Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball: Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon have lasting bond
Cotie McMahon thinks about it every day.
When the Ohio State women's basketball team's journey through the NCAA Tournament comes to an end, veteran teammate Jacy Sheldon's collegiate career will officially be over and it'll be McMahon's time to step up as a leader.
McMahon has her doubts about how she is going to do it, besides planning to call her teammate "probably every day." Sheldon is excited to see the current sophomore step into a similar role she's grown into over her own five years with the Buckeyes.
"When you're as good of a player as she is and have so much of an effect on the game, there's weight that comes with it," Sheldon said. "Whether you want that leadership role or not, you get it. I think she's going to embrace it, and I do think her game speaks for itself."
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Before McMahon enrolled at Ohio State a semester early to get a head start with the team, Sheldon had only heard of the former Centerville High star.
When she got to know McMahon when she arrived on campus, there were a few obvious traits that stuck out to Sheldon. Right off the bat, her new teammate was outgoing, inclusive and funny.
"And obviously she was really young," Sheldon said. "You could see that, I think, on the court and just in the locker room, which is hard."
At just 17 years old, McMahon had to adjust to a college system, and Sheldon saw that it forced McMahon to mature quickly. She also saw McMahon learning how the team operates on and off the court.
From McMahon's perspective, it was a struggle entering the program when she was supposed to be finishing her senior year in high school. Having Sheldon as one of the older players who was always checking in on her throughout her first semester made an impactful difference.
"She was really the one that kind of pushed me to keep going and just make smarter decisions, and she was also there to be a teacher for me," McMahon said. "Right away, I knew that I could trust her, and then just knowing that I was going to be on the floor with her a lot, it kind of just helped our relationship on the court as well."
Ohio State's Cotie McMahon: 'She believes in me as a player'
Above every other trait McMahon brought to Ohio State, the one that's had the biggest impact on her game has been her passion. In Sheldon's opinion, it's what makes McMahon stand out.
Evident from the moment she stepped on the court as a Buckeye, the emotion she exudes after powering her way to the basket and earning an "and one" or making a big defensive stop is impossible for anyone to miss.
"I always say when Cotie's doing well, we're all doing well," Sheldon said. "It's that passion. It's that emotion. And you can see it, and so do we. I think it drives us."
Because of how McMahon makes getting to the basket look easy, there is a feeling among the team that there are missed foul calls that should be going in her favor. In Sheldon's eyes, this happens on a consistent basis, and she can understand the frustration McMahon shows in those moments.
Even in her sophomore season, McMahon is usually the youngest player on the court for the Buckeyes. Balancing that while letting her emotions show over not getting calls have led to negative impacts on her game, including technical fouls.
It's in those moments, Sheldon steps up as a leader, reminding McMahon to keep a positive mentality and her focus.
"Good or bad, I just know it's coming," McMahon said. "She lets me have it, but I wouldn't want it any other way. When it does happen, I don't want to hear it, obviously, but at the end of the day it just goes to show how much that she believes in me as a player. ... That speaks volumes."
Sheldon's leadership goes beyond what happens in games.
After McMahon averaged 15 points and five rebounds as a freshman while helping lead Ohio State to the Elite Eight, her start to this season was slower than expected. By December, McMahon was going through a sophomore slump.
McMahon took the initiative to sit down with coach Kevin McGuff and work through what was causing her game to be off, but Sheldon was also there to ensure her that the team never doubted the struggle was only temporary.
"We never lost belief in her," Sheldon said. "Every single person on that bench, the floor, the coaches, every single person still believed in her and her ability. And I think that's something you have to remind people in that time because she's probably disappointed and down on herself."
Ohio State's Cotie McMahon: 'It's just so natural'
McMahon eventually broke out of her slump and started putting together performances people were used to seeing.
In the Buckeyes' upset over Iowa in January, McMahon scored a career-high 33 points. Once the final buzzer went off, it was Sheldon she ran to for a celebration.
The closeness they've built over two years as teammates was apparent.
"I knew we were going to build bonds, but I didn't know I would have one like Jacy," McMahon said. "It takes me a while to really get comfortable with people, especially outside of the court, and I feel like with Jacy it's just so natural and I feel like this is definitely something that's going to be lifetime."
As Sheldon is set to move into the next phase of her playing career, she is trying to avoid thinking about no longer being a part of the Ohio State program.
Knowing that day will eventually come makes Sheldon feel like a "proud mom" when she sees the steps McMahon has made to one day fill that leadership role. She will always be willing to pick up the phone for her soon-to-be former teammate.
"As much as I've taught her, I think she's taught me a lot, too," Sheldon said. "She probably has no idea. And obviously you see what she does on the floor, but I think the cooler part of it was getting to know her off the floor."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State basketball's Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon have lasting bond
