Zippy87

If Tribble didn't make the leap he has this season, we may be closer to a middle-of-the-pack MAC team. He's always been a great defender but his improvement on the offensive end has been huge for this group. I love Tribble - perfect example of hard work paying off and good player development by the coaching staff. I'm hopeful Tavari can make a similar leap at some point.

What happens if Freeman gets in foul trouble again against a good team this year? That's exactly what I'm saying - they have nobody to cover those minutes defensively.

Looking at points and rebounds alone and not considering the rim protection he added in those minutes - especially once Freeman had foul trouble- is discounting his contribution considerably.

Scott has grown on me. He active on offense and is a good rebounder for a guard. I'm less impressed by Thornton, but hoping he comes along offensively. Tavari is the wild card - I think he has the highest ceiling but also probably the lowest floor of the three of those guards.

I was disappointed Baker didn't play this year. I get it, but I really thought he could contribute right away from everything I read and heard about him. I think the team that almost beat UCLA had two things this one doesn't- a guard who can crush you for doubling Freeman (and do a lot more) in X and a second big in Aziz. I do think we can beat a top team, I just think it's unlikely. It would require great games from Freeman and Ali, and at least one other player going off (Hunter, Dawson, etc).

After Freeman our tallest true big is Lyles at 6'7". Hunter is 6'9" but allergic to the paint. We don't have a second true big on the roster that is capable of playing important minutes. I really thought that'd be Baker, and maybe they did too? I agree you can't expect another Freeman, I would've just liked to see someone 6'8 or taller that could come off the bench and defend down low. I totally agree with your points on missing an Ali-type player last year and the guard play this year. And don't get me wrong - this is still a really good team that should win the MAC. I don't think it's one that can win a tournament game though (but I hope to be proven wrong on that).

I think the issue is having someone else aside from Ali would can consistently create his own shot. I agree they aren't bad though, and I probably rag on Thornton a little too hard. Spoiled by years of X and LCJ! 😂

I guess it depends how big the flaw is. I thought it hurt us last year and will show up again in March and will be an issue that keeps this team from being truly special. When Freeman isn't on the court, we have absolutely no inside presence defensively. And when you have the same issue two years in a row, I do consider that a recruiting failure (not saying the team itself is a failure).

The frontcourt depth has been an issue against good teams all year. This isn't a new opinion. Do you think we have enough depth there to win an NCAA Tournament game?

I'd love to see us come out, jump on them early, and never let up. Hoping the Miami game was a wake-up call.

I know plenty already. thanks though! If you disagree with my view that's fine - we can debate (isn't that the point of a forum?) but respectfully, you can miss me with this talking down nonsense.

Absolutely, and we unfortunately don't have strong guard play beyond Tribble right now. Tavari, Scott. or Thornton will have to make a jump for this team to have a shot at being special.

Highlighting a roster construction flaw isn't being clueless.

Do you think our front court has enough depth to win an NCAA Tournament game (especially knowing Enrique won't be able to sit much, if at all against a higher seed major like he does against MAC teams)?

Then it's a recruiting failure. Groce came here to elevate the program beyond what KD was able to. I love him and I also have high expectations for him. It has been evident since the day Aziz transferred that we needed another rotational big to go with the current core and they didn't add one. Not asking for a star, either. Just someone with size who won't get destroyed on defense for the 8-10 minutes Freeman sits. Now, maybe he expected Baker to play (I recall hearing about him as an immediate contributor) or they thought Lyles would play better. But when you have an all-timer like Freeman, you have to get the job done and they just didn't.

I'd be curious to know if they thought Baker would play.

Many of us were calling for a serviceable big man last spring. Should've added Scott or Thornton - not both- and a backup big instead.

Embarrassing loss. They've played down to lesser teams all year and finally got burned by it. All you can do is hope they learn from it and that it's a wake-up call for this group.

Honestly, if they replaced the bleachers with actual seats, that alone would be a huge upgrade.

David Coit is the leading scorer at 19.6 PPG and is only a junior!

If we make a Sweet 16 run, Groce may not be here 😂 Looking at next year and building off @Blue & Gold excellent post, I think we'll actually have 3 scholarships open. I don't see Prather returning (Lyles is iffy too IMO, so maybe 4). Getting an experienced big is a must. Baker has ton of potential but asking him to step into an Enrique-type role is unfair to him and the team. We probably need two. I'm also not yet sold on Tavari as a starter - the potential is there and I want to see him develop over this year, but he doesn't look like a starting PG - yet. PG - Transfer / Tavari W - Dawson / Scott W - Johnson / Transfer P - Transfer / MMK P - Baker / Lyles RS: Young, Mahaffey, Brisco

A few thoughts: - Ugly game. I was really hoping we'd put them away early and never look back but we kept letting them hang around. - Thornton only played 4 more minutes than Tavari. He's also pretty clearly behind Scott at this point. Just doesn't do enough on the offensive end. - Tribble has ended up with 4+ fouls in 4 of the last 6 games. - Hunter is trigger-shy from 3. Passed up a bunch of open looks tonight. I feel silly nitpicking with a 7-0 MAC team, but I think that record is more reflective of the league than it is this team. We have a long, long way to go if we want to win the MAC Tournament and have a shot at a March Madness win.

Groce very animated, motioning for the crowd to get into it.

Just announced at the game that the first 3,000 fans at the Toledo game get a navy t-shirt. It's something!

Need someone aside from Enrique to step it up. Don't let these guys hang around.