Bobcat Attack - Ohio Basketball

Ohio Basketball Topic

Topic: Championship week

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shabamon

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Posted: 3/1/2023 9:40 AM

The A-Sun, Sun Belt, Patriot, and Horizon League tournaments are underway, so let's talk about Championship Week here.

One team I'm pulling hard for is Kennesaw State in the A-Sun (screw Liberty). Amir Abdur-Rahim (brother of Shareef) is going to get some coaching search attention. In four years, they've gone from one win to five to 13 to now 24 and atop the league standings. They have never been to a D1 postseason tournament but have guaranteed themselves at least an NIT bid.

OU_Country

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Posted: 3/1/2023 9:57 AM

The tournament of those that I'm gonna be tuned into as much as time allows is The Valley. That league is tough from 1 to 6 or 7 this year, and should be a fun one to watch. Their whole league, like the MAC, is on ESPN+.

I'm a big fan of that league, and frankly feel like it's almost the perfect model for how to be a mid-major league. Sadly for them, they've lost a few teams to greener pastures, but that says sometime about them as well.

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/1/2023 10:06 AM

Eyes on Youngstown State.

If they can get in to the tournament... they're built like a team that can make a run. Fast, quick scores, put up a ton of points, shoot (and make) a ton of 3's, they can overwhelm a sleeping #2 seed fast... they're a fun team.

OU_Country

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Posted: 3/1/2023 10:28 AM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

What kind of crazy would it be if YSU and Xavier were the only Ohio teams that make the tournament?

Yes, I know the odds are high that one of Kent, Akron, Toledo win the MAC, and Dayton could win the A10, but that potential scenario is kinda crazy.

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/1/2023 10:57 AM

OU_Country wrote:expand_more

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

What kind of crazy would it be if YSU and Xavier were the only Ohio teams that make the tournament?

Just like we all thought!

FJC31

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Posted: 3/2/2023 8:14 AM

I’m going with Liberty in ASUN. Liberty has the 3rd leading scorer in the nation in Darius McGhee. He’s only 5’9, I think that’d be fun for March Madness if the kid can go off.

YSU for Horizon, Sun Belt —I have no clue. Thought Marshall at the beginning of the season, but Southern Miss and Louisiana are really solid. What an impressive year for that conference. Excited about the Challenge with it moving forward. Patriot League - Colgate.

Last Edited: 3/2/2023 1:17:18 PM by FJC31

brucecuth

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Posted: 3/2/2023 12:47 PM

I guess one of Devon Baker's former schools, UNC Asheville, will be favored in Big South (they open against Charleston Southern at noon Friday). Not really impressive in a league that's not really impressive. Whether it's them or anyone else, tough to imagine any Big South team making it thru first round.

The team (and coach) I'm looking at next week is College of Charleston and Pat Kelsey. Dominated the CAA and would be shocked if they don't win the tourney. They have the potential to be playing a second round NCAA game. Kelsey learned the game while playing for Skip Prosser at Xavier, was very successful at Winthrop. He'll have his pick of jobs soon, if he chooses to move on.

shabamon

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Posted: 3/2/2023 10:23 PM

Robert Morris just lucked out HUGELY at CSU. Game tied, CSU gets a steal in their backcourt in the final second and they try a full court heave. Shooter is clearly fouled but contact just b a r e l y came after the buzzer. Overtime!

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/2/2023 11:10 PM

Wild scene between UT Martin and SIUE.

Deejuan Pruitt sucker punches Ohio Legend Rifen Miguel mid court.

https://twitter.com/mid_madness/status/163150471241859072...

OhioCatFan

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Posted: 3/2/2023 11:28 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

Wild scene between UT Martin and SIUE.

Deejuan Pruitt sucker punches Ohio Legend Rifen Miguel mid court.

https://twitter.com/mid_madness/status/163150471241859072...

Crazy . . . some of those commenting think Rifen was asking for it. I don't really agree. He was obviously ini acting kind of stupid with his arms extended and right in Rifen's face, but nothing deserves a sucker punch like that.

Another posters says, "Alabama coach would say "wrong place wrong time."
And, another opines that he's Oats' type of player.
It looks like fans are not forgetting about that horrible incident any time soon.

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

Last Edited: 3/2/2023 11:32:39 PM by OhioCatFan

Deciduous Forest Cat

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Posted: 3/3/2023 8:56 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

Wild scene between UT Martin and SIUE.

Deejuan Pruitt sucker punches Ohio Legend Rifen Miguel mid court.

https://twitter.com/mid_madness/status/163150471241859072...

I don't know if a punch was an appropriate response, but Rifen was totally asking for something. That was a clown move shadowing him up the floor totally in his grill like that.

shabamon

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Posted: 3/3/2023 3:34 PM

brucecuth wrote:expand_more

One of their players just scored 29 points on three made field goals.

OhioCatFan

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Posted: 3/3/2023 3:42 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

brucecuth wrote:expand_more

One of their players just scored 29 points on three made field goals.

That's a foul thing!

100%Cat

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Posted: 3/3/2023 5:02 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

Wild scene between UT Martin and SIUE.

Deejuan Pruitt sucker punches Ohio Legend Rifen Miguel mid court.

https://twitter.com/mid_madness/status/163150471241859072...

I love how it always seems to go the same way. A dude throws a sucker punch then runs away or backpedals away rapidly. It reminds me of the famous Office scene with Toby teaching "Strike-Scream-RUN!" as self defense.

Last Edited: 3/3/2023 5:02:19 PM by 100%Cat

shabamon

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Posted: 3/3/2023 5:04 PM

I just turned on ESPN+ in time to catch this wild finish in the Big South tourney

https://twitter.com/thesteelersnat/status/163177629866092...

OhioCatFan

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Posted: 3/4/2023 5:15 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

I just turned on ESPN+ in time to catch this wild finish in the Big South tourney

https://twitter.com/thesteelersnat/status/163177629866092...

I'll do my banking at Upstate! ;-)

shabamon

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Posted: 3/4/2023 10:14 PM

Get into this OVC Final now. We're going to OT. Tennessee Tech going for their first berth in 60 years.

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/5/2023 1:57 PM

All four of ESPN’s bracketology guys picked Kent State to win the MAC.

Figured it’d be a clean sweep for UT.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/3...

GraffZ06

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Posted: 3/5/2023 2:32 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

All four of ESPN’s bracketology guys picked Kent State to win the MAC.

Figured it’d be a clean sweep for UT.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/3...

That's because Toledo's hot streak has to end sometime. And, frankly, Kent's defense is way better than Toledo's. And come tourney time - defense matters.

I'm sticking with saying Kent is going to win this thing.

Only thing is, they will get a much tougher semi matchup with Akron than Toledo will with us or Balls.

shabamon

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Posted: 3/5/2023 6:09 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

One team I'm pulling hard for is Kennesaw State in the A-Sun (screw Liberty). Amir Abdur-Rahim (brother of Shareef) is going to get some coaching search attention. In four years, they've gone from one win to five to 13 to now 24 and atop the league standings. They have never been to a D1 postseason tournament but have guaranteed themselves at least an NIT bid.

HOOTY-HOOOOOOOOOOOO

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/5/2023 6:51 PM

GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more

M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more

All four of ESPN’s bracketology guys picked Kent State to win the MAC.

Figured it’d be a clean sweep for UT.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/3...

Would love to see Toledo/UD/Youngstown get seeded in Columbus.

I've got tickets to all three sessions, would be fun to have a rooting interest in any team. Feel like they cater to the big names though. They're gonna put Penn State in Columbus and ship Youngstown State to Fallujah.

shabamon

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Posted: 3/5/2023 6:54 PM

Purdue is a lock to go to C'bus. If they're a 1, maybe UK or Pitt get on the other side as the 8/9.

shabamon

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Posted: 3/6/2023 11:21 AM

I just pulled the trigger on tickets for both Friday sessions in Columbus. Last year, I noticed a lot of favorable prices on Stubhub day of, but I don't think I can take that risk of waiting until then. Whether Purdue is a 1 or 2 seed, it will mean teams hovering around 7-10 seed level will be there too. That could mean any combination of Kentucky, West Virginia, or Pitt.

M.D.W.S.T

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Posted: 3/6/2023 3:56 PM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

ESPN currently has

7 UK v 10 WVU
2 Purdue v 15 Vermont

6 SDSU v 11 Penn State
3 Marquette v 14 Colgate

Purdue is a definite lock. Think UK is as well, unless they really go on a run. Duke was slotted in Columbus for a few weeks, but they started winning some games. A lock for Greensboro, I imagine. I've also seen Michigan State in that 6 seed. That current 6,11,3, 14 side leaves a lot to be desired.

Last Edited: 3/6/2023 3:57:45 PM by M.D.W.S.T

CatsUp

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Posted: 3/6/2023 4:10 PM

So saddened to see a 24-8 Marshall team lose to 16-18 Texas State on Saturday in the Sun Belt Tournament. Can’t help but wonder if that is considered an “unacceptable loss” by the Huntington media.