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I don't think your thoughts are correct. There was never any hope that he would get new commits prior to December 31st. And he stated he would not pressure any incumbent recruits/commits to sign. It would have been a low-rent move to have a handshake agreement that he become the head coach, but wait to officially sign him until January 1st. And I'm sure there would have been some sort of lawsuit if we'd have tried it. Who cares about the $350,000? It is chump change in the world of D-1 athletics. The Nebraska game that we didn't play footed the bill, with $300,000 left over. The South Carolina game paid for Bowden's buyout, with $600,000 left over. Notre Dame paid Charlie Weis $19,000,000 not to coach the Irish. Kansas then paid him $5,650,000 to not coach the Jawhawks

The biggest issue with K-Lac is fouls - OFFENSIVE FOULS - moving screens! I blame this on the coaching staff! OK, he is a step behind and that is why he gets caught. So for goodness sakes, post him up and tell him NO MOVING SCREENS. He has the best touch around the bucket of any of our bigs. We NEED points at Center. NEED. Under the KD system he would be scoring 10 PPG. Because he would be used properly as a post, in-out player. I concede, JC had more success in the MAC than KD - won a game or two in the Dance!! However, he had DJ Cooper and Armand Basset. He does not have them now. Time to start using what he does have - 1 6'11" big who is capable of scoring. We could NOT be any worse at center than we are right now. NO production. NO threat to take it inside. Stop chucking 3's, it is NOT working. Rant over.

this has Abdi at #17.... I believe that the Crew have the #18 pick would be great to have Abdi with the Crew https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2019-mls-draft-big-board:-version-30_aid45701

Kreed is saying don't host. Go play Northwetern/Illinois/Pitt/ Any other Power 5 school who will pay you over a million. Use part of the money for the buyout and your transportation to that away game and you still have money left to put towards something else in athletics.

As I recall, Sayles was hurt in a home game against BG, which would have been January 13th. I'd hope he's back to 100% by now. I think his primary issue is mental in that he loses track of what's going on during the games and disappears sometimes, doing things losing his man, not boxing out, not looking for the ball... He's very good in transition when he's on the move. He's still young so I hope he comes around.

They are working to make other arrangements (game in Chattanooga) in order to avoid paying that buyout. Just because being hired before early signing day didn't result in any early signing day commits, that doesn't mean it was a waste. Additional time to build relationships with recruits who might sign in Feb, get staff in place, and build relationship with the current players is very valuable. Waiting until 1/1, while maybe financially savvy, would have likely been a bad move in a number of ways (perception and recruiting).

It's rare that a new staff comes in and keeps anyone from the old staff. Coaches have their own networks and an idea of the staff before they take the job.. I liked Mounds and so did the players, but if we win, they'll like the new guy too.

It's okay to be disappointed that Otis wasn't retained (which I definitely am) AND be able to acknowledge the staff has NEO connections AND acknowledge the staff likely isn't complete (as there are some coaching spots not named yet). Feeney and Williams are great tag alongs from the UT-C staff. Cochran was at Kent State last year. Zagorski and Rodriguiz were not on UT-C's staff, though they both were likely going to be if Arth stayed there.

I caught the 2nd half of the Iowa / Northwestern game. Iowa started the 2nd half with no defensive intensity. NW ripped off 8 unanswered points in less than 2 minutes (sound familiar?), taking command of a game that was tied at the half. During the ensuing Iowa timeout, their coach demonstrably ripped into his team without calling out anyone in particular. The team responded nicely, playing solid defense, regained the lead, and cruised to a 10 point win. On the road. I found it very refreshing.

Riak has trouble catching the ball let alone attacking the rim. His strength appears to be shot blocking. Looks like a one dimensional player. I think Sayles has a much bigger potential.

As a recruiting buff, I already miss Otis Mounds.

That comment is coming from the highest possible authority in your life Clark. All I can say is "Ouch!"

There is no way I want to see K-Lac on the floor outside of garbage time. I feel people are using revisionist history in an attempt to find a solution to a problem. K-Lac played in 30 games last season and scored more than 4 points a whopping 1 time while shooting .492 from the field. Meanwhile, he's a turnover machine who averages a foul every 4 minutes on the floor and is slow on rotating in defense. Do you guys not remember how terrible our defense was last season when he was anchoring the middle? Personally, I feel our best option at C at the moment is Riak. I'd take him over K-Lac at both ends of the court. K-Lac might be a marginally better post scorer over Riak, but K-Lac commits way too many offensive fouls. On the defensive side Riak is a stud. Sayles IMO isn't far behind Riak. He's a slightly better offensive player, but not the defender Riak is.

Do you mean how to close out on a shooter as to not foul them on a 3 point attempt, especially with 5 seconds to go? By the way, my sarcasm wasn't directed at you, but at the stat, especially when you have games like this where you shoot yourself in the foot with a dumb foul on a 3 point attempt with 5 seconds left. ______________________________________________________________ This was the first game, in my opinion, that we deserved to lose. While the effort was there, the mental game wasn't. Other losses can be chocked up to off shooting nights, depth issues, or just plain old being beat in a good game; this one we lost based on not being prepared mentally to handle the 2nd half.

For all of the people asking for more play in the post I ask the following question.... Did you watch any of Groce's teams in the past? All of his teams are reliant on guard play and high ball screens. The days of playing inside out have left and gone to Pittsburgh. This team will live and die on the perimeter. The wings are simply not playing at a high level. This team needs one more playmaker.

https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190108/university-of-akron-soccer-junior-marcel-zajac-turning-pro

Looks like a FB from Ashland? edit: looks like he only played in 1 game in each of the past 2 seasons and has accumulated zero stats. I think its safe to say he will be a walk on.

GOOD. TEAMS. FINISH.

It would. Ivey and Sayles are our only players who play consistently above the rim. Utomi is especially earth-bound. Riak plays offense like he's afraid the rim's gonna bite.

What a garbage article and a grabage site...lol

https://forgefc.canpl.ca/video/one-on-one-marcel-zajac https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/getting-to-know-marcel-zajac

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I love ESPN+. I get a bunch of the Zips games (football, soccer, MBB, and WBB) and as a soccer fan, it's amazing because it has MLS, Italian Serie A, English League Cup, English FA Cup, and more. It also has one MLB and NHL game each day throughout their respective seasons. Well worth $5 per month.

MLS = ELC

good article on Abdi... I did not know that Akron did not make an offer to him when he was in high school https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/columbus-crew-sc/central-ohio-native-hopes-to-be-drafted-by-the-crew/