Sooooo...because they were tied to Portland in the first game of the season at halftime that means we came out slow? It was the first game of the season! I don't think anyone was expecting Ohio to lead 33-6 at half. If you remember correctly, we destroyed them in the second half. That win was a great way to start and I was not disappointed at all.

Here's what makes me nervous about the JC hire.  I think he will be a great MAC coach, his record at Kent State proves that before he even steped into the Convo - but we need/want to be more then just great in the MAC.   JC will win the MAC by playing the same game that the 'big 6' play, but with players that didn't make thoes teams.  For a team like Ohio, you have to play a different, more athletic style of ball, and rely on the 3 to keep you in it (see us last year, FGCU this year).  Since this appears to be Coach Groce's style, I think you'll see him struggle to finish better than 4th year in and year out in the Big 10, but always get hot in March and make a good run in the NCAA every couple years.

So yes, I do believe that we will consistantly be one of the top teams in the MAC for however long JC decideds to stay here, but, I don't believe that we will ever be a threat in March, we're not going to beat them at thier game (see Akron any year they made the NCAA's).

For what it's worth, I'd take a MAC tournament banner and couple wins in the NCAA every 2 - 3 years over consecutive MAC regular season titles, and first round losses in the NCAA when/if we get there.  I think if we're honest, most people will say the same.  Who won the MAC regular season last year?  It doesn't matter - we made the sweet 16.

Like it or not folks, regular season MAC titles mean next to nil for raising our national profile, which I think is what we're looking for when we talk 'next level.'

The next level to me is getting out of the MAC.  We'll never be more then what we are untill we do.  We don't need to dominate here to get out (Kent state basketball would have been gone already if just winning was all you needed to do), we just need to be marketable, and I do think we're almost there on that front.

I still blame our theoretical power forward.  The oppo didn't hardly have to defend that position.  It took itself largely out of the game, out of meaning.  Significantly allowing opposition to concentrate more on our other players.

And that position allowed many key breakdowns on defense.

It just worked out poorly for the team.


Also, I'm plenty ready to argue with anyone who thinks that "cuse, WichState, Michigan and Louisville are not the four top teams.  Those teams played at a really top level today.  They were in the Final Four for a reason:  they are the best.  Really excellent teams.

In fact, they have so many good players that they made the floor seem smaller than in the prior rounds of the tournament.  Just wasn't much room to operate because the defense was so tough.  And what tough battles for rebounds.  Guys really pounding the boards.