I keep hearing the “we’re snakebit by injuries” and “we haven’t seen what SP could do with all his recruits.” So we were 14-17 and didn’t make Cleveland last year and currently were in dead last in the MAC East. So hypothetically, where do you think we’re at if Gollon and Dartis are healthy? IMO, we’re better but still in the same general boat. Is there people who look at our current squad in its entirety and think, “we get all these guys healthy and we’re golden moving forward?”
I don't necessarily think Ohio is "golden" with everyone on the squad healthy, but it does give them a hell of a lot more options. The positions of the injuries have been critical. Unlike football where you have 85 on scholarship, one or two injuries in basketball is a killer. Especially when it's guys who are expected to play huge minutes.
2017-18: JC and BVP being injured meant that our bigs to rely on were Doug (rebounder and glass protector) and Kevin Mickle (transfer who was widely unproven coming into the year). That's it. Any time they got in foul trouble, Gavin Block was playing in the paint. Not exactly ideal.
2018-19: Ohio gets all the bigs back from injury, and it has shown. Rebounding is much, much better than last year and Carter provides an offensive game in the paint. Buuuuuuuuuuuut, now the two best shooters on the roster, Gollon and Dartis, are down. The defense sags in to protect the paint and surrounds DT/JC anytime they touch the ball. Kick-outs aren't as effective because the best shooters aren't there. And TK/Preston are forced to try and make plays they shouldn't be making, TK especially.
You have to admit we'd be just a tick better with Jordy's shooting ability. He's one of the most accurate shooters in Ohio history for a reason. It may not be enough to compete with Buffalo, but at least they'd be trending in a better direction and the offense would be more fluid.