Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 15 Thread: Eastern Michigan
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Ted Thompson
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Posted: 12/30/2025 9:25 PM

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

Date: Saturday January 3rd, 2026 2:00 PM

Opponent: Eastern Michigan  (7-7, 1-1 MAC)

Site: Gervin GameAbove Center

TV/Webcast: ESPN+

Radio: The Varsity Network App (free) 

EMU statisticsroster and media guide

EMU message board:    Eagle's Nest

M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 12/31/2025 10:14 AM
I still don't have a read on EMU. Some really nice wins, including last night vs UMASS. Road win at Cincinnati. Lost to Purdue - Fort Wayne, IU - Indy.

I was really excited to play them on a 4 game losing streak, but I'm sure the UMASS game woke them up a bit.

Habhab is a nice player. 6'9" freshman 15/8/3 a game.

Hart is a 6'5" guard. Shooting almost 40% from 3.


Don't think this will be an easy game vs a .500 team.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 12/31/2025 10:26 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
I still don't have a read on EMU. Some really nice wins, including last night vs UMASS. Road win at Cincinnati. Lost to Purdue - Fort Wayne, IU - Indy.

I was really excited to play them on a 4 game losing streak, but I'm sure the UMASS game woke them up a bit.

Habhab is a nice player. 6'9" freshman 15/8/3 a game.

Hart is a 6'5" guard. Shooting almost 40% from 3.


Don't think this will be an easy game vs a .500 team.
I agree. I'll be very pleasantly surprised if come out of Ypsilanti win a "W."
GoCats105
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Posted: 12/31/2025 12:41 PM
UMass has Ls to Marshall, Doug Gotlieb's Green Bay, EMU and Kent State. Oh yeah, they're gonna fit into the MAC perfectly.

As for EMU, common opponent they lost to Louisville by more than we did. So, yay.
Last Edited: 12/31/2025 12:41:50 PM by GoCats105
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 12/31/2025 1:35 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
UMass has Ls to Marshall, Doug Gotlieb's Green Bay, EMU and Kent State. Oh yeah, they're gonna fit into the MAC perfectly.

As for EMU, common opponent they lost to Louisville by more than we did. So, yay.
I'll still bet that UMass is the team nobody wants to play in the MAC Tournament.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 12/31/2025 2:05 PM
As the seasons moves into the new year and the heart of the MAC schedule, Ohio ranks in the top 6 among MAC schools in only one team statistics. The Bobcats are third in the league in opponents' FT % at 73%. So we've got that going for us. Otherwise, I'm not sure what Ohio does well.

Pav is playing at an all-league level and we're definitely a different team when he's not on the court. But he's already playing a MAC-high 35.2 min/game, so we can't ask much more from him without risking wearing him down come March.

Many on BA, including myself, would love to see Boals try different combinations on the floor as well as more/fewer minutes for certain players, but I doubt we'll see it in 2026 if we didn't see it in 2025.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 1/1/2026 10:55 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
As the seasons moves into the new year and the heart of the MAC schedule, Ohio ranks in the top 6 among MAC schools in only one team statistics. The Bobcats are third in the league in opponents' FT % at 73%. So we've got that going for us. Otherwise, I'm not sure what Ohio does well.


Wouldn’t OHIO be in top 2-3 in strength of schedule? Hard to compare so let’s play 5 or 6 games to get a more accurate picture.

Go Bobcats go 2-0 on this holiday road trip…….
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 1/2/2026 9:06 AM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
As the seasons moves into the new year and the heart of the MAC schedule, Ohio ranks in the top 6 among MAC schools in only one team statistics. The Bobcats are third in the league in opponents' FT % at 73%. So we've got that going for us. Otherwise, I'm not sure what Ohio does well.


Wouldn’t OHIO be in top 2-3 in strength of schedule? Hard to compare so let’s play 5 or 6 games to get a more accurate picture.

Go Bobcats go 2-0 on this holiday road trip…….
OU had the 35th ranked non-con SOS. So pretty far and away #1 in the MAC.

Miami on the other hand... dead last. In the entire country. Pretty incredible scheduling to be honest.


Part of the reason I picked play an ass schedule on that poll from a few weeks back. Everyone is hyping Miami like they're a shot at an at-large, when they're actually playing little sisters of the blind.

There is something to be said about gaining that level of confidence and letting it drive you the rest of the way. They're on cloud nine. They're feeling invincible. The fans they have are hyped. They want a Travis statue. Where as we look back at say, yeah but at least we played a half dozen conference champs! Only thing that matters is the W/L column.
Last Edited: 1/2/2026 9:07:47 AM by M.D.W.S.T
shabamon
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Posted: 1/2/2026 9:26 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
As the seasons moves into the new year and the heart of the MAC schedule, Ohio ranks in the top 6 among MAC schools in only one team statistics. The Bobcats are third in the league in opponents' FT % at 73%. So we've got that going for us. Otherwise, I'm not sure what Ohio does well.


Wouldn’t OHIO be in top 2-3 in strength of schedule? Hard to compare so let’s play 5 or 6 games to get a more accurate picture.

Go Bobcats go 2-0 on this holiday road trip…….
OU had the 35th ranked non-con SOS. So pretty far and away #1 in the MAC.

Miami on the other hand... dead last. In the entire country. Pretty incredible scheduling to be honest.


Part of the reason I picked play an ass schedule on that poll from a few weeks back. Everyone is hyping Miami like they're a shot at an at-large, when they're actually playing little sisters of the blind.

There is something to be said about gaining that level of confidence and letting it drive you the rest of the way. They're on cloud nine. They're feeling invincible. The fans they have are hyped. They want a Travis statue. Where as we look back at say, yeah but at least we played a half dozen conference champs! Only thing that matters is the W/L column.
One other good point made in that discussion is there probably has not been any infighting and finger pointing in Miami's locker room all season. There's no back to the drawing board and there's no reason to distrust the process. Is their throttling of BG on the road a result of the goodwill of an undefeated season, are they just that good of a team, or is it an equal combination of both?
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 1/2/2026 9:56 AM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
As the seasons moves into the new year and the heart of the MAC schedule, Ohio ranks in the top 6 among MAC schools in only one team statistics. The Bobcats are third in the league in opponents' FT % at 73%. So we've got that going for us. Otherwise, I'm not sure what Ohio does well.


Wouldn’t OHIO be in top 2-3 in strength of schedule? Hard to compare so let’s play 5 or 6 games to get a more accurate picture.

Go Bobcats go 2-0 on this holiday road trip…….
OU had the 35th ranked non-con SOS. So pretty far and away #1 in the MAC.

Miami on the other hand... dead last. In the entire country. Pretty incredible scheduling to be honest.


Part of the reason I picked play an ass schedule on that poll from a few weeks back. Everyone is hyping Miami like they're a shot at an at-large, when they're actually playing little sisters of the blind.

There is something to be said about gaining that level of confidence and letting it drive you the rest of the way. They're on cloud nine. They're feeling invincible. The fans they have are hyped. They want a Travis statue. Where as we look back at say, yeah but at least we played a half dozen conference champs! Only thing that matters is the W/L column.
One other good point made in that discussion is there probably has not been any infighting and finger pointing in Miami's locker room all season. There's no back to the drawing board and there's no reason to distrust the process. Is their throttling of BG on the road a result of the goodwill of an undefeated season, are they just that good of a team, or is it an equal combination of both?
100%

It's sunshine and rainbows in Oxford. They're high on life. High on the wins. Every day is probably a joy in practice. Cause they're winning. They think they can't lose. Getting a ton of love on campus. Some great press. That does so much for a team.


They're a good team. Solid. I'm not convinced they're significantly better than we are - but we're .500 and they're 14-0.


If we flipped schedules, we're probably 12-2. And life feels a hell of a lot different. Instead we're questioning everything. Including the coaching.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 1/2/2026 10:21 AM
Miami loses starting PG Isparro in MAC opener (possibly for the season). The team's 2nd leading scorer (14) and leader in minutes played is replaced by Skaljak in the starting lineup and Miami doesn't miss a beat at BG on Tuesday. Steele brings in freshman Kirby off the bench for his first minutes of the year and he contributes 4 points as the Redhawks dismantle the BG team that opened MAC play with a win in the Convo.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 1/2/2026 2:15 PM
Gosh, never thought I'd hope the Zips beat any MAC team but tomorrow in Oxford will like to see them put 100 on the RedChickens.
shabamon
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Posted: 1/2/2026 2:20 PM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
Gosh, never thought I'd hope the Zips beat any MAC team but tomorrow in Oxford will like to see them put 100 on the RedChickens.
https://youtu.be/stQGlowwcdk?si=6Ut-7D9v-gi-zlO5&t=91
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 1/2/2026 3:29 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
The fans they have are hyped. They want a Travis statue.
Let's see what kind of crowd they get tomorrow at Millett when undefeated Miami hosts pre-season favorite Akron.
MillStreetMilo
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Posted: 1/3/2026 12:06 AM
Agree 100%. But if Fiami takes down BG and Akron convincingly here early, oh boy.
Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 1/3/2026 12:45 PM
We are 2.5 point favorites. This is perplexing to me. Agree with OCF that I would be pleasantly surprised with a win here.
GraffZ06
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Posted: 1/3/2026 1:12 PM
News of Note:

With the win at CMU, Jeff Boals passed Tim O'Shea for #5 on the all-time Ohio wins chart with win #121.

1. Jim Snyder 355-245
2. Larry Hunter 204-148
3. Butch Grover 192-129
4. Dutch Trautwein 136-90
5. Jeff Boals 121-83
6. Tim O'Shea 120-95
7. Danny Nee 107-67

His winning pct currently stands at #7 in Ohio history

1. RW Finsterwald 34-6 .850
2. Jim Christian 49-22 .690
3. Danny Nee 107-67 .615
4. John Groce 85-56 .603
5. Dutch Trautwein 136-90 .602
6. Butch Grover 192-129 .598
7. Jeff Boals 121-83 .593
8. Jim Snyder 355-245 .592
9. Larry Hunter 204-148 .580
10. Tim O'Shea 120-95 .558
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:13 PM
Has Aidan Hadaway developed a phobia of playing inside?
bornacatfan
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:22 PM
I liked what I saw of th individuals on the roster at Easteern in the games I watched. Not quite sur why the whole is less than the sum.

I too, would be pleased and surprised coming out of there with a win.

Fiami hs a calming force in the locker room with several players and they really like each other. Been to a couple games.Parents are close and athletes are really close. Not sure Travis can get past his bro. Time will tell
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:27 PM
This team baffles me. The amount of seconds we waste holding the ball or dribbling without purpose confuses me. No offensive identity. Eastern playing team basketball. Boals has to go. And our body language is awful.
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:31 PM
I've seen pickup games with better offensive flow than this. 10 points in 13 minutes????
Casper71
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:33 PM
It is what happens when you have no structure and everybody tries to go 1v1. Well, obviously, teams don’t run players nowadays you still have to have some basic patterns. We have nothing.
It is particularly stupid when nobody is any good 1v1
Last Edited: 1/3/2026 2:38:17 PM by Casper71
GoCats105
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:39 PM
Sheldon trying to not shoot a fade away three pointer off the dribble challenge.
SBH
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:39 PM
This might be the worst half of basketball I've ever seen from an Ohio team.
Bobcat1998
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Posted: 1/3/2026 2:40 PM
Hadaway will finish with a double double because he will stat pad down big. Dude is overrated and reads his own press clippings. Also, let's not play Kuany much even though he has been our best player. Why does Boals hate specific guys each year who show something? Is he that impatient?
Last Edited: 1/3/2026 2:45:30 PM by Bobcat1998
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