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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Mark Sears
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Casper71
3/31/2024 1:10 PM
This thread could be titled “The Death of Amateurism. Used to be Universities were a place for athletes to get free tuition, room and board (at the higher levels) complete their degree and go on with life. Now the best players expect a boatload of money. Soon they will be employees. I am just not sure how this is amateur athletics.
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Bobcat Jerry
3/31/2024 1:16 PM
Ohio is a "minor league" feeder school for the big's right? So Ohio is a "one (or two) and done" like Kentucky.
Last Edited: 3/31/2024 1:17:32 PM by Bobcat Jerry
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Jeff McKinney
3/31/2024 3:03 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
3/31/2024 4:30 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
Agreed. Good basketball players playing basketball at Ohio is a good thing for the program, whether they play for 2 years or 4.

We only got 2 years of Jaylin Hunter, too. And we're all happy that we got two years out of him. Pragmatically sometimes guys aren't going to give us all of their eligibility, and we should be happy to get good years out of good players.
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Alan Swank
3/31/2024 5:48 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
And the fiscal conservatives among the general population might very well say "not on my tax dime.
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Alan Swank
3/31/2024 5:50 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
Agreed. Good basketball players playing basketball at Ohio is a good thing for the program, whether they play for 2 years or 4.

We only got 2 years of Jaylin Hunter, too. And we're all happy that we got two years out of him. Pragmatically sometimes guys aren't going to give us all of their eligibility, and we should be happy to get good years out of good players.
There is a huge psychological and emotion difference between a player who spends his first two years here then bolts and one who finishes his last two years here. It's the proverbial question of "what if?"
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
3/31/2024 6:18 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
Agreed. Good basketball players playing basketball at Ohio is a good thing for the program, whether they play for 2 years or 4.

We only got 2 years of Jaylin Hunter, too. And we're all happy that we got two years out of him. Pragmatically sometimes guys aren't going to give us all of their eligibility, and we should be happy to get good years out of good players.
There is a huge psychological and emotion difference between a player who spends his first two years here then bolts and one who finishes his last two years here. It's the proverbial question of "what if?"
Yeah, I get that. But emotions aren't gonna help us compete in this new environment.
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MonroeClassmate
3/31/2024 6:36 PM
Congrats to the Bobcat/Tide and his mom.

Jeff Boals and other mid majors who found these diamonds when the big boys were busy doing something less should be the beneficiaries.

Boals, "Give me a budget and NIL and I'll recruit and train players who will take your university to the final four--I've already done it and with only one of mine on the team--just think if I had the dough to bring in all five of my wants."

YOU'RE HIRED!
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HeHateMiami
4/1/2024 10:33 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Everyone on this thread talking about rooting for/against Sears and here I am just rooting against Nate Oats with all my might.
Can you give me a snapshot of why we are supposed to hate Nate Oats?
Hate is a strong word. I was mostly poking at him because of the storied Buffalo/Ohio basketball rivalry. Although I also didn't respect the way he handled the Brandon Miller controversy last year.
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shabamon
4/1/2024 10:51 AM
If what has been said about his misleading the coaching staff is true, Mark Sears is dead to me. Would not like to see him at the 2021 championship anniversary. I don't fault him for making a move that's best for him. By every metric in this culture it was the right move and it is paying off. But when dishonesty and betrayal are part of the story that gets him there, all goodwill is gone.
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SBH
4/1/2024 10:59 AM
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
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Bobcat1998
4/1/2024 11:19 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
I will personally send his mother and Mark a case of Jackie O's (yes, a case) if he gets drafted into the NBA. He is an outstanding college guard. But the difference between him and Jalen Brunson is years apart. I don't fault the guy for leaving. It has paid off. For every Peyton Sparks and Tanner Holden there is a Sears success story. If the story of him leaving is true, then I want nothing to do with him. I don't root against him either way. I will, though, root against Nate Oats. I felt like he coddled the Brandon Miller situation and I just don't enjoy his personality or the way he gets so much credit as a coach but all he does is steal seasoned players from smaller schools and puts them together. That takes an ability to manage personalities etc which I respect, but I will use my energy to root for guys like Matt Painter and Kerry Keatts.
Last Edited: 4/1/2024 11:20:43 AM by Bobcat1998
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Alan Swank
4/1/2024 12:00 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
So he changed his mind or OU got old sold. It happens all the time in many sales transactions and it's the reality of the modern world of NIL and the portal. How many times have all of us told a sales man we're all in and will get back with them tomorrow only to never show up again.
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HeHateMiami
4/1/2024 12:31 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
So he changed his mind or OU got old sold. It happens all the time in many sales transactions and it's the reality of the modern world of NIL and the portal. How many times have all of us told a sales man we're all in and will get back with them tomorrow only to never show up again.
Eh, I think this is a bad analogy. If Boals was on the recruiting trail, he'd be a salesman. In this case he'd built a relationship with Sears over a season.

It's more like if you'd been working somewhere for a year and found a better job but instead of telling your manager and putting in your 2 weeks you called in one day and said you wouldn't be back. I just don't have much respect for that approach.
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OUs LONG Driver
4/1/2024 12:36 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
So he changed his mind or OU got old sold. It happens all the time in many sales transactions and it's the reality of the modern world of NIL and the portal. How many times have all of us told a sales man we're all in and will get back with them tomorrow only to never show up again.
Buyers are liars until proven otherwise. In this case didn't take long to prove otherwise. This does happen from time to time in my field, doesn't make it any less disrespectful though. If I find out you've been purposely deceptive the next time you need me, you'll pay for that.

Just to get another old adage in...a man is only as good as his word. Oh yea one more...Honesty is the best policy.
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M.D.W.S.T
4/1/2024 12:38 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
So does Boals incorporate this into his recruiting pitches?

“Come to Ohio and after two years we’ll send you to a power 6 school where you can lead them to the Final Four.”
Actually, yes. I absolutely would recruit that way.
Man, yall gotta get hip. I've been saying this since the moment he left.
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SBH
4/1/2024 12:41 PM
HeHateMiami wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
So he changed his mind or OU got old sold. It happens all the time in many sales transactions and it's the reality of the modern world of NIL and the portal. How many times have all of us told a sales man we're all in and will get back with them tomorrow only to never show up again.
Eh, I think this is a bad analogy. If Boals was on the recruiting trail, he'd be a salesman. In this case he'd built a relationship with Sears over a season.

It's more like if you'd been working somewhere for a year and found a better job but instead of telling your manager and putting in your 2 weeks you called in one day and said you wouldn't be back. I just don't have much respect for that approach.
Not even a call in this case.
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Andrew Ruck
4/1/2024 1:06 PM
HeHateMiami wrote:expand_more
The full story on Sears is that the university paid to bring his mom to Athens for a post-season planning meeting during which Boals and staff presented a full marketing plan to help make him a first-round draft choice. Mom and son assured the coach they were all in and Mark would finish his four years at Ohio.

Early next morning Boals is sitting at his desk when he receives a call from Chubb Hall advising him that Sears and mom had just completed the paperwork to transfer.

He never heard from either again.
So he changed his mind or OU got old sold. It happens all the time in many sales transactions and it's the reality of the modern world of NIL and the portal. How many times have all of us told a sales man we're all in and will get back with them tomorrow only to never show up again.
Eh, I think this is a bad analogy. If Boals was on the recruiting trail, he'd be a salesman. In this case he'd built a relationship with Sears over a season.

It's more like if you'd been working somewhere for a year and found a better job but instead of telling your manager and putting in your 2 weeks you called in one day and said you wouldn't be back. I just don't have much respect for that approach.
Comparing the coach who gave him his D1 chance and grew him into the player that he is...to a car salesman you met that day...might literally be the worst analogy in BobcatAttack history.

We had a co-worker leaving for another job and he said he was going to put his stuff in his car. He just left without saying bye after working with us for years. That one act alone makes him a complete and total dirtbag.

Also for the record, I would NEVER tell a salesman I am all in and it's a done deal and then not show up. That's a dick move even to a stranger. Now saying you are going to weigh your options and then not returning to close it, totally understandable.
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M.D.W.S.T
4/1/2024 1:15 PM
No matter the move, dickish or not. You have to play your angles. Play your hand.

JP = NBA.
Sears = SEC POY (?)... NBA (?)...
Jaylin = All MAC.

'Come play PG for me. At worst, I'll get you all-conference. At best, you'll be in the NBA. Stick with me, do the work and maybe you could be in the Final 4. Let me help get wherever you think you should be.'

I have no issues being the stepping stone, if we can use it to our benefit. And we absolutely should use it to our benefit. If I were Boals I would be courtside at the Final 4 shouting out Sears. Nobody knows the story, and fewer outside of this website care. All they know is what they see on TV. Craft your own story. Play your hand.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/1/2024 1:49 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
No matter the move, dickish or not. You have to play your angles. Play your hand.

JP = NBA.
Sears = SEC POY (?)... NBA (?)...
Jaylin = All MAC.

'Come play PG for me. At worst, I'll get you all-conference. At best, you'll be in the NBA. Stick with me, do the work and maybe you could be in the Final 4. Let me help get wherever you think you should be.'

I have no issues being the stepping stone, if we can use it to our benefit. And we absolutely should use it to our benefit. If I were Boals I would be courtside at the Final 4 shouting out Sears. Nobody knows the story, and fewer outside of this website care. All they know is what they see on TV. Craft your own story. Play your hand.
Yes, exactly. There's literally nothing gained from holding a 19 year old kid to some standard of decorum and expecting them to navigate their transfer with grace. Even if you're pissed privately, publicly the message has to be once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat.

I mean, hell -- Boals puts Ohio State guys he recruited on OU recruiting materials. Mark Sears should be on there, too.
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shabamon
4/1/2024 2:04 PM
Let's pretend for a second that Mark Sears is drafted. Does he make it a point that Ohio gets credit for his success? Is he "Mark Sears from the University of Alabama and Ohio University" or just "...from the University of Alabama".

Greater case for this with his teammate who came from NDSU. That guy could have been a jersey in the rafters in Fargo. He blossomed and improved every year there then goes to Alabama on a one-year rental and will get drafted. He could have been drafted out of NDSU, but probably improved his stock at Alabama. Is NDSU going to get any credit?
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/1/2024 2:10 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Let's pretend for a second that Mark Sears is drafted. Does he make it a point that Ohio gets credit for his success? Is he "Mark Sears from the University of Alabama and Ohio University" or just "...from the University of Alabama".

Greater case for this with his teammate who came from NDSU. That guy could have been a jersey in the rafters in Fargo. He blossomed and improved every year there then goes to Alabama on a one-year rental and will get drafted. He could have been drafted out of NDSU, but probably improved his stock at Alabama. Is NDSU going to get any credit?
You make it seem like getting credit is a completely passive thing. If NDSU wants credit, they should figure out how to get credit. "Credit" in this context is basically just PR and Marketing. Hang his jersey in the rafters, make sure he's a valued alumnus, and keep him close to the program. Do that, and you increase the chances he makes you part of the narrative in his development and career.
Last Edited: 4/1/2024 2:15:44 PM by Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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M.D.W.S.T
4/1/2024 2:25 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Let's pretend for a second that Mark Sears is drafted. Does he make it a point that Ohio gets credit for his success? Is he "Mark Sears from the University of Alabama and Ohio University" or just "...from the University of Alabama".

Greater case for this with his teammate who came from NDSU. That guy could have been a jersey in the rafters in Fargo. He blossomed and improved every year there then goes to Alabama on a one-year rental and will get drafted. He could have been drafted out of NDSU, but probably improved his stock at Alabama. Is NDSU going to get any credit?
You make it seem like getting credit is a completely passive thing. If NDSU wants credit, they should figure out how to get credit. "Credit" in this context is basically just PR and Marketing. Hang his jersey in the rafters, make sure he's a valued alumnus, and you keep him close. Do that, and you increase the chances he makes you part of the narrative in his development.
Yep.

You don't need to petition in the NBA for credit. He doesn't ever have to acknowledge OU again. But I want OHIO UNIVERSITY to acknowledge his time and use it to our advantage in any way that we can.

An Instagram post that says Once a bobcat, always a bobcat good luck in the Final 4 / good luck in the championship, NBA, BIG3, Bosnia, whatever it may be goes a long way.

Interject ourselves into the conversation.

OU has absolutely nothing to gain from acting like a scorned ex-wife. We CAN and should craft the narrative.
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shabamon
4/1/2024 2:29 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Let's pretend for a second that Mark Sears is drafted. Does he make it a point that Ohio gets credit for his success? Is he "Mark Sears from the University of Alabama and Ohio University" or just "...from the University of Alabama".

Greater case for this with his teammate who came from NDSU. That guy could have been a jersey in the rafters in Fargo. He blossomed and improved every year there then goes to Alabama on a one-year rental and will get drafted. He could have been drafted out of NDSU, but probably improved his stock at Alabama. Is NDSU going to get any credit?
You make it seem like getting credit is a completely passive thing. If NDSU wants credit, they should figure out how to get credit. "Credit" in this context is basically just PR and Marketing. Hang his jersey in the rafters, make sure he's a valued alumnus, and keep him close to the program. Do that, and you increase the chances he makes you part of the narrative in his development and career.
They get credit by helping him improve every year, thereby making him ready to be a starter on a Final Four team out of the SEC. I don't know what the split was like between Grant Nelson and NDSU, but assuming it was with NDSU's blessing, the decent thing would be to credit where he came from.

Throwing around that we were where Mark Sears became SEC-level good in recruiting circles looks a little silly to me if Mark Sears never mentions our name again.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/1/2024 2:35 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
They get credit by helping him improve every year, thereby making him ready to be a starter on a Final Four team out of the SEC. I don't know what the split was like between Grant Nelson and NDSU, but assuming it was with NDSU's blessing, the decent thing would be to credit where he came from. [/QUOTE]Yes, and the way to get a player to give you that credit is to ask him to give you that credit. And the most likely way to get what you want in this scenario is to maintain a good relationship with the player that left. If your strategy for getting credit is to hope that it's a priority for Grant Nelson to organically help NDSU's recruiting, it's not a good strategy. He's gonna be focused on, you know, making it in the NBA. How they introduce him in pre-game warmups (which only happens if he starts -- which he won't for years) isn't gonna be top of mind for him.

[QUOTE=shabamon]
Throwing around that we were where Mark Sears became SEC-level good in recruiting circles looks a little silly to me if Mark Sears never mentions our name again.
I think it looks way, way less silly than recruiting materials with Ohio State players on them. You think D'Angelo Russel is talking about OU at all?
Last Edited: 4/1/2024 2:38:20 PM by Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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