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Topic: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Topic: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

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Bobcat Love
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,193

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the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 10:57:40 AM

Many times after losses, you can judge the impact of the loss by the tenor of the board.

As expected, this one isn't creating the tsunami (sorry) of emotion and vitriol that we would come to expect from bowing out in the MAC Quarters to an (possibly) inferior Ball State team. Why?

Well, the LOVE will tell you. You guys all knew we weren't that good. You like this team and I don't fault you for it. You like the personality of the players, the individual skill sets, the G'town run, the HS accolades, the Groce pedigree, the late season flare, and the way Ohio basketball has been set on a pedestal during all this budget and fiscal strife none of us really want to acknowledge.

But, the fact of the matter is that this team just wasn't the caliber team that most of us thought. The sum was far worse than the individual parts. Tommy's 3's, Devo's Dunks, Nick's surname, Rico and Hall's athleticism, DJ's marquee name, etc. All awesome and fun to watch, but in the words of Denny Green - this team was who we thought it was.

A. It feasted on terrible teams. 10-2 against the pitiful RPI 200+ teams that were eliminated from serious contention months ago, with a marquee loss to a CMU team with an RPI of 306. Think about it, we got jacked about beating Illinois State (255), pounding Norfolk State in beautiful fashion (271), and loved the fight and spirit we displayed in a close one against Winthrop (218).

B. It was awful against teams showing any semblance of ability (Kansas, Temple, and Oakland). I don't think I have to re-phrase my feelings on losing to Kansas by 57 on a neutral floor, but man that was BRU-TAL.

C. Showed no grit and emotion in defending the home floor, even against rivals like Kent, Miami, and Buffalo. I personally can't recall a Bobcat team that was so lackluster at home, only managing a meager 11-8 record in the process.

D. Gave up late lead after late lead and never seemed to address the issues with any change in style, strategy, or mindset.

I promise, I'm not trying to be negative with the post mortem - because I am excited about next year. Very excited. However, I saw this coming from miles away and my actions only supported it. I was lackluster about attending games at the end of the year, and Cleveland was never even a thought.

As a fellow poster tweeted last night - "this team was built to let you down." That's over the top and harsh, because if you looked at the body of work (as so many of us do this year) - you would have seen this team was built for a quarterfinal or semifinal MAC loss to an average or slightly below average conference foe. Nothing more, nothing less and we fulfilled our destiny.

Sure, the manner in which it went down stings a bit - but if you watched this team at all this year - you knew the potential of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

All you can do is learn from it and come back strong next year with new personnel and a new frame of mind to close games out, defend the home floor, and stick your chest out a little more against the better teams in the country.

See you next season.

giacomo
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Member Since: 11/20/2007
Post Count: 2,734

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 11:24:31 AM

I can't argue with anything you say. But given all of that, we had a legitmate chance to win the MAC tourney. A few bounces here or there and who knows? It was a good year.

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 7,446

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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 11:27:17 AM

Totally agree Love. It was a "nice while it lasted" feeling in my eyes. The season was just doomed to fail from the beginning, as Mike pointed out in another thread. But, the team gave us some flashes of great basketball and the potential that Groce's system has for this program.

First Street Forever
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Member Since: 12/19/2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Post Count: 247

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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 11:43:02 AM

Right on target as usual, Love.

This season has always felt like a lost one from the get go. Maybe it was the rap sirens that lured $tevie Fresh away. The Convo losses didn't inspire confidence. Maybe it was the Kansas game (though I wasn't that bummed about being blown out).

Whatever it was, I didn't really care like years past. Maybe the Georgetown win had a better carryover effect than I expected. Maybe receiving such an awesome gift last year made me more like a truly appreciative child instead of expecting more like a spoiled brat.

Maybe it was this message board. It seemed that after the Big Data Loss, it just never was the same sense of community around here. Seemed that alot of long time posters didn't post anymore or as frequent. Maybe the rumors of the super secret, invite-only Ohio message board are true. The chat room wasn't boisterous like years past either. There was also some drama, which was initially enjoyable but casted sad hues upon the community.

Just a weird, weird season.

I don't endorse the furry lifestyle, but when the Bobkitten is involved things can change mighty quickly...

OUVan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
Post Count: 5,580

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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 12:49:00 PM

I'm sorry guys but while I expected better this was still a fun year filled with some very good, exciting moments. But feel free to take your Eeyore stances.

Doc Bobcat
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,280

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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 2:19:34 PM

Tsunami.....bad choice of word BL.

Turney13
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Member Since: 7/27/2010
Post Count: 358

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 2:25:35 PM

But what happened to January 17th - it's easy to be right when you flip flop..

Bobcat Love wrote:

You heard it right here....today was the turning point in our season - in a good and positive way.

1. I have no problem with DJ's shot selection. A lot of the fans (idiots) around me were really getting on Groce/Cooper about some of the shots going up, and they're wrong. Plain and simple. There is no way I'm going to get on a kid who's scoring instincts, while still developing at this level, are strong and solid. Groce put it perfectly on the post game show, you want him attacking at all times, and sometimes you get some vinegar with the honey. (I made the last cliche) I have absolutely no problem with having the ball in his hands in crunch time and with any of the decisions he makes. Could he eat a little more time off the shot clock, maybe...but if his instincts tell him there's an opening - I'd rather he pounce and be comfortable then force something out of his comfort zone. Let's cut this talk off right now.

2. If you want reason #1 we lost the game, look at the rebounding edge. We got killed on the boards and it's the same, fixable problem that has plagued us for 5 weeks. Complete fundamental breakdowns in the paint. As I tweeted, this is not the first time we've given up an offensive rebound to the shooting team when they have nobody on the FT blocks. That's just ridiculous. I counted 4 times today when we didn't put a body on a guy and it led to easy 2nd chance points. That, my friends, is unacceptable.

3. That said, I think we saw Ivo Baltic's coming out party today. He played strong, smart, tough, and within himself. I liked everything I saw out there. Tons of energy. Played well in the clutch. My level of optimism shot through the roof tonight, and his future became a lot less cloudy in my eyes. Great effort.

4. How great is Charlie Coles? I can't even go into all the stuff I saw from him on the sidelines, but he is the best. There is nobody like him, and I could watch Ohio - Miami games in the Convo with him involved for the next 40 years - easy. I just never want this stuff to end.

5. Fantastic student turnout. The students were great. Stayed. Into the game. Fun. Creative. Awesome. I really applaud the students. It was great to witness.

6. Sayles played 2 minutes against Robert Morris. 37 minutes today. I realize some of today was circumstantial with the other big guys in foul trouble, but maybe distribution of minutes is truly the issue many of think.

7. If you gave me the choice, I would list the following as high % shots right now for the cats:
      A. Open Freeman 3
      B. Cooper drive
      C. Washington somewhat alone on the block in the paint

Other than those 3 choices, everything else is a total crapshoot. No dribble drives. No high low. Just a whole lot of standing around and hoping we get one of those 3 options. So if you want to rip Cooper's shot selection, I would tell you that unless we get a Freeman 3 or Washington free down low - any other option has a similar % probability as the shot Cooper is going to take. Hopefully that makes sense. Basically I'm saying any Cooper shot is just as good right now as any other shot we're going to get.

To me, that's on Groce and the staff to start getting the guys some better looks. The looks just aren't there. I'm not sure Tommy took a 3 the entire Overtime stretch. How can that be? There has to be more creativity in creating better shots on offense. Right now the offense is in a complete abyss, and we can't win if we're not scoring the basketball.

8. Mavunga, Winbush, and Ballard are men. They were fun to watch. I respect each of those guys. Good players.

9. I LOVED the on court seating at the beginning of the game. As things progressed, I thought it was gaudy and out of place. The people were blocking the O-zone, and the whole thing was a total force. Not to mention, you have Vern Alden sitting in the middle bowl of seats today, while his $'s and contributions over the years entitle him more than anyone to a courtside seat. That was borderline odd and a head scratcher in my book. This, to me has the same look and feel of those ridiculous end zone seats at football games that are always empty....Let's scrap that experiment right now.

10. Lots of other thoughts, but I had a good time today. I'm not even that down about the loss. It was a fun day. Both teams are just marginal right now, but they played hard and the better team won out in a hard fought battle. We had a great crowd. Charlie was on fire. Truly, one for the books. Just a great time.

Turney Duff
Twitter: @turneyduff

Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 5,221

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 2:40:49 PM

I expected to win in Cleveland and am still disappointed.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

Jughead
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Member Since: 7/6/2010
Location: Chillicothe, OH
Post Count: 478

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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 4:56:04 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

I expected to win in Cleveland and am still disappointed.

With all the graduation/turnover from other schools last year, I thought this was going to be another great year...then the off season issues began.

Rooting for Akron is like cheering on the Taliban.

Monroe Slavin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 7:33:43 PM

Good post, Love. And I have no problem with his viewpoint now being leavened, being different from that moment that he thought the season had turned. We all have our moments of high hopes and questioning. Love's final summation is right--and it captures the highs and lows of this year.

The only thing that I disagree with is that I'm not so sure about next year. We aren't proven tough enough and deep enough at power forward and center. I don't see much there--not enough to make us more that a contender in the MAC. We could win it but I'll be surprised if we dominate. Unless Jacobs turns in a fine year.

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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D.A.
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Georgetown, ME
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RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 7:50:14 PM

I think you nailed it Love, and I agree with Monroe in that I am pretty skeptical about next year, although I'll grant you that you are far closer to things than I am. I hope I can share your optimism as I learn more about the '11-12 team.

The Few, The Proud, The Bobcats!

And for the record, I hate tOSU, and Ricordati and Torgerson are DB's.

"This isn't just another walkover from the MAC." Kirk Herbstreit, another DB, on College Football Gameday

DublinCat
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 236

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/11/2011 8:57:14 PM

A Delvar Barrett or an even better Antonio Gates JUCO would certainly change my 2011-12 outlook.

OU87

Monroe Slavin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121

Status: Offline

RE: the LOVE is Not surprised or disappointed

Posted: 3/12/2011 1:42:58 PM

A Gates type pick up? Ain't gonna happen. That guy was a great basketballer. Odds we find someone like that and get him to come to Ohio gotta be slim, unfortunately. Kudos for the Delvar mention. I really enjoyed him.

Last Edited: 3/12/2011 1:43:26 PM by Monroe Slavin

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