Akron got absolutely destroyed by USC. Big 'ol collapse by Kron. All 4 wheels fell off. Lost by 31. Yikes. And they were winning by 4 at half. I even felt bad for about 45 seconds. Ok, maybe 4.5 seconds ;-)

The most jarring thing still to me is that Groce is coaching for Akron. That right there will tell you this whole coaching thing is basically a mercenary effort. JG haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaated Akron. More than Miami. Probably more than UM when he was with the Buckeyes. It wasn't really even a secret. That he took that job still makes me laugh.

That said if we don't start getting healthier, I feel we're going to struggle in the MAC. Even in a down year.

Do you mean the same Notre Dame team that just lost at home to Ball State? Yeah, no "big" wins. No chance anybody in the poor ol' MAC could compete with them, except.... The league is wide open this year and is going to be just as exciting as it always is. Ohio is going to have a ton of exciting games in the next three months. Shame you don't have the capacity to appreciate it. This is going to be a fun team to watch grow and mature.

Ball State and UB qualify as two teams this year, that could do that. I can say that with little hesitation.

After that, I'm not sure. I still think Ohio can be very good with most of the parts together and healthy. I also think Toledo, WMU, NIU, and Kent are at least decent.

That’s a friend game, former Dustin assistant and former Bobcat TJ May is at Concord.

Seeing how Gareri hasn’t given us 8 seconds of court time yet, I’m not at all optimistic about what help he would offer in the MAC portion of the schedule. Could he be a red-shirt possibility as well?

No one gave the 2010 squad a shot against Georgetown.

Few gave the 2011 squad a shot against USF, Michigan or UNC.

All I know for sure is nobody actually knows what's going to happen on any given night. We've got some guys capable of going off any given night. If Gareri can give us 10 quality minutes in the post we are good enough to contend in the MAC.

If we are good enough to contend in the MAC, we are good enough to punch a ticket to the big dance. Crazier things have happened.

Best team in league.....not even close. Like their chances to advance in NCAA tourney if they can survive Cleveland.

Yep...I really think it's a sleeper Sweet 16 team. They played a quality non-con to get them ready and they are loaded with athletes. Would be a very dangerous 12-13 seed.

Something I've noticed so far, besides UB being the class of the league, is that the rest of the league after UB and I think Ball State, is really bunched together. All are rather equally inconsistent so far, and we've seen a lot of blow out wins. Kent, WMU and CMU have been on both the sides of blow out games in their first three games.

While Ohio hasn't shown me enough in the last 5-6 games to make me think it can happen, the league is so wacky right now that getting that top-4 seed isn't out of the question just because of the league.

For whoever usually does them, I'd be interested to see the Golf Standings right now. My hunch is that it's pretty even after UB.

So far this is playing out as I thought.

Losses at CMU and at home vs. Ball St. Thought NIU was a definite win ... and it was.

Does anyone at all feel confident in the next five?!?!

at Kent
Toledo
at EMU
at Akron
Buffalo

I know Kent is struggling ... but do you feel great about Ohio taking their game on the road ... anywhere at this point? Ohio rarely plays well in Ypsi .... and Groce will certainly have his Zippers ready for Ohio. Buffalo at home will take a near miracle at this point. And Toledo has looked more than decent so far ... might be only game I give Ohio a strong chance, and only because it's at home.

I agree with OU Country ... after Buffalo ... the MAC is kind of up for grabs.

Unfortunately, from what I've seen from OUr guys ... I don't know if they have what it takes to "grab" one of those other three byes. I would be less than stunned that Ohio opens MAC tourney on the road at this rate.

They'll be competitive in just about every game ... but outside of the WKU and Indiana State wins ... what games has Ohio shown the ability to put a team away or just take over a game (DO NOT MENTION SWAC/MEACtion). It's going to be a struggle every night. Just hope some bounce Ohio's way.

Gulp.

2-8 .... and counting.