MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

I recall someone saying that he was indeed injured in 2018-19.

[BillyRayJimBob]

Watching a couple social media clips of Mount workouts I couldn't help but notice that Darrell Newsom was in them.  Gurley returning is huge, but Newsom would be equally huge in the overall makeup of the team.  He is their best perimeter defender (OAC DPOY) and shot 46.5% from deep last year.  I was bemoaning him being gone after the season because I enjoy watching him play so this would be great news as a fan.

https://x.com/MountUnion_MBB/status/1716236132403327064?s=20

Was that Skeriotis in there too?

It sure looked like him to me as well.

[Dr. Acula]

Watching a couple social media clips of Mount workouts I couldn't help but notice that Darrell Newsom was in them.  Gurley returning is huge, but Newsom would be equally huge in the overall makeup of the team.  He is their best perimeter defender (OAC DPOY) and shot 46.5% from deep last year.  I was bemoaning him being gone after the season because I enjoy watching him play so this would be great news as a fan.

https://x.com/MountUnion_MBB/status/1716236132403327064?s=20

Was that Skeriotis in there too?

It sure looked like him to me as well.

We're still 1 of the 2 OAC teams that doesn't have their roster posted so we will find out someday soon hopefully.

[Dr. Acula]

JCU (#3) and Mount (#5) are the only OAC schools receiving votes in the initial top 25 poll.

[bluestreak66]

JCU (#3) and Mount (#5) are the only OAC schools receiving votes in the initial top 25 poll.

Two teams in the top 5! 
And you never can totally count Marietta out either. This could be a really exciting season for the conference!

[mc1983]

I also wouldn't count out Heideberg (Watkins back for a 5th year, Panning & Leitwein are seniors) as well as Otterbein (arrival of Clement) for being in the mix. One surprise regarding Otterbein is that Dallas Patrick is not on the roster - it had been assumed he was returning for a 5th year.

Worth nothing, too - Capital nearly knocked off D1 Howard in their exhibition (lost 83-79). Howard was 22-13 last year and made the NCAA Tournament.

[Dr. Acula]

Not that I'm counting them out, but there's a huge gap between the top and Berg/Ott.  The conference is just too deep for either of them to contend.  And it's not bc they aren't good teams.

[Greek Tragedy]

Unfortunate that Dallas Patrick isn't returning. There are three notable transfers coming in, so that should soften the blow.

[RaidersRGr8t]

I took in the Mount Union scrimmage last night against Denison. Raiders' starters were Parker, Gurley, Newsom, Hudson and 6-8 sophomore Caleb Laurich, a transfer from Ohio Dominican who played at Copley.
Second group included Collier, McCartney and Skeriotis, plus a couple newcomers who I didn't catch their names. I believe the PG from Canton McKinley was one of them. I didn't see Diego Allen (Alliance) who I thought was joining the program.
Play on offense was a sloppy at times, which is to be expected, but the defense, rebounding and transition game were there. Mount Union won by about 6 or 8 points.
What they are missing is the hard a-- on the court who holds everyone accountable. Mansfield was that guy last year.

[Dr. Acula]

I took in the Mount Union scrimmage last night against Denison. Raiders' starters were Parker, Gurley, Newsom, Hudson and 6-8 sophomore Caleb Laurich, a transfer from Ohio Dominican who played at Copley.
Second group included Collier, McCartney and Skeriotis, plus a couple newcomers who I didn't catch their names. I believe the PG from Canton McKinley was one of them. I didn't see Diego Allen (Alliance) who I thought was joining the program.
Play on offense was a sloppy at times, which is to be expected, but the defense, rebounding and transition game were there. Mount Union won by about 6 or 8 points.
What they are missing is the hard a-- on the court who holds everyone accountable. Mansfield was that guy last year.

Thanks for the update +k

Is Painter back or did he graduate and move on?

Interesting about Allen.  I am pretty confident I've seen him, Graham and Farrington in some of the video clips they've posted.

[RaidersRGr8t]

Mansfield, Painter, Poole and Hill are the players gone who played the most significant minutes last season. I think of those 4 Painter was the only one who still had a Covid year available. I thought I remembered someone saying he was offered a fairly significant internship or job in his field.
I didn't see Adam Chaney last night nor am I aware of his status.
Obviously, guys may have been injured or sick and not in the gym.
One would hope the roster is posted on the website sometime next week, considering the opener is Friday night. But, that's a "dang I miss Lenny" conversation for another time.

[Greek Tragedy]

https://www.oac.org/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/Preseason_Poll_2023

Mount and JCU in a dead heat.

[Dr. Acula]

Mansfield, Painter, Poole and Hill are the players gone who played the most significant minutes last season. I think of those 4 Painter was the only one who still had a Covid year available. I thought I remembered someone saying he was offered a fairly significant internship or job in his field.
I didn't see Adam Chaney last night nor am I aware of his status.
Obviously, guys may have been injured or sick and not in the gym.
One would hope the roster is posted on the website sometime next week, considering the opener is Friday night. But, that's a "dang I miss Lenny" conversation for another time.

Most of the time I give the benefit of the doubt that the coaches haven't provided their final final roster yet, but I find it hard to believe that 5 days before the first game Fuline doesn't know who is on the roster this week.  Also, the women's roster is not posted yet either.

[Greek Tragedy]

I find there are a lot of rosters not posted yet. It's odd, but I suppose it's not uncommon, apparently.

[Dr. Acula]

I get it with football, especially at Mount where you have 200 players and quite a few kids are leaving the program before week 1.  But hoops we're talking about a handful of new guys that'll be listed on the varsity roster plus the returners.