Having wrestled with our needs for next season and how to get them, weighing in coach Phillips' assumed desire to bring in four-year players who can be groomed as the best option, while also willing to bring in a quality transfer with at least two seasons remaining, I think you have to consider scrapping that plan for this recruiting period. Not that we want to, but because we may have to. I do believe that Buffalo leads the charge of several teams that might force coach Phillips' hand. This conference suddenly has accumulated a bevy of bouncy, athletic players who can take you off the dribble and create havoc at the rim. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing the likes of Spencer Parker and Blake Hamilton wheeling and dealing. We have to combat these type of players--Xavier Pollard, Willie Conner, etc.

It's just my opinion, but I think we need to do all we can to combat this right away as this is the last rodeo for upcoming senior starters Tony Campbell and Kenny Kaminsky. We've got the dominant big guy in the middle, the dominant lead guard and some pretty good three-point shooters. And we've got a handful of youngsters who we believe will develop into pretty good players--in time. But The Stones aren't singing about Tony and Kenny, as time is not on their side. Next season is it. Hence, I don't usually look to go this way, but finding an extra scholarship someway, somehow and then bringing in two quality Juco players may be the way to go. We need a small forward who can shoot/slash and defend, a big guard who can shoot/slash and defend and a backup point guard. Maybe we can get all three in two players: a lengthy wing who can play small forward and big guard, and a combo guard. Coach Phillips says he can sell Ohio. Those two positions are open on a pretty stacked team, with Treg Setty graduating and minutes available behind Jaaron Simmons and Jordan Dartis. You want to dream Bobcat nation? What type of team would we have next season if the staff could bring in two guys within the proficiency zip code as Hamilton and Conner? They're out there. They don't have to produce like those two Jucos did this season; just be in that vicinity. And this would take the pressure off of our younger players to fill roles that they may not be ready for on a consistent basis. I don't know what coach Phillips' plan is. This is just the rambling of one Bobcat's thoughts.

funny.....asking for clarity?

Will do, Monroe. Thanks for the suggestion. As you probably can tell, I'm relatively new at doing this. I type on a computer, not a hand held device. Interested to hear your take on my suggestion for this recruiting period. Also, thanks, Jeff McK, for the kind words posted a few days ago.

I'm not sure we will be voted 1st in the MAC preseason poll, but I would be stunned if we don't get first place votes.

Every year, there is a report of which college basketball teams lose the most minutes played from the prior year. Assuming we don't have any unexpected departures, we're going to return more from this years team as far as minutes played than Akron and Buffalo do. 4 starters and MAC POY returning after 2nd place finish in regular season? Yeah, we're going to get some recognition.

We do bring back more than Buffalo and Akron from a minutes standpoint but I do agree that both will be good again next year. Buffalo is dancing, but lets not forget we did beat them twice this year. They aren't unbeatable by any stretch of the imagination. Not for this team. Akron beat us both times we saw them. They lose a little more than Buffalo or us but they've consistently reloaded under Dambrot.

I'm excited about Carter. He doesn't have the flash that some other recruits we've brought in have, but he appears to fill a very big need. Defense and rebounding. If we start TC, KK, Block, Dartis and Simmons, that is a lineup that can score. Oh baby what a big-time offense. We're going to need guys who can step in at crucial moments in the game and provide lock-down defense. Carter might be that guy. I agree with OCF on the quickness. We don't have much of it and that was a big reason Buffalo beat us. But again, when this group is on... We are really on.

We're going to average an absurd amount of PPG next year. I'm hoping that this offseason also brings together a focus on team defense.

Here's the two part question: What is the committee really looking for from a mid-major perspective? And, when will they next decide to change it to suit Jim Boeheim or another big dollar conference? Seems like this year they were talking about "Top 50/100 wins", where as in the past they've talked about SOS, and scheduling strong in non-conf. It would just be nice if there was more of a set criteria for everyone to understand, year in and year out.

I hope you're right on the undercurrent brewing. Just make the criteria more transparent, and make everyone play by the same rules to be considered as an at-large. If you know the rules up front, you can't complain when your team isn't chosen because they don't fit the criteria.

Yeah, very interested to see the improvement next year from the fellas who are already on the team. Can't come back the same..must add skills!