Ohio - Michigan

[bgsufalcon24]

Bobcats leading 35-29 at half, led by as many as 13 in the first half. Ohio shooting 53% from the field.

DJ Cooper is impressive. Some of the shots he makes are halfway to the friggin moon.

Ohio is looking for their 2nd straight 1st round win in the NCAA tournament, having destroyed Georgetown as a 14 seed several years back.

[factman]

Great job Cats!

[OptionQB]

Once Illinois fans realize that Virginia Commonwealth is a better job and Shaka isn't coming . . . John Groce is going to get PAID!

[JWEIII]

Once Illinois fans realize that Virginia Commonwealth is a better job and Shaka isn't coming . . . John Groce is going to get PAID!

Funny. As soon as the horn went I said John Groce won't be back at OU next year. The Big Eleven is gonna come knocking. Bleeev That.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Wouldn't be stunned if Groce ended up at Illinois, their AD Mike Thomas was the Akron AD before becoming Cincinnati's and then Illinois' both times Thomas needed a football hire at UC he took from the MAC (CMU both times) and he once again did at Illinois when he needed a football coach. I'm also interested to see who he hires for women's basketball, since a couple MAC names have been floated out there.

[Class of 61]

If you guys get a chance, go to Cleveland.com, the article about OU, then read some of the comments from "irate" Suckeye fans...they're basically snapping away at Hoke et al for referring THE Columbus Tech as Ohio. It's really pretty funny stuff.

[BGSU33]

Bobcats leading 35-29 at half, led by as many as 13 in the first half. Ohio shooting 53% from the field.

DJ Cooper is impressive. Some of the shots he makes are halfway to the friggin moon.

Ohio is looking for their 2nd straight 1st round win in the NCAA tournament, having destroyed Georgetown as a 14 seed several years back.

What Ohio has done alone this season is more than BG has ever accomplished in its history. Ohio won a MAC Tournament (which BG has never done) and won another NCAA Tournament game (which BG has only done once in its history). Ohio can flat out can play, and what's more, they don't have any seniors! They put guys on the floor who can defend and they all can also - imagine this - score! They are very balanced. Second time in three years now that not only has OU won the MAC Tournament, but has gone on to win an NCAA Tournament game as well. This is exactly along the lines of why they are so much better of a program than we can ever hope to be. BG can only hope and wish for this, while OU is doing it yet again.

[TG1996]

If you guys get a chance, go to Cleveland.com, the article about OU, then read some of the comments from "irate" Suckeye fans...they're basically snapping away at Hoke et al for referring THE Columbus Tech as Ohio. It's really pretty funny stuff.

They've been griping about the "Ohio" thing for more than a year. It's silly for Hoke (and then Beilein) to continuously say that in reference to OSU, but even more ridiculous for a fan base that insists on calling Michigan "that school up north" to get so bent out of shape over it.

The skin of the Buckeye fan gets thinner by the season.

[Flipper]

Bobcats leading 35-29 at half, led by as many as 13 in the first half. Ohio shooting 53% from the field.

DJ Cooper is impressive. Some of the shots he makes are halfway to the friggin moon.

Ohio is looking for their 2nd straight 1st round win in the NCAA tournament, having destroyed Georgetown as a 14 seed several years back.

What Ohio has done alone this season is more than BG has ever accomplished in its history. Ohio won a MAC Tournament (which BG has never done) and won another NCAA Tournament game (which BG has only done once in its history). Ohio can flat out can play, and what's more, they don't have any seniors! They put guys on the floor who can defend and they all can also - imagine this - score! They are very balanced. Second time in three years now that not only has OU won the MAC Tournament, but has gone on to win an NCAA Tournament game as well. This is exactly along the lines of why they are so much better of a program than we can ever hope to be. BG can only hope and wish for this, while OU is doing it yet again.

You know...the fact that you seem to orgasm over every OU win is annoying enough...but your ignorance of your own alma mater's history is truly appalling. Granted...we've sucked a ton of late, but we did beat the eventual national champs (Loyola) in the days of Nate Thurmond...we also beat Notre Dame in the NCAA...back when there weren't more than five dozen teams in the field...when it meant something to win.

Seriously....if you looooove OU so fricking much maybe you should bust out the knee pads and move to Athens

[zete]

I agree 100% with BGSU33. It is sad as can be we can't get it going here. I went out to the Arlington - Edgerton Division 4 HS game last night just so I could see the place full. And yea, we did have some success back in the 50s and 60s with basketball; 4 times we went to the NCAAs. NOTHING though in the last 40 years. NOTHING That is unacceptable. Unfair to the students and community in general. AND it is why no one is excited about basketball around here. Problem is if Orr is fired we will not find anyone to "fix" the problem. I have said it before, not until they pay someone BIG money that is proven will we begin to contend consistently. Until then we will live with the Louis Orr's of the basketball world. Still don't understand why they hired a guy that had been fired elsewhere.
Hell, yes OU has it going and I for another am envious as can be of their program. What they have are 4 to 6 thousand people going to games - hundreds of which are students no matter who they play. BAck off a little bit, Flipper and get real.

[Rollo83]

I agree 100% with BGSU33. It is sad as can be we can't get it going here. I went out to the Arlington - Edgerton Division 4 HS game last night just so I could see the place full. And yea, we did have some success back in the 50s and 60s with basketball; 4 times we went to the NCAAs. NOTHING though in the last 40 years. NOTHING That is unacceptable. Unfair to the students and community in general. AND it is why no one is excited about basketball around here. Problem is if Orr is fired we will not find anyone to "fix" the problem. I have said it before, not until they pay someone BIG money that is proven will we begin to contend consistently. Until then we will live with the Louis Orr's of the basketball world. Still don't understand why they hired a guy that had been fired elsewhere.
Hell, yes OU has it going and I for another am envious as can be of their program. What they have are 4 to 6 thousand people going to games - hundreds of which are students no matter wo they play. BAck off a little bit, Flipper and get real.

I totally disagree with the "pay someone BIG money that is proven" theory of finding a new coach. That what we did with Orr...he was a Big East player, NBA player and a Big East Coach of the Year (I have no idea how that happened). I think we'd have more success going with an up and coming assistant. If we get someone with that's had success at a major conference program, that also means he's had some failures too because he's no longer coacing there. Don't want another retread.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I agree 100% with BGSU33. It is sad as can be we can't get it going here. I went out to the Arlington - Edgerton Division 4 HS game last night just so I could see the place full. And yea, we did have some success back in the 50s and 60s with basketball; 4 times we went to the NCAAs. NOTHING though in the last 40 years. NOTHING That is unacceptable. Unfair to the students and community in general. AND it is why no one is excited about basketball around here. Problem is if Orr is fired we will not find anyone to "fix" the problem. I have said it before, not until they pay someone BIG money that is proven will we begin to contend consistently. Until then we will live with the Louis Orr's of the basketball world. Still don't understand why they hired a guy that had been fired elsewhere.
Hell, yes OU has it going and I for another am envious as can be of their program. What they have are 4 to 6 thousand people going to games - hundreds of which are students no matter wo they play. BAck off a little bit, Flipper and get real.

I totally disagree with the "pay someone BIG money that is proven" theory of finding a new coach. That what we did with Orr...he was a Big East player, NBA player and a Big East Coach of the Year (I have no idea how that happened). I think we'd have more success going with an up and coming assistant. If we get someone with that's had success at a major conference program, that also means he's had some failures too because he's no longer coacing there. Don't want another retread.

I also disagree with that, mostly becauses it not what any of the consistent MAC powers have done. OU was Groce's first head coaching job. Before Akron Dambrot was had only been a head coach at CMU, Ashland, and Tiffin, with assistant stops at EMU, then Akron before he was named head coach, along with being a high school head coach, which he is more known for then any of his college jobs. As for Kent's coaches during their rise to power, Kent was the first head coaching job for Gary Waters, Stan Heath, Jim Christian, and Geno Ford (though Ford had lower level head coaching experience).

Someone in a thread said we need to copy what these schools do when hiring their head basketball coach so we can have that same success, and none of those schools have gone the "pay someone BIG money that is proven" route. We tried a "retread" who had some success at a higher level and it didn't work, when the time comes we should go and get a hot young assistant like the recent substained MAC powers have

[zete]

Maybe there is no answer.

In the meantime, live for today, GO OU!!!

[FalconTurf]

The answer is in the form of donations to the program like those made by the Stroh family, Bill Frack and others. Let me point a couple of things out that have been mentioned here before.

We've been in an arena that was a great fan involvement in the game arena but lacked the bells and whistles of video boards, concessions, restrooms, and team facilities for practice, conditioning, athletic training, locker rooms and offices.

We've paid the coaches among the lowest in the conference and probably have similar expenditures for recruiting.

We send our players to Canada for summer exhibition games - nice country but are college age kids excited about the trip.

We host a poorly attended holiday tournament rather than send our team to Hawaii or some other tourist location - nice to be home but is this attractive to college kids.

We take all these factors into play and wonder why we have difficulty getting the best recruits, the best coaches and excitement among the fan base. All these factors work together and to blame GC or Coach Orr for something that has been in the process of putting BG into the depths of modern basketball programs since 1968 is ridiculous. Other programs have built better arenas, added the video boards, spent money for coaches, recruiting, hosting big time programs, going to valued holiday tournaments, making summer tours of significance through Europe or Asia, and finally promoting the program to the public through advertising so the program is given value.

It is frustrating to see these things but as the child of BG alums from the late 60's I knew when I walked on campus in 1987 that athletics, academics, buildings and all other aspects on campus would not have super funding. But I also knew the people would be friendly and I would always feel good about my decision to graduate from BG - bachelors and masters now.

Until the Frack money starts rolling in and others contribute significantly we will be looking at others with more advantages although each year with eternal optimism we will have a shot and so I continue to support the best I can with a modest contribution to the Falcon Club and the purchase of a partial ticket package. Go Falcons!

[zete]

Understood.
But unfortunately I for one and Im not alone, have been waiting since '68 for something to cheer about and have had so little. At this point in my life, I realize it probably will not happen again before I die. I figure i have about 10 seasons. And that is BS! The fact this university can not get it together and deliver a decent product is disgraceful and unacceptable. Thus I have come to cheer for the others from the MAC that have made the grade in post season. Loved Ball St and their teams of the late 80s and early 90s, Toledo in the late 70s, EMU and their win over Duke, and this year Ohio U. Why? because we never make it. So to me the next best think is to cheer for the other member schools - altruism.