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Topic: Official Game 30 Thread: Eastern Michigan
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GoCats105
3/5/2025 11:03 AM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Just got back from Athens:

1. EMU is a terrible matchup for us, although we don't help ourselves when Vic picks up 3 quick fouls, Clayton becomes allergic to anything inside of 19 feet, AJ Brown is out, and we refuse to play Ayden Evans for more than 90 seconds. There's no way you can play 4 guarsds against that kind of size. Hell, it was Nelson against James in the paint the first couple possessions - terrible recipe.

2. EMU just beat us with toughness and hustle. They wanted it more. End of story. They wanted contact. They wanted a street fight. They wanted to talk, flop, and be animated. They came in our house and beat us up. We were lucky to be in the game at the half.
These two thoughts sum it up pretty well. There was a sequence last night where we basically had four point guards on the floor with a big (Reef, Sheldon, Elliott, Pav and Clayton). We're not gonna do squat in Cleveland with that kind of lineup. I wish I could count how many times I saw Elliott mixing it up in the paint more than our actual bigs were. I get it that Evans might not be ready, but cmon Jeff. We are undersized and when one of the other two is in foul trouble you have to play him.
Sheldon getting the same minutes...if not more minutes than E2...will never make sense to me. Granted...I understand the Miami game because E2 was sick.

Sheldon made some plays last night which was good to see, but one of the big turning points last night was down 51-50....Sheldon missed a wide-open three. EMU then goes on a 10-5 spurt and in the final 14 minutes of the game we never had a possession to tie the game or take the lead. That was in my opinion the biggest possession of the game and a three was taken by a guy who I believe was 1 for his last 17 or 2 for his last 17 from three. Granted, Sheldon made a three late with under 45 seconds to go...but it didn't matter at that point....game was over. Sheldon makes that shot to go up 53-51....who knows what happens from there. And I'm not pinning last night on Sheldon.....just look at Reef/Elmore shooting....but man that was a big moment in the game.
That three he hit late looked like an old Sheldon three. Totally in rhythm, didn't even need to think about it. Just step up and can the thing. Definitely too little, too late at that point. But maybe it's sparks something for the run in Cleveland. Who knows. Lately you can see he's definitely questioning whether or not he should take the shot instead of just doing it.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
3/5/2025 11:35 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
I like Pavs fine. But I think next year's roster -- at least what we know of it now -- leaves a lot to be desired, and I think you have to put on some pretty seriously rose tinted glasses to expect us to be better next year than this year. We lose our leading scorer and Reef who is basically tied with AJB & Pavs for second on the team in scoring. That also means that a bad defensive team loses both our best perimeter defender and interior defender. That's a lot to lose for a .500 team that has basically one good win vs. Akron.

I think the reality is that outside of Elijah Elliott -- by dint just of his age and the flashes he's shown -- you kind of just have to assume that nobody else on our roster is going to be on the next truly good Ohio basketball team.

So I'm kind of fine with Pavs or anybody else leaving. Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
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100%Cat
3/5/2025 11:36 AM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Just got back from Athens:

1. EMU is a terrible matchup for us, although we don't help ourselves when Vic picks up 3 quick fouls, Clayton becomes allergic to anything inside of 19 feet, AJ Brown is out, and we refuse to play Ayden Evans for more than 90 seconds. There's no way you can play 4 guarsds against that kind of size. Hell, it was Nelson against James in the paint the first couple possessions - terrible recipe.

2. EMU just beat us with toughness and hustle. They wanted it more. End of story. They wanted contact. They wanted a street fight. They wanted to talk, flop, and be animated. They came in our house and beat us up. We were lucky to be in the game at the half.
These two thoughts sum it up pretty well. There was a sequence last night where we basically had four point guards on the floor with a big (Reef, Sheldon, Elliott, Pav and Clayton). We're not gonna do squat in Cleveland with that kind of lineup. I wish I could count how many times I saw Elliott mixing it up in the paint more than our actual bigs were. I get it that Evans might not be ready, but cmon Jeff. We are undersized and when one of the other two is in foul trouble you have to play him.
Sheldon getting the same minutes...if not more minutes than E2...will never make sense to me. Granted...I understand the Miami game because E2 was sick.

Sheldon made some plays last night which was good to see, but one of the big turning points last night was down 51-50....Sheldon missed a wide-open three. EMU then goes on a 10-5 spurt and in the final 14 minutes of the game we never had a possession to tie the game or take the lead. That was in my opinion the biggest possession of the game and a three was taken by a guy who I believe was 1 for his last 17 or 2 for his last 17 from three. Granted, Sheldon made a three late with under 45 seconds to go...but it didn't matter at that point....game was over. Sheldon makes that shot to go up 53-51....who knows what happens from there. And I'm not pinning last night on Sheldon.....just look at Reef/Elmore shooting....but man that was a big moment in the game.
That three he hit late looked like an old Sheldon three. Totally in rhythm, didn't even need to think about it. Just step up and can the thing. Definitely too little, too late at that point. But maybe it's sparks something for the run in Cleveland. Who knows. Lately you can see he's definitely questioning whether or not he should take the shot instead of just doing it.
He shot the ball pretty well in warmups. Not so much from the corner, but the wings to the top of the arc he looked to be pretty locked in.
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Ohio69
3/5/2025 11:51 AM
OU down two starters (Hadaway, Brown) with a third definitely limited by injury (Clayton). Mitchell, James, and Sheldon were 3-16 from 3. Can't have both of those things and win many games.

I see no "wanting it" or "toughness" issues with this team.
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 11:51:38 AM by Ohio69
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FJC31
3/5/2025 11:56 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
I like Pavs fine. But I think next year's roster -- at least what we know of it now -- leaves a lot to be desired, and I think you have to put on some pretty seriously rose tinted glasses to expect us to be better next year than this year. We lose our leading scorer and Reef who is basically tied with AJB & Pavs for second on the team in scoring. That also means that a bad defensive team loses both our best perimeter defender and interior defender. That's a lot to lose for a .500 team that has basically one good win vs. Akron.

I think the reality is that outside of Elijah Elliott -- by dint just of his age and the flashes he's shown -- you kind of just have to assume that nobody else on our roster is going to be on the next truly good Ohio basketball team.

So I'm kind of fine with Pavs or anybody else leaving. Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
We're in agreement on this. With the focus of our recruiting strategy revolving around HS, we're realistically and most likely 2-3 years away from the next potentially good Ohio team.

Bearing an unforeseen jump from holdovers, major contributions from freshmen (unlikely since Boals eases most in), and an immediate impact big, it's really tough to see us being MAC title worthy next year.

I too, am fine with whoever chooses to leave. Obviously not what you want as a program, but we seem pretty far away from where we need to be even with good health.
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 11:59:14 AM by FJC31
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FearLeon
3/5/2025 11:57 AM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Just got back from Athens:

1. EMU is a terrible matchup for us, although we don't help ourselves when Vic picks up 3 quick fouls, Clayton becomes allergic to anything inside of 19 feet, AJ Brown is out, and we refuse to play Ayden Evans for more than 90 seconds. There's no way you can play 4 guarsds against that kind of size. Hell, it was Nelson against James in the paint the first couple possessions - terrible recipe.

2. EMU just beat us with toughness and hustle. They wanted it more. End of story. They wanted contact. They wanted a street fight. They wanted to talk, flop, and be animated. They came in our house and beat us up. We were lucky to be in the game at the half.
These two thoughts sum it up pretty well. There was a sequence last night where we basically had four point guards on the floor with a big (Reef, Sheldon, Elliott, Pav and Clayton). We're not gonna do squat in Cleveland with that kind of lineup. I wish I could count how many times I saw Elliott mixing it up in the paint more than our actual bigs were. I get it that Evans might not be ready, but cmon Jeff. We are undersized and when one of the other two is in foul trouble you have to play him.
Sheldon getting the same minutes...if not more minutes than E2...will never make sense to me. Granted...I understand the Miami game because E2 was sick.

Sheldon made some plays last night which was good to see, but one of the big turning points last night was down 51-50....Sheldon missed a wide-open three. EMU then goes on a 10-5 spurt and in the final 14 minutes of the game we never had a possession to tie the game or take the lead. That was in my opinion the biggest possession of the game and a three was taken by a guy who I believe was 1 for his last 17 or 2 for his last 17 from three. Granted, Sheldon made a three late with under 45 seconds to go...but it didn't matter at that point....game was over. Sheldon makes that shot to go up 53-51....who knows what happens from there. And I'm not pinning last night on Sheldon.....just look at Reef/Elmore shooting....but man that was a big moment in the game.
Lately you can see he's definitely questioning whether or not he should take the shot instead of just doing it.
It feels like he's passed up at least five wide open 3s in the last five games. And when he passes them up it has and can lead to shot clock winding down and we don't get another good look in the possession. It's tricky....he's on the team to make the open 3....but he's not making them or passing them up altogether. As I've said before, Boals is going to have a business decision to make with Sheldon next season.
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 12:03:35 PM by FearLeon
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FearLeon
3/5/2025 12:02 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
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FJC31
3/5/2025 12:26 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
I think this is where the conversation gets interesting and probably tough internally.

Elliot has been inserted into the starting lineup more than EJ4 since Hadaway went down.

We're still smaller with a 1-3 of Pavs, Elliot, and AJB. Is it more advantageous moving forward if Pavs were to leave? Then start Elliot at the 1, AJB, at the 2, and either a bigger wing transfer at the 3/one of the freshman with Hadaway and hopefully a portal big?

We'd need a backup PG and there's less experience overall, but would we be more competitive sooner with consistently bigger and hypothetically more athletic lineups?
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 12:29:34 PM by FJC31
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shabamon
3/5/2025 12:50 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
All the wings coming in are still freshmen. There will be a learning curve. As it stands now we will have five freshmen (including redshirts) and possibly six considering the offer to the young man from London. Factor in that Evans is hardly in the rotation. That's six, possibly seven players outside the current rotation and outside of these three. Half the roster, essentially. Some of these guys are going to have to be rotation-usable in November, even if Sheldon, James, and Nicol all stay.
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spongeBOB CATpants
3/5/2025 12:57 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
How do we only get Clayton 5 shots? He played 37 min. Maybe that falls on Boals but without Brown, he should have gotten at least 15 shots up.

We are 3-9 when Clayton gets less than 10 shot attempts and 12-3 when he gets at least 10.
Because Clayton only wants to take one type of shot and that's a 3PA.

In those losses, he shot 19 2PA's in comparison to 36 3PA's. He's taken just 7 2PA's in the last 4 losses.

It's just not a balanced and sustainable offensive approach given how streaky he is already from deep.

I don't think that's on Boals. He can't force AJC to take certain shots.
He can figure out another way to get him looks other than the pick and pop? I'm not an x and o expert by any means but I feel like that's not the only way to manufacture an open shot for him.
I don't necessarily disagree, but AJC hasn't really put himself in the position to get other looks most of the season or for his career. Could Boals enforce that? For sure, but we just haven't really seen it.
Very true, we've all been begging for him to work on his post up game and diversify his shot selection but hasn't happened.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
3/5/2025 1:54 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
I'm sure I'm alone on this one, but my sense is that Evans should probably be on this list, too. He looks so lost and so far away from contributing that I think strictly from an odds standpoint you're probably better off taking another swing at a big than betting on his developing into a difference maker/still being with the program when he becomes one.

That he can't crack the bigs rotation on this team, and the rate stats when he is on the floor, make him such a project that it just seems foolhardy to make the bet.

Evans' freshman year rate stats don't even measure up to Wiz's Freshman year rate stats -- and Wiz was at Louisville playing against better competition. Evans has a very, very long ways to come and it's pretty hard to look at Boals' track record recruiting/developing bigs and believe it's a likely outcome that Evans becomes a difference maker.
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 1:55:26 PM by Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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SBH
3/5/2025 2:09 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
How do we only get Clayton 5 shots? He played 37 min. Maybe that falls on Boals but without Brown, he should have gotten at least 15 shots up.

We are 3-9 when Clayton gets less than 10 shot attempts and 12-3 when he gets at least 10.
Because Clayton only wants to take one type of shot and that's a 3PA.

In those losses, he shot 19 2PA's in comparison to 36 3PA's. He's taken just 7 2PA's in the last 4 losses.

It's just not a balanced and sustainable offensive approach given how streaky he is already from deep.

I don't think that's on Boals. He can't force AJC to take certain shots.
Ever see Boals holding up a few fingers on the sideline. He's calling the offensive set he wants the team to follow for each possession. He's calling the shots, not AJC.

He can figure out another way to get him looks other than the pick and pop? I'm not an x and o expert by any means but I feel like that's not the only way to manufacture an open shot for him.
I don't necessarily disagree, but AJC hasn't really put himself in the position to get other looks most of the season or for his career. Could Boals enforce that? For sure, but we just haven't really seen it.
Very true, we've all been begging for him to work on his post up game and diversify his shot selection but hasn't happened.
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FearLeon
3/5/2025 2:28 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
I'm sure I'm alone on this one, but my sense is that Evans should probably be on this list, too. He looks so lost and so far away from contributing that I think strictly from an odds standpoint you're probably better off taking another swing at a big than betting on his developing into a difference maker/still being with the program when he becomes one.

That he can't crack the bigs rotation on this team, and the rate stats when he is on the floor, make him such a project that it just seems foolhardy to make the bet.

Evans' freshman year rate stats don't even measure up to Wiz's Freshman year rate stats -- and Wiz was at Louisville playing against better competition. Evans has a very, very long ways to come and it's pretty hard to look at Boals' track record recruiting/developing bigs and believe it's a likely outcome that Evans becomes a difference maker.
Good point and you are not alone in this thinking.
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FJC31
3/5/2025 2:45 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Pavs is someone I can't really get a feel on either and I was thinking that last night. I also don't know what greener pasture for him would exist, maybe a lateral move to another mid-major.

Our roster construction is so piss poor it needs to unclog itself one way or the other.

And no, not advocating for Pavs to leave. However, some guys do for the sake of next season being better than this season.
Right now, the sort of talent needed to win the league just doesn't seem to be on the roster, and you need more bites at the apple. I'd personally like to see 3 or 4 roster spots turnover.
Nicol
Sheldon
Elmore

Have to believe Nicol is out. Sheldon isn't helping his cause down the stretch with his inability to hit the 3. Elmore is a tough one here. With all the wings coming in, what is his role next year? Has he hit his ceiling? I'm with you as I would like Boals to have at least three scholarships to work with in the portal, no worse than two.
I'm sure I'm alone on this one, but my sense is that Evans should probably be on this list, too. He looks so lost and so far away from contributing that I think strictly from an odds standpoint you're probably better off taking another swing at a big than betting on his developing into a difference maker/still being with the program when he becomes one.

That he can't crack the bigs rotation on this team, and the rate stats when he is on the floor, make him such a project that it just seems foolhardy to make the bet.

Evans' freshman year rate stats don't even measure up to Wiz's Freshman year rate stats -- and Wiz was at Louisville playing against better competition. Evans has a very, very long ways to come and it's pretty hard to look at Boals' track record recruiting/developing bigs and believe it's a likely outcome that Evans becomes a difference maker.
Good point and you are not alone in this thinking.
It's definitely a concern going into next season that he's such a question mark. Although I'm happy to see us look overseas, it makes the offer to the London kid all the more of a head scratcher. Have to think looking at the tape, his contributions would be minimal to start as well.
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shabamon
3/5/2025 3:29 PM
Give Evans another year before you toss him on the trash pile. He clearly needs to get stronger and more agile. If the staff were suggesting he move on now, that should be a signal to themselves that "dang, we really have no idea how to develop bigs, do we?"
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OUcat
3/5/2025 3:48 PM
Historically ... MAC freshman bigs should all be redshirted. But seldom does a MAC team have this option. I would guess, if Evans does transfer, he will either transfer down and be a role-player, minute eater. Or ...

He will make a lateral move and likely get the redshirt he should have had under Boals.

Never know with bigs, they can develop out of nowhere. The 6-8 kid at Kent barely played as a freshman. Barely played-got hurt as a sophomore. Barely played much before Christmas.

But over the last month he has been a monster, especially on the boards. Had 18 last night vs. Western (14 offensive), and a couple other games the past few weeks with 12 or more boards.

If a big can offensive rebound, he should be able to average 10 ppg just on tip-ins and FTs.

Is that Evans future? Who knows.

Just saying ... what if that kid at Kent was a redshirt sophomore, instead of a junior.
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GoCats105
3/5/2025 4:04 PM
OUcat wrote:expand_more
Historically ... MAC freshman bigs should all be redshirted. But seldom does a MAC team have this option. I would guess, if Evans does transfer, he will either transfer down and be a role-player, minute eater. Or ...

He will make a lateral move and likely get the redshirt he should have had under Boals.

Never know with bigs, they can develop out of nowhere. The 6-8 kid at Kent barely played as a freshman. Barely played-got hurt as a sophomore. Barely played much before Christmas.

But over the last month he has been a monster, especially on the boards. Had 18 last night vs. Western (14 offensive), and a couple other games the past few weeks with 12 or more boards.

If a big can offensive rebound, he should be able to average 10 ppg just on tip-ins and FTs.

Is that Evans future? Who knows.

Just saying ... what if that kid at Kent was a redshirt sophomore, instead of a junior.
Yeah I'm not ready to give up on Evans just yet. I need a full year plus a summer to see what he's got. Unless you have a big who is a Day 1 starter from Freshman year on, they're the hardest position to develop. The Leon Williams, Nick Perkins and Isaiah Johnson (he actually didn't start regularly till his Junior year, which floored me) types are outliers, not the norm.
Last Edited: 3/5/2025 4:05:49 PM by GoCats105
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
3/5/2025 4:30 PM
OUcat wrote:expand_more
Historically ... MAC freshman bigs should all be redshirted. But seldom does a MAC team have this option. I would guess, if Evans does transfer, he will either transfer down and be a role-player, minute eater. Or ...

He will make a lateral move and likely get the redshirt he should have had under Boals.

Never know with bigs, they can develop out of nowhere. The 6-8 kid at Kent barely played as a freshman. Barely played-got hurt as a sophomore. Barely played much before Christmas.

But over the last month he has been a monster, especially on the boards. Had 18 last night vs. Western (14 offensive), and a couple other games the past few weeks with 12 or more boards.

If a big can offensive rebound, he should be able to average 10 ppg just on tip-ins and FTs.

Is that Evans future? Who knows.

Just saying ... what if that kid at Kent was a redshirt sophomore, instead of a junior.
The difference here is rate stats. Delrecco Gillespie didn't play much as a Freshman, but his rate stats pointed at what he is now. His per 40 numbers as a Freshman were 17.7 pts/12.2 rebounds. He grabbed 17.3% of available rebounds when he was actually on the floor.

Evans' actual production when he's on the floor does not point to that sort of impact. His rebound rate is 8.4%. That's not good. Per 40 he averages 5.8 rebounds per game. Also not good. As a rebounder, he has more in common with Pavs than he does the guy at Kent State.

Those stats aren't everything. But it is pretty hard to look at his numbers or watch him on the court and see clearly what Evans will do really well.
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giacomo
3/5/2025 5:11 PM
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
OU down two starters (Hadaway, Brown) with a third definitely limited by injury (Clayton). Mitchell, James, and Sheldon were 3-16 from 3. Can't have both of those things and win many games.

I see no "wanting it" or "toughness" issues with this team.
Anyone who says a team lost because they didn’t want it bad enough, never played sports. That is a ridiculous comment.
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GoCats105
3/5/2025 5:53 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Historically ... MAC freshman bigs should all be redshirted. But seldom does a MAC team have this option. I would guess, if Evans does transfer, he will either transfer down and be a role-player, minute eater. Or ...

He will make a lateral move and likely get the redshirt he should have had under Boals.

Never know with bigs, they can develop out of nowhere. The 6-8 kid at Kent barely played as a freshman. Barely played-got hurt as a sophomore. Barely played much before Christmas.

But over the last month he has been a monster, especially on the boards. Had 18 last night vs. Western (14 offensive), and a couple other games the past few weeks with 12 or more boards.

If a big can offensive rebound, he should be able to average 10 ppg just on tip-ins and FTs.

Is that Evans future? Who knows.

Just saying ... what if that kid at Kent was a redshirt sophomore, instead of a junior.
The difference here is rate stats. Delrecco Gillespie didn't play much as a Freshman, but his rate stats pointed at what he is now. His per 40 numbers as a Freshman were 17.7 pts/12.2 rebounds. He grabbed 17.3% of available rebounds when he was actually on the floor.

Evans' actual production when he's on the floor does not point to that sort of impact. His rebound rate is 8.4%. That's not good. Per 40 he averages 5.8 rebounds per game. Also not good. As a rebounder, he has more in common with Pavs than he does the guy at Kent State.

Those stats aren't everything. But it is pretty hard to look at his numbers or watch him on the court and see clearly what Evans will do really well.
Agreed that the stats aren't everything which is why I find it hard to judge him based on his minimal amount of playing time. Coming from high school where as a big, you're almost always the biggest guy on the floor, it's so much different in college. You're now going up against guys the same size and/or bigger than you. The learning curve and weight room curve is much bigger than it would be for a guy like Elliott, who can rely on pure athleticism to make up for his Freshman mistakes.
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BillyTheCat
3/5/2025 6:24 PM
Felix wrote:expand_more
Out coached and out hustled again! Boals is a bust! Picked to finish first snd swept by the team picked to finish ninth. Who's the better coach?
Because a group of dudes wearing pocket protectors who never played the game above 6th grade said who would win. You are the same person who goes to the horse 🐎 track and gets pissed when the Beulah Twins picked the wrong horse.
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BillyTheCat
3/5/2025 6:29 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Even being down AJB, this felt like a game we should have won. Especially being at home and on senior night.

EMU is definitely a matchup nightmare, but its players played like they wanted it (a spot in the MAC tourney) more.

What’s wild, is mathematically we could finish an even .500 this season. Which I wouldn’t put out of the realm of possibilities. Would be on brand with how this season has gone.
Sometimes that feeling turns out to be a rash.
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BillyTheCat
3/5/2025 6:32 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
OU down two starters (Hadaway, Brown) with a third definitely limited by injury (Clayton). Mitchell, James, and Sheldon were 3-16 from 3. Can't have both of those things and win many games.

I see no "wanting it" or "toughness" issues with this team.
Anyone who says a team lost because they didn’t want it bad enough, never played sports. That is a ridiculous comment.
Could not agree more! And sadly, every time we lose a game in either football or basketball it’s the same BS.
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Andrew Ruck
3/5/2025 9:44 PM
Crappy game, crappy crowd, bad senior night. Missed a ton of open mid-range shots. Grossly out performed on the boards. Sheldon & Pavs both passed up several 3s. AJB has become really important to us. EMU played well and they are having a good season, basically the opposite of ours as they exceed expectations and build something up. But losing a home game to EMU? That feels disgusting.

The 2nd quarter was fun, I'll say that.
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OhioCatFan
3/5/2025 10:03 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Crappy game, crappy crowd, bad senior night. Missed a ton of open mid-range shots. Grossly out performed on the boards. Sheldon & Pavs both passed up several 3s. AJB has become really important to us. EMU played well and they are having a good season, basically the opposite of ours as they exceed expectations and build something up. But losing a home game to EMU? That feels disgusting.

The 2nd quarter was fun, I'll say that.
Good summary, Andrew. Somehow, though, even with the great "second quarter" I wasn't at all confident at halftime that we'd pull it off. The team last night just didn't seem to have the intensity they had against Miami and Akron. The injury to AJB was probably part of it, but there's more to it than that, IMHO. All season long with AJB and Captain Chaos playing they've had the same inconsistent play -- world beaters one day and dregs of the MAC the next game. As I've said before I think this has been my most frustrating season as an OHIO basketball fan. It's even worse than the Wilderness Campaign in the Larry Hunter Era because I watched every game that season expecting not much and I didn't get much. This season was just a rollercoaster -- expectation rising after a good game just to get slammed to the pavement again and again.
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