+1

No offense, if you were gonna go the name recognition way with people under 35, getting Aaron Craft to coach would resonate with OU kids more than Gary Trent or even DJ Cooper. Sorry to sound harsh, but it doesn't matter who you throw in that slot until they start winning. Simple as that.

A friend I served on board with would often say, when the discussion gets like this thread has, "with so much back and forth, there ought to be an orgasm".

Wow! I started this thread a long time ago and boy, did it ever take off! Gotta admit I was wrong. Doesn't appear that coach Phillips is going to get it done. I do believe he can coach. His downfall has been caused by the inability to recruit elite MAC-level or higher athletic players, which many other teams in the conference have been able to do on a yearly basis.

That's the area where I'm most surprised and disappointed. I remember listening to coach Phillip after he signed, and in talking about the campus, the Convo, the atmosphere, and the program, he said, "I can sell this." I believed him. So I'm stunned that he hasn't been able to keep pace with previous Ohio coaches and other coaches in the conference in that regard.

Basketball has changed in recent years. A game that used to be played from the inside out is now played greatly on the perimeter with most teams looking to use the three-point shot as a scoreboard wrecking ball.

This team has been severely crippled from the start by the lack of perimeter shooting. Hard to understand how they didn't bring in one or two wing players with certified three-point shots, especially knowing Jordan Dartis and James Gollon wouldn't be able to start the season due to surgeries. It's reached the point where Jason Carter has to literally get the ball out on the floor and beat his man off the dribble to the basket in order to score. That shouldn't have to be a necessity.

Gotta recruit better than what it's been to stick around, right? And the hoop recruiting woes is magnified by the football team's rise in recruiting, which is reflected in the consistent series of bowl appearances.

I believe TOS had a pipeline to the basketball recruiting hotbed of Minnesota.

Groce OhioHS recruits that produced Bobcat multi-year minutes: Reg Keely, Nick Kellogg, Stevie Taylor, transfer Jon Smith.

Phillips OhioHS recruits: Doug Taylor, Jordan Dartis, Carter and TBD Mason McMurray.

IMO Ohio didn't produce much of a pipeline for either coaches--it was the out-of-staters that put the touches on Groce's teams that exceed SP's.

Yes, Green was a JUCO, and probably my favorite Bobcat on that team. I swear at times it felt like he couldn’t miss.

I applaud Pete for being willing to go there, and give kudos to Jason and Ben for answering the uncomfortable question. At this point, it has to have an effect of some kind. The person I'd like to see anyone start questioning on this topic is Schaus, and why he allowed it to happen.

I don't disagree with you. I'd just like to see his feet put to the fire a little by those who cover the team. Never hurts them to ask the questions. Maybe eventually he'll answer them.

Arkley's non-coverage of this topic all season has been very disappointing. He's the one closest to the team. As I've said a few times, yes Saul isn't going to talk. But you can certainly ask the players about it. You can try and get Schaus (but he won't talk either) or others in the athletic department. How about talking to a coach who has been through this lame duck scenario before and it doesn't have to be a basketball coach. Heck, It doesn't even have to be a former Ohio coach. How about take the temperature of the fans at a home game and ask their opinion if Saul should stay or should he go? There are a million ways to cover this story and still be professional about it. You can't be scared of having the head coach mad at you. It's your job to cover the team and this is the biggest story of the year involving Ohio basketball in 2018-2019.

I meant to bring this up in another thread, and can't remember whether I did or not, but it goes back to the kids we're recruiting. Too many are injury prone or were hurt in high school. Taylor, Dartis, Laster, Gallon, MacMurray, Carter. With the exception of Laster and possibly Dartis, the others all suffered injuries that caused them to miss a year in HS, or injuries diagnosed in Athens were caused by issues predating their coming to Ohio. Bad luck? Possibly. But sometimes you make your own luck. That's why new staff will have to do a better job of recruiting physical, athletic players and evaluating their health.

I agree. I have never seen more "bad luck" / injuries in any Div. 1 teams over this many years. That I will tell you his wifes cancer affected his recruiting. My wifes cancer and her fighting it took ALL of my time and attention. ( She beat it / different type than Nicole had. )
With that said what should be done?? I have been to all the home games, coaches shows and such. I really believe Saul can coach, if he has the sum of all the parts he recruited.

We let him go. Hire a ??? , upcoming asst., former player ?? Or do we double down on him ?? Offer him another 5 year contract, not near as lucrative. A contract a couple of 100K less with performance incentives.

If we do the new hire , looking at transfers and 2 -3 years of rebuilding.

Or we can take a chance that Saul can get health bodies that can take us where we want to go??


My money is on keeping Saul I really do believe he can take us to the top if the players can stay healthy .


I also believe I will be beaten badly by folks that hate Saul and have never been to a game in the last few years. So "FLAME On" folks that have never been in the Convo for the last 5 years or to a Coach's show.

ESPN weighs in:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25...

He's gone. Let it go. We're in rebuild mode regardless of who's coaching. And stop with "Saul haters" straw man. He's incredibly likable and very few people on here have been personally critical of him. He hasn't gotten it done professionally and a lot of us hate the results. Saul was hired to a huge contract with matching expectations that he failed to meet. He's a good man and I would be happy to see him succeed elsewhere, but his time left in Athens is measurable in weeks.