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Topic: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Topic: Couldn't beat a good team all year

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TheBikeman
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Member Since: 11/27/2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 8:43:31 PM

Any team under 100 RPI they lost to. Tells me that talent overrated or the coaching was lacking. Or Both

Akron tried to give the game away and Bobcats wouldn't' accept the gift. . They should have kept taking it at the weak front court of Akron. Marshall is awful. DJ should have recognized it and stopped shooting 20 footers. Bad strategy when you outside shooting is 1 for 20 from 3

They were 308 in the NCAA in rebounding. That is difficult to do,

Last Edited: 3/16/2013 8:46:56 PM by TheBikeman

west side cat
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Member Since: 11/6/2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 8:52:21 PM

Marshall is awful?

whocaresgobobcats
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Member Since: 8/29/2011
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 8:59:05 PM

this is what pisses me off the most. these players have shown they can compete with and beat good teams when put in a position to succeed.

nc
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Member Since: 10/13/2010
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 9:00:22 PM

Marshall is awful---I agree. He never gets off his feet. His blocks come when he is flat footed. A good strategy would have been for Coop to drive on him to the basket.

brucecuth
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Member Since: 12/21/2004
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 9:22:58 PM

We all exaggerate from time to time. marshall isn't awful, but Marshall isn't Belmont, Oklahoma or Memphis (or it could be argued, Akron). Of course, now I see the above writer was referring to Zeke, not the Herd. Well, my point stands anyway!

That's the 1 disappointment I come away with. The team just didn't step up and have any signature victories. They beat all the teams that were less talented and not one that was, on paper, more talented.

The bad news is that there will be few if any signature wins available in the MAC. The MAC is sliding to the lower half of the so-called mid major conference list, relegated to semi-permanent 1-bid status. Team for team, we just don't measure up with the new Catholic 7, the A-10 or the Mountain West. Look at the RPIs for some of the teams in those leagues and you will see what I mean. We must put together a tough non-conference schedule and learn to win a game or two against tough competition in December and January. So, Mr. Schaus, how about a call to John Groce. See what it would take to get him to bring his team to Athens for just 1 game in the next couple years. Let's approach Bob McKillop at Davidson, who recruits in OH, for a home and home. For once, I want to see a "name" school in the convo...

In terms of players, the biggest disappointments were Nick and Ivo. I'm sure Nick will hit the gym this summer and try to regain his 3-point stroke. We will need it next season. As for Ivo, I just could not figure out what he was doing this year. I know what he WASN"T doing: Playing tough underneath and rebounding. Our rebounding was a real problem all year and it appeared he really didn't help much. I'll lay some of the blame here on the coaching staff.

I will try not to be too critical of Jim Christian. He has a track record in this league that speaks for himself. But I wonder if he was able to get his message across to everyone. These weren't "his" guys. The dead spots we had in just about every game were particularly baffling (although I'm sure Coach Cal at KY is baffled by the all the dead spots his team experienced this year, too...) Expectations/communications should improve as his recruits come to town.

All that aside I will say a big "THANK YOU" to D.J., Ivo, Reggie and Walt for some great, great seasons and memories. 2 NCAA tourneys in 4 years, 3 tourney wins and a Sweet 16 appearance...wow! They've certainly played a huge part in raising the bar in terms of what the students, supporters and community expect from the program. And they did it with an absolute minimum of off-the-court drama.

Next year, I suggest we prepare for a bumpy ride. Hard to think it can be otherwise without the program's best all time player and 4 new starters taking the court. I know we're all excited about Ndour, Wingfield, the transfers, etc., but I've been watching hoops long enough to know it will take a while for everything to mesh. I am encouraged that Christian recruited to start building us up inside.

Last Edited: 3/16/2013 9:54:43 PM by brucecuth

Jeff McKinney
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Member Since: 11/12/2004
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/16/2013 11:09:07 PM

Sonny, are you any relation to Mr. Drysdale of the Beverly Hillbillies? Because your reasoning reminds me of something I'd expect to hear from the Clampetts.

Akron's frontcourt weak? C'mon man.

TheBikeman
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 9:54:13 AM

Well Mr McKinney no I am not related to the Bev Hillbillies but I do know that when the Bobcats stopped going inside they started losing. Big Zeke was invisible. When they stopped going inside that eliminates the kick outs for open threes. Why did they stop?

It's OK to disagree but really Sir?

Not a hillbilly but I saw what I saw and it wasn't smart basketball

Mark Lembright '85
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Location: Highland Heights, OH
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 10:18:24 AM

SonnyDrysdale wrote:

Ohio wasn't going to win this game by solely pounding the inside. Like Dambrot said at his post-game press conference, continually going inside after Zeke Marshall is like fool's gold. Everyone keeps harping on our 1-20 from 3 point range. What I notice more than anything else is that we missed lay up after lay up and couldn't hit the shots in the paint from the end of the first half to the end of the game.

BillyTheCat
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 10:40:07 AM

SonnyDrysdale wrote:

Marshall is awful??? Wow, what basis do you form that opinion?

71 BOBCAT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 10:44:34 AM

CHECK THESE STATS OUT

1) Only 5 of our 24 wins came against teams with winning records.
2) 7 of our 9 losses came against teams with winning records.

INTERESTING HUH

GO BOBCATS

OUVan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 11:02:34 AM

SonnyDrysdale wrote:

Marshall is awful.

Stoopid

Bhugh24
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/17/2013 1:52:46 PM

Sonnydrysdale, your statement about Zeke Marshall was/is the most idiotic thing I've read on here. You shouldn't be allowed to post ever again.

Akron's greatest strength is their inside play- Marshall and treadwell are absolute beasts. Marshall was dpoy. He blocked or adjusted shots all game and in the previous games.

Ozcat
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/18/2013 4:51:47 PM

No guys. Marshall is awful . . .

Aren't all two-time 1st Team All-MAC, Defensive PoYs, and future NBA picks?

bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
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Member Since: 12/1/2006
Location: Cincinnati
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/18/2013 5:56:40 PM

Maybe he meant Marshall University is awful? He's right on that one.

100%Cat
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Member Since: 1/17/2013
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/19/2013 7:41:22 AM

brucecuth wrote:

That's the 1 disappointment I come away with. The team just didn't step up and have any signature victories. They beat all the teams that were less talented and not one that was, on paper, more talented.

I would agree that, in general, we lost to superior opponents all year (minus the Winthrop game). But that is something else to look at. This same group of players, last year, under Saint Groce, lost how many games to inferior opponents? By my count, I see at least 5 games we lost to inferior teams last season. I'm counting Bobby Mo, EMU, BG, Kent, and Toledo. This season I legitimately see 2, Winthrop and Bobby Mo.

So last year we pulled some upsets but also lost to several teams who had no earthly business beating us...and this year we generally beat teams we should beat (specifically in the conference) and couldn't pull the upsets. Does that mean last year we had great coaching that allowed us to lose games to bad teams and this year we had bad coaching that allowed us to win most every game we should win but not pull any upsets?

bornacatfan
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/19/2013 11:57:21 AM

100%Cat wrote:

One of the thoughts that runs through my head is that Groce never looks at the regular season as anything more than a teaching tool

I had this argument with several posters on the Illini board. JG uses the regualar season to get his kids ready for March. He will constantly say ..."we want to be playing our best ball in March" . He evaluates , tweaks, teaches, cajoles, supports, makes accountable, fires up, further evaluates., pushes, probes, stats, demands, motivates, hold feet to the fire, learns each players motivations and personality/reactions to game situations and generally uses to entire season to build toward his final product. It bit himin the arse a bit with Dambrot and Geno'ss movement and support of the current Tourney Format....(which I like even though the loud elven minority were the instigatiors) ... after they got burned in 2010.

I do not think Illinois will ever have great success with the regular season and wire to wire domination as I do not think that is hte way JG builds a team. given the grind of the season, the on and off court problems kids have with distractions and school (we here to play games not go to school) and the injuries that pop up I just do not see that dedication to regular season wins as much as he builds them for March. Just my opinion.

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

Casper71
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/19/2013 12:48:09 PM

I really believe this all goes back to Conference Tournaments. In the MAC the League Championship really just gives you some byes into later rounds which may make your road to the NCAAs easier. So, March is the only important thing if you don't care about Champioships.

In the Big10, you know if you are in or out based on the Regular Season not necessarily the Big10 Tourney.

So, it seems to me in the MAC the "teaching" and being ready to play in March is VERY important. I believe in the Big10, if JG doesn't win a Championship OR doesn't go deep in the NCAAs he will be gone in five years because that is what their administration/fans want. I think we all agree that OSU, Mich St and now Ind really want to win the League.

As for me, I'm old fashioned. Up to me I'd say screw the Conference Tourneys. You win your LEAGUE over the whole year you are in.

JSF
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RE: Couldn't beat a good team all year

Posted: 3/19/2013 1:37:34 PM

bornacatfan wrote:

One of the thoughts that runs through my head is that Groce never looks at the regular season as anything more than a teaching tool

I've suspected on some level Groce likes it when his teams lose to an EMU or a BG because he can use it as a motivational stick.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

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