Any word on why?

Reminds me a bit of Brandon Hunter days. He was triple teamed and, sometimes, quadruple teamed. (Some teams had an assistant coach shouting out positions so our guards' defenders knew what direction to run to go after Brandon). As mentioned the difference is that we just don't get the ball to Mo for him to shoot or be fouled. Back then our guards just didn't shoot so the defensive play was to multi-team Brandon and foul if necessary. He shot around 200 more foul shots, all time, than the nearest Ohio player. Bottom line is that it IS hard to watch at times. But I will keep watching and rooting.

I didn't see anyone say they were ready to jump ship. Right now we're not good. Those are the facts of the case and they are indisputable. It will be a bumpy ride this season. Hope to see steady improvement.

Only partially true C, Gross had two classes to recruit at OHIO after his Cooper pick and a third that would have found out he was leaving--no All-MAC type PG's in the bunch. It can be argued that we are seeing the fruits of JG leaving the cupboard bare--weak senior class.(not including Bean--JC's bring)

JG played his Coop to perfection and cashed in his chips at the most opportune time. No single Bobcat has ever meant more to his coach!

I don't think having two point guards that can't defend or can't pass is a great fit for what any coach wants to do. It is going to be a long season, but I am a believer that we are much better off long term with Saul than JC.

I'm not sure this is the case. Is it possible he's "home" as a result of the Evansville game being so close to home?

Even if he is in Hawaii it still doesn't explain why he's seen no action. Yesterday Sam Frayer and Drew Crabtree saw the court but no Thomas.

I guess the way I look at it is JC knew he had Cooper for one year only, brought in a player in Bean who is really a SG in a PG's body, and didn't have a PG lined up in his 2014 class before he bolted. So JC was willing to roll the dice with 2 senior PGs, neither of whom are all-conference candidates, and nothing in the cupboard after this season. You could MAAAAAAAYBE argue he thought Rio Adams could fill that void, but, yeah.....

The only way his strategy makes sense is if the frontcourt players he had lined up would have been dominant enough to mask our PG deficiencies, and I don't think that's the case.

(That's an interesting hypothetical though....would the team under JC with those recruits look any better than this team does so far this season? I don't really think so. Losing Nick hurt more than I anticipated.)

But I get your point that JG didn't do a whole lot beyond Coop other than Stevie (who, for the record, I love...I can't hate anybody who shows as much love for OUr Fair University as he does...).

Coulda woulda shoulda...but we gotta play with what we got. Barring a major meltdown, Saul's got a 1.5-2 year honeymoon to get it put together.

The problem is who facilitates this? Who does the offense flow through to get these guys the shots where they are most comfortable. Unless you have a great penatrator, which we don't, you need at least two guys who can move the ball on the perimeter quickly and effectively. We have one (and a half) and the guys on either side of him typically are where the assist goes to die.

While I agree with much of this I think unfamiliarity with a scheme can make it look like there is a lack of effort. All it takes is a momentary hesitation on offense and/or defense for everything to blow up.

JMHO but I think Stevie would have been a much different player under JG and Walker as mentors for the time he was here. Unfortunately, he has been in 3 systems and no specific person who he could look to in growing into the PG spot. Watching him as a young HS player to present he has relied on his skill and talent but not got much direction.

DA. You are correct in identifying those traits that make up desire and effort. basic skills in basketball that have to do with being ready every time you walk inside those lines are related to

Effort
Conviction in Making Passes
Blocking Out
Getting Back to Play D

Those go with a player's BB desire and nature and really go far in seeing how much a player has pride in or cares about the game. I would add meeting a pass and showing desire to make a play to expand the idea of conviction in making AND meeting passes (the old addage the last 3 feet of a pass is on the receiver) assuming I understood your intent in making the statement. If you are alluding to the conviction of teamies always looking for the extra pass, best shot or executing the game plan then this goes down below.

Running an Offensive Scheme
Getting Back to Play D

are things that are related to the system and the players getting familiar and learning the intricacies. There are motivated players that will suck up knowledge and know every play in the scheme based on their BBIQ and willingness to pick it up but that also depends on the rest of the team being bought in and picking it up. Also helps if a team and individual are cerebral and/or motivated by self or team goals. Andrew is right that any gaffe, selfishness or misstep and the wheels come off in hurry.

Hope I read your intent and got some thoughts out there.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400750235

GW beats #11 Wichita State and wins the Diamond Head Classic.