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Topic: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Topic: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

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OhioCatFan
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Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/30/2015 11:26:20 PM

Walking into the game this evening I had my radio tuned to Russell & Co. and heard a prerecorded interview with Saul. At one point in the interview he was almost apologetic about this year's non-conference schedule. He said that it was important to get this year's team used to winning in the early going. He then said that future schedules would look a little different. It was a typical very frank interview where Saul just "tells it like it is." I wasn't at all surprised to hear him say that, but I was nonetheless relieved that Saul had admitted what many of us had already speculated in another thread. Did anyone else hear this interview?

Last Edited: 12/30/2015 11:28:34 PM by OhioCatFan

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Gallia Cat
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/30/2015 11:48:25 PM

I didn't hear the interview but I agree 100% with the strategy! Plus I don't think people realize how difficult it is for a school like Ohio University to schedule. OU has a reputation as a solid mid major and if you agree to come to the Convo there is a very good chance your going home with a loss. On the flip side I don't want to have to be the sacrificial lamb for all the "major" programs. I would like to see games with UC, UD and O$U but home and homes aren't likely. The WVU 3-2 series was great but there is a less than Zero chance that Huggins will ever make a trip to Athens.

Perhaps playing Dayton, Cincinnati and Xavier at Nationwide Arena would be of interest. Considered and neutral court but there is little doubt that Ohio fans and alumni would show up in big numbers. Especially if it's played while kids are off campus.

Some area home and homes that would be attractive include Morehead State, Wright State, Duqeusne, Marshall, Radford, James Madison, Indiana State and Illinois State. If you could have a couple of these programs mixed with the cupcakes that may work.

Remember the MAC schedule is a grind and the team needs to have a 9-3 type record when entering conference play😝

Last Edited: 12/30/2015 11:53:35 PM by Gallia Cat

Panda
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 12:00:59 AM

I made those same comments in an earlier posting. Coach wants wins!! I felt that there is nothing wrong with this philosophy. I sure as hell appreciate these wins rather than have a season record as last year.

The schedule will be developed and made stronger each year.

Panda

Pete Chouteau
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 8:13:46 AM

What makes you think Ohio fans will show up in droves at Nationwide Arena?

They gifted alumni a Saturday in Cleveland and got bupkis.

I'm over hearing about how Ohio needs to take a home game someplace else, because the alumni in those cities have demonstrated time and time again that they care more about Court Street than sport.

Gallia Cat
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 8:38:44 AM

Pete Chouteau wrote:

Just based on when MAC Tournament was held in Columbus and when Ohio University fans took over St. John arena in the preseason NIT vs Ohio State. If the game is played over winter break and is against a team like Xavier, UC or Dayton I promise you that Ohio fans would show up. A weekend game would be even better.

Not sure you can compare a game vs. Cleveland State to XU, UD and UC. Besides I think that was a Cleveland State home game and Ohio gets a return game correct? If that's the case OU did not give up a home game..

Let's be honest, none of the 3 schools mentioned have much of an interest in coming to Athens because there is a possibility of going home with a loss. A weekend game in Columbus vs Dayton would be a fun atmosphere because UD fans travel as well. When's the last time Ohio played Dayton? It's been decades and I'm pretty confident that it's not because OU didn't want to play. Columbus is also close enough to Athens that it would be an easy trip for fans down this way.

Last Edited: 12/31/2015 8:49:10 AM by Gallia Cat

Pataskala
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 9:27:43 AM

This is similar to Solich's philosophy on the football side. When he started here, we played 2-3 road games a year vs "power" conference schools and lost badly nearly every time. That didn't help to create a winning attitude. He immediately limited it to 1-2 games a year, and as a result our OOC record has been much better. But for both football and b-ball our problem is getting "power" schools to come to Athens. We have a couple coming to Peden in the future (Kansas in '17 and Iowa St in '23), but it would be nice to see at least one every other year at the Convo. But if we have to play at Nationwide, The Q or the arena formerly known as Riverfront to get some scheduled, so be it. B-ball games don't have near the impact on the local economy as football games do, so scheduling at a neutral site isn't as problematic for b-ball.

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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 9:30:22 AM

Gallia Cat wrote:

Pete Chouteau wrote:

Just based on when MAC Tournament was held in Columbus and when Ohio University fans took over St. John arena in the preseason NIT vs Ohio State.

Pretty sure Gary Trent and Top 25 type pub had a lot to do with that. I agree with Pete, especially living in Columbus and the exact same conversation I have every single time I meet an alum. Haven't been back in forever, amazed I'm a season ticket holder, obsessed with the Bucks, etc. We'd get a decent at best crowd but nothing great unless we had a supreme team getting national attention at the time.

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Stamp
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 10:05:28 AM

I don't think you can compare football and basketball. Our goal as a basketball program should be to make the NCAA more times than not. It has been proven that a MAC team is not going to make it unless 1) the schedule becomes much more difficult and we actually win a majority of those games, or 2) we win the conference tournament. In the case of the tournament, scheduling tougher opponents and losing doesn't hurt and actually will most likely help prepare the team better as long as we are competitive. My opinion is there is far less downside in basketball than football. Our goal in football is conference championships and making/winning a bowl game. Each loss in football is magnified.

KC Bobcat
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Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 10:47:47 AM

Would be great if we could do something in the state of Ohio similar to what Philadelphia does with the Big 5 (Temple, Penn, St. Joe, Villanova and LaSalle). It could be MAC Ohio vs the state with rotational match-ups set up between the six MAC schools in Ohio against oSU, Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier, Cleveland State and Wright State. Wouldn't have to play all six every year. Maybe one home game and one road game.

OUVan
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 11:15:29 AM

KC Bobcat wrote:

We could probably play Cleveland State and Wright State most years. Don't see OSU giving up a home game. The others already have Miami looking for games. It would be great but I don't see the other schools clamoring for it. If we can get consistently really good we could get to the point where it's worth those teams looking at us maybe but we've got to get to that point.

Right now I would love to see something along the lines of the ACC/Big 10 challenge. Except I would ramp it up. I wouldn't mind including three conferences. Make it a three way challenge between the MAC, Horizon and Summit. Each team gets a home and away game. I know a lot of people are going to want to aim higher and suggest the A-10 or MVC. But unfortunately they aren't our peers. The Horizon and Summit are and it would add some intrigue and interest to the schedule.

bobcatsquared
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 11:18:45 AM

I always considered a MAC/MAAC challenge an intriguing thought. A battle for the "Big Mac" title.

OUVan
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 11:25:42 AM

bobcatsquared wrote:

I always considered a MAC/MAAC challenge an intriguing thought. A battle for the "Big Mac" title.

I like it.

Gallia Cat
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 12/31/2015 12:25:26 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

Gallia Cat wrote:

Pete Chouteau wrote:

Just based on when MAC Tournament was held in Columbus and when Ohio University fans took over St. John arena in the preseason NIT vs Ohio State.

Your right. We shouldn't try. Let's just throw in the towel.

I just do not believe you should just stop trying. The difference between the Cleveland and Columbus alumni base comes down to distance from campus. When you look at the time is takes to get from Columbus to Athens it's not bad. Heck I drive further from where I live in southern Gallia county. It's been a few years since I saw the exact numbers but at that time Franklin county had more alumni than any other Ohio county and Fairfield county is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. It's reasonable to think those alumni can be season ticket holders if for no other reason than its not that far. Cleveland is a stretch especially for basketball.

Last Edited: 12/31/2015 12:44:18 PM by Gallia Cat

Gallia Cat
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 12:29:37 PM

OUVan wrote:

KC Bobcat wrote:

In years when Nationwide Arena host the NCAA tournament and Ohio State is designated as the host school I'm pretty sure the Buckeyes are required to play at least 1 regular season game at NWA. I think Miami was the opponent the last time around. At this point I would be thrilled to be the OSU opponent in the next go around and I do believe our fan base would have a solid showing.

Last Edited: 12/31/2015 12:31:14 PM by Gallia Cat

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 12/31/2015 8:56:16 PM

KC Bobcat wrote:

...the six MAC schools in Ohio against oSU, Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier, Cleveland State and Wright State.

Youngstown State: "They always forget about us."

I say forget OSU, bring in YSU and call it The Nut-Free Ohio tourney.

Of course, I've long dreamt of these 12 schools forming an awesome and compelling conference, but I know that isn't reality.

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bornacatfan
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:55:36 AM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

I like the NUT FREE tourney. THe compact conference footprint would certainly benefit the Olympic sports and the non revenues....and help the bottom line. Would not do much for the marketing end of things. As much as I hate to be like Butler, Creighton, and a multitude of other fanbases I think are too big for their britches I think putting OHIO and Cincy in the same conference as Ytown, CSU, Wright and some of those pulls us down perceptually.....not that the current directionals don't....they just seem to be a cut above the predominantly commuter schools both in stature and academics. My goodness that is hard to type .....everything I hate in fanbases.

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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 10:34:57 AM

I'm not too disappointed about the turnout for the Ohio @ CSU game in the Q. We are coming off a 10 win season... Our worst in a long time. The Convo crowds have been garbage this year as well. The diehard fans here see the potential, but the casual fans haven't noticed yet.

I'm hoping that if we can keep winning into MAC play, we start to see the crowds return to where they have been this year. Might not be full force again until next year. Assuming we continue to grow and win.

Just win baby.

I've seen crazier things happen.

The Optimist
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 10:41:46 AM

Regarding the schedule... When is Purdue coming to the Convo?

With as young as this roster is... The timing there could be perfect...

I've seen crazier things happen.

bornacatfan
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 10:58:25 AM

The Optimist wrote:

Regarding the schedule... When is Purdue coming to the Convo?

With as young as this roster is... The timing there could be perfect...

You mean ....after Hammons and Haas leave for the pros?...I agree. Matt is on a recruiting high right now but I suspect he will not be able to keep it up ...he seems to go in cycles so we should be able to ...indeed...catch them in a down year. Hopefully we will see this go in a trend and start getting big names back in the Convo. Almost kind of wonder if our AD did not use his Purdue roots to get this done.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 1:28:06 PM

Go for the top schools in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky--the states that are a doable drive from Athens and our fanbases in Ohio.

I know that a lot of these teams won't come to Athens without a lot of prodding pressure. But start it.

Butler, Penn State, Michigan, Penn...you all know the schools better than I do.

Won't be easy but this just seems the natural place to start.

If Saul gets us rising, regional interest could make this go.

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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 2:03:07 PM

Excitement for basketball feeds off of student support. Student support feeds off of MAC rivalries against Miami, Kent, Akron and BG that show up in the Convo every year. For alumni in Dayton, Cleveland and Youngstown there is something to be said for having Wright State, Cleveland State and Youngstown State on the non-conference schedule. Those schools are more likely to travel to Athens than fans from UC Riverside. Some of the faculty at Ohio have connections to WSU/CSU/YSU. With 12 non-conference games these days there is room for all 3 on the schedule.

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TWT
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 2:42:47 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

TOSU is plain arrogant and doesn't want to play in-state schools. Xavier is in the Big East and doesn't have time for Athens, Ohio. Dayton has $$$ to pay P5 schools to play them at home. Cincinnati has a footprint in Southern Ohio and playing at OHIO might make sense but not every year. If Schaus is forcing Cleveland St to play on a neutral site for its 1/1 playing WSU/YSU on the road would devalue the leverage. An annual schedule with a preseason tourney, Marietta, Marshall, Cleveland St, 1 P5 home/home, 2 MVC/A10 schools is 9 games plus 3 low major cupcakes in the Convo is a good schedule. If Dayton can get a 2-3 P5 schools for home/home, Ohio should be able to get at least 1 P5 series a year. This year it was 4 low major cupcakes on the schedule (Tenn St, Jackson St, Ark PB, Riverside). FGCU series was signed after their sweet 16 so it was a proxy for a MVC/A10 level series.

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2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
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TWT
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 1/1/2016 2:54:55 PM

Pete Chouteau wrote:

I'm over hearing about how Ohio needs to take a home game someplace else, because the alumni in those cities have demonstrated time and time again that they care more about Court Street than sport.

You raise a good point. In the 80's for mature alumni the only reason to go back to Athens was for a basketball game. Uptown is more attractive than ever with the expanded bars and restaurants. Arts scene is more developed. Outdoor recreation is more developed. Football weekends have become big. Basketball I think is getting overshadowed. During the school calendar the best weather is in Sept/Oct where its possible to piggy back a home football game with a weekend filled with activity. A regular Convo/Q series with CSU is enough. Cleveland is the only city in Ohio with demonstrably more to do than the Athens area.

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2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

perimeterpost
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RE: Future schedules won't look like this -- Saul

Posted: 1/1/2016 6:41:32 PM

with non conference play just about over here's the SOS of the MAC teams-

SOS
58 EMU
77 Buffalo
94 Kent St

177 WMU
197 Miami
223 Ohio
277 CMU

305 Akron
310 Toledo
318 NIU
346 BGSU
349 Ball St

The MAC has 3 good schedules, 4 not good schedules and 5 awful awful awful schedules. 5 teams in the bottom 15%, 2 teams in the bottom 6 out of 351. Ohio's schedule isn't great (I'm in the camp of it could be better but I'm not mad about it) but we've got some programs that are clearly not scheduling well. And this number doesn't include the +20 non-D1 games played with some MAC teams scheduling 3 and 4 non-D1 opponents each.

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Gallia Cat
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RE: Big 5 (12)

Posted: 1/1/2016 10:48:00 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

I remember some games vs. Wright State in the Nutter Center where Ohio had a huge crowd. One time the poor WSU cheerleaders started the Green - Gold cheer and made the mistake of making what was suppose to be the Gold side the one with all the Ohio fans. Turned into a Green - White cheer real fast.

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