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Topic: Official Game 14 Thread: Northern Illinois
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Ted Thompson
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Posted: 1/3/2018 1:16 PM
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Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. 

Date: January 6th, 2018 3:30 PM

Opponent: Northern Illinois  (8-6, 1-0 MAC)

Site: Convocation Center

TV: None

Radio: Ohio Radio or TuneIn Radio

Webcast: ESPN3.com

NIU statistics, roster and media guide.

NIU Fan Site: The Dog Pound

OU_Country
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Posted: 1/3/2018 1:27 PM
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I'm coming down for this one, and looking forward to another day in Athens after a hiatus for a few weeks. I'm hoping the anniversary celebrations at Jackie O's aren't so crazy as to make lunch difficult there.
doubledribble
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Posted: 1/3/2018 2:23 PM
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Was channel serving and watched a bit of DePaul playing someone....saw the big kid who was playing for Northern Ill. last year. Think his name was Meric. I believe he was a Euro guy. Was he a grad transfer over the summer ?? He is getting many more minutes than the recent grad transfer referenced on this site!
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 1/3/2018 2:26 PM
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Screw the cold and screw the CMU performance. Time to visit the roundhouse.
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/3/2018 2:43 PM
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doubledribble wrote:expand_more
Was channel serving and watched a bit of DePaul playing someone....saw the big kid who was playing for Northern Ill. last year. Think his name was Meric. I believe he was a Euro guy. Was he a grad transfer over the summer ?? He is getting many more minutes than the recent grad transfer referenced on this site!
Grad transfer big man Marin Maric, you saw correctly. He wasn't much of a Euro type player from what I remember. More of a post player.
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/3/2018 2:50 PM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
Screw the cold and screw the CMU performance. Time to visit the roundhouse.
Yessir!
doubledribble
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Posted: 1/3/2018 7:51 PM
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GoCats105...I was referring to Meric as a Euro because for some reason I thought he was raised over there, not because he played the style of a lot of European 5's.
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/4/2018 7:43 AM
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doubledribble wrote:expand_more
GoCats105...I was referring to Meric as a Euro because for some reason I thought he was raised over there, not because he played the style of a lot of European 5's.
Got it. Your eyes were not deceiving you.
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/4/2018 8:00 AM
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Should be able to attack these guys. They don't play that well on the defensive end.

269th in Ken Pomeroy's Adjusted Defensive Efficiency
225th in 3pt FG percentage defense
196th in scoring defense

But they are averaging 7.2 steals per game, which isn't bad. Could mean they take a lot of chances and are aggressive defensively, but they get burned. Good ball movement and hitting early deep shots should slow that down. Or hit them with some back door cuts.

Also, they like to foul, averaging about 18 per game. Hopefully we can get guys like Jordy and Gollon on the foul line and put this thing away early. Attack the rim and get contact.
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/4/2018 9:27 AM
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From a glance over of who they've played and beaten or lost to, they're reasonably close to the Cats. I think this program has been getting better, and has at least taken themselves off the doormat of the MAC into the middle of the pack. They've lost at Iowa and at Iowa State. They gave Marquette a good game at Marquette. NIU's best wins - Central Connecticut and Tuesday vs Kent.

Leading scorer Eugene German is among the leaders in the conference in scoring, up there with Massinburg, and Wilder. He had 15 against Ohio a year ago.

They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
bshot44
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Posted: 1/5/2018 8:38 AM
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This game, to me, could go a long way in determining what kind of MAC season Ohio is in for. I penciled this as the only "guaranteed" win in the first 9 league games. If they can't beat NIU at home ... this could go sideways in a hurry. Ohio isn't going to magically get healthier ... the roster is what it is right now. Buckle up, boys... it could get bumpy
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/5/2018 8:54 AM
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bshot44 wrote:expand_more
This game, to me, could go a long way in determining what kind of MAC season Ohio is in for. I penciled this as the only "guaranteed" win in the first 9 league games. If they can't beat NIU at home ... this could go sideways in a hurry. Ohio isn't going to magically get healthier ... the roster is what it is right now. Buckle up, boys... it could get bumpy
Especially given yesterday's news that it's likely both JC and BVP will be redshirting. Hopefully the guys who are playing can keep a focus of what's happening on the court and not looking over their shoulders hoping for someone to come help. Eyes up, fellas.
Last Edited: 1/5/2018 8:54:45 AM by GoCats105
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/5/2018 10:57 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
This game, to me, could go a long way in determining what kind of MAC season Ohio is in for. I penciled this as the only "guaranteed" win in the first 9 league games. If they can't beat NIU at home ... this could go sideways in a hurry. Ohio isn't going to magically get healthier ... the roster is what it is right now. Buckle up, boys... it could get bumpy
Especially given yesterday's news that it's likely both JC and BVP will be redshirting. Hopefully the guys who are playing can keep a focus of what's happening on the court and not looking over their shoulders hoping for someone to come help. Eyes up, fellas.
I'd agree that it should help everyone to know that, the guys in the room dressed for practice/game today are the ones they're rolling with the rest of the year. You almost wonder if the "when we get everyone healthy" mantra didn't become a little mental block, even though it's a legitimate one to talk and think about.
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/5/2018 11:18 AM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
This game, to me, could go a long way in determining what kind of MAC season Ohio is in for. I penciled this as the only "guaranteed" win in the first 9 league games. If they can't beat NIU at home ... this could go sideways in a hurry. Ohio isn't going to magically get healthier ... the roster is what it is right now. Buckle up, boys... it could get bumpy
Especially given yesterday's news that it's likely both JC and BVP will be redshirting. Hopefully the guys who are playing can keep a focus of what's happening on the court and not looking over their shoulders hoping for someone to come help. Eyes up, fellas.
I'd agree that it should help everyone to know that, the guys in the room dressed for practice/game today are the ones they're rolling with the rest of the year. You almost wonder if the "when we get everyone healthy" mantra didn't become a little mental block, even though it's a legitimate one to talk and think about.
That makes me wonder further about Charleston and the first couple of weeks of the season as well. If the guys had the mindset of "OK, we know we're getting some help by the time December/January rolls around, so we gotta fight like hell these first few weeks."

And then once they found out that JC and BVP would be laid up for longer, the air let out of the balloon. I could easily see that happening. Pretty demoralizing to the psyche, but you have to fight through it.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/5/2018 11:49 AM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
It appears that this has become your go to line. If you look at the stats yes, only four guys have played every game. But, three guys have missed but one and two guys but two. Not quite as dire as you make it out to be. At the end of the day, whoever is on the floor still needs to close out, block out, and make crisp passes.
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Posted: 1/5/2018 12:04 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
It appears that this has become your go to line. If you look at the stats yes, only four guys have played every game. But, three guys have missed but one and two guys but two. Not quite as dire as you make it out to be. At the end of the day, whoever is on the floor still needs to close out, block out, and make crisp passes.
Talent is god-given ... you can sharpen skills thru coaching/practice ... but even if you lack talent/skill you can at least bring energy. I'd say that over the last four years energy has been something that has been lacking from this program. I've watched more games in the last few years where the fire and intensity just isn't there like it has been in the previous years. There's just something not there with this program right now ... and despite all the injuries, this team has to find a way to "bring it" every game. "It" has become too sporadic with this program where just don't know if they're going to show up with it each night.
Last Edited: 1/5/2018 1:12:46 PM by bshot44
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/5/2018 12:25 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
It appears that this has become your go to line. If you look at the stats yes, only four guys have played every game. But, three guys have missed but one and two guys but two. Not quite as dire as you make it out to be. At the end of the day, whoever is on the floor still needs to close out, block out, and make crisp passes.
Maybe it has. But I'm pretty sure if you look at most teams, their core group hasn't missed more than 3-5 games combined.

For example, the two other teams I follow are my Dad's Alma Mater, UC, and my sister's UD. UC has lost two games in total to their core group of ten guys who play 10min/g or more. That guy is their PG, Cane Broom. It was VERY noticeable last night when they scraped by Temple he wasn't playing.

Dayton has a nine man rotation of guys playing 10min/g or more. They've lost 5 games to a banged up Xerius Williams, and two to Trey Landers, both major minutes players in their top 7 guys. So a total of 7 games, plus a couple games when each guy barely played when they were injured during the game.

By comparison, Ohio has had Laster miss 1, Dartis miss 1, plus both missed most of the game they got hurt in. Butler missed one with illness. Carter has missed 10, plus most of one of the three games he was able to play in. BVP, who I would have assumed would have been in the regular rotation hasn't played one minute - 13 games. Gareri, who would seem likely to play more than 10min/g, has missed 12 games out of 13. And lastly, Kevin Mickle has missed two games, and essentially a third when he left early vs Indiana State.

Tally all that up, and you have 40 full games missed by Ohio's core group of 10 players, plus three games almost completely missed. 40-43 games as compared to 2 to 7ish games. Tally that up in game minutes played, and consider that.

So yeah, maybe it's become my go to line, but it also is factual reality.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/5/2018 1:55 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
It appears that this has become your go to line. If you look at the stats yes, only four guys have played every game. But, three guys have missed but one and two guys but two. Not quite as dire as you make it out to be. At the end of the day, whoever is on the floor still needs to close out, block out, and make crisp passes.
Maybe it has. But I'm pretty sure if you look at most teams, their core group hasn't missed more than 3-5 games combined.

For example, the two other teams I follow are my Dad's Alma Mater, UC, and my sister's UD. UC has lost two games in total to their core group of ten guys who play 10min/g or more. That guy is their PG, Cane Broom. It was VERY noticeable last night when they scraped by Temple he wasn't playing.

Dayton has a nine man rotation of guys playing 10min/g or more. They've lost 5 games to a banged up Xerius Williams, and two to Trey Landers, both major minutes players in their top 7 guys. So a total of 7 games, plus a couple games when each guy barely played when they were injured during the game.

By comparison, Ohio has had Laster miss 1, Dartis miss 1, plus both missed most of the game they got hurt in. Butler missed one with illness. Carter has missed 10, plus most of one of the three games he was able to play in. BVP, who I would have assumed would have been in the regular rotation hasn't played one minute - 13 games. Gareri, who would seem likely to play more than 10min/g, has missed 12 games out of 13. And lastly, Kevin Mickle has missed two games, and essentially a third when he left early vs Indiana State.

Tally all that up, and you have 40 full games missed by Ohio's core group of 10 players, plus three games almost completely missed. 40-43 games as compared to 2 to 7ish games. Tally that up in game minutes played, and consider that.

So yeah, maybe it's become my go to line, but it also is factual reality.
I think you're stretching it with the two freshmen big men. None of Saul's teams to date have run more than a nine man rotation. If Carter is healthy, our nine are the two point guards, Block, Dartis, Gollon, Laster, Carter, Mickle and Taylor.
Last Edited: 1/5/2018 9:13:29 PM by Alan Swank
BobcatSports
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Posted: 1/5/2018 8:13 PM
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We open as 6.5 pt. favorites.
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Posted: 1/5/2018 8:29 PM
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Ted, is this game definitely on ESPN3? I thought I read somewhere that home games will not be on ESPN3 when students are on break and winter semester doesn't begin until mid-January.
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Posted: 1/5/2018 9:48 PM
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bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Ted, is this game definitely on ESPN3? I thought I read somewhere that home games will not be on ESPN3 when students are on break and winter semester doesn't begin until mid-January.
Russ mentioned during the coaches show this week that he and Ryan Boyd will give the call for this game on ESPN3,
Last Edited: 1/5/2018 9:50:36 PM by A-townBound
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 1/6/2018 12:27 AM
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A-townBound wrote:expand_more
Ted, is this game definitely on ESPN3? I thought I read somewhere that home games will not be on ESPN3 when students are on break and winter semester doesn't begin until mid-January.
Russ mentioned during the coaches show this week that he and Ryan Boyd will give the call for this game on ESPN3,
That is correct. Marty Bannister will have the radio call.
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/6/2018 12:32 AM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
They also have 9 guys in a regular rotation averaging 10min/g. Only two of those guys hasn't played in every single game, with one of them being the last one on the bench that plays often. Ohio, by comparison, has just four players who have played in every game.
It appears that this has become your go to line. If you look at the stats yes, only four guys have played every game. But, three guys have missed but one and two guys but two. Not quite as dire as you make it out to be. At the end of the day, whoever is on the floor still needs to close out, block out, and make crisp passes.
Maybe it has. But I'm pretty sure if you look at most teams, their core group hasn't missed more than 3-5 games combined.

For example, the two other teams I follow are my Dad's Alma Mater, UC, and my sister's UD. UC has lost two games in total to their core group of ten guys who play 10min/g or more. That guy is their PG, Cane Broom. It was VERY noticeable last night when they scraped by Temple he wasn't playing.

Dayton has a nine man rotation of guys playing 10min/g or more. They've lost 5 games to a banged up Xerius Williams, and two to Trey Landers, both major minutes players in their top 7 guys. So a total of 7 games, plus a couple games when each guy barely played when they were injured during the game.

By comparison, Ohio has had Laster miss 1, Dartis miss 1, plus both missed most of the game they got hurt in. Butler missed one with illness. Carter has missed 10, plus most of one of the three games he was able to play in. BVP, who I would have assumed would have been in the regular rotation hasn't played one minute - 13 games. Gareri, who would seem likely to play more than 10min/g, has missed 12 games out of 13. And lastly, Kevin Mickle has missed two games, and essentially a third when he left early vs Indiana State.

Tally all that up, and you have 40 full games missed by Ohio's core group of 10 players, plus three games almost completely missed. 40-43 games as compared to 2 to 7ish games. Tally that up in game minutes played, and consider that.

So yeah, maybe it's become my go to line, but it also is factual reality.
I think you're stretching it with the two freshmen big men. None of Saul's teams to date have run more than a nine man rotation. If Carter is healthy, our nine are the two point guards, Block, Dartis, Gollon, Laster, Carter, Mickle and Taylor.
For the sake of argument, I'm stretching it. So that's 25 games between the two missed. So divide by two on those two players, and you're still looking at 28-30 games missed out of the intended rotation guys. Still a large number, no?
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/6/2018 8:42 AM
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[/QUOTE]For the sake of argument, I'm stretching it. So that's 25 games between the two missed. So divide by two on those two players, and you're still looking at 28-30 games missed out of the intended rotation guys. Still a large number, no?

[/QUOTE]What I'm saying is that if you go back and look at the stats for the last three years, we've only had an 8/9 man rotation. Assuming Carter is healthy, if that trend continued this year neither of the two new big guys would have gotten much time and my bet is that one would have been redshirted. No doubt Carter was a significant loss but injuries are only part of our problem.
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Posted: 1/6/2018 11:04 AM
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This season has been a real downer. It's been a while since I've been so unmotivated (instead of 10/10 call it 6/10) on a Saturday Game Day. Maybe going back to the Larry Hunter Season with single digit wins?

I'm probably most concerned about the disappearance of the students. Even if they were here, it doesn't appear they would show in any force.

The injuries don't help. I don't want call out any of the young men but I will say I expected a couple of the recent recruits to bring a skill set I have yet to see. I don't see it as part of their future potential either.

I'll be watching but won't hesitate to watch Golf Channel reruns if things end up like CMU. Very seldom have I stopped watching games but there have been a few this year. Sucks. I really look forward to Bobcat Hoops providing Winter excitement capped off with my annual journey to Cleveland for the games and to hang with my boys.
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