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Topic:  Optimism

Topic:  Optimism
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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 3:35:06 PM 
I think we can all agree that the energy surrounding this program and the enthusiasm on this board right now is on another level. Boals came in with a plan and I can't wait for all of his pieces to come together on the roster. Not concerned about win-loss record in year one. This is going to be fun to watch.


#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

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giacomo
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 4:55:58 PM 
It's obvious that since Boals is one of our own, a lot of posters are in love. Let's see when things get a little rocky.
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JSF
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 5:33:14 PM 
Saul won his first game by more than 20.


"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

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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 5:54:44 PM 
JSF wrote:
Saul won his first game by more than 20.


At home against...Appalachian State. Big difference of venue and opponent compared to first game of Boals era.


#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

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bobcat 2000
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 6:08:54 PM 
jeff boals seems to have team in good shape. didn't think theyd be able to win at st bon adventure with 4 men down thell need every thing they got to stay with in 20 points of villanova though
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shabamon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/7/2019 7:56:53 PM 
Quote:
bon adventure


That's the theme park in Quebec, right?
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OU_Country
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 6:46:29 AM 
giacomo wrote:
It's obvious that since Boals is one of our own, a lot of posters are in love. Let's see when things get a little rocky.


+1 on the let's set what happens when things get a little rocky. Times are fun now after a really nice win. What happens in these threads if they go to Myrtle Beach and get run in 2 of 3 games?

(I don't expect that, but for the point, what happens?)
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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 7:59:23 AM 
OU_Country wrote:
giacomo wrote:
It's obvious that since Boals is one of our own, a lot of posters are in love. Let's see when things get a little rocky.


+1 on the let's set what happens when things get a little rocky. Times are fun now after a really nice win. What happens in these threads if they go to Myrtle Beach and get run in 2 of 3 games?

(I don't expect that, but for the point, what happens?)


Of course things will get rocky...no doubt. There will be tough losses ahead. I'm just saying the optimism permeating throughout the program right now is refreshing.

Last Edited: 11/8/2019 8:03:21 AM by FearLeon


#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

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Andrew Ruck
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 8:36:32 AM 
No reason to not be excited about the start of the Boals era. I've seen and heard nothing but good things...

He is a proud alum...some say that doesn't matter but I still believe it gives you an extra edge in motivation and genuineness.

He has embraced the guys who chose to stick around and made them happy to still be here despite it not being what they signed up for.

He is an aggressive and successful recruiter. He has shown a willingness to go after both the big fish. He was able to land 3-4 recruits who had a lot of similar or better options than our program, all late in the recruiting period.

I have heard he implemented an extremely successful diet and exercise program. The entire team got much stronger and healthier in just a few short months. This can't be overstated.

He has been tremendous with the university and community, aggressively establishing relationships. I got to speak with him for about 10 minutes myself, but have witnessed and/or heard about countless times he has given his time to Ohio fans and students.

And yes, he led them to a hell of an impressive road win to start the season. I can not remember the last time we won a game in which we were double digit underdogs, let alone won by double digits.

Of course there will be hard times ahead...that doesn't mean you can't be really thrilled with where we are at right now.


Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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100%Cat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 10:37:33 AM 
I'm definitely feeling the optimism. I'm keeping it somewhat grounded (trying to, anyway) because I know there will be growing pains. But how could you not be excited with the way this thing has started?
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Kevin Finnegan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 11:16:26 AM 
Was feeling the excitement, then felt it wane as I heard about all of the injuries and thought we were in for another slog of a season. Then, watching Tuesday's game had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the hustle, I loved the excitement, and I was wowed by many things I saw from Preston and McDay (who will certainly be filled with growing pains).

Now, in thinking of the addition of the injured players, I'm past optimistic. My head starts falling a little too much into fantasy-brain thoughts. The optimism I love, but I'm trying to temper the other part.
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OU_Country
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 11:18:35 AM 
100%Cat wrote:
I'm definitely feeling the optimism. I'm keeping it somewhat grounded (trying to, anyway) because I know there will be growing pains. But how could you not be excited with the way this thing has started?


I agree, I'm very excited. I'm only pointing out based on several years of experience here that I'm curious to see what does happen when it gets rocky. What does happen when they get blown out when some BA posters or OBC supporters don't think they should have? I'm hopeful that the current Optimism kind of carries through even during those types of times. This place is fun to be around right now - far more than the prior 2-3 years. A couple bad/disappointing losses or one bad season shouldn't need to dictate how much fun we can have here -- not in my opinion anyway.

Andrew Ruck wrote:
No reason to not be excited about the start of the Boals era. I've seen and heard nothing but good things...

He is a proud alum...some say that doesn't matter but I still believe it gives you an extra edge in motivation and genuineness.
.
.
.
He has been tremendous with the university and community, aggressively establishing relationships. I got to speak with him for about 10 minutes myself, but have witnessed and/or heard about countless times he has given his time to Ohio fans and students.


Agree with this, it does matter. And while I didn't think that having an Ohio Alumnus as a head coach was a requirement, it absolutely adds to things for him, the campus, and us as fans and fellow Alumni.

For me, as long as they finish in the top five or six in the MAC which translates into getting to Cleveland, and most games are fun to be at, and we don't recruit idiots that get in trouble, I'm pretty happy. (note, I don't expect top 6 this year) My "expectations" as a fan long term don't revolve around the need for NCAA Tournaments or MAC Championships at certain intervals.

On the other hand, my hopes are that we get to return to being in the MAC Semis and Finals more regularly, and that they hit a home run recruit here and there, and that they beat a P6 type school every couple years. But it's key for me to distinguish between "hopes" and "expectations" when it comes to supporting Ohio Basketball.
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BillyTheCat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 11:45:16 AM 
Not sure this season can totally be measured by wins and losses. Though I know Coach Boals will be hungry for every win that his team can get. But let's not allow an early win get in the way of the reality that this team is a bunch of unproven players who have a lot of growth to do. All the key cogs off of last years team are gone. This year should be measured by the progress that is made, and progress is NOT always W's and L's, but the toughness, the grit, the way this team plays. OHIO will probably be out talented in most of their games this year, there will be some tough times, however, I am excited to see how they develop and mature. There are already many many positives surrounding this program.
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greencat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 11:46:35 AM 
Boals has already shown that he can recruit much better than the most recent Saul recruiting and as they say - recruiting is the lifeblood of college sports. The Bobcats will be a mid-major powerhouse in a couple of years, ala VCU, Wichita State, Butler, etc. I really do see that on the horizon and not just based on a single season opening win. And yes, the games vs Purdue and Baylor and Villanova won't be pleasant but the younger players will learn from the experience.
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GroverBall
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 12:45:41 PM 
BillyTheCat wrote:
All the key cogs off of last years team are gone.


BVP and Preston were not key cogs on last year's team?
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BillyTheCat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 12:52:49 PM 
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
All the key cogs off of last years team are gone.


BVP and Preston were not key cogs on last year's team?


When you look at the total points and minutes lost from last years team. No, they were not. They played, and at points played well, but key cogs? not sure how anyone could define that they were.
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Recovering Journalist
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 1:11:45 PM 
FearLeon wrote:
JSF wrote:
Saul won his first game by more than 20.


At home against...Appalachian State. Big difference of venue and opponent compared to first game of Boals era.


Saul also had some incredible assets that Jim Christian left behind, including Ndour, Simmons, Setty and Campbell. We EXPECTED to thrash teams like App State. Instead we ended up with a Bean Wilderness Campaign that was a harbinger of things to come.
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GroverBall
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 2:08:08 PM 
BillyTheCat wrote:
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
All the key cogs off of last years team are gone.


BVP and Preston were not key cogs on last year's team?


When you look at the total points and minutes lost from last years team. No, they were not. They played, and at points played well, but key cogs? not sure how anyone could define that they were.


So you must consider TK to have been a key cog, and that makes we wonder what's your definition of cog. Sure, he played a lot of minutes.

I would argue that BVP's 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists define him as more of a positive cog in the machine than TK, and Preston's emergence as a better player to run the team defines him as more of a positive cog than TK. TK's 14 points per game were nice, but on 21% shooting from three and 53% from the line I wonder about "key cog." Was Doug a key cog?
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Kevin Finnegan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 2:56:56 PM 
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
All the key cogs off of last years team are gone.


BVP and Preston were not key cogs on last year's team?


When you look at the total points and minutes lost from last years team. No, they were not. They played, and at points played well, but key cogs? not sure how anyone could define that they were.


So you must consider TK to have been a key cog, and that makes we wonder what's your definition of cog. Sure, he played a lot of minutes.

I would argue that BVP's 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists define him as more of a positive cog in the machine than TK, and Preston's emergence as a better player to run the team defines him as more of a positive cog than TK. TK's 14 points per game were nice, but on 21% shooting from three and 53% from the line I wonder about "key cog." Was Doug a key cog?


I would say that TK was a key, or major, cog last year and that Preston was less so. That explains the lack of success we had last year. The machine at which these guys were a cog in last year was far from a well-run machine. Thus, having few of the key cogs from last year's machine is not a bad thing at all.

Preston and BVP will certainly be much bigger cogs this year and hopefully that pays off in spades.
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GroverBall
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 3:15:50 PM 
finnOhio wrote:
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
GroverBall wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
All the key cogs off of last years team are gone.


BVP and Preston were not key cogs on last year's team?


When you look at the total points and minutes lost from last years team. No, they were not. They played, and at points played well, but key cogs? not sure how anyone could define that they were.


So you must consider TK to have been a key cog, and that makes we wonder what's your definition of cog. Sure, he played a lot of minutes.

I would argue that BVP's 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists define him as more of a positive cog in the machine than TK, and Preston's emergence as a better player to run the team defines him as more of a positive cog than TK. TK's 14 points per game were nice, but on 21% shooting from three and 53% from the line I wonder about "key cog." Was Doug a key cog?


I would say that TK was a key, or major, cog last year and that Preston was less so. That explains the lack of success we had last year. The machine at which these guys were a cog in last year was far from a well-run machine. Thus, having few of the key cogs from last year's machine is not a bad thing at all.

Preston and BVP will certainly be much bigger cogs this year and hopefully that pays off in spades.


Yea, I realized that what BTC meant by "key cogs" was essential to understand, at first I thought he was making a point about being patient with this year's team because we "lost" so many (positive) contributors from last year, but now I think he was just saying that we have new primary pieces of the machine that lack experience. I can't argue with that. Whether or not the primary pieces last year were ultimately positive or negative isn't really the question. Having said that, I still would argue BVP was a key cog last year given his minutes and contributions.

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JSF
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 4:38:49 PM 
FearLeon wrote:
JSF wrote:
Saul won his first game by more than 20.


At home against...Appalachian State. Big difference of venue and opponent compared to first game of Boals era.


You can't say this because we don't know how good St. Bonaventure is. They could turn out to be terrible. They could be a 30-win team. Plus, I think you understand my point. There was a lot of optimism after the first game five years ago, too.


"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

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brucecuth
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/8/2019 7:05:39 PM 
greencat wrote:
Boals has already shown that he can recruit much better than the most recent Saul recruiting and as they say - recruiting is the lifeblood of college sports. The Bobcats will be a mid-major powerhouse in a couple of years, ala VCU, Wichita State, Butler, etc. I really do see that on the horizon and not just based on a single season opening win. And yes, the games vs Purdue and Baylor and Villanova won't be pleasant but the younger players will learn from the experience.


wish I could be as optimistic, but as long as we're in the MAC, can't see us becoming a powerhouse. None of the schools mentioned have FBS football programs to support. As far as Butler is concerned, I think most observers would agree that the Big East is not a mid major conference.

None of this means we can't have a solid program that consistently is in the running for a MAC championship, tho.
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The Optimist
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/9/2019 9:36:16 AM 
I think most people were optimistic about the program's future under Boals heading into this season, but figured we'd basically need a year to be competitive since all of our most recent coaching hires haven't had good seasons in year 1 (except Christian)

While it's too early to know if the win over the Bonnies means anything because we don't know enough about how good they actually are and how much of their outside shooting was an anomaly... BUT to go on the road and pick up a win with the kind of youth we've got on this roster, let alone to do it with a 1st year HC is nothing but a good sign. It felt like the anti-life on the road in the MAC game.

The biggest takeaway I've got from the game is we seemed to have answered three of the biggest question marks on the roster people had coming in...

1. Is Dartis going to be the same player?
Yes

2. Do we have PG to run Boals offense?
Preston's looks like he improved from last year and the entire offense had good, even great ball movement most of the game.

3. Do we have any size down low ready to play?
No one really knew what we were getting in Ogbonda with the limited minutes he played at GT, but what we saw from him was reassuring. At minimum, I'm confident now he and BVP will be able to hold their own against most teams. What we saw from Foster, Springs and McMurray was encouraging for young post guys...


I've seen crazier things happen.

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OUVan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/9/2019 1:54:33 PM 
GroverBall wrote:

So you must consider TK to have been a key cog, and that makes we wonder what's your definition of cog. Sure, he played a lot of minutes.


Add an "L" and I think it fits, clog.
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allen
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  Message Not Read  RE: Optimism
   Posted: 11/9/2019 2:02:12 PM 
Why are we still talking about Saul? We have coach Boals and we need to move on with him. Dartis weighed in on why Saul was let go. Saul will do well at the D2 level, let’s get behind Boals. It will get rocky, three of our top recruits are injured, we didn’t fill all of our scholarships and we have a team of newcomers besides Dartis and BVP who has been injured and Preston. By year three Boals should be rolling, I expect us to compete this year and next year.


Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

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