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Topic: MAC Games This Week
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OUVan
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Posted: 12/20/2011 11:51 AM
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Several really big games for the MAC this week besides our game with UNI tonight.

Tonight
Ohio (+5.5) @ UNI (opened at 6)  WIN
Evansville @ Miami (-5)  LOSS
EMU @ Radford  WIN
Norfolk State @ Toledo LOSS
Winthrop @ WMU WIN
St. Peters vs Kent State (-11.5 - opened at -12.5) WIN
CMU (+12.5) @ Nebraska (opened at +13.5) LOSS
Valpo @ NIU (+12) LOSS
Buffalo (+13) @ BYU (opened at +11.5) LOSS

Couldn't find the lines on three of the games.  Surprised the Buffalo line in so high although when BYU wins they win big. Their closest margin of victory in any of their 8 wins is 14 points.  

Wednesday
NC A&T @ Akron WIN
UT-Arlington vs Kent State LOSS

Thursday
Miami @ Ohio State (this could be really, really, really ugly) LOSS
EMU @ VPI LOSS
CMU @ Wright State LOSS
Toledo @ Florida Gulf Coast  LOSS
Bowling Green @ Florida International  WIN
Utah State vs Kent State LOSS

Friday
NC A&T @ Ohio
Ball State @ Morehead State
WMU @ Oakland

I think overall it's going to be a pretty ugly week for the MAC but it can be salvaged by strong showings by us, Buffalo and Kent.
Last Edited: 12/23/2011 9:17:41 AM by OUVan
JSF
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Posted: 12/20/2011 3:58 PM
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Ball State had a really bad showing last night in Conseco. IUPUI had their way with them. I have to wonder how far Taylor will take them.
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 12/20/2011 4:33 PM
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I think Ball State is missing their best PG due to grades for awhile. 

I feel pretty good about Taylor at Ball State.  Not so much about Ziegler at CMU.

Van:  Some tough matchups for the MAC, but since there are so many road games, it also presents an opportunity to gain some ground if our teams play well.  MAC could finish a little under .500 this week and not lose much if any ground. 
JSF
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Posted: 12/20/2011 4:58 PM
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You're referring to Tyrae Robinson; I think he's the backup behind Randy Davis.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 12/20/2011 6:27 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
Ball State had a really bad showing last night in Conseco. IUPUI had their way with them. I have to wonder how far Taylor will take them.


Seriously? BT is all over local and national recruits making long lasting relationships with coaches. Always one step ahead and at more games than I.

Soooo..... they barely got beat by Arizona, beat Butler, are playing an rpi 300+ schedule granted and IUPUI should be really good this year with NBA prospect Alex YOung, solid PG play from Steven Thomas and a number of good role players aroung them. IUPUI was inthe Louisville game till Hunter lost his mind with lineups and UL sprinted past them.

Taylor is just fine. He needs more free reign than Crean at IU gi ven how far Ronnie Thompson took the program down after it was already sircling the drain under Buckley.

GIven our success and ascendancy in the time that he has been at BSU what is his record against us. He is in the right lane and motoring toward a pretty good resume in rebuilding a pretty decimated program that several coaches would not touch.
GoCatsGo
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Posted: 12/20/2011 9:38 PM
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St Pete played the Flashes tough, but the Flashes were too much and they take a nine point win.  Both Toledo and Miami fall in close games.  NIU still looking for their first win, but Valpo is beginning to pull away in the second half.  
JSF
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Posted: 12/21/2011 5:23 PM
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Completely fair, borna. Thanks for your take.

It just seems to be that Taylor's teams have a few games a year they seem to take off. Maybe I'm being too critical. But what of their late season swoons? That has to be a concern. There's no reason they should not have won the West last year.

And I know you know this, but Howard is the coach at IUPUI now.
Last Edited: 12/21/2011 5:24:27 PM by JSF
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 12/21/2011 5:48 PM
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Muncie media indicating that Ball St. would be better off with Robinson getting most of the minutes at the point with Davis playing a wing role. 
Gallia Cat
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Posted: 12/21/2011 7:18 PM
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The Western Division is really weak and it just kills the conference in terms of strength. I know this sounds really stupid but the conference really needs Ball State to once again become a solid contender. Someone from that side of the conference needs to step up again and as far as I am concerned it has to be Ball State or Toledo. Until that happens I just don't see the MAC getting more than 2 bids with the main reason being the east teams just pound on each other.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 12/21/2011 7:30 PM
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yup

you are right Drags. I watched the UL  IUPUI game and still typed Hunter. BTW his kid is still playing for Indy Pike but I have not heard if he is following pops like McCallums kid or if he will go to a D1 school.....I know I know...still thinking Ga State is D2 along with Wright State......

As for Billy T..... I have thought the major problem with his recruits is aside form Davis they are really not winners or they have won at a lower level on small school teams that do not see the big comp night n and night out like our recruits have. Groce is not only recruiting winners but they are coming from programs that compete on a higher level. Taylor has guys.....but there are guys in OUr locker room with the hearts of champions.
 
5 years ago Tommy with his 2 losses to ODen and Conley was the only guy in there who had been to the Finals. NOw that locker room is filled with them. DJ, Ricardo, Kellogg down the line..., even McKinley have competed at HIgh levels and we have lost more of those guys in Horne, KInney etc than most programs at a mid major level will ever recruit let alone land.

BT is heading the right direction and saying the kid who leads the country in getting to the free throw line and is 4th or so in assists at this point should  move over to become a shorter than normal shooting guard who would then be a mismatch is basketball fan lunacy. Davis is the only one there who has been to multiple state finals in his career although Scaife is a third generation Muncie Bearcat, Davis is from tradition rich Plymouth, losing to Three different Zellers.
Last Edited: 12/21/2011 7:34:51 PM by bornacatfan
OUVan
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Posted: 12/21/2011 7:36 PM
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http://mac-sports.com/Schools/Akron/LiveStreaming.aspx

If anyone is interested you can watch free streaming video of Akron vs our next opponent NC A&T.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 12/21/2011 7:40 PM
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Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
Muncie media indicating that Ball St. would be better off with Robinson getting most of the minutes at the point with Davis playing a wing role. 

the same Muncie media who will not print anything about any local players not playing for butler or ball state?  there are many in the are who are all but ignored in multiple sports....seriously, a 4 year swimmer at auburn who never losta meet or national championship can t even get a story in our local press?.....

OUVan
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Posted: 12/21/2011 9:31 PM
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Kent continues their mediocre play out in Utah with a loss at the buzzer to Texas-Arlington.

Joe McKinley
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Posted: 12/22/2011 5:47 AM
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bornacatfan wrote:expand_more
yup
As for Billy T..... I have thought the major problem with his recruits is aside form Davis they are really not winners or they have won at a lower level on small school teams that do not see the big comp night n and night out like our recruits have. Groce is not only recruiting winners but they are coming from programs that compete on a higher level. Taylor has guys.....but there are guys in OUr locker room with the hearts of champions.
 
5 years ago Tommy with his 2 losses to ODen and Conley was the only guy in there who had been to the Finals. NOw that locker room is filled with them. DJ, Ricardo, Kellogg down the line..., even McKinley have competed at HIgh levels and we have lost more of those guys in Horne, KInney etc than most programs at a mid major level will ever recruit let alone land.
.


Great point about having guys in the locker room who understand team success. We have a lot of guys who know what it takes to prepare to be a champion -- off season and in season. They know how guys playing their roles can be successful against other good teams and in tough environments on the road..They understand what it feels like to be in big situations because they have been there.

Let's add Kenny Belton, T.J. Hall and Tyquane Goard to the list of guys who played on state championship teams in HS. Stevie Taylor and Gahanna made the big school final four in Ohio. Same for Nick Goff in Division II when he was at DeSales. Jon Smith's Grove City Greyhounds won a district title in 2009. BTW -- When #4 was wearing the green and white of Scioto's varsity, the Irish went 66-6 overall and 34-0 in league play. He was a captain on the last 2 teams and the Irish finished in the big school top 10 each year, despite having the 181st largest enrollment among 200 schools. He also played CF/captained the Irish baseball team that went 22-3, won a league title and finished ranked #4 in the final state poll in 2009.
 
In team sports, nothing feels better than seeing a group of players and coaches come together over the course of a season to earn a  championship. Having the opportunity to play for championships at Ohio is just doing it at a higher level. In hoops, cutting nets down never gets old.  
bornacatfan
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Posted: 12/22/2011 9:55 AM
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Joe McKinley wrote:expand_more
Let's add Kenny Belton, T.J. Hall and Tyquane Goard to the list of guys who played on state championship teams in HS. Stevie Taylor and Gahanna made the big school final four in Ohio. Same for Nick Goff in Division II when he was at DeSales. Jon Smith's Grove City Greyhounds won a district title in 2009. BTW -- When #4 was wearing the green and white of Scioto's varsity, the Irish went 66-6 overall and 34-0 in league play. He was a captain on the last 2 teams and the Irish finished in the big school top 10 each year, despite having the 181st largest enrollment among 200 schools. He also played CF/captained the Irish baseball team that went 22-3, won a league title and finished ranked #4 in the final state poll in 2009.
 
In team sports, nothing feels better than seeing a group of players and coaches come together over the course of a season to earn a  championship. Having the opportunity to play for championships at Ohio is just doing it at a higher level. In hoops, cutting nets down never gets old.  


Thanks for filling in the holes Joe. I didnt have time to get back and look at the kids from Frankie and TOmmy forward who had all been in State Finals...your memory is perfect. That Scioto run is pretty phenomenal considering the Metro COls schedule they play including going up to play Heights in Cleve IIRC.

ANyway point being the biggest change from TOS is going from getting "the best available" to getting program guys who have won and know how to win......nothing replaces the heart of a champion, once that beast has tasted winning it gets addicted and craves more.

Knowing how to win is one of those intangibles that comes with experiencing it and using the experience moving forward. I remind TOmmy constantly that he has never been on a team that has not been better once he came. His life defining moment in my mind I told him recently was when OHio came to BSU in 07 and melted down.....after the game he came down and I asked "what youthink?" His answer was "them guys dont know how to win..."  to which I replied...."THat is why John Rhodes recruited you...your most important contributions to that program will be inthe locker room NOT on the floor."  Having watched this transformation up close eludes words. Seeing the BObcats come out of that locker room every night knowing they have a chance to win is quite a difference. Kudos to ALL, From the AD down the most ancillary staff and even to the walk on players  that have had a hand in that progression.... amd a challenge to the fan base to support the change with your attendance and your dollars.....if you like what you see then make sure you support it well enough to keep it going.
Last Edited: 12/22/2011 9:57:39 AM by bornacatfan
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 12/22/2011 7:58 PM
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Not a great start tonight for the MAC. EMU only scored 9 points in the 1st half vs. Va Tech. Wright St. is pounding CMU and Toledo losing to Florida Gulf Coast at half. Hopeully, the East can salvage a win or two.
JSF
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Posted: 12/22/2011 11:53 PM
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Looks like we're the only ones to beat Utah State. Kent getting whipped in Logan.
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 12/23/2011 12:20 AM
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Saw a tweet that said Utah St. was 199-14 at home over the last 14 years. If accurate, that's crazy good.
OUVan
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Posted: 12/23/2011 9:18 AM
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MAC an ugly 5-11 so far this week.

Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 12/23/2011 2:46 PM
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OUVan called it correctly about this possibly being an ugly week for the MAC.  Hopefully, things will go better tonight.
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