[/QUOTE]Look, this season has stunk. There's not going to be anyone here that will be able to tell you they are happy with this season to this point.

[/QUOTE]Yes and no. The season is going south fast, yes.

As far as "no happy people" - 3 or 4 days ago there were people doing back flips and somersaults over a narrow win over EMU. Some sounded like they were ready to anoint Saul "coach for life" and confirm it with a hearty "Dilly Dilly" to boot.

I live in an area with five D-1 mid-major basketball schools. However some of the players who will be counted on season after next are more like what the local NAIA schools have on their roster...

http://www.tnutrojans.com/roster/0/6.php

http://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/?...

http://www.sewaneetigers.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/roster

What the Bobcat team picture will look like in a couple of years of continued "Saul Ball" style recruiting...
http://cdnak1.psbin.com/img/mw=600/cr=n/d=2eobh/u7vhlz59s...

I think you can totally question Saul and be irritated by the product on the court and still be a Bobcat supporter. Why is there this distinction that it has to be one of the other?

I am very disappointed with where the basketball program is in 2017-18 ... but I still very much support it. I love Saul ... he's a great guy. But you have to have blinders on to not question, even just a little, whether or not he's that great of a coach?

And yes ... you'd have to be a complete buffoon to ignore that injuries/departures have totally derailed any chance at real success the last two seasons. It's been cruel the hand Saul has been dealt losing AC last year and JC this year and then of course having Simmons transfer last minute.

But on the flip side ... as it was mentioned here ... Ohio's end of game/half execution has been less than ideal in recent years. 6-13 in games decided by 5 points of less the last two years.

The last two Kent games were bad ... Akron ... the Iona games the last two years ...WKU last year ...

They've had games where they've blown big leads in a matter of minutes like WKU this year ... Toledo last year.

They've had games where they've been blown out of the building .... seven 23+ point losses in 4 years ... 5 of those in the MAC

They've had games where they struggle to beat far, far lesser competition .... some of those SWAC/MEAC specials ... Urbana ... NW Ohio

At some point, some of these wild inconsistencies have to be traced back to the coach, right?

I am not trying to run the guy out of town ... but I'm also pretty sure that Ohio can't sit on their hands and pay a coach one of the highest salaries in the league for MAC Semifinal appearances.

I think we can all agree that this year is lost.

But if Saul's wants an extension it's almost certain he has to show significant improvement. Another 20-12 CBI season might not be enough to warrant a 3-5 year extension at his price tag.

So a fan of any sports team who is positive and optimistic that recruits or rookies are going to be great is not allowed to be disappointed when they are not coached well, not put into positions to win and do not give effort?

So a fan of any sports team cannot say that they are disappointed in how stagnant a program that went to 2 NCAAs in 4 years hasn't gone to one in 5 (going on 6) years?

Don't question my love of Ohio University and its sports teams. I spent four years there. I go to several football and basketball games a year and root for NO other team than them. I invest 100 percent of my loyalty to OU. In giving my soul and my spirit to this program I am allowed to scream and high five and even cry at the great moments and I am allowed to be angry at the bad moments. It is what makes a fan a fan. What's funny is many people have made fun of me for my extreme optimism yet when I am critical I get this junk? Nobody on here is "wrong." Opinions are opinions for a reason. There is no "holier than thou" attitude. Like someone wrote to the person who said the Jaaron thread should be shut down: Read my posts or don't read my posts...I don't care. Just don't tell me how to be a fan.

None of that's going to matter if we can't get people in the right spots. I mentioned in the chat during the Toledo game that Toledo often got their first offensive option to work and had a high percentage look within 20 seconds of the shot clock. We, on the other hand, looked like we had to overexert ourselves to get a halfway decent look. If that doesn't change, no one's going to have a chance to get hot.

I'm not sure how I feel about Saul's recruiting, but I am dismayed with how stubborn he is with in-game adjustments, especially on defense. Why do we never play zone? Buffalo has scored 80+ in each of their conference games. They have ath-a-letes. They shoot about 36% from three. Not bad, but not setting the world on fire. Being a man-only defensive team is fine, but you have to have the horses to keep it up for 40 minutes. Hell, when we were forced into a seven man rotation, it made sense to go zone so the guys a) don't get tired and b) stay out of foul trouble. Tonight would be a good time to go zone, but I guarantee it won't happen.

Bingo! I feel the same way ... when it comes to hoops or football.

There are some folks on this board who just can't imagine how a fan would criticize or be disappointed in things.

I've said it a million times ... no one that spends time on this board doesn't care about Ohio baskeball/football. They wouldn't waste their time. Every person on here ... whether they are green kool-aid drinkers ... Bobcat bashers .... or somewhere in the middle ... bottom line is, they all would like to see Ohio succeed. Some have wilder expectations than others.

But when you get irritated that the program has obviously fallen on less-than-ideal times ... you get asked to leave the restaurant.

I am a paying customer ... I can eat here if I'd like, even if I might not LOVE the food.

A great majority of us spend a ton of time/money in supporting these programs. And just because some of us are less-than-enamored by the Saul Philips Era thus far doesn't mean we don't root like hell and hope the Bobcats win each night.

It sucks that it's been almost 6 years since we've been to the tournament .... especially when we have to sit around and watch Buffalo and Akron do it almost every other year.

And if that makes me a spoiled little brat to expect Ohio to challenge for the NCAA tournament ... so be it. I think it's uncalled for ... but whatever.

One MAC title appearance since 2012 blows. It's been five, going on six, long years since we've competed for a chance to play in the dance.

Yes ... we were spoiled maybe a bit getting there 3 out of 4 years. But, damn it! I liked that !

I don't like the drought we're in the middle of ..... it's reminiscent of the 10yr drought between Trent and Leon.

Akron and/or Buffalo have been in the title game 11 of the last 13 years.

Kent went on an 9/13 run from '99 to 2011

Miami had a 7/10 run from '92 to 2001

Last 15 years ... MAC Championship appearances

Akron 9
Kent 6
Buffalo 4
Ohio 4
WMU 2
CMU 2
Toledo 2
Miami 1

Akron, Kent, Buffalo and Ohio have well over 50% of the title game appearances in that time period. That's the elite in this league. You have to go back to 2000 to find a year where one of those four weren't in the title game.

Would you say Ohio has been operating as an elite MAC program the last four years?

If that makes me a bad fan ... who cares. But I don't think Ohio is carrying itself as an elite MAC program recently.