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Topic: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Topic: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

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BurritoBuggy4
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Member Since: 4/19/2021
Post Count: 95

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Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/24/2021 12:47:53 PM

Interested on what folks think will be the teams strengths and weaknesses heading into next season. Defense was certainly an area that could have used improvement (hence, a lot of folks on here would really like to see McDay stay in the starting lineup as a defensive presence), as well as turnovers and, I'd argue, rebounding. Preston basically led the team on all categories, so had an oversized impact on our strengths (and weaknesses).

So, which areas do we expect to be strengths and weaknesses heading into the season? (Note: "heading into the season," was intentionally written, as some weaknesses can be addressed with lineup manipulation as we see the team gel.)

Last Edited: 7/24/2021 12:48:17 PM by BurritoBuggy4

OUcat
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Member Since: 10/13/2011
Post Count: 134

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/25/2021 1:29:38 PM

EXPERIENCE ... will be a huge key and something not many teams have. Advantage Bobcats.

The ???/weakness is how this team handles the long haul. In short bursts the Bobcats even w/o Preston must be 1-2-3 at the top of the league, as proven by the late-season run.

But when the games start mounting up, and nagging injuries occur, it seems the defense wilts a bit and the rebounding can be off-and-on. This has to be avoided.

At the same time, fans have to realize this team is not going undefeated in MAC play -- no MAC team has done it since the 1960s -- and even 4-5 losses in a 20-game MAC season is championship territory.

Overall ... how will this team handle the target on its back?

In the end, that is what defined the Eastern Michigan-Ball State-Kent State-Buffalo eras in the MAC. They won regular-season MAC Championships AND the MAC Tournament.

That's the next step for Ohio.

Cleveburg Bri
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Member Since: 1/18/2006
Post Count: 41

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/25/2021 3:29:37 PM

I see a lot of rosy, best case scenarios on BA. There's a lot of talent, but also a few concerns on this team. Here's my take:

Jason Preston was (debatably) one of the top 10 players this program has ever seen. His loss will be felt. When he was playing, literally everything moved through him. His abilities improved the offensive stats of every other player on the team. Dwight does not have the season he had without him. Lots of wide-open 3 point looks for everybody, largely thanks to him.

Jason Carter had a really bad last year, on a so-so team (frankly he was a big part of the reason they were a so-so team). He had pretty average results the year prior to that. It was reported he had a pretty bad injury in '20-'21, so maybe he'll recover to his form of '18-'19. That could happen, especially with the step down in competition. Statistically, however, it's probably more likely he'll settle into a player somewhere between his high and low points. If he ends up having a sub-40% FG%, and a 20% 3P%, he will seriously hurt Ohio's results, not help.

I'm a big fan of both Roderick and McDay and expect both to progress nicely. That doesn't always happen, however. Steps back can and do happen. I don't think that's particularly likely, but it's possible.

Sears has obvious talent. He also has serious work to do on his shot. When he becomes the driver of the offense, that flaw will be more exposed. I also worry (a little) that he may take too may ill-advised drives into a sea of bigs, rather than running the offense to get to a higher percentage shot. Hopefully that doesn't materialize.

In the 4 game stretch Preston missed in Dec/Jan, Ohio was 2-2, including a home loss to BGSU, squeaking by a wretched N Illinois at home, and getting clobbered by Toledo. Of course, the Akron game Preston missed later on was a real pleasure to watch.

For Dwight, he obviously was working through some injuries last year. If he can heal up, it will be quite nice to see him actually be able to jump.

So IMHO it's very possible that this group is a MAC tournament semi-final loss kind of team. Of course, like the rosy best case scenarios, it's also possible that everyone keeps growing, or returns to form, and we have another excellent campaign. Of course, like everyone else, I'm hoping for the latter. I won't be too shocked if it's the former, though. Either way, I'm excited to see this group. I doubt anyone's going to argue they don't have potential.

Last Edited: 7/25/2021 3:33:51 PM by Cleveburg Bri

Jeff McKinney
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Member Since: 11/12/2004
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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/25/2021 9:00:54 PM

Interesting, Cleveburg, that you make no mention of defense in your analysis, including what you said about Carter.

Cleveburg Bri
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Member Since: 1/18/2006
Post Count: 41

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/25/2021 10:18:02 PM

I doubt I could add much worthwhile about his Xavier defense. I've not heard anything that leads me to believe he was a notable, or subpar defender in general. I have heard an opinion or two that he was slow this past year, but I imagine an ankle injury would be the obvious culprit there. He was a team captain, and has certainly gotten praise for being the proverbial "glue" guy. Of course he was also abandoned in a rest stop bathroom by his bus. I don't want to make that into anything, but the neon flaming symbolism is hard to miss.

I really don't mean to knock Carter as much as I feel like I am, by the way. I have a feeling his time at Xavier has pretty much been defined by injury. If he can get healthy, he could be a very important piece on this team. Of course, he's had a whole lot of injuries in his career. So there may be more to come.

Overall, Ohio's defensive issues are pretty well known, I think. Tightening it up was a big part of their late season run. I'm not sure Sears replacing Preston will really help. Maybe all of the other main players returning does help some, from an experience standpoint.

FearLeon
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/26/2021 1:39:01 AM

Cleveburg Bri wrote:

I don't have any good idea about Carter's injuries the last two seasons. All I know is that if he didn't leave Ohio he was a MAC Player of the Year candidate. If he can give 80% of what he was at Ohio, then we will be just fine and so will he. Don't forget how talented this guy was in a Bobcat uniform.

In my opinion the key is going to be Roderick. If this guy can make the jump to 1st Team All-MAC...watch out....this team can make a deep, deep run.

Last Edited: 7/26/2021 1:40:23 AM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

100%Cat
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Member Since: 1/17/2013
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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/26/2021 8:32:32 AM

FearLeon wrote:

Cleveburg Bri wrote:

I would also add that, with this team, Carter isn't going to be expected to carry the team like he was his final season here previously. Look at all the talent around him now. Carter might even be in a 6th man role, depending on how the lineup shakes out. How many teams in the MAC can pull that kind of player off the bench?

71 BOBCAT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/26/2021 8:48:38 AM

If we, as fans, continue to look deep into the strengths & weaknesses we will always find something that we think is an issue. We never know someones injuries as teams no longer give out this info.

I would recommend that we keep our eye on the the simple fact that we have 4 returning starters, 1 or 2 off the bench players, with a good talent transfer. Most teams would love to be in our position. I do believe that the press will be picking us to win the conference.

In college basketball the #1 important position is the point guard and we are loosing our our best player.

GO BOBCATS

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 7,055

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/26/2021 8:59:56 AM

Backup PG is my biggest concern. I know Brown can handle the load in an emergency situation, but I like him off the ball more. How fast the new guy, whomever it is, steps up is gonna be key.

Ohio69
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 3,021

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/30/2021 9:30:39 AM

Biggest concerns for me are three point/outside shooting by guards other than Roderick, and depth. Big drop offs in experience/results behind Sears and the amazing trio of BVP-Wilson-Carter.

A starting 5 of Sears, Roderick, BVP, Wilson and Carter is seriously good.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Recovering Journalist
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Member Since: 8/17/2010
Location: Cleveland, OH
Post Count: 1,839

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/30/2021 10:40:48 AM

Losing an NBA draftee hurts, but I'm genuinely excited to see what Sears does now that he's running the ship. I don't think it's unrealistic to see this team as a true contender for the automatic bid.

71 BOBCAT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,872

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RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/30/2021 11:10:42 AM

It currently appears, on paper anyway, that there will have to be a new offensive game strategy implemented due to JP's departure.
The point guard position is the most important position in the college game and we will see some negative impact not having Jason.
However the cupboard is not bare and Mark played well last year. If he is able to continue to grow, in the PG position, there might not be that much of an expected drop off.
Let's keep in mind that we have the remainder of the starting 5 back along with at least 1 quality transfer.
I still believe we will be favored to repeat next season.

GO BOBCATS

The Optimist
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Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,561

Status: Offline

RE: Potential strengths and weaknesses heading into next season?

Posted: 7/30/2021 3:53:49 PM

It definitely feels like we are extremely experienced, but I'm assuming most teams in the NCAA are going to be in a similar boat since everyone gets an extra year of eligibility this year... A record-number of 5th (or more) year seniors this year across the NCAA...

I'm very excited to see Carter returning. We've got all the pieces to be very, very good.

I've seen crazier things happen.

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