the 5-21 wilderness campaign of 1997-98, when we lost 7 games in the Convo.  However, considering that it isn't even mid-January yet, we may blow past 7 home losses in short order.  If we hit 8+ home losses, it would be the most for Ohio since the 10 home losses sustained back in 1916-17.

I can't believe how fast the shine has come off this coaching staff...this is not the next level we were hoping for with Groce.

I'd like to believe you Monroe but I am having some trouble seeing a lot of good outcomes this year.  There are flashess of amazingness every game but the seems to be just too many of the same mistakes.

I thought today we got out hustled for loose balls, out rebounded, out foxed, out scored and yes, I think we got out coached.  Miami adjusted to our trapping defense but we never re-adjusted.  Making threes is exciting and sometimes gets us back in a game but too often we take threes way too early in a set before looking for the sure thing.  Those two things are on the coach, IMHO.

I love the Bobcats and have always been one to point out the good stuff.  It is kind of hard to find excuses for the shot selection we see at times and the "stand around" offense that occurs in every game.

Today started out as a great day with the attendance and excitement.  It ended with a thud.  A three overtime game to an inferior Miami team at home was not exciting to see. It was disturbing. 

I don't understand why you don't think that at least some of the blame for that falls on the coaching staff, given that we are in year three of this regime.  Sure we were dealt some unexpected, late departures from the program, but given the ridiculous roster turnover we've had under Groce it isn't clear to me that the coaching staff is totally absolved in that regard.  In any event, I don't think that the loss of Coleman and A. Kellogg alone justify six home losses at this point, given that we were favored in all but one of those games without them.

There has been an inordinate amount of faith placed in Coach Groce's ability to build this program into something special.  But aside from riding the hot hand of Armon Bassett for a week and a half last March, what has this staff done to earn such faith and confidence?  We are in the midst of our third straight underachieving regular season under Groce, and could very well be headed for a third consecutive losing season in the MAC for the first time since 1976-78.  Meanwhile, with a couple exceptions (KVK), our players have shown little signs of progress either individually or collectively over Groce's tenure. 

Heading into the season, I thought that while we were being overrated, I nevertheless also believed that anything less than 18-20 wins would be a serious warning sign regarding the coaching staff given the fairly weak schedule we are playing.  Unfortunately, barring a major turn around, the chances of winning 18+ games this season appears remote, which is setting off major warning bells in my mind.  We really should be much better by now, if Coach Groce and Co. were anywhere near as good as many here believe them to be. 

I wouldnt compare JG to Coach Bandy or Coach Hahn just yet either........because J.G. has not been a part of as many championships as those guys have.  He also has not recruited as many all conference players or Hall of Fame members as Coach Bandy or Coach Hahn.  Give him some time, and we will see!

We've played 13 home games already.  I'd like to protect our house better.  But, not sure this post makes sense due to the high number of home games.

I hate losing at home.

I think HeHate is on.  The MAC is retracting, and it is not a good sign.

I know this argument has defenders on both sides, but I think it's very clear that the MAC's increased committment to football is watering down both products.

Well said. Flomo-genized also mentioned this. To make matters worse, Groce is bringing in players that he knows are not "character guys," and counting on them for major contributions. That's also unsustainable.

Yes I mean this is OHIO University we are talking about here. It should be of no difficulty to recruit 3 quality D1 guys to this campus every year. I don't understand why this program doesn't go out like say Gonzaga is doing now or what Utah was once doing and go after the international players. Why Ohio always needs to recruit an A-10 or a CAA type player out of position is beyond me. The program does not need a UC type image gambling for more talent. What it needs is 4 year player development, a set of quality role guys that can do something very well for the basketball team and with the sum of the parts greater.

The simple answer here is $$$$$$, it cost a TON of cash to target overseas players, cash that we simply do not have to allocate to recruiting players.

$$$$$$$$$   The coaches in the MAC are not being paid anywhere near what the going rate of coaches are in the Country today, the recruiting budgets are bare bones and not on par with other leagues, it is the expenses that you do not see where the MAC is behind the times in the sports of basketball and football. 

I don't have a problem with the way the staff has been recruiting kids. During his 3 recruiting seasons, Groce has brought in more highly regarded HS Seniors than I remember seeing anytime in the past 15 years. The problem is when you have a bunch of attrition for one reason or another from guys who would still be in school this season otherwise ...

Bassett, Coleman, Horne, A. Kellogg, Jay Kinney... all gone. That doesn't even take into account guys like Frankie Dobbs, Zach Nagtzaam, and Maurice Pearson who *could* all still be here. Since the previous administration brought those guys to town, I can't really put their departure on this staff, but that's still 8 guys! More than half a roster! That should really be telling towards the amount of turnover we've seen over the past 4 years (which, honestly you cannot lay all at the feat of Groce, or his staff, but I'm just saying, that's a TON of turnover!)

Again, I am not at all banging the drum against Groce or the staff. These are just things that I would classify as "worrying." Hopefully we get guys sticking for their 4 years (or 2 for the case of JUCOs and Transfers) and this can be a fun "do you remember when conversation." But right now, when people talk about the ill's of the program I've got to point towards the roster turnover.

What is wrong with so many of you?!  Good point.

ohio hoops, my post was not stupid.  It was a legit comment about who we are.  Why don't you keep going nuts about our home record this year instead of analyzing who we are, why we are that way, what we should stop doing, what we need to do better.  That's how I post and think--along with keeping a usually sunny attitude.  Not much good comes from a negative outlook; easily visible in your take.

Flomo--you're right in asserting that the coaches can be faulted for not brining in sufficient front court talent.  Yeah, Groce's record has some question marks on it (regular season perf) but, lucky or good, he got us there last year.  Not saying he will this year.  But facts is facts.  (Well, occasionally.)

HeHate--Apparently Coleman left on his own for music.  Bassett sure helped at the end of last year but he was no favorite of mine.  The other guys who left--now sure how much talent, espec as compared to what remains, they had.

To me, all you need to know about this year's team is DVW.  If he decides or the coaches get him to buy that he should be the monster that it appears he can be in defense at the rim, rebounding, and getting his points primarily from rebounding at the rim and position inside, then we roll.  If he keeps doing what he's doing, we keep doing what we're doing.  Y'know how the love, who I always agree with, pointed to DVW as a talent who can MAC dominate?  That.

Maybe his game misses KVK too much.  But if he comes on, Keely and Baltic come on and there go our outside game when we rap you inside.