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Topic: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Topic: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

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FearLeon
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The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/16/2021 3:52:04 PM

We seem to not be able to compete with the top 5 teams in league: BGSU, Buffalo, Toledo, Kent and Akron. Not only are we losing to these teams, but have a habit of losing by double-digits and not even threatening to win. I was hard on Saul with the way he lost to the better teams in the conference and the same standard holds for Boals.

Frustrating to watch. I don’t know what the answer is. Maybe shorten the bench. Boals is still trying to get something out of Rifen, Granger and McMurray and it’s not working. None of them are contributing and I would not play Rifen another minute.

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

Bobcat1998
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/16/2021 4:27:56 PM

Pippen took control when he had to. In the first half Nuga took control when he had to. Preston never took control. BVP only took control when down 16. Where is Illinois Preston?

Pataskala
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/16/2021 6:12:22 PM

We have 12 or 13 games left, depending on whether the game at Fiami is rescheduled. Six of them are against the teams that are ahead of us in the standings: two vs Buffalo; BSU and Akron at home; at BG and Kent. We're 1-4 vs those teams. And it's tough to be optimistic at this point about the last three games currently scheduled -- at BG, home vs. Buffalo, and at Kent. So it's likely Ohio will need to win seven of the next nine games to finish .500 or better in the MAC and be one of the eight teams in the MAC tourney.

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

GroverBall
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/16/2021 6:21:53 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Pippen took control when he had to. In the first half Nuga took control when he had to. Preston never took control. BVP only took control when down 16. Where is Illinois Preston?

Preston goes 23-10-5-2 on 57% shooting (40% from three) and he's your problem?

OhioCatFan
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 12:00:36 AM

For some strange reason I can’t explain we matched up better against Illinois. But, since then we’ve looked out-athletized by every good team we’ve played. This is very puzzling to me.

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."

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GraffZ06
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 2:28:00 AM

The struggle with this team starts with the letter D and ends with fense. Everything beyond that is trivial.

We've given up 89+ in 3 of our last 7.

We're giving up 79.9 pts/gm in conference.

We're 7-1 when we hold our opponent under 80, and 0-5 when we don't. Sadly we're giving up right around that threshold at 80 a game - it's why we're 500.

If we ever figure out how to hold folks to 70 a night instead, we'd be really hard to beat. Problem I fear is some of our worst defenders are simultaneously our best offensive players and vice-versa.

71 BOBCAT
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 8:29:38 AM

Well said GraffZO6, our D needs to improve.
I, for one, am a little tired of the players admitting they know what needs to be done yet don't do it. Easier said then done.
We have the talent on the O side but D requires hard work.

There are enough games remaining to improve and win THE MACC.

GO BOBCATS

Bobcat1998
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 10:45:42 AM

GroverBall wrote:

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Pippen took control when he had to. In the first half Nuga took control when he had to. Preston never took control. BVP only took control when down 16. Where is Illinois Preston?

Preston goes 23-10-5-2 on 57% shooting (40% from three) and he's your problem?

I would be more impressed if all of those stats didn't come when we were down 16. Great statistical night but I have yet to say (lately) "That was a HUGE shot" like I do with L-C-J, Turner or even Pippen.

BillyTheCat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 6:25:32 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

GroverBall wrote:

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Pippen took control when he had to. In the first half Nuga took control when he had to. Preston never took control. BVP only took control when down 16. Where is Illinois Preston?

Preston goes 23-10-5-2 on 57% shooting (40% from three) and he's your problem?

5 points at the half? On 2-3 shots?

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/17/2021 7:16:13 PM

GraffZ06 wrote:

Ken Pomeroy's rankings have Ohio 62nd in the nation in adjusted offense and 251st in adjusted defense. Ohio is giving up 1.041 points per possession, 276th in the nation, and is scoring 1.098 points per possession, 26th in the nation. Teams shoot 46.4% against Ohio, 270th in the nation. 35.3% 3-point defense is 241st. Ohio actually is solid at forcing turnovers (20.3%, 103rd nationally) but when they don't, teams score a lot. Pretty much all of Ohio's struggles are defense.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/18/2021 8:57:58 AM

It's a fair point that we have struggled to show we can beat the top of the conference, and I totally agree the issue is 100% the defense. I'd like to say teams were just hot against us, but there have been a lot of open looks both in the paint and on the perimeter. For whatever reason, we just seem to get burnt by good ball movement and screens.

The schedule seems very front loaded and back loaded. These next 9 games we have a good chance to get hot and rip off some winning streaks. But if we go 8-1 or 7-2, we all need to chill and realize we still need to prove we can beat the best.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

OhioBobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/18/2021 9:29:29 AM

FearLeon wrote:

First off, Ohio hasn’t even played all these teams yet this year, so I think it would be wise to reserve judgment until they do. Second, Ohio had the MAC preseason favorite BG down double digits and led them for most of the game, including into the final minutes, WITHOUT its best player! Ohio completely threatened BG, so you can’t discard that game. Ohio was totally in that game with a chance to win despite being majorly shorthanded. Ohio also lost to Toledo without Preston. Ohio still has both games vs Buffalo and rematches with all those other teams left. This argument is too premature to dive into right now.

100%Cat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:37:02 AM

I'd actually agree, I think it's a fair critique. Some might think it's a small sample size, but it's clearly a trend. It was painful watching the Kent St game. I walked away. Everyone watching, and everyone on the floor seemed to know that Kent was going to get O-boards on missed shots and it wasn't changing. BVP had one rebound. ONE!? Rifen was on the floor for 3 minutes and had one. Rebounding and defense seem so effort-driven, and watching bad defense and an inability to get boards is beyond frustrating. Are we still too young? Are we too soft? I, like probably all of us, got inflated expectations when we nearly beat Illinois. Lately, I just feel like we're not that good. I hope I am proven wrong.

OU_Country
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/21/2021 5:41:40 PM

100%Cat wrote:

The issue is simple to me: they're not a good defensive team. Or at least they're very inconsistent defensively. There are guys whose offensive games I love, but on D, they're average at best. The problem is that 2-3 starters fall into this category.

I've only been able to listen, or partly watch many of the last few games, so I don't have a guess on what sort of things they've been doing wrong. Against Miami though, I watched the entire game, and in the second half, the D was really good in my opinion. So what gives in other games?

OhioBobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/22/2021 5:13:08 PM

100%Cat wrote:

I watched Miami rip the hell outta BG last night, it wasn't even close. You know, the same BG team that was picked to win it, by the same Miami team that Ohio dispatched easily the other day. BG was also destroyed by Ball State, the same Ball State team that Ohio beat in Muncie and will likely beat again tonight. My point is, even a team like BG, who many on here grouped into the upper tier of the MAC, looks bad at times. The MAC is a solid league. The top 8 teams (which are actually the only ones going to the MAC Tournament this year by the way) are all capable of beating each other. Once you toss out NIU, EMU, WMU and CMU (all four will very likely be the ones out of the MACT), there's very little that separates teams 1-8 despite how the standings end up.

FlashGary
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/23/2021 1:52:43 PM

I most definitely am glad Dwight Wilson is here and playing, doing his thing. That being said, I'm never comfortable when we lack the ability to put length and a rim protector in the post. Especially if the forwards don't rebound consistent, coming up short--pun intended--in either physicality, athleticism or the will to do so.

I have to admit I'm somewhat envious season-after-season watching recruits at other MAC schools putting on their big boy pants and getting the better of us, bully-boy style.

In this regard, Miles Brown gets my respect for turning himself into a defensive stalwart. He guards with effort, tenacity and an all-out attempt to keep his man out of the paint. This coming from a player who is the third ALL-TIME leading high school scorer in New York, the state where I live. I was stunned when he couldn't get his game off last season and was concerned he couldn't help us if he wasn't going to be a scorer or ball distributor at his size. But he's found a way to contribute and get valuable minutes and his offense has been coming around.

I'm confident coach Boals will get this corrected, though. I know what type of player he was; he knows the deal. It's all about balance. He's only had two recruiting seasons, one that he wasn't able to plan out. He knows we have to guard to win championship. He'll get it done. I'm confident of that.

Last Edited: 1/23/2021 2:06:48 PM by FlashGary

OhioBobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/29/2021 9:02:22 PM

FearLeon wrote:

Another win against a team on the “can’t compete with” list. That puts Ohio tied with MAC favorite BG in the standings. No one wants to play Ohio. No one wants to play Ohio. No one wants to play OHIO!!!

GroverBall
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 1/29/2021 9:11:00 PM

OhioBobcat wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

Another?

JSF
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/1/2021 3:13:33 PM

OhioBobcat wrote:

I'm beginning to think you're a troll from some other school.

"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

BillyTheCat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/1/2021 8:31:46 PM

JSF wrote:

OhioBobcat wrote:

I'm beginning to think you're a troll from some other school.

You notice though that he is the BIGGEST homer on the football board. OHIO Football is the greatest with the best players every year. Basketball he seems to enjoy Bobcat losses.

OhioBobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/9/2021 9:38:00 PM

JSF wrote:

OhioBobcat wrote:

I'm beginning to think you're a troll from some other school.

Troll? I’m saying Ohio is better than BG. How is that trolling? I said BG was not a top tier team and now look at them. The original poster said Ohio can’t compete with a team like them, I’m saying it can and that its better. And I’m saying that without a doubt, no one in the MAC wants to play Ohio. Especially right now, we’re red hot. So how exactly is that trolling? You clearly don’t understand the definition or meaning of a troll or trolling.

OhioBobcat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/9/2021 9:40:50 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

JSF wrote:

OhioBobcat wrote:

I'm beginning to think you're a troll from some other school.

You notice though that he is the BIGGEST homer on the football board. OHIO Football is the greatest with the best players every year. Basketball he seems to enjoy Bobcat losses.

Because Ohio has been the best team in the MAC for the last several years. That’s why. As for enjoy Bobcat losses. Huh? Show me one example of where I’ve enjoyed a loss? Now you’re simply making crap up.

JSF
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/9/2021 11:27:46 PM

OhioBobcat wrote:

Because Ohio has been the best team in the MAC for the last several years. That’s why.

Troll.

GoCats105
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/10/2021 1:56:55 PM

OhioBobcat wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

JSF wrote:

OhioBobcat wrote:

I'm beginning to think you're a troll from some other school.

You notice though that he is the BIGGEST homer on the football board. OHIO Football is the greatest with the best players every year. Basketball he seems to enjoy Bobcat losses.

Because Ohio has been the best team in the MAC for the last several years.

LOL on who's authority? I still see ZERO MAC titles and several late season losses to keep Ohio from even winning the East.

They were practically gift wrapped the East title in 2017 and got beat by Akron.

In 2018 they couldn't beat the two best teams in the league, NIU and Miami. That was probably Ohio's best chance to do something special since Frank has been coach and they couldn't do it.

In 2019 they lost to NIU and Miami again, this time a bad NIU. Then sprinkled a loss to WMU on top just for good measure.

That close loss to undefeated WMU in the MAC Championship was almost 5 years ago at this point. That's a very thin thread to keep hanging on to.

Last Edited: 2/10/2021 2:01:29 PM by GoCats105

100%Cat
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RE: The Struggle Is Real Against MAC’s Best

Posted: 2/10/2021 2:18:02 PM

Nobody wants to play us right now. That's true. They don't want Covid.

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