2 Jan
1-2 Hoops, Gridiron Thoughts to Start 2010
- You can follow me now on twitter: www.twitter.com/CalebTroop
- I talk about anything and everything, including this note posted a few minutes ago: The MAC is 0-4 in bowl games this bowl season after an 0-5 record last year.
- Entering the day, Ohio hoops is 15th in the country with a 75.7% free throw shooting clip and seventh best at holding opponents to a 26% clip from beyond the arc.
- Kent State and Buffalo are the two most experienced teams in the MAC this year. Ohio and Toledo are the two youngest. Only four other teams in all of division I college hoops have more experience than the Rockets, who have no seniors and two juniors.
- Waterford H.S. product D.J. Cunningham had 11 points and nine boards in a season-high 33 minutes as a starter during UNC-Ashville’s 87-76 loss to Larry Hunter’s Western Carolina team a few nights ago.
- The lack of depth at the cornerback position group stands out right now as you look towards Bobcat football 2010. Seems all season long opponents tried to pick on Julian Posey, and Billy Gonzales-Santos will be coming off a tough knee injury. Jamil Shaw and Xavier Hughes will be redshirt-freshman and both Kenny Jackson and Shannon Ballard return.
- Taking all that into account, how about this bold nugget: Don’t be surprised if one of the incoming Leftwich twins (Omar or Octavius) starts against Wofford on Sept. 4, 2010. Yes, that’s week one.
- It will be interesting to follow Travis Carrie in 2010. It’s uncertain where he fits right now. The hope is both Steven Jackson and Hilton Dawson return healthy next fall, but if not, Carrie could be needed to sure up the safeties group.
- The inability to run the football in the red zone and on short yardage situations was well documented this year. Can Jerry Kelly (6-0, 238) fill that void next season?
- Fans should in no way concerned about Ohio losing Taylor Price. No, you read that correctly. Seems odd for someone to say that given the Ohio single season and career records he now holds, but Bakari Bussey, Riley Dunlop, LaVon Brazill, Steven Goulet and Terrence McCrae will suffice, don’t you think?
- The secondary is even more of a concern in 2010 because of all the quarterbacking talent that will be back in the MAC next year. Just in the East Division, Ohio will have to face Patrick Nicely (Akron), Zac Dysert (Miami), Zach Maynard (Buffalo) and Spencer Keith (Kent State). Dysert is clearly the best of the bunch.
- How many Ohio football games will be televised in 2010? Surely the Ohio State, Marshall and Temple contests will be included. The ‘Cats versus Golden Flashes game smells like a Fox Sports Ohio contest. We’ll see.
- Tomorrow the Bobcat Blog will count down the Top 5 Bobcats athletics moments from calendar year 2009. Any guesses? What will be number one?