I happened to run into Coach Boldon the other day, wished him good luck and told him that although I was optimistic after his 1st year, I didn’t expect such a fast turnaround. And he said he didn’t either. The turnaround was quite amazing.

The program had been 6-23 before Boldon came, and he came late in the recruiting season yet he landed some of the keys to last year’s phenomenal run. Picked to come in 11th, they went 27-5!, won the regular season title , then won the MAC tourney title, the 1st time since the Caroline Mast days.

This year should be a very exciting and interesting year, coming off last year’s success. A different type of challenge. They have a strong nucleus returning yet it will be a different team. They have two players returning from a missed season who have already shown they can play at this level. In addition there are 5 freshmen. A big task for the coaches with 8 new players, finding the combos and managing playing time.

This past summer, without much practice, they were in Canada visiting some great American cities and playing competitive basketball daily for a week. Nice, early way to get to know your teammates. It must have been learning by doing for the players, and a 1st opportunity for the coaches to see their recruits play together.

From checking the box scores of those games, I learned all 15 players played, each getting 10-20+ minutes per game. It was a different starting lineup for each game, mixing and matching as it were. One day they played a doubleheader with two teams of seven. This had to be as much of a learning experience for the staff as it was for the players.

Saturday they open with an exhibition against Wilmington at 11:30 prior to the men’s game at 2.

Go OHIO

Anyone know who's doing the radio coverage this year? (Obviously their tourney run was on Power) Also broadcaster wise, I know there have been two different kids the last two years, so any info on that?

I think I'll follow the women a lot more this year, especially when they're on the road!

Stub just set a BA record for most edits of one post. A record formerly held by OCF (multiple times).

It was clear from the outset that Wilmington was overmatched as Ohio opened with a 16-0 run in the first 6 minutes of the quarter, on route to a 97-41 drubbing. Thirteen players got significant playing time with no one playing more than 20 minutes. Defense looked pretty sharp for this early stage.

Athens frosh Dominique Doseck had 10 points including 2 3’s in a 6 second span. Walk-on Olivia Barker has 13 points in 15 minutes.

Cats open next Sunday again the Illini.

Go OHIO!

I must have missed something until Saturday (unless it was only an exhibition thing)...four ten minute periods? Is this a new game format for women's hoops?

Just wondering but how does adding another stoppage "enhance the flow of the game"?