I'm not going to make conclusions on the program overall based on games this season, but I will say I think we are seeing the effects of not going into the season with a full deck.

The AJ Brown injury sucks, but injuries happen to every program in one way or another. They can be season-ending surgery or they can be temporary within the season like with Miles. Just have to weather it and work to build depth at the position.

You want to redshirt a true freshman because they are just not physically ready? Ok, I can accept that. Even in transfer world, doing what's right for the player I think will ultimately solidify your reputation when you go recruiting. Let's limit that to one case a year.

We are currently not using one scholarship. Yes, I know we tried and failed with several portal prospects and we did extend offers to freshmen in the class of 2023, most importantly big men, but once Jaylen Carey signed with JMU two Novembers ago, it sure seemed like we had nothing left. No other prospects, no late bloomers, no JUCOs. zip.

The IJ Ezuma situation is unacceptable. We are not owed an explanation why he's not dressing, but we are staring down two straight seasons of street clothes and so we're told last year was NOT due to injury. That's a problem. He was offered a scholarship in exchange for helping the program win basketball games. We can't be carrying a healthy player (who once started in a rivalry game as a true freshman) for two years and he doesn't even dress.

As someone who followed the portal and recruiting sites religiously during that time, I was astonished we couldn't fill the last scholarship. Even if it was just a one year player.

When it became apparent we weren't landing Foster and/or other P5 bigs, I was hoping we'd dive into JUCO, D2, and the lower levels of D1. Just to have some size. There were so many players available.

Two names (both 1 year of eligibility left) we were linked to that caught my eye then and seem to be enough now, were Justin Wilson (South Carolina State->NW State) and TJ Nesmith (D2->Radford).

Neither are DW3's/low ceiling types, but both would be exactly what we need in our rotation. I've included their stat links below. Wilson's stats are lesser than Nesmith, but he did just have 10pts and 7 reb against McNeese.

If the plan is to have our offensive firepower run through guards, why not go after a combo (i.e. Moneyball) of size that comes close to a DW3 like production? Especially, if all other options are choosing elsewhere.

This to me, has more to do with scouting and knowing what you're looking for instead of more money. Can't imagine either of these guys broke the bank.


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/...
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/...

The transfer portal has replaced it. You need a plug and play player? The thinking has to be there are more proven commodities (athletically and academically) there.

you are right. this team is looking more like the 97-98 team every game they play.

Agree. Something seems terribly off. I can't put my finger on it. Which begs the question. Has Boals lost the team? Three games in a row coming up against directional schools. The next 13 days will be telling.

I don't know, I'll take that team

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ohio/men/199...

Exactly! Granted, not the results anyone wanted or expected. But hell they are in these games, had chances to win most. Just have to get over the hump. You get team, that’s faced adversity and figuring it out.

I'm alone on this one it seems, but the IJ Izuma thing seems like a bit of a scapegoat. Not sure it's fair he's become the punching bag he's become.

We have no big man depth, and IJ is in street clothes. So I get the frustration. But we're not feeling that pain nearly as much if Wiz was serviceable, or Colin Granger and Sam Towns hadn't left, or if Nolan Foster hadn't been a miss.

We've basically hit on one true 5 under Boals (Dwight Wilson) and one 4 in AJC who is now asked to do way too much on D because he's playing up a position in too many rotations.

Sucks that Izuma isn't a useful member of the team. But it's not like he's the only scholarship we've wasted over the years. There's been a lot of swings and misses.

+1

Don’t wanna turn this into another IJ thread, but yeah - it’s remarkable. Even at OU.

There’s no mystery here, it’s a recruiting issue,both from HS and the portal. It’s a roster comprised of 5-6 smallish below average shooting guards with a SF pressed into a PF role which he is physically not built for. The bench playing behind the said out of position PF, is an individual with bad hands, bad feet and at times seems challenged to walk and chew gum at the same time.Not the least bit surprised by the results to date.This may be one of the weakest overall rosters we have seen in a years. Not implying these kids don’t play hard, I think they do. They just don’t have the size and talent to match up with their opponents on most nights. This has all the makings of a lean year and I’ll be surprised if we make the “3 days in Cleveland” this go round.

It's the single most discussed topic, and one with broad consensus. There's an entire thread dedicated to it and multiple posts in every game thread about it.