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Topic: Expectations for this season
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oubobcatjohn
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Posted: 8/22/2011 1:17 AM
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We got an all-MAC PG in Cooper.  At shooting guard Kellogg is a deep ball shooter and perhaps takes on more of a scoring mentality  as a sophmore. At  three guard we got Offutt. Baltic at the 4 is now a go to scorer. Center position with Keely will give us size and ability to rebound and score inside. 

The bench is deep. Taylor, Mckinley,Johnson give us fresh bodies to  exchange in positions 1-3 and keep pressure on the other team.  Hall and Gourd offer some length at the 3 or some quickness at the 4. Smith and Jacobs inside should develop into solid backups.  

This team's strength is the  guards and ability to pressure the other team into turnovers and score in transition off those turnovers. Inside Baltic and Keely have the experience to be solid for us.  Very difficult to double Baltic and Keely because one is quick with some range and the other is big and strong inside on the block.  My gut is that Reggie Keely will emerge as a major inside force this season.  Taylor, Johnson.Hall and Smith likely form the rest of a solid 9 man rotation. Gourde and Jacobs could develop by the end of the year to make us more flexible and provide some depth. McKinley another shooter and experience off the bench if we get into multiple overtimes and need another guard who can handle the ball if need be.   

The outside shooting needs to improve especially replacing Freeman's number.  Kellogg and Cooper need to have good years and have Offutt be that third deep threat to balance things out.   Hard to win in the MAC if you can't knock down the open J's.We aren't a massive rebounding team like Kent or Miami so we gotta hit the shots.  Can we be focused late in games. We missed a lot of foul shots late in games last year. We got be focused for 40 minutes.   
           

 

Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 8/22/2011 1:51 AM
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Agree that if we can make up for the loss of Freeman (big if) and if Keeley makes a mark, we will be good.  There's talent here, though a bit thin at center/forward.  Any word on Ethan Jacobs' progress?
bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
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Posted: 8/22/2011 10:07 AM
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oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more

 We missed a lot of foul shots late in games last year. We got be focused for 40 minutes.   
           



We were the 2nd best free throw shooting team in the conference last year. 

I'm more worried about rebounding, and the fact that Akron and Kent have very experienced teams coming back. 
JSF
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Posted: 8/22/2011 10:20 AM
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But we DO got be focused for 40 minutes. Can't refute that.

I'm worried about shooting, paint play, rebounding, and defense.

Other than that, I think we're pretty good.
Matt Noonan
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Posted: 8/22/2011 10:28 AM
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Having Baltic & Keely play well will be the #1 key to our season.  Hopefully Ivo can pick up right where he left off at the end of last year, and Reggie can find a some consistency.

I feel like I say it every year, but this will be a fun team to watch.
The Optimist
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Posted: 8/22/2011 11:08 AM
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Saw Jacobs in Ping the other day.  He looks wayyyyyyyyyyy bigger.  Gotta love our lifting program.
shabamon
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Posted: 8/22/2011 11:58 AM
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The more I think about the season, the more I favor playing small and giving 40 minutes of full-court pressure. I would favor a starting lineup of Cooper, Kellogg, Offut, Baltic, and Smith. Keep Coop on the floor as much as you can, but rotate Offut, Kellogg, Johnson, Mitchell, and Taylor as often as needed to keep fresh legs.
Ohio69
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Posted: 8/22/2011 1:56 PM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
The more I think about the season, the more I favor playing small and giving 40 minutes of full-court pressure. I would favor a starting lineup of Cooper, Kellogg, Offut, Baltic, and Smith. Keep Coop on the floor as much as you can, but rotate Offut, Kellogg, Johnson, Mitchell, and Taylor as often as needed to keep fresh legs.


Agree on a small/3guard lineup.  Villanova does this well as one example.  But nobody does the 40 minutes of pressure anymore.  I'd love to see us (or anyone) try it.

Are you sure you want Cooper on the floor that much?  To many posters he was the biggest problem we had last year.  .....
Last Edited: 8/22/2011 1:56:46 PM by Ohio69
BobcatGman
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Posted: 8/22/2011 2:54 PM
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oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more

We got an all-MAC PG in Cooper.  At shooting guard Kellogg is a deep ball shooter and perhaps takes on more of a scoring mentality  as a sophmore. At  three guard we got Offutt. Baltic at the 4 is now a go to scorer. Center position with Keely will give us size and ability to rebound and score inside. 

The bench is deep. Taylor, Mckinley,Johnson give us fresh bodies to  exchange in positions 1-3 and keep pressure on the other team.  Hall and Gourd offer some length at the 3 or some quickness at the 4. Smith and Jacobs inside should develop into solid backups.  

This team's strength is the  guards and ability to pressure the other team into turnovers and score in transition off those turnovers. Inside Baltic and Keely have the experience to be solid for us.  Very difficult to double Baltic and Keely because one is quick with some range and the other is big and strong inside on the block.  My gut is that Reggie Keely will emerge as a major inside force this season.  Taylor, Johnson.Hall and Smith likely form the rest of a solid 9 man rotation. Gourde and Jacobs could develop by the end of the year to make us more flexible and provide some depth. McKinley another shooter and experience off the bench if we get into multiple overtimes and need another guard who can handle the ball if need be.   

The outside shooting needs to improve especially replacing Freeman's number.  Kellogg and Cooper need to have good years and have Offutt be that third deep threat to balance things out.   Hard to win in the MAC if you can't knock down the open J's.We aren't a massive rebounding team like Kent or Miami so we gotta hit the shots.  Can we be focused late in games. We missed a lot of foul shots late in games last year. We got be focused for 40 minutes.   
           

 



        You missed a very  key element in your post.   Joe Mitchell,  Joe will play a huge role in the success of this team this year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dennis 'Gman'
Last Edited: 8/22/2011 2:56:48 PM by BobcatGman
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 8/22/2011 4:03 PM
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Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
Are you sure you want Cooper on the floor that much?  To many posters he was the biggest problem we had last year. 


Or more accurately...Not a single poster made anywhere close to that claim, yet some brought up his shot selection in a discussion of the struggling offense.

I am most excited to just see who steps up and performs and who loses playing time.  We really have no idea what we are gonna get out of Offutt, Smith, Taylor, Mitchell, Goard, etc...And I can't wait to see it all play out and who earns the regular playing time.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 8/22/2011 6:21 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
But we DO got be focused for 40 minutes. Can't refute that.

I'm worried about shooting, paint play, rebounding, and defense.

Other than that, I think we're pretty good.


But you think our punting game is excellent, right?  

Seriously, I think that important keys this year will be more mature play on the part of DJ, who is a our real spark plug player, and the further maturation of Baltic.  I think he has true NFL possibilities (hopefully not shades of TOS there).  If Ethan can get worked into the rotation and get some quality minutes as a true post man that'll be a real plus, IMHO.  As was said by another poster, Reggie's play inside can also give us a good wide-body that can be very important, especially in situations when we are keying on rebounding.  Kellogg probably becomes our new TF -- outside threat guy.  All and all I think we have the nucleus for a very good team.   
GoCatsGo
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Posted: 8/22/2011 7:51 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
But we DO got be focused for 40 minutes. Can't refute that.

I'm worried about shooting, paint play, rebounding, and defense.

Other than that, I think we're pretty good.


But you think our punting game is excellent, right?  

Seriously, I think that important keys this year will be more mature play on the part of DJ, who is a our real spark plug player, and the further maturation of Baltic.  I think he has true NFL possibilities (hopefully not shades of TOS there).  If Ethan can get worked into the rotation and get some quality minutes as a true post man that'll be a real plus, IMHO.  As was said by another poster, Reggie's play inside can also give us a good wide-body that can be very important, especially in situations when we are keying on rebounding.  Kellogg probably becomes our new TF -- outside threat guy.  All and all I think we have the nucleus for a very good team.   


Hold on, who has NFL possibilities? (im assuming you just have football on the mind )  I don't know why, but Im not sure about relying on Ethan.  I don't blame Coach Groce one bit for taking a chance, and I hope that he's right and Ethan proves me wrong.  I believe that Keely should he put in the work can be a dominant force in the paint.  One thing to remember is that Tommy had a knack for was his smart defense and ability to draw charges.  At times they could be momentum changers.  That's definitely one thing that will be missed. I completely agree that with our young nucleus this will be an exciting year.  
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 8/22/2011 8:27 PM
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Yes, I meant NBA.... I guess that I do have football on the mind.  Trying to do a better job of multitasking as borna once put it.  Sorry that  I flunked the test!  
Last Edited: 8/22/2011 8:29:54 PM by OhioCatFan
oubobcatjohn
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Posted: 8/24/2011 1:04 AM
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I totally forgot about Mitchell because we are so deep in the backcourt. Judging by his JUCO numbers he will be a great player for us. Having fresh guards and ability to have the guards dial it up on defense and not worry about fouls because we got more on the bench to put more pressure.
Here is my thinking on the rotation adding Mitchell would likely put the rotation at 10. 

pg Cooper, Taylor, Mckinley
sg Kellogg, Mitchell
sg Offutt, Johnson
pf  Baltic, Hall, Gourd 
c   Keely, Smith, Jacobs 
OUVan
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Posted: 8/26/2011 2:39 PM
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oubobcatjohn wrote:expand_more
I totally forgot about Mitchell because we are so deep in the backcourt. Judging by his JUCO numbers he will be a great player for us. Having fresh guards and ability to have the guards dial it up on defense and not worry about fouls because we got more on the bench to put more pressure.
Here is my thinking on the rotation adding Mitchell would likely put the rotation at 10. 

pg Cooper, Taylor, Mckinley
sg Kellogg, Mitchell
sg Offutt, Johnson
pf  Baltic, Hall, Gourd 
c   Keely, Smith, Jacobs 


There is a posting on the recruiting board that Mitchell has walked on at Wichita State.  I don't know how credible the source is however.  That would suck.

http://www.shockernet.net/sn/viewtopic.php?t=13318&start=20
The Optimist
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Posted: 8/26/2011 10:41 PM
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I'm not buying it based on his tweets.
bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
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Posted: 8/27/2011 11:49 AM
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The Optimist wrote:expand_more
I'm not buying it based on his tweets.


Agree, it sounds like he went back to Wichita for the week since we're between Summer Session and Fall Quarter. Two days ago he tweeted. "I come home tomorrow.. There til next sunday"

Sounds to me like he'll be back in Athens.

Last Edited: 8/27/2011 11:49:32 AM by bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
Pataskala
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Posted: 8/27/2011 11:55 AM
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Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Are you sure you want Cooper on the floor that much?  To many posters he was the biggest problem we had last year. 


Or more accurately...Not a single poster made anywhere close to that claim, yet some brought up his shot selection in a discussion of the struggling offense.

I am most excited to just see who steps up and performs and who loses playing time.  We really have no idea what we are gonna get out of Offutt, Smith, Taylor, Mitchell, Goard, etc...And I can't wait to see it all play out and who earns the regular playing time.


The occasional problem I saw with DJ was he would try a low percentage or off-balance shot too early in the clock.  I think at times he was trying to do too much because he wasn't as comfortable without a go-to backcourt guy like Basset in the lineup.  Frankly, I had a bigger concern with TJ Hall shooting 3s.  I think now that DJ and Kellogg have had a season together, DJ will be a lot more confident about Nick's abilities.  The big concern obviously will be the front court with Devo and Freeman gone.  Baltic will really need to step up early on.  If he plays like he did during the last eight games last year, the Cats will do ok.
Ohio Pilot
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Posted: 8/28/2011 11:54 AM
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That would be a huge loss. Lets just hope its a rumor.
FearLeon
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Posted: 8/29/2011 12:32 AM
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Worried about lack of big man in the paint. Can Ethan give any quality minutes in year 2? Give us a scouting report.
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