How many dunks did Ohio give up today 7-8 so far and the game is not over. Only player I see that is playing a little inspired seems to be Big Tone and thats sad. Seems like we are still waiting for Saul Ball and he hasnt shown up.

I missed that one but regardless of talent I just dont see the effort out there from everyone. Maybe we as Ohio Basketball fans became spoiled by the success of prior years. Saul is a great guy and it is hard to give an honest assessment because we all really do like the guy. But lets ask ourselves an honest question are we better off or worse than when Jim Christian left.

Getting a big time recruit or two at this point would not hurt this coaching staff. This next class will be crucial for the future of Ohio Basketball.

Honest question.....really? ON it's surface are we better or worse implying we would be better if we had kept him or are we just plain better or worse?

If he had stayed would we be better right now?

Since he did not should we have hired a more seasoned coach? A bigger name? More money? What exactly do you expect...it's not 2012 and a veteran squad out there.... we had that in 2013 and lost early in the NIT.

What should we expect even we had the next big name? Shaka Smart, JG returning (hah no one liked his in conference performance till 2012 either), Chris Holtmann or anyone else...what would your expectations be....

I saw a faithful BA er's wife just throw up on Facebook that she "officially misses Jim Christian" ....amazing. Missing JC is an emotion I just do not comprehend. Speechless.

So it remains....I have spent months looking at a larger and more volatile, more bipolar Illini fanbase throw out the same arguments tinted with their supposed blue blood status on the heels of months of Butler dissing hiring and loser like Holtmann as an assistant. Every fanbase thinks they are overpaying their coach and he is embarrassing them and their school. Jeepers, let him get his players and system in place.

I've been a believer of this since the beginning of the season and a defender of KK to anyone who'd listen. However, I'm slowly beginning to believe that what we're seeing from KK is what we're going to get from him this season and next. Hope I'm wrong and that the original optimist in me proves accurate.

I thought we really moved the ball and passed the first 10 minutes. Swing from side to side, ball reversal and penetrate . WHen they got away from that and started wasting possessions with quick shots and minimal passes before the shot the game went in the turlet. Once the offensive side broke down the Chips got into the transition game and our D was behind as the floor got unbalanced in a hurry. Lots of run outs and primary attacks down the lane before we got back and set.

No one can make players do things....you can yell, scream, plead and cajole but when their brains check out you are not reeling them back in.

I didn't see the game with my own eyes, so I can't give a real in depth assessment. However as I have said before, team chemistry and psychology are two of the most under appreciated aspects of the game. I thought I knew a lot about x's and o's until I coached high school basketball and realized lots of people know about x's and o's; the real good ones know how to motivate, strong arm-sweet talk, cajole etc players.

There are several questions that need to be answered, not the least of which concerns team chemistry, talent, the psychological make up of the team, and leadership. We certainly have the talent, but what about the leadership? Is Jaaron Simmons a leader? Which Line up works the best? What is Coach Phillips opinion on this matter? Does he know and does he have a set system already in place, or is he flexible?

I am not a fan of coach bashing, especially since we have been blessed with far more good than bad. Coach Danny Nee was in his third year when I came to Athens as a freshman, so I can only judge the history of Bobcat basketball coaches from what I have seen in person. I think we were fortunate to have Coach Nee, Coach Hunter, Coach Groce and Coach Christian. I believe Coach Hahn and Coach O' Shea were not cut out for Division I coaching and I believe that was apparent early on. Most MAC schools would be more than a little envious to have had our talent, both player and coach in the last 35 years.

I go back to leadership, the psychological make up of our team and what Coach Phillips preconceived ideas are (if any) to determine why we end up with results like tonight. This result isn't that uncommon for a team finding it's way. However, any successful team has to know where it is going. The question is who on our current team wants to lead, and what line up combination will get us to where we need to go?

True statement but if that's what's going on then it's even more damning for the coaching staff. Unlike HS ball, they hand picked each and every one of these guys to come play here. If they didn't do their homework and understand the mental toughness/make-up of the guys, whether they are willing to listen/work vs. tune-out/give up, or didn't care then we're REALLY doomed. That's on the coaching staff as much as it is the players IMO.

I'll add that I like Saul the person. Seems like a great guy. He's probably a good coach too but I haven't been impressed by the quality of play to date. He's 0 for 2. How many YEARS do we give him to "get his guys" and "implement his system"? I'm not saying we need to make a move. I'm just saying there's not a lot to instill confidence or be excited about. Part of that is I don't think he has the horses to do it yet, but recruiting is a big part of being successful. To say I've been underwhelmed by his recruiting so far is a huge understatement, and it's not getting better next year with only 1 guy coming in either.

So much for the adage that used to be tossed around here of getting 3-5 years. Some of your are definitely in the right here right now generation.

First glance at the CHips roster had 10 upperclassmen and 2 RS Sophs.

KenPom says we are the 287th most experienced team in the NCAA.

2 years in and a late add in the coaching cycle Saul really did not get much in his first class. Dartis/Block are gonna be fine. Don't know much about Dozier and Gollon is a quantity yet to be determined. I remember guys saying TOmmy and Devaughn were unknowns and unranked and Mo Pearson/Steve Coleman was going to be a stud.

I have always been a fan of JG's swing for the fences and recruitment style but I am willing to see what Saul does with his recruits given that Wisky fans chastised Bo for recruiting a lowly Frank Kaminsky to their program. There are things that are happening that I am not sure of but I have been around hoops long enough to give Groce , Holtmann, Saul and others a chance. While the natives seem to think it is as easy as plugging in a new face and he magically has recruits and a program I know what it takes to build a program and get guys to it. I want for the changes that took place in 08 to continue on....I know it is a process

As I watched this game, particularly in the 2nd half, the camera would focus on several players after missed shots and it was apparent by their facial expression that they were not pleased, frustrated, and disappointed.
I am thinking that we are just not mentally tuff enough as a team. We're soft and the other teams know it. Get a good lead on the Bobcats and know that the game is in hand.





GO BOBCATS

Yesterday was terrible, but it's ridiculous to use it as an indictment of Saul or the program. The residue of three coaching changes is real, and it's not just an excuse. After all the turnover, we're in a position where we have to get a lot of meaningful quality minutes from freshmen and sophomores. Kaminski and Simmons are transitioning from limited roles at their prior schools to limelight roles here. Kids who dominated in high school are still learning the ropes and getting their first college minutes. None of that development is going to happen without ugly bumps in the road. We're not Duke. Our freshman aren't one-and-done superstars. Some of the impatience here is insane.

All that said, I understand (and participate in) some of the complaining. Part of the reason this team can be so frustrating is that there are so many flashes of brilliance. You can see talent and potential everywhere. If you're not excited about Block and Dartis as freshmen, you haven't been watching. Tony's brilliant when he stays out of foul trouble. Simmons is among the national leaders in assists. There are pieces there -- That's why it's maddening to see how poorly they have responded to the slightest whiff of adversity in games this season. Many of the losses this year have been competitive until a single run by the opposition makes the wheels fall off. We all know that runs happen in basketball, but this team doesn't take the punch. The ball stops moving on offense and the feet stop moving on defense. I'm inclined to ascribe it to youth, but it's not fun to watch at all and that excuse only goes so far.

I keep talking psychology, leadership and the right lineup at the right time of the game for a reason. I am sure none of this is a mystery to the team or coaching staff either. The funny thing about winning is that it solves many things. I would rather lose early and win later in the season than vice versa.

I am an optimist by nature. We certainly have the talent to win; once the first sentence of my post is understood by the players and the coaching staff, we could well be on our way to a successful season.