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

Date: Saturday December 6th, 2025 4:00 PM

Opponent: Marshall  (5-3)

Site: Convocation Center

TV/Webcast: ESPN+

Radio: The Varsity Network App (free) 

Marshall statistics, roster and media guide

Marshall message board: HerdFans.com   

Stat that jumps out to me - they foul a ton against a schedule nowhere near ours in difficulty. Five games of 20+ fouls, three of 25+, and one of 30+. Opponents are averaging nearly 28 free throw attempts a game. I hope we can get into that ballpark with guys like Pav, Elliott, Kelly, and Hadaway pressing the issue. Gut feeling is that Simmons will be neutralized by their 7-4 center but maybe Breath can fare better.

BOLD prediction. JJ Kelly gets a block against the 7-4 guy.

Really?? You can't think that we have only played one good team.

Arkansas St, 6-3, picked 2nd in the Sun Belt

Illinois St., 7-2, picked 1st in the Missouri Valley

St. Mary's, 8-1, picked 2nd in the WCC (behind Gonzaga) and getting top 25 votes.

George Mason, 9-0, Co-champions of the Atlantic 10 last year, and getting votes for the top 25

Loyola Marymount, 7-3, WCC and on the Mid-Major Top 25 poll

This is a game the team needs to win. We have lost 2 home games so far. We are a month into the season and now a bit healthier with Elliott and Breath back on the floor. Marshall is always a good measure of where we are. They recruit same region we are. No excuse about NIL. If Boals can't beat Marshall it is time to find a coach who can. We are now on game 9 and this is the 5th home game. We already lost to one Sun Belt team and a SWAC team at home. We have been home for a few days now and had some practices. No excuses for Boals. This team is a veteran team with enough d-1 experience. Sheldon has to step up. Four years in the program and in the rotation last three years. Hadaway, Simmons, Pavs multi year starters in MAC. This isn't a bunch of freshmen an sophmores. Conners and Beath experience too. Sense of urgency with this team. This is new month and time gto get things going.

Yes, beating Marshall would be "turning the corner" for this young team.

Where has this team been???

Great effort today and very nice win….

*Key point had to be midway through second half and Marshall climbing back into the game. Dior Conners makes a 3-pointer and ref blows the whistle (I thought just before the ball left Conners' hand) and calls a foul away from the ball on Marshall (I thought he was calling an illegal pick on Ohio, disallowing Conners' basket). Ohio gets possession after the 3 and Sheldon follows up with a 3 of his own about 10 seconds later. A 5-pt lead extends to 11 points in one possession.

*There were a few minutes in the second half that Sheldon showed Ohio fans why he was recruited from Dublin Coffman 4 years ago.

*The effort and production we got from Simmons in the second half reminded me of what impressed me during his last two years playing for Toledo.

*My son mentioned how much Hadaway likes to play during the first few minutes of each half. He scored Ohio's first 10 points in the first half and then the first 8 points Ohio scored in the second half. He added a made free throw at the end of the game for a total of 19 points.

*Reynoldsburg HS seniors Jorden Bowens and Xavier McKinney were in the house today.

*I gotta think Breath has been putting some time practicing his free throw shooting. He made 6 of 10 from the line today. Nothing great, but he came in shooting 28% on the season.

*As to the often discussed topic on BA of a practice facility, Boals mentioned in the post-game interview that the team will practice in the Convo Monday and Tuesday, but will need to find another facility for practice Wednesday through Friday. Reading between the lines, I think he was making a point about the seriousness of having no practice facility.

*Maybe I missed it, but I was looking forward to hearing the fans' reaction to an announcement of the final score from Ford Field earlier in the day.

Sheldon was confident shooting today. Fun to watch.

But Pavs was unreal. Several moments where he just decided he was gonna score and did so.

Basketball sure is a lot of fun when you're making your shots. Only one who struggled a little from 3 was JP, who was the only one going into the game to NOT suck from 3. I agree the 6 point possession was huge. Shortly before that, Marshall had something similar when they hit one, got a quick steal on JJ, then hit another. I was pretty worried at that point but the team responded well.

Another really bad student crowd today. Just have to hope they show up come the start of winter semester because right now they are checked out.

JP's fadeaways are so impressive. Half the time I am thinking "that's not a good shot" and then swish. It's indefensible. I also think his defense is improved this year. Hadaway was methodical and smooth, great game for him. And yes it was great to see a complete game from Sheldon.

The 7+ footer was a problem for us, and I am not sure why he only played about half the game. Simmons was dead set on being able to take one to the rim against him and it kept not working. Beyond just the ones he was credited for, he factored in several other rebounds. Would be curious to see what his +/- was, it felt like our runs were when he was out.

Again I will say, every time I see JJ coming off the court I am disappointed. I haven't gotten a pulse on the rest of the conference freshmen, but if we give him 30 mins a game I think we have a MAC freshman of the year. Just an awesome player.

EE ended up with more minutes than JJ despite JJ starting. I think Boals is set on Breath/Simmons and Kuany/Hadaway being straight 1 for 1 subs, and this week it is starting to look like Burris/Paveltzke is close to that arrangement. Managing the minutes of JJ/EE/Sheldon/Conners (80 among them) is a tough task. They each can be great at times but each have flaws. I hope Boals recognizes matchups, hot hands, attitudes, etc and uses it to our advantage.

Great week in the Convo. Hate having to wait a full week for another game. If we can find a way to knock off the Bonnies, the vibes will be high going into a big opener against BG.

It's between EMU's Mo Habhab (16 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg) and UT's Leroy Blyden (15 ppg, 5 apg) with Habhab the early frontrunner. Although I agree with you about Kelly. Not sure why EE is getting more minutes right now.

The courts at the community center are fairly decent. One seems to be roped off for pickle ball much of the time though. To quote Animal House "maybe they could arrange an honorarium from the student fund" to cover the use of the court?

Nope. The Athletic Department has no control of Ping.