I'm generally a positive guy, but I am scratching my head at everyone acting baffled that Bobcat fans are upset and/or freaking out.  Putting aside the obligatory "It's just a game, life will go on..." rhetoric, this has been a rough week.  And it is OK to admit that, and OK to be sad.  Let's review:

• Our coach left after just 2 years.  Most everyone seemed to think this coach would not jump ship, at least not until a high level of success was achieved and a very lucrative offer was put in front of him.  His very explicit comments alluding to this when he was hired aside, just the very nature of his career path (success at Kent, leave for big conference, come crawling back to MAC (and your wife's alma mater)) strongly suggested this would be the case.  This departure should shock us, and that is nothing to speak of JC's character for taking the job.  Add to it that we were coming off a very underwhelming 11-7 MAC season, and the fact that there was even interest in him makes the entire thing completely shocking.  And it sucks to have to do this AGAIN already.
• Almost immediately, we hear our best player by far and only returning player to average more than 7 points per game or 22 minutes per game...is transferring.  By all accounts, he is an absolute sweetheart, that loves to be a Bobcat.  And he is a Junior, as in 1 year left of eligibility.  When Groce left, anybody that claimed Cooper/Offutt/etc might transfer were laughed at...Because what Junior transfers?  Nobody.  And certainly not sweetie pie Maurice.  But he is, and it sucks.
• Our most highly rated recruit in a very long time immediately wanted released from his LOI and will never be a Bobcat.  We have known Tariq as a Bobcat to be for almost a year now and been very excited about him.  I don't know if he will amount to much, but I do know every time I see Caris LaVert dominate, I cry a little bit.  And now I get the opportunity to do that again with Owens, and it sucks.  It sucks so bad.
• We have 3 other recruits, all of whom are welcomed additions to the team and could be great in their own right...that now have a free pass to get out of their commitment, and we are stuck waiting on their decision.  When this happens, the likely result is the players who have progressed and would get interest from "better" programs leave, while the players who have underwhelmed and aren't very sought after at this point stay.  And guess what?  That sucks.
• Our redshirt freshman D.J. Wingfield, who many including me, thought could end up being a really productive player in the MAC, was told his basketball career is over.  Man does that suck.
• We now have 4 (FOUR!) open scholarships for next fall, and it could go as high as 7 depending on what the other 3 recruits decide.  Do you know what kind of talent is available at this stage in the game?  Not much.  It will be extremely challenging for the new coach to fill these spots with quality recruits.  Suck.

Life goes on.  Schaus will find a good coach, and we will succeed.  Still have lots of love and support for our current players.  But man, this has been rough.

I don't recall even once there being multiple rumors about something big and it not being true, at least at the core of it.  If he is a Bobcat next fall, you and I can celebrate with a steak dinner, my treat.

How many of you guys believe these coaches words when they roll into town? I find it entertaining that some think he lied to them. He told you what you wanted to hear, plain and simple.

Yep

Gwyneth Paltrow would call this "conscious uncoaching".

No - they are no better than all of us.  Who, as a poster above pointed out, say what an employer wants to hear in an interview.  And when offered double/triple pay and a job in Boston (or some other awesome city) would walk.  You know you would Bikeman.....  And I would too....

This is definitely frustrating for us fans however.  But, we are a mid major and can't pay our coaches enough.  If the next guy wins 50 games in 2 years or 75 in 3 years, he will get offered bigger jobs for double/triple salary and he will likely take one.

Ndour transferring is just sad.  I'm sad for him.  He thought he made the right choice.  Me too.  Come here and play right away.  Smart.  But, now he may be headed on a strange odyssey.  Maybe the one college hoops year he wants will get handed to him.  Maybe he'll end up at USC - Aiken plaing in front of a few dozen people.  Who knows?  Too bad.  I liked having him here.  Hope he stays.  Probably need to hire someone quickly for that to happen though.

Best post that really sums up the current situation well. If more players head out and the one's signed don't stick to the signature...Jim Christian's legacy will be setting OHIO basketball back 3-4 years. This is not the time of year to be signing 4-7 new players. Thanks Jimbo and I have a feeling we'll see ya back in the MAC in 3-4 years. 

Man, this thread is depressing.

Well said, with good points.