BUFFALO (9-7, 1-2 MAC)

at

OHIO (11-5, 2-1 MAC)

7 p.m. tonight in The Convo

Ohio added 6-foot-1-inch guard Stephen Hartings as a walk-on yesterday. He will dress for the remainder of the 2007 season.The Bobcats are 4-1 against the Bulls over the last two seasons. O’Shea has not lost to Buffalo in The Convo.