TK’s comments from Tonight’s Coaches Show:

*BG loss was mostly due to an 8-minute segment at end of First Half and beginning of second half where they went from 6 up to 8 down that was mostly caused by players not taking care of the basketball leading to live ball turnovers that there is no defense for.

*He thinks his Four Freshmen (Wilson, Simmons, Ford, and Lewis) could form a special group down the road.

*In talking about his two incoming players, he said that 6-9 Justin Ouwinga is probably the second most talented player he has recruited to Toledo after Ryan Rollins. Now, it’s up to him to see where he goes with his development, specifically getting stronger. He compared him to current Ball St Center, Basher Jihad who has developed into one of the best players in the league this season. As for Tyler Ode, he called him a throwback player with no ego who will do anything to get on the floor and help the team. Said he saw him shut down a Duke signee in the prestigious Paradise Jam Summer AAU Tournament and led his team to victory over a team made up of multiple Power 5 signees. Compared him to a more athletic Spencer Littleson both offensively and defensively.

*Likes the addition of U Mass and Western Kentucky to the league and said both programs would elevate the MAC basketball wise.

*Made a quick reference to playing Duke next season.

*Assistant Coach Justin Ingram called recruiting like dating a pretty girl and when the player ends up signing with your program, it feels like you just married the girl, and when the player chooses some other program, it feels like a girl breaking up with you. It looks like Justin is on a roll with the "girls” as he headed up both Ouwinga and Ode’s recruitment as the lead recruiter in the State of Michigan!

Wait, he let a WKU cat out of the bag? Seemed like they wanted to join back when MTSU said no

(02-26-2024 07:22 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  Wait, he let a WKU cat out of the bag? Seemed like they wanted to join back when MTSU said no

Let’s hope it was not just a slip of the tongue !!

(02-26-2024 07:27 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 07:22 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  Wait, he let a WKU cat out of the bag? Seemed like they wanted to join back when MTSU said no

Let’s hope it was not just a slip of the tongue !!

He said he doesn't think the MAC is done with expansion and he thinks they will probably add Western Kentucky also. Kyle Rowland tweeted today that there is mutual interest between the MAC and Western Kentucky

Thanks for this once again.

I think he is right about the BG loss. They checked out during that time. That's on the players.

Minor pick to nit with TK. Talk is cheap. We need help inside, not hopes and promises. I get it, it's tough to find good big guys because if they are good they go somewhere else. We've had a bunch of good guards, but not too many inside. Let's hope Ouwinga is as advertised, and just cause a guy shut down Duke signee in some tournament doesn't sound like a sound and thorough scouting report to me.

Like someone said the other day; say they make it to the Dance, pull a 14 seed and get smoked cause they have zero answer against the inside of who they play. Of course we're talking a 2 or 3 seed, I get that. I would love to have the huge guy from Ohio we are about to play. Dudes a player. We have no answer, and not even close. A legit big guy (I don't consider Simmons a 5) would be nice.

TK seems to be a hard core offensive guard happy freak. He was a chuck'em up kind of guy when he played, so that kind of fits. If there was ever a year, this would be it - press, trap, push the ball - control the tempo. At the same time, our defense has not been outstanding either. History again. He's never stressed defense IMO. When the other teams get us into a half court game we are in trouble. Not enough inside on the defense end, and only one guy who can post up on the other, in Simmons. When they had the lead late in the first half against BG, they should have kept feeding him the ball. But no, they took ill advised shots, drives that were not there, and chucked up too many early in the shot clock.

Sorry about the rant, but the BG game ticked me off.

(02-26-2024 07:41 PM)Screwball Wrote:  Thanks for this once again.

I think he is right about the BG loss. They checked out during that time. That's on the players.

Minor pick to nit with TK. Talk is cheap. We need help inside, not hopes and promises. I get it, it's tough to find good big guys because if they are good they go somewhere else. We've had a bunch of good guards, but not too many inside. Let's hope Ouwinga is as advertised, and just cause a guy shut down Duke signee in some tournament doesn't sound like a sound and thorough scouting report to me.

Like someone said the other day; say they make it to the Dance, pull a 14 seed and get smoked cause they have zero answer against the inside of who they play. Of course we're talking a 2 or 3 seed, I get that. I would love to have the huge guy from Ohio we are about to play. Dudes a player. We have no answer, and not even close. A legit big guy (I don't consider Simmons a 5) would be nice.

TK seems to be a hard core offensive guard happy freak. He was a chuck'em up kind of guy when he played, so that kind of fits. If there was ever a year, this would be it - press, trap, push the ball - control the tempo. At the same time, our defense has not been outstanding either. History again. He's never stressed defense IMO. When the other teams get us into a half court game we are in trouble. Not enough inside on the defense end, and only one guy who can post up on the other, in Simmons. When they had the lead late in the first half against BG, they should have kept feeding him the ball. But no, they took ill advised shots, drives that were not there, and chucked up too many early in the shot clock.

Sorry about the rant, but the BG game ticked me off.

What impressed TK about Ode in one of the best AAU tournaments in the country was that his leadership and intangibles helped lead his team to beat a much more talented team with players going to Duke and North Carolina and other Power 5 schools. Leadership and intangibles like that sound good to me!

Also, I'm not sure what big guy from Ohio you are referring to. Do you mean Mirambeaux from Miami?

(02-26-2024 08:13 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 07:41 PM)Screwball Wrote:  Thanks for this once again.

I think he is right about the BG loss. They checked out during that time. That's on the players.

Minor pick to nit with TK. Talk is cheap. We need help inside, not hopes and promises. I get it, it's tough to find good big guys because if they are good they go somewhere else. We've had a bunch of good guards, but not too many inside. Let's hope Ouwinga is as advertised, and just cause a guy shut down Duke signee in some tournament doesn't sound like a sound and thorough scouting report to me.

Like someone said the other day; say they make it to the Dance, pull a 14 seed and get smoked cause they have zero answer against the inside of who they play. Of course we're talking a 2 or 3 seed, I get that. I would love to have the huge guy from Ohio we are about to play. Dudes a player. We have no answer, and not even close. A legit big guy (I don't consider Simmons a 5) would be nice.

TK seems to be a hard core offensive guard happy freak. He was a chuck'em up kind of guy when he played, so that kind of fits. If there was ever a year, this would be it - press, trap, push the ball - control the tempo. At the same time, our defense has not been outstanding either. History again. He's never stressed defense IMO. When the other teams get us into a half court game we are in trouble. Not enough inside on the defense end, and only one guy who can post up on the other, in Simmons. When they had the lead late in the first half against BG, they should have kept feeding him the ball. But no, they took ill advised shots, drives that were not there, and chucked up too many early in the shot clock.

Sorry about the rant, but the BG game ticked me off.

What impressed TK about Ode in one of the best AAU tournaments in the country was that his leadership and intangibles helped lead his team to beat a much more talented team with players going to Duke and North Carolina and other Power 5 schools. Leadership and intangibles like that sound good to me!

Also, I'm not sure what big guy from Ohio you are referring to. Do you mean Mirambeaux from Miami?

Yes, Miami, my mistake. We have them in a couple weeks.

Ode is 6'5 - 185. Another guy fighting for a guard spot.

In talking about Mirambeaux, I have watched him in quite a few games against the likes of UT and WSU. When he is in, he can be quite the guy to handle, but he does get into foul trouble and tires out. He is averaging only 20 mins of playing time, but leads the Redhawks in scoring at a 13 point clip, but only about 4 rebounds per contest.

So that was a slip up by TK, that WKU would be joining the MAC ? I read that WKU will stay inside the C-USA for now with further discussions down the road with the MAC. One thing that can be said about the MAC is membership stability been very strong.

(02-26-2024 09:47 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  So that was a slip up by TK, that WKU would be joining the MAC ? I read that WKU will stay inside the C-USA for now with further discussions down the road with the MAC. One thing that can be said about the MAC is membership stability been very strong.

It wasn’t a slip up by TK. He did not state that WKU was joining the MAC for sure. He was giving his opinion of what he expected to happen. Kyle Rowland had already reported it as a possibility earlier in the day.

Teams want to get out of their non cons with Toledo so they're coming to the MAC

Ode is a gym rat hustle guy, but also a very good athlete and shooter. He will be a great addition. Ouwinga could be a difference maker but he'll need to get stronger and keep working on his 3 point stroke which is decent but will make him a very tough guard if it's good.

I expect us to lose 2 or 3 guys to the portal-Wight, Miratic, and maybe Thomas. Hoping Ford, Lewis and Brcic stick around although wouldn't be shocked if Brcic leaves. I would think we'd add either a forward or a center from portal or juco along with the 2 signed recruits. No perimeter guys with limited eligibility are gonna want to play here, but maybe we sign a young wing/guard from the portal.

I like the UMass addition and if it brings WKU that's a nice pairing although crappy travel. Always thought the MAC should lean into hoops and hockey.

(02-27-2024 01:44 AM)pono Wrote:  Ode is a gym rat hustle guy, but also a very good athlete and shooter. He will be a great addition. Ouwinga could be a difference maker but he'll need to get stronger and keep working on his 3 point stroke which is decent but will make him a very tough guard if it's good.

I expect us to lose 2 or 3 guys to the portal-Wight, Miratic, and maybe Thomas. Hoping Ford, Lewis and Brcic stick around although wouldn't be shocked if Brcic leaves. I would think we'd add either a forward or a center from portal or juco along with the 2 signed recruits. No perimeter guys with limited eligibility are gonna want to play here, but maybe we sign a young wing/guard from the portal.

I like the UMass addition and if it brings WKU that's a nice pairing although crappy travel. Always thought the MAC should lean into hoops and hockey.

Really hope Ouwinga pans out. Read a story about a month ago where his coach was criticizing his hustle. Average stats for a guy is so much bigger than opponents. Hope he's 6-9 instead of the 6-7 posted in a number of stories.

(02-26-2024 07:07 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  TK’s comments from Tonight’s Coaches Show:

*BG loss was mostly due to an 8-minute segment at end of First Half and beginning of second half where they went from 6 up to 8 down that was mostly caused by players not taking care of the basketball leading to live ball turnovers that there is no defense for.

*He thinks his Four Freshmen (Wilson, Simmons, Ford, and Lewis) could form a special group down the road.

*In talking about his two incoming players, he said that 6-9 Justin Ouwinga is probably the second most talented player he has recruited to Toledo after Ryan Rollins. Now, it’s up to him to see where he goes with his development, specifically getting stronger. He compared him to current Ball St Center, Basher Jihad who has developed into one of the best players in the league this season. As for Tyler Ode, he called him a throwback player with no ego who will do anything to get on the floor and help the team. Said he saw him shut down a Duke signee in the prestigious Paradise Jam Summer AAU Tournament and led his team to victory over a team made up of multiple Power 5 signees. Compared him to a more athletic Spencer Littleson both offensively and defensively.

*Likes the addition of U Mass and Western Kentucky to the league and said both programs would elevate the MAC basketball wise.

*Made a quick reference to playing Duke next season.

*Assistant Coach Justin Ingram called recruiting like dating a pretty girl and when the player ends up signing with your program, it feels like you just married the girl, and when the player chooses some other program, it feels like a girl breaking up with you. It looks like Justin is on a roll with the "girls” as he headed up both Ouwinga and Ode’s recruitment as the lead recruiter in the State of Michigan!

No mention of Brcic? Not what coach was expecting talent-wise??? I thought he could play 6- 8 minutes per game from day 1. Was not to be apparently. Hopefully that non-mention is just an oversight on TK's part or a motivation to Brcic. I'll listen to replay on utrocket.com. Nice to have show available for replay vs 1 time shot at catching show.

TK must know something about WKU that's for sure. Doubt he's go there unless things are quite firm.

Go Rockets!

I think not mentioning Brcic is simply based on him not yet showing his capacity to be "special". We know he has some talent and athletic ability but all the other freshmen have shown a lot of improvement and had games where they played really well. Brcic has been decent at times but hasn't quite seized the opportunity. TK gave him solid minutes from the start, but his play hasn't led to more trust. He's a freshman, there's time, and he's got some size and ability. I would think as a staff that struggles to find inside depth, you want to keep him around for the offseason and see if he can evolve into a useful player by year 2.

(02-27-2024 02:38 PM)pono Wrote:  I think not mentioning Brcic is simply based on him not yet showing his capacity to be "special". We know he has some talent and athletic ability but all the other freshmen have shown a lot of improvement and had games where they played really well. Brcic has been decent at times but hasn't quite seized the opportunity. TK gave him solid minutes from the start, but his play hasn't led to more trust. He's a freshman, there's time, and he's got some size and ability. I would think as a staff that struggles to find inside depth, you want to keep him around for the offseason and see if he can evolve into a useful player by year 2.

Do they still have big man camps for college players?

I thought he was progressing when he got hurt. Just needs some fundamentals that he practices over and over. Thought he was going to help this year. Was wrong.