There used to be time when getting an undergraduate degree put you head and tails over others in the job market. However, those days are long gone. Now you need at least a Master's Degree in order to compete, so hats off to a young man getting two heavily discounted degrees from respectable Universities these days. After all, have you seen what it costs to go to school in 2019? If Jason ends up getting a nice payday playing ball in Europe or the NBA after college, it will be all icing on the cake. Sorry guys, but the modern day warrior is merely a mercenary for hire. That's why we need to recruit athletes, who can contribute right away. Thanks to Jason for the two years that he did provide to us, but it wasn't enough to elevate Ohio over much of the competition in the MAC.

I don't disagree with that statement, sir, and Mr. Carter is young enough and talented enough to continue to live the "Basketball Jones" style dream? However, he has got some work to do to become the next Larry Bird (or whoever he aspires to be) in the NBA, and should he fail to accomplish that, he will at least have cashed in on his early athleticism in a productive and clever way; thus making him the smart and resourceful Bobcat that we all know that he is.

A bigger-picture issue that bums me out is how difficult it is for a mid-major to get good players and to KEEP them.

Certainly a coaching change can set you back years. Players transfer out, recruits de-commit, the new coach has to scrounge for recruit in April from the bottom of the barrel... and then you have to wait years for the new coach to get HIS guys and build HIS system. Think of our de-commits alone from the past seven years: Caris LeVert, Evan Bradds, Tariq Owens... (Didn't C.J. Massinburg commit to us for a minute too?)

Then, even if you get them on campus... if they're any good, they transfer or grad-transfer somewhere bigger. (Or get hurt: Campbell, Dartis.) The NCAA hardly seems to enforce its sit-out-a-year policy anymore. So why shouldn't a MAC player leave to chase the bright lights?

Credit Buffalo for putting something together where guys come and then stay. How many mid-majors reach the NCAA Tournament in successive seasons, let alone three? Very, very few.

It's hard to dream big anymore.

I remember when another MAC big man transferred to X and had a pretty solid run there. Matt Stainbrook, anyone?

Stainbrook was bigger and had more skills. Jason needs to develop wing skills if he wants to play proball. He has some athleticism and he can shoot sometimes. He needs to be a much better defender and he had to be able to put the ball on the floor. Xavier will use him, he will be depth, but his game will not evolve.

What stopped him from elevating his game here? My guess: The guys handling the ball, and feeding him the ball. Honestly, this year, our healthy guards weren't all that good, and that's what separated Ohio from the top 5 in the MAC. Really good players want to play with, and against, really good players. Right? That wasn't the case this year on OUr fair little campus. Obviously that's what he wants, and he put in the academic work in 3 years to be able to do so and not have to sit. For that, I commend him.

I wish he wasn't leaving, because I think with the addition of a couple good guards, this squad could be back toward the top in Boal's first year. Without him, there's just another big spot to fill.

Summer classes usually help fill the gaps.

I've read this a couple places now. Wonder what makes them mention "he can shoot the 3"? Did he even make 25 threes in his two full seasons here? When I think about his positives of having Carter on the team, 3 pointers isn't one of them.

He's a good player, and will be tough to replace, but anyone mentioning three pointers isn't doing much research IMO.

Oats is not my hero and Jason Carter was third team all MAC, meaning that he was wrong. Carter surpassed my expectations, that being said we still can’t go back and make it like he was a top 20 Ohio basketball player his senior year or make up offers for him, we did that with butler and when butler left all of his fake offerers were in the wind. I also believe that we don’t need to serenade him with praise on his way out. Stainbrook was two inches taller and he ended up making the all big east team and he also earned an nba tryout. Have a great weekend.

Allen you were correct that Buffalo got a much better deal in getting Graves while we got Butler. I tried to debate you that those two players were about the same. But....I think the recruiting offer lists were correct with schools like Murray St and Hofstra. It was after he got here that claims were made that he got a couple of high major offers and I have to agree with you that's doubtful.