Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 18 Thread: Eastern Michigan
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Ted Thompson
1/18/2024 3:56 PM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we may have a separate travel thread.

Date: Saturday January 20th, 2024 4:00 PM

Opponent: Eastern Michigan  (8-9, 1-4 MAC)

Site: Convocation Center

TV/Streaming: ESPN+

Radio: Ohio RadioThe Varsity Network App (free)

EMU statisticsroster and media guide

EMU message board:  EME Eagle's Nest

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M.D.W.S.T
1/18/2024 4:27 PM
ESPN Analytics is giving us a whopping 94% chance of victory.

I'm far less confident, but it's definitely one we should win.

EMU is 1-4 of the last 5. 1 win coming vs Kent State in OT. They beat Cleveland State earlier in the season. Acuff is a nice a player, but he's super streaky. Has to get hot.

This should be a nice win. Move to 3-3 in the conference. 9-9 overall. Brick by brick. See yall in Cleveland.
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Bobcat1996
1/19/2024 7:23 AM
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
Last Edited: 1/19/2024 7:26:33 AM by Bobcat1996
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greencat
1/19/2024 10:53 AM
Bobcat1996 wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
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M.D.W.S.T
1/19/2024 2:06 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
Ziggy Reid looks pretty great for YSU also. :(

They really pushed all their chips into the middle of the table on IJ, didn't they?

The leading rebounder in D2 right now is out of JUCO. Averaged 9/9 last season. Is averaging 12/14 this season. 6'9" 215.

There is a sophomore from Fa. Southern average 17 points 12 rebounds. 6'8". 210.

We've seen the talent drop off, and I'm not saying we need to field an entire team of these guys - but I'll say it and say it again - give me a tall skinny kid who is running his ass off in D2 over a 6"8" 260 pound knucklehead who can't get his grades together in two years.

*edit*
Also, JR Max Amadasun - Augusta - 6'10" 250 transfer from St Bonny - Averaging 14/12
Last Edited: 1/19/2024 2:14:23 PM by M.D.W.S.T
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JimLurker34
1/19/2024 3:03 PM
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
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Ohio69
1/19/2024 4:02 PM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
I’m guessing yes. I worry OU will not be able to keep up….
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M.D.W.S.T
1/19/2024 4:12 PM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
Do I think? I doubt it, but who knows. Would be pretty sad, if so.

They had a nice run last season, so that helps potentially, but there really is not a lot of extra cash laying around Youngstown. Could be some companies that are donating sums of cash to an NIL collective, but

Median household income (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022;
Youngstown: $34,295
Athens: $48,750
Columbus: $62,994

I would have to think OU has a more financially established, engaged alumni base, but maybe that's just anecdotal.
Last Edited: 1/19/2024 4:12:51 PM by M.D.W.S.T
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BillyTheCat
1/19/2024 6:13 PM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
Maybe not NIL money, but they have more mob money.
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greencat
1/19/2024 6:34 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
Do I think? I doubt it, but who knows. Would be pretty sad, if so.

They had a nice run last season, so that helps potentially, but there really is not a lot of extra cash laying around Youngstown. Could be some companies that are donating sums of cash to an NIL collective, but

Median household income (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022;
Youngstown: $34,295
Athens: $48,750
Columbus: $62,994

I would have to think OU has a more financially established, engaged alumni base, but maybe that's just anecdotal.
Cbus average income is such because of upscale neighborhoods like Jerome, Powell, Dublin, etc. But the cost of living in those neighborhoods (Jerome in particular) is VERY steep I've heard.
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MonroeClassmate
1/19/2024 6:36 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
but they have more mob money.
Everyone knows Irishman Danny Green brought down the Mob years ago! They made a movie out of it: "To Kill an Irishman".
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Ted Thompson
1/19/2024 10:57 PM

 

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FJC31
1/20/2024 8:10 AM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
Do you think YSU may have more NIL money than Ohio? All these schools in larger cities have an inherent advantage with more corporate money possibilities. That's at least theoretically the case. I wonder how it's actually playing out.
I think this is when knowing who the “who’s who” alumni are across the country is important. It can help more rural schools like Ohio that don’t have the strongest local economy.
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FJC31
1/20/2024 8:14 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
Ziggy Reid looks pretty great for YSU also. :(

They really pushed all their chips into the middle of the table on IJ, didn't they?

The leading rebounder in D2 right now is out of JUCO. Averaged 9/9 last season. Is averaging 12/14 this season. 6'9" 215.

There is a sophomore from Fa. Southern average 17 points 12 rebounds. 6'8". 210.

We've seen the talent drop off, and I'm not saying we need to field an entire team of these guys - but I'll say it and say it again - give me a tall skinny kid who is running his ass off in D2 over a 6"8" 260 pound knucklehead who can't get his grades together in two years.

*edit*
Also, JR Max Amadasun - Augusta - 6'10" 250 transfer from St Bonny - Averaging 14/12
We keep talking about this in multiple threads, so forgive my redundancy. Did they push all the chips in IJ, not have enough $, or is it just lack of scouting and unfamiliarity of the lower levels?

As Bobcat1996 alluded to, D2 players aren’t likely breaking the NIL bank. Great finds, btw. Maybe the staff will see this.
Last Edited: 1/20/2024 8:33:59 AM by FJC31
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
1/20/2024 10:19 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
Ziggy Reid looks pretty great for YSU also. :(

They really pushed all their chips into the middle of the table on IJ, didn't they?

The leading rebounder in D2 right now is out of JUCO. Averaged 9/9 last season. Is averaging 12/14 this season. 6'9" 215.

There is a sophomore from Fa. Southern average 17 points 12 rebounds. 6'8". 210.

We've seen the talent drop off, and I'm not saying we need to field an entire team of these guys - but I'll say it and say it again - give me a tall skinny kid who is running his ass off in D2 over a 6"8" 260 pound knucklehead who can't get his grades together in two years.

*edit*
Also, JR Max Amadasun - Augusta - 6'10" 250 transfer from St Bonny - Averaging 14/12
We keep talking about this in multiple threads, so forgive my redundancy. Did they push all the chips in IJ, not have enough $, or is it just lack of scouting and unfamiliarity of the lower levels?

As Bobcat1996 alluded to, D2 players aren’t likely breaking the NIL bank. Great finds, btw. Maybe the staff will see this.
Yeah, I think the NIL becomes a pretty convenient excuse if we're blaming it for losing guys to YSU.

Obviously it's a black box and we just don't have any visibility, but my guess is that when the curtains are finally drawn back we'll find that below a certain threshold NIL deals are very, very small if they exist at all. There are outliers, probably, Like Miami and the Chipotle dude, but I would be pretty surprised if money is the deciding factor in a recruiting battle between us and Youngstown.

My guess is we went all in on a single big (the Western dude), missed, and the other names we heard were last-minute, desperation plays.

Also think there are just issues identifying talent.
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greencat
1/20/2024 10:27 AM
Was there no effort to get Jason Terry's kid as a preferred walk-on?

The D-2 school he plays at lists him at 6-11/240

https://tnutrojans.com/images/2023/10/6/mbk_caleb_terry_h...
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GraffZ06
1/20/2024 1:12 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Was there no effort to get Jason Terry's kid as a preferred walk-on?

The D-2 school he plays at lists him at 6-11/240

https://tnutrojans.com/images/2023/10/6/mbk_caleb_terry_h...
Gun shy after both Jason and his younger brother Nick.
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person
CatsUp
1/20/2024 2:34 PM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
Was there no effort to get Jason Terry's kid as a preferred walk-on?

The D-2 school he plays at lists him at 6-11/240

https://tnutrojans.com/images/2023/10/6/mbk_caleb_terry_h...
Gun shy after both Jason and his younger brother Nick.
Not sure why we’d be gun shy about Jason. Look at his stats, especially his senior year, and tell me we wouldn’t like to have him now.
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GraffZ06
1/20/2024 3:02 PM
CatsUp wrote:expand_more
Was there no effort to get Jason Terry's kid as a preferred walk-on?

The D-2 school he plays at lists him at 6-11/240

https://tnutrojans.com/images/2023/10/6/mbk_caleb_terry_h...
Gun shy after both Jason and his younger brother Nick.
Not sure why we’d be gun shy about Jason. Look at his stats, especially his senior year, and tell me we wouldn’t like to have him now.
Jason worked his tail off and definitely became a solid contributor (though never dominant). I was referring to the drop-off to Nick.
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FJC31
1/20/2024 3:14 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
Ziggy Reid looks pretty great for YSU also. :(

They really pushed all their chips into the middle of the table on IJ, didn't they?

The leading rebounder in D2 right now is out of JUCO. Averaged 9/9 last season. Is averaging 12/14 this season. 6'9" 215.

There is a sophomore from Fa. Southern average 17 points 12 rebounds. 6'8". 210.

We've seen the talent drop off, and I'm not saying we need to field an entire team of these guys - but I'll say it and say it again - give me a tall skinny kid who is running his ass off in D2 over a 6"8" 260 pound knucklehead who can't get his grades together in two years.

*edit*
Also, JR Max Amadasun - Augusta - 6'10" 250 transfer from St Bonny - Averaging 14/12
We keep talking about this in multiple threads, so forgive my redundancy. Did they push all the chips in IJ, not have enough $, or is it just lack of scouting and unfamiliarity of the lower levels?

As Bobcat1996 alluded to, D2 players aren’t likely breaking the NIL bank. Great finds, btw. Maybe the staff will see this.
Also think there are just issues identifying talent.
This and roster building strategy around a brand of basketball we want to deploy. I was game for Shereef and Ike additions, under the impression we were going to run and play small ball. We saw that once against Troy.

It now just looks like our portal approach is spray and pray to see which P6 transfers will come to Ohio. I’m not picking on Shereef, but did we really need a 6’1 guard who doesn’t facilitate and can’t hit the 3? We didn’t address any weaknesses with him. This is where I rely on the staff to know if this type of addition makes sense or not.
Last Edited: 1/20/2024 3:16:42 PM by FJC31
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person
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
1/20/2024 3:53 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
This and roster building strategy around a brand of basketball we want to deploy. I was game for Shereef and Ike additions, under the impression we were going to run and play small ball. We saw that once against Troy.

It now just looks like our portal approach is spray and pray to see which P6 transfers will come to Ohio. I’m not picking on Shereef, but did we really need a 6’1 guard who doesn’t facilitate and can’t hit the 3? We didn’t address any weaknesses with him. This is where I rely on the staff to know if this type of addition makes sense or not.
Agree completely on all of this. The approach just feels pretty arbitrary and it's hard to see the vision. We've heard the staff and Boals talk about "positionless basketball" -- and I'm all for that style if you have the personnel. But I don't think we've put enough of those guys together.

To play that way, you need length, guys who can switch on D and guard basically any position, and who don't necessarily need the ball in their hands to be effective on offense. You see a few guys on the roster who fit that mold -- EJ4, Clayton, AJB, Hadaway (to an extent) -- and you see how the staff might've seen that in Cornish, too. You also get the appeal of the big 6'5 guard we signed from Columbus for next year, and the big from Kentucky who seems more mobile than most bigs.

But then the rest of the roster is small-ish guards who need the ball in their hands like Shareef, Ajay, Hunter, and Miles Brown. And bigs like Wiz and IJ who don't seem to fit the vision.
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CatsUp
1/20/2024 4:04 PM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
Was there no effort to get Jason Terry's kid as a preferred walk-on?

The D-2 school he plays at lists him at 6-11/240

https://tnutrojans.com/images/2023/10/6/mbk_caleb_terry_h...
Gun shy after both Jason and his younger brother Nick.
Not sure why we’d be gun shy about Jason. Look at his stats, especially his senior year, and tell me we wouldn’t like to have him now.
Jason worked his tail off and definitely became a solid contributor (though never dominant). I was referring to the drop-off to Nick.
OK. Thanks for the clarification.
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GraffZ06
1/20/2024 4:13 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
This game is a home game and the Bobcats will win Saturday. Away at Akron and Kent next week will be a huge challenge. Ohio needs to break the ice on a road victory sometime. Akron and Toledo are by far the top two teams in the conference, but a top four finish is possible with a few wins on the road.
We should have won at APSU. I did notice last night watching them pull out a close one in OT, the Witt kid looks much bigger than his 6-8/230 listed. The guy has to be more like 6-10/250. He had a good game - 18 points. This is the kicker: he turns out to be a transfer from a tiny D-2 HBCU in Missouri that I had never even heard of.

That makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't get one single big guy during last portal season. There is no way APSU has any more N I L money than any other random mid-major. He's not the next Shaq or Wilt but does provide depth and size.
Ziggy Reid looks pretty great for YSU also. :(

They really pushed all their chips into the middle of the table on IJ, didn't they?

The leading rebounder in D2 right now is out of JUCO. Averaged 9/9 last season. Is averaging 12/14 this season. 6'9" 215.

There is a sophomore from Fa. Southern average 17 points 12 rebounds. 6'8". 210.

We've seen the talent drop off, and I'm not saying we need to field an entire team of these guys - but I'll say it and say it again - give me a tall skinny kid who is running his ass off in D2 over a 6"8" 260 pound knucklehead who can't get his grades together in two years.

*edit*
Also, JR Max Amadasun - Augusta - 6'10" 250 transfer from St Bonny - Averaging 14/12
We keep talking about this in multiple threads, so forgive my redundancy. Did they push all the chips in IJ, not have enough $, or is it just lack of scouting and unfamiliarity of the lower levels?

As Bobcat1996 alluded to, D2 players aren’t likely breaking the NIL bank. Great finds, btw. Maybe the staff will see this.
Also think there are just issues identifying talent.
This and roster building strategy around a brand of basketball we want to deploy. I was game for Shereef and Ike additions, under the impression we were going to run and play small ball. We saw that once against Troy.

It now just looks like our portal approach is spray and pray to see which P6 transfers will come to Ohio. I’m not picking on Shereef, but did we really need a 6’1 guard who doesn’t facilitate and can’t hit the 3? We didn’t address any weaknesses with him. This is where I rely on the staff to know if this type of addition makes sense or not.

Reef makes a lot more sense when the plan was for him to be a backup PG to Hunter. As a starter playing next to him, not so much. Too small and too redundant. Sadly between the Miles AJB amd EJ4 injuries and Jaylins falloff we've had to rely on Reef more than anticipated.

I stand by Boals goal was -

Starting 5
PG - Hunter
SG - AJB
SF - EJ4
PF - Clayton
C - Transfer

Backup
PG - Shereef
SG - Miles
SF - Hadaway/Ike
PF - IJ/Ike
C - Wiz
Last Edited: 1/20/2024 4:18:14 PM by GraffZ06
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Casper71
1/20/2024 4:44 PM
Well, this one is a fun one to watch. The offense is just doing what the offense can do on its best day. The defense is shutting down a poor offensive team.
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OU_Country
1/20/2024 4:48 PM
Full section of student section reserved for the football team. Maybe 5 guys stayed. 🙄
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