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Topic: 2013 with Saul?

Topic: 2013 with Saul?

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Bobcat1998
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2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/8/2014 11:21:07 PM

I have determined that what we do best and what is the most fun to read on our board is speculation. It's all we have until Frank takes on Kent.

So I ask, what would our 2013 team have been like with Saul as the head coach instead of JC? I thought we had a great season but I always felt uneasy with Ivo and Walt's games in their senior year and now after hearing guys like Jon and Treg talk about JC a little, it makes me think it was him. Saul seems more like JG. I actually think that with his excitement and enthusiasm we advance to the NCAA Tourney and win at least a game. We beat Oklahoma that year and don't lose to Robbie Morris.

I'm just sayin, JC is the winningest MAC coach (percentage) but lacked enthusiasm.

Danny's Knee
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 12:01:42 AM

be careful saying anything negative about jim christian .... jeff may get angry .. #gettagrip

check out my avatar, it's "REALLY DO ORIGINAL" !!!!

ClevelandCat '11
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 1:42:48 AM

Danny's Knee wrote:

be careful saying anything negative about jim christian .... jeff may get angry .. #gettagrip

O baby what a big time reference to you other posts!

Pataskala
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 6:52:50 AM

I don't know if we would've done that much better because of the injuries. It might've been us instead of Akron getting the #4 seed and a bye but it's doubtful that we would've gotten past both Toledo and WMU. And since Akron also went to the CIT, we probably would've wound up in the same place. The big difference likely would've been in the locker room. Everybody seemed to be wound up tighter than a $2 watch with Christian; Phillips may keep things looser. Jon might've stayed with the team through post-season, which might've made a difference in how far we went in the CIT.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

OUVan
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 6:55:55 AM

I think instead of going 14-2 and winning our first share of a conference regular season title since 1994 we go 20-0 in conference and win the ACC. I'm just looking forward to blaming Jim Christian for every loss we have next year. I'm a huge fan of revisionist history.

Jerry86
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 7:05:23 AM

OUVan wrote:

I think instead of going 14-2 and winning our first share of a conference regular season title since 1994 we go 20-0 in conference and win the ACC. I'm just looking forward to blaming Jim Christian for every loss we have next year. I'm a huge fan of revisionist history.

Ha. Yeah, I love all the threads popping up seemingly wanting to blame JC for anything (everything) and/or projecting how much brighter things would have been this year (or last year) or next year.

One of the most funny is blaming JC if Owens is a no show here. Yet it was JC who recruited the kid. Speculation about what could have been seems meaningless to me but I doubt JG or SP could have done any better with this past year's group given all the injuries. Further, JG was only a little above 50% in MAC play during his time here whereas JC was 70% or more. It's refreshing to at least see a few recent posts from guys who appreciated what JC accomplished here and actually wishing him luck in the future.

brucecuth
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 10:23:24 AM

Yes, Jerry, it is nice to see some positive comments about JC. It is also disappointing that he has publicly said little, if anything, nice about his time in Athens.

Agree that it is virtually impossible to say how '13 team would have done under Saul. Based on what I saw, this team played hard for Christian (with the exception of Jon Smith, whose effort in his final few games appeared suspect). Any coach would have been lucky to do as well as Ohio did given injuries....

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 10:49:42 AM

brucecuth wrote:

Yes, Jerry, it is nice to see some positive comments about JC. It is also disappointing that he has publicly said little, if anything, nice about his time in Athens.

Agree that it is virtually impossible to say how '13 team would have done under Saul. Based on what I saw, this team played hard for Christian (with the exception of Jon Smith, whose effort in his final few games appeared suspect). Any coach would have been lucky to do as well as Ohio did given injuries....

I think the thread author is trying to speculate about last year. I don't think anyone can argue that this season could have gone any better given the injury situation but many were dissatisfied with last year.

To me, that disappointment stems from unrealistic expectations. Truth be told, Akron probably was better than Ohio when the Bobcats made their Sweet 16 run. After all, Akron finished two games ahead of Ohio in the standings. The Bobcats happened to squeak out a win against the Zips when it mattered most and give Groce credit for his part in that. From there, a couple of favorable matchups and some hot shooting got the Bobcats into the Sweet 16. Then both teams returned nearly everyone from the year before and Akron got the better of Ohio. I was 99 percent sure no matter who was hired as coach, he would not have lived up to the expectations many people had for that team just because things aren't going to fall just right every time. It's impossible to guess, but I don't think a different coach would have made a difference.

OUVan
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 10:54:02 AM

brucecuth wrote:

Yes, Jerry, it is nice to see some positive comments about JC. It is also disappointing that he has publicly said little, if anything, nice about his time in Athens.

Agree that it is virtually impossible to say how '13 team would have done under Saul. Based on what I saw, this team played hard for Christian (with the exception of Jon Smith, whose effort in his final few games appeared suspect). Any coach would have been lucky to do as well as Ohio did given injuries....

I believe he is talking about last year not this year.

GoCats105
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 12:00:45 PM

Jerry86 wrote:

Further, JG was only a little above 50% in MAC play during his time here whereas JC was 70% or more. It's refreshing to at least see a few recent posts from guys who appreciated what JC accomplished here and actually wishing him luck in the future.

Man do I hate when this is brought up. Remember, JG didn't get his recruits to play for him as seniors because he left early. His winning percentage would have sky rocketed had he stayed and Ohio went 14-2 or better in the regular season.

Personally, I still think he had the best formula anyway. As long as you get hot in March, especially in a one-bid league like the MAC, who cares what your winning percentage is in conference?

Ohio69
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 12:08:37 PM

Why we would've been the undefeated national champions, of course.

And, we'd have 6 Mcdonald's All Americans recruited and signed.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

100%Cat
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 1:01:17 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

Jerry86 wrote:

Further, JG was only a little above 50% in MAC play during his time here whereas JC was 70% or more. It's refreshing to at least see a few recent posts from guys who appreciated what JC accomplished here and actually wishing him luck in the future.

Man do I hate when this is brought up. Remember, JG didn't get his recruits to play for him as seniors because he left early. His winning percentage would have sky rocketed had he stayed and Ohio went 14-2 or better in the regular season.

Personally, I still think he had the best formula anyway. As long as you get hot in March, especially in a one-bid league like the MAC, who cares what your winning percentage is in conference?

We all should care because it's clearly easier to make the title game in Cleveland by winning one game than it is by winning 4 games. The MAC regular season matters because of the bye system in place for the tourney. Sure, it's great to peak at the right time...but if you are forced to win 5 games in a week to make the NCAA that's a whole lot tougher than winning 2 on Friday and Saturday.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 1:35:44 PM

Is Phillips had been coaching in 2013, I can confidently say that we would have been at least 42-0 going into the MAC tournament. In addition to the 32 games Christian scheduled, Saul would have added home games against Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Syracuse, Arizona, UCLA, Michigan, the Knicks, Pacers, and Team USA, and we'd have won all 10 by an average margin of victory of 25 points. DJ Cooper would have been drafted #1 overall, and we'd have rolled through the MAC tournament and NCAA tournament and captured our first national title. To follow up on that, he'd have signed Andrew Wiggins out from under Kansas, convinced Dante Exum to play college in the US, and we'd have gone undefeated again this year.

That damn Jim Christian. Can't believe he held us back like that.

ou1982
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 8:04:41 PM

i must be in a very small minority. i think Jim Christian did a REALLY great job this year. Considering the injuries, darn near remarkable to win 25 games in my opinion. Last year was a tough situation and all he did was go 14-2 in the MAC.

I have an idea that perhaps BC holds my opinion that the man did an outstanding job. was I happy that the BC blew up and caused tons of consternation? No. but it is the way life is. I know others have said it, but i'm having a hard time believing ANYONE would turn down three times the salary in the profession you have chosen with an incredible opportunity unless you were died in the wool GREEN & WHITE. I wouldn't and I've bled green and white since the early 70s.

Let's just get behind Saul Phillips and hope the ride is as good as we all hope it is. I remember Billy Hahn and Dale "The Rally Killer" Bandy. It's a great time to be a Bobcat and I hope each year we worry that our new coach might get poached by a big name school because the Bobcats tore it up!!!

Only one OHIO
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 10:41:07 PM

ou1982 wrote:

i must be in a very small minority. i think Jim Christian did a REALLY great job this year. Considering the injuries, darn near remarkable to win 25 games in my opinion. Last year was a tough situation and all he did was go 14-2 in the MAC.

I agree with you. I thought he did a great job these last two years. I was disappointed they way he left, but don't blame him for bolting for the money. However, I think the future can be even better with Coach Phillips.

Danny's Knee
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 10:54:06 PM

ou1982 wrote:

i must be in a very small minority. i think Jim Christian did a REALLY great job this year. Considering the injuries, darn near remarkable to win 25 games in my opinion. Last year was a tough situation and all he did was go 14-2 in the MAC.

you better believe it was a tough situation .... it's not easy taking over a stacked team that won the MAC tournament and went to the sweet 16 barely losing to north carolina and losing ZERO seniors .... BANG !!!! .... oh baby what a tough situation !!

check out my avatar, it's "REALLY DO ORIGINAL" !!!!

Andrew Ruck
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 11:05:34 PM

DK is kind of being a jerk with his wrapping up each post with "BANG...Oh baby what a big time ___"...But I laugh every single time.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

cc-cat
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 11:29:06 PM

Danny's Knee wrote:

ou1982 wrote:

i must be in a very small minority. i think Jim Christian did a REALLY great job this year. Considering the injuries, darn near remarkable to win 25 games in my opinion. Last year was a tough situation and all he did was go 14-2 in the MAC.

you better believe it was a tough situation .... it's not easy taking over a stacked team that won the MAC tournament and went to the sweet 16 barely losing to north carolina and losing ZERO seniors .... BANG !!!! .... oh baby what a tough situation !!

That was last year. His statement was about this past year. But bang away

Paul Graham
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 11:46:59 PM

ColumbusCat '11 wrote:

O baby what a big time reference to your other posts!

This is my favorite new thing on this site.

Danny's Knee
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/9/2014 11:49:12 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

DK is kind of being a jerk with his wrapping up each post with "BANG...Oh baby what a big time ___"...But I laugh every single time.

check out my avatar, it's "REALLY DO ORIGINAL" !!!!

Jerry86
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RE: 2013 with Saul?

Posted: 4/10/2014 9:48:35 AM

Danny's Knee wrote:

ou1982 wrote:

i must be in a very small minority. i think Jim Christian did a REALLY great job this year. Considering the injuries, darn near remarkable to win 25 games in my opinion. Last year was a tough situation and all he did was go 14-2 in the MAC.

you better believe it was a tough situation .... it's not easy taking over a stacked team that won the MAC tournament and went to the sweet 16 barely losing to north carolina and losing ZERO seniors .... BANG !!!! .... oh baby what a tough situation !!

Yeah, and didn't JC tie for MAC East championship? Did Groce ever win/tie for that? No, he finished 3rd and went 11 - 5 versus the 14 -2 JC produced.

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