Ruck says if we get past Marietta, which is certainly not a given, we could have a big season.

It will be a 20 win season.

Next year gets more difficult schedule wise.

Some of the non-conference games are against teams which are picked either at or near the top of their respective leagues for this year...e.g., Lamar, Arkansas State, Morgan State, Marshall. 

So even though some of these are not against "name" opponents, they could be pretty good and not hurt our RPI. 

What do they put in the water in New Albany?

I'm rooting as hard as the next guy for Reggie Keely and Ethan Jacobs and Kenny Belton, but that is not a frontline that would have SEC and PAC-10 assistant coaches scrambling to make adjustments.

They had better, right? Because if we go through these next two years without making some sort of impact, I think we need to start asking some tough questions about the program and the people in charge of it.

When Trevor Halter posterizes someone on a fast break, you just may change your mind. 

We've got a good team with possibly the best backcourt in the MAC. That's all well and good, but I think this year will be the MAC's best since 2005. There are a lot of teams with at least two or three "players" - guys that can blow up for 25 on any given night. Kent should be the clear favorite as they return everyone but Sherman. It's difficult to pick who will be the next best because I think Ohio, Miami, Akron, Buffalo, WMU, and Ball State each have a lot going for them.

As for the non-conference season, it would be very disappointing if we lose any of those home games. We can't let Robert Morris beat us three years in a row. We should be able to go into the Nutter Center and paste Wright State, but the rest of those...it may take a mammoth effort to win.

I'm hopeful for 22 wins in the regular season.

After another day thinking about it - I am confident in 22 wins - maybe more.......

DJ - of course will be solid. The "it" player - Baltic - I think he will be 2nd team all MAC. Kellog will make a strong case for that team too - though I see him more as developing role/team player than just go to shooter.

TJ will have some breakout games. Ricardo will be more disciplined and contribute significant minutes off the bench. Keely will play with more determination.

Offut - biggest wild card. Solid at worst - could put us over the top. Smith - have to admit I don't really have much of an opinion yet - but I think he has Washington like possibilities.

Belton - obviously potential - YTBD if ready and able. Stevie Taylor - nuthin' but plus - w/the occasional Frosh mistakes.

Plus more/deep bench beyond all that (including stronger Jacobs).

We will be QUICK/FAST. We can keep up the pressure on defense for 40 minutes with deep bench. WE CAN GIVE UP 15 FOULS playing "Don't Flinch" D under the basket (Keely/Belton/Jacobs) - I think this is key - "Don't Flinch" around the basket on D!

I think our top opponents in the MAC will be overconfident vs us (as is the pre season press) - I like being in that scenario............

Right - pretty standard posit per the game of basketball.

Anything to contribute that relates to the nature of the thread - as in a number?

Prefer to post with meaning? Will that be post #1700? Or #1800? Or . . .?

The small market is hurting Ohio in basketball like its doing in football. The programs to emulate in D1 hoops like Gonzaga, Butler, VCU all play in decent sized cities. Those MVC teams that tend to stay strong have access to Big Ten/Big XII level guys in the under recruited upper plains when schools in those leagues run out of scholarships. Ohio should be trying to get a good defensive X's and O's coach in the program like Temple has and try to win with a system. Instead the Cats try to get that young hotshot recruiter like O'shea or Groce that land a couple of talented players but never fully have a grip on the program. 

Further brilliance.