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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: BOLD Predictions 2025-26 Edition
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Bobcat Tattoo
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Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 10/30/2025 3:22 PM
Haven't seen this thread started yet, so here it is. Following the format of previous years, chime in with your best and boldest takes for the 2025-26 season!

BOLD Player Prediction: One of JJ Kelly or Jesse Burris becomes a starter by January, while the other falls out of the rotation entirely.

BOLD Team Prediction: The team finishes top-50 in rebounding margin.

BOLD Conference Prediction: UMass wins the conference, while Toledo finally falls into mediocrity (outside the top 5).

BOLD National Prediction: Multi-year NIL contracts, with penalties for players leaving early, will gain traction in the mid-major landscape.
shabamon
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Posted: 10/30/2025 3:52 PM
BOLD Player Prediction: Jordan Fisher sees a steady minutes increase over the course of the season where he's one of the first two off the bench by the end of the year and makes the all-freshman team.

BOLD Team Prediction: We win the MTE in Daytona Beach

BOLD Conference Prediction: Miami has a share of first place in the MAC by mid-January and never relinquishes it through the rest of the regular season. They average at least 3,000 attendance for weeknight games and at least 4,500 for weekend games.

BOLD National Prediction: At least five head coaches step down or are fired by January 1.
GoCats105
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Posted: 10/30/2025 5:20 PM
BOLD Player Prediction: JJ Kelly makes the All MAC Freshman team

BOLD Team Prediction: Breaks the school record for number of rebounds

BOLD Conference Prediction: Javontae Campbell goes on an Armon Bassett type tear in the MAC Tournament and leads BG to their first NCAA Tournament since 1968.

BOLD National Prediction: The NCAA finally ditches the lame tournament court designs and goes back to using the floors of the host schools.
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 10/31/2025 9:19 AM
You guys have taken a bunch of mine so I will try to be original

BOLD Player Prediction: Breath averages 10 and 8 this year.

BOLD Team Prediction: We sweep Akron and Kent.

BOLD Conference Prediction: John Groce leaves after the season for a bigger job.

BOLD National Prediction: The Boozer twins lead Duke to a national championship
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 10/31/2025 9:53 AM
BOLD Player Prediction: Jack moves into the Top 10 all-time in career assists

BOLD Team Prediction: Kuany gets a random start in December and never looks back.

BOLD Conference Prediction: Toledo finally wins a MAC tournament and goes to the NCAA tourney.

BOLD National Prediction: Purdue will win it's FIRST National Title.



For fun, I asked ChatGPT the same question and it said OU will win the MAC Tournament and win a 1st round upset in the NCAC Tournament.

LOL Cheers, ChatGPT! Drunk off the green kool-aid in October.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/31/2025 10:35 AM

M.D.W.S.T.  I thought we'd compare AI bots.  I asked DuckAI to make five bold predictions about the upcoming Ohio basketball season.  Here's what it came up with:

Five bold predictions for the 2025–2026 Ohio Bobcats

  1. Jackson Paveletzke and Javan Simmons will be named All-MAC. With former All-MAC selections AJ Clayton and Dior Conners gone, senior point guard Jackson Paveletzke and redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons will need to step up. Paveletzke was a key contributor last season, and Simmons's game developed after transferring from Toledo. With increased roles, both will earn All-MAC honors and become the new faces of the program.
  2. The Bobcats will win a non-conference road game against a Power Five opponent. The Bobcats will face Louisville in November, which is a rare opportunity to upset a Power Five team. Ohio will enter the game as an underdog but will lean on the veteran experience of Paveletzke and Simmons to pull off a statement victory for the program.
  3. Freshman JJ Kelly will emerge as a key contributor. The highly athletic 6'6" guard from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was a prolific scorer in high school and will use his athleticism to make an immediate impact. Although not starting, Kelly will be a crucial sixth man, providing scoring and defensive hustle to help the Bobcats win close games.
  4. The Bobcats will reach the MAC Tournament final. After a disappointing early exit in the 2024–2025 MAC Tournament, the Bobcats will advance to the conference championship. The leadership and veteran experience on this season's squad, combined with their non-conference upset, will provide the momentum needed for a deep postseason run.
  5. Ohio will secure a spot in the NIT. Even if they fall short in the MAC Tournament final, Ohio's difficult non-conference schedule and strong conference performance will earn them a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. The Bobcats will continue their postseason success from recent years with a chance to compete on a national stage.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 10/31/2025 10:44 AM
BOLD Player Prediction: We have two first team all MAC players in Pavs and Simmons

BOLD Team Prediction: Hadaway leads the team in usage rate despite the above

BOLD Conference Prediction: Akron goes undefeated in conference play

BOLD National Prediction: BYU goes to the Final Four
FJC31
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Posted: 10/31/2025 11:00 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
BOLD National Prediction: BYU goes to the Final Four
Laughing because I made a futures bet for this.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 10/31/2025 12:16 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
M.D.W.S.T. I thought we'd compare AI bots. I asked DuckAI to make five bold predictions about the upcoming Ohio basketball season. Here's what it came up with:
Five bold predictions for the 2025–2026 Ohio Bobcats Jackson Paveletzke and Javan Simmons will be named All-MAC. With former All-MAC selections AJ Clayton and Dior Conners gone, senior point guard Jackson Paveletzke and redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons will need to step up. Paveletzke was a key contributor last season, and Simmons's game developed after transferring from Toledo. With increased roles, both will earn All-MAC honors and become the new faces of the program. The Bobcats will win a non-conference road game against a Power Five opponent. The Bobcats will face Louisville in November, which is a rare opportunity to upset a Power Five team. Ohio will enter the game as an underdog but will lean on the veteran experience of Paveletzke and Simmons to pull off a statement victory for the program. Freshman JJ Kelly will emerge as a key contributor. The highly athletic 6'6" guard from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was a prolific scorer in high school and will use his athleticism to make an immediate impact. Although not starting, Kelly will be a crucial sixth man, providing scoring and defensive hustle to help the Bobcats win close games. The Bobcats will reach the MAC Tournament final. After a disappointing early exit in the 2024–2025 MAC Tournament, the Bobcats will advance to the conference championship. The leadership and veteran experience on this season's squad, combined with their non-conference upset, will provide the momentum needed for a deep postseason run. Ohio will secure a spot in the NIT. Even if they fall short in the MAC Tournament final, Ohio's difficult non-conference schedule and strong conference performance will earn them a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. The Bobcats will continue their postseason success from recent years with a chance to compete on a national stage.
AI loves them some Bobbies.
FJC31
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Posted: 10/31/2025 2:30 PM
BOLD Player Prediction: Said this in the prediction thread, but JJ Kelly is a starter by conference play. His size and overall athleticism on the wing will be just too much of what the starting lineup needs for balance to keep him out.

BOLD Team Prediction: We win the Daytona tournament.

BOLD Conference Prediction: Toledo finishes somewhere between 6-8.

BOLD National Prediction: Florida repeats as National Champions.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 11/1/2025 11:51 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
M.D.W.S.T. I thought we'd compare AI bots. I asked DuckAI to make five bold predictions about the upcoming Ohio basketball season. Here's what it came up with:
Five bold predictions for the 2025–2026 Ohio Bobcats Jackson Paveletzke and Javan Simmons will be named All-MAC. With former All-MAC selections AJ Clayton and Dior Conners gone, senior point guard Jackson Paveletzke and redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons will need to step up. Paveletzke was a key contributor last season, and Simmons's game developed after transferring from Toledo. With increased roles, both will earn All-MAC honors and become the new faces of the program. The Bobcats will win a non-conference road game against a Power Five opponent. The Bobcats will face Louisville in November, which is a rare opportunity to upset a Power Five team. Ohio will enter the game as an underdog but will lean on the veteran experience of Paveletzke and Simmons to pull off a statement victory for the program. Freshman JJ Kelly will emerge as a key contributor. The highly athletic 6'6" guard from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was a prolific scorer in high school and will use his athleticism to make an immediate impact. Although not starting, Kelly will be a crucial sixth man, providing scoring and defensive hustle to help the Bobcats win close games. The Bobcats will reach the MAC Tournament final. After a disappointing early exit in the 2024–2025 MAC Tournament, the Bobcats will advance to the conference championship. The leadership and veteran experience on this season's squad, combined with their non-conference upset, will provide the momentum needed for a deep postseason run. Ohio will secure a spot in the NIT. Even if they fall short in the MAC Tournament final, Ohio's difficult non-conference schedule and strong conference performance will earn them a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. The Bobcats will continue their postseason success from recent years with a chance to compete on a national stage.
AI loves them some Bobbies.
Only if you asked the same question of every MAC team and compare the LUV after that......
FearLeon
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Posted: 11/5/2025 8:37 AM
BOLD Player Prediction: A player on full scholarship will leave the program during the season.

BOLD Team Prediction: Ohio is leading St. Mary's at halftime and then loses by 15.

BOLD Conference Prediction: John Groce leads Akron to fourth MAC Tournament Championship in last five years and then leaves for Power 4 job.

BOLD National Prediction: Kansas true freshman Darryn Peterson wins Naismith Player Of The Year
#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio #11Months
shabamon
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Posted: 4/7/2026 12:21 PM
Let's grade some of these:

NAILED IT
BOLD Conference Prediction: Miami has a share of first place in the MAC by mid-January and never relinquishes it through the rest of the regular season. They average at least 3,000 attendance for weeknight games and at least 4,500 for weekend games.
BOLD Player Prediction: Jack moves into the Top 10 all-time in career assists (though I can't say this was that bold)
BOLD Player Prediction: Said this in the prediction thread, but JJ Kelly is a starter by conference play. His size and overall athleticism on the wing will be just too much of what the starting lineup needs for balance to keep him out.

KINDA
BOLD Player Prediction: One of JJ Kelly or Jesse Burris becomes a starter by January, while the other falls out of the rotation entirely.
BOLD National Prediction: At least five head coaches step down or are fired by January 1. (There were several midseason firings, but not by 1/1)
BOLD Conference Prediction: John Groce leaves after the season for a bigger job.
BOLD Conference Prediction: Akron goes undefeated in conference play

WAY OFF, TAKE THE DAY OFF
BOLD Team Prediction: The team finishes top-50 in rebounding margin.
BOLD Player Prediction: Jordan Fisher sees a steady minutes increase over the course of the season where he's one of the first two off the bench by the end of the year and makes the all-freshman team.
BOLD Team Prediction: We win the MTE in Daytona Beach
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