Watching these two today you had to be impressed with UCLA's excellent anticipation on defense and confidence on offense. We lack both at the moment. I wonder if someone like Saul plays videos of these elite teams for his group to highlight what he is looking for?

You both left out something UCLA has that Ohio isn't likely to have soon: Multiple 5* athletes on the roster at the same time. In other words, future NBA talent. We have maybe one. Maybe. That's a big difference maker on defense.

Butler had three NBA caliber players on that team. Two of them are currently still in the NBA.

Bingo - you beat me to it. Butler during that back to back Final Four stretch was REALLY good.

I hear the points about defense, I do, because it's necessary for OUr team to be solid on that end to get to where they want to go. That said, when comparing teams, we have to acknowledge the fact that UCLA is recruiting many guys that will be future NBA players. Ohio is not, like the vast majority of schools in the country.

Butler also had a genius as a coach. I like Saul a lot, but I'll take Brad Stevens as a coach every day of the week and Sundays too.

Can we believe that our team can win tough games? Do we have to make excuses? How about believing this team will win the MAC? How about believing we can win any game on our schedule? Let's go Cats

Defense is more than just effort. It's good court awareness, anticipation, quickness, lateral movement. Some players never become good on D because of the court awareness issue.

Sometimes certain players can't succeed in a motion offense for the same reasons.

I think we are recruiting the right players to play in our system. Look at the Freshmen, Sophomores and recruits. I know the prevailing opinion of this board was that we were going to be great this year, and we might be, but I think we are still two years away from seeing what this program is going to truly be capable of.

I don't think we should throw parades for coaches that don't win. I have not called for any changes. I am just saying we can't keep going to the CBI and calling ourselves successful. I have not called for Saul or FS to go. I have said we need a new offensive coordinator. I believe our basketball team is close to being good, they need to dig in and you probably need to reread my comments. I don't spread fake news, everything that I say comes with a source.

All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy. Scott Alexander

Mediocrity scares me. It's the fear of not being as good as you want to be. If you give over to that fear, it will sabotage you. As much as I can, I try to use that fear to guide me. Chris Pine

There's a lot of mediocrity being celebrated, and a lot of wonderful stuff being ignored or discouraged. Sean Penn

ok lol