Referees were incredibly inconsistent and were whistle happy which made it hard to watch.

That being said, we really have nobody to blame but ourselves. Tough to win when you cannot make free throw shots. First half was sloppy and offense was stagnant right off the bat.  Lots of passes but nobody really wanted to take the shot. Once our offense started to get some momentum, it was taken away by a ticky tac foul call and free throws by Oakland. Very frustrating watching that. We really struggled to get around their length and get an open shot. Their defense played well against us and forced us to take way too many outside jumpers. In the second half, we came out with more energy but again, the momentum was taken away. Our freshmen looked confused and made some mistakes. Way too many mistakes and turnovers cost us as well.

All was not bad though. I liked the fight that we had late in the game. We did not lay down and let them continue to take it to us. We did a good job to fight back and make it somewhat close at the end of the game. Freeman knocking down shot after shot at the end was a sight for sore eyes. Good to see his shot come back after struggling a bit. I felt our defense did a good job on Benson. Keely, Baltic, and Devo did a good job denying the entry pass and double teaming him when he did have the ball down low. Despite a high turnover number from Cooper, he did a good job managing the game and getting steals even though his shot was off tonight.

Oakland is a good team. They came out with a game plan against us and executed it very well. Freaking out about this loss is not the way to go. Sure we didn't play a very good game, we have a young team should only get better as the year goes on. Can't wait to see us bounce back against Corpus Christi on Sunday. Keep your heads up Cats.

That's all I wanted to hear. Thanks. Way to man up. I mean it.

Yeah, I agree we crossed the line big time. If I'm coach Groce, I'm calling a timeout and walking over to the Ozone and ending that crap right away. We are hurting ourselves more than helping with that type of behavior. Attendance and home scheduling will only get worse if we keep this up.

If we need the head coach to start using timeouts to police the Ozone, we're in gigantic trouble. He needs those timeouts to coach the basketball team. Gotta have the student leaders who are sitting in that section step it up.

Many of the worries going in to the season was how the roster outside of "the big 3" of Cooper, Washington, & Freeman would do.  Well, tonight...Not so good, shooting a combined 5 for 24 with 4 assists and 7 turnovers.  I agree DJ & Devo were a little off tonight, DJ 5 for 12 from the line is just mind boggling...But the supporting cast was just not good tonight. 

What exactly did the ozone do?

The problem with trying to control the ozone is that no one listens to the leaders. I will admit I was part of some of the grumbling but as for the chanting, not really. We've tried stopping it in the past but no one cares who the leaders are or what they say. The only time they listen is when we do winning team losing team, other than that its pretty much leaders saying no no stop that and vast majority saying why should we. That is why the leaders have not stepped up, because there is really no way to convince the rest of the crowd to stop acting like a bunch of classless idiots.

I would say you are not leaders then.

Thank you OZone for your creative, intelligent chants last night.  My two young boys are just old enough to start asking why the students are allowed to cuss at the refs and other team.  It made for a nice conversation on the drive home.  It was especially nice for the neighbor kid we brought to his first ever basketball game of any level.  Chanting "bullshit" in unison went out with parachute pants.  I'm sure the three 5 year olds were impressed that you chanted that as they were coming to halfcourt for the dance-off. 

Leaders, how hard is it to do a little research on the opponent and come up with some creative cheers for each game?  Why can't these be put in a Word document, printed, copied and distributed at the student gate each game?  I am sure it could be emailed to each OZone member also.  I love the OZone.  I really do.  The student section at Ohio is the best in the MAC.  I hope the OZone is just like the team and getting ready to gain momentum for a solid MAC run again. 

At least have the balls to say it was me.  I pointed at him because I was getting others to notice what he was doing, and I said he really doesn't like that.  The chuckle came when someone said he'll post about it when he gets home.  But nice passive-aggressive swipe.

It was the same group of people that did the bad chants, and they were in too much of a frenzy to listen to the people who were trying to get them to stop.  This includes cheerleaders.  I do think I was able to get through a little after the "USA" chant.  I'm just hoping this doesn't happen again.

I'd think your 9 years as an undergrad would get you a little more respect!

If you have a problem, go talk to the Ozone yourself before each game. I know that all the Ozone members on this board, were taking no part in those stupid chants, I know I didn't, neither did Dragon and anorris. We all thought it was stupid. The members that did chant those bad chants do not post on here, don't come to every game and don't listen to anyone when the people up front try to get them to stop.

Every bit as ignorant as some of the things said last night.  Nicely done.  Go buy another billboard.