Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Trio of weaknesses
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FearLeon
3/26/2021 10:48 AM
OU_Country wrote:expand_more
My hope is we start to go to the NCAA every 3-4 rather than every 8-10 years. That’s a realistic goal.
Once every 3-4 years is realistic -- if there's some continuity within the coaching staff. That's been the biggest roadblock since 2012 in my mind.
Been saying it for years and all of this is correct. Coaching continuity is so key. Making the NCAA Tournament every 3-4 years should absolutely be the goal and it should happen in Athens. But as long as Boals is on the bench, I think it can happen even more frequent than that. I do think he has a real chance to go on a Buffalo/Akron type run. He has really executed his plan to perfection in such a short time.
Last Edited: 3/26/2021 10:52:17 AM by FearLeon
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GroverBall
3/26/2021 5:59 PM
Diamond Cat wrote:expand_more
Disagree with your not so subtle sarcasm, BTC. It's one thing to win non-league games or even MAC games. It's another thing to go deeper into the NCAA tourney. I would add an upgrade to the roster - if we want Ohio to do more than win the MAC and a first round game.
Could very well upgrade the roster next year and not make the MAC final. Boals early success is more a shot in the arm for the long term as now he's the only coach in the MAC that can say he's won in the NCAA tournament.

Creighton has made the NCAAs 12 times since 2000 and this is their first sweet 16. Several top 25 regular seasons during that timespan and a move to the Big East. Better recruits gives you more success on average but they have to execute. Gonzaga for a long time was like Creighton where they'd underperform in the tournament after the initial over performance that got their program going in the 90's.

Typically you'll start to see tournament success carryover to the regular season first with greater in conference expectations. Then see if they can win the conference tournament as a favorite. Ohio has a ways to go to be the type of program that is a lock to make the second round.
Did John Groce leave Akron?
Sorry I meant win a NCAA game with their current team. If there is anything Ohio might be close to a lock for next year is to make the MAC semis which for an average MAC program is a big accomplishment.
There is one thing I have learned watching this league all my life from other perspectives. There is no such thing as a guarantee when it comes to those 3 days in March. All it takes is one day for your opponent to be hitting, and you to be missing, and it combines for you to go home. Have watched multiple teams who I thought could make noise if they got to the NCAAs blow it in the MAC quarters or semi's.
This is where I am 100%. Been to MAC Tourney Games since the 80's. Days of stress and uneasiness. Yet I go year after year and Love it. This year was special. I am sure it may have happened but we rolled thru Cleveland in a way I had not seen in my time.
Describes me too. Love it but there have been lonely cold nights where I wander around downtown wondering which watering hole will best soothe my pain. And this year no wandering to find joyous Bobcats. The Morton's celebratory take-out steak in the hotel room afterwards was great but not the same. Looking forward to 2022.
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Alan Swank
3/26/2021 10:30 PM
Two words - strength and speed.
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OU_Country
3/29/2021 5:33 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
My hope is we start to go to the NCAA every 3-4 rather than every 8-10 years. That’s a realistic goal.
Once every 3-4 years is realistic -- if there's some continuity within the coaching staff. That's been the biggest roadblock since 2012 in my mind.
Been saying it for years and all of this is correct. Coaching continuity is so key. Making the NCAA Tournament every 3-4 years should absolutely be the goal and it should happen in Athens. But as long as Boals is on the bench, I think it can happen even more frequent than that. I do think he has a real chance to go on a Buffalo/Akron type run. He has really executed his plan to perfection in such a short time.
Without Coaching continuity, every 3-4 years is not realistic at all. At least not the way most Ohio Coaches have recruited (4-year players). With transfers, it could be turned around faster after coaching changes.

I think the opportunity is certainly there for more frequent than that -- assuming Jeff stays in Athens for several years and establishes the program, builds a coaching staff, etc....in other words, something like the Xavier Way, or the Butler Way, where the program works like a machine after he moves on. But that, in my opinion, is 4,5,6 years down the road, not just another couple years.

My dream is that he can be the guy who just stays in Athens for the rest of his career, and that the MAC can build itself into a two-bid league down the road. Hey, there's nothing wrong with dreaming. ;)
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