Brittany Bott / Staff Photographer / bb211605@ohiou.edu

Ohio’s Bubba Walther goes up for the shot against Giordan Watson in Tuesday’s win (62-47) against Central Michigan. The Bobcat’s next game is tomorrow against Northern Illinois.

Bubba Walther is learning that he doesn’t need to score in double digits to help the Bobcats win.

Walther, who averaged a career-high 12.4 points last season, has seen his numbers drop since coming back from a concussion against Akron.

He’s OK with that.

“Last year we really only had the five or six guys who played a lot of minutes, and each guy had to score,” Walther said. “I think I was still in that mindset and I was taking better shots, but I was like, ‘I have to score.’ ”

Rather than focusing on his 3-point shot like last season, the senior guard said he has judged his performances on his assist-to-turnover ratio, a category he currently leads the team in at 1.7 assists for every turnover.

“(Scoring) six or seven or eight and then (picking up) four or five assists is just like getting 16 points,” Walther said.
Since Walther returned from his injury, coach Tim O’Shea has opted to bring him off the bench, which O’Shea said he would continue tomorrow against Northern Illinois.

“You don’t break up a winning combination,” O’Shea said. “Bubba’s been playing really well in that role, and for now that seems the way to go.”

Walther said that he embraces this new role as the Bobcats’ sixth man.

“I actually enjoy coming off the bench,” Walther said. “I feel more relaxed when I’m out on the court. As a starter, everyone is really hyped up in the beginning, and I can get caught up in the emotions probably more than anybody.”

Fellow senior Leon Williams said that Walther gives the team a type of energy off the bench that can pick the team up with just one 3-point field goal.

“He’s a spark plug, and he’s a great shooter who can help us off the bench when we’re struggling on offense,” he said. “He can help us get into a groove, and with his experience as a senior, there is no drop off.”

With Walther coming off the bench, the Bobcats are able to utilize the senior’s skills as a dribbler, an area that he gained experience in last season.

“I really think last year helped a lot, because I am seeing the floor a lot better this year,” Walther said. “I don’t think I am a natural point guard, but I think I can handle it for two- or three-minute stretches.”

O’Shea added that Walther’s role has not changed despite coming off the bench for the first time since his transferring from Akron.

“Almost always, you see Bubba at the end of the game because he’s a good decision maker, he’s a great free-throw shooter and our best inbound passer,” O’Shea said. “I’m far more concerned with who’s ending the game.”