Pippen took control when he had to. In the first half Nuga took control when he had to. Preston never took control. BVP only took control when down 16. Where is Illinois Preston?

Preston goes 23-10-5-2 on 57% shooting (40% from three) and he's your problem?

The struggle with this team starts with the letter D and ends with fense. Everything beyond that is trivial.

We've given up 89+ in 3 of our last 7.

We're giving up 79.9 pts/gm in conference.

We're 7-1 when we hold our opponent under 80, and 0-5 when we don't. Sadly we're giving up right around that threshold at 80 a game - it's why we're 500.

If we ever figure out how to hold folks to 70 a night instead, we'd be really hard to beat. Problem I fear is some of our worst defenders are simultaneously our best offensive players and vice-versa.

I would be more impressed if all of those stats didn't come when we were down 16. Great statistical night but I have yet to say (lately) "That was a HUGE shot" like I do with L-C-J, Turner or even Pippen.

Ken Pomeroy's rankings have Ohio 62nd in the nation in adjusted offense and 251st in adjusted defense. Ohio is giving up 1.041 points per possession, 276th in the nation, and is scoring 1.098 points per possession, 26th in the nation. Teams shoot 46.4% against Ohio, 270th in the nation. 35.3% 3-point defense is 241st. Ohio actually is solid at forcing turnovers (20.3%, 103rd nationally) but when they don't, teams score a lot. Pretty much all of Ohio's struggles are defense.

First off, Ohio hasn’t even played all these teams yet this year, so I think it would be wise to reserve judgment until they do. Second, Ohio had the MAC preseason favorite BG down double digits and led them for most of the game, including into the final minutes, WITHOUT its best player! Ohio completely threatened BG, so you can’t discard that game. Ohio was totally in that game with a chance to win despite being majorly shorthanded. Ohio also lost to Toledo without Preston. Ohio still has both games vs Buffalo and rematches with all those other teams left. This argument is too premature to dive into right now.

The issue is simple to me: they're not a good defensive team. Or at least they're very inconsistent defensively. There are guys whose offensive games I love, but on D, they're average at best. The problem is that 2-3 starters fall into this category.

I've only been able to listen, or partly watch many of the last few games, so I don't have a guess on what sort of things they've been doing wrong. Against Miami though, I watched the entire game, and in the second half, the D was really good in my opinion. So what gives in other games?

I most definitely am glad Dwight Wilson is here and playing, doing his thing. That being said, I'm never comfortable when we lack the ability to put length and a rim protector in the post. Especially if the forwards don't rebound consistent, coming up short--pun intended--in either physicality, athleticism or the will to do so.

I have to admit I'm somewhat envious season-after-season watching recruits at other MAC schools putting on their big boy pants and getting the better of us, bully-boy style.

In this regard, Miles Brown gets my respect for turning himself into a defensive stalwart. He guards with effort, tenacity and an all-out attempt to keep his man out of the paint. This coming from a player who is the third ALL-TIME leading high school scorer in New York, the state where I live. I was stunned when he couldn't get his game off last season and was concerned he couldn't help us if he wasn't going to be a scorer or ball distributor at his size. But he's found a way to contribute and get valuable minutes and his offense has been coming around.

I'm confident coach Boals will get this corrected, though. I know what type of player he was; he knows the deal. It's all about balance. He's only had two recruiting seasons, one that he wasn't able to plan out. He knows we have to guard to win championship. He'll get it done. I'm confident of that.

Another?

You notice though that he is the BIGGEST homer on the football board. OHIO Football is the greatest with the best players every year. Basketball he seems to enjoy Bobcat losses.

Because Ohio has been the best team in the MAC for the last several years. That’s why. As for enjoy Bobcat losses. Huh? Show me one example of where I’ve enjoyed a loss? Now you’re simply making crap up.

LOL on who's authority? I still see ZERO MAC titles and several late season losses to keep Ohio from even winning the East.

They were practically gift wrapped the East title in 2017 and got beat by Akron.

In 2018 they couldn't beat the two best teams in the league, NIU and Miami. That was probably Ohio's best chance to do something special since Frank has been coach and they couldn't do it.

In 2019 they lost to NIU and Miami again, this time a bad NIU. Then sprinkled a loss to WMU on top just for good measure.

That close loss to undefeated WMU in the MAC Championship was almost 5 years ago at this point. That's a very thin thread to keep hanging on to.