First of all, other than trying to ensure next year is not a total disaster, the current players have little leverage IMO. You've finished in the bottom three the last two year, you have no room to pound your first and pout.

Secondly, other than 3-5 players maximum, this is a scrape and rebuild IMO (again). Players are individuals who chose OHIO, we chose them and I fault them none in accepting a scholarship. It's an honor and in many cases, these guys chose their best offer, along with where they wanted to go. We obviously know transferring could be a traumatic experience, especially if you don't want to go. However from purely a basketball perspective, once again, I'd guess only a few qualify as building blocks moving forward. I would however include Jason into one of the 3-5 keepers.

Third, I heard rumor that if SP went, Jason would go too. I gather that the rumor was accurate. Which leads me to my uneducated opinion on this topic realizing I do not know JC or SP, or the inner working of maybe JC was just unhappy. However, from a distance, it feels like an emotional/irrational decision for 2 reasons:

1) JC is at the right level. I don't think he can play at a higher level and have near the impact he has here. He's on the promotional poster for this OHIO team the next 2 years. Leading scorer, focal point--he's the man. He transfer to a higher level, I don't think he's on that poster. He's solid, he's good, he's the best we got--but remember his peers thought him as 3rd team MAC good too?

2) He's burned his redshirt year meaning he's got 2 years left and will have to sit out 1 (pending appeal). If you're really miserable, then maybe that's a warranted decision. On the other hand, if you're making an emotional decision and trying to prove a point, you may be "winning the war" ("ya see, I told you I'd leave and I did--take that--I love you SP, this is for you!") and "losing the battle" ("I just burned 50% of my eligibility for a guy I may not see 10x the rest of my life.") Simply appears shortsighted. Sleep on a few days buddy and get some solid advice.

Bottom line, he's one of the few I'd like to see stay and I'm sorry this is the route he's chosen. Hate to sound cold blooded, but it's a performance business--win more games, this doesn't happen. Same will be true in the business world and any other performance based organization you may be apart of in the future.

There's plenty of schools bigger than us that would gladly accept Jason. Sucks this is the way it is now.

He should give Boals a shot, he can graduate next year and transfer without sitting out.

These two scenarios are in no way in the same orbit.

Unless you think people shouldn't be able to send out resumes to other employers while being employed by someone else. Because that's essentially what Carter is doing.

He can remain at this "job," but he's also able to search for a better situation for him.

But, yeah, him looking to see if he can change basketball programs just like asking to break an oath you took with the person you love most and before God. They're exactly the same.

Doesn't seem to make sense to have two years remaining and burn one of them to sit out a year...but whatever. If you don't want to play for the new coach, you don't have to play for the new coach...his decision.

But in my opinion...he's a good MAC player, but I don't think he'll do as well or play as many minutes for a Power 5 school.

The way I see this is that the players wanted to play for Saul. They probably didn’t see Saul the same as some did on here. They probably see the injuries as noncontrollable issues-not excuses as to why they weren’t successful. They probably care less about Bole’s connection to Ohio, they weren’t even born yet when he played.

Good take. Let him explore the world out there. Culture is a huge thing these days and people value it at every level- whether its sports or every day employment. The Boals program may not be for him. Or his loyalty to Saul makes it hard for him to play at Ohio under anyone else. That all can be appreciated. Next year is going to be tough no matter what because its all transition and maybe he sees that too...

You're using the right words: job and employer

SO we are sure that he would have to sit out a year and then only play 1 year with his new team? If that is the case, that would be a pretty crazy move. If a transfer means you have to play 0 basketball your Junior year, why not just stay and play your Junior year and then either realize you're happy with the new guy and stay or do a graduate transfer somewhere else. I would be shocked if Jason would be willing to forfeit an entire season of his playing career.

A President of the Jason Carter fan club this would devastate me. I will admit Carter struggled some with double teams this season and his outside shot was not as good as he is capable...and yet in spite of all that he was still clearly one of the best players on the court every game.

Keeping Carter would go a long way to helping the transition, both in being competitive upfront and helping to lead the program. I'll be sweating and worried until this is resolved.

I hope this is just a knee-jerk reaction to Saul's firing and not something personal between him and Boals. If so, I hope he reconsiders and stays at Ohio. He's about the best we have among those who would be coming back. Boals has been around long enough to realize this is all part of the business of college basketball. The coaching staff and the other players aren't likely to take his checking out transfer interest personally.

My guess is that he would be immediately eligible. I'm sure he will graduate early this summer.

Kinda like the message Boals gave when he left his team at Stony Brook. Works both ways - and it should.

This is not a knee jerk reaction. Carter has known Saul was leaving since the new year - we all have. My guess is he graduates in the spring and is immediately eligible and/or is granted his release and is immediately eligible - just not in conference. Either way, no hard feelings. I also would guess that there have been backdoor talks since the new years with potential landing spots. He knows who wants him and what potential playing time awaits.

He will also wait to see if/where Saul lands before making a decision. And don't think for a minute that Saul doesn't already have a couple of potential paths in place - again, I'm sure he has been quietly exploring opportunities since Jan 1 - as any of us would have been if our employment was heading towards termination.