Norchad Omier's late November benching was what those on the outside saw.
Two days after Morehead State waxed Arkansas State University 75-51 on the Red Wolves' home floor, ASU Coach Mike Balado didn't start his standout sophomore forward against Missouri-Kansas City.
Far more significant than Omier coming off the bench that afternoon, however, was a meeting he had with his coach around the same time.
"I was trying not to think about basketball because I didn't want it to get in my head, and then I lost focus at the same time," Omier recalled. "[Coach Balado] expects more from me.