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Oh, I'm not expecting anything. I think Zeke is still very much a long shot. But, it just sounded odd that the Nets went to a player who hasn't played in 1 or 2 years rather than a good prospect from their own D-league team, or any D-league team.

I don't like that Q has had to play some PG, and I have been quite focal about it. But, regardless, there's no question that Quincy is a far better basketball player than Alex.

I know. I don't understand all of this, but the Nets go and pick up a guy who hasn't played in a year or two instead of someone from their own D-League team or another D-League team? Guys that are already playing right now and in shape? Is the D-League not really the first source to "call up a player" like in baseball?

You're also forgetting that the #3 spot would also get the more favorable matchup in the Quarterfinal round as well. But yes, there's not guarantee that the #1 seed will be the best team in the field, especially with the unbalanced scheduling that went into place this year.

I'm not trying to figure out the tiebreakers, I'm just making the point that both the #3 and #4 spots are clearly within reach if OU beats Buffalo, as opposed to just the #4 spot. We'd certainly much prefer being a part of 3 teams battling for 2 spots right now, instead of being one of 2 teams battling for the last and final spot. Remember, that #4 spot would have us playing the well-rested #1 team on Friday, after we just had to play a game the night before. Again, statistically, we have a 66% chance of getting either of the final 2 byes by Wednesday night, if OU beats Buffalo. I guess I just don't want to see that #3 possibility disappear quite yet.

Dave.... You don't want that. If Buffalo wins at OU, they would lock up the #3 spot if they win here next week, and that would only leave us with a remote chance at the #4 spot. We want an OU win, which makes all 3 teams tied, and leaves both the #3 and #4 spots a wide open race with 3 games to go, which are all home games for us.

Wouldn't you want all 3 to be in a tie? That would still give us a good shot at the #3 spot. A Buffalo win puts them in great shape for that #3 spot.

There's 3 teams fighting for 2 spots. And if OU beats Buffalo at home on Wednesday, all 3 of us are even again. So, as Dave might say, we'd have a 66% chance of getting the #3 or #4 spot in the MAC tourney by Wednesday night. And with 3 games at home to close things out, we probably would have an edge. We just need more players back asap.

I actually want Keith to start getting tough on these guys. For the first time that I can remember, I think he has been far too accepting of deficiencies with this team thus far. Keep on coaching Keith !! You get paid plenty of money to do it.

I mentioned several weeks ago that one way to get more scoring opportunities when you are a high turnover team is to take open shots earlier in the shot clock. And we had plenty of decent shot opportunities in this game, they just didn't go in. And a lot of them were from close range. But, did you notice that Tree's first 4 or 5 field goal attempts were fall-away jumpers from 12-15 feet? That's not going to do wonders for our shooting percentage. And when he went to the hoop, he took a pounding. His frustration showed with that technical in the 2nd half.

If there's any chance, we won't do it by having to win 4 games with this team. So, we have to get into those top 4 spots to get at least one bye. We could have solidified that chance with a win tonight. But, Joe D. said that if Buffalo beats OU next week, we're actually still in pretty good shape for the #4 spot. I just question how many more regular season wins we might have left in us without any of the absent players returning.

We scored 90 the other night with a depleted lineup, and now half that much? I actually was really impressed with the way OU has the quickness to collapse inside, and then get back out to guard the shooters. That quickness also got them some steals on the perimeter several times. They came in here to avenge the defeat at home, and they accomplished that, big time. That game ended when N'Dour had to spend the last 5 min. of the first half on the bench with foul trouble, and they actually increased their lead. And how the heck do we play for the last shot before the half, and then give up a layup the other way with a dumb pass? That was a backbreaker.

I often focus on how great we really could have been last year with Quincy here. But, I often fail to realize how bad we could have been this year without him. So, maybe I should feel more fortunate that we have him this year, instead of last year.

It will likely be "Miraculous" no matter when he returns this season. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my significant other is a Practitioner, and she says typically these cases are a 6 week process. And that's for normal functioning, not to compete in a college basketball game. So, she was pretty stunned that they originally reported a projected 2-3 week absence. We don't know any more details about his condition, of course, but I can only imagine how minimal his contribution might be if he does return from something like that before the end of the season.

They both play Eastern, and they also have to play EACH OTHER, so either Toledo or Western is already guaranteed one more loss, at a minimum. That would still leave the #2 spot well within reach. Meanwhile, we have 4 out of 5 games at home. We couldn't ask for more in this situation.

We likely won't have an offensive explosion like that again this year, and I sure as heck hope we won't have anything close to a defensive implosion like that again this year. But, if we do play offense like that from here on out, and pick up the defense, as you suggest, we'd destroy our remaining opponents. Just not gonna happen.

On which end of the floor? I wasn't upset with losing at Buffalo in a fairly close score. But, if I had to pick something that was troubling...maybe even alarming...it was our effort defensively. Being short handed or fatigued can't be an excuse either, because it started early. That was an NBA-like defensive effort, from both teams, but it was particularly uncharacteristic of a Dambrot Akron team.

This has me thinking..... OSWho just had a president resign, and hired a new president. I never remember his name coming up at all. And this is a place where many mindless honks have certainly ignored everything that has come out, and still blindly worship the ground he walks on. So, do you wonder what YSU and Akron must be thinking? Is it possible that even the powers that be down in the capital of corruption in college athletics realize that it would have been a really ill-advised hire? Was this guy who some people are hoping to be our next president even remotely considered to be a candidate at all?

Long story short, players lose a year of eligibility on the front end when they come in as non-qualifiers, but they can have that 4th year of eligibility added again on the back end if they demonstrate that they are on a path towards graduation.

To lose by a few baskets at Buffalo with a completely depleted team isn't bothering me that much this morning. I hate that our usually-good defense gave up so many points, but as Keith pointed out in the postgame interview, Buffalo's guards were shooting uncharacteristically high percentages from the field. Put that together with our tired players, and it just wasn't our night. Joe D. had some pretty scathing things to say on the radio about Hurley's behavior. I'll have my eye on that when he comes to Akron.

We've struggled up there mightily, even at full strength. My head tells me one thing, and my heart is hoping for the other. One thing is certain........it's the biggest win of the season thus far if we pull it off.

Yep, people who know more than us will be making that decision. And that's the way it should be. I just don't like the idea from what I am reading and hearing.

Dave, I actually have family that have worked in law enforcement, and one surprising thing that they've always told me is that people often talk and provide more information once they know that they are busted. So, I actually don't know what to make out of the fact that he divulged more details. Do they do it because they truly feel guilt? Or, are they hoping for sympathy if they come clean? If he did it because he felt guilt, then yes, I think that shows something about his character, but how do we know? But, I will continue to contend that the continual remarks describing it as "a mistake", when the crimes involved a complex and repeated series of events, really makes me question the level of remorse. Wasn't his plea bargain the reason why he only has one count attached to his record?

I know. That's my point. I don't understand why a few people aren't getting this.