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Topic: MAC Season on the Horizon

Topic: MAC Season on the Horizon

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bshot44
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MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 12:05:56 AM

As Ohio wraps up nonconference with a pair of scintillating matchups with PV & NWOhio ... gave me a moment to peek ahead at MAC season.

Realistically, after what we've seen so far ... where will Ohio sit after first 9 games?

at CMU
at Akron
at EMU

... all these seem like they'll be tough to win.

at Kent
at BG

... both seem winnable

Buffalo
Ball St

... class of the league I'd say ... both at home, but as we've seen in recent years ... Convo magic isn't what it used to be, so these will be dogfights

Toledo

... another challenge

NIU

... maybe the only game I feel like Ohio should definitely win.

I wouldn't be stunned to see Ohio start 5-4 or 4-5 ... best case I'd say 6-3 .... worst case 2-7 and I wouldn't be stunned.

Still don't have a great feel on this team ... but it's going to be a battle for them to challenge for a top four seed. Not what I expected at this point of Saul Ball era

Last Edited: 12/20/2017 12:06:20 AM by bshot44

GoCats105
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 7:48:32 AM

As long as they keep fighting and clawing like they have been to start the year, I think they'll be fine. Just need some of the injury bugs to stay away from them and they should be in good shape.

And what's the one thing they have struggled with? A big man in the paint that proves to be a matchup problem while Jason has been out. Does the MAC have a truly dominant big man this year that Ohio should be worried about?

Bobcat1998
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 9:10:37 AM

GoCats105 wrote:

Moses for Ball State was pretty tough last year. Western has the two 7 footers. Kent has De La Rosa but he's dealing with injuries. No dominating big man per se but several dominating "players. Last year was a huge year for big men in our conference. If Carter is healthy he's the best big man in the league. I am excited to see Mickle go through our league. I think he is a tough matchup with his athleticism.

shabamon
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 11:26:07 AM

Thompson at EMU and Perkins at UB have been quite good so far.

Bobcat1998
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 12:50:18 PM

shabamon wrote:

Thompson at EMU and Perkins at UB have been quite good so far.

I totally forgot about Thompson!!!!!!! How did I do that? I believe they have a transfer whose a big guy who is pretty good too. And Perkins is a 4, not a 5.

OU_Country
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 1:24:51 PM

bshot44 wrote:

Still don't have a great feel on this team ... but it's going to be a battle for them to challenge for a top four seed. Not what I expected at this point of Saul Ball era

I'd also imagine that you wouldn't have expected that only three guys have played in every game thus far as well. Whether we like it or not, the injury bug "excuse" is a valid reason for the current situation so far this year.

bshot44
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 2:06:38 PM

OU_Country wrote:

bshot44 wrote:

Still don't have a great feel on this team ... but it's going to be a battle for them to challenge for a top four seed. Not what I expected at this point of Saul Ball era

Totally agree! That's why I don't have a good feel on this team this year. Injuries have played a crucial role so far.

But injuries aside ... I just thought year four of Saul Ball, Ohio would be a well-oiled machine, churning out automatic 12-win MAC seasons. Really felt like he would have Ohio firmly established as one of the top two or three teams in the MAC .... without question.

Buffalo is certainly there. And .... as crazy as it sounds ... I think Akron is the surprise team of the league for me. What Groce has done throwing together a roster and getting out to a 6-2 start against an above-average schedule is pretty impressive. I feel more confident in what Akron has shown me thus far compared to Ohio (mainly based on the schedule Ohio has played)

Who knows ... I could be wrong. I hope I am.

I'd like to think once Laster, Dartis and Carter are 100% .... this team takes off! I think Kirk has been better than I expected ... as has Mickle. I think Taylor has disappointed ... I think we've seen his ceiling. He is what he is.

Block has been inconsistent ... which stymies me because his shot is sooo sweet looking.

Gollon has show flashes.

So I think the pieces are there ... but just haven't seen enough to make me super confident this is a top four team in the league.

Not sure if Gareri or VanderPlas will really be able to come in during MAC play and provide much in terms of rotation guys. Butler might be odd man out once Dartis, Laster and Carter are 100% .... will he be okay with that this year? Or do we have another Culver situation on our hands.

I'm excited for MAC play to start ... because those games matter. The non-conference has been glorified exhibition games to me.

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 2:48:09 PM

What is Carter's status anyway? If he re-aggravated an injury that already kept him out three weeks, do we expect to see him anytime soon, let alone at 100%?

bornacatfan
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 2:59:26 PM

bshot44 wrote:

Buffalo is certainly there. And .... as crazy as it sounds ... I think Akron is the surprise team of the league for me. What Groce has done throwing together a roster and getting out to a 6-2 start against an above-average schedule is pretty impressive. I feel more confident in what Akron has shown me thus far compared to Ohio (mainly based on the schedule Ohio has played)

I am not surprised by Akron's start but IMO their schedule is not what I would call above average....especially considering how much of a hit our dept takes for the schedule they have put toegether Direct comparison is interesting.

283 Cleveland St. W, 67-57
268 Tennessee Martin W, 76-59
132 Dayton L, 73-60
228 Chattanooga W, 75-70
167 Marshall L, 86-64
160 Fort Wayne W, 83-79
185 Appalachian St. W, 94-89
351 Mississippi Valley St. W, 81-63

Compared to Ohio

349 Alabama A&M W, 61-53
27 Clemson L, 81-76
132 Dayton L, 79-65
176 Indiana St. W, 96-94
298 Mount St. Mary's W, 96-77
126 Iona L, 93-88
343 Coppin St. W, 80-37
34 Maryland L, 87-62
98 Western Kentucky W, 89-84
167 Marshall L, 99-96

never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Winter comes and asks how you spent your summer.....

The game loves and rewards those who love and reward the game

bshot44
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 3:18:18 PM

bornacatfan wrote:

bshot44 wrote:

I would call it above average ... just like I'd call ours above average.

Both played in three-game neutral court setting ... both two true road games.

What I will say ... at least Akron scheduled only one SWAC team ... not three!

UT Martin has been to OVC title game last two years ... similar game to Ohio playing Mt. St. Marys

Cleveland State has fallen on rough times ... but that's a regional "rivalry" of sorts.

Do you see a non D-1 on the regular season schedule for Akron? Nope.

But you do see NW Ohio on Bobcats schedule.

IPFW and Chattanooga are both decent mid-major games ... much like WKU and Iona (but I would concede that Iona/WKU are the better of the duo)

I guess my biggest problem with Ohio's schedule is that there are four games that are total throw-aways. That's 25% of your non conference schedule that is basically worthless.

Akron only scheduled one of those games.

So I'm more confident in what I've seen from Akron based on the fact that 10 of their 11 games before MAC play will be games in which they were pushed .... compared to only 8 of 12 games for Ohio.

But, Akron could go to Hawaii this week and get drubbed three times and that would totally change my outlook on them, ha!

I've just been on the Groce train before and seeing what he's done so far and knowing what he can do in this league ... I'm probably giving them the benefit of the doubt.

bornacatfan
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 6:57:24 PM

splitting hairs and arguing about the schedules in pre season any more is a exercise in futility...randomly selecting a mid major or 3 will show you things like a 9-3 valpo team that has played 4 sub 200 ranked teams and lost 3 of those. Meanwhile they have beaten over 225 teams including Samford and Kent....and of course North Park Vikings and Trinity Christiam

You don't really have to sell me on the Groce train....still a part of it ...although the wife draws the line at visiting them in Akron.

Just to throw in SOS from Sagarin

Akron 6-2 (340)
Ohio 5-5 (174)

Last Edited: 12/20/2017 7:09:51 PM by bornacatfan

allen
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/20/2017 8:24:10 PM

Akron has overachieved so far. They have 3 or 4 guys who are sitting out the mandatory one year for transferring. They have four or five freshmen in their rotation. I think that if Block, Dartis and Carter are themselves along with Kirk and Mickle, we should dominate them. Buffalo will be a problem because we may not be able to defend their guards and wings. Ball State will also be a challenge. I hope that we can get healthy and get some early wins. Go Cats

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

bshot44
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 12:03:08 PM

bornacatfan wrote:

Agree on splitting hairs and arguing about preseason games.

My only point was Ohio had 4 throwaway games in 12 ...

Akron had 1 in 11.

Just think Zips schedule better prepares you for MAC play.

bornacatfan
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 2:47:33 PM

just listening to the radio. BG playing UW Green Bay tonite who have wins over Parkside, Rockford Coll and Lakeland, to match the Falcons wins over Lake Erie and Lourdes.

Fiami bringing wins over Rio Grande and Midway to DePaul tonite

It seems that everyone seems to have the same challenges scheduling to some degree

Not sure about how to bump up the schedule and what the rationale would be.

Last Edited: 12/21/2017 2:48:49 PM by bornacatfan

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 6:16:15 PM

I could care less for MACtion hoops.....

No one has that "big" win, Ohio refuses to schedule anyone on a ramped up scale, and quite frankly the MAC sucks at hoops.

There I said it. All the teams are going for is a #14 seed to get clubbed by Notre Dame or Wichita State.

bobcatsquared
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 7:32:03 PM

Didn't used to be that way.

Ted Thompson
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 9:15:16 PM

Kent St. gets a home game from Oregon St. and takes advantage tonight. Flashes win 79-78.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

mcbin
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 10:48:46 PM

Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:

If that's your criteria, you're gonna struggle being much of a fan at all of Ohio athletics.

bobcatsquared
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 11:13:02 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

And Perkins is a 4, not a 5.

(Just caught a few minutes of UB at Texas A&M after watching some of UB's game earlier this week at Cuse.).

Call Perkins a 4 or a 5, he is still the best big man in the MAC. Hell, call him a 3 or a 7, it really doesn't matter. He's a beast inside and has the ability to take his man out on the perimeter.

Last Edited: 12/21/2017 11:14:33 PM by bobcatsquared

RSBobcat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 11:35:22 PM

mcbin wrote:

Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:

If that's your criteria, you're gonna struggle being much of a fan at all of Ohio athletics.

So I guess no relevant posts from mcbin until March.......

RS Bobcat

mcbin
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 11:41:57 PM

That's a pretty high bar.

RSBobcat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/21/2017 11:43:56 PM

bshot44 wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

bshot44 wrote:

Still don't have a great feel on this team ... but it's going to be a battle for them to challenge for a top four seed. Not what I expected at this point of Saul Ball era

Agree with most of this. Taylor - I'm not totally "disappointed" - would be good if more "O" in his game - Get the ball under the hoop 1) Grab and hold the damn thing 2) Get up Quick and Dunk the damn thing.

Carter and Vanderplas look to be redshirts - Mickle is a great gift. Laster should be All Mac 1st team. TK is constant improvement. Gollon Really coming on. Dartis - Think we have highs/lows - Great high, soft lows. Butler - someone compared to Culver - I see the relevant comparison - too much wheel, not enough steering wheel control...plus hotter hands than shooting %.

Edit - Oh - And Block - Like the rug in The Big Lebowski someone else posted...

Last Edited: 12/21/2017 11:48:50 PM by RSBobcat

RS Bobcat

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/22/2017 5:07:13 PM

It's not that I have a high bar, I just remember the 90's and early 2000's when the MAC could consistently trot teams into the tournament that would give scares into the big boys. Heck, there were some Toledo teams that didn't get in that I still think should have gotten in based off of beating Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Xavier. But again, not to sound snooty, but MAC Basketball across the board could be better.

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/22/2017 5:08:44 PM

mcbin wrote:

Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:

If that's your criteria, you're gonna struggle being much of a fan at all of Ohio athletics.

I worked for Ohio Athletics for three years and my money comes to Athens vs Columbus so no worries on being a fan. What worries me is I kind of acknowledged why the drinking rate was a wee bit higher in Athens than some other fan bases when tortured in so many ways by football and then proceed to watch the refs hose us against Kent last year.....

allen
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RE: MAC Season on the Horizon

Posted: 12/22/2017 8:58:27 PM

Akron is beating USC. USC has a lot of talent, but they are very undisciplined. Both Saul and Groce are doing well with depleted rosters I like our chances of pulling it together and winning the MAC.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

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