Yes, I should include the redshirted freshmen because so many have come in and been world-beaters right away in the SP era.

You can defend the trajectory of this program all you want, but you're in a shrinking minority.

If they're that hurt then don't play them. Oh, wait. The bench is so full of below-MAC players that a gimpy starter is clearly better.

The excuses are exhausting at this point.

For the record, I was "yawning" the comments from those on the ledge, not the loss or anything with the team. And my comment about you jumping off the bandwagon and coming back when we are good again was in reference to comments made about people not attending this year and not planning to anytime soon, as though the team has not earned their support.

The resumes of Groce & Phillips career to this point are remarkably similar, as others have pointed out, and Groce never had to deal with the catastrophic developments that Phillips has (R Taylor transfer, Campbell injury, Simmons transfer, Carter injury). Those things don't happen and this program is looking A LOT different at the moment. Yes, Saul could be to blame for some aspect of the transfers, and some of you geniuses even want to pin the injuries on him...but sometimes things just happen. Conversely, if we don't squeak out an OT win in the 1st round of the 2010 MAC Tourney or survive any of the 3 close MAC tourney games in 2012, and Groce is a scuffling mediocre-at-best coach in the spring of 2012.

In some ways, the 2012 March run was the end of this once great fan base. We used to be able to discuss Xs & Os and take in a day's game for what it is, a basketball game meant to entertain us. Now all we do is fall down this trap of bitching and moaning about the direction of the program and all the other crap you people bring up.

I have conducted extensive statistical research and concluded that on average, teams lose 50% of the time. Yes, I'd like to be higher than that, but also understand that sometimes due to an extensive set of circumstances, we have a rough patch that makes us dip below that. It's OK...and with the right mindset, it can even be fun to watch a team work thru that and start clicking. I seem to recall that happening in 2012. I was there for it, many of you were too...but honestly the majority of our "fan base" was not there to see it turn around...just showed up after the fact. And I assure you their enjoyment of our brief national success was nowhere near the enjoyment I experienced.

Criticism is OK, but the tone of some of you is just ridiculous.

Ryan Taylor was a world-beater from day one. Oh yeah, then he transferred because of the BS he had to put up with in the locker room, thanks to "liddle" Stevie Taylor and company. (Channeling Cheeto.) Doesn't the coach bear some of the responsibility for that poisonous situation?

I think our staff should be doing everything possible to re-evaluate how we approach training players in a way that they can avoid injuries. There are fluke injuries and there are injuries that could've been prevented.

Thing is, I really have no clue which class are injuries fall under, and I also have no clue what our staff is or is not doing with regards to injuries and conditioning.

Do you actually know our staff's approach in these areas? Can you suggest what our approach should be instead?

Boy....if that isn't one of the most true things I have seen on here in a while.

+1, and then some.

Perhaps you should come up with a better argument. If you want to talk in relative terms (and I don't know for sure) I'd bet our v-ball coaches are paid higher on a national scale than our basketball coaches. make whatever comment you want about who deserves it. Yes, it's on a different scale than working class Joe. Get over it.

Tough loss. Akron was beatable. Ivey put the dagger in the second half pushing Akron to a win. I’m not sure why he was not the target to foul him out of the game. He was playing with 4 fouls. Nice production from Block. Taylor also very active in the paint, but was overlooked earlier in the game as mismatches apparent and we didn’t pass inside. Instead we settled for missed 3’s. Work the ball inside to open the 3 game. Laster sat way too long and seemed to have checked out of the game. Need more ball movement everyone needs touches. Anyone know what happen to Gareri? I saw him in a boot. Injuries will come. It’s next man up.

Gareri twisted his ankle in practice I think? Something like that is what Russ mentioned.

I am as critical of the progress as anyone here (No Excuses is a mantra we live by here ) but I am sorely missing talking about the game.

And I also enjoy talking dollars and sense. $550K didn't make any and still doesn't.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170410/BLOGS06/1...

I agree we have went from a participation/green pep rally board to a division one college sports board.