We’ll agree to disagree. Eight games in plus the eye test imo is enough data to begin making some adjustments. Starting with the most obvious — AJB being inserted into the starting lineup for Baker.

I don’t think anyone will dispute that his length, athleticism, and overall ability doesn’t create a more optimal lineup.

No team can say the future is bright for a freshman class in the transfer portal era. For all we know half our roster is already considering other options. Point being — I don’t think playing trial and error the entire season with hopes and dreams it comes together in March is the way to go.

Yes, I remember seasons when MAC teams pulled big upsets in December and it was the favorite topic of conversation in the halls of OU-HCOM. It created quite a buzz. Not much of that kind of excitement this year, but it does look like Kent came close in several instances. They appear to be the class of the MAC this year.

No doubt we all want to get to the point where non conference games matter. We can. This year isn't one of them. Sadly most years they don't matter. To be in the at-large conversation you need to be ranked top 50, realistically top 40.

Where the MAC is currently ranked and how Ohio was perceived/ranked coming into the season it would probably take a record of something like 26-4 or 27-3 (in that range) combined with multiple tier 1 and 2 non con wins.

My opinion is Boals and everyone else knew that type of season was HIGHLY unlikely. Our non con schedule gave us 2 for sure top tier games with Michigan and Florida and up to 3/4 pending how some of the mids perform (Belmont, Marshall).

The fact that we've already lost 4 games and didn't win either Belmont or Michigan means our at large chances are gone. Which means it's Cleveland or bust. Again.

We say it almost every year not because we want it to be that way or that we can't at some point get back to that level but because it just hasn't materialized to be so in about 30 years.

It is what it is. Want November games to matter? Have a roster capable of 30 wins with a schedule of 4 or 5 or more P5 games. Win all the non P5 games and knock off a couple Ps and they will.

This team is nowhere near that level so accept it and use this time to get guys minutes, comfortable, rotations, healthy etc.

I'm a card-carrying member of the AJB fan club. The more playing time he gets the better, in my book. But, in this case only JB's book counts. We'll see what happens going forward. [Editorial Note: That last sentence of mine is nearly as stupid as the statement, "It is what it is." These are both tautological, in that one doesn't not have to resort to sense data to prove that they are true. They are true by definition in the same way that "all green cars are green."]

Ha-ha!

Building on that, We are 100% one of the most storied mid major programs in the country. But, we have to get every resume building win we can get. We turned heads against Michigan and I feel we have an excellent chance again against Florida.

But the reality is, nobody a year or more from now, will remember anything about this game without looking it up. And please, tell me how a December 11th 81-79 non-conference win (or loss) over Youngstown St is swaying/influencing ANY recruit. I just don't see it. That's not (normally/usually) what goes into their decision making process.

I've believed for several years that expanded video coverage of college basketball (whether it's added TV channels, ESPN3/+, social media) has unintentionally hurt local/student support, especially at the mid major level. Do our casual fans contextualize a two point win at Youngstown State as insignificant because it's easy to know what some lottery pick at Kentucky or Duke is up to?

All it comes down to for me is I love watching basketball and my school plays at the highest level, so I'm happy when they play it well.

You're dreaming if you think we're ever winning a natty, but the fact that we still control our own destiny is fun. I have two things to say about the significance/insignificance of beating Youngstown State in December: 1) The fun moments later in the regular season, like hosting Toledo, Kent, and Akron (with one, possibly two being on national TV) are more fun if you build the momentum over the course of the season by stringing together wins. 2) I think we do awesome for a MAC school with social media. Posting video of the team mobbing Dwight on the floor and celebrating in the locker room and having coaches and players share that stuff - that's showcasing and promoting culture to fans and recruits. Boals has said in interviews how much that stuff is part of the strategy, so it matters.