Ohio by 20.

Mark Sears is going to have 25 to 30 points to keep our winning streak against crappy teams alive!!!

The equalizer of small guards who can beat their man off the dribble has always been an effective floater. Sears doesn't shoot any. Adding that this summer will make him so much more versatile against bigger defenders and I think is a key to continued development. He's really good, and will be fine, but the game plan is now on tape and it's going to be tried in every game from here on.

He put a ton of work in last summer on his shot and it has paid off. I expect more of the same next year and hopefully he will add some extra weapons to the offensive arsenal.

Belmont is indeed a top 100 team. Though they're certainly not muttered in the same breath as a top team. Good mid major? Certainly. They didn't even win the OVC and make the tourney last year though.

The biggest reason I don't necessarily count Belmont in this group for Sears is - they only have 1 guy in their rotation over 6'6, and only 1 guy with 20 or more blocks (both Muszynski at 6'11 with 50 blocks).

Everybody knows at this point that Sears problem is against good/elite teams - and the main reason for that is they have tall, long, athletic bigs who can protect the rim in the paint and he has no idea what/how to deal with that. And he won't until he figures out a floater like Preston or a foul line pull-up jumper (which might be more his style considering he's such a prolific FT shooter).

The other problem is Sears is NOT a natural point guard. He might be in size at 6'1 and quickness (for sure) and even ball handling. But he is a pure shoot-first, scoring guard and NOT a facilitator of the offense or great passer/distributor.

I mean he currently has a 105:86 assist to turnover ratio. That's putrid for a PG. While his 105 assists leads the team, it's only 3.9 ast/gm and BVP is a close second with 83 assists. I also don't think BRod or many of our other shooters have been nearly as effective shooting the ball and PART OF IT is likely due to the fact that Sears isn't as good at finding them when they're open or have a mismatch, getting them the ball in rhythm, in the pocket and at their spots, like Preston was. Part of that is just natural because he's looking to score himself first. If he were 6'4 or 6'5 (shoot maybe even 6'3) I'd love to slide Mark over to the off-guard position - but alas he's not.

If Sears ever figures out the A:TO and facilitator thing combined with either a floater or pull-up jumper (similar to how he worked on his 3PT shot last summer) then he's probably an NBA prospect.

Until then, he's a really good MAC guard, whose deficiencies are well known and easy to stop when we play any good competition with length in the interior.

Sears has no offensive running mate at the other guard spot. Preston was as good as Dartis and BRod from 3. I do believe he will be a bit more effective when AJ Brown and Elmore James are running alongside him.

CMU just took Toledo to the wire Lost by 2 due to a couple of brain cramps in the last 10 seconds. Stepped on the sideline with 7 seconds left on their end of the court. Missed free throw had a drive to the basket and passed back to the 3 point line with no time to get the shot off. Cleveland will be crazy.

Central is fighting for the 7th or 8th spot in Cleveland after just allowing Toledo to slip away on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the Bobcats bounce back from the wreck at Kent.

This post summarizes how I feel. It’s been a fun season to this point. There’s a few reasons for concern but I trust this coaching staff and roster. I don’t know how they’ll perform in Cleveland but I have faith they’ll be prepared and give it their best.

I would say this is my only criticism of Boals with how he's handed the big 3 minutes. There have been opportunities to sit these guys more, but he really hasn't done it.

In typical fashion for this year's team we'll likely win comfortably but won't cover the spread or win by enough to rest the starters.

Cats by 13.

Yes..my comment doesn't pertain to Carter sitting out games or leaving early due to injury. Comment is about when all three are completely healthy and playing full games.

I truly hope not.