I post this every year but there are a lot of people that claim to be college basketball fans but can't stand the ride.  There have been several disappointing moments this year but we are having one of our best years ever and it's not over yet.  

And I'm sorry but if you are embarrassed by the performances of 18-22 year olds you really, really need to check your priorities (unless it's something that reflects poorly on the University - see Ladrell Whitehead).   The only thing embarrassing about this team is some of our fans (posters).   The amount of work that Ivo Baltic (or Kenneth van Kempen, or Jason Terry, or whatever other scapegoat certain fans like to blame) has had to put in to reach the level he has is something almost none of us can fathom.   Ask borna the amount of work that Tommy had to put in every day.   This bravado brought on by anonimity is the biggest problem with the internet. It makes people say things they wouldn't have the guts to say to anyone's face.  Sure the losses to Akron, including the most recent one, were frustrating but some of you really need to get a sense of perspective.   The funny thing is that we've had some really big wins in the recent past but always seemed to drop about four or five games we had no business losing.  This year we didn't win a single big game but we've only got one bad loss on the schedule which is why we are about to have our best conference record in decades.  If you can't enjoy this year, even with its disappointments, then maybe you should pick another avenue of entertainment.

Beautifully stated.

The JC haters kill me. 

We have 12 wins in MAC play, something we've never before accomplished, EVER.*
We are 6-1 on the road in MAC play, something else we've never done.  Opportunity remains to push it to 7-1.

We're about to go 14-2 or 13-3 in MAC play.  I do believe we're about to enjoy many seasons of consistent MAC success.  I'll take the .300/20 HR/100 RBI guy every single day of the week over the .220/45/75 guy. (Yes - I hate Adam Dunn)

Enjoy the ride.  It has been, and should continue to be, a damn good time.


*16 game schedule - we have gone 14-4 twice playing an 18 game schedule

"Taking the next step" is not going to be accomplished simply by getting an large bid with a senior heavy rotation. Taking the next step requires an institutional and financial commitment.

Schools that have taken that next step have done so over several years, and did so by allocating the money to ensure that the coaches that helped build there success had no incentive to leave. Mark Few, Shaka Smart, and Brad Stevens have all been offered multiple big time jobs, and the reason that they haven't left is that there's no incentive to. While their budgets may not be quite up to par with the biggest basketball schools, they're close enough that the grass wasn't substantially greener. For our program, taking the next step would have meant paying Groce to stay, and making a conscious decision to fund the basketball program in a manner that's consistent with the schools we're trying to join at the next level. We can't afford to do that and fund a football program. That's just the way it is. 

And the fact is, fighting for a top 25 spot is much, much harder as a mid-major. If you're a major conference team, you're allowed to lose on the road in conference. Virginia can lose to BC, and Duke can lose at Virginia, and Michigan can even lose at Penn State. But God forbid Akron loses on the road at Buffalo or we lose on the road to Belmont--even though no major conference team is willing to go on the road and play at Buffalo or Belmont because they know what a difficult win that is. We're at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to seeking an at large bid, because the selection committee falsely views about half of our schedule as games we're not allowed to lose. Those games are few and far between when you're a major conference team. We can complain all day long about bad losses, but 99% of the programs in the country have bad losses every year. It's part of being a team of 18-22 year old kids. It's part of college basketball, and it always has been. 

What he said^

We just upped our commitment to the next level. Results don't come over night.   It's going to take a while.

+1 or to look like we belong on the same court as Memphis or Belmont

You sir, are my hero!

Last I checked, the coach was not 18-22. Any sub optimal performance he should take responsibility for, and he does not. He blames his team, missing open shots etc. With the talent we have on this team, we should have an rpi no worse than the 40s.The Vegas line against Belmont was -6', these guys (Vegas) are pretty good.  So te final score there shows a team that had the capability to do better, but did not show up. 

So it appears we have a coach who talks openly about each game and how the players performed.  You think that means he is blaming the players.  I think that means he is answering questions without coach spin.  Some folks will love that.  Others will think he's laying blame elsewhere.  I don't mind him talking about how the players performed.  And, Christian does not have any sort of reputation of being a coach who tries to blame others and etc.  None.

Your declaration that we should have an RPI in the 40s is just your opinion.  It is not a fact.  And, I disagree completely.  My opinion is that your opinion is completely wrong. 

As for the talent on the team, my opinion is that your opinion is completely wrong.  We have one great player in DJ Cooper.  We have two streaky guards in Offut and Kellog.  We have an undersized front court that gets in big trouble when facing an opponent with height and talent inside.  And the seniors on this team have lost the following number of MAC games in their 4 years:  9, 7, 5 and now 2.  Not a sign of dominant talent - until this year.

John Groce had an amazing talent for getting his teams to play their best in March.  We'll see how Jim Christian does this year, and over the next 5-10 years.  (He's gonna be here a long time, get used to it.)

Even the better mid-major programs do not make it the NCAA every year and surely do not make the sweet 16 every year.

Last year was awesome.  It should not be used as a club to beat up a good team having a good season this year.

And, just to repeat, your opinions are wrong. 

I feel like I'm responsible.  It was halfway down the page when I decided to reply to it only to state how much I hated it.

Sounds like the wolves after the Eastern game last year.  Folks calling for Groce's head ("shoulda hired a coach with head coaching experience"), team not showing up to play (Groce having stripped Ivo of his confidence), upset at being a constant 4, 5, 6 seed and disappointed in Pope John blaming the players.

http://www.bobcatattack.com/messageboard/topic.asp?FromPa...

Hey, I'm not here today 100% happy with where this team is (nor are the players and coach - I would guess).  But folks need to get over Groce being the greatest thing since sliced bread.  He/we had warts as well.  He dumped us after a really, really good date - we need to remember it was not all Prom night.

Good post, Shame.

And you expect the next level to come in the first year under a new coach?   I posted this in an earlier thread but it has been over 70 years since the last time an Ohio coach had a better record in his first year than the previous coach did in his last, many of whom were fired.  Danny Nee didn't do it. John Groce didn't do it. Jim Snyder didn't do it. 

Let's at least compare apples to apples. Did those coaches inherit sweet sixteen teams, one free throw from an elite 8 appearance, returning the entire team? Let's call last year an A. For a mid-major like Ohio, getting to the Sweet 16, and damn near the elite 8, and finishing the year in the Top 25 is an A in my book. Let's assume for the sake of argument that this team makes the tournament, but does not make the Sweet 16. Would it fair to characterize this year at less than an A? B or B+ perhaps? If they don't make the tournament, a B-?

Now, how would you grade Knee, Groce, and Snyder their first year based on the team's performance the year before they arrived? That should be your comparison. You teach a kid who averages an A, and they now average a B or B+ is not success in my book, despite the fact they may have been a C student ten years ago. You could always claim that the B or B+ is pretty good compared to the C from ten years ago.

I've not read any complaints about the losses to Memphis, Oklahoma, or Belmont. I have read compaints about the lopsided nature of those losses, and that O.U. did not look like they belonged on the same floor as those teams. Paint it as you would like, this team was not so outplayed in a game last year. But, let's at least properly, and fairly, characterize some of the critism of JC.