Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 5 Thread: Bethune-Cookman
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Ted Thompson
11/16/2025 10:43 AM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we'll have a separate travel thread.

Date: Wednesday November 19th, 2025 7:00 PM

Opponent: Bethune-Cookman  (1-3)

Site: Convocation Center

TV/Webcast: ESPN+

Radio: The Varsity Network App (free) 

Bethune-Cookman statisticsroster and media guide

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Bobcat Tattoo
11/16/2025 11:13 AM
If you thought our schedule was tough, take a look at theirs: they’ve already had games at Auburn, Miami (FL), and Dayton, with several more against P4 teams coming up. 1-3 record to date with a blowout of a non-D1 sprinkled in.
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shabamon
11/16/2025 2:41 PM
This is not Coppin State or Maryland Eastern Shore. By no means will this br easy.
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bobcat 2000
11/16/2025 3:42 PM
outside of louisville and st. marys the non con schedule aint really hard.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
11/16/2025 6:19 PM
Bobcat Tattoo wrote:expand_more
If you thought our schedule was tough, take a look at theirs: they’ve already had games at Auburn, Miami (FL), and Dayton, with several more against P4 teams coming up. 1-3 record to date with a blowout of a non-D1 sprinkled in.
Currently, our schedule to date's 37th hardest in the country. Bethune's is 60th.
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M.D.W.S.T
11/17/2025 9:50 AM
They're good.

And balanced.

Their best player, Morris, came from Texas. Currently going for 16/6/4 a night.

Our good friend Jakobi Heady, scored 35 on us last season w/ CMU, is averaging 15/4/2. His brother, also from CMU, is averaging 12.

Some big guards we're never good with.
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greencat
11/17/2025 10:28 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
They're good.

And balanced.

Their best player, Morris, came from Texas. Currently going for 16/6/4 a night.

Our good friend Jakobi Heady, scored 35 on us last season w/ CMU, is averaging 15/4/2. His brother, also from CMU, is averaging 12.

Some big guards we're never good with.
I didn't like our chances vs Illinois St and we still got the win.

Hate to be a downer but I don't like this matchup. A win would be a shocker.
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M.D.W.S.T
11/17/2025 10:44 AM
greencat wrote:expand_more
They're good.

And balanced.

Their best player, Morris, came from Texas. Currently going for 16/6/4 a night.

Our good friend Jakobi Heady, scored 35 on us last season w/ CMU, is averaging 15/4/2. His brother, also from CMU, is averaging 12.

Some big guards we're never good with.
I didn't like our chances vs Illinois St and we still got the win.

Hate to be a downer but I don't like this matchup. A win would be a shocker.
Most people hate when I say this, but these are the kinds of games I wish they'd experiment with the line-up.

Treat all these as exhibitions, roll the dice and lets see...

6'2" - Jack
6'6" - JJ
6'8" - Hadaway (6'9" Kuany)
6'7" - Simmons (Hadaway stays)
6'10" - Evans

10 minute line change:

6'2" - Jack
6'3" - Dior
6'8" - Hadaway
6'8" - Breath
6'7" - Simmons (6'9" Kuany)

Next Line Change:

6'0" - Sheldon
6'5" - Burris
6'6" - JJ
6'7" - Simmons
6'10" - Evans

Mix in Elliott as he returns.

We have all the pieces to have a big, athletic line and seem resistant to see what it can do. Obviously, I'm not in practice, but we have some depth and some guys who can shift around. Doesn't feel like we're using our optimal rotations.
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greencat
11/17/2025 10:50 AM
Evans starting and Sheldon as third string?

I really don't think Boals is going to do that.
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M.D.W.S.T
11/17/2025 10:56 AM
greencat wrote:expand_more
Evans starting and Sheldon as third string?

I really don't think Boals is going to do that.
Me either, but that would be a nice thing to experiment with under the guise of figuring out what works.

People are gonna start thinking I'm Evans dad or something, but he just needs to be in the damn game. Especially games that are pretty inconsequential. If he started getting a steady 20 minutes a game, I think we'd really start liking how the other chips fall into place.
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shabamon
11/17/2025 11:28 AM
No disrespect to Bethune or their conference, but shocked to win at home against a SWAC team? Dude....
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shabamon
11/17/2025 1:29 PM
I'd love to see Simmons break out for an 18/11 type of game. This is the first time since Wright State he won't be going up against anyone with real center size.
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greencat
11/17/2025 1:39 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
No disrespect to Bethune or their conference, but shocked to win at home against a SWAC team? Dude....
They took Auburn into overtime. Trailed by one at halftime. Had the lead with 3 minutes left in regulation. Auburn played Pettiford for 40 minutes and Hall for 37.

Team rankings . com gives us close to a 70% chance to win. It won't be that easy.
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Diamond Cat
11/17/2025 3:16 PM
Looks like we need a Fake Jeff McKinney opponent analysis and how we have no chance to win?
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
11/17/2025 4:02 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Evans starting and Sheldon as third string?

I really don't think Boals is going to do that.
Me either, but that would be a nice thing to experiment with under the guise of figuring out what works.

People are gonna start thinking I'm Evans dad or something, but he just needs to be in the damn game. Especially games that are pretty inconsequential. If he started getting a steady 20 minutes a game, I think we'd really start liking how the other chips fall into place.
I was surprised by Evans vs. St Mary's and Louisville. He did some things better than he did last year. There are still a ton of gaps, and he's basically allergic to physical contact in a way that makes me pretty skeptical about him ever being a starting big. But the rebound rate's acceptable for a big over the last 25 minutes, where as it wasn't last season.


And he hasn't turned the ball over once. Last year he turned the ball over every 3rd possession.

That's progress.

But, I still don't see how he's anything but a few minutes per game guy if Hadaway/Simmons/Breath are healthy.
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OhioCatFan
11/18/2025 12:14 AM
Diamond Cat wrote:expand_more
Looks like we need a Fake Jeff McKinney opponent analysis and how we have no chance to win?
The Real Jeff McKinney can do that just fine. However, in this case, I think a warning that this may be a very tough game is warranted. This is not your grandfather's Bethume-Cookman.
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SBH
11/18/2025 6:47 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Evans starting and Sheldon as third string?

I really don't think Boals is going to do that.
Me either, but that would be a nice thing to experiment with under the guise of figuring out what works.

People are gonna start thinking I'm Evans dad or something, but he just needs to be in the damn game. Especially games that are pretty inconsequential. If he started getting a steady 20 minutes a game, I think we'd really start liking how the other chips fall into place.
I was surprised by Evans vs. St Mary's and Louisville. He did some things better than he did last year. There are still a ton of gaps, and he's basically allergic to physical contact in a way that makes me pretty skeptical about him ever being a starting big. But the rebound rate's acceptable for a big over the last 25 minutes, where as it wasn't last season.


And he hasn't turned the ball over once. Last year he turned the ball over every 3rd possession.

That's progress.

But, I still don't see how he's anything but a few minutes per game guy if Hadaway/Simmons/Breath are healthy.
He certainly played harder than Simmons vs. Louisville.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
11/18/2025 8:48 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
He certainly played harder than Simmons vs. Louisville.
I didn't see an effort issue from Simmons.

I just see a bunch of people here trying really hard to make the issues with this team about easy to understand things like "effort".

Let me ask you: if Simmons is substantially worse this year than last year, do you think that's because he's an entirely different person than he was last year? Or do we start looking at Boals' scheme?
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GraffZ06
11/18/2025 10:05 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Let me ask you: if Simmons is substantially worse this year than last year, do you think that's because he's an entirely different person than he was last year? Or do we start looking at Boals' scheme?
Unsure yet. It could be hes still rounding into shape. Or not.

It could be hes still trying to get used to Boals system and find his place/role.

It could be we've played teams with bigger/better bigs so it has drawn extra attention to him.

Regardless, he hasn't played well/to expectations yet.

To me, the bigger issue is his fit, and I've had the worry from the moment he signed. Not that hes not a good player. Not that I don't want him. Its that hes not a true 5, and Hadaway isn't a 3. Which makes them fairly redundant in fit if theyre on the court at the same time.

The current problem for Simmons is that Hadaway is more comfortable and experienced in his role, and has been playing better, with better numbers virtually across the board. Also, when Breath is in the game as a real 5, there is a noticeable difference. At least to my eyes.

This is why I suggested starting Hadaway/Breath and letting Javan be Javan as an instant offense big off the bench. He probably wont like that. It probably wont happen. But to me, it would be best for the TEAM.
Last Edited: 11/18/2025 10:06:11 AM by GraffZ06
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
11/18/2025 11:07 AM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
The current problem for Simmons is that Hadaway is more comfortable and experienced in his role, and has been playing better, with better numbers virtually across the board. [/QUOTE]Hadaway has had one very good game against Arkansas State where he shot 75% from the field and 3 of 6 from three. In our other three games, he's 0-13 from 3, and has an effective field goal rate of .387.

On the other hand, if you look at Simmons games against Arkansas State and Illinois State (i.e. teams without elite size), he's averaging 15ppg, 4rpg, and scoring more efficiently than Hadaway.

In other words: we're so early into the season that sample sizes basically make it impossible to draw conclusions. We just don't know anything yet. We only have two five man lineups that have even had 25 possessions together.

Simmons has shown he can be a really efficient offensive player in our conference. Not prepared to toss that out based on 4 games.

[QUOTE=GraffZ06]
Also, when Breath is in the game as a real 5, there is a noticeable difference. At least to my eyes.

This is why I suggested starting Hadaway/Breath and letting Javan be Javan as an instant offense big off the bench. He probably wont like that. It probably wont happen. But to me, it would be best for the TEAM.
I'm pretty indifferent to who starts. On the whole, I think we're a better team in the frontcourt this year than last year, by quite a bit.
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FearLeon
11/18/2025 11:31 AM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
Let me ask you: if Simmons is substantially worse this year than last year, do you think that's because he's an entirely different person than he was last year? Or do we start looking at Boals' scheme?
Unsure yet. It could be hes still rounding into shape. Or not.

It could be hes still trying to get used to Boals system and find his place/role.

It could be we've played teams with bigger/better bigs so it has drawn extra attention to him.

Regardless, he hasn't played well/to expectations yet.

To me, the bigger issue is his fit, and I've had the worry from the moment he signed. Not that hes not a good player. Not that I don't want him. Its that hes not a true 5, and Hadaway isn't a 3. Which makes them fairly redundant in fit if theyre on the court at the same time.

The current problem for Simmons is that Hadaway is more comfortable and experienced in his role, and has been playing better, with better numbers virtually across the board. Also, when Breath is in the game as a real 5, there is a noticeable difference. At least to my eyes.

This is why I suggested starting Hadaway/Breath and letting Javan be Javan as an instant offense big off the bench. He probably wont like that. It probably wont happen. But to me, it would be best for the TEAM.
+1

This is where I fall on Simmons performance after four games.

Not pushing the panic button at all with him.

Even though he's going up against bigger guys these first four games, his play still has been disappointing. But again...not nearly enough of a sample size for me to say he's going to be a bust. We know how he performed at Toledo.

I think we will talking about a better version of Simmons as we head into January and conference play.
Last Edited: 11/18/2025 12:42:46 PM by FearLeon
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GoCats105
11/18/2025 2:15 PM
The bigs will be fine. I have no issues with Simmons, Breath or Hadaway. As long as they're all playing the position they were recruited for, they should be fine. Once they start playing out of position, that's where it gets troublesome.

I'm really curious to see if Boals changes up the lineups and minutes at all over the next couple of games depending on who/when we get E2 and Breath back. There are glaringly obvious issues on the wings and we have yet to address them - I'm guessing partly due to injuries, but the advanced stats do not show a good sign. More data will be nice to have, but man it's not looking good so far.
Last Edited: 11/18/2025 2:16:17 PM by GoCats105
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OhioCatFan
11/18/2025 6:37 PM
Simmons doesn't seem to be the same player I remember at Toledo. He doesn't seem to have the same fire in the belly. That's just my gestalt impression. Maybe he'll get his act together as he gets more experience in the Boals non-system of extemporaneous basketball. I've not given up on him, but I'm not exactly his biggest fan at this point, either.
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Andrew Ruck
11/19/2025 7:07 AM
Despite the love and adoration for BC...we are favored by 6.5 tonight. I can only assume greencat is loading up against us in vegas.
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greencat
11/19/2025 7:25 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Despite the love and adoration for BC...we are favored by 6.5 tonight. I can only assume greencat is loading up against us in vegas.
No, it's called the anti-jinx.

You talk about how good the opponent is which in this case is realistic.
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