It was an odd change of pace for Saul Phillips, who’s normally a beacon of positive thinking and joyful expression.
But on this night, following perhaps his team’s best overall performance of the season, Phillips was the one tapping the proverbial brakes.
“I absolutely refuse to get too elated with us right now. That’s not the right approach,” Phillips said. “Just like I didn’t get desperately down on them after we didn’t do as well in some of these non-conference games.
“It is what is. It’s a game, you learn from it and move on.”
Phillips will probably save his fist-pumps for later, when he watches film of Ohio’s 81-59 dismantling of UC Riverside inside the Convo on Wednesday night.